The deep structural racism inherent in policing is becoming more visible to and less tolerated by a broader portion of our society. The Movement for Black Lives has popularized the work of abolitionists and galvanized social attention around the demand to defund the police and invest in education, affordable housing, healthcare, and community solutions to preventing … Continue reading Defunding the Police: Brief Overview of History, Models and the Demands of the Movement
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ACA 5 Passes Assembly Floor Vote; Bill Moves to State Senate
The Opportunity For All Coalition today celebrated the bipartisan passage of ACA 5 off the State Assembly Floor. The bill, introduced by Assemblymember Dr. Shirley Weber (D – San Diego), would allow California voters to have their say on equal opportunity programs like affirmative action, for the first time in a generation — as they were banned … Continue reading ACA 5 Passes Assembly Floor Vote; Bill Moves to State Senate
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EJS 20th Anniversary Celebration on September 17 at Herbst Theatre
2020 is the 20th anniversary of the Equal Justice Society and we’re set to hold our celebration on Thursday, September 17, 2020, in San Francisco. We just confirmed Herbst Theatre as our venue! We are still working on the program for this special evening, but it will include Marcus Shelby performing a work inspired by … Continue reading EJS 20th Anniversary Celebration on September 17 at Herbst Theatre
Lieff Cabraser and EJS File Class Action Challenging IRS and Treasury Decision to Withhold CARES Act Economic Assistance Payments from Incarcerated People
On August 1, 2020, Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP and Equal Justice Society (collectively, “Plaintiffs’ co-counsel”) filed a class action lawsuit in federal court in San Francisco, California, challenging the Internal Revenue Service and Department of Treasury (collectively “Treasury”)’s decision to withhold CARES Act economic assistance payments from incarcerated people nationwide.
This Week in White Supremacy #135: ‘Emmett Till was my George Floyd’ ~ Congressman John Lewis
John Lewis: Together, You Can Redeem the Soul of Our Nation (The New York Times) Ordinary people with extraordinary vision can redeem the soul of America by getting in what I call good trouble, necessary trouble. Voting and participating in the democratic process are key. The vote is the most powerful nonviolent change agent you … Continue reading This Week in White Supremacy #135: ‘Emmett Till was my George Floyd’ ~ Congressman John Lewis
EJS 20th Anniversary – Reflecting on 2013: 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom
2020 is the 20th anniversary of the Equal Justice Society. Our celebration this year on September 17 will be virtual and we're working on an exciting and engaging program including an oratorio by Marcus Shelby inspired by the courage of Harriet Tubman and by the two decades of EJS. Every week leading up to the celebration, we … Continue reading EJS 20th Anniversary – Reflecting on 2013: 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom
This Week in White Supremacy #134: W. Kamau Bell – ‘What every American needs to know about White supremacy’
W. Kamau Bell / CNN - Below the surface of the water is where you find the bulk of White supremacy: The structures and systems that are in place to keep White Americans at the top and every other race and ethnicity below them to protect the status quo. This includes everyday stuff like police … Continue reading This Week in White Supremacy #134: W. Kamau Bell – ‘What every American needs to know about White supremacy’
Fascism Arrives in America. Please Speak Up.
Our country is sliding into fascism. I feel like the proverbial frog who is put in a pot of water that is gradually heated. The water is boiling. We need to invoke the Spirit of our newly departed ancestor, Congressman John Lewis.
EJS 20th Anniversary – Reflecting on 2012: Advancing Our Work on Implicit Bias and the Intent Standard
At our June 2012 Judge Constance Baker Motley Civil Rights Fellowship Luncheon, EJS President Eva Paterson (right) moderated a special discussion on the state of current anti-discrimination litigation efforts in the Courts with (from left): EJS Legal Director Allison Elgart, former U.S. Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Bill Lann Lee, Rebekah Evenson (now Alameda … Continue reading EJS 20th Anniversary – Reflecting on 2012: Advancing Our Work on Implicit Bias and the Intent Standard
This Week in White Supremacy #133: North Carolina’s Asheville unanimously approves reparations for slavery
BBC - The city council of Asheville, North Carolina, has unanimously voted to give financial reparations to black people amid a surge in debate about the issue. Reparations - financial compensation to the descendants of enslaved people - have long been hotly contested. Asheville becomes one of the first US cities to approve reparations, joining … Continue reading This Week in White Supremacy #133: North Carolina’s Asheville unanimously approves reparations for slavery
EJS 20th Anniversary – Reflecting on 2011: Victory in Associated General Contractors v. Caltrans Case
In 2011, EJS commissioned Joanna Haigood and the Zaccho Dance Theatre, and Marcus Shelby to create “Dying While Black and Brown,” which fused Marcus’s music with the unique movements by Zaccho. Performed at EJS’s annual gala that year at Yoshi’s SF, it marked the first collaboration between Joanna and Marcus. Photo by Bob Hsiang. 2020 … Continue reading EJS 20th Anniversary – Reflecting on 2011: Victory in Associated General Contractors v. Caltrans Case