An independent study conducted by Michigan State University researchers found that Black drivers are pulled over more than any other racial group in the state. The results also showed Black and Hispanic drivers are more likely than White and Asian drivers to be arrested after a traffic stop. Michigan State Police Director Col. Joe Gasper says..
Dearborn inauguration ceremony highlights changing political demographics
Dearborn’s mayor Abdullah Hammoud and other elected officials were sworn in over the weekend. Hammoud made history as the city’s first Arab American and Muslim mayor. Two imams and a reverend opened prayers to begin a historical swearing-in ceremony Saturday at the Ford Community and Performing Arts Center. But the focus of attention during the..
Tracked and Traced: How thousands of American Muslims ended up on the terrorist watch list
Listen and subscribe to Tracked and Traced: Apple Podcast — Spotify — NPR — Stitcher — Google Podcasts After the 9/11 terror attacks, American Muslims were subjected to surveillance, suspicion and put on the terrorist watchlist — a database shared by law enforcement agencies for suspected and known terrorists — leading to fear and paranoia of Islam and Muslims. Fatima Salman first..
National Day of Racial Healing event “geared toward progress” and creating equitable systems
The W. K. Kellogg Foundation has hosted its annual Day of Racial Healing for six years. The foundation’s president and CEO, LaJune Montgomery Tabron says the event follows the Martin Luther King holiday so the civil rights leader’s life of service can be used to inspire action. Tabron says racial healing is needed for racial..
Author Randal Jelks casts Martin Luther King Jr.’s vision forward to 2022 in “Letters to Martin”
Americans have been having some very serious conversations about race, inequality and police brutality in the past two years. I think we often miss King as this radical democrat all the time." —Dr. Randal Maurice Jelks, author of "Letters to Martin" A new book looks at those themes through the lens of democracy, ruminating on..
Washington Post investigation takes a look at the 1,700 congressmen who owned slaves and their impact on America
Slavery is an integral part of the American story, and while slavery does not exist today, its history has shaped American institutions, government structures – even its culture, religions and music. On Monday, a new article by The Washington Post uncovered a disturbing fact that further elucidates this idea: That more than 1,700 congressmen once enslaved..
MLK and civil rights movement were more radical than we often remember, says Smithsonian historian
Wayne State University will be one of many local institutions celebrating the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s life and legacy as we approach MLK Day. This year, the theme of Wayne State’s celebration is “Looking Back to Look Ahead,” which the university says “will reflect on Dr. King’s teachings and how we live them today..
Matching IDs for Transgender People Is Life-Saving for the Community, Local Activist Says
Members of the trans community are disproportionately impacted by violence -- and some of the hostility has been state-sanctioned. Governmental entities have outed trans individuals by refusing to acknowledge their gender or chosen name. That trickles down into other areas of their life -- like getting health insurance. Late last year, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson announced..
Why a New Lawsuit is Seeking to Undo Michigan’s New Political Maps
Not everyone is happy with Michigan’s new legislative and congressional maps. There’s plenty of criticism coming from all sides of the political spectrum. On Monday, a group of current and former lawmakers and political activists announced their intention to file the first major lawsuit challenging the maps themselves. “We have rights in this country just like everybody..
Looking Back on 2021’s Most Significant Court Cases and News Stories, from Racial Justice to Oxford Shooting
There have been several high-profile trials and legal challenges this year that have dealt with everything from racial justice and abortion rights to how we treat minors and their parents in court. "I thought that [the conviction of Derek Chauvin] was incredibly important to show that police officers can be held accountable." --Barbara McQuade, University of Michigan Law..