The anti-abortion movement at the local level
Two weeks ago, Manatee County, Florida enabled further research into strict anti-abortion policy similar to the Heartbeat Bill in Texas. The county’s proposal aims to “restrict abortions and create incentives for women served through the county’s pregnancy program to give birth.” The Commissioner leading the effort also proposed a “grant for children whose mothers were assisted through the county’s crisis pregnancy program” and other anti-abortion incentives.
In 1973, the Supreme Court upheld a woman’s choice to an abortion as a Constitutional right yet it is now being almost completely restricted at the local level. Even with this example in Florida…
When Will the Biden Administration Address Police Brutality?
This weekend another Black American was victim to police brutality: Daunte Wright was shot and killed by police at approximately 1:40 PM on Sunday. This occurred at Brooklyn Center, MN, a suburb of the Twin Cities (Minneapolis and St. Paul), where Derek Chauvin’s trial is happening. Daunte Wright was 20 years old when a member of the police force unilaterally made the choice to end his life. The young Black man was the father of a two year old.
According to Daunte’s mother, Katy Wright, she received a call from her son at 1:40 PM with him saying that he…
Harmful Representation and Misinformation
Much is uncertain about the 2024 Presidential election for both Democrats and Republicans. Who will be the candidates? What will be the debate topics? And how will they campaign? Yet, we know that a second run for the presidency by Trump will not be the same as in 2016. He is no longer an outsider and now lacks the wealth aura portrayed through the 2000s. He has also lost many of his tools towards powerful populism; for instance, Twitter’s indefinite ban of his account. This leaves his Republican base looking for another leader in radicalism and hatred.
Impact of “Ever Given” Container Ship
By Francis M. Garcia Fernandez
The Suez Canal is a 120-mile-long waterway that has connected the Red and Mediterrenean Seas for 152 years. Before the completion of the canal in 1869, ships would travel around the Cape of Good Hope at the southern tip of Africa. If this alternative route were to be used today, it would add seven more days to a ship’s travel.
The canal has been managed by the Egyptian government since they took control over it from the United Kingdom in 1956.
Economic Impact
One of the largest container ships was blocking the sea route, costing an estimated…
Expected to Launch in September of 2021
By Francis M. Garcia Fernandez
A few weeks ago, Spain’s political party Más País sucessfully proposed of the 4-day work week to the Spanish goverment. Lawmaker Iñigo Errejón describes the work week as having only 32 hours. The nation would become the first in trying this type of program nationwide. The proposal is expected to launch in September and last three years. It will be funded by the European Union (EU) with 50 million EUR to maintain the salaries of employees at 200 companies.
Impact on the Spanish People
Initially, Más País introduced this idea because it would increase worker satisfaction and make companies more…
PR Governor Pedro Pierluisi Declares State of Emergency Over Gender Violence
A few weeks ago, Puerto Rico Governor Pedro Pierluisi declared a state of emergency as a response to killings and abuse targeting women and transgender people on the island. The declaration will remain for another 17 months.
Gender violence has been an issue in Puerto Rico for several years, but the devastation of Hurricane Maria in 2017 and the ongoing pandemic have worsened the situation. According to the Gender Equality Observatory, in 2020, there were 60+ direct/indirect femicides, six transfemicides, and 26 cases were still under investigation at the time of the report (Januray 2021). …
California Governor Gavin Newsom Appoints Alex Padilla to Fill the Vacancy
According to the Census Bureau, there are approximately 21.72 million Black women who make up the United States population. If political representation were perfect, almost seven Senate seats would be filled by Black women. Despite this, Black women have no representation in the upper chamber of Congress. This is because the current sole Black female Senator, Kamala Harris (CA), was sworn in as Vice-President on January 20 and consequently vacated her Senate seat.
The lacking representation for the demographic group is appalling and a symbol of the disparities that we have yet to resolve in America. Black women are one…
Joseph R. Biden is Sworn in as the 46th President of the United States
At noon today, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris were sworn in as President and Vice-President of the United States. This is the second time that the US has a Catholic President, John F. Kennedy being the first. Kamala Harris also makes history as being the first female Vice-President and the first Black, South Asian, and Caribbean VP. Vice-President Harris was sworn in by the first Latina on the Supreme Court, Justice Sonia Sotomayor.
In President Biden’s inaugural address he stated,
“Today, on this January day, my whole soul is in this: bringing America together, uniting our people and uniting our…
Francis Garcia
(he/him) Politics and Social Justice Writer
