Topic: Civil Rights

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Playing the IRS card: Six presidents who used the IRS to bash political foes

Since the advent of the federal income tax about a century ago, several presidents – or their zealous underlings – have directed the IRS to use its formidable police powers to harass or punish enemies, political rivals, and administration critics. Here are six infamous episodes.
10 best books of May, according to Amazon's editors

Amazon staffers say these books are the cream of the crop among May releases.
Thomas Jefferson: 16 quotes on his birthday

Here are 16 quotes to mark the birthday of American founding father Thomas Jefferson.
How well do you know MLK? Take the quiz!

In the 50s and 60s Martin Luther King Jr., a black Southern reverend who advocated non violent, peaceful resistance, became the voice of the civil rights movement. Test your knowledge of one of America's greatest men in this quiz.
15 best books of 2012 – nonfiction

Here are the Monitor's picks for the 15 best nonfiction books of 2012.

All Content

Feds rooting out 'unwelcome speech' on campus: But what is that?

The failure of the University of Montana to respond adequately to sexual assault allegations has led to a broadening of how the federal government defines verbal harassment. Free speech advocates worry that the new policy will chill the right to speak freely on campus.
Playing the IRS card: Six presidents who used the IRS to bash political foes

Since the advent of the federal income tax about a century ago, several presidents – or their zealous underlings – have directed the IRS to use its formidable police powers to harass or punish enemies, political rivals, and administration critics. Here are six infamous episodes.
As China's social media takes off, Beijing's censorship campaign heats up

A few well-regarded intellectuals known to be critical of the Communist Party have drawn millions of followers on China's Twitter.
Change Agent Two extraordinary African women tell their stories

As disabled women refugees, Dahabo Hassan Maow and Aitm Caroline Ogwang faced tremendous obstacles. But they've overcome every one and now advocate for other women in need.
Difference Maker He brought Christianity into the streets to promote civil rights

Episcopal priest Malcolm Boyd has taken the message of Christianity outside the walls of church to champion minority rights and show that God is everywhere.
FBI didn't tell Boston about Tsarnaev warning, says police chief

The FBI didn't tell Boston police that they'd been warned about Tamerlan Tsarnaev, despite FBI-Boston PD collaborations, Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis told Congress today.
Pakistani women hit the campaign trail to get out the vote

Women, nongovernmental organizations, and a council of conservative Muslims are doing their best to avoid a repeat of the poor 2008 election showing among women.
10 best books of May, according to Amazon's editors

Amazon staffers say these books are the cream of the crop among May releases.
House votes to honor Birmingham bombing victims

On Wednesday, the U.S. House of Representatives voted unanimously to award the Congressional Gold medal to the four girls killed in the bombing of a Birmingham, Alabama church in 1963. Their surviving family members expressed mixed feelings about the award.
'No more hurting people.' Will a safer future follow Boston tragedy's wake?

Martin Richard, the 8-year-old boy killed in the Boston Marathon bomb attack, once held a sign that said 'peace' and 'no more hurting people.' Research finds a pattern of lessening violence as human history moves forward.
House passes CISPA bill

The US House of Representatives voted to approve CISPA, the much criticized legislation that aims to protect businesses from cyber attacks.
Can Pakistan drive the Taliban out of its tribal belt?

With the 2014 withdrawal of NATO troops in neighboring Afghanistan looming, Pakistan is turning its attention to the impoverished tribal areas where regional terror groups have long sought haven.
Thomas Jefferson: 16 quotes on his birthday

Here are 16 quotes to mark the birthday of American founding father Thomas Jefferson.
Rand Paul: GOP faces long odds in connecting with black voters

Rand Paul, a potential 2016 presidential candidate, said in a speech at Howard University that the Republican party was rooted in the presidency of Abraham Lincoln and efforts to rid the South of oppressive Jim Crow laws.
Joan Baez returns to Vietnam after 41 years. Why? (+video)

Joan Baez is back in Hanoi for the first time since December 1972, when American B-52s were raining bombs on Vietnam. Joan Baez visited a bunker in Hanoi and sang "Oh Freedom," a song she often sung during civil rights rallies in the 1960s.
Deals that changed history

A look back at three major pieces of historical federal legislation, started and finished by small groups of men intent on statesmanship.
Gordon Brown: Girls' empowerment movement is a global game-changer

Girls, not adults, are forming a liberation movement – demanding their rights, especially to education. They've organized child-marriage-free zones, demonstrations to support Malala Yousafzai, petitions against child labor, and a growing movement exposing child trafficking.
Bill Nelson, Fla. Sen., declares support for gay marriage

Bill Nelson wrote Thursday in a Tampa Bay Times column, 'The civil rights and responsibilities for one must pertain to all. Thus, to discriminate against one class and not another is wrong for me.'
Will the Scottsboro Boys get a posthumous pardon?

The Alabama legislature voted unanimously to grant posthumous pardons for the 'Scottsboro Boys,' nine black teens wrongly convicted of raping two white women in 1931. The pardons now await the governor's approval.
Fear Itself

Ira Katznelson has produced an exceptionally engaging and thoughtful account of the New Deal era.
Cover Story School suspensions: Does racial bias feed the school-to-prison pipeline?

Rocketing school suspensions may feed the school-to-prison pipeline – and even violate civil rights.
Backchannels Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood says UN proposal on women will destroy the world

The Muslim Brotherhood of Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi has greeted a UN proposal designed to reduce violence against women with unabashed horror.
Obama said to be close to naming Perez for Department of Labor

Sources close to the president have told the Associated Press civil rights official Thomas Perez is likely to be President Barack Obama's choice to head the Department of Labor.
France's president wants to extend paternity participation

French President Francis Hollande is proposing legislation to put more fathers on paternity leave, and wants to increase aid to single parents whose partners fall behind on child support.
Arkansas' tough new abortion law on shaky legal ground, experts say

With a legislative override of the governor's veto, Arkansas has adopted perhaps the toughest abortion law in the country – outlawing abortions after 12 weeks. But legal challenges are coming.