Topic: NAACP

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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.

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Why Zimmerman verdict might not roll back 'stand your ground' laws (+video)

The US attorney general, Juror B37, and even Stevie Wonder express reservations about self-defense laws like Florida's 'stand your ground' statute, a factor in the George Zimmerman trial. What's the likelihood such laws will be reconsidered?
Federal probe of George Zimmerman not over, says Justice's Eric Holder

In his first statement since George Zimmerman was acquitted, Attorney General Eric Holder said Monday the Justice Department probe into Trayvon Martin's death will continue, 'consistent with the facts and the law.'
NAACP protest against NC GOP draws 1,000, over 100 arrested

NAACP protest: The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People has been holding weekly protests in Raleigh since mid-April, and what started with 17 arrests and tens of supporters back then has grown every week, bringing the total number of arrests to nearly 300 after five weeks of protests.
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.
Minority report: 3 big trends in the Census Bureau's voting data

New census report shows rising numbers of minority voters, turning out at higher rates, just as the white vote is declining. For Republicans, demographics may be destiny, unless the GOP finds ways to adapt.
Opinion Death penalty: A pragmatic case for repeal

Momentum in the states is shifting toward the repeal of the death penalty. There are practical reasons for this: The death penalty is expensive, it does not work, and it is administered with a clear racial bias. Repealing it is a matter of justice, public safety, and effective governance.
2013 Pulitzer Prize winners: 4 excellent books

Months before the Pulitzer Prize committee got there, the Monitor's book critics had already let readers know that these four books were something special. Here's why.
Confederate flag coming down in North Carolina. Why?

Confederate flag coming down in Raleigh, N.C., where it hangs in the State Capitol. The Confederate battle flag is coming down this weekend, according to one state official.
Soda ban overturned, but the battle is far from over

Hours before it was to take effect, New York's controversial soda ban on big sugary beverages was struck down by a state judge. But the war over the health effects of fatty food and high-sugar drinks will continue.
RFK Jr. arrested: Celebs, enviros arrested at Keystone pipeline protest

Sierra Club executive director Michael Brune also was arrested — the first time in the group's 120-year history that a club leader was arrested in an act of civil disobedience.
Jackie Robinson: The baseball legend's legacy after baseball

Jackie Robinson broke down barriers in baseball, but his civil-rights campaign continued well after he retired.
Jackie Robinson: Hero on the field and on the battlefield

Jackie Robinson, player number 42 for the Brooklyn Dodgers, accomplished many goals in his life. He broke the color line, made MVP, entered the Hall of Fame, and fought racism at all costs.
Jackie Robinson honored by Google Doodle and Hollywood (+video)

Google is honoring the first African-American baseball player with a doodle on Jackie Robinson's 94th birthday. And a new movie, '42,' opens soon that portrays the life of Jackie Robinson.
The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks

A new scholarly biography examines the life Rosa Parks – the icon America embraced yet never really knew.
A state divided: Uranium mining in Virginia?

Vast uranium deposits in Virginia could make for extremely profitable mining. Opponents fiercely argue mining could lead to an environmental disaster, or water contamination. Lawmakers are expected to take the matter up in this session.
The Monitor's View What Obama's gun proposals left out

President Obama's actions and proposals on gun violence are worthy, especially his directive on research into media violence. But he failed to link gun violence to children of broken or single-parent homes.
Police in schools 'not the answer,' coalition says, urging broader strategy

Civil rights groups, educators, and law enforcement representatives say police in schools, 'while well-intentioned,' can end up causing other problems for students the police are there to protect.
Difference Maker Entrepreneur Joe Edwards helps make St. Louis vibrant again

By restoring buildings and activity to a historic St. Louis neighborhood Joe Edwards has become a powerful force for civic good.
Illegal immigration: why eyes will be on Maryland this Election Day

Maryland's in-state tuition referendum is the only big-ticket illegal-immigration issue before voters this Election Day. How Maryland goes could influence other states – and Congress.
How Maryland's gay marriage vote could echo beyond blue states

Maryland is one of three states that could be the first to endorse gay marriage by popular vote. The Nov. 6 referendum will be a test for African-Americans and could hint at a shift in suburbia.
Supreme Court: If affirmative action is banned, what happens at colleges?

Nine states have tried to achieve campus diversity through other means, with mixed results. On Wednesday, the Supreme Court takes up an affirmative action case from the University of Texas at Austin.
Can GOP find votes in wreckage of Pennsylvania voter ID law?

A Pennsylvania judge on Tuesday reversed his earlier decision to let the state proceed with a tough new voter ID law in time for the 2012 election. The about-face could give the GOP some ammunition to rouse its base.
Judge bars Pennsylvania voter ID law until 2013 (+video)

It's expected that supporters of the state's voter ID law will appeal this decision to the Pennsylvania state Supreme Court.
Horizons Star Trek: The Original Series' surprising role in US civil rights

Google features a doodle for Star Trek: The Original Series – a nod to one of the most progressive television shows of its era.
Federal court rules against Texas voter photo ID law

Greg Abbott, Texas's attorney general, said he will appeal the ruling to the US Supreme Court, confident of prevailing there.