Category Archives: Race & Social Justice Posts

Can You Bring a Gerrymandering Case Under the Voting Right Act? The 8th Circuit Gave You an Odd Answer

By: Vincent Fan Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 has long served as a safeguard to the voting rights of ethnic minorities.[1] Specifically, it prohibits “voting qualification or prerequisite” that “den[ies] or abridge[s] the right of any citizen of the United States to vote on account of race or color”.[2] Section 2 […]

Can Public Officials “Block” First Amendment Rights on Social Media?

By: Akshay Kumbar On October 31, 2023, the Supreme Court of the United States held oral arguments for two cases that presented a circuit split issue of First Amendment rights and protections for public officials and how they can control social media accounts.[1] There is no debate that the First Amendment restricts government regulation of […]

The State of School Libraries: A Brief Update on Book Bans in Florida

By: Emily G. Finch, MSI In a year where big publishers and libraries have not seen eye to eye (even dividing authors on the issues), Penguin Random House joined the non-profit PEN American Center Inc., several authors of banned books, and parents (on behalf of themselves and their children) in the fight to prevent book […]

The Biases of Artificial Intelligence

By: Alexandra Curtis On September 28, 2023, Senator Cory Booker hosted a panel discussion with experts and advocates of civil rights to discuss the strong implications of artificial intelligence on civil rights.[1] Some might argue this panel comes late, as the use of AI has been on the uptick for the better half of ten […]