With additional reporting by Matthew Charles Cardinale. (APN) ATLANTA — A decision of the Supreme Court of the U.S. handed down this summer, 2015, could affect affordable housing policies and practices in Georgia. On September 02, 2015, the Atlanta Regional Housing Forum held a panel discussion on the landmark case, Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs v. […]
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(APN) ATLANTA — Celebrations were held throughout Metro Atlanta and across the U.S. on June 26, 2015, when the Supreme Court of the U.S. ruled that states cannot ban same-sex marriages. It is now legal in all fifty U.S. states for same-sex couples to marry. The first line in the Obergefell v. Hodges ruling states that the Fourteenth Amendment […]
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(APN) ATLANTA — Yesterday, Thursday, March 26, 2015, the House Judiciary Civil Committee voted to amend SB 129, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) bill, to expressly state that eradicating discrimination is a compelling government interest, thus prohibiting religious freedom being used as a justification for discrimination. LGBTQI equality advocates celebrated the amendment, introduced by State Rep. Mike Jacobs […]
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Photograph of crowd by Gloria Tatum; photograph of flyer courtesy of Junia Joseph. (APN) SELMA, Alabama — During the March 07 and 08, 2015 weekend events commemorating the 50th anniversary of “Bloody Sunday” in Selma, Alabama, where President Barack Obama and other dignitaries honored the sacrifices of civil rights leaders, a hateful force was emerging again in the back streets […]
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(APN) ATLANTA — SB 129, the Georgia Religious Freedom Restoration Act, was on a fast track until, on Thursday, February 19, 2015, the Senate Judiciary Committee tabled the bill with a 5 to 3 vote. State Sen. Josh McKoon (R-Columbus) is the author of SB 129 and was also the author of last year’s SB 377 that did not […]
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Photograph by Steve Eberhardt (APN) ATLANTA — On Wednesday, January 21, 2015, the fifth anniversary of the Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission decision of the Supreme Court of the U.S., State Sen. Nan Orrock (D-Atlanta) and Rep. Karla Drenner (D-Avondale Estates) announced the introduction of resolutions calling for a U.S. Constitutional Amendment to allow U.S. Congress to place common-sense […]
Read more(APN) ATLANTA — State Rep. Sam Teasley (R-Marietta) has pre-filed HB 29, the Preventing Government Overreach on Religious Expression Act, for the 2015-2016 Georgia Legislative Session. The bill–which would seek to change the court standard for cases involving claims for religious freedom–is likely to spark controversy, uproar, and impassioned lobbying both for and against the legislation. Last year, […]
Read more(APN) ATLANTA — At the Monday, September 15, 2014, Full Council Meeting, the City Council of Atlanta passed a resolution, 14-R-4121, sponsored by Councilman Michael Julian Bond (Post 1-at-large) expressing the support of the City of Atlanta for a 28th Amendment to the Constitution of the U.S., clarifying that U.S. Congress has the authority to limit campaign contributions. Mayor Kasim […]
Read more(APN) ATLANTA — In an appalling turn of events that reveals exactly why the Voting Rights Act is still needed, State Sen. Fran Millar (R-Dunwoody) showed his true colors, as it were, in a recent interview with the Atlanta Journal Constitution’s Political Insider blog regarding his opposition to early voting on Sunday. Recently, DeKalb County expanded its early voting options […]
Read more(APN) ATLANTA — At the Full Council Meeting of the City Council of Atlanta on Tuesday, September 02, 2014, the Council passed a resolution that had been introduced by Councilwoman Felicia Moore (District 9), calling for the Atlanta Police Department (APD) to conduct a feasibility study within 90 days for implementing body cameras for all APD officers. The Council also […]
Read more(APN) ATLANTA — Atlanta City Councilman Michael Julian Bond (Post 1-at-large) plans to introduce a resolution calling for a 28th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, at the Tuesday, September 02, 2014 Full Council Meeting. The Constitutional Amendment, if adopted and ratified, would clarify that U.S. Congress has the authority to enact campaign contribution limits. The resolution […]
Read moreBy Melissa Cruz, Special to The Atlanta Progressive News (APN) ATLANTA — Michelle Nunn, candidate for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate, has once again taken up a position that seemingly panders to a traditionally right-wing baseline. Her position on the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (VRA) has drawn quick criticism from supporters and opponents alike. Her comments […]
Read more(APN) ATLANTA — On April 22, 2014, Lambda Legal Defense, a national legal organization, filed a federal class action lawsuit in Atlanta on behalf of seven Georgia residents and others who are injured by Georgia’s same-sex marriage bans. Georgia’s legislature banned same-sex marriage in 1996. Then, just to make sure it would be even more difficult to overturn […]
Read more(APN) ATLANTA — HB 837, which would expand authority for private probation companies, was passed by the House (105 to 62) and Senate (35 to 17) and has been sent to the Governor awaiting his signature to become law. Gov. Deal has until April 29 to sign or veto the law; if he does nothing, the bill […]
Read more(APN) ATLANTA — On the ninth Moral Monday in Georgia, held on Monday, March 20, 2014, over three hundred people crowded in the rotunda of the State Capitol to hear leaders in the civil rights movement and others explain the Voting Rights Act (VRA) and why it is still important today. The speakers included Dr. Francys Johnson, President, Georgia […]
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