The
National Conference of Black Lawyers (NCBL), the International Association of Democratic Lawyers (IADL) and the National Lawyers Guild (NLG) have assembled a commission of experts from around the world to investigate racist police violence against people of African descent in the United States. The International Commission of Inquiry on Systemic Racist Police Violence Against People of African Descent in the United States will broadcast live hearings online with testimony from victims’ families and lawyers beginning January 18, 2021, which is the the day that the United States will commemorate the birthday of civil rights legend Martin Luther King, Jr. The hearings come to a close on February 6, 2021.
The emergency application for a writ of injunction comes after federal courts, for weeks, have ignored clear directives from the Supreme Court forbidding the disparate treatment of religious organizations through COVID-19 restrictions. This filing also follows a denial of injunctive relief, in this case, from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on December 23, 2020.
Citing recent cases such as
Roman Catholic Diocese v. Cuomo,
Harvest Rock Church v. Newsom, and others, the Center for American Liberty argues “California treats houses of worship with a harsher hand than secular businesses. With most of California under the strictest of lockdowns, many businesses are permitted to operate at reduced capacity and some without any limitations at all. Houses of worship, though, must remain closed for in-person services,” the writ states.
Columns share an author’s personal perspective. The shocking mob violence in Washington D.C. on Jan. 6 directly challenges the fundamental nature of our governmental institutions, political practices and the stability of our society. The criminal acts capped weeks of extreme, provocative, incendiary rhetoric from President Donald Trump, denouncing his defeat in the November presidential election as the result of an allegedly rigged, corrupt voting process.There can be no serious