Two Black former Worcester police officers win another legal battle in decades-old discrimination case that could cost city millions
WORCESTER Two Black police officers embroiled in a 26-year legal battle with the city over alleged discriminatory promotional practices have won another legal ruling in a case their lawyer estimates could cost the city as much as $6.5 million.
“It’s really sad they’ve prolonged this,” Harold Lichten, a Boston labor lawyer who has been pursuing the case for decades, said of the city.
Lichten represents Spencer Tatum and Andrew Harris, two Black police officers who sued the Worcester Police Department in the mid-1990s alleging the city discriminated against them by bypassing them for promotions to sergeant.
4:49
The town government in Williamstown, Massachusetts has reiterated its support for an independent investigation of its police department following allegations of racism, sexual assault and the resignation of the police chief.
The Northern Berkshire community of around 7,500 was rocked by an August 2020 lawsuit from Sergeant Scott McGowan alleging that Chief Kyle Johnson had allowed for gratuitous racism and sexism in the department, even accusing Johnson of committing sexual assault himself. While Johnson resigned in December and McGowan has since dropped his suit, community members have continued calls for an investigation into the department. At its Monday night meeting, select board chair Jane Patton underscored the town’s commitment to such an investigation, especially after the chaotic events of January 6th in Washington that saw both on and off duty law enforcement officers participate in the violent attack on the Capitol by right-wing extremists.
Equality Act would stomp religious conservatives
Tuesday, January 12, 2021 |
Billy Davis, Steve Jordahl (OneNewsNow.com)
English
Spanish
When the Democratic Party takes over the White House and both chambers of Congress in a few days, one obvious target is religious conservatives who interfere with the Left’s version of progress but there is legislation waiting for passage that would swiftly take care of that burdensome problem.
President-elect Joe Biden vowed before Election Day to pass the Equality Act if elected, and to pass it within 100 days of taking office, The Hill reported in October.
In a post-election story, USA Today suggested America’s views on homosexuality have progressed to the point that it’s past time to amend and update Civil Rights-era laws guaranteeing fair housing and equal employment with the Equality Act, which would ensure the same legal protections for homosexuals, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgenders.
Anthony Boskovich told the board that police officers would refuse to participate in an investigation and that an atmosphere of civilian oversight at the department would hamper the town s efforts to find a new police chief. I can tell you right now that, in my view, your approach is going to come across … the blue wall, Boskovich said. Police departments do not like outsiders coming in and telling them what to do. You want to have an independent investigation? My experience tells me you will run into something else that s very common in policing: the code of silence. You will ask these officers questions, and they will not know anything.
THE HOUSE AND SENATE
Beacon Hill Roll Call records local representatives’ and senators’ votes on roll calls from the week of Dec. 28, 2020, to Jan. 1, 2021.
OVERRIDE BAKER’S VETO OF BILL TO INCREASE ABORTION ACCESS (H 5179)
House 107-50, Senate 32-8, overrode Gov. Charlie Baker’s veto of a bill that would allow abortions after 24 weeks in the case of lethal fetal anomalies and lower the age from 18 to 16 at which a minor can choose to have an abortion without parental or judicial consent.
“I strongly support a woman’s right to access reproductive health care, and many provisions of this bill,” said Baker in a letter that accompanied his veto. “I support, for example, the provision that would enable a woman to access an abortion where the child would not survive after birth, and the modifications to the judicial bypass process that make it more accessible to minors who are unable to obtain the consent of a parent or guardian. I also support the changes that elimina