News & Commentary

Today, December 10, is Human Rights Day. It's a day we celebrate the U.S. signing onto the United Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) treaty in 1948--but, more fundamentally, it's a day to celebrate the very principles of human rights.  The UDHR, like the U.S. Constitution, doesn't actually give us our rights, it spells out that we have these inalienable rights as human beings, and declares that governments shall not violate them. Are you celebrating Human Rights Day? Perhaps the best way to do so is to stand up for your rights. Today you can

Today, December 1, is the 22nd annual observation of World AIDS Day—a day to recognize the 33.3 million people currently living with HIV/AIDS in the world, including 2.5 million children. The theme for World AIDS Day 2010 is 'Universal Access and Human Rights'

[caption id="attachment_159" align="alignright" width="200" caption="Celebrating 2010!"][/caption]

You don't have to be from Mississippi to know that Mississippi public schools can sometimes be unwelcoming to lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) teens.  Last Saturday, however, the ACLU of Mississippi participated in our third Mississippi Safe Schools Coalition (MSSC) summit, whose mission is to make schools safer for LGBT youth in Mississippi.

With so many stories in the news about the bullying and suicides of gay youth lately, the ACLU of Mississippi is grateful to have helped so many lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth in 2010. Our work with Ceara Sturgis and Constance McMillen are only two of our most public cases. But members and staff of the ACLU-MS have worked tirelessly this year to make Mississippi a better, safer place for LGBT people.

As I write this, senators in Judiciary Committee A are meeting to discuss potential immigration legislation. Through personal and newspaper reports, I've heard that some of the legislators want to bring a law to Mississippi very similar to Arizona's controversial SB1070.  It would require every police officer to ask people for their papers based only on some undefined "reasonable suspicion" that they are in the country unlawfully. To avoid arrest, citizens and non-citizens will effectively have to carry their "papers" at all times.

Do you remember when, in the wake of the so-called "Patriot Act," cities across the country passed resolutions not to enforce some of the most egregious, rights-violating provisions of that law?  That kind of bold opposition to power made me proud of my country.

So, my friends and I went to the Scotts Sisters Rally and March this Wednesday.  There were a lot of things going on, a sea of people, posters, and banners.  I went to represent my school, Tougaloo College, ACLU student chapter.   For most of the people in TC-ACLU, it was their first time being at a march.  Emotions were high with enthusiasm, and a little apprehensive. We all car pooled to the March’s starting point, Fairish Street Park.  On the way we were sign and laughing and saying chants we heard, wondering what was in store for us.

A life sentence for allegedly stealing $11.00.  That's the sentence that two sisters, Jamie and Gladys Scott, received in 1993.   Their case illustrates how dangerous Mississippi's criminal justice system is, especially for people of color and low-income in our state.  Mississippi's culture of conviction swallows people whole, handing out excessive sentences for minor crimes.  And regardless of how minor one thinks stealing $11.00 is, certainly life in prison is a punishment that doesn't fit the crime.