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Dismantling Progress, Deportation And Sanctuary Cities
On Law and Disorder, we’re celebrating Black History Month. We remember and honor the ongoing struggle of Black Americans and their allies to achieve equality, justice and fairness. But the forces of white supremacy have opposed that struggle at every turn. Today, the President of the United States and his enablers are at the forefront of not only dismantling the progress that has been made but creating new obstacles to impede further progress.
On day one, Trump claimed to end birthright citizenship and he terminated Diversity, Equity and Inclusion policies and programs throughout the federal government and in companies with federal contracts. He has stepped up deportations and is sending undocumented immigrants to the infamous detention center in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. He canceled flights for refugees already approved to travel to the United States. He has threatened to prosecute local officials in Sanctuary Cities who refuse to cooperate with ICE agents. He froze federal grants and loans designed to support low income food, housing, and educational programs. All told, in the first 18 days, he issued over 65 Execution Orders or policy statements that threaten to tear apart the fabric of American society that has been striving – haltering at times – to achieve Equality and Justice for All.
Meanwhile, the recent devastating fires in Los Angeles have destroyed entire communities in the wealthy Pacific Palisades and in less wealthy Altadena, which has a special place in the history of African Americans in Los Angeles. Will the ambitious plans to rebuild these destroyed areas favor the rich over the poor, as we saw after Katrina and so many natural and man-made disasters?
Guest – Sheila Miller serves as Director of Race, Equity & Inclusion at the National Immigration Law Center and leads the implementation of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice and Belonging (DEIBJ) initiatives. She is responsible for creating, training, managing, and optimizing all efforts to make the NILC internal workplace a fairer, more equitable environment for all employees. She partners with leaders across the organization to ensure progress toward NILCs vision of being a race-forward, fully inclusive organization.
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44 States Set to Remove Critical Race Theory
Forty four states have introduced bills or taken other steps that would restrict teaching critical race theory, or limit how teachers can discuss racism and sexism. Critical race theory is an academic and legal framework that recognizes systemic racism in the United States. It challenges the idea that racism is abnormal or that it’s just a result of individual bias.
In late January, the Department of Defense issued a memo removing the recognition of history months, such as Black History Month, Women’s History Month, and Pride Month, from its official observances, claiming such months played a divisive role in American society.
But we in the National Lawyers Guild still strongly believe such months can play a vital role in educating our diverse population on matters often given little or no attention in our lives or in our public schools around the nation.
So as far as we are concerned, this month, the month of February is still Black History Month. And, we’ve invited two guests who believe as we do to join us here on The Lawyers Guild Show today to discuss racism in America, both historic and present-day. That, in turn, means we will be examining critical race theory and consider why White America has so much fear of it being taught in our public schools.
Guests – Sharon Kyle and Dick Price, respectively publisher and editor of the LA Progressive, a daily on-line magazine widely read throughout the greater Los Angeles area, and beyond. Sharon Klye is Black, Dick Price, who happens to be her husband, is White.
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