In Victory Over Arizona’s ‘State-Sponsored Racism’, Ethnic Studies Program Restored

The restoration of a Mexican-American studies program in Tucson, Arizona public schools is being hailed as an important step in telling the more complex history of the American West.

Dennis J Bernstein
By Dennis J Bernstein
Protesters gather to support the Tucson Unified School District as Superintendent of Public Instruction John Huppenthal announces that the Tucson Unified School District violates state law by teaching it's Mexican American Studies Department's ethic studies program at a news conference at the Arizona Department of Education in Phoenix, Ariz. (AP/Ross D. Franklin)

Advocates of Mexican-American studies are celebrating a federal court ruling restoring one of the most successful programs in Arizona public schools as a victory against “state-sponsored racism.” Nolan Cabrera, an associate professor at the Center for the Study of Higher Education at the University of Arizona, has been involved from the

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‘An Endorsement Of Racism’: Trump Hints At Pardon For Joe Arpaio

Human rights groups and advocates swiftly respond to Trump’s reassurance that America’s so-called “toughest sheriff,” a convicted criminal awaiting his sentence, will be “just fine”

Jessica Corbett
By Jessica Corbett
Joe Arpaio, who proclaimed himself ‘America’s toughest sheriff’, showing detainees at the Tent City facility to the media in 2009. (Photo: Ross D. Franklin/AP)

Human rights groups and advocates were outraged when President Donald Trump, from his controversial rally in Arizona Tuesday night, strongly implied he would pardon Joe Arpaio, the notorious former sheriff of Maricopa County who has been convicted of violating a federal court order to stop discriminating against Latinos in his county. "So was

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Arizona Republicans Want Racketeering Laws Applied To Protesters

“By including rioting in racketeering laws, it actually permits police to arrest those who are planning events.”

James Holbrooks
By James Holbrooks
In this Feb. 10, 2011 file photo, protestors gather around Arizona State Sen. Russell Pearce, R-Mesa, Arizona's immigration bill SB1070 author, outside the Sandra Day O'Connor Federal Courthouse in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York, File)

(REPORT) --- If Republicans in Arizona’s senate have their way, police in that state could soon have the power to seize assets and property from protesters, the Arizona Capitol Times reports. From a February 22 article: “Claiming people are being paid to riot, Republican state senators voted Wednesday to give police new power to arrest anyone

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Arizona Bill Would Ban Discussion Of Social Justice, Solidarity In Schools

State lawmaker proposes legislation that would ban classes and extracurricular activities that “promote” social justice or solidarity.

Nika Knight
By Nika Knight
Rep. Bob Thorpe, R-Flagstaff, speaks in Phoenix, Arizona on Thursday, April 7, 2016. (AP/Ryan VanVelzer)

(REPORT) --- Arizona state representative Bob Thorpe, a Republican, has just proposed a bill that would ban any school courses or extracurricular activities that "promote" any kind of "social justice" or "solidarity" based on race, class, gender, politics, or religion. The legislation, House Bill 2120, also appears to connect classes on social

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Tohono O’odham Nation Tribal Leaders Say Wall With Mexico Will Not Be Built On Their Land

“Over my dead body will a wall be built.”

Ivan Stiv
By Ivan Stiv

Tribal leadership of Tohono O’odham Nation in southern Arizona said they won’t support a border wall project on their land. Part of their reservation extends into Mexico and covers 75 miles of the international border. The tribe’s chairman and vice chair said the plan was always to try to work with whoever holds the office of the United States

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Students Protest After Arizona School Bans Black Lives Matter Shirts But Allow Confederate Flag

Only after complaints of a double standard did the administration announce that confederate flag clothing would no longer be accepted on school grounds.

teleSUR
By teleSUR
Mariah Havard snaps a photo of the t-shirt that she was later forced to remove by schoold officials (Photo: Mariah Havard/Facebook)

Led by Mariah Havard, the Arizona high school student made to take off her Black Lives Matter T-shirt last week by school authorities, about a dozen students staged a walkout and rally against the administration Monday morning. Chanting "We're fired up, can't take it no more!" the protesters walked off Buckeye Union High School grounds to

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