Arkansas House Candidate Wore KKK Outfit for Halloween

Charles Beckham III, 37, is challenging state Sen. Bruce Maloch (D) next week and several of his classmates from high school are speaking out about his racism. They say they remember when he dressed up as a Klansman for Halloween in 2000 at the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science.

Another Black woman who attended the school, Safira McGrew, said that both Beckham and his girlfriend at the time had Confederate flags hanging in their dorm rooms.

Beckham was kicked out of the school following the KKK regalia incident, and his parents filed a lawsuit, and a judge dismissed the suit.

“When I think about people who would do good as a public servant, he is close to the last person on that list,” former classmate Eric Seymour said, explaining that he was bullied by Beckham at the high school.

“He personally terrorized me. That kind of speaks to his character,” he remembered. “He’s a bully. He’s not a nice guy.”

Since deciding to run for office, Beckham has apologized.

https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2020/10/republican-candidate-apologizes-wearing-kkk-regalia-terrorizing-black-students/

National Geographic Maps US Showing Best States for Women

Using the same data as discussed in our previous post, National Geographic provides data in map form showing the best and the worst states for women. 

Best is Massachusetts, worst is Louisiana.  

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2020/12/these-are-the-best-and-worst-states-for-women/

How Does Your State Rank on Women's Right?

Want to know how your state ranks on women's rights? Ms. Magazine has published an article based on data from the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace, and Security which ranks Massachusetts #1 and Louisiana #2. No state offers full legal protection of women's rights, and some offer none, according to the article.

https://msmagazine.com/2020/10/21/how-does-your-state-rank-on-womens-rights/

Amnesty International to Monitor US Election Season

The United States, once respected as a champion of human rights for many, has now gained the reputation for the opposite. Amnesty International has grave concerns about the respect for human rights in the United States.

 “The world is watching the United States and we at Amnesty International stand ready to document and denounce violations of the rights to freedom of expression and assembly throughout the election period. The widespread availability of guns, combined with the incitement of violence and the enabling and abetting of white supremacy — at the highest levels of government and by those elected to serve the people — has left the country dangerously vulnerable to civil and political unrest,” said Bob Goodfellow, Interim Executive Director of Amnesty International USA.

https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2020/10/usa-amnesty-to-monitor-human-rights-abuses-at-demonstrations/

Human Rights Campaign Says Barrett's Confirmation a Sham

“Despite Amy Coney Barrett’s troubling anti-LGBTQ record and rhetoric, Senate Republicans rushed through the fastest Supreme Court confirmation process in modern history. This was a power grab, plain and simple, and voters must hold these Senators – and Donald Trump – accountable at the polls,” said Alphonso David, president of the Human Rights Campaign. “The process was a sham, the hearings were fast-tracked, and once again, Mitch McConnell and Donald Trump have chosen power over people. We must reject this bald power grab and elect officials – especially in the White House and the U.S. Senate – who will ensure our judicial branch lives up to its potential. Voters should hold Sens. Daines, Ernst, Gardner, Graham, McSally, Sullivan and Tillis accountable at the ballot box. Our democracy and our lives depend on it.” 

https://www.hrc.org/press-releases/the-human-rights-campaign-amy-coney-barretts-confirmation-is-a-sham-threatens-lgbtq-equality

Trump Administration Sues Yale to End Affirmative Action

"The Trump administration sued Yale University today accusing the school of violating federal civil rights law by discriminating against applicants based on their race.

"The Justice Department lawsuit is the most drastic action the Trump administration has taken to combat the use of race in university admissions, a practice that has repeatedly been upheld by the Supreme Court. But race-based affirmative action is considered vulnerable under the conservative majority on the high court, which would expand further if the Senate confirms President Donald Trump’s nominee, Amy Coney Barrett."

https://www.politico.com/news/2020/10/08/trump-administration-sues-yale-428235

Kamala Harris – Wonderful Up Against a Man Like Mike Pence

"Every Black Woman Has Faced a Mike Pence" by Erin Evans says it all. Kamala Harris offered a master class in poise and sophistocation against an empty suit of lies. 

"And at least, for one night, Harris effortlessly showed odd, as author Brittney Cooper puts it, "eloquent rage" and poise, on the national stage – and reminded us how hard it can be to stick the landing."

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/kamala-harris-black-women_n_5f7f343ac5b600470a9955b8