Obama Uses a Teaching Moment to Challenge ‘Stand Your Ground’ Laws Obama Uses a Teaching Moment to Challenge ‘Stand Your Ground’ Laws
The president is right to encourage a rethink of laws that are not "contributing to the kind of peace and security and order that we’d like to see.”
Jul 20, 2013 / John Nichols
Whose Right? Whose Ground? Whose Right? Whose Ground?
Juror B37 told CNN that fear in the “heat of the moment” made the shooting of Martin an act of self-defense. But Ziimmerman’s heated moment was short. Trayvon Mar...
Jul 18, 2013 / Laura Flanders
Rewriting Black Manhood: A Conversation With ‘Fruitvale Station’ Director Ryan Coogler Rewriting Black Manhood: A Conversation With ‘Fruitvale Station’ Director Ryan Coogler
The 27-year-old director of the film adaptation of Oscar Grant’s shooting talked to me about the obstacles facing young black men in America today.
Jul 18, 2013 / Books & the Arts / Mychal Denzel Smith
Rep. John Lewis: ‘The Voting Rights Act Is Needed Now Like Never Before’ Rep. John Lewis: ‘The Voting Rights Act Is Needed Now Like Never Before’
Congress held its first hearing on the Voting Rights Act today, as states rush to implement new voter suppression laws.
Jul 17, 2013 / Ari Berman
Race, Law and the Zimmerman Verdict Race, Law and the Zimmerman Verdict
The problem is not that Zimmerman was afforded the presumption of innocence. It is that Trayvon Martin was not—and that defendants who look like him are denied that right eve...
Jul 17, 2013 / The Editors
Our Lives on the Line Our Lives on the Line
How long are we supposed to remain calm when the laws we are called on to respect are an open assault on our humanity?
Jul 17, 2013 / Mychal Denzel Smith
FDR’s Jewish Problem FDR’s Jewish Problem
How did a president beloved by Jews come to be regarded as an anti-Semite who refused to save them from the Nazis?
Jul 17, 2013 / Books & the Arts / Laurence Zuckerman
Outrage Is Rising Against Stand Your Ground Outrage Is Rising Against Stand Your Ground
Attorney General Holder, civil rights groups, legislators and newspapers seek a reconsideration of “shoot first” laws—and Stevie Wonder won't play "Stand...
Jul 17, 2013 / John Nichols
Fear and Consequences: George Zimmerman and the Protection of White Womanhood Fear and Consequences: George Zimmerman and the Protection of White Womanhood
White women are taught to fear men of color, but the results of George Zimmerman’s trial prove that it’s time to change that.
Jul 16, 2013 / Jessica Valenti
Patricia Williams: How Did Trayvon Martin Become the Defendant in the Zimmerman Case? Patricia Williams: How Did Trayvon Martin Become the Defendant in the Zimmerman Case?
This case was handled poorly from the second the police arrived at the scene of the murder.
Jul 15, 2013 / Press Room