This Week in Civil Liberties: Choice, Gene Patents, and Freedom of the Press,
Ryan, May 17, 2013 - 4:14pmEach Friday, we’ll bring you updates on the latest civil liberties news from Maine and the nation.
Abortion Rights
Yesterday, the state legislature’s Judiciary Committee held public hearings on three anti-choice bills. The bills seem designed to chip away at abortion rights. Wisely, the committee voted “ought not to pass” on all three bills today. Read more here.
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Abortion Rights
Yesterday, the state legislature’s Judiciary Committee held public hearings on three anti-choice bills. The bills seem designed to chip away at abortion rights. Wisely, the committee voted “ought not to pass” on all three bills today. Read more here.
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A Nation of Immigrants
jill, May 15, 2013 - 5:12pmA week and a half ago, I had the privilege of meeting with members of the Maine Immigrant Rights Coalition and staffers of Maine Senator Angus King. We were asked to share our personal immigration stories, urging the Senator to support reform.
By the time it was my turn, I was in tears. I apologized to the small group gathered who have been separated from their families, put in jail and denied basic benefits while seeking asylum in our country. Their stories made me aware of many things: I am white, I am an American citizen, I am safe and I have plenty.
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By the time it was my turn, I was in tears. I apologized to the small group gathered who have been separated from their families, put in jail and denied basic benefits while seeking asylum in our country. Their stories made me aware of many things: I am white, I am an American citizen, I am safe and I have plenty.
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Legislative Agenda: Week of May 13
Rachel, May 13, 2013 - 10:00amThe following are public hearings and work sessions on bills of note for the week of May 13:
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This Week in Civil Liberties: Victories in Maine Legislature and in same-sex marriage
Ryan, May 10, 2013 - 4:14pmEach Friday, we’ll bring you updates on the latest civil liberties news from Maine and the nation.
Maine Legislative Successes
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Maine Legislative Successes
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Don't Let Maine Regress On Reproductive Freedom
edward, May 9, 2013 - 1:56pmA woman’s right to have an abortion is under assault. Take Arkansas and North Dakota, which recently passed two of the most restrictive abortion laws in the country. Or Kansas, which is considering a similar law. Or Texas and Alabama, which are pushing bills designed to force women's health centers to shut their doors. The list | continue reading
"No Digital Communications Are Secure"
Rachel, May 7, 2013 - 5:41pmThe title of this post is a quote from former FBI counterterrorism agent Tim Clemente, who made some eye-opening statements on CNN last week. According to columnist Glenn Greenwald, Clemente's statements indicate that all of our digital communications - including telephone calls, emails, online chats, etc. | continue reading
An 8th Grader’s Determination Pays Off
Jon, May 6, 2013 - 4:38pmIt took awhile, but a Gay-Straight Alliance is coming to Carver Middle School.
Bayli Silberstein has been working to establish a GSA at her school in Florida since 2011. She wants to start the club to combat bullying at her school, but administrators have put up unnecessary (and unconstitutional) roadblocks at every corner. The school board even went so far as to propose a ban on all non-academic clubs for all middle schools in the county, just to stop Bayli from starting hers.
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Bayli Silberstein has been working to establish a GSA at her school in Florida since 2011. She wants to start the club to combat bullying at her school, but administrators have put up unnecessary (and unconstitutional) roadblocks at every corner. The school board even went so far as to propose a ban on all non-academic clubs for all middle schools in the county, just to stop Bayli from starting hers.
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UPDATED Legislative agenda: next week's public hearings and work sessions
Rachel, May 3, 2013 - 3:41pmUpdated May 7. The following are public hearings and work sessions on bills of note for the week of May 6:
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Not the way life should be
oami, May 3, 2013 - 1:51pmToday I testified against three bills that would severely, and unconstitutionally, restrict welfare benefits for some of Maine's most vulnerable families.
Two of the bills seek to limit the number of people who can receive state aid by creating unconstitutional residency requirements and automatically terminating benefits for anyone convicted of a drug crime. The third bill would allow random, suspicionless drug testing of public benefit recipients in violation of the Fourth Amendment.
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Two of the bills seek to limit the number of people who can receive state aid by creating unconstitutional residency requirements and automatically terminating benefits for anyone convicted of a drug crime. The third bill would allow random, suspicionless drug testing of public benefit recipients in violation of the Fourth Amendment.
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Estamos Unidos!
Jon, May 1, 2013 - 7:28pmIt was a glorious Wednesday to be in Portland, and not just because of the sunny skies. With hundreds of Mainers taking to the streets to march in support of comprehensive immigration reform, this year’s March and Rally for Immigration Reform couldn’t have gone any better.
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