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Abortion Rights on the Ballot: Seven States Vote to Expand Access, Three Maintain Restrictions – The Gist

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Measures to protect access to abortion they passed the test in seven states but failed in three where it was on the ballot on this election, marking a key moment in the ongoing national debate on reproductive rights.

Arizona, Colorado, New York, Maryland, Missouri, Montana and Nevada voted to protect a lady’s right to select. However, the states of Florida, South Dakota and Nebraska have decided to maintain or impose more stringent restrictions on abortion access. The results highlight a growing patchwork of abortion policies, with some states expanding access while others seek to limit or outright limit it.

This wave of ballot initiatives follows the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2022 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, which ended federal abortion protections and left regulation up to individual states. In response, abortion rights advocates are increasingly turning to ballot initiatives, allowing voters to have a direct say on the issue and bypass legislative hurdles. This approach reflects a shift toward grassroots efforts to secure or restore access to abortion in an evolving and polarized legal landscape.

Here’s how voters took the reins on this critical issue while it was on the page voting in 10 states.

Abortion rights on the ballot: Seven states vote to expand access, three keep restrictions
Tifanny Burks holds Novah Smith (2) as a member of Florida Planned Parenthood PAC Abortion rights activists hold a poster during a protest following the 6-3 ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which overturned the landmark Roe v. Wade abortion case in Miami, Florida, June 24, 2022 – The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday put an end to abortion rights in a shocking ruling that upends half a century of constitutional protections on certainly one of the most divisive and bitterly contested issues in American political life. The conservative-dominated court overturned the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, which guaranteed a lady’s right to an abortion, and said states could allow or restrict the procedure themselves. (Photo: CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP) (Photo: CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images)

New York

New York voters expressed strong support for measures to protect abortion access by approving amendments to the state structure. One such means Proposal 1appeared on the ballot without directly mentioning abortion, however it effectively secured the right to abortion. Abortion stays legal in New York until the twenty fourth week of pregnancy.

Arizona

In Arizona, voters passed a bill that might repeal the state’s current ban on abortion after the fifteenth week of pregnancy. The move significantly expands reproductive rights, marking a fundamental shift in the abortion landscape in the state. The measure, a victory for abortion rights supporters in the presidential battleground state, establishes a “fundamental right” to abortion in the Arizona structure. It prohibits the state from restricting or prohibiting abortion before fetal viability, normally around 24 weeks of pregnancy. Until now, Arizona law prohibited abortion after the fifteenth week of pregnancy.

Colorado

Colorado voters approved a move to strengthen existing abortion rights, continuing the state’s history of supporting reproductive access. Because abortion is already legal to the point where it is possible, the amendment secures existing protections and strengthens Colorado’s position on reproductive rights. Moreover, this solution repeals the constitutional provision that previously prohibited public financing of abortion. Colorado stays without restrictions on access to abortion while pregnant.

Maryland

Maryland voters approved a constitutional amendment protecting access to abortion and affirming the right to reproductive freedom. The solution preserves existing abortion rights, including the ability to make decisions about pregnancy, and embeds these protections in the state structure. Maryland has no restrictions on abortion while pregnant, strengthening reproductive rights in the state.

Abortion rights on the ballot: Seven states vote to expand access, three keep restrictions
WASHINGTON – JUNE 24: Abortion rights demonstrator Elizabeth White leads a chant in response to the Women’s Health Organization’s Dobbs v. Jackson ruling at the United States Supreme Court on June 24, 2022 in Washington, DC. The Court’s ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health overturns the landmark 50-year-old Roe v. Wade case and erases the federal right to abortion. (Photo: Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

Montana

Montana voters approved a measure protecting abortion access, strengthening the state’s existing reproductive rights. The amendment guarantees the right to make decisions regarding pregnancy, including abortion, up to the viability of the fetus and beyond, so as to protect the life or health of the patient. Abortion has been legal in Montana since a 1999 state Supreme Court ruling.

Nevada

Nevada voters passed a measure protecting abortion rights, ensuring the state’s legal framework continues to support reproductive access. The amendment to the Nevada state structure guarantees the right to abortion until the viability of the fetus and thereafter when it’s essential to protect the health or lifetime of the patient. Although the amendment has already been approved, it can require voter approval again in 2026 to fully amend the state structure.

Missouri

Missouri voters overturned the state’s nearly complete ban on abortion, significantly expanding access to abortion. Abortion is currently banned in Missouri, with no exceptions for rape and incest. The newly approved amendment is a fundamental change in state policy that is predicted to significantly expand access to abortion services.

Florida

Florida voters rejected a measure to enshrine abortion rights in the state structure, a setback for supporters who want to restore broader access. The proposal, which might allow abortion until viability, received 57% of the vote but fell wanting the 60% threshold required for approval. Florida currently bans most abortions after six weeks. The defeat ends a string of victories for abortion rights groups in state elections since the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision that overturned Roe v. Wade.

South Dakota

South Dakota voters rejected an initiative that might have legalized abortion with provisions applicable during the first and second trimesters of pregnancy. As a result, the almost complete ban on abortion, which allows for exceptions only to save the lifetime of the mother, will remain in force. The proposal, which included exceptions for rape and incest, was narrowly defeated, reflecting the divided and sophisticated position of voters.

Nebraska

Nebraska voters faced two competing votes on abortion. One, which was not adopted, sought to guarantee the right to abortion up to the viability of the fetus. The second, which passed, upheld the state’s 12-week abortion ban, allowing exceptions for sexual assault, incest and medical emergencies. If each solutions were adopted, the one which received the most votes would change into effective. Nebraska law currently allows abortions up to 12 weeks.

The results mark the end of a winning streak for abortion rights supporters, underscoring that reproductive health stays a key issue for voters. According to Press Associationin a survey of greater than 110,000 voters nationwide, a few quarter of respondents said abortion policy was the most significant think about their vote, while almost half considered it essential but not the most significant factor. Just over 1 in 10 people said it was a secondary factor.

This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
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Politics and Current

Biden will meet with Trump over a White House tradition that Trump broke four years ago

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Joe Biden, Donald Trump, theGrio.com

President-elect Donald Trump, the forty seventh latest president of the United States of America, will meet with President Joe Biden within the Oval Office on Wednesday as a part of the tradition of a peaceful transition of power on the White House.

The peaceful transfer of power dates back to 1801, when the president of the outgoing administration transferred power to the brand new administration and the opposing political party. At that time, the nation’s second president, John Adams, peacefully handed over the presidency to Thomas Jefferson.

But on Wednesday morning, President Biden will offer Trump something he couldn’t afford after being elected in 2020: a meeting with the present president within the White House Oval Office.

This 12 months, then-President Trump falsely accused Democrats of stealing the presidential election from him so as to install former Vice President Biden because the forty sixth president of the United States.

Trump’s vice chairman, Mike Pence, selected to follow the Constitution and certify the outcomes of the 2020 election, declaring Biden the winner of the Electoral College – against Trump’s wishes. As a results of President Trump’s election lies, which included encouraging his voters to “fight like hell” or “they won’t have a country anymore,” a mob of Trump supporters attacked the Capitol constructing after attending Trump’s “Stop the Steal” conference. ” so January 6, 2021

For Trump, the tradition of outgoing and incoming presidents is ironic because, as president-elect, he needed to face then-President Barack Obama during his meeting within the Oval Office to rejoice the approaching peaceful transition. The meeting got here after Trump fiercely attacked Obama and his Democratic presidential opponent, Hillary Clinton, in 2016.

Trump and Obama met within the Oval Office on November 16, 2018. The two politicians had never met in person before, which was very true after the rancorous and racist presidential campaign.

To the dismay of Black Americans and Democrats, Trump softly launched his presidential bid based on the racist claim that Obama was not a U.S. citizen. In this fashion, based on critics, Trump desired to delegitimize Obama’s historic victory within the 2008 presidential election.

During the planned and expected meeting, Obama was then described as “presidential” and “professional,” putting aside his hatred of the campaign and meeting with Trump for about 90 minutes, well longer than the scheduled time. The discussion on the agenda included various topics intended to assist the brand new president achieve a peaceful transfer of power.

While President Biden is extending presidential courtesy to Trump’s latest but familiar White House transition team, sources say there may be bad blood there. Once again through the 2024 election cycle, Trump used racist and slander tactics against his Democratic opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris.

WASHINGTON, DC – NOVEMBER 10: US President Barack Obama (right) shakes hands with President-elect Donald Trump (left) after a meeting within the Oval Office on November 10, 2016 in Washington, DC. Trump is scheduled to meet with members of the Republican Party’s congressional leadership on Capitol Hill this evening. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

During his first appearance on the Oval with President Obama, next to whom a bronze bust of Martin Luther King Jr. stands on the best side of the hearth, Trump told the press within the room: “It was a meeting that was supposed to last maybe 10 or 15 minutes and we were just getting to know each other.” “.

The New York native continued: “We have never met. That’s why I have great respect for it.”

“The meeting lasted almost an hour and a half, and for my part it could have lasted for much longer. We really discussed a lot of various situations,” Trump said on the time.

Trump, clearly impressed and in need of help dealing with his latest job within the White House – which former first lady Michelle Obama famously described as a “dark job” when prodding him at this 12 months’s DNC conference – told reporters: “I’m looking forward to being with the president in the long run, including with an advisor.”

As Democrats and others attempt to shake off the collective depression attributable to Harris’ stunning loss to Trump, many are looking forward to what to anticipate from a second Trump administration.

Trump's victory creates uncertainty for borrowers hoping for student loan forgiveness

In the 2024 presidential election, Trump won the favored vote and the Electoral College – the primary Republican to achieve this since 2004. Trump received barely more electoral votes than within the last election, giving him a bonus. But the primary obstacle for Democrats was voter turnout, as apathy among the many party appeared to rear its head.

Regardless of the end result, Johnson offered hope to the country, stating: “We have to keep pushing and hoping.”

This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
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A Washington police officer who shot a black man with his hands in the air over a stop sign, then dragged his body and slammed it into the ground, remains on the force despite an $8 million payout to his family

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The city of Lakewood, Washington, has reached an agreement with the family of a 26-year-old black man who was shot thrice by an officer who claimed he was acting in self-defense.

He said Joquin died on May 1, 2020, after Officer Michael Wiley stopped him for running a stop sign. The $8 million settlement announced last week is coming to an end federal civil rights lawsuit Joquin’s parents filed a criticism against the officer, who claimed their son had lunged for a gun lying on the floor of his vehicle.

According to the lawsuit, Wiley approached Joquin’s automobile with a gun drawn and told him, “Shut up or you’ll get shot.” The lawsuit states that Joquin, as Wiley requested, had his hands up when he was shot. After the shooting, Wiley allegedly pulled Joquin out of the automobile and “threw him to the ground.”

The police killing of Said Joquin led to protests in Lakewood, Washington. (Photos: YouTube screenshot/KING 5 Seattle)

Wiley was involved in one other expensive suit v. Lakewood in 2017. He was one in every of three officers found by a jury answerable for the death of one other young black man, Leonard Thomas, for a record $15.1 million. A post-trial settlement was reached in exchange for $13 million and a promise not to appeal.

Thomas was holding his 4-year-old son when he was shot in the stomach by a Lakewood SWAT sniper. Wiley reportedly announced “Jackpot!” Testimony shows he spoke on the police radio after Thomas was shot and later praised his colleague for taking the “million-dollar f–king shot,” according to trial testimony. Thomas bled to death, begging cops not to take his boy.

Evidence from Thomas’ trial “revealed that Wiley was an exceptionally aggressive officer who had an insufficient understanding of the use of force, was willing to use weapons, explosives and unnecessary force, and who demonstrated a striking lack of concern for life,” Joquin filed the family’s lawsuit.

Wiley remains in service. Joquin’s lawsuit alleged that Lakewood police were “unreasonable and reckless” in continuing to employ him regardless that a jury in Thomas found that he had violated the victim’s civil rights.

A previous attempt to dismiss Joquin’s lawsuit was blocked by the US District Judge David Estudillo. Wiley, the judge wrote in his August order, had a “documented history of using force against people he helped detain.”

He said there was enough evidence for the jury to find that “Joquin did not engage in furtive or threatening behavior during the encounter.”

Dawn Kortner, Joquin’s mother, he said in a 2021 interview, she never believed Wiley’s account.

“I feel like it’s overkill,” Kortner said. “He took steps he shouldn’t have taken. I believe he was too aggressive and I would like him to be held accountable for what he did. He shouldn’t receive a pension and sit at home and enjoy his children when we will not enjoy Said.

Pierce County Prosecutor’s Office Attorney Mary Robnett declined to press charges against Wiley for Joquin’s death.

In a letter to Lakewood Police Chief Mike Zaro, Robnett cited Joquin’s “unpredictable and dangerous behavior” in running a stop sign in front of police on a busy road. She also concluded that bullet trajectory evidence showed that Joquin didn’t raise his hands when Wiley shot him.

Wiley was also cleared for internal examination.

In a statement, Lakewood officials said: “Any life cut short is a tragedy and we can only imagine the suffering and pain they experience. The decision to reach an agreement was made with the best outcome for all parties involved in mind.”

This article was originally published on : atlantablackstar.com
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Without Kamala Harris in the White House, Democrats are turning to Hakeem Jeffries

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As Democrats proceed to lick their wounds following Kamala Harris’ stunning defeat to President-elect Donald Trump, all eyes are on Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), whose party in Congress has little likelihood of regaining the majority in the House of Representatives.

If Democrats manage to win the House, it’s going to give the party its only hope of slowing Trump’s agenda. Jeffries, a 54-year-old congressman from Brooklyn, New York, also became Speaker of the House, making history as the first African American to hold the position, just two steps of separation in the line of presidential succession.

As Donald Trump begins to appoint members of his second administration’s Cabinet to be tasked with implementing his agenda – which incorporates proposed mass deportations, the elimination of racial equity programs and big cuts in federal spending – Democrats’ ability to play defense will probably be crucial to mitigating this. , which they see as potentially critical blows to vulnerable communities.

Democrats view Jeffries, the current House minority leader, as a key leader of the party, especially if his caucus can gain a majority. This would involve the commission’s control – which incorporates significant subpoena power – and shaping the federal budget. At the very least, it might enable Democrats to force Republicans to make concessions where possible.

As a six-term congressman known for sticking to his word, Jeffries is a respected and admired politician in the Democratic Party.

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – AUGUST 21: U.S. House of Representatives Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) departs after speaking on stage during the third day of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center on August 21, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

Payne said Jeffries, who represents a “generational turn” in the party, “has shown that he is a truly gifted communicator and communicator.” He added: “He has some different skill sets that other Democrats may not be able to. And I think that’s something that Democrats will really benefit from.

Payne continued if elected Speaker of the House, “(Jeffries) will become the most important Democrat in the country with any power. She is essentially taking over the mantle that Nancy Pelosi took on when she was re-elevated to speaker during Trump’s first presidency.”

But Payne cautioned that even when Democrats manage to amass a razor-thin majority in the House, it’s going to still be an uphill battle.

He noted that the caucus will include many Democrats “from districts where Donald Trump is popular.” “You still have to hold together a club that will come under cross-pressure from Donald Trump, who is more popular than he was four and eight years ago.”

At this point, Plaskett noted that Democrats would want to take a leaf out of her book as a member of Congress representing a U.S. territory.

“I have limited voting rights, so I understand what it means to punch above your weight,” said Plaskett, who said that being a political minority in Congress requires “cooperating with members of the Democratic caucus, as well as the Republican caucus when it is advantageous to do so for the interests of (our) voters.”

Policy

Democrats also see an incredible opportunity to strengthen Black political power in Washington with the elevation of Hakeem Jeffries.

“Him coming out as a black man from Brooklyn and being a major foil for Donald Trump — I think that’s important at a time like this,” Payne said.

But Congressman Clyburn cautions that Jeffries must overcome a few of the challenges Harris faced as the first woman and first person of color to function vice chairman.

“It’s a big burden that needs a lot of help to carry,” said the lawmaker who served as House majority whip and deputy Democratic leader.

“Kamala Harris suffered for this reason. I took it upon myself to check many individuals who kept telling me that she wasn’t this and he or she wasn’t that, she didn’t do that and he or she didn’t try this,” he recalled. “I’d ask them what number of women have been vice presidents before? She took office two months before you criticized her conduct.

As the first speaker of the Black House, Clyburn had doubts that Jeffries could be “allowed to get his sea legs… to master this job from day one.”

Seawright, the Democratic strategist, said Jeffries won’t only be speaker of the House but additionally leader of the entire national party, which he believes must “rebound, learn and grow as the next election cycles approach” in 2025 and 2026. The role Jeffries will play will probably be crucial “whether we win a majority or not.”

After the devastating defeat in the 2024 election, Seawright said Jeffries and other Democratic Party leaders need to rethink their message to voters.


Headshot by Gerren Keith Gaynor

This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
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