Author: UC Law Jones Center for Race, Gender, and Social Justice

It is emotionally overwhelming to live in a world where civil rights and human dignity are under constant threat. However, our hope is that you realize you are not alone in this fight for social justice.  

Our Planet is On Fire: Last August, one of the deadliest wildfires in U.S history struck the island of Maui, Hawai’i. Over a hundred people are confirmed dead and many others are still missing. Among those displaced by the fire are some of the most vulnerable in the community, including immigrants. Immigrants have experienced difficulty qualifying for aid, and because they fear prosecution by immigration authorities and police, it makes it more difficult for them to receive aid. Hawai’i is widely known for its enormous tourism industry, and many who profit off that industry are pushing for things to go “back to normal.” However, many of the workers who were struggling before the wildfire have faced worsening conditions in its aftermath. The Maui wildfire, while devastating, created space for people to call for an end to generations of exploitation and colonization exasperated by this disaster.  

Our Struggle to Exist: The criminalization of homelessness remains a pressing issue in our society despite receiving inadequate media attention. Some states ticket people for sleeping in parks, streets, or under bridges, and in some instances, forcibly remove them. These kinds of laws are spreading. For example, an estimated 100,000 people are living in homeless shelters in New York City. Yet, the city created an ordinance that bans camping even when there are no beds available in homeless shelters. The Supreme Court just issued an opinion on a case about these types of bans, and the ruling will likely negatively impact hundreds of thousands of vulnerable people.   

This is also a struggle that is global.  A day of tragedy occurred when Hamas attacked Israel on October 7; over 1,200 people were killed, and hundreds were taken as hostages. Many people around the world agreed that this attack was morally reprehensible and were quick to condemn Hamas in the aftermath of the tragedy. However, in the succeeding months, Israel has laid siege to Gaza, and over 30,000 Palestinians have died. Many people across the world have responded by carrying out protests and demonstrations in the streets and on college campuses. The Palestinian story and struggle have captured the hearts and minds of many Americans. Despite numerous protests in the United States, our government continues to provide military funding to Israel even though Israel uses those resources to carry out mass atrocities on Palestinian civilians, including targeting refugee camps. As activist and feminist writer June Jordan once said, “Palestine is the moral litmus test of our time.” Our commitment to Palestine is inseparable from our fight for LGBTQ+ people, women’s rights, and Black liberation; we must stand in solidarity with oppressed people and against oppressive systems everywhere.  

Our Struggle for Equality:  Anti-LGBTQ+ legislation is being pushed across the country by mostly Republican legislatures. In Ohio, Bill 68 bans gender-affirming care for ​transgender youth, preventing healthcare providers from helping patients receive gender affirming care in Ohio and even in other states. The Ohio House Public Health Policy Committee amended this bill to include the provisions in House Bill 6, which bans transgender women and girls from competing in school sports in Ohio. Earlier this year, Nex Benedict, a non-binary teen from Oklahoma, was found dead after reportedly being bullied and harassed by other kids at school due to their gender identity. In the weeks following Benedict’s death, many of their classmates led a walkout at school to protest what they described as an unsafe environment for LGBTQ+ students. Over 50 bills targeting members of the LGBTQ+ community were filed during the 2024 legislative session in Oklahoma. From bans on gender-affirming health care to penalizing public school employees for asking a student for their pronouns. Benedict’s death reflects the hostile and discriminatory environment fostered by the anti-LGBTQ+ legislation that we are seeing in Oklahoma, Ohio, and many other states across the country. 

Several states have also passed bills eliminating diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs at public universities. Supporters of these bans claim that DEI programs push a “woke ideology.” But those in favor of DEI programs say that they have helped foster a sense of belonging in spaces where historically marginalized communities, such as students with disabilities, students of color, and new Americans who may need extra help due to language or cultural barriers, were once systematically denied access. The message is clear to LGBTQ+ folks and those from historically marginalized communities: you do not belong here. The struggle of marginalized communities continues and is intensifying.  We must do better: we must use our voices in active allyship and civic involvement to ensure that decision makers, legislators, and adjudicators reflect the values of equality and inclusivity. 

Activism and Engagement Offer a Path Forward: In an uplifting display of citizens leveraging their power,  Ohioians recently voted to pass an amendment that will enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution. A significant victory for everyone who believes in reproductive freedom and bodily autonomy. It is particularly noteworthy considering that Ohio is known for being a conservative state. This victory is large but one of many that we’ll need to start down the path of change and social justice.  

The path of social justice continues and this November we will elect a president, but we’ll also be deciding on democracy, on our justice system, and on our values as a country. A lot of people are feeling anxious, defeated, and possibly even apathetic about the electoral process. However, it is paramount that everyone engages with their community and strives to continue with civic engagement, including voting. Vote because we have a moral responsibility to push our elected representatives in a progressive direction. Vote because local and state elections matter! (And they arguably affect your life and community on a more direct and personal level than the presidential election will.) Vote not because you believe that either of these mediocre white men are going to transform our country, but because you will. Ordinary people have always been the leaders that have dismantled the status quo and made life better for future generations; think back to the courageous people who fought to propel movements like feminism, civil rights, LGBTQ + rights, and labor rights. Many civil and human rights we enjoy today exist not because of the man that was in the oval office but because of ordinary people who refused to settle for less than they deserved. We at the Jones Center hope that you will join us this coming November in uplifting the voices of the marginalized and empowering others to effectuate systemic change.  

In Unity,

The Nathaniel R. Jones Center for Race, Gender, and Social Justice

We write once again to offer you hope and solidarity through what continues to be turbulent and exhausting times in our path toward social justice. This year has seen a rise in obvious attacks against protesters who speak out against restrictive and malicious legislation. The media has increasingly reported about legislative attempts to deny access to education, reproductive rights, and the right of the transgender community to thrive. Across the country, nearly 500 bills have been introduced that would negatively impact the LGBTQ+ community. Mass shootings and police shootings, together continue to exceed the number of days in the year, but many legislatures continue to loosen gun access. We continue to see heated policy and court battles around access to abortion care with the most notable disputes around access to mifepristone. Several states have passed, or are attempting to pass, laws to prevent students from learning about racial inequality in America by forbidding conversations about race under the guise of banning Critical Race Theory. Public and private attacks on speech and actions that critique these harmful legislative measures have been barely veiled:  

On March 8, police killed Manuel Esteban Paez Terán (a.k.a. Tortuguita) and arrested dozens of other protesters in the Weelaunee forest in Atlanta, Georgia. Tortuguita and other protesters were occupying the forest to prevent the city and the Atlanta Police Foundation from breaking ground on a project colloquially known as “Cop City.” The project would replace the Weelaunee forest with a police training facility that would simulate an urban cityscape. Protests argue the facility could endanger the watershed underneath the forest and potentially increase police brutality incidents through the proposed military-style training. Despite the killing and arrests, protesters continue to occupy the forest…and the march toward social justice plods on toward criminal justice and policing reforms.

On April 7, representatives from Tennessee were disciplined because they breached “decorum” by stepping onto the legislative floor (“the well”) in support of protesters. The protesters, many of whom were young people, came to the state building to demand gun reform after a deadly school shooting in Nashville. Justin Pearson, Justin Jones, and Gloria Johnson – later known as the Tennessee Three – supported protesters by chanting with them. Two of the three representatives were expelled while the third expulsion vote failed. The two expelled representatives, Jones and Pearson, are Black while their colleague, Johnson, is white. Pearson and Jones were later reinstated as temporary representatives by their respective districts. The Tennessee legislature did not address gun legislation before ending its session early…but we persist in the march toward social justice in gun reform. 

On April 20, Representative Zooey Zephyr was censured by the Montana legislature for speaking out against the proposed anti-gender-affirming healthcare bill that targeted transgender youths. Zephyr, herself a transgender individual, said, “I hope the next time there’s an invocation, when you bow your heads in prayer, you see the blood on your hands.” While other lawmakers in other states have used similar phrases without reproach, Zephyr was censured and forbidden to speak on the floor until she apologized for her comment. Protesters came to the legislature to demand the censure be lifted but many were instead arrested by the state police in riot gear… we will and must continue to speak out about injustices around gender and transgender equality.

On May 2, the Writers Guild of America (WGA) struck for better wages, healthcare benefits, pensions, and better compensation for work aired on streaming platforms. While the studios reached an agreement with the director’s guild to prevent an additional strike, they still have not come to the table to address the WGA’s concerns. The WGA joins other industries’ professionals like teachers and service workers who have struck this year for livable wages, workplace protections, and other resources…we will continue the fight for pay equity and fair labor practices and standards.

The silencing of protests and critiques continues loud and clear as the Supreme Court issued its decision in Glacier Northwest v. International Brotherhood of Teamsters. The decision will allow employers to sue workers for property unintentionally damaged during worker strikes. The case may have a chilling effect on future strikes because of the increased and unexpected liabilities workers may face if they strike. Only Justice Ketanji Brown-Jackson dissented from the opinion noting that the decision “risks erosion of the right to strike,” which is currently protected by federal law…we continue to strive for freedom of assembly, protest, and speech as it is one of the footholds of democracy.

State legislation also targets educational institutions. Florida passed a bill attacking education by demanding colleges and universities remove course materials that discuss “theories that systemic racism, sexism, oppression, and privilege are inherent in the institutions of the United States and were created to maintain social, political and economic inequality” from general education courses. Similarly, the Ohio senate recently passed SB 83 that “prohibits any mandatory programs or training courses regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion, unless the institution receives an exemption” from the chancellor of higher education. The bill would also prevent educators from teaching (“inculcating”) students about “controversial beliefs” like climate change, marriage, abortion, election policies, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. The bill (now HB 151) is before the Ohio House Higher Education committee… we must continue to bolster nuanced discourse and education surrounding the stumbles and successes of social justice and American progress.

Many are standing up against state silencing measures. Young people in Tennessee staged walkouts during the school day to demand gun reform. Libraries in New York and other states have pushed back against bans that restrict access to books about and by people of color or people from the LGBTQ+ community by expanding access to books and creating “banned book” reading lists. In other states like Arkansas, librarians and booksellers sued the state to challenge laws that would criminalize librarians and school staff who provided “harmful” books to people under the age of eighteen.

We encourage all of you to join those who continue to raise their voices and use their actions to push the needle away from silence and repression. This action can occur in a variety of ways but must first and foremost occur in spaces outside of social media. While social media can be a force to increase social discourse, it cannot effectuate change alone. Instead, we ask you to also reflect on your beliefs and habits. Ask yourself what you know, what you need to learn, and determine how you can teach yourself or find others willing to teach you. Next, educate yourself about your local and state political processes. Learn about what bills are being proposed in your town or state and steps you can take to support or oppose those bills. This may involve submitting testimony, calling officials, hosting letter-writing parties, or a variety of other activities. Learn about your elected representatives and use your vote to keep or remove those in office. While some parts of may feel removed from voting impact, remember elected representatives can enact policies, legislation, and censure. Last, but not least, remember to find support and rest for yourself and give support and space to others as we advocate and recuperate together.

On this Fourth of July, we leave you with this:  ignoring injustice is an injustice.   The Jones Center will continue to live up to our namesake… and answer the call. We hope you will join us.

In Unity,

The Jones Center for Race, Gender, and Social Justice

July 4, 2022

We write to offer you encouragement and hope during a time culminating with more than disappointing Supreme Court rulings, but, quite frankly, a tumultuous year filled with violence; 2022 has been difficult for our community and country. We are still recovering from the social and economic costs of the COVID-19 pandemic with the threat of the virus still on our minds while we wait for a return to “normalcy,” and we are still reconciling that this environment may be our new normal. We are still seeking a reckoning over the systemic racism and prejudice over various identities that plagues our nation and a way for atonement, resolution, and healing. Today, of all days, is celebrated across the country based on the historical narrative that “all Men are created equal,” but, this is not our reality then or today. Today is Independence Day, but our right to autonomy, independence, and freedom is subject and subordinate to an authoritarian government once again. This is an environment where violence can thrive, and where it most definitely has:

On January 3rd, the COVID-19 daily infection rate in the United States exceeded one million for the first time, with a total of 1.08 million reported cases.  It has disproportionately impacted people of color.  People of color are more likely to work in occupations that cannot be performed remotely, to live in multigenerational households in crowded conditions and densely populated areas, and to rely on public transportation. This increases their exposure risk. These factors are also intensified when we look to the inequities in healthcare for people of color. This virus is an act of violence against a community who lacks the means to effectively combat it. We believe in health equity and justice and affirm that the pandemic has brought to light the need to re-evaluate transactional and labor structures.

On March 28th, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed Florida House Bill 1557, commonly referred to as the “Don’t Say Gay Bill.” The bill restricts what teachers can say about sexual orientation and gender identity in school classrooms without defining what that is, limiting discussion of these issues altogether.  Ultimately, this law empowers parents to sue school districts over LGBTQIA+ teachings against their own morals/beliefs, similar to suits that occurred over mask and vaccine mandates and teachings on critical race theory.  Other states are modeling bills similar to the “Don’t Say Gay Bill.”  These bills serve to ostracize the LGBTQIA+ community and further threaten students’ mental health, physical safety, and well-being.  We believe in a government and democracy that is inclusive and that represents the spirit of equality and justice for all.

On May 14th, a mass shooting at a Tops Friendly Markets supermarket in Buffalo, New York left ten Black people dead. The 18-year-old gunman, Payton Gendron, penned a manifesto citing white supremacist terrorists from past shootings and detailing his plans for the attack, including the semi-automatic rifle he would use, clothing and body armor he would wear and the portable camera that would allow him to stream the massacre live on the internet. His motivation for the attack was to prevent Black people from replacing white people and from eliminating the white race, and to inspire others to commit similar racially motivated attacks. He is currently facing hate crime charges in federal court. We believe in education on racial equity and anti-racism teachings to understand how events like this occur and to prevent them from happening again.

On May 24th, one of the deadliest school shootings in American history took place at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. Nineteen children and two adults were killed in the massacre. Several law enforcement officers arrived at the school within minutes of being informed of the presence of a gunman but delayed their entrance into the building by over an hour against protocol for active shooter situations. The children inside repeatedly called 911 and begged for help, as parents waited outside the school and were physically restrained if they interfered.  The 18-year-old shooter, Salvador Ramos, was killed at the scene in an eventual shootout with police, but the lack of police response has raised critical questions about the role of police in schools and whether their job is to protect students or to punish them. We believe in re-allocation of some resources from police to mental health resources, to job training, to affordable housing, and to other community investments.

These are just a few of the acts of violence at the forefront of our collective community’s mind and conscious, but certainly not the only ones.  But these acts of violence have only been inflamed by political institutions and government decision-making.  For instance, the Supreme Court decision in New York Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. Bruen (6/23/22), will likely result in more people allowed to carry guns with relatively few, if any, checks even as the U.S. is facing an increase in incidents of gun violence.  The Supreme Court also ruled in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization (6/24/22) that the Constitution does not confer a right to abortion, overturning Roe and Casey. Whether a woman can receive an abortion is now up to each state to decide.  Thirteen states had trigger abortion bans that went into effect immediately after this ruling, many of which do not have exceptions for rape or incest.  Further, the Supreme Court has made several rulings in June that have weakened the separation of church and state (see Carson v. Makin and Kennedy v. Bremerton School Dist.) and accountability for the failures of law enforcement officers and lawyers (see Vega v. Tekoh and Shinn v. Martinez Ramirez, respectively).

Lest we not forget, there are ongoing hearings about the January 6, 2020, mob; we have an ongoing refugee and migrant crisis at our borders; we are struggling with an opioid epidemic and a mental health crisis; and we have a climate crisis that needs to be addressed.  Our country, our world is on fire – literally and figuratively.  The Jones Center does not condone these acts of violence. We are deeply disappointed, saddened, frustrated, and outraged over the pain and suffering of the many lives that have been and will be subjected to because of these events. We are especially disheartened reading and watching various news sources in which these people have been reduced to their status as victims, their experiences have been rewritten in favor of political battles, and their stories have become only representative of statistics and the need for change that never seems to come. In the face of this, we cannot be silent.  This is a pivotal moment of reckoning and a time where we must stand and answer.  Our struggles may be different, but liberation and our rights – even more so for women, LGBTQIA+, and people of color – are bound together and we must protect them together.

We encourage collective action in response to these acts of violence, which can come in various forms of collaboration, engagement, and participation. First and foremost, we ask you to examine your beliefs and habits because advocacy begins with self-reflection. Next, we believe in educating yourself on social justice issues; donating to/volunteering with local and national allyship groups; getting involved in politics (particularly through voting in elections); making your voice heard through writing, speaking, and/or creating content for social media platforms; supporting minority-owned business and creators who speak out against injustices; and finally, asking more of the government in acknowledging the rich diversity of people in this country and the vitality and strength they bring to our lives. 

On this Fourth of July, we leave you with this:  ignoring injustice is an injustice. It is time for the Jones Center to live up to our namesake… and answer the call. We hope you will join us. 

In Unity,

The Jones Center for Race, Gender, and Social Justice