Hey, y’all! After nearly a week of sweater weather, I think it’s safe to say that fall is HERE. Which is cool because, for me, fall always feels like the time where things start up again -- like the new school year, or the newest season of The Good Place.
Also starting back up is the new Supreme Court term (probably more important than The Good Place...but my rankings are close). Scroll down for the three Supreme Court cases we’re looking out for, Kim Kardashian West’s criminal justice reform work, and a 5-year-old cancer survivor’s incredible birthday donation.
- Jackie, DoSomething.org
New Term, Who Dis?: Three Supreme Court Cases to Keep Up With This Year Yesterday was the first day of the new Supreme Court term, which means the Supreme Court justices are back at work hearing cases. Some major issues are going to be decided (with major ramifications). Here are a few to keep your eyes on:
1. LGBTQ+ Discrimination
- Altitude Express Inc. v. Zarda - Bostock v. Clayton County - R.G. & G.R. Harris Funeral Homes v. EEOC
The first two cases involve men who were allegedly fired for being gay, and the third involves a trans woman who was fired after coming out to her boss. These three cases boil down to this question: Can an employer discriminate against workers based on gender identity or sexual orientation?
2. Protection for Dreamers Department of Homeland Security v. Regents of the University of California
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) gives protection from deportation to over 700,000 undocumented immigrants who were brought to the US as children, allowing them to live and work in the country. The Trump administration tried to abruptly end the program in 2017. This case will decide whether this kind of executive action is lawful or subject to judicial review, and whether DACA recipients (aka Dreamers) will still be protected.
3. Access to Abortion June Medical Services v. Gee
A Louisiana state law would require doctors who perform abortions to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals. Basically, doctors performing abortions have to have the right to admit patients to a local hospital without consulting any of the other doctors -- almost as if they were a staff member at that hospital. A lot of hospitals don’t give admitting privileges to doctors who perform abortions, and having these privileges doesn’t actually affect the care that patients receive.
This law would leave only one qualified doctor in a state where 10,000 women seek abortions each year. US District Judge John deGravelles struck the law down, saying it had no medical benefit and would limit access to safe, legal abortions, but the decision was overturned.
Kim Kardashian West Assists in the Release of a Man Who Served 22 Years in Prison for a Murder He Committed as a Teen After meeting Momolu Stewart in a Washington, D.C. prison, Kim Kardashian West wrote a letter to the judge reexamining Stewart’s sentence urging him to grant the appeal. The judge reduced Stewart’s life sentence to time served and ordered his release.
Stewart was convicted of murder as a 16-year-old, and he made his case under the Incarceration Reduction Amendment Act, which allows inmates who commited crimes as juveniles the opportunity to get their sentences cut.
The US accounts for less than 5% of the world’s population, but nearly 25% of its prisoners. The Brennan Center found that 39% of America’s prison population (576,000 prisoners) are unnecessarily behind bars, 14% of whom have already served long enough prison terms and could likely be released within the next year with little risk to public safety. Mass incarceration is often motivated by financial gain for private prisons and disproportionately affects people of color, especially young Black men.
Take Action: Ask Congress to support the Second Look Act, which would review sentences for people who have aged out of crime.
Dinosaurs and Play-Doh: 5-Year-Old Cancer Survivor Donates 3,000 Toys to the Hospital That Treated Him Weston Newswanger, 5, decided that what he really wanted for his birthday was to make a donation to the hospital that saved his life. Newswanger was treated at Penn State Children’s Hospital for cancer, and toys helped him keep his spirits up for the year he spent there.
That’s why he put out the call for “dinosaurs and Play-Doh” (two of his favorites) for children in the hospital. With the help of friends and family, Newsanger collected thousands of each, making an extra special birthday delivery to the hospital.
Take Action: Unleash the power of play to brighten someone’s day! Make an activity book for a child in the hospital.
Thanks to everyone who shared their name ideas on what we should call you, our loyal readers of The Breakdown. We’ll get back at you soon...and there’s still time to submit your ideas!
In the meantime, check out some incredible stuff Breakdown readers (aka “News Changers”? Maybe??) are doing in their communities.
For the global climate strike, I wasn't allowed to attend so what I did was I made a poster and walked around my school alone shouting "Fight for the Earth! Fight for the Earth!" Spreading awareness and supporting the cause! I will fight even if I do it alone! - Sonja, 14
The youth group I am a part of painted rocks with inspirational messages and we will hide them the next time we meet for people to find! - Abbey, 16, Wisconsin
(Love seeing you respond every time here, Abbey. You’re the best!!) Finding this newsletter useful? Forward today's edition to a friend and encourage them to subscribe.
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