• News

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

April 29, 2024

Incarcerated Black Panther Praises Student Protestors In Live Address

Mumia Abu-Jamal spoke to the students advocating for a free Palestine.

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Power to the People! Former Black Panther Mumia Abu-Jamal praises student protestors advocating for a free Palestine in a live address from prison.

Abu-Jamal encouraged the student protestors at the City University of New York during his call to them on April 26. His words affirmed their commitment to the pro-Palestine movement.

“It is a wonderful thing that you have decided not to be silent and decided to speak out against the repression that you see with your own eyes,” explained Abu-Jamal, as detailed by The Guardian. “You are part of something massive, and you are part of something that is on the right side of history.”

The CUNY student protests join a wider movement across college campuses for school administrations to divest from Israel. Fellow students at Columbia University have faced arrest by the NYPD and school suspension for participating in the solidarity protest. Unlike the Ivy League institution, CUNY serves as the largest public urban college in the country. Abu-Jamal encouraged the protestors to “not bow” to those oppressing their rights.

“You’re against a colonial regime that steals the land from the people who are Indigenous to that area,” the 70-year-old explained. “I urge you to speak out against the terrorism that is afflicted upon Gaza with all of your might, all of your will, and all of your strength. Do not bow to those who want you to be silent.”

Abu-Jamal was a prominent Black activist and radical journalist at the height of the Black Liberation struggle. He helped establish the Philadelphia chapter of the Black Panther Party. In 1982, he was convicted and sentenced to death for the murder of police officer Daniel Faulkner. His death occurred during an exchange of gunfire after the officer stopped Abu-Jamal’s brother.

Despite being on death row for years, flaws within the case led to a 2011 overturning of the conviction. In 2022, a Philadelphia judge denied the request for a new trial. Abu-Jamal still serves a life sentence without parole at the Mahanoy State Prison in Pennsylvania.

Abu-Jamal continued to write through his time in prison, speaking on the legacy of the Black Panther Party. The students also chanted “brick by brick, wall by wall, free Mumia Abu-Jamal” in support of the proclaimed political prisoner.

“The people of Gaza are fighting to be free from generations of occupation so it is not enough, brothers and sisters, it is not enough to demand a ceasefire. Make your demand cease occupation, cease occupation, and let that be your battle cry because that is the call of history of which all of you are part,” the former Black Panther concluded. “You are part of something magnanimous, magnificent and soul changing, and history changing. Do not let go of this moment, make it bigger, make it more massive, make it more powerful, make it echo up into the stars. I am thrilled by your work – I love you.”

RELATED CONTENT: Ron DeSantis Orders Florida State Universities To Deactivate Pro-Palestinian Student Groups

• Money

by Kandiss Edwards

April 29, 2024

How To Catch Up With Your Retirement Savings

BLACK ENTERPRISE consulted Certified Financial Planner Ivory Johnson, founder of Delancey Wealth Management. Johnson shared tips to help get pre-retirees on track. 

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Originally Published Oct. 10, 2014.

Many pre-retirees feel that they are missing the mark when it comes to retirement planning. However, by taking the right steps, you can work toward becoming retirement-ready. BLACK ENTERPRISE consulted Certified Financial Planner Ivory Johnson, founder of Delancey Wealth Management. Johnson shared tips to help get pre-retirees on track.

Assess your debt load.

One red flag that you’re not ready to leave the workforce is having a lot of debt. Says Johnson, “The biggest sign is when you have a big mortgage. If you have a mortgage that is going to last throughout retirement, maybe because you’re paying for education and you took out money from the house, that’s a fixed expense. So if you have $2,000 a month that you have to pay, that’s $2,000 a month that could be going into your retirement account. If you find that you have a lot of debt, like credit cards, that shows you’ve been spending more than you’ve been bringing in while you were working. So how can you pay all of your bills when you’re not working?

Get savings on track.

If you haven’t made an effort to put money away in emergency savings, start now. “You’re also not ready to retire if you’re not saving. If you’re just living check-to-check, that’s a sign. You have to ask yourself how you’re going to realistically be able to retire if you’re in this situation, says Johnson.

Set a goal.

Decide what your priorities are. For example, is retirement at a certain age important to you? “Find out what your goals are and what you are trying to do. If it is your goal to retire at a certain age, you have to decide what you want to give up today. Then you have to sit down with a financial planner, says Johnson.

To read part 2 of Johnson’s retirement advice, click here.

RELATED CONTENT: Retired Black Judge Files Complaint Against American Airlines

• News

by Daniel Johnson

April 29, 2024

Iowa Universities Set To Close DEI Offices In Summer 2024

Despite the presidents of the universities essentially publicly signing onto the bill, faculty and staff do not support the bill, and at Iowa State, this resulted in a circulated petition.

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Iowa universities are set to close their DEI offices in the summer of 2024, following the university’s board of regents’ November 2023 edict to cut spending on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in each of Iowa’s three public universities.

Staffers immediately protested the decision because of the number of potentially lost jobs.

As The Des Moines Register reported, the University of Iowa, Iowa State University, and the University of Northern Iowa have been working to comply with the board’s directive. This includes eliminating DEI offices and positions in favor of emphasizing the availability of campus services to all students, while encouraging diversity of thought and multiple perspectives. 

At Iowa, this took the form of shifting its DEI office into two divisions under the umbrella of its new Division of Access, Opportunity and Diversity, which will handle accreditation requirements and compliance with state and federal law. Iowa President Barbara Wilson told The Register that her focus is on ensuring students can work through ideological differences.

“I think this is an opportunity for us as we think about what we’re supposed to be doing at a university,” Wilson said. “We are supposed to be bringing students from all backgrounds, all walks of life together and help them coexist and work together, not avoid each other when they encounter differences.”

At Iowa State, President Wendy Wintersteen told The Register that due to the edicts of the board, the university would have to eliminate its Vice-President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion office in July. Similar to the University of Iowa, Iowa State is also complying with the state’s edict to eliminate the sharing of pronouns as well as digital and promotional materials for the school’s programs, which will convey their availability for all students. Wintersteen has been trying to balance supporting student education with creating a welcoming environment for those students. 

Wintersteen raised eyebrows discussing the school’s history as a land-grant institution, during an April 25 meeting with the school’s board of regents, saying at one point, “So one of the first things we did was establish learning communities so that a young man, young white man, from rural Iowa, could come and be in a learning community and find the place where they could belong.”

CBS 2 Iowa reached out to the President of Iowa State’s office for commentary, and they reacted by releasing a boilerplate statement and encouraging the outlet to watch the entire presentation. “President Wintersteen began her presentation by speaking about Iowa State’s history as a land-grant institution that welcomes all students regardless of race, gender or socioeconomic status and how the university throughout its history, has continued to welcome all students and provide a community where they feel they belong.”

The University of Northern Iowa, similar to Iowa State University, will be eliminating its DEI office, the Diversity, Inclusion, and Social Justice office and eliminating its Chief Diversity Officer position. The University of Northern Iowa’s President, Mark Nook, told The Register that a new civics education center would focus on creating “nationally recognized leaders in research, teaching and public outreach in free speech and civic education.”

Nook continued, “The center is built on UNI’s strong foundation as a leader in the training of teachers established strengths and civic education, rich community partnerships, a proven record of community engagement and unique research capacities in Iowa history and politics.”

As The Register noted, the Iowa State Legislature recently passed a bill that bars universities from starting, maintaining, or funding DEI offices or positions unless required by law.

Despite the presidents of the universities essentially publicly signing onto the bill, faculty and staff do not support it, and at Iowa State, this resulted in a circulated petition. As The Ames Tribune reported, some faculty who signed the petition, like Deni Chamberlain, an associate professor at the university’s Greenlee School of Journalism, attached letters to their signatures.

“It is important that we continue to provide support for those in our community who are marginalized,” Chamberlin wrote. “If we want a welcoming campus, we need to make sure those individuals feel that they belong, are valued and have something to contribute.”

Kody Henke, the assistant director of Iowa State’s Office of Student Assistance and the former co-chair of Iowa State’s LQBTQA+ Faculty and Staff Association, also submitted a letter in support of Nicci Port, the coordinator of Iowa State’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Outreach and Community Engagement, whose position is set to be eliminated by the university’s realignment.

“Through Nicci’s advocacy, over 6,000 faculty and staff members and 30,000 students are positively impacted by this simple but imperative change,” Henke wrote. “This type of visual representation results in a sense of acceptance and community from our most vulnerable and marginalized students who are searching for such clues.”

• Career

by Janell Hazelwood

April 29, 2024

The Sabotage Is Real When Dealing With Toxic People

There are always vital decisions to be made when it comes to who we surround ourselves with or decide to give mental and emotional capital to.

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Originally Published July 24, 2013.

We all have to go through life and learn our lessons. But some of us are taking the difficult, dangerous route when it comes to really evaluating the elements in our lives. As we all know, actions lead to consequences, and some have long-term effects that could have been avoided.

If you’re a leader, you’ll often find that there are people who won’t be able to come with you on your ascent to the top. They may be boos, spouses, family members, long-time friends, or short-term acquaintances. There are always vital decisions to be made when it comes to who we surround ourselves with or decide to give mental and emotional capital to.

For many of us, we give people passes, making excuses for toxic behavior and not recognizing the irreversible damage keeping them around could be doing. Here are the top five dangers of toxic people for you to spot, evaluate, and eradicate.

Loss of confidence

Oftentimes, toxic people will suck you dry emotionally and, ultimately, physically. You’ll find yourself depleted, unable to perform at 100% in other aspects of your life because you’re so consumed with the strife and drama these types of people bring. If you stick around too long, self-defeating coping efforts for these people will trickle into how you deal with coworkers and workplace projects, dramatically deterring true progress and boss moves. They’ll become almost normal—habits that will be challenging to break.

Loss of income

If you’re in an abusive relationship—whether mental, physical, or emotional—you may miss days of work or totally flop on projects due to the stress and physical effects of the toxic situation. You may miss appointments and get into a cycle of lies you can’t keep up with. Oftentimes, people don’t trust others who don’t value themselves enough to get out of toxic relationships, so they may not even rely on you professionally or may doubt your skills.

Financial ruin

There are those toxic people who often need a loan or a hand-out. They never have realistic solutions for the problems in their lives, and they will manipulate you into helping them, oftentimes at your own expense. Also, you may end up going out of your way to aid these types, causing you to make bad choices like taking out a line of credit, co-signing on an outrageous loan, or accommodating stress-relieving, fun activities on your dime. Also, you may find yourself recklessly spending on recreational or other activities to cope, redirecting funds that could be used for better boss moves into frivolous, expensive endeavors.

Loss of relationships

Confident leaders are often very authoritative when it comes to knowing the risks of being around toxic people. Many have built a sense of discernment and will make decisions based on the cause and effect of every move. If you’re consistently surrounded by toxic people, you’ll find that people who could positively contribute to your life will keep their distance. They have too much to lose to be caught in the quicksand.

Loss of self-awareness

They say birds of a feather flock together, and that rings true for keeping toxic people around. Eventually, their negative habits and ways of thinking will begin to rub off on you. You’ll find yourself acting out of character and consistently thinking with a problem-focused mentality.

All in all, toxic people add no value to your life but strife. You can learn positive lessons by surrounding yourself with people with healthy outlooks on life who can give you constructive criticism out of love and can help advocate for your success. Seek them out in your educational or faith-based institutions or professional organizations, and protect your happiness. If the person is a loved one that you feel you have no choice but to deal with, learn to love from a distance. Take small steps to distance yourself, whether it’s volunteering, working toward that promotion, or finding a new project that will enrich your life. Your mental and physical health is not only important but ensures you’re making the maximum boss moves for success.

Written by Janell Hazelwood 

RELATED CONTENT: Ask Sheree: How To Deal With Racist Coworkers

• Career

by Brittany Dandy

April 29, 2024

You Can Get Ahead In Business And In Life With Theses 7 Tips

Life coach and entrepreneur Stacia Pierce offers her expert advice to women seeking tips on getting ahead in business.

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Originally Published Aug. 6, 2015.

Societal barriers sometimes keep women from reaching their true career potential. Life coach and entrepreneur Stacia Pierce, founder and CEO of LifeCoach2Women.com, says despite obstacles that may get in the way of progress, women are more than capable of getting ahead with a little planning and persistence.

Pierce has personal and professional growth down to a science and BLACK ENTERPRISE caught up with the motivational speaker and she shared seven tips for getting ahead. See her tips below.

Make time for solitude.

Just 15 minutes in the morning of alone time can have a great impact on your day. In our 24/7 society, the constant connection with the world can get cumbersome and distracting. In solitude you can calmly consider your dreams and goals and envision your personal success.

Clean up the clutter.

Organize and beautify your work and living space. It is hard to get ahead in a cluttered, chaotic atmosphere. Use organizational systems to make your space easier to navigate. Maintain a clean, clutter-free atmosphere in order to eliminate stress and improve clarity and focus.

Make small changes for big results.

Consistent action on a daily basis is easier to manage. When you make small changes, you will build momentum and confidence and reach your goals faster than if you try to attack a big goal in one fell swoop. Forget the superhero approach, you don’t have to leap over buildings in a single bound. The all-or-nothing approach can be daunting and de-motivating. Instead, break your goals down into bite-size chunks and make a plan to take action daily.

Detox negativity.

Rid yourself of people or things that drain your energy and make you feel bad. Your relationships can keep you in the know or out of the flow of success. Choose to associate with others who build you up, support you, and challenge you to be better.

Add fun.

Celebrate your victories, both small and great. For every goal, include a reward for completing it. Do what you love and find the fun in all that you do. Even if it’s just whistling while you work. The more you enjoy your work and life, the happier and more accomplished you’ll become.

Be authentic.

To get ahead this year, harness your originality and creativity to produce your best work yet. Embrace your genius and use it to enhance your life.

Write your own success story.

Writing is a powerful success attraction action for abundance and dream fulfillment. Keep a journal to record your dreams, goals, your past success, brilliant thoughts, and action plans. Your writing will become instructions to your subconscious mind. Thinking on paper is a big key to getting ahead. Use your journal to write truthfully, consistently, and often. You will discover so many new things about yourself.

Getting ahead takes planning, persistence, and progress. Some days may be better than others. However, your key to success is to keep at it. Distractions may come, obstacles will arise, yet you can overcome it and achieve your goals using these tips as a guide.

RELATED CONTENT:  Top CEO Says Black-Owned, Small Businesses Expected To Rise With FTC Ruling To Ban Noncompete Agreements

• Politics

by Daniel Johnson

April 29, 2024

Voter Suppression Allegations By Advocacy Group Spark Outrage In Wisconsin

Souls to the Polls demands removal of Wisconsin GOP director for allegedly orchestrating Trump supporters' surge in poll escort requests.

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On April 25, Souls to the Polls, a voting rights advocacy group, called for the removal of the recently appointed executive director of the Wisconsin Republican Party, Andrew Iverson, over concerns that he conspired to overwhelm the group with requests from supporters of Donald Trump to be taken to the polls. 

As The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports, the text messages originated when Iverson was the leader of Trump Victory’s Wisconsin branch, a joint venture between the Trump campaign and the Republican National Committee. Souls to the Polls Wisconsin Executive Director Greg Lewis said in a statement that the messages represent the latest in a line of racist voter suppression.

“Today’s news is the latest in the pattern of voter suppression and racism,” Lewis said. He was joined in his condemnation of Iverson and the Wisconsin Republican Party at large by Samuel Libert, the Wisconsin director of All Voting is Local and Angela Lang, the executive director of Black Leaders Organizing Communities.

“This blatant tactic to ‘wreak havoc’ not only undermines democracy but it also directly targets minority communities and perpetuates our cycle of voter suppression,” Lieber said. In an April 25 press release, he underscored these points directly. “By targeting a Black community organization like Souls to the Polls, there is no mistake that the end goal was to suppress Black voters. This threat to flood their ride to the polls program, which Milwaukee residents have relied on for more than a decade, would have taken away a vital resource for voters who actually need help getting to a polling site.”

Lieber continued, “Actions like these not only undermine our democracy, but they also directly target historically disenfranchised communities and purposefully make it harder for them to vote.”

Lang, meanwhile, was critical of Iverson’s argument that the text messages he exchanged with former Republican operative and white supremacist Carlton Huffman were jokes. Huffman, who agrees with Lang and Lieber, is now an anti-Trump conservative. 

“If communities of color said this is a harm and a painful part of my ancestral history, again, politics aside, why would you joke about something like that?” Lang said. “And then, obviously, you add in the politics, you add in the other dynamics, the current political climate that we’re in — all of that, it’s disgusting to hear that he thought it was a joke, and I felt like it was a poor excuse at him trying to walk it back a little bit.”

RELATED CONTENT: The Insurrection Was a Return to Jim Crow-Era Violent Voter Suppression

• News History

by Daniel Johnson

April 29, 2024

Black Woman Allegedly Assaulted After Calling 911 Files Federal Lawsuit Claiming Police Brutality

Stallworth’s lawsuit argues that she was assaulted, strip-searched, and jailed following after she called 911 on a white neighbor.

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Twyla Stallworth, an Alabama woman who was captured on bodycam in February being arrested at her own home for refusing to show her ID, has filed a federal lawsuit against the City of Andalusia, Alabama, the city’s police department, and the officer involved in the incident, Grant Barton. In the lawsuit, Stallworth accuses Barton of unlawful arrest, illegal detainment, and a racially motivated assault of her.

As NPR reports, the 40-year-old Stallworth was issued an apology by the city’s Mayor Earl Johnson after her charges were dropped. Johnson indicated the officer had been disciplined in late February in a statement. “On behalf of the City of Andalusia and the Andalusia Police Department, I would like to apologize to Twyla Stallworth for her arrest in February … the arresting officer has a clean record with our department, but he made a mistake in the case on February 23. He has been disciplined.”

Stallworth’s lawsuit, obtained by NPR, argues that she was assaulted, strip-searched, and jailed for 15 hours after she called Andalusia police to call in a noise complaint coming from her neighbor’s residence. The neighbor is white, and Stallworth is Black.

Stallworth’s son was present during the incident. Stallworth’s lawsuit, filed on behalf of both herself and her son, 18-year-old Jermari Marshall, who recorded the altercation, seeks unspecified damages.

As USA Today reports, according to the lawsuit, “As a result of this incident, Ms. Stallworth suffered humiliation, embarrassment, physical injuries, and loss of freedom.” The suit also alleges, “Both Ms. Stallworth and Jermari now suffer from mental anguish and loss of enjoyment of life.”

Stallworth also told the outlet that what happened to her as a result of Barton’s actions has left her traumatized. “I’m emotionally unstable at this point,” Stallworth told USA Today. “I’ve been through a lot in my life… but something about this has really traumatized my mental. I can’t stop crying about it.”

Stallworth continued, hoping the suit will result in “changed behaviors, changed mindsets, changed perspectives (and) changed perceptions” regarding race. “Change the way that we see someone, they’re not the color of their skin but they are mind, body, soul and spirit,” Stallworth said. “They are not their race, they are somebody… equality and justice for anybody.”

Stallworth told NPR that she was concerned about what else Barton could potentially do, saying, “If a police officer like Barton is willing to illegally force himself into your home, assault you and your son, and lock you up in a cage when you’re strip searched and degraded even though you haven’t broken any laws, then what wouldn’t he do?”

At an April 25 news conference announcing the lawsuit, Stallworth declared it was time for change. “Enough is enough for Black people and the Black community. Stand boldly for your rights and always cover yourself. Have a camera and make sure you’re recording because without evidence, you lose every time.”

Stallworth continued, “I see it on TV, I watch the videos and I never thought it’d be my own home,” Stallworth said, “and I’m grateful that I’m able to stand here and speak to you. I’m grateful that my son is able to stand here because we could have both lost our lives.”

RELATED CONTENT: Black Alabama Woman Allegedly Assaulted By Police Officer After Complaining About White Neighbor

• News History

by Stacy Jackson

April 29, 2024

Man Faces Prison For Committing Hate Crimes On 2 Black Women In Florida

Court records stated Pierallini intimidated both women and interfered with their enjoyment of federally protected activities.

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Jacksonville resident Frederick Pierallini III, 27, has been sentenced to five years behind bars for carrying out hate crime assaults against two Black women involving the brandishing of a firearm.

The U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Public Affairs confirmed that Pierallini entered a guilty plea on July 6. In addition to the 60-month prison term, prosecutors stated he will face three years of supervised release upon completing his sentence, prosecutors stated. “The violent assaults committed against these two women because of their race are intolerable,” said Middle District U.S. Attorney Roger Handberg. “There is no place in our society for such heinous acts.”

Court documents reveal that on September 10, 2022, Pierallini “intimidated” a convenience store clerk after his card was declined in an attempt to purchase snacks. He headed for the store’s exit with the snacks in his hands however, he returned hurling racial slurs and berating the woman for his perceived incompetence at her job. Pierallini departed but soon came back armed with a shotgun. The clerk fled after Pierallini pointed the gun at her and cocked it.

Two days following the convenience store incident, the man allegedly targeted another female victim who was seated in her walker on a sidewalk. Shouting racist remarks, Pierallini taunted the woman for sitting in the area before he threatened to kill her. After leaving for a moment, he returned to the woman holding a shotgun. The suspect fired one shot. However, the woman fell to the ground, escaping the bullet’s path.

“No one in this country should have to live in fear that when they use public spaces or work at their job, they risk attack by someone who hates them because of the color of their skin,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department is committed to protecting Black people from racially-motivated violence.”

Assistant Director Michael D. Nordwall of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division stated, “Hate crimes like these are not only attacks on the victims but are meant to threaten and intimidate an entire community.”

The U.S. Department of Justice clarifies the term “hate” as it pertains to a hate crime law. “The term ‘hate’ can be misleading,” the department’s website states. “When used in a hate crime law, the word ‘hate’ does not mean rage, anger, or general dislike.” DOJ confirms that “hate” refers to bias against people or groups and crimes committed based on race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or disability.

Court records stated Pierallini deliberately engaged in intimidation tactics against both victims and obstructed their ability to freely partake in federally safeguarded activities, employing force or the threat of force, motivated by their racial identity and skin color.

RELATED CONTENT: Florida Mom May Face Death Penalty For Murder Of Her 3-Year-Old

• News History

by Daniel Johnson

April 29, 2024

Study: Racial Segregation In Public Schools Is Widespread

The practice of “educational redlining” combined with school districts who aggressively enforce their zoning rules has resulted in elite public schools being stratified along the lines of race.

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According to a new study from Available To All, an education nonprofit, equal access to a quality education has declined, and has resulted in the return of segregation to public schools in America. The study found that this occurs due to legally enshrined segregation and enrollment policies that have a discriminatory effect in practice. 

As Axios reports, the practice of “educational redlining” combined with school districts that aggressively enforce their zoning rules has resulted in elite public schools being stratified along the lines of race. This has left parents like Kelley Williams-Bolar, who became the subject of a national debate in 2011 when she used her father’s address to get her children into a better school in Ohio, with few legal remedies—as a result of her attempt, Williams-Bolar, a Black woman, spent nine days in jail. 

The report on the state of public school education in America was commissioned to mark the 70th anniversary of the Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court ruling that officially ended segregating schools by race. However, the system of segregation by other means was never addressed, and as the study makes clear, it continues to plague the education system presently. 

As the study states in its introduction, “How can a public school deny enrollment to a student in 2024? Usually because of their address. Most public schools still use exclusionary maps to determine who is or isnʼt eligible to enroll. These maps are reminiscent of the redlining era in the decades before Brown when the federal government drew maps that determined who was or wasnʼt eligible for housing assistance.”

The study goes on to illuminate that families need adequate legal protection as it relates to their children’s access to individual public schools. Admission discrimination is either allowed or flat-out required by law, and school administrators can exploit several loopholes to maintain a specific makeup of a school’s demographics. This, the study argues, is a violation of the social contract of the education system and is stopping children of color from being full participants in the American Dream. 

Charter schools could be a model to base reforms of the public school system. Still, it also shows that the charter school system carries elements of the same geographic discrimination in public schools. In its conclusion, the report recommends that parents be given true school choice, that schools be transparent about why they deny a child access to their school in detail, and the practice of open enrollment should be made mandatory instead of optional. 

In addition, the study recommends that public schools be required to collect and report their admissions and enrollment data to the Department of Education, whose state branches should make this data available to the public. They also recommend wholesale changes aimed at reducing the impact of geography on the public education system. One of these changes, decriminalizing address sharing, which the study points out is a policy that is selectively enforced, would keep parents like Williams-Bolar out of jail for simply wanting a better education for their children. As the study concludes, “Such laws could go a long way to restoring the publicʼs trust in the K-12 public schools and upholding Justice Warrenʼs promise that the public schools will be “available to all on equal terms.”

RELATED CONTENT: Report: White School Districts Receive $23 Billion More In Funding Than Black Districts