Civil Rights
‘You just have to act’: Thousands outraged by police brutality rally at March on Washington
WASHINGTON — On the 57th anniversary of the original March on Washington and in the throes of a pandemic, thousands of demonstrators on Friday joined Democratic lawmakers on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial to demand Congress act on police brutality and voter suppression. The event, organized by the Rev. Al Sharpton’s National Action Network, […]
Interfaith call for justice seeks accountability for Wyandotte County officials
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Community activists and faith leaders are demanding action and transparency from Wyandotte County authorities on investigations into wrongful convictions and misconduct of a retired police detective. Khadijah Hardaway, a community organizer for Justice for Wyandotte, said in a call for justice Thursday night that accountability for Kansas City, Kansas, officials is […]
Former Emporia State University employee not happy with $64K ruling for discrimination
TOPEKA — A federal judge has ordered Emporia State University to pay $64,000 to a former employee who faced retaliation after reporting a racist slur in 2015. Angelica Hale, 58, had argued for at least $500,000 to cover wages and benefits she would have earned if she had been allowed to stay at the university […]
Kansas attorney general keen for Legislature to fix shortcomings of state disaster law
Attorney General Derek Schmidt says reform of Kansas' emergency management law is necessary given challenges surfacing during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hundreds rally in Topeka to ‘back the blue’ in clash with Black Lives Matter
TOPEKA — Hundreds of police supporters gathered Tuesday afternoon outside the capital’s city hall to protest demands by Black Lives Matter. Standing in sweltering heat, they chanted “back the blue,” joined in prayer, sang “God Bless America,” and cheered speakers, including three Republican candidates for the Kansas Legislature, who urged them to brace for a […]
Politics, misinformation undermine Topeka debate on police reform
Kim Borchers wants Topeka residents to be afraid. Topeka Mayor Michelle De La Isla wants people to stop paying attention to lies they see online. A Kansas delegate to the Republican National Convention, Borchers hurled a Molotov cocktail of misinformation, anger and fear into public debate on police reform during a live Facebook video earlier […]
Removing roadblocks for Latino voters is slow work in Kansas
TOPEKA — Alejandro Rangel-Lopez didn’t think twice about taking legal action when Ford County Clerk Debbie Cox moved the only polling location outside of Dodge City limits in 2018. “Voting is one of the most important rights we have,” Rangel-Lopez said. “I learned from my father at an early age. He became a citizen in […]
Kansas rights commission embracing broader definition of sex discrimination
Kansas Human Rights Commission is expanding its reach following federal court decision defining sex discrimination to include LGBTQ complaints.
ACLU calls out Overland Park police for ‘militarized response’ to Black Lives Matter protest
The American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas this week condemned the Overland Park Police Department for an “overly reactive and militarized response” to a Black Lives Matter protest. In a letter addressed to Overland Park Police Chief Frank Donchez, the civil rights group highlighted concerns with officers’ handling of a peaceful protest on July 24. […]
GOP senators rip state health agency on COVID-19 contact tracing, question death toll
State Sens. Caryn Tyson and Gene Suellentrop take issue with KDHE's approach to contact tracing and death totals in COVID-19 pandemic.
As feds turn attention to protests, Native Americans cope with unchecked violence
Native American activists say violence against indigenous people is being overlooked by federal authorities who are more interested in a politically charged crackdown on civil rights protests. The U.S. Justice Department in July announced the launch of Operation Legend, an anti-violence campaign, in Kansas City, Missouri, then expanded the federal policing efforts to other major […]
Kansas attorney general asks feds to ease driver’s license reinstatment
Attorney General Derek Schmidt endorses federal reform to reduce impediments to renewal of a driver's license not tied to motorist safety issues.