Prison Reform, a Step Toward Racial Equality and Respect

Last month, President Barack Obama became the first sitting president to visit a federal prison as he begins pushing congress to reform the nation’s criminal justice system. Obama is urging meaningful sentencing reform, steps to reduce repeat offenders, and reform for the juvenile justice system to improve public safety, reduce runaway incarceration costs and makeContinue reading “Prison Reform, a Step Toward Racial Equality and Respect”

#BlackLivesMatter. #UnitedWeFight.

Saturday, a group of ‪#‎BlackLivesMatter‬ activists protested at a Seattle public event to celebrate decades of Social Security and Medicare. Our affiliate organization, Washington Community Action Network! was a cosponsor of the event. The event featured U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders. Sen. Sanders was unable to speak to the crowd because of the protest. The issuesContinue reading “#BlackLivesMatter. #UnitedWeFight.”

Medicaid Refusals Create New Mason-Dixon Line

“Medicaid Refusals Create New Mason-Dixon Line” by LeeAnn Hall and Glenn Harris, has appeared in these publications and websites: Black Star News The Commercial Appeal (Memphis) The Houston Chronicle The Atlanta Journal – Constitution The Progressive Howard University District Chronicles Frost Illustrated Howard University District Chronicles Bradenton Herald (Florida) The Palm Beach Post Island PacketContinue reading “Medicaid Refusals Create New Mason-Dixon Line”

To Fight Racism, Protect Voting Rights

The cold-blooded murder of nine people at a Charleston church made it impossible to deny the persistence of racism across the nation. So do the symbols of support for slavery and segregation that remain emblazoned on public property throughout the South, and scattered among some Northern states as well. What will it take to bringContinue reading “To Fight Racism, Protect Voting Rights”

Fast Food Workers in New York are Getting a Raise!

Hard work by our affiliate Citizen Action of New York – along with dozens of other allied organizations and unions, and thousands of workers who took to the streets and shared their personal stories – has paid off  in a huge victory. Yesterday, the New York State Wage Board approved gradually raising the minimum wage for NewContinue reading “Fast Food Workers in New York are Getting a Raise!”

“Feeding Ourselves” Connects Native American Health Disparities and Federal Policies

In 1940, diabetes among Native Americans was almost unknown. The disease began appearing in the 1950s and expanded until during the 1960s it became a common condition. Today, nearly every Native American is involved either personally with diabetes, or has family and friends with diabetes, According to a new report released today, Diabetes has beenContinue reading ““Feeding Ourselves” Connects Native American Health Disparities and Federal Policies”

American Healthcare and the Medicaid Mason-Dixon Line

This opinion piece by LeeAnn Hall and Glenn Harris was originally published in Black Star News. There’s a new Mason-Dixon Line being drawn in our country – and it runs right through Medicaid, one of the country’s most important health insurance programs. Historically, the Mason-Dixon Line marked the division between states that embraced slavery andContinue reading “American Healthcare and the Medicaid Mason-Dixon Line”

LeeAnn Hall’s Statement on King v. Burwell (with Fred Azcarate and George Goehl)

Today is a major victory: the Supreme Court rejected King v. Burwell, an attack against the Affordable Care Act that attempted to deny quality health care to millions of people in the United States. Together with Fred Azcarate, executive director of US Action and George Goehl, executive director of National People’s Action, I would like toContinue reading “LeeAnn Hall’s Statement on King v. Burwell (with Fred Azcarate and George Goehl)”