CALIFORNIA BILL WOULD CHANGE SUSPENSION POLICIES – Every day, California schools suspend nearly 3,900 students, mostly African American and Latino. Most of the suspensions are for minor behavior issues, but a high number of those students end up dropping out of school or landing in jail. To take on this serious problem, the California Assembly passed a bill that would limit suspensions for what is known as “willful defiance.” A week earlier, the Los Angeles school district adopted a similar measure. Our correspondent in Los Angeles, Rubén Tapia, has the story.
OKLAHOMA TORNADO SURVIVOR TELLS STORY – The city of Moore, Oklahoma was devastated by one of the strongest tornados of the century. Days ago, Oklahoma suffered another tornado. How are Latino residents in the state faring? Are they receiving emergency aid? Ana Herrera shared her testimony on Radio Bilingüe’s national talk show Línea Abierta. Herrera lost her house in the tornado that left a wake of destruction in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area, but she and her family stayed safe in an underground shelter.
HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS HONORED IN MEXICO – In honor and memory of Catholic bishop Sergio Méndez Arceo, tireless defender of human rights, an award was created in Mexico in his name. For twenty years, the award recognizes the work of outstanding activists and social groups in Mexico. This year, the Méndez Arceo Prize recognizes the work by attorney Estela Ángeles Mondragón, in defense of Raramuri indigenous land rights in Chihuahua. Also awarded the prize this year were the women known as Las Patronas in Veracruz, for their humanitarian aid to migrants from Central America. Raúl Silva has more details.
