Supreme Court Weighs Citizenship Question on 2020 Census – At the request of the Trump administration, the U.S. Supreme Court recently agreed to decide on the legality of including a question about citizenship in the 2020 census. A federal judge blocked the question, dismissing it as “arbitrary and capricious.” The Supreme Court is now bypassing the appellate courts to immediately rule on the case. Hearings are expected to begin in April, with the case concluded in June. Angela Manso, a representative of the education fund at the National Association of Elected Latino Officials, said she was not surprised by the Supreme Court’s decision to intervene in the case and hopes the judges will be free from political interests.
Pioneering Alternative School in California Helps Young Refugees to Graduate – In the last five years, tens of thousands of young immigrants and refugees from Central America have arrived in the United States. Many drop out of school because of lack of English skills, trauma acquired during a difficult journey, and financial limitations. To help them, the school district of Oakland, California, has established a special school that offers intensive English courses, flexible hours, and other resources to facilitate learning and help them complete their studies. Zaidee Stavely visited that school and tells us the story of one of the first graduates. This report was produced with support from the Education Writers Association.
Master Canoeists Build Boats to Celebrate the Historic Occupation of Alcatraz – Nearly half a century ago, dozens of Native American activists navigated from San Francisco to Alcatraz to occupy the island for six months to denounce the dispossession and abandonment of their communities. That peaceful protest detonated a national movement in favor of the civil rights of Native American tribes. This summer, to reassert their cause, indigenous groups will paddle canoes in actions similar to those of the historic events of 1969. In preparation, master canoeists are working in makeshift shipyards to build wooden vessels using the traditional techniques of the Ohlone and other Native peoples from the region. Fernando Andrés Torres reports from Berkeley. This report is part of the “Raices” series on folk arts.
