Walgreen Co. Wins Racial-Discrimination Case
A jury has found Walgreen Co. not guilty in a racial-discrimination trial that wrapped up in Chicago this week. The trial originally stemmed from a lawsuit filed in November 2005 alleging the Deerfield, Ill.-based company fostered "a hostile environment" for black customers and employees. The suit charged the drug-store chain with discriminating against black customers by purposely having them followed around the store to make sure no one was stealing. Tiffini Bruce, a spokesperson for Walgreen, said, "We maintained from the beginning that there was no basis for these claims, and we were confident the jury would agree. Now we can concentrate on continuing our commitment to fairness and equality that is the cornerstone of our business." Read more.
Wal-Mart Pays Up for Pay-Discrimination Suit
A Wal-Mart pharmacist who claimed she was fired for requesting equal pay as her male colleges is walking away with nearly $2 million. A Superior Court jury concluded that Wal-Mart discriminated against Cynthia Haddad, awarding her nearly $1 million in compensatory damages and $1 million in punitive damages. "It sends a message that you can't treat people poorly because of who they are," said David Belfort, Haddad's attorney. John Simley, a Wal-Mart spokesperson, said the retailer has not ruled out filing an appeal. "We respect the jury's decision, but we feel it did not reflect the facts in the case," said Simley. He said Haddad "was dismissed for numerous violations of company policy." Read more.
Nazi Photograph Raises Racial Tension
A photograph of four male high-school students standing side by side clutching guns in one hand and giving a stiff-armed Nazi salute has the surrounding Colorado cities anxious over growing racial tension. The students are of particular concern at Centauri High. All were involved in a 2005 clash with veteran football coach Larry Joe Hunt, one of only a few blacks living in Alamosa, where white and Latino residents predominate. The boys, all members of the varsity football squad, were upset by what they said was a lack of playing time and what they described as offensive language in hip-hop songs that Hunt played before games. After placing complaints to local school officials, the boys felt they were ignored. According to Hunt's son, the disputes turned ugly when other players and their friends began to insult the coach and his student supporters. Colby recalled they discussed—just loudly enough for him to hear—forming a club called the Lynch Mob or the Klan. See the picture.
Black Columnist Receives Racial Threats
The FBI is looking into a report issued by Leonard Pitts of The Miami Herald. Pitts, a well-known black journalist, has been receiving threats in response to a column he wrote alleging the media's refusal to report black-on-white crime, instead always emphasizing on crime stories involving white-on-black crime. A white-supremacist group has reportedly published Pitts' contact information on their web site. The group listed Pitts' home address, phone number and date of birth. Read more.
President Bush Vetoes Stem-Cell-Research Bill
As expected, President Bush vetoed a bill that would have allowed federal funding for research using stem cells derived from human embryos originally donated by patients and created for fertility treatments. But Democratic congressional leaders are expected to bring back the bill to try to override the veto. Bush announced that no new federal dollars for stem-cell research, which supporters say has the potential to cure diseases such as diabetes and Alzheimer's. Bush issued an executive order to the National Institutes of Health asking scientists to pursue research on stem cells that are derived without creating a human embryo for research purposes or destroying, discarding or subjecting to harm a human embryo or fetus. Rep. Diana DeGette, D-Colo., said the Democrats continue to show their support towards a pro-stem-cell president and a pro-stem-cell Congress. Read more.
Calif. Supreme Court Examines Same-Sex-Marriage Laws
Therese Stewart, a San Francisco city attorney representing the city, described the line of questioning by the California Supreme Court on same-sex-marriage laws as "wrestling with the issues." The high court, who appears to clash over same-sex marriage, asked lawyers, including Stewart, whether the state's domestic-partner law provides all the benefits of marriage and whether the term "marriage" has special legal significance. The questions indicate the court justice's attempt at figuring out whether a domestic-partner law makes same-sex marriage unnecessary. Read more.
Exhibit Showcases History of Gay Veterans
A new exhibit called "Out Ranks" in San Francisco, Calif., presents the history of gay troops and members of the U.S. military who served from WW II to the present. One off those men is Leonard Matlovich, a veteran whose medals and uniform make up the centerpiece of the exhibit. The purpose of the exhibit is to illustrate that gays have always served their country and to trace the evolution of public policies on gays in the military. It opened at the LGBT Historical Society on June 14, which is Flag Day. Read more.
Salt 'N' Pepa Reunite in Reality Show
Salt 'N' Pepa, the pioneering musical trio that brought female rap artists into the mainstream, have new plans on starring in their own reality show conveniently titled "The Salt 'N' Pepa Show," scheduled to premiere on VH1 in 2008. The 10-episode "celebreality" show features the Grammy-winning group as they attempt to reunite both personally and professionally. Tension arises as the group attempts to resolve old issues, such as why the group broke up. Read more.
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