Justice was carried out for the late Renisha McBride Thursday when a jury found Theodore Wafer guilty of second-degree murder and manslaughter in the shooting death of the 19-year-old. In the early morning hours of Nov. 2, McBride crashed her car on the west side of Detroit, Michigan, not far from Wafer’s Dearborn Heights home. […]
Month: August 2014
A Brief History of Sexual Violence Activism in the U.S.
In the past year, survivor-activists and allies have effectively put sexual violence on the national agenda, spurring White House, congressional, and state-level policy action. Movement leaders have worked tirelessly to make this happen, namely, Wendy Murphy, Alexandra Brodsky, Wagatwe Wanjuki, Annie E. Clark, Laura Dunn, Andrea Pino, S. Daniel Carter, and Dana Bolger. These leaders have created awareness and momentum through hands-on survivor assistance, lobbying, petitions and the creation of new […]
Reshaping National Security: What Angela Canterbury Brings to the Table
The U.S. government is expected to spend more than $1 trillion on national security projects in 2015. Discussions of national security—from policymaking to implementation—have long been a central fixture of the American news cycle, and decisions made in the name of national security directly affect domestic and international landscapes. With this in mind, it’s clear […]
When 9-1-1 Can’t Find You: How Wireless Providers Can Save Women’s Lives
Last month, Michelle Miers was shot and stabbed at her home by an attacker. Still breathing but in need of urgent medical care, she picked up her cellphone and dialed 9-1-1. Like most Americans, Miers probably presumed that calling 9-1-1 guaranteed help was on the way. For the 26-year-old mother of two, however, help would come too […]
NEWSFLASH: Federal Judge Blocks Alabama Anti-Abortion Law
U.S. District Court Judge Myron Thompson ruled on Monday that a recently passed law requiring abortion providers to obtain staff privileges at local hospitals places an unconstitutional, undue burden on women seeking an abortion. Thompson’s decision will block enforcement of the law until he determines whether to issue a permanent injunction. The new law would […]
Hey Baby: On Insidious Street Harassment
Nothing makes the bottom drop out of my stomach quite like a grown man calling me baby. Baby girl, baby doll, sexy baby, pretty baby. Hey baby. Come here, baby. These little words have the power to completely ruin my day. Suddenly the outfit that made me feel so cute and confident when I put […]
Rape in Congo is a Men’s Issue, Too
Here in Congo, so many of our discussions have been about the brutal sexual violence affecting women. We have heard heartbreaking stories of horrific violence and trauma that give you a new appreciation for human cruelty. And we have met so many people who give you hope—who demonstrate unimaginable resilience despite unbelievable trauma. Just today, […]