Rappler's latest stories on civil rights
U.S. civil rights groups call for Facebook ad boycott over hate speech
'Today, we ask all companies in solidarity with the American values of freedom, equality and justice not to advertise Facebook services in July,' says a statement on the Anti-Defamation League website

U.S. top court rules civil rights law protects LGBTQ+ workers
The landmark decision says Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which outlaws discrimination against employees because of a person's sex, also covers sexual orientation and transgender status
U.S. civil rights leader Joseph Lowery dies – media
'Tonight, the great Reverend Joseph E. Lowery transitioned from earth to eternity. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family,' the King Center in Atlanta says in a tweet

Civil rights groups call for Facebook board overhaul
The groups ask Facebook to expand the board with members reflecting the social network's diverse global community
Turkey changes road name for new U.S. embassy to 'Malcolm X Street'
The new embassy building, located in the Cukurambar district on the western outskirts of Ankara, is on what is currently named 1478 Street

SC applicants agree with U.S ruling favoring baker in gay wedding cake case
‘The right to religious belief in the hierarchy of values should prevail,’ says Court of Appeals Associate Justice Ramon Garcia
Pepsi drops ad accused of mocking 'Black Lives' protests
The spot provokes an outcry and widespread derision on social media claiming Pepsi is seeking to profit from the social justice movement

#ThewRap: Things you need to know, March 3, 2017
Hello Here are the stories you shouldn t miss this Friday

U.S. Supreme Court says electoral maps must be reviewed for racial bias
The ruling is particularly noteworthy as civil rights organizations fear a tightening of voting rights for minorities under President Donald Trump

White House overturns Obama-era protections for transgender students
The Trump administration is now leaving it up to states and school districts to decide whether students should have access to bathrooms that do not reflect their biological sex

At least 11 U.S. Jewish centers get bomb threats
The latest phoned in threats at 11 separate sites bring to 69 the total number of such incidents – at 54 Jewish community centers in 27 US states and one Canadian province

FAST FACTS: What is active non-violence?
UPDATED This form of peaceful protest has been employed in many countries including the Philippines in response to issues ranging from racism to oppression

What happens during a deportation raid in the U.S.?
Activists complain about a lack of transparency in ICE s proceedings – many are confused about whether the coordinated sweep across the country is a sign of more to come

Malacañang: We respect U.S. immigration ban
Palace spokesperson: We respect the policy of the United States of America if they have prohibitions or they would be banning people from entering their country because that is their right

Muslim world shocked, outraged at U.S. visa ban
Families split a father unable to reach his son s wedding and officials warning of a gift to extremists – the visa ban triggers shock and confusion among those affected

Trump unleashes attack on U.S. civil rights icon
A growing number of Democratic lawmakers announce they will not attend the inauguration on Friday January 20 in the wake of Trump s attack against congressman John Lewis

Obama opens new African American Museum amid racial strife
African American history is not somehow separate from our larger American story It is central to the American story says US President Barack Obama

National Guard activated after fatal Milwaukee shooting
While an uneasy calm had returned to the affected neighborhood by Sunday afternoon Mayor Tom Barrett says the city still faces a very volatile situation

Anger as Italy cooks gay civil unions bill
Last minute marathon talks rage within the upper house of parliament all day to reach a deal on a fresh version of the law after stiff Catholic opposition over attempts to give adoption rights in some cases to gay couples

Australia targets 2017 referendum on Aboriginal recognition
The nation s founding document fails to mention Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people and a campaign has been under way for several years to recognize the continent s first inhabitants via a referendum

Beyoncé takes US by storm with new activist role
Beyoncé has suddenly transformed from crowd pleasing entertainer to outspoken spokeswoman for the burgeoning Black Lives Matter movement
State of emergency in Ferguson as teen charged in police shootout
St Louis County executive Steve Stenger says county police will immediately take charge of police emergency management in Ferguson and surrounding districts

Thousands protest in US over police 'injustices'
Freddie Gray s death is the latest instance in the United States of a black man succumbing at the hands of police

Baltimore braced for new night of protest as Obama warns police
Obama condemns the rioting but also says that a series of recent incidents – beginning last year with the police shooting of an unarmed black teenager in Ferguson Missouri – is worrying

Baltimore deploys Guard troops as riots erupt
UPDATED Maryland Governor Larry Hogan declares a state of emergency in the port city of 620 000 and activates the National Guard as rioters prowl

Violence erupts at Baltimore police death protest
Tensions have been simmering in the blue collar Mid Atlantic port city of 620 000 as investigators try to establish the circumstances that led to Freddie Gray s death

Malaysia passes anti-terrorism law, raising rights fears
The Prevention of Terrorism Act allows authorities to detain terrorism suspects without charge and the political opposition as well as legal and rights groups urge its withdrawal

Man charged in Ferguson shooting
Jeffrey Williams 20 is charged with first degree assault armed criminal action and shooting a firearm from a motor vehicle causing injury

Ferguson activists press ahead, undeterred by latest shooting
Activists take the first steps to force the mayor out of office while residents awaited signs of progress in the investigation

Officers shot in Ferguson released from hospital
4th UPDATE An intense manhunt was under way for a suspect or suspects in the shootings of the officers

Ferguson police chief quits after racism report
Thomas Jackson is the latest prominent official in the St Louis suburb to stand down
Senior Ferguson official out after 'racism' report
The Ferguson City Council votes unanimously on a mutual separation agreement with Shaw effective immediately

Police officer shoots, kills black teen in Wisconsin
The incident touches off protests in the Midwestern university city

Obama in Selma: 'Our march is not over'
Obama pays a stirring tribute to the sacrifice of a generation of activists who marched so that black Americans could enjoy civil rights and opened the road that eventually led him to the White House

Policeman cleared in US town that 'targeted blacks'
The US Justice Department says it found a widespread pattern of racial discrimination and multiple violations of citizens constitutional rights

25,000 attend German anti-Islam march, but counter-protests bigger
The impressive turnout was dwarfed by 100 000 counter demonstrators calling for tolerance nationwide

German anti-migrant march draws highest turnout, opponents rally
Immigration and the emergence of PEGIDA have prompted heated debate in Europe s top economy

Thousands bid farewell to murdered New York cop
A sea of blue uniformed officers line the streets outside a Brooklyn funeral home to honor Wenjian Liu 32 shot in the head with partner Rafael Ramos 40 on December 20

Protesters defy New York call for moratorium
Dozens of anti police protesters defy a call from Mayor Bill de Blasio urging New Yorkers to suspend demonstrations until after murdered police officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu are buried

Record 17,000 rally against 'Islamization' in Germany
A record 17 000 anti Islamic protesters ralliy in eastern Germany celebrating the rise of their far right populist movement by singing Christmas carols

No charges for Milwaukee cop who shot a black man
A US police officer from Milwaukee who shot and killed an African American man in a park last April will not be charged

Shock, anger in NY after police murders
The double killing in a city where murders are at their lowest rates in 20 years further strains the already fraught relations between Mayor Bill de Blasio and police

Gunman kills two New York City police officers
The shootings came amid anger over the death of an unarmed black man by a white police officer and a grand jury s decision not to press charges against him

Second night of violent protests in California over cop killings
Demonstrations over cop killings have erupted across the United States over the past two weeks

Third night of US protests against police killings
The signs of growing discontent take place as a New York prosecutor says a grand jury would consider charges in one of the cases that has again brought to the fore the distrust felt by many African Americans towards the police

US faces questions as racially charged cases mount
Names like Michael Brown Tamir Rice and Eric Garner are now chapters in the long saga of tense and often violent relations between America s black community and mainly white police forces

New York race protests vent anger over police killings
The largely peaceful demonstrations come as details emerge of another racially tinged death

Protests after no charges in NYC police death of black man
UPDATE Eric Garner s death is one of a string of high profile racially charged incidents in which white officers have been accused of using unreasonable force or being too quick to fire at black suspects

Mayor vows to rebuild riot-torn Ferguson
Mayor James Knowles: We are recommitted to rebuilding the city and to once again becoming a thriving community for economic development and residential stability

Video: US police shot black boy after seconds on scene
The sudden end to the incident stokes anger at police tactics in the United States in the wake of rioting triggered by a decision not to prosecute a white officer who killed an unarmed black teenager
