The Greene County Democrat

Category: Newswire

  • Newswire : Mexico’s stand against GMO corn sparks US trade dispute

    By: Ruth Milka, Nation of Change


    The tranquil cornfields that sprawl across North America have unexpectedly become the epicenter of a burgeoning trade dispute between the United States and Mexico. At the heart of the contention is Mexico’s firm stance on banning genetically modified (GM) corn imports, a policy that has prompted the United States to escalate the matter to a dispute settlement panel under the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).
    Mexico’s Economy Ministry has voiced its intention to robustly defend its GM corn policies, asserting on social media platform X that these policies align with international trade obligations. This declaration sets a defiant tone against the backdrop of the US Trade Representative’s (USTR) accusations that Mexico’s decree infringes upon the scientific standards mandated by the USMCA.
    The USTR, led by Katherine Tai, contends that Mexico’s restrictions on GM corn, especially those used for human consumption like dough and tortillas, lack a scientific foundation and contravene the USMCA’s stipulations. “It is critical that Mexico eliminate its USMCA-inconsistent biotechnology measures,” Tai stated, highlighting the potential of innovative agricultural tools to tackle climate and food security challenges.
    Amidst this dispute, Mexico’s substantial importation of US GM corn, predominantly for livestock feed and valued at around $5 billion annually, hangs in the balance. Mexican authorities argue that biotech corn poses risks to indigenous corn varieties and may have deleterious health impacts—a claim disputed by the US.
    The controversy extends beyond GM corn, with Mexico also moving to ban glyphosate, a herbicide deemed hazardous by Mexican authorities despite global regulatory bodies affirming its safety. This stance has garnered support from various quarters, including Canada, which has expressed concerns similar to those of the US regarding Mexico’s agricultural biotechnology policies.
    The dispute has cast a shadow over the Chicago Board of Trade, with corn futures experiencing fluctuations amid concerns that US exports to Mexico could be jeopardized. This economic undercurrent underscores the far-reaching implications of the dispute, extending beyond diplomatic corridors to affect global agricultural markets.
    Efforts to resolve the disagreement through formal consultations have proven fruitless, propelling the US to seek arbitration. This decision has been met with applause from US corn trade groups and bipartisan lawmakers, who view Mexico’s policies as detrimental to US agricultural interests.
    As the USMCA mandates, a five-person panel will now be convened to adjudicate the dispute, with panelists drawn from a pre-approved roster of experts. This process, which has previously ruled on matters ranging from Canadian dairy quotas to automotive rules of origin, now faces a contentious issue that strikes at the core of agricultural trade and biotechnology.
    Amidst this complex web of trade, science, and policy, the voices of those most affected—farmers and consumers in both nations—resonate, calling for a resolution that upholds not only the letter of international agreements but also the spirit of fair and sustainable agriculture.
    “We are deeply appreciative of USTR for standing up for America’s corn growers,” expressed Tom Haag of the National Corn Growers Association‘s stand on GMO’s.

  • Newswire : Trump doubles down on racist remarks, advocates for white immigration only

    Immigrants from Latin America try to cross Rio Grande River,on Texas border

    By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

    
Former President Donald Trump has reignited controversy with inflammatory remarks suggesting a preference for immigrants from predominantly white nations while denigrating those from Latin America, and primarily Black nations. At a private event, Trump reportedly joked about welcoming immigrants from “nice” countries like Denmark, Switzerland, and Norway, again demonstrating his racial bias in immigration policy.
    Trump’s comments, revealed by New York Times correspondent and CNN analyst Maggie Haberman, highlight a troubling stance on immigration that aligns with his past rhetoric. The twice-impeached and four-times indicted former president’s insinuation that only immigrants from certain nations are desirable for entry into the United States drew swift condemnation from the Biden-Harris campaign.
    “[The comments] are alarming,” said James Singer, a spokesperson for the Biden-Harris campaign. Singer also noted how Trump has repeatedly praised dictators and declared he’d be a dictator on day one if he’s re-elected. Trump’s campaign declined to comment about what the presumptive GOP nominee said at the private dinner.
    “Why can’t we allow people to come in from nice countries, I’m trying to be nice,” Trump reportedly said. “Nice countries, you know, like Denmark, Switzerland? Do we have any people coming in from Denmark? How about Switzerland? How about Norway?”
    In addition to his discriminatory remarks, Trump blasted Latin American immigrants, likening them to notorious gang members. Critics have said such language perpetuates harmful stereotypes and exacerbates divisions within society.
    Further, Trump’s speculations about the future of American democracy have raised alarms. Suggesting that the 2024 election could be the last one in the country’s history, Trump’s comments continue his concerning trend of authoritarian rhetoric that undermines democratic norms.
    “This could very well be the last election this country ever has,” Trump said, echoing sentiments often heard at his rallies.
    Trump’s engagement with billionaire backers on taxation matters has further highlighted concerns about cronyism and inequality. By prioritizing tax cuts that primarily benefit the wealthy, opponents said Trump’s policies perpetuate economic disparities and favor the interests of the elite.
    The Biden-Harris campaign noted the list of billionaires backing Trump, arguing that they’re scammers, racists, and extremists. Among them:
    John Paulson wants to cut Social Security and opposed financial regulations to protect Americans after the 2008 crash, which he profited from.
    Robert Bigelow, who complained he couldn’t evict tenants out of his buildings during the pandemic and supports Florida’s extreme Don’t Say Gay law.
    John Catsimatidis, who compared taxes on the wealthy to Hitler killing Jews and his business, has been forced to pay millions in lawsuits over unfair labor practices and consumer safety violations.
    José “Pepe” Fanjul refused to fire his assistant, who was married to (two!) KKK leaders commented via a company spokesperson that “we wouldn’t terminate them for that.”
    Jamie McCourt pocketed over $10 million from her stock shares before public citizens were made aware of the pandemic’s severity, all while Trump played down the virus.
    Former GOP Senator Kelly Loeffler, who touted 2020 election lies, backed an anti-LGBTQ adoption agency and supported ripping away health care from millions of Americans by repealing the Affordable Care Act.
    Robert Mercer opposed the Civil Rights Act of 1964, calling it a major mistake, and believed the government was backward for helping “weak people get strong.”
    New York Jets owner, Jeff Yass has avoided $1 billion in taxes and wants to privatize Social Security.
    Woody Johnson has repeatedly disparaged women for their looks and questioned why the Black community celebrates Black History Month.
    Steve Wynn, who was accused by dozens of workers of sexual misconduct.
    Chicago Cubs owner Todd Ricketts, who made his money screwing over retirees by shedding pension obligations and health care promises, opposes the idea that the “government can serve to protect the public’s well-being.”
    Phil Ruffin fought against housekeepers trying to unionize at his Vegas hotel (jointly owned by Donald Trump) and furloughed more than 4,000 of his own employees without pay.
    Wilbur Ross, whom the Biden-Harris campaign said made his fortune laying off American workers and using bankruptcy to strip retirees of health benefits.
    Meanwhile, Singer said its vital American voters reject Trump’s authoritarian impulses and uphold the values of democracy and inclusivity.

    “Independence Day in Donald Trump’s America will apparently no longer be July 4,” Singer stated. “He’s promised publicly he’ll be a dictator on his first day, and now privately muses about this November’s election being our country’s last.

  • Newswire : Alabama Legislature wants state workers to choose Juneteenth or Jefferson Davis’s Birthday

    By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
    A bill introduced this month in the Alabama Legislature aims to revise the state’s holiday calendar by adding Juneteenth as a recognized state holiday. The proposed legislation, known as HB367, also proposes that state offices will no longer close on Confederate President Jefferson Davis’s birthday, sparking debate among lawmakers and activists.

    The bill seeks to amend Section 138 of the Code of Alabama 1975, which currently lists holidays resulting in state office closures. Under the existing law, state offices close on holidays such as Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday, Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee’s birthday, and Confederate Memorial Day.

    Alabama GOP Rep. Chris Sells of Greenville, the original proponent of the bill, proposed that government employees could decide whether to take off the first Monday in June for Confederate President Jefferson Davis’s birthday or Juneteenth on June 19. Sells asserted that this proposal does not add another holiday to the existing 13 state holidays, addressing concerns raised by some state legislators. The national average of state holidays is 17, four more than Alabama currently recognizes.

    However, Alabama Democratic Rep. Chris England of Tuscaloosa argued against the proposal, stating that there are already three state holidays recognizing the Confederacy, making it unnecessary to give employees an either/or choice between Davis’s birthday and Juneteenth.

    The controversial bill comes on the heels of Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves declaring April 2024 as Confederate Heritage Month in that state, which reportedly keeps alive a 31-year-old tradition that began in 1993. Beauvoir, the Biloxi museum and historic home of Jefferson Davis, which receives funding from the state, announced the proclamation in a Facebook post.

    The Mississippi Free Press reported that Beauvoir is owned and operated by the Sons of Confederate Veterans, a neo-Confederate organization that promotes “Lost Cause” ideology, a revisionist history that whitewashes the Confederacy’s racist past and downplays the role of slavery in the Civil War. The Free Press noted that Beauvoir annually receives $100,000 from the State of Mississippi for development and maintenance.

    Meanwhile, the Alabama bill has faced criticism from activists and community leaders. Tuscaloosa County NAACP President Lisa Young expressed concerns over honoring Jefferson Davis, citing his legacy of racist comments and outward support of slavery.

    “Confederate President Jefferson Davis left a legacy of racist comments and outward support of slavery, making many feel a holiday in his honor is inappropriate,” said Young. “One of Davis’s most infamous comments is ‘Our inferior, fitted expressly for servitude.’ We clearly know in 2024 that African Americans have contributed greatly to the growth of the United States and civilization across the world. So, we know that’s a falsehood. And we don’t want to celebrate anybody who held those beliefs.”

    Young described Juneteenth as a learning holiday for the entire state. “Juneteenth represents the day the last slaves in the country learned of their freedom,” she said. “We do better when we know better.”

    If passed, the proposed legislation will add Juneteenth to the list of recognized holidays in Alabama and introduce Mrs. Rosa L. Parks Day, set for the first day of December each year. If approved by the Alabama Legislature, the bill is scheduled to take effect on October 1, 2024.

  • Newswire : Mercedes workers set to vote for union in May; Chattanooga VW factory votes for union representation

    People react as the result of a vote comes in favour of the hourly factory workers at Volkswagen’s assembly plant to join the United Auto Workers (UAW) union, at a watch party in Chattanooga, Tennessee, U.S., April 19, 2024. REUTERS/Seth Herald

    By: Patrick Darrington, Alabama Political Reporter

    Are workers in Alabama less than a month from agreeing to form a union at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Vance?
    It was announced Thursday that the election to create a union would be held on May 13-17 in person at the Mercedes plant. Five thousand workers will participate in the vote facilitated by the National Labor Relations Board.
    The election announcement comes just four months after workers initially proclaimed they were seeking to join the United Auto Workers (UAW). Several workers at the plant commented that they were ready for the election and to win the union.
    “Workers at our plant are ready for this moment,” said Jeremy Kimbrell in a statement. “We are ready to vote yes because we are ready to win our fair share. We are going to end the Alabama discount and replace it with what our state actually needs. Workers sticking together and sticking by our community.” 
     Employees at a Volkswagen factory in Chattanooga, Tennessee, overwhelmingly voted to join the United Auto Workers union last Friday in a historic first test of the UAW’s renewed effort to organize nonunion factories.
    The union wound up getting 2,628 votes, or 73 percent of the ballots cast, compared with only 985 who voted no in an election run by the National Labor Relations Board
    Since the unionization campaign has begun Gov. Kay Ivey, the Business Council of Alabama and other business friendly entities have publicly decried the efforts to join the UAW. Earlier last week Ivey joined several other southern governors denouncing the UAW’s unionization efforts throughout the South.
    “We the governors of Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas are highly concerned about the unionization campaign driven by misinformation and scare tactics that the UAW has brought into our states,” a joint statement said. “As governors, we have a responsibility to our constituents to speak up when we see special interests looking to come into our state and threaten our jobs and the values we live by.
    But auto-industry workers in the state remain undeterred in seeking to unionize as they have routinely complained about a lack of feasible pay increases, disrespect by bosses, unsafe work environments and lack of time with family.

    Billy Guyton, a worker at the plant, stated that he was ready for the union to advance after Mercedes executives continued, “rolling things back.”
    “We’re tired of Mercedes executives rolling things back,” Guyton said. “We’re going to roll our union forward.”  

  • Newswire : President Biden to deliver Commencement Address at Morehouse College

    By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

    President Joe Biden plans to deliver the commencement address at Morehouse College on May 19, a significant event as he seeks to strengthen ties with the diverse coalition that played a pivotal role in his election to the White House.

    The White House confirmed Biden’s participation on Tuesday, following his planned address to the United States Military Academy at West Point on May 25. The Morehouse address marks the second consecutive year Biden will address the graduating class of a prominent historically Black institution, having spoken at Howard University in 2023.

    Morehouse College is renowned for its storied history and legacy of nurturing influential Black leaders, including civil rights luminary Martin Luther King Jr. and Georgia’s first Black U.S. Senator, Sen. Raphael Warnock. It is considered a beacon of empowerment and academic excellence.

    Warnock, a Morehouse alum, said he was excited about the president’s planned address. “I am thrilled to see President Biden return to our great state to deliver this year’s commencement address,” Warnock stated. “His administration’s commitment to addressing the soaring costs of higher education and initiatives like canceling debt for over 4 million Americans have been pivotal in narrowing the racial wealth gap.”

    President of Morehouse College, David Thomas, also expressed excitement for Biden’s participation in the commencement ceremony, stating, “We are deeply honored that President Biden has accepted our invitation,” Thomas insisted. “His presence is a testament to our institution’s enduring legacy and our unwavering commitment to excellence, progress, and positive transformation.” 

    Henry Goodgame, a Morehouse alumnus and vice president of external relations & alumni engagement, said Biden’s address comes during a pivotal moment for America. “We have invited the leader of the free world to address our community, tackling pressing issues and inspiring our next generation of leaders,” Goodgame commented.

    Mekhi Perrin, president of the Student Government Association at Morehouse, highlighted the college’s rich tradition of hosting influential figures and shared the students’ aspirations for the future. “We seek an equitable society that upholds the dignity and respect of all individuals, irrespective of race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, sex, identity, socioeconomic status, or background,” Perrin articulated.

    Meanwhile, White House officials said Biden’s address at Morehouse College reaffirms his administration’s commitment to addressing racial disparities and advancing educational opportunities for all Americans.
     

  • Newswire: Kenyan doctors’ strike enters third week as government stonewalls talks

    Kenyan doctors march to dramatize strike

    Apr. 8, 2024 (GIN) – Kenya’s health sector, underfunded and understaffed, is closed for business until the government makes good on salary arrears and agrees to hire badly needed trainee doctors as promised to the union.

    The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU), also want the government to address frequently delayed paychecks and compensation for doctors who work in public hospitals as part of their higher degree courses.
     
    The crippling strike, now in its third week, involves some 4,000 public sector doctors or  approximately half of the country’s 9,000 registered doctors. The question of salary arrears stems from a 2017 collective bargaining agreement that, among other things, set medical interns’ pay at 206,000 Kenyan shillings ($1,566) per month and fast tracks their clearance to work at health facilities upon graduation.
     
    Qualified medical graduates in Kenya struggle to get jobs, striking workers say, despite staff shortages at public hospitals. The union wants the government to hire over 3,000 medical interns who are currently unemployed. But the health ministry said it lacks the resources to recruit them.
    Despite a policy requiring the government to place medical interns within 30 days of completing their studies, graduates remain jobless long after qualifying to practice medicine.
     
    Talks between the two sides aimed at ending the strike have been unsuccessful and other health workers, helping to keep hospitals running in the absence of doctors, have now joined the strike, local media is reporting. “The strike will take as long as it takes the government to wake up,” said Dr. Onyango Ndong’a on Citizen Television.
     
    But government seems unlikely to budge, hoping to wait out the doctors.  Kenyan President Ruto recently declared there would be no additional monies for interns above the monthly $538 (70,000 Kenyan shillings) claiming the government was “struggling with a high tax bill.”
     
    The impact of the 3-week strike is being felt across the country with many patients left unattended or being turned away from hospitals across the East African nation.
     
    Despite the President’s claims of insufficient funds, Kenya only spends around 3.7% of its budget on health –  less than the 5% recommended by the World Health Organization for low and middle income countries to achieve universal health care, or the 15% it committed to spending on health as part of the Abuja declaration.
     
    “It’s not just health,” Anderson Njuki, a Nairobi-based economist told the online publication Semafor, “because the country is spending much of its revenues on servicing debt, social spending and development.”
     
    Without jobs or decent wages,  qualified Kenyan medical professionals would accelerate their migration abroad, Njuki added, severely weakening Kenya’s already troubled public health system.
     
    Nurses have not joined the striking doctors despite pressure to do so from some members. 
     
    “The issues doctors are pushing are genuine and should be implemented,” said Kenya National Union of Nurses Secretary General Seth Panyako. “The government is supposed to release funds to hire interns. But we’re not going on strike, we’re going to the courts.”
     

  • Newswire: Black woman hugging Trump in viral Chick-fil-A video shows how desperately MAGA world wants Black friends

    Donald Trump meets with people during a visit to a Chick-fil-A restaurant on April 10, 2024, in Atlanta, Georgia. | Source: Megan Varner / Getty

    By Zack Linly, Newsone


    Here’s the thing: If it were true that Black Americans support and admire Donald Trump in numbers that are as significant as the MAGA World suggests, Trump, the GOP, conservative media and the rest of Trump’s acolytes wouldn’t need to work so hard to show it.
    The Black Trump supporters who do exist wouldn’t need to plaster “Blacks for Trump” across their chests in yuge bold print and seek out news cameras to show themselves off in front of. Trump supporters wouldn’t be using AI to generate imaginary Black Trump supporters. Republicans wouldn’t be suddenly looking for photo-ops with the same “gangster rappers” they spent years denouncing as filth peddlers and poisoners of the youth.
    Marjorie Taylor Greene wouldn’t be out here conjuring up fake Black Trump supporters named “African-American Muhammad,” and Trump Jr. wouldn’t be in the media trying to convince us that random Black men regularly walk up to him and call him their “hero.” Sen. Lindsay Graham wouldn’t have been trying so hard in 2022 to make Herchel Walker Black people’s new MLK only to cry about it later after Black voters continued to overwhelmingly say, “Hell no!” This year’s Black Conservative Federation Gala in South Carolina wouldn’t have been so choc full of white people. Trump and other white conservatives wouldn’t be working so hard to spread around white nonsense about Trump’s mugshot and ugly-ass sneakers giving him street cred with Black America.
    If this massive influx of Black Trump support was real, why do they all need to band together and engage in this desperate and transparently self-serving campaign to prove it (or at least appear to do so)?
    Anyway, meet real Black Trump supporter Michaelah Montgomery.
    Montgomery recently went viral in a video that showed her hugging Trump after saying to him, “I don’t care what the media tells you, Mr. Trump, we support you!” while the ex-president was visiting a Chick-fil-A in Atlanta before attending a fundraising event in the area.
    Conservative media treated the viral moment like it was a random encounter by a Black Trump supporter who hadn’t strategically positioned herself and a few of her Black friends right up front to set the stage. Of course, it turns out Montgomery is actually the founder of the right-wing Conserve the Culture organization and she worked on Candace Owens‘ Blexit campaign, according to her LinkedIn profile.
    Side note: Fox News reported Trump’s Chick-fil-A visit under the headline: “Trump meets everyday Americans at Chick-fil-A while Biden fine dines with the Clintons, billionaires in DC.” They’re really out here trying to present Trump’s photo-op at the fast- food restaurant widely known for its support of anti-LGBTQ+ policies like it shows he’s one with the common man as if he doesn’t also eat at expensive restaurants with billionaires and spend his days golfing at the country club he owns where you basically need an 800 credit score just to smell the grass.

    Speaking of Fox News, Montgomery’s viral moment scored her an interview on Fox & Friends where she continued her rhetoric about largely fictitious mainstream media outlets that are reporting that Black people hate Trump.
    “The general consensus or social media would have you thinking that if President Trump were to show up to the HBCU campuses … that like, some angry mob would form or a riot would ensue and that he would not be welcome, and clearly the sentiment in that room the other day was the complete opposite,” Montgomery, a graduate from HBCU Clark Atlanta University, told Fox’s Lawrence Jones.
    “He was very welcome. People were excited to see him. People showed up in support of him, and people, of course, were from all four institutions within the AUC [Atlanta University Center], the local HBCU community in Atlanta, and they all showed up in support of him,” she continued.
    A few things:
    First, literally no media outlet on social media or otherwise has even insinuated that “if President Trump were to show up to the HBCU campuses” an “angry mob would form or a riot would ensue.” In fact, media outlets on either side of the political aisle have only been reporting on the slight uptick in Black Trump support that recent polls have shown, even though most studies have shown it’s really not all that significant.
    Secondly, I wonder if Montgomery is even aware that Trump actually has visited an HBCU before, or that his reception there was far from welcoming.
    In 2019, Trump spoke at Benedict College in Columbia, South Carolina. The student protests outside of the building where Trump was speaking were reportedly larger than the crowd inside, which, to be fair, might have had something to do with the fact that only seven students were allowed inside for the speech, according to USA Today.
    Still, Montgomery claims he “was very welcome” and that presumably Black “people were excited to see him,” but it’s unclear what that had to do with what his reception at an Atlanta HBCU would be since they weren’t on an HBCU college campus, they were at the fast food spot that really only has one type of chicken that it uses for like 9 different combos and is owned by a guy who would probably change up the menu, but only if it meant gay people couldn’t get married anymore.
    All I’m saying is the political posturing is real—unlike massive Black support for the orange guy who consistently broadcasts his hate for Black Lives Matter, critical race theory, DEI, police reform initiatives, and virtually everything else that represents many of the most common values among the Black masses in America.

  • Newswire : GAO study reveals persistent underrepresentation of Black and Hispanic faculty in higher education

    African American professor and her students using laptop during lecture in the classroom.

    By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

     A new study conducted by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), commissioned by Congressman Bobby Scott (D-Virginia), has unveiled concerning trends regarding the representation of Black and Hispanic faculty members in higher education institutions. Despite modest increases in their numbers over the past two decades, Black and Hispanic individuals remain significantly underrepresented among college faculty.

    The study, which examined data spanning from fiscal years 2003 to 2021, found that while the proportions of Black and Hispanic faculty members have seen slight upticks, they continue to lag behind their representation in the broader workforce, particularly among workers with advanced degrees and professionals. Further, the study highlighted a stark disparity between the racial and ethnic composition of faculty and that of the student body, indicating a systemic issue within higher education.
    “Addressing the underrepresentation of Black and Hispanic faculty is not only a matter of diversity but also impacts the overall quality of education and student outcomes,” study authors wrote. “It’s imperative that we hold institutions accountable for fostering inclusive environments that reflect the diversity of our society.”
    The study identified the processing of employment discrimination complaints as one significant barrier. Both current and prospective faculty members have the option to file complaints with either the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) or the Department of Education. However, the study revealed persistent delays in the referral of complaints from the Department of Education to the EEOC.
    In fiscal year 2022 alone, the Department of Education processed and referred 99 complaints alleging employment discrimination at colleges, with an average referral time of 71 days—well beyond the mandated 30-day period. Such delays not only prolong the resolution process but also perpetuate instances of discrimination and inequity within academia.
    Additionally, the study uncovered deficiencies in the EEOC’s tracking and processing of complaint referrals. Despite receiving complaints referred to by the Department of Education, the study concluded that the EEOC needs a consistent protocol to ensure the timely receipt and processing of these referrals. The lack of accountability poses risks of oversight and further delays in addressing discrimination complaints, the authors stated.
    In response to the findings, the GAO has issued recommendations aimed at enhancing accountability and efficiency in the processing of discrimination complaints. Scott has urged swift action from both the Department of Education and the EEOC to address the systemic disparities and processing delays highlighted in the study.
    “The good news is that faculty diversity has improved over the last twenty years. The bad news is that faculty diversity is still not representative of the students they teach,” Scott stated.
    According to the study authors, historically Black colleges, and universities, among other minority-serving establishments, have had success in nurturing and advancing academic members of color into tenure-track jobs, which offer greater security than adjunct or part-time employment. The authors noted that these schools frequently prioritize the education of students of color in the recruiting and professional development of their professors.
    The GAO research suggests that enhancing mentorship, conducting retention studies, and providing leadership opportunities are effective strategies to enhance the retention of faculty members who are of color. The survey also discovered that a positive campus environment affected teachers’ decision to remain at their schools.
    The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Department of Education both handle allegations of discrimination at colleges and universities inefficiently, according to the GAO study. The Education Department’s regulation mandates that complaints be sent to the EEOC within 30 days; however, the average time it took to get a referral was more like 71 days.
    “As we strive to create more equitable educational environments, it is incumbent upon federal agencies to prioritize the timely and thorough investigation of discrimination complaints,” the authors concluded. “Our nation’s colleges and universities must be bastions of diversity and inclusion, and addressing the underrepresentation of minority faculty is a critical step towards achieving that goal.”

  • Newswire : Racial bias uncovered in kidney transplantation system: Thousands of Black patients prioritized after years of waiting

    By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

    Five years ago, Arlette Ebanks experienced severe kidney pain that she believed suggested a criminal need for a transplant. Her doctors disagreed, but the 52-year-old Northeast, D.C., resident, and mother of two who worked for the Department of Transportation for more than half of her life until her deteriorating health landed her on permanent disability, had grown ever more anxious as health care providers attempted various measures of maintenance.
    Recently, physicians at George Washington University Hospital told Ebanks that she should have been on the transplant list, and understandably, Ebanks wondered why previous doctors hadn’t done so.  Now, Ebanks knows why. “All this time, all this stress and worry, was all because I’m Black,” Ebanks stated with intense incredulity in an interview with the Washington Informer.
    At issue is a once widely used test that overestimated how well Black people’s kidneys were functioning, making them look healthier than they really were. An automated formula calculated results for Black and non-Black patients that were far different from those of others, delaying organ failure diagnosis and, ultimately, proper evaluation for a kidney transplant.

    The disparity only exacerbated existing inequities, with Black patients being more susceptible to needing a new kidney but less likely to receive one. “On the one hand,” Ebanks remarked, “I have not only been put on the waiting list, but moved up to where I am now more confident that I will get a new kidney. On the other hand, it’s infuriating that we keep seeing how racism in medicine, bias in healthcare, is causing unnecessary pain and suffering among African Americans.”
    The U.S. organ transplant network has now ordered hospitals and care facilities to use race-neutral test results only when adding new patients to the kidney transplant waiting list. Further, the National Kidney Foundation and the American Society of Nephrology told laboratories to transition to race-neutral equations when calculating kidney function.
    The policy shift has led to major adjustments, and between January 2023 and mid-March 2024, over 14,300 Black candidates had their wait times recalibrated, resulting in more than 2,800 successful transplants, including Ebanks.
    Dr. Nwamaka Eneanya, an assistant professor at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania Health System, emphasized the detrimental impact of race-based equations on clinical decisions, particularly in assessing renal function.
    Dr. Eneanya, a vocal advocate for removing race from medical equations, highlighted the lack of biological differences between races and the inherent flaws in using race-based multipliers. She told her university’s newspaper that, despite mounting evidence, many clinicians continue to rely on these outdated practices, perpetuating harm to Black patients. “Human genome studies have shown there are no inherent biological differences between races,” Dr. Eneanya stated. “Those studies reporting that Black people had greater muscle mass were flawed, but no one questioned them.”

    As the director of Health Equity, Anti-Racism, and Community Engagement at Penn Medicine, Dr. Eneanya spearheads internal initiatives to promote diversity and inclusion within the Renal Electrolyte and Hypertension Division. Additionally, she is actively involved in community outreach programs to address racial disparities in kidney disease awareness and screening.
    “Not everyone approaches medicine with a health equity lens. Many clinicians are not aware of existing disparities — how Black patients do not get referred to nephrology as early as white patients and do not have sufficient access to transplant [procedures],” she asserted. “In medicine, the tendency is to say, ‘This is what a study showed, so this is what we should do,’ focusing on biomarkers and statistical tests without examining issues of ethics or health equity.”
    Dr. Eneanya noted that the revelation of racial bias within the kidney transplantation system underscores the pressing need for reformative measures to ensure equitable healthcare access for all individuals, regardless of race or ethnicity.
    “I sit on a joint American Society of Nephrology-National Kidney Foundation task force that is revising formal eGFR reporting guidelines to exclude racial bias,” Dr. Eneanya stated. “Many physicians across the country, including some at Penn, have stopped using the race multiplier already. And while the eGFR is a frontline test for kidney function, there are other tests that don’t incorporate race. When there is any doubt about the accuracy of an eGFR score, other confirmatory tests that do not use race should be performed.”

     

  • Newswire : A flame of remembrance for victims of the Rwanda genocide

    President and First Lady of Rwanda place wreath at genocide memorial

    Apr. 7, 2024 (GIN) – Rwandans are marking the 30th anniversary of a genocide that took the lives of an estimated 800,000 mostly ethnic Tutsis over 100 days, between April and June 1994.
     
    Wreaths were laid at the Kigali Genocide Memorial by President Paul Kagame and first lady Jeannette Kagame. The President then lit the “Flame of Remembrance”, before making a speech at an arena in Kigali, capital of Rwanda.
     
    The Flame will be lit for seven days at four genocide memorial sites which were inscribed on the World Heritage List of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in September.
    Other commemorative activities will be conducted across the country, including a Walk to Remember in Kigali, which will be followed by a night vigil.
     
    A senior program advisor on transitional justice at the Kenya Human Rights Commission, Martin Mavenjina, emphasized the significance of remembering the genocide. “It’s not just as a moment of remembrance,” he said, “but an opportunity for victims and survivors to reflect, heal, and look towards the future. “It reassures the world that never again will such an event happen anywhere on this continent or even anywhere (else) in the world.”
     
    Supporters of Kagame’s rule applaud him, saying that without his firm grip on power, Rwanda could slide back to the chaos that could ignite another genocide.
    But human rights leaders and activists differ with that view. Kagame, they say, has oppressed his opponents, killed and imprisoned his critics. Dissidents are jailed, free speech is curtailed and political opponents often die in murky circumstances, even those living in the West.
     
    Ethnic divisions persist under the authoritarian president who has ruled for just as long, writes New York Times reporter Declan Walsh.  Soldiers under President Kagame have been accused of massacre and plunder in the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo.
     
    This view was supported by the transitional justice advisor. He urged Kagame to loosen his grip on power and allow for more freedom. 
     
    For decades, Western leaders have looked past Mr. Kagame’s abuses, comments Walsh. “Some have expressed guilt for their failure to halt the genocide when Hutu extremists massacred people mostly from Mr. Kagame’s Tutsi ethnic group.”
     
    Kagame took that view a step further, blaming the inaction of the international community for allowing the 1994 genocide to happen. “It was the international community which failed all of us, whether from contempt or cowardice,” Kagame said in a speech after laying a wreath at a memorial site holding the remains of 250,000 genocide victims in Kigali.
     
    The killings were ignited when a plane carrying then-President Juvénal Habyarimana, a Hutu, was shot down over Kigali. The Tutsis were blamed for downing the plane and killing the president and became targets in massacres led by Hutu extremists that lasted over 100 days. Some moderate Hutus who tried to protect members of the Tutsi minority were also killed.
     
    Some Western leaders have now expressed regret.
     
    Bill Clinton, after leaving office, cited the Rwandan genocide as a failure of his administration. French President Emmanuel Macron, in a prerecorded video, said that France and its allies could have stopped the genocide but lacked the will to do so. Macron’s declaration came three years after he acknowledged the “overwhelming responsibility” of France — Rwanda’s closest European ally in 1994 — for failing to stop Rwanda’s slide into the slaughter. 
     
    But in truth, few voices were heard in opposition to the U.S. — few, at least, with the will and means to back up their arguments with substantial commitments of their own.
     
    Even after the storm broke, the U.N. reaction was to retreat, to reduce rather than increase its forces in the riven country.
     
    Some Rwandans fear that nothing has been learned — that the outside world will intervene too late, with too little, elsewhere. Rwanda also has had troubled relations with its neighbors. 

    Recently, tensions have flared with Congo, with the two countries’ leaders accusing one another of supporting armed groups. Relations have been tense with Burundi as well over allegations that Kigali is backing a rebel group attacking Burundi. And relations with Uganda are yet to fully normalize after a period of tensions stemming from Rwandan allegations that Uganda was backing rebels opposed to Kagame.