1872

The first woman to formally declare herself a candidate for president of the United States did not build a national campaign or make a splash in debates. In fact, when Victoria Woodhull ran for office in 1872, she could not even vote for herself.Woodhull, an unconventional social reformer who advocated for “free love” and women’s suffrage, was nominated to run for president by the newly established Equal Rights Party. Her run came decades before the ratification of the 19th Amendment that gave women the right to vote.Born Victoria Claflin, she came from humble roots in Homer, Ohio. She received essentially no formal education, though she and her sister Tennessee Claflin worked as traveling medical clairvoyants.ADVERTISEMENTWoodhull fell ill at the age of 14 and eventually married the man who treated her, Canning Woodhull, when she was 15. He was her first of three husbands, one who didn’t bother to stop womanizing.“She was fully aware at that time that … [Read more...] about Meet the first woman to run for president

More than a century ago, nearly 100 Māori men were punished for defending their land rights in Taranaki and sent to Dunedin for hard labour. Some men never made it home. Hamish McNeilly reports. Two groups of Māori men: one who took up arms, and the other who protested peacefully. All wanted the return of their ancestral land, and all received the same sentence. Hard labour. The labour of those Taranaki prisoners: 74 from Pakakohi in 1869 and a decade later 91 from Parihaka, is visible around Dunedin. There is Māori Rd, carved between two city hill suburbs and named after the prisoners, other main arterial roads, and land reclamation. But few know of that shameful past, and the men who lived and died in the shadows of the city. A large monument lies on a grass verge of a road connecting the city’s harbour to the Otago Peninsula. That monument, features a large stone from Taranaki and the inscription reads: “The stone above named ‘Rongo’, … [Read more...] about Our Truth, Tā Mātou Pono: Parts of Dunedin built on the backs of men who tried to defend their land rights in Taranaki

SACRAMENTO (AP/CBS13) – California should allow all but death row inmates and those serving life-without-parole to request lighter sentences after serving at least 15 years as part of a dramatic overhaul of the state’s sentencing laws recommended Tuesday by an advisory committee to Gov. Gavin Newsom. The state also should limit sentencing enhancements that can add years to underlying prison terms but are imposed with “extreme racial disparities,” the committee said. As one example, it said 99% of those given a gang enhancement in Los Angeles County are people of color. “If all 10 recommendations were adopted, they would impact almost every area of California’s criminal legal system, from driving infractions to life in prison, and probably everybody behind bars would be affected in some way,” committee chairman Michael Romano told The Associated Press. “We can improve public safety and reduce incarceration at the same time,” said Romano, who directs the Stanford Three Strikes … [Read more...] about Panel Calls For Overhaul Of California’s Sentencing Laws

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (CBS13/AP) — California should allow all but death row inmates and those spending life behind bars without the chance of parole to request lighter sentences after they serve at least 15 years, one piece of a dramatic overhaul of the state’s sentencing laws that an advisory committee to Gov. Gavin Newsom recommended Tuesday. The nation’s most populated state also should limit sentencing enhancements that can add years to prison terms and are imposed with “extreme racial disparities,” the committee said. For example, it said 99% of those given a gang enhancement in Los Angeles County are people of color. To take effect, the recommendations would need to be translated into legislation that passes the Democratic-led Legislature and signed into law by Newsom. Two lawmakers on the committee immediately announced some measures. “If all 10 recommendations were adopted, they would impact almost every area of California’s criminal legal system, from driving infractions … [Read more...] about California Panel Finds ‘Extreme Racial Disparities’ Calls For Overhaul Of Inmate Sentencing Laws

LEE KENNY/STUFF More than 30 Extinction Rebellion activists blocked access to the Bathurst Resources Canterbury coal mine in September to protest against a planned expansion. A coal mine in rural Canterbury is set to close, despite owners applying for consent for expansion and increased coal extraction just last year. The 52-hectare Bathurst Resources mine is situated in the Malvern Hills, about 20 kilometres west of Darfield. Acting chief executive Russell Middleton said on Wednesday the company had “regrettably” decided to close the mine, which had been extracting about 100,000 tonnes of low-sulphur coal a year, largely suppling local food processors near the site. “We have been working towards economic solutions for keeping the mine open with Environment Canterbury, Selwyn District Council and our customers, but these have not been successful.” READ MORE: Climate activists block railway track in coal transportation protest Climate activists lock themselves to … [Read more...] about Canterbury mine extracting 100,000 tonnes of coal a year set to close