July 15 Peace Love Art Activism

Religion and Public Education

SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE

July 15, 1925: Judge Raulston overruled the defense’s motion to have the Butler law declared unconstitutional. Raulston says in his ruling that the law “gives no preference to any particular religion or mode of worship. Our public schools are not maintained as places of worship, but, on the contrary, were designed, instituted, and are maintained for the purpose of mental and moral development and discipline.”

In an afternoon session that day, a not guilty plea is entered on Scopes’ behalf. Each side presents its opening statements. The prosecution questioned the superintendent of schools and two of Scopes’ students, who testify that Scopes taught his class about evolution. The defense questioned zoologist Maynard Metcalf, who testified that evolution was a widely embraced theory in the scientific community. (see Scopes for expanded story)

July 15 Peace Love Art Activism

BLACK HISTORY

Lynch law for blacks only

July 15, 1930: Senator Coleman L Blease advocated a lynch law for Blacks (only) who were guilty (more often not) of assaulting white women. “Whenever the Constitution comes between me and the virtue of the white women of South Carolina, I say ‘To hell with the Constitution.’ “ “Assaulting” could have a much broader interpretation and might simply mean “speaking to a white woman.” (next BH & Lunching, see Aug 7; see Blease for expanded story; see AL3 for expanded chronology of early 20th century lynching)

Croppers’ and Farm Workers Union

July 15, 1931: after leading fierce battles on behalf of sharecroppers and tenant farmers in Alabama, Ralph Gray, a leader of the Croppers’ and Farm Workers Union in Tallapoosa County, was brutally murdered July 15, 1931, by a heavily armed white mob, organized by the county’s sheriff. [Encyclopedia of Alabama article]  (Labor, see March 7, 1932; BH, see April 2, 1933)

Scottsboro travesty

July 15 1937: Clarence Norris convicted of rape and sentenced to death. (see Scottsboro for expanded story)

Birmingham, Alabama

July 15, 1963: firefighters turn their hoses full force on civil rights demonstrators in Birmingham, Alabama. (see July 25)

George Whitmore, Jr

July 15, 1965: Governor Nelson Rockefeller signed legislation abolishing blue-ribbon juries. (see Whitmore for expanded story)

Church Burning

July 15, 2015: authorities responded to an early morning fire at Houston’s Fifth Ward Missionary Baptist Church, the latest in a rash of burnings at predominantly black religious institutions. Nobody was injured, but the Texas church was “significantly damaged,” KHOU reported. It took firefighters about 30 minutes to extinguish the flames. (BH, see Sept 8; CB, see Oct 30)

Fair Housing

July 15, 2019: analysis from the Center for American Progress uncovered numerous signs of persistent residential segregation among African American home mortgage borrowers.

“Although the Fair Housing Act has succeeded in eliminating the most blatant forms of discrimination that were common 50 years ago, the U.S. housing market is still highly segmented along racial lines,” said Michela Zonta, senior policy analyst at CAP. “The legacy of federal redlining and discriminatory housing policies and private practices is still visible today, as housing discrimination has taken different forms and African American neighborhoods continue to be devalued compared with white neighborhoods.” (next BH, see July 25; next FH, see In November)

July 15 Peace Love Art Activism

The Red Scare, McCarthyism, and the Cold War

Dixiecrats defect

July 15, 1948:  the Democratic Party Convention nominated President Truman to run as its candidate for president. Northern liberals succeed in including a strong civil rights plank in the party platform, leading to the defection of conservative Southern Democrats to the segregationist States Rights (or Dixiecrat) Party.  [text of Truman’s acceptance speech] (see July 17, 1948)

Ethel Rosenberg

July 15, 2015: the conviction and eventual execution of  Ethel Rosenberg for joining in her husband Julius’s espionage conspiracy rested largely on trial testimony from her younger brother, but in private testimony to a grand jury seven months before the 1951 trial, Mrs. Rosenberg’s brother, David Greenglass, never mentioned involvement by his sister in Mr. Rosenberg’s delivery of atomic secrets to Soviet operatives, according to a grand jury transcript released on this day.

While not definitive proof that he lied at trial, Mr. Greenglass’s omission — and his assertion before the grand jury that he had never even discussed espionage with his sister — provided further evidence to Mrs. Rosenberg’s defenders who believe that she was unfairly convicted, and that her brother, under pressure from prosecutors, had doomed her with concocted testimony to spare his own wife from prosecution. [NYT article]  (Cold War, see July 20; DP, see Aug 7; Nuclear, see Sept 2)

July 15 Peace Love Art Activism

Fair Housing

American Housing Act of 1949

July 15, 1949: the American Housing Act of 1949 expanded the federal government’s role in mortgage insurance and issuance and the construction of public housing. It was part of President Harry Truman’s program of domestic legislation, the Fair Deal. Truman stated at the signing: This far-reaching measure is of great significance to the welfare of the American people. It opens up the prospect of decent homes in wholesome surroundings for low-income families now living in the squalor of the slums. It equips the Federal Government, for the first time, with effective means for aiding cities in the vital task of clearing slums and rebuilding blighted areas. It authorizes a comprehensive program of housing research aimed at reducing housing costs and raising housing standards. It initiates a program to help farmers obtain better homes. text of Truman’s statement when signing the bill into law[]

Pruitt-Igoe

In 1956: the St. Louis’s Pruitt-Igoe public housing project completed. It was touted as a model of urban planning. [movie history article] (FH, see December 5, 1957; Pruitt, see March 16, 1972)

July 15 Peace Love Art Activism

July 15 Music et al

Beatles Julia Lennon

July 15,1958: John Lennon’s mother, Julia was visiting her sister Mimi’s house where her John was living. Shortly after leaving Mimi’s house, while crossing the road to get to a bus stop, she was struck by a car driven by an off-duty policeman, 24-year-old Eric Clague. Contrary to some reports, Clague was not drunk at the time and he was driving under the 30mph speed limit. He was, however, a learner driver who was unaccompanied. “Julia,” “Mother,” and “My Mummy’s Dead.” are Lennon songs dedicated to or inspired by Julia.

First Beat Boys

In 1959 Tony Sheridan joined Vince Taylor and the Playboys in Hamburg, Germany where they would play. The band would eventually morph into the Beat Brothers with a line-up consisting of Tony Sheridan (vocals/guitar), Ken Packwood (drums), Rick Richards (guitar), Colin Melander (bass), Ian Hines (keyboards) and Jimmy Doyle (drums). Over the years the band’s line-up would continue to see many personnel changes. Some of the most notable inclusions were: Ringo Starr, Roy Young, Rikky Barnes, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Pete Best. (see August 1959)

The Road to Bethel

July 15, 1969:   in a closed session at the town hall, the Wallkill Zoning Board of Appeals passed judgment on the status of Woodstock Venture’s application for a permit. The five-member board refused to allow the festival to build anything on the 200-acre site. (see Chronology for expanded story)

Dylan/Mariposa Folk Festival

July 15, 1972: Bob Dylan attended the Mariposa Folk Festival on Toronto Center Island. He tried to remain nondescript, but he was recognized and fans mobbed around him. Eventually, police had to escort him off the island. (see Nov 13)

Steve Earle – “John Walker’s Blues” (2002)

July 15, 2002: John Walker Lindh pleaded guilty to aiding the enemy and possession of explosives during the commission of a felony.

Shortly afterwards, Steve Earle released “John Walker’s Blues”   (next T, see Oct 4; JWL, see May 23, 2019)

July 15 Peace Love Art Activism

Vietnam

July 15, 1969: Nixon sent a letter to Ho Chi Minh stating “I realize that it is difficult to communicate meaningfully across the gulf of four years of war,…but I wanted to take this opportunity to reaffirm in all solemnity my desire to work for a just peace.” Nixon warned, thought, that unless there was a breakthrough in negotiations by November, the would have no choice but to take “Measures of great consequence and force.” [full text] (see Aug 4)

July 15 Peace Love Art Activism

End of the Space Race

July 15 – 24, 1975: the last Apollo mission carried Donald K. “Deke” Slayton, Tom Stafford, and Vance Brand. Slayton was one of the original Mercury astronauts, but had not previously flown in space due to a heart fibrillation. In orbit, they docked with a Soviet Soyuz spacecraft. The mission proved the compatibility of the two space programs and paved the way for future collaborations and rescue missions. [NASA article] (see Space, February 7, 1984)

July 15 Peace Love Art Activism

Jimmy Carter nominated

July 15, 1976: Jimmy Carter nominated for U.S. President at the Democratic National Convention in New York City.

July 15 Peace Love Art Activism

Native Americans

“The Longest Walk”

July 15, 1978: “The Longest Walk” entered Washington, D.C., with several thousand Indians and a number of non-Indian supporters. The traditional elders led them to the Washington Monument, where the Pipe carried across the country was smoked. Over the following week, they held rallies at various sites to address issues: the 11 pieces of legislation, American Indian political prisoners, forced relocation at Big Mountain, the Navajo Nation, etc. Non-Indian supporters included the American boxer Muhammad Ali, US Senator Ted Kennedy and the actor Marlon Brando. The US Congress voted against a proposed bill to abrogate treaties with Indian Nations. During the week after the activists arrived, Congress passed the American Indian Religious Freedom Act, which allowed them the use of peyote in worship. President Jimmy Carter refused to meet with representatives of The Longest Walk. (see Aug 11)

The Longest Walk 4

July 15, 2013: th return to Alcatraz begin in Washington D.C. to travel to Alcatraz by December 22, 2013. The stated purpose of this Walk was to reaffirm the heart of Traditional Tribal Sovereignty rooted in Ceremony and land based spiritual relationships. (see July 17)

Jim Thorpe

July 15, 2022: the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced that it would display the name of Jim Thorpe as the sole gold medallist in pentathlon and decathlon at the Olympic Games Stockholm 1912. This change comes on the very day of the 110th anniversary of Thorpe’s medal in decathlon.

Thorpe, a Native American track and field athlete whose original given name of Wa-Tho-Huk means “Bright Path”, won both events at the 1912 Games, but was stripped of his Olympic titles one year later. The Amateur Athletic Union (AAU), the predecessor of the United States Olympic Committee (USOC), deemed that he had infringed the rules regarding amateurism in place at the time. (Smithsonian article) (next NA, see July 25)

July 15 Peace Love Art Activism

IRAQ War I

July 15, 1990: Iraq accused Kuwait of stealing oil from the Rumaylah, Iraq’s oil field near the Iraqi-Kuwaiti border and warns of military action. (see July 22)

July 15 Peace Love Art Activism

Cultural Milestone

July 15, 1995: with great ambitions reflected by naming itself after the world’s largest river, Amazon officially opened for business as an online bookseller. Within a month, the retailer had shipped books to all 50 U.S. states and to 45 countries. (see February 13, 2000)

July 15 Peace Love Art Activism

US Labor History

Student unions

July 15, 2004: the National Labor Relations Board reversed itself and ruled that students who worked as research and teaching assistants did not have the right to unionize. In a case involving Brown University, the labor board ruled 3 to 2 that graduate teaching and research assistants were essentially students, not workers, and thus should not have the right to unionize to negotiate over wages, benefits and other conditions of employment. [Brown University article] (see Sept 15)

Foxconn

July 15, 2013: Foxconn reportedly raised the age requirement for new workers being recruited for its factory in Zhengzhou, China, The contract manufacturing giant required new workers at the facility to be at least 23 years old, whereas 18 was previously the minimum age. A maximum age of 40 for new recruits remains the same, according to the Taiwanese tech journal. [PC Magazine article]

July 15 Peace Love Art Activism

Sexual Abuse of Children

July 15, 2007: the Los Angeles Archdiocese settled 508 cases of alleged sexual abuse by priests for a record-breaking pay-out of $660m. The deal is reached just before the scheduled start of a series of trials into abuse claims dating back to the 1940s. [NYT article] (see Sept 7)

July 15 Peace Love Art Activism

Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill

July 15, 2010: BP test cuts off all oil pouring into the Gulf (see Aug 2)

July 15 Peace Love Art Activism

Immigration History

July 15, 2019: the Trump administration unveiled a new rule to bar almost all immigrants from applying for asylum at the southern border, requiring them to first pursue safe haven in a third country through which they had traveled on the way to the United States.

The Department of Homeland Security, in a statement issued with the Department of Justice, said the rule would set a “new bar” for immigrants “by placing further restrictions or limitations on eligibility for aliens who seek asylum in the United States.” (see July 24)

July 15 Peace Love Art Activism

Women’s Health

July 15, 2019: the Trump administration announced that family planning clinics that the federal government funded had to stop  stop referring women for abortions, The Health and Human Services (HHS) Department formally notified clinics that it would begin enforcing the ban on abortion referrals, along with a requirement that clinics maintain separate finances from facilities that provide abortions.

In addition to the rule on separate finances, another requirement that both kinds of facilities cannot be under the same roof would take effect in 2020. [CBS News story] (see July 22)

July 15 Peace Love Art Activism

Environmental Issues

July 15, 2020:  President Trump unilaterally weakened the National Environmental Policy Act by limiting public review of federal infrastructure projects to speed up the permitting of freeways, power plants and pipelines.

In doing so, the Trump administration will claim hundreds of millions of dollars of savings over almost a decade by significantly reducing the amount of time allowed to complete reviews of major infrastructure projects, according to two people familiar with the new policy.

Mr Trump made the case that lengthy permit processes held up major infrastructure projects across the country/

Revising the 50-year-old law through regulatory reinterpretation was one of the biggest deregulatory actions of the Trump administration, which had moved to rollback 100 rules protecting clean air and water, and others that aimed to reduce the threat of human-caused climate change. [NYT article] (next EI, see Aug 20)

July 15 Peace Love Art Activism

July 13 Peace Love Art Activism

BLACK HISTORY

NYC draft riots

July 13 to July 16, 1863: The New York City draft riots were violent disturbances that arose from the culmination of working-class discontent with new laws passed by Congress that year to draft men to fight in the ongoing American Civil War.

President Abraham Lincoln diverted several regiments of militia and volunteer troops from following up after the Battle of Gettysburg to control the city. The rioters were overwhelmingly working-class men, primarily ethnic Irish, resenting particularly that wealthier men, who could afford to pay a $300 commutation fee to hire a substitute, were spared the draft.

Initially intended to express anger at the draft, the protests turned into an ugly race riot, with the white rioters attacking blacks wherever they could be found. At least 100 black people were estimated to have been killed.  [Black Past article] (next BH, see  April 12, 1864

Leonidas Dyer

July 13, 1923: US House representative Leonidas Dyer of St Louis stated that he was not surprised at the acquittal of a George Barkwell at Columbia, Missouri on the charge of murder in connection with the lynching of James Scott, a Black. Dyer referred to statistics which, he said, showed that 3,824 lynchings had been recorded during the last thirty-five years and that in all those cases there had scarcely been a conviction. [H of R bio] (next BH & Lynching,  see Aug 24;  see AL3 for expanded chronology of early 20th century lynching)

North Platte Mob

July 13, 1929: a mob of white residents drove out more than 200 Black residents from North Platte, Nebraska . The mob targeted the entire Black community with violence after a Black man was accused of killing a local white police officer.

The day before, two white police officers responded to a domestic violence call at the North Platte home of a Black man named Louis “Slim” Seeman. When Mr. Seeman allegedly shot and killed one of the officers, a mob of white men and police descended on his home and trapped him inside of a chicken coop on the property. The mob then doused the coop with gasoline and set it ablaze with Mr. Seeman inside; when his body was pulled from the wreckage, it was clear he had died from a gunshot wound—either by his own hand or fired by a member of the mob.

Even after Mr. Seeman had been killed, the large gathering of white men remained enraged at the bold violation of racial hierarchy represented by a Black man taking the life of a white man. Determined to punish the entire Black community, 500 angry white citizens wielding sticks and ropes demanded that all local Black people leave the city. Facing the threat of deadly violence, and terrified after seeing Mr. Seeman’s fate, North Platte’s 200 Black residents departed that night by foot, train, and automobile, leaving behind most of their possessions.

A county sheriff later commented, “It was the understanding when they left that they were to stay away. The idea is to keep them out.” [EJI article]  (next BH, see May 29, 1930)

Henry Dee

July 13, 1964: the disarticulated lower torso of Henry Dee was found in the river in the same area as Moore the day before.(next  BH, see July 16;  see Workers for expanded story; see Moore/Dee for expanded story)

Trayvon Martin Shooting

July 13, 2013:  the jury found George Zimmerman not guilty of second-degree murder. He was also acquitted of manslaughter, a lesser charge. (BH, see July 18; Trayvon, see July 19)

July 13 Peace Love Art Activism

Religion and Public Education

July 13, 1935: in an effort to have the Butler law declared unconstitutional, defense attorney Clarence Darrow delivered a long, fiery speech arguing that the law violates freedom of religion. Darrow argues that “we find today as brazen and as bold an attempt to destroy learning as was ever made in the Middle Ages.” (see Scopes for expanded story)

July 13 Peace Love Art Activism

John F. Kennedy

July 13, 1960: Democrats nominated John F. Kennedy for President at the Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles. [Politico article]

July 13 Peace Love Art Activism

Feminism

July 13 – 16, 1964: at the Republican National Convention in San Francisco, Senator Margaret Chase Smith of Maine became the first woman whose to be nominated, but Barry Goldwater was eventual nominee. During his acceptance speech, Goldwater  stated that, “Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice.” [Maine History Online article] (see February 26, 1965)

July 13 Peace Love Art Activism

Road to Bethel and the Woodstock festival

July 13, 1969: Ulster County assemblyman Clark Bell, a Republican from Woodstock, released a statement to the press about a letter he’d just sent to Governor Rockefeller requesting the appointment of a coordinator to oversee the festival. He also recommended that the National Guard be alerted. (see Chronology for expanded story)

see Live Aid for more

July 13, 1985 – Live Aid concerts in Philadelphia and London held for famine relief in Ethiopia. (see May 26, 1986)

July 13 Peace Love Art Activism

Vietnam

July 13, 1967: at a press conference that included General Westmorland, President Johnson said that “We are generally pleased with the progress we have made militarily. We are very sure that we are on the right track.” Westmorland added, “The statement that we ar ein a stalemate is complee fiction. It is completely unrealistic. During the past year tremendous progress has been made.” [expanded text] (see July 27)

Irish Troubles

July 13, 1981:  Martin Hurson (29) died after 46 days on hunger strike. (see Troubles for expanded story)

July 13 Peace Love Art Activism

AIDS

July 13, 1984: the CDC stated that avoiding injection drug use and reducing needle-sharing “should also be effective in preventing transmission of the virus.” [CDC article] (see Dec 17)

July 13 Peace Love Art Activism

Cold war

July 13, 1997, the remains of Che Guevara were returned to Cuba for burial, alongside some of his comrades. [AP archive article on Che] (see Oct 17)

July 13 Peace Love Art Activism

Sexual Abuse of Children

Dallas diocese

July 13, 1998: Dallas diocese forced to pay more than $31m to victims of Rudolph Kos.

John Geoghan

In 1999,  former Massachusetts priest John Geoghan was indicted on child rape charges and Bishop J. Keith Symons of Palm Beach, Fla., became the first U.S. bishop to resign after admitting molestation. That scandal was greatly compounded in 2002 when Bishop Anthony O’Connell, the successor Rome appointed to clean house, resigned for the identical reason. (see January 8, 2002)

July 13 Peace Love Art Activism

CLINTON IMPEACHMENT

July 13, 2000: Charles Bakaly, the former spokesman for then Independent Counsel Ken Starr, went to trial on charges that he misled a judge about news leaks during the Monica Lewinsky investigation. (see Clinton for expanded story)

July 13 Peace Love Art Activism

Hurricane Katrina

July 13, 2010: Katrina shootings and cover-up:: a federal grand jury indicted Kenneth Bowen, Robert Gisevius, Robert Faulcon, and Anthony Villavaso in connection with the shooting and subsequent cover-up. Additionally, Arthur “Archie” Kaufman (lead investigator on the case) and Gerard Dugue (another investigator) were charged with falsifying reports and false prosecution in the conspiracy to cover-up the shooting. (see August 5, 2011)

July 13 Peace Love Art Activism

Occupy Wall Street

July 13, 2011: Adbusters, a pro-consumer magazine, proposed a peaceful demonstration on Wall Street. (see Aug 23)

July 13 Peace Love Art Activism

LGBTQ

Fair Housing

July 13, 2015: the Department of Housing and Urban Development issued new guidance on rules to ensure that gay people were protected from discrimination in federally subsidized housing, particularly in programs designed for older Americans.

“HUD’s announcement is a strong step toward ending discrimination against LGBTQ people in federally supported senior housing,” Michael Adams, executive director of Services and Advocacy for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Elders (SAGE), said in a written statement. “With a recent report showing that housing discrimination against LGBTQ elders is rampant, this is just the kind of leadership we need from the federal government. Now we need to make sure that these anti discrimination protections are effectively implemented.”  [PDF of announcement] (FH, see Aug 19)

Kentucky

July 13, 2015: U.S. District Judge David L. Bunning heard arguments about Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis, who refused to issue marriage licenses after the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling legalizing same-sex marriage.

Davis was one of a handful of local officials across the country who had refused to comply with the court’s order. Davis and others said it violated their religious beliefs.

The American Civil Liberties Union sued Davis on behalf of two gay couples and two straight couples who were denied licenses. Davis told the Louisville Courier-Journal said that her “deep religious convictions” prevent her from complying with the Supreme Court’s decision, and so she has decided to issue no more marriage licenses to any couple — gay or straight. [CBS News article] (see July 16)

Philadelphia

July 13, 2018: US District Judge Petrese B. Tucker ruled against Catholic Social Services (CSS), which had sued the city of Philadelphia over its purported right to refuse service to same-sex couples. The judge found that the agency had no inherent right to a government contract, particularly given it was operating in violation of the contract it had. The suit arose after Philadelphia had announced in May that it was suspending foster care placements at both CSS and another agency, Bethany Christian Services, after the Philadelphia Inquirer reported that both agencies refused to place children with same-sex couples in violation of the city’s Fair Practices Ordinance. Bethany ultimately agreed to comply with the nondiscrimination law, but CSS sued, arguing that it should be allowed to continue providing services while discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation in accordance with its religious beliefs.

Episcopal General Convention

July 13, 2018: a resolution passed during the Episcopal General Convention making it possible for same-sex couples to marry in their desired place of worship. Support for the change in the church was overwhelming. Before its passage, local authority had jurisdiction over whether or not to perform a same-sex marriage. With the resolution, if a bishop objects to performing the marriage ceremony, they can tap another person to take over. (see Aug 27)

July 13 Peace Love Art Activism

Immigration History

July 13, 2018: U.S. District Court Judge Victor A. Bolden ruled that the Trump administration’s forced separation of two immigrant children from their parents at the U.S.-Mexico border was unconstitutional.

Bolden ordered the federal government to produce the parents in court in Connecticut next week. The children, who were the focus of a federal lawsuit filed on their behalf that led to the ruling, were staying in a group home in the Noank section of Groton.

“The court agrees that the government violated [the children’s] constitutional rights by forcibly removing them from their parents without due process of law,’’ Bolden wrote. “The government failed to provide the children with notice or a hearing, instead taking their parents, while distracting the children.” (see July 16)

July 13 Peace Love Art Activism

Native Americans

No more “Redskins”

July 13, 2020: less than two weeks after one of his most prominent corporate sponsors urged him to change the name of his football team, Washington owner Daniel Snyder announced plans to retire the “Redskins” nickname and reveal a new team name.

The new name remained unknown, but Warriors, Red Wolves and Redtails have ranked among the post popular choices among fans on social media.

Snyder has long ignored requests of Native American tribes and other organizations to change the name because some deem the term offensive, citing the fact that the dictionary classifies it as a racial slur. [ESPN story] (next NA, see Aug 20)

Makah Tribe/whaling

June 13, 2024: the Makah Tribe, which had long sought approval to resume hunting whales off the Washington State coast, won approval from federal regulators to harvest as many as 25 gray whales over the next decade.

The decision from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration was a crucial victory for the tribe in its decades-long quest to resume whaling traditions that were enshrined as a right in an 1855 treaty. Tribal leaders have said the whaling is needed for the tribe’s culture and welfare at a time when each is under threat. [NYT article]  (next NA, see Oct 26)

July 13 Peace Love Art Activism

Healthcare

July 13, 2020: the NY Times reported that the coronavirus pandemic had stripped an estimated 5.4 million American workers of their health insurance between February and May, a stretch in which more adults became uninsured because of job losses than have ever lost coverage in a single year, according to a new analysis.

The study by the nonpartisan consumer advocacy group Families USA, found that the estimated increase in uninsured workers from February to May was nearly 40 percent higher than the highest previous increase, which occurred during the recession of 2008 and 2009, when 3.9 million adults lost insurance.

“We knew these numbers would be big,” said Stan Dorn, who directs the group’s National Center for Coverage Innovation and wrote the study. “This is the worst economic downturn since World War II. It dwarfs the Great Recession. So it’s not surprising that we would also see the worst increase in the uninsured.” (next Healthcare, see January 28, 2021)

July 13 Peace Love Art Activism

Women’s Health

July 13, 2023: the Food and Drug Administration approved a birth control pill to be sold without a prescription for the first time in the United States, a milestone that could significantly expand access to contraception. [NYT article] (next WH, see Aug 4)

US Labor History

July 13, 2023: joining the ongoing strike by the writers guild (see May 2), SAG-AFTRA, the union representing Hollywood actors and performers, voted to go on strike against major studios. Union president Fran Drescher said in a press conference that it was time for studio executives to “wake up and smell the coffee.”

The union’s national board made the decision after negotiations broke down with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. After a last ditch effort, monitored by a federal mediator, the two sides failed to come to an agreement. [NPR article] (next LH, see Sept 15; SAG, see Nov 9)