Author Archives: AJS admin

AJS Statement on Charleston S.C. Shootings

The Alliance for a Just Society joins the world in mourning the brutal deaths of nine people murdered in Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal church in Charleston, SC this week. We have in our thoughts and prayers the families and lives of Reverend Clementa Pinckney, Daniel L. Simmons, Ethel Lee Lance, Myra Thompson, Rev. Depayne MiddletonContinue reading “AJS Statement on Charleston S.C. Shootings”

More Low Paying Jobs Means Families Continue to Struggle

The Bureau of Labor Statistics has released the Employment Situation Summary, commonly known as the “jobs report,” for May. While many news outlets had headlines lauding May’s jobs numbers, at least some are beginning to come around to a fact that we have been stating for months: too many of these new jobs are inContinue reading “More Low Paying Jobs Means Families Continue to Struggle”

Questions Fly Over $400 Million Donation. But They’re the Wrong Questions

Last week, author Malcolm Gladwell stirred up the 1% hornet’s nest by sarcastically calling out a hedge fund manager, John Paulson, for his $400 million donation to Harvard University. The billionaire’s donation to the richest university in the world will benefit the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. Upon hearing the news, Gladwell, the New Yorker writer and “Tipping Point” author,Continue reading “Questions Fly Over $400 Million Donation. But They’re the Wrong Questions”

Banning Racial Profiling is Long Overdue

It didn’t get much media attention, but the U.S. Congress banned the use of federal funds for racial profiling last week by voice vote. This adds to the existing federal rules which ban federal law enforcement agencies and joint task forces from racial profiling (excluding airport security. We have our eye on you TSA!). OfContinue reading “Banning Racial Profiling is Long Overdue”

Seattle Election Initiative Aims to Take Big Money Out of Campaigns

This article was contributed by Rosalind Brazel, communications manager for Washington Community Action Network (Washington CAN!) The Honest Elections Initiative campaign aims to take big money out of politics and give low income people a real voice in electing leaders who represent them. On Monday, June 1, more than 32,000 signatures were delivered to theContinue reading “Seattle Election Initiative Aims to Take Big Money Out of Campaigns”

Ban the Box: Two Big Wins for the Fair Hiring Campaign in Florida

Last week, small business owners, activists, and faith leaders gathered on the steps of the Daytona Beach City Hall to announce the City of Daytona’s plan to “ban the box” and open up opportunities to all applicants by removing the criminal conviction question from city job applications. The effort, commonly known as “ban the box”Continue reading “Ban the Box: Two Big Wins for the Fair Hiring Campaign in Florida”

Los Angeles is Biggest City to Enact $15 Minimum Wage

Los Angeles has become the biggest city in the nation to gradually raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour, Los Angeles City Council members voted 13-1 today to more than double the federal wage by 2020. Los Angeles City Council members signaled two weeks ago that they would raise the minimum wage, and tookContinue reading “Los Angeles is Biggest City to Enact $15 Minimum Wage”

Job Gap Research is Key as New York Groups Fight for Fair Wages

Fast food workers in New York took another big step toward winning fair wages two weeks ago when Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the convening of a new Wage Board to examine and make recommendations about increasing the minimum wage in the state’s fast food industry. Cuomo’s office has now announced the next steps in theContinue reading “Job Gap Research is Key as New York Groups Fight for Fair Wages”