The wake of the #MeToo movement encouraged women all over the country to come forward with their stories of sexual harassment. Recently, a California-based surgeon called out the prevalence of sexual harassment in the medical world, drawing from her own experiences as a young female resident several years ago. She explained that she was one of many female professionals who often faced unwanted advances from her male superiors. When asked about how she responded to those incidents, the former resident spoke about how the nature of the medical field can make it difficult to tackle sexual harassment. Some factors of the medical world that may threaten the civil rights of its female professionals include:
The struggle women of color face when reporting sexual harassment
The wake of the #MeToo movement this past year encouraged many women across the country to speak up about their experiences with sexual harassment. Many came forward through viral social media posts as other women responded to them with heartfelt comments of affirmation.
Despite the movement's seeming success in empowering women to share their stories, many have pointed out that it may also be marginalizing the voices of women of color. An African American woman who recently went public with her experience of workplace sexual harassment explained that she only felt motivated to do so because her employer had disregarded the report she had filed. This sparked a discussion on how women of color, especially those of the working class, may struggle to find avenues to speak up.
IT'S TIME TO ACKNOWLEDGE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN IN NEW MEXICO
From intimate partner violence to sexual slavery, women are being brutally beaten, raped, and sold as chattel in our communities. The market for sex trafficking is thriving on the internet as women and girls can be bought and sold on a smartphone. New Mexico ranks 48th out of 50 states in the frequency of sexual assaults. (The state auditor says that one in four women will be raped in their lifetimes). And men in New Mexico are murdering women at an alarming rate-the state is unenviably third in the nation per capita in that respect. Yet law enforcement and the media have remained ambivalent to violence against women. Sadly, it's open season on women in New Mexico, as Jacquelyn Barela recently learned.
THE NEW MEXICO TRIAL LAWYERS HONOR SHANNON AND JOE
On April 21, 2017, the New Mexico Trial Lawyers Foundation held its 33rd Annual Amicus Honors Gala. The NMTLF took the unusual step of selecting dual honorees, Shannon and Joseph Kennedy, who have been protecting civil rights in New Mexico for over two decades. Heart-felt congratulations to Shannon and Joe.
THE KILLING OF JORDAN EDWARDS
The father of Jordan Edwards, the fifteen-year-old victim of a recent police shooting, filed suit this week in federal court alleging excessive force by Balch Springs police officer, Roy Oliver, and inadequate training and oversight by Oliver's employers at the city. The allegations are infuriating.
EYE ON NEW MEXICO: ADA LAWSUITS
KOB 4 exposes numerous lawsuits filed by a single lawyer and client against 99 Albuquerque businesses alleging noncompliance with the ADA's accessibility requirements. Shannon and Laura appeared as panelists on the show, discussing the ADA and a lawyer's professional responsibilities.
ALTERATION OF APD LAPEL VIDEO
KOB4 ran a story highlighting sworn statements by APD's former records custodian manager Reynaldo Chavez. During a newly released deposition, Mr. Chavez disclosed that it is possible to alter APD lapel camera footage through the creation of an "orphan" video clip which is later substituted for and made to look like the original "parent" clip. These alterations can include inserting objects, such as a gun into lapel footage.
A COP FIRES. A TEEN DIES. YET SIX POLICE BODY CAMERAS SOMEHOW MISS WHAT HAPPENS.
The shooting of Mary S. Hawkes is profiled in an article by The Washington Post. Through the facts of Mary's case, the article illuminates the broader problems with the use of department-issued body cameras in police departments across the country. Read more at this link.
A.M. v. HOLMES FEATURED ON SCOTUSblog's SPOTLIGHT OF SUPREME COURT NOMINEE GORSUCH
Judge Gorsuch's dissent in Kennedy Kennedy & Ives' case A.M. v. Holmes is being featured on SCOTUSblog as a part of a feature on the Supreme Court Nominee's First Amendment Jurisprudence. Read more at the link below.
HAWKES' RIGHTS VIOLATED, ACCORDING TO APD INVESTIGATOR
The ABQ Journal has published an article in connection with the shooting of Mary S. Hawkes. In the article, Sgt. Norris confirms that police mishandled evidence, and that Mary's constitutional rights were violated that night. Read more at the link below.
