Archive for May 2020
Joint Center President Presents on Section 230 and Why Social Media Platforms Do Not Have a License to Discriminate
On May 20, Joint Center President Spencer Overton presented at the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights’ online convening on Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. In his presentation, Spencer explained why Section 230 does not exempt social media platforms from civil rights laws when they target ads along racial lines and result…
Joint Center President Joins Knight Foundation Conversation on Elections and COVID-19
On May 28, Joint Center President Spencer Overton joined National Association of Latino Elected Officials CEO Arturo Vargas for the Knight Foundation’s conversation on “capturing the votes of all Americans” during the COVID-19 crisis. The conversation is a part of the Knight Foundation’s VISION series that is hosted by the Knight Foundation’s Senior Vice President…
Joint Center News: May 2020
This is our regular monthly newsletter, which reviews all of our Joint Center work over the past month. Every Monday we now also publish a weekly roundup of the latest news and analysis on COVID-19 policy and Black communities. Details are below on all of the Joint Center’s work for the past month—including but not…
May 27 COVID-19 Policy & Black Communities Roundup
Republicans Move Toward Stimulus A Navigator Research poll of 1,011 voters showed that the House’s $3 trillion HEROES Act received a 67% approval rating and that 50% of all respondents would disapprove if Senate Republicans don’t consider it. Taking heed to the growing sentiment for more relief, several Republican Senators threatened not to recess for…
Joint Center Signs Letter In Support of Establishing a Senate Office of Diversity and Inclusion
The Joint Center joined seven other organizations in signing a letter to U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee Legislative Branch Subcommittee Chair Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) and Ranking Member Chris Murphy (D-CT) urging the Senate to establish a Senate Office of Diversity and Inclusion and “fund it adequately to operate in an independent and non-partisan manner.” Other signers…
Joint Center Signs Letter Calling for Election Safety Measures in COVID-19 Relief Legislation
The Joint Center joined several organizations in signing a letter to urge Congress to “provide timely federal funding for election safety measures in COVID-19 relief legislation.” The letter is addressed to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. Other signees…
May 19 COVID-19 Policy & Black Communities Roundup
The Impact of the HEROES Act on Black Communities Last Friday, U.S. House Democrats passed a $3 trillion bill to address economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic—the HEROES Act. The bill extends federal unemployment compensation, provides direct payments to individuals of $1200 per person, increases SNAP benefits, and includes resources for renters, homeowners, and the…
The Impact of the HEROES Act on Black Communities
Last Friday, U.S. House Democrats passed a $3 trillion bill to address economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic—the HEROES Act. Economic Support for Individuals: African American unemployment more than doubled in April alone (from 6.7% in March to 16.7% in April), and the HEROES Act attempts to provide economic relief to families. The bill extends…
Joint Center Briefing on Black Businesses, Access to Capital, and Future Stimulus Proposals
On Thursday, May 14, the Joint Center hosted an online briefing on fair and equal access to capital for Black businesses in COVID-19 stimulus legislation. The briefing addressed the structural inequities Black businesses face and explored concrete ways that future stimulus proposals can best help Black businesses thrive in the post-COVID-19 economy. The expert panelists…
Joint Center Vice President Joins Webinar Conversation on ‘Surviving COVID-19’s Economic Impact While Black’
On Wednesday, May 13, Joint Center Vice President Jessica Fulton joined other leading Black economists to discuss the COVID-19 crisis and its economic impact on Black communities. Other panelists include Groundwork Collaborative Managing Director of Policy and Research Janelle Jones and Howard University Professor in the Department of Economics and Chief Economist to the AFL-CIO…