BIPOC SNAP SHOT MONDAY

Daily News to Start Your Week

Photo by Milada Vigerova on Unsplash

Texas Couple Finally Have Their Newborn Home

Rodney & Temecia Jackson

Yes, Texas couple Temecia and Rodney Jackson were reunited with their newborn baby, Mila, after she was taken away from them by child protective services (CPS) for three weeks.

Mila was born at home on March 21, 2023, with the assistance of a midwife. She was diagnosed with jaundice, a common condition in newborns, and her parents were advised to take her to the hospital. However, the parents refused, and CPS was called.

CPS took Mila away from her parents and placed her in foster care. The parents fought to get her back, and on April 20, 2023, a judge ruled in their favor. Mila was returned to her parents the same day.

“Mila isn’t the first Black baby to be unjustly ripped away from her family, and she won’t be the last one—unless fundamental changes are made to the child welfare and criminal justice systems,” said D’Andra Willis, Birth Justice Coordinator at The Afiya Center in a statement. “We need people to understand reproductive justice and freedom also means families have a right to choose when and how they want to parent. This includes informed decision making, culturally sensitive care and choosing birth and postpartum support plans that meet their specific needs.” ~ The Root¹

The Jacksons' case has drawn national attention to the issue of medical neglect. Some people believe that CPS overstepped its bounds by taking Mila away from her parents, while others believe that the parents were putting their child's health at risk by refusing to take her to the hospital.

The Jacksons are grateful to be reunited with their daughter, and they are planning to sue CPS for damages. They hope that their case will help to change the way that CPS handles cases of medical neglect.

Bloomington Woman Charged with Hate Crime in Stabbing of Chinese Student

A 56-year-old Bloomington woman has been charged with a federal hate crime in the stabbing of an 18-year-old Chinese student on a public bus in January.

Billie R. Davis is accused of stabbing the student multiple times in the head with a folding knife as the victim was waiting to get off the bus in downtown Bloomington. The student, who is from Carmel, Indiana, survived the attack and was treated for her injuries at a local hospital.

A Statement from a detective who reviewed bus surveillance says Davis folded her knife, put it back in her pocket and returned to her seat on the bus. Davis is facing a charge of willfully causing injuries to another person due to their race and national origin. If convicted, she faces up to life in prison.

The attack on the student comes amid a rise in hate crimes against Asian Americans in the United States. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been a record number of anti-Asian hate crimes reported to the FBI.

The Bloomington stabbing is a reminder that hate crimes can happen anywhere, and that we all have a role to play in standing up to racism and discrimination. If you see something, say something. Report any incidents of hate to the police or to a local community organization.

New Orleans Judge Refuses to Recuse Himself from Catholic Archdiocese Bankruptcy Case

A federal judge in New Orleans has refused to recuse himself from the bankruptcy case of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans, despite revelations that he donated tens of thousands of dollars to Catholic charities in the district.

According to the Associated Press, U.S. District Judge Greg Guidry said Friday that he had consulted with a judicial ethics panel and that the panel had determined that there was no "reasonable basis" for him to recuse himself.

Guidry has been a frequent ruling in favor of the archdiocese in the bankruptcy case, which was filed in 2020. The case is still ongoing, and it is unclear how long it will take to resolve.

Photo by Josh Applegate on Unsplash