Houston Chronicle reporter Jenalia Moreno reported in an October 24, 2007 article that a workers’ rights program launched in Houston six (6) years ago collected nearly $4 million in back wages, penalties and settlement money in 2007.  See, Moreno, Jenalia, “Workers Group Inspires Others, “Houston Chronicle, October 24, 2007 p. D1. Similar programs have started in Los Angeles, Dallas, Las Vegas and Miami. Id. According to the article:

 The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Consulate General of Mexico and the U.S. Labor Department’s Wage and Hour Division started the Justice and Equality in the Workplace Program in 2001 to teach Latino workers about their rights.

Id.

Los Angeles Times Staff Writer Susan Brink reports in a September 24, 2007 article that the UCLA Center on Research, Education, Training and Strategic Communication on Minority Health Disparities is seeing link between race and ill health and premature deaths.  See, Brink, Susan, “Racism’s Roll May Be Physical,” Los Angeles Times, www.latimes.com/features/health, September 24, 2007. According to the article, reaction to racism contributes to a chain of biological events known as stress response, which can put people at higher risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and infections disease. Id. The reaction is a protective response which includes the release of cortisol, often called the stress hormone, that increases, for example, blood pressure and blood sugar levels and suppresses the immune system. Id. With respect to African-Americans, the article states that these responses may occur frequently that they eventually result in a breakdown of the physiological system causing cumulative biologic stress.  Id.

Chapter 21, Texas Labor Code protects Texas employees from employment discrimination in order to, for example, promote the interests, rights and privileges of people in Texas.  The Labor Code defines who is an employee and who is an employer.  Under Section 21.051, an employer commits an unlawful employment practice if because of age the employer fails or refuses to hire an individual, discharges an individual in connection with compensation or other terms conditions or privileges of employment.  In addition, an employer under this section commits an unlawful employment practice if because of age the employer limits, segregates, or classifies an employee or applicant for employment in a manner that would deprive or tend to deprive an individual of any employment opportunity or adversely affect in any other manner that status of an employee.

 For more information, see www.twc.state.tx.us.

New York police investigated a possible hate crime at Columbia University after a hangman’s noose was tied to the door of a black professor at Columbia’s Teachers College.  See, www.abcnews.go.com, October 10, 2007.  The Columbia professor has written broadly on themes of racism and ethnicity, as well as multiculturalism.  Id. Police were checking campus, security tapes to see if the incident had been recorded. Id.

A former amateur boxer appears to be the target of a noose found wrapped around a homemade, black faced heard left at the doorstep of his home.  See, Slattery, John.  “Former Boxer Finds Noose Around Head on Doorstep. “www.webstv.com, October 31, 2007.  Police are investigating this possible hate crime. Id.

The Texas Association Against Sexual Assault (TAASA) is a statewide organization committed to ending sexual violence in Texas.  TAASA provides training to rape crises personnel, law enforcement, other service agencies, community groups and schools on issues related to sexual assault.  According to a TAASA statement issued May 9, 2007:

Sexual violence is a pervasive problem in Texas.  One in five Texas women and one in 20 Texas men will be sexually assaulted in their lifetime.

Additional information about TAASA can be found at www.taasa.org.

According to a January 2, 2008 article posting at CNNMoney.com, Lockheed Martin agreed to settle a race discrimination and retaliation lawsuit filed by a former Lockheed employee.  The article stated that the employee, an African-American electrician, alleged he was subjected to a racially hostile environment.  In addition to a monetary settlement, Lockheed Martin also agreed to fire the harassers and make policy changes.

The Associated Press reported December 27, 2007 that Madison Square Garden settled with a former New York Rangers cheerleader who sued for sexual discrimination after she was fired in 2004.  See, AP, “MSG Settles with EX-Rangers Cheerleader,” www.star-telegram.com, 12/27/07.

A Federal Jury convicted a wealthy couple in New York December 17, 2007 of enslaving and torturing two Indonesian women.  See, Kessler, Robert and James Bernstein, “Couple Convicted in Slavery Case, Houston Chronicle, 12/18/07, p. A11.  The two Indonesian women had come to the United States to support their children back in Indonesia. Id.

According to Rob Luke, plaintiff attorneys have cited well known Texas Supreme Court cases decided in recent months to argue that the Court decisions resemble pro-corporate judicial activism.  See, Luke, Rob, “Lawyers Say Texas SC Judicially Active for Business,” The Southwest Texas Record, December 3, 2007, p. A1.  The article reports that some plaintiff attorneys claim the Court cherry-picks state laws and cases in order to find in favor of the defendant.  Id. Plaintiff attorneys reportedly made their complaints public before some of the Court’s Justices at a Dallas Bar Association event held in September. Id.

Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo recently fired a police officer for using excessive force, saying in a disciplinary memo that a second shot fired to a suspect’s back as he lay facedown was unnecessary and fired before giving the suspect time to comply with an order to show his hands.  See Plohetski, Tony, “I’m Going to Die,” Austin-American Statesman, December 6, 2007, p. B1.  According to the article, the suspect, who was shot twice in the back by a police sergeant, appeared to have told officers that “I’m going to die” and repeatedly asked to be turned over. Id.