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We are changing the conversation around our democracy and economy by telling influential new stories about our country and its people. Get our latest media updates here.

Buying your way out of jail is wrong. It's time to end America's bail system

A system of “justice” cannot operate with true legitimacy this way.

In the media
Vijay Das
Naila Awan

Billions in Pell Grants go to students who aren’t graduating, new data shows

Several policy organizations have urged that institutions be held more accountable for the success of their students who get Pell Grants. [...]

Many who do enroll end up worse off than they started out, struggling to repay loans they took out to pay for educations they never finished; Pell recipients are nearly twice as likely as other students to borrow, the public-policy organization Demos says.

In the media
Jon Marcus

New Research Reveals Racial Impact of Voter Suppression Efforts

Black and Latino voters face such voting hurdles as being told they do not have a proper form of ID, or discovering their name is not on the list. And these are just the problems voters of color face when they are registered.
Blog

How Unions Fight Social Exclusion in the Labor Market

"Gentlemen, the Pullman Company is ready to sign." With that concession from the company president on August 25, 1937, the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters became the first black labor union to win a collective bargaining agreement with a major American corporation.

Blog
Amy Traub

Voting Rights Groups Sue Arizona Secretary of State, Nine Months after Providing Notice of Violations of Federal Law

For years, the Secretary of State has failed to use readily available address information from ADOT to keep Arizona’s voter rolls up to date and make sure Arizonans can exercise their fundamental right to vote.

Press release/statement

Puerto Ricans: Have You Experienced Any Problems When Registering to Vote?

A lawsuit filed Thursday claims that Puerto Ricans living in Florida who have limited English proficiency will be prevented from voting because, according to a press release by the advocacy group Demos, “elections in many parts of the state are conducted only in English.” The suit alleges that 32 Florida counties are not planning to provide ballots in Spanish.

In the media
Jess Ramirez
María Sánchez Díez

Voting Rights Advocates Sue to Bring Bilingual Elections to 32 Florida Counties

Gainesville, FL –  Today, civic engagement groups Faith in Florida, Hispanic Federation, Mi Familia Vota Education Fund, UnidosUS, and Vamos4PR, and individual voter Marta Rivera filed suit against Florida Secretary of State Ken Detzner and the Supervisors of Elections of 32 Florida counties who are in violation of the Voting Rights Act of 1965’s requirement to provide bilingual voting materials and assistance, including ballots

Press release/statement

Florida Officials Are Breaking The Law By Not Offering Spanish Ballots, Suit Claims

Stuart Naifeh, a lawyer with the think tank Demos, which is representing Rivera and five nonprofit groups that work to mobilize Spanish-speaking voters, said they chose the 32 counties using census data to identify places where there were high concentrations of Puerto Ricans and people who aren’t proficient in English.

In the media
Sam Levine

Latino civil rights groups sue 32 Florida counties for not providing bilingual voting material

As the November midterm elections approach, several civic engagement groups filed a suit, on Thursday, against the Florida Secretary of State and 32 Florida counties for what they say is a violation of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, requiring bilingual voting materials and assistance be provided to Puerto Ricans. [...]

In the media
Carmen Sesin