The Sentinel: Law

Guest Commentary |
Witch Hunts in India: Misogyny, myths and human rights violations

by Alphones Deka
Guest Commentary

Witch hunts in India kill thousands of women yearly. Superstition, greed and patriarchy fuel violence despite laws and activism.

Witch Hunt: A Ruthless Venture

Brutality grounded in superstition, social customs and community myths. Witch hunts, an atrocious phenomenon, still prevail across the globe as well as in India. A defamed reality showcasing misogyny cripples women’s individuality. The Human Rights Committee reports the deaths of around 2,500 women every year in the name of witch killings.

Instances of witch hunts have reached alarming levels in several Indian states, including Jharkhand, Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, Odisha, Chhattisgarh and West Bengal. Among certain communities, the concept of Dayan-pratha (one who practices black magic/witchcraft) traces back to primitive and medieval ages. Following misfortune or disease, some women are tortured, blamed and beaten to death. Usually, the ohja (community doctor) identifies the dayan, also called chudail, either by writing women’s names on the branch of a sal tree—wherever the branch withers marks the accused—or by wrapping slips with names into a bag placed inside an ant nest. The bag consumed by ants is believed to reveal the witch’s name.

These women are labeled a threat. They are assumed to have the “evil eye,” possess supernatural powers, and be destructive to society.

Women as Targets

Witchcraft accusations strike at the heart of women’s status, with the practice largely considered a “feminine affair.” The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) documented 2,468 murders related to witchcraft between 2001 and 2016. While often cloaked in superstition, most cases stem from economic and psychosocial motives:

Disputes over land and property, often instigated by family members out of greed.
Targeting widows, single women and the elderly.
Manipulation by bhopas (community healers) for selfish gain.
Retaliation after refusal of sexual advances.

Jharkhand, with its large tribal population, records the highest number of witch killings, followed closely by Madhya Pradesh. Average annual murder rates stand at 28.25% in Odisha, 31% in Jharkhand, 16.25% in Madhya Pradesh and 11% in Chhattisgarh.

Notably, even prominent women have been targeted. Debjani Borah, an athlete from Assam, was assaulted and accused of witchcraft. Wiccan priest Ipsita Roy Chakraverti was publicly criticized and branded a witch. Victims are often raped, beaten, stripped, paraded naked, banished from their villages and forced into financial compensation.

Primitive and Modern Dimensions

Witchcraft practices, with roots centuries deep, are found in tribal communities in western Bengal districts and parts of Jharkhand. A village in northeast India, Mayang, is popularly known as the “land of black magic.” Witchcraft is even referenced in the Rig Veda and is studied in some global universities.

Since the beginning of human societies, witchcraft beliefs have deeply impacted indigenous populations.

Paradoxically, witch hunts were also common in Europe during ancient and medieval times. By the mid-1950s, nearly 500 people had been executed as alleged witches. Informal “kangaroo courts” often carried out punishments through mob lynching.

Elsewhere, witch-related violence persists in Tanzania, rural China, parts of Africa and South America. Despite modern science and development, superstition continues to justify violence, transmitted from generation to generation. Victims suffer profound injustice, sorrow and hopelessness.

Sociological and Anthropological Views

Since the beginning of human societies, witchcraft beliefs have deeply impacted indigenous populations. Anthropologists see witch killings as attempts to explain random illness, misfortune and economic hardship. Income shocks and losses often fuel accusations, supporting the “commercial theory.” Competition can lead to labeling and persecution.

Sociologists connect witchcraft beliefs with anti-social behavior, punishing those who resist community norms. Denunciations frequently arise when patriarchal systems attempt to suppress matriarchal traditions.

Legal Measures

Though India lacks a central law specifically addressing witch hunts, several states have enacted legislation:

Odisha Prevention of Witch Hunting Act, 2013
Assam Witch Hunting (Prevention, Prohibition and Protection) Bill, mandating jail terms or life imprisonment
Chhattisgarh Tonahi Pratadna Nivaran Act, 2005
Prevention of Witch Practices (DAAIN) Act, 2001
Bihar Prevention of Witch Hunting Act, 1999
Assam Healing (Prevention of Evil Practices) Act, 2024

Relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code also apply: Section 302 (murder), Section 307 (attempt to murder), Section 376 (rape), and Section 354 (outraging a woman’s modesty).

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights condemns witch hunts as a cruel practice rooted in gender inequality.

Judicial interventions, however, remain inconsistent. In Moyna Murmu v. State of West Bengal, the petitioner was forced from her village. In Tula Devi v. State of Jharkhand, lack of evidence freed the accused. In Gaurav Jain v. State of Bihar, the court directed three assemblies to pass anti-witch-hunting laws.

A senior Guwahati High Court lawyer remarked: “People are illiterate and blinded in thought. Unless we make efforts to enlighten them about the laws and consequences of witch hunts, the practice will continue.”

Global Response

Globally, witch accusations represent severe human rights violations. The United Nations recognized the issue as a humanitarian crisis at its first conference on witch hunts. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights reported that thousands of women are branded as witches and persecuted annually.

Women unaware of their rights remain vulnerable.

The Australian National University recently hosted a three-day conference addressing witchcraft killings. Amnesty International, the Red Cross and other organizations have campaigned for justice. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights condemns witch hunts as a cruel practice rooted in gender inequality.

Role of Civil Society

Informal organizations have been crucial:

The Witchcraft and Human Rights Network educates communities about laws.
Free Legal Aid in Jharkhand supports enforcement in villages and tribal areas.
ANANDI, a Gujarat-based group, campaigns for outlawing witch hunting.
Pudumi Rabha of Assam has rescued numerous women accused of witchcraft.

Human rights advocates and gender activists continue to fight against this violence.

Education as Change Agent

Education is essential to reform public opinion. Illiteracy fuels mob violence, regressive thought and superstition, especially among tribal populations. Branding women as witches has often been used to justify abuse by religious leaders exploiting the uneducated.

Empowerment and Awareness

Women unaware of their rights remain vulnerable. Legal awareness, uplifting marginalized groups, improving health services and using mass media campaigns can help dismantle witchcraft-related violence.

Witch hunts are not just crimes—they are regressive acts to control women’s autonomy, undermining democracy itself. Specialized anti-witchcraft laws, though important, cannot fully solve problems rooted in irrationality and patriarchy. Grassroots measures—such as empathy, community regulation, police protection and financial support—are essential.

As activist Pudumi Rabha urges: “Don’t be scared. Challenge the offenders and report to the police. The battle is not going to end anytime soon.”

In her spare time, Alphones Deka enjoys travelling to new places, maintaining a personal journal, and watching different series. The thing that brings her the most joy is spending time with my pets and staying in touch with friends.

TAGGED: witch hunts in India today, superstition and gender violence, women's rights and witch killings, tribal witchcraft practices India, legal measures against witch hunts

GOP Senate Candidate Casey Chlebek targets property taxes in Illinois with referendum proposal

Chlebek proposes Property Tax Freedom Plan to replace local property taxes while protecting schools and services.

PARK RIDGE - Casey Chlebek, a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, called on the Illinois General Assembly Tuesday to put a statewide advisory referendum on the 2026 ballot, arguing Illinois voters deserve a direct say in what he described as a property tax crisis driving families from their homes.

Casey Chlebek

Chlebek’s proposal would allow voters to weigh in on whether Illinois should abolish property taxes on primary residences and replace them with alternative funding for schools, police, fire departments and other local services.

Only the legislature and the governor can place an advisory referendum on the statewide ballot. Although not binding, Chlebek said such a move would send “an unmistakable message” to lawmakers.

“Homeownership should mean freedom, not perpetual rent to the government,” Chlebek said. “But in Illinois, families are being robbed of their homes and their life savings over tax debts smaller than the cost of a used car. That is legalized theft, plain and simple. The referendum is step one, a mandate from the people, and after that, Springfield will have no excuse. They must act.”

High taxes, lost homes

Illinois homeowners pay the highest effective property tax rate in the nation, according to 2023 figures. Since 2019, more than 1,000 Cook County residents - including 125 seniors - have lost homes valued at $108 million to cover just $2.3 million in unpaid tax debts.

In May 2022 alone, 37,000 Cook County properties were listed for a delinquent tax sale, more than half for debts under $1,000. In Illinois, 70% of tax foreclosure cases involved debts smaller than the value of a 10-year-old car.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled the practice of seizing and reselling homes for tax debts without returning excess equity to owners unconstitutional in 2023. While more than a dozen states have reformed their laws, Illinois has not.

You can pay off your mortgage and still lose your home and your equity if you fall behind on taxes

“This is not just bad policy, it is legalized theft,” Chlebek said. “Illinoisans are paying the nation’s highest property taxes, and when they fall behind, their homes are being taken for pennies on the dollar. That is unconscionable.”

Federal plan, local control

Chlebek tied his proposal to his “Property Tax Freedom Plan,” which he said would ensure local services remain fully funded while families get relief. He emphasized that schools, police, fire protection and roads would be supported through replacement revenue, not cuts. “You can pay off your mortgage and still lose your home and your equity if you fall behind on taxes,” he said. “That is not ownership, that is bondage. I am the only candidate with a clear plan to end this injustice.” Chlebek, a business leader and Polish-American community advocate, is seeking the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate in 2026. His property tax plan is the first pillar of what he calls his MAGNA Agenda, short for “Make America the Greatest Nation Again,” a seven-part domestic policy platform.

Pritzker, Durbin push back against Trump threat to deploy troops in Chicago

Chicago officials warn against federal troop deployment, highlight crime trends, and promise legal challenges to Trump's plan.

Gov. JB Pritzker criticizes the Trump administration

Photo: CNI/Andrew Adams

With Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson standing behind him, Gov. JB Pritzker criticizes the Trump administration’s threat to deploy military forces in Chicago alongside dozens of activists, Democratic politicians and religious leaders in downtown Chicago on Monday, Aug. 25, 2025.

by Ben Szalinski
Capitol News Illinois

CHICAGO - In front of gleaming skyscrapers along the Chicago River, Illinois’ Democratic leaders showed a united front Monday against President Donald Trump’s threats to deploy the military into Chicago’s streets to fight crime with one message: “Mr. President, do not come to Chicago.”

“You are neither wanted here nor needed here,” Gov. JB Pritzker said at a news conference. “Your remarks about this effort over the last several weeks have betrayed a continuing slip in your mental faculties and are not fit for the auspicious office that you occupy.”

The Washington Post reported Saturday that the Pentagon has been considering for weeks deploying the military to Chicago. The report came a day after Trump suggested Chicago will be the next city he sends the military to after he activated the National Guard and other federal law enforcement personnel in Washington, D.C., earlier this month.

Thousands of troops could be deployed in Chicago as soon as September, though two officials who spoke to the Post anonymously said the deployment is considered less likely for now.

State leaders said they have not asked for help.

“When I have some slob like Pritzker criticizing us before we even go there — I made the statement that next should be Chicago because Chicago is a killing field right now and they don’t acknowledge it and they say ‘we don’t need them, freedom, freedom, freedom, he’s a dictator. He’s a dictator.’ A lot of people are saying maybe we’d like a dictator,” Trump said Monday. “I don’t like a dictator. I’m not a dictator. I’m a man with great common sense and a smart person.”

The state’s leaders said they have not been contacted by the Trump administration asking whether the state wants policing help, and state leaders said they have not asked for help.

“If this were happening in any other country, we would have no trouble calling it what it is — a dangerous power grab,” Pritzker said.

The state's top Democrats said Trump is targeting Illinois for political reasons.

“This is an act of political theater by Donald Trump, and sadly, we have to take it extremely seriously,” said U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill. “My friends, don't walk away and say this is just another political issue. This is how democracies die.”

Anticipating Chicagoans will take to the streets to protest if the military arrives, Pritzker encouraged protestors to be peaceful.

“Remember that the members of the military and the National Guard who will be asked to walk these streets are, for the most part, here unwillingly, and remember that they can be court martialed, and their lives ruined if they resist deployment,” Pritzker said.

Legal Questions

Trump’s move faces significant legal questions, and Illinois leaders promised to file lawsuits to block the mobilization of the military.

Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, who has led more than three dozen lawsuits against President Donald Trump’s administration, criticizes the president’s threats to deploy military forces in Chicago on Aug. 25, 2025.

The president and Congress have more powers over Washington, D.C., because of its status as a federal district and not a state, but it’s unclear what legal authority the president is considering applying to send troops to Chicago.

The National Guard is under the control of the governor, though the president has the power to federalize it to quell a rebellion or “unable with the regular forces” to enforce laws. The president can also invoke the Insurrection Act to deploy troops to serve as law enforcement.

This is exactly the type of overreach that our country's founders warned against...

Those criteria haven’t been met, Attorney General Kwame Raoul said.

Trump’s decision earlier this year to deploy the California National Guard to Los Angeles was challenged and has so far been upheld by a federal appeals court. California argued in that case that the Posse Comitatus Act prohibits the military from acting as a domestic police force. The National Guard was sent to L.A. following protests over Trump’s immigration policies.

“This is exactly the type of overreach that our country's founders warned against and it's the reason that they established a federal system with a separation of powers built on checks and balances,” Pritzker said. “What President Trump is doing is unprecedented and unwarranted. It is illegal, it is unconstitutional, it is unamerican.”

Raoul noted his office has long had effective crime-fighting partnerships with federal agencies.

“I'm not and have never been opposed to collaborative help from well-trained federal law enforcement agents. Were the president serious about addressing crime or criminal threats in Chicago, he would dedicate more resources to collaborative work that we already engage in with these federal agencies,” Raoul said.

Chicago Crime Trends

Overall crime in Chicago has declined by 13% this year, according to data from the Chicago Police Department. Nearly every category of crime has decreased this year, including murders — down 31%. Chicago has seen 256 murders through Aug. 17 this year, compared to 370 over the same timeframe in 2024. Shooting incidents broadly are down 36%.

Crime in Chicago has trended downward since 2023 and is down 15% overall since then. Incidents of crime are still 40% higher at this point of 2025 than in 2021, though murder is down 50% since 2021 and shooting incidents are down 57%. Felony theft, misdemeanor theft and motor vehicle theft are all up significantly since 2021.

The city’s data portal shows crime has generally been trending down throughout the 21st century from nearly half a million crimes in 2001 to about that level in 2024. The number of annual crimes in the city has been relatively flat for about 10 years, however.

Nationally, Chicago ranked 92nd in violent crime per 100,000 people in 2024 among the nation’s 200 largest cities, according to FBI data. Memphis ranked first and Milwaukee and St. Louis were eighth and ninth, respectively, while Rockford ranked 19th. Chicago had the 22nd highest murder rate and was eighth in robbery.

“I know (Trump) doesn't read, I know he doesn't listen to very many people, but I know he watches television, and so perhaps if somebody from FOX News or from Newsmax is here, they'll cover the fact that Chicago is in much better shape as a result of the work that we are doing to prevent crime,” Pritzker said.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson acknowledged the city must do more to reduce violence and said the Trump administration should release $800 million in violence prevention funding it has withheld this year and provide more funding for housing.

Also on Monday, Trump signed an executive order seeking to block federal funding to states and cities with cashless bail policies. Illinois eliminated cash bail in 2023 and Trump claimed jurisdictions with it have higher levels of crime. Early research of the first year without cash bail in Illinois did not show an increase in crime.

Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service that distributes state government coverage to hundreds of news outlets statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation.

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Guest Commentary |
Making American safe: I'm grateful for Trump's approach

by Glenn Mollette, Guest Commentator

Glenn Mollette

I would love to go back to Washington, D.C., and feel like my wife and I could safely stroll the city at 9 or 10 p.m. Actually, I would like to feel like we could safely walk the city at 10 in the morning. I am grateful that President Trump is taking a proactive approach to making D.C. as safe as possible.

In 2024, there were more than 14 million criminal offenses reported in the United States (U.S. crime statistics, Bing.com).

How many cities, towns, or even rural areas do you feel safe in today? My son and I were in New York City a few years back. We toured the Empire State Building, and it was almost 1 a.m. by the time we left and started looking for New York pizza. We walked back to Times Square and, of course, there were still people out, but not that many. There wasn’t a minute I wasn’t constantly looking around and wondering if we were safe. We had a good evening, but it’s aggravating to have to be so concerned.

What town or community in America can we go to and not have to worry? Even in the smallest villages in America, who knows if there is a mentally unstable person out and about looking to do harm? Drunk drivers and drug users are on our roads. Those struggling with mental illness choose unpredictable times to unleash their problems on unsuspecting victims.

From recent events, we know that something bad could happen while shopping at a Target store, sitting in a classroom, worshipping in church, or just walking down the street. No one is immune anywhere in America.

It hasn’t always been this way. I remember being a child when my parents first started locking the doors of our house. There was a time we didn’t even lock them. That was another era. Wouldn’t you love to once again live in a country or community where you felt so safe that you didn’t bother locking your doors? Wouldn’t it be great if you didn’t have to lock them during the day? What if you didn’t have to keep a loaded gun close by or even lock your car?

Wouldn’t that be a wonderful world?

Criminals stole 2,969 cars in D.C. in 2024 and 2,944 cars so far in 2025. This is bad for everyone—the victims, the insurance companies, and the city.

God bless President Trump for trying to make America and D.C. safe again. I pray that God enables him to make every town in America a place where we can feel safe.

About the author ~

Glen Mollett is the author of 13 books including Uncommom Sense, the Spiritual Chocolate series, Grandpa's Store, Minister's Guidebook insights from a fellow minister. His column is published weekly in over 600 publications in all 50 states.

The views expressed are those of the author and are not necessarily representative of any other group or organization. We welcome comments and views from our readers. Submit your letters to the editor or commentary on a current event 24/7 to editor@oursentinel.com.

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DOJ Memo Sparks Outcry as Durbin Demands Epstein File Disclosure

Democrats wanting transparency now is “asinine”, says White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.

By Greg Bishop .::. Illinois Editor
The Center Square

CHICAGO - U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Illinois, is joining the chorus of congress members calling for the release of files involving Jeffrey Epstein.

Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Justice released a memo about Epstein, who died in jail awaiting trial on child sex trafficking charges in 2019. The unsigned two page memo concluded that the 300 gigabytes of materials related to Epstein included graphic video of child pornography.

“This systematic review revealed no incriminating ‘client list,’” the memo said. “There was also no credible evidence found that Epstein blackmailed prominent individuals as part of his actions. We did not uncover evidence that could predicate an investigation against uncharged third parties.”

The announcement caused waves of criticism among President Donald Trump supporters, saying he promised to reveal the client list.

[Trump] wants to move on from the story.

In a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi, Durbin called for the files release.

“We call upon you to follow the bipartisan directive of the Appropriations Committee and release the Epstein files without delay,” the letter said. “From the lenient plea deal he received in Florida in 2008 to the end of his case with his death in prison in 2019, survivors of his abuse have been denied the full accounting of his crimes and the justice they deserve.”

Thursday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Democrats wanting transparency now is “asinine.”

“The Democrats had control of this building, the White House, for four years, and they didn't do a dang thing when it came to transparency in regards to Jeffrey Epstein and his heinous crimes,” Leavitt said. “[Trump] wants to move on from the story.”

Many believe Epstein did not kill himself

Prominent figures like the U.S. House speaker and the U.S. Senate minority leader have voiced support for releasing the Epstein files.

Leavitt said the president stands by the DOJ’s decision that they wouldn't release any of the child sex abuse materials. She was asked about any other releases of court records surrounding the case, even redacted files.

“Those are also questions for the judges who have that information under a seal,” Leavitt said. “And that would have to be requested. And a judge would have to approve it. That's out of the president's control.”

Epstein died in jail awaiting trial in 2019. While the official conclusion was suicide, many believe Epstein did not kill himself and had high profile clients.

TELL THE SENTINEL WHAT YOU THINK

Members of Congress are calling for the release of the Epstein's files. Give us three reasons why you believe the President Trump should or should not follow through on his campaign promise make the files public? .::. Here is how and where to sent it

Illinois lawyer says Kilmar Obrego Garcia case is a ‘constitutional crisis’

"The idea that the U.S. government is absolutely flouting our constitutional right to due process is terrifying, ..."

by Judith Ruiz-Branch
Illinois News Connection

CHICAGO - An Illinois law professor is weighing in on what she called a "very public and open test of due process" for immigrants being deported from the United States without court hearings.

On Wednesday, a U.S. district judge denied the Justice Department's request to further delay the wrongful deportation case of a Maryland man, Kilmar Obrego Garcia, who was sent to a prison in El Salvador. Both a U.S. District Court and the U.S. Supreme Court have ordered the Trump administration to "facilitate" his return.

Victoria Carmona, clinical professor of immigration law, Chicago-Kent College of Law, said regardless of citizenship status, the lack of due process for one person is a crisis for everyone.

"The idea that the U.S. government is absolutely flouting our constitutional right to due process is terrifying, because if they're going to do it for one person, this is the test case," Carmona explained. "This is to see what can the government get away with and start pushing the odometer further and further away from due process. And it should be scary to everyone."

The government now has until May 5 to report any efforts it is making to comply with the court orders. In the meantime, Gov. JB Pritzker said Illinois is looking into ways to cut any state financial ties to Salvadoran companies in protest of that government's imprisonment of hundreds of deportees taken from the U.S. without court hearings.

Obrego Garcia already had a set of protections which said he could not return to his native country of El Salvador for fear of government persecution. The Justice Department said deporting him was an administrative error, although the Trump administration insists he is affiliated with a gang.

Carmona pointed out both countries' leaders are making the case more difficult to resolve.

"From El Salvador's perspective, I'm sure they're upset because their citizen had essentially claimed protections and saying that the El Salvadoran government would harm him if he returned," Carmona observed. "But this idea that the U.S. has no position to facilitate his return is an absolute lie."

Whatever happens to Obrego Garcia, Carmona added the unprecedented nature of the executive branch ignoring judicial orders has set the U.S. up for a constitutional crisis.

"At this point, I think Congress should be looking at impeachment," Carmona contended. "If Trump is going to clearly violate the Supreme Court orders, the resolution is impeachment."

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Researchers find African-Americans receive inequitable sentencing and remain over-represented in Illinois jails

by Terri Dee
Illinois News Connection

CHICAGO - Data show troubling disparities on the number of justice-involved individuals within the Illinois Department of Corrections.

Pew Research figures show Black people remain over-represented in jail populations and receive longer sentences.

The John Howard Association is a non-partisan prison watchdog group that monitors the treatment of justice-involved individuals and says change needs to happen at many levels.

Executive Director Jennifer Vollen-Katz said the population of Black people in Illinois is around 14%. For white people, that number is around 68%.

IDOC's 2024 fact sheet shows a sharp contrast.

"But when you look at the racial makeup of the population in the Illinois Department of Corrections," said Vollen-Katz, "we find somewhere between 52% and 54% of the individuals inside IDOC are black - and about 32% of the people inside our prisons are white."

Conversations with IDOC workers and administrators are part of JHA's research, and pair with inmates' perspectives and experiences.

The goal is to increase public awareness and IDOC's transparency. Illinois.gov lists 29 correctional buildings statewide.

Katz said she wants equal treatment in the justice system - regardless of background or race - and a deeper look at law enforcement's relationships with different communities.

She said prosecutors wielding enormous power in making legal decisions is a huge problem in the early stages of the criminal justice system, and said she feels discrimination should be identified at its source.

"The disproportionate representation in our prison system is reflective of the lack of equity throughout our criminal legal and law enforcement systems," said Vollen-Katz, "and so we can't look at any one system to solve the problem. We need to start at the very beginning and do things quite differently if we're going to address this problem."

Katz affirmed that differences in the outcomes of charges, trials, and plea deals in sentencing are additional areas for reform.

She said more information is needed to improve the back end of the justice system - mandatory supervised releases, parole, and early discharge.

A May 2023 study from the anti-mass criminalization group The Prison Policy Initiative shows 28,000 Illinois residents are in state prisons, 17,000 are in local jails, and 6,100 are in federal prisons.

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Sweeping up the homeless doesn't actually solve homelessness

Instead, governments should prioritize safe, affordable, dignified, and permanent housing for all.

homeless camp

Image: Pete Linforth/Pixabay

by Farrah Hassen

OtherWords

This summer, the Supreme Court’s Grants Pass ruling made it much easier for local governments to criminalize homelessness. Since then, cities and states across the country have stepped up their harassment of people for the “crime” of not having a place to live.

Penalizing homelessness has increasingly taken the form of crackdowns on encampments — also known as “sweeps,” which have received bipartisan support. California Governor Gavin Newsom has ordered state agencies to ramp up encampment sweeps, while President-elect Donald Trump has also pledged to ban encampments and move people to “tent cities” far from public view.

Evidence shows that these sweeps are harmful and unproductive — and not to mention dehumanizing.

Housing justice advocates caution that sweeps disrupt peoples’ lives by severing their ties to case workers, medical care, and other vital services. Many unhoused people also have their personal documents and other critical belongings seized or tossed, which makes it even harder to find housing and work.

According to a ProPublica investigation, authorities in multiple cities have confiscated basic survival items like tents and blankets, as well as medical supplies like CPAP machines and insulin. Other people lost items like phones and tools that impacted their ability to work.

Teresa Stratton from Portland told ProPublica that her husband’s ashes were even taken in a sweep. “I wonder where he is,” she said. “I hope he’s not in the dump.”

Over the summer, the city of Sacramento, California forcefully evicted 48 residents — mostly women over 55 with disabilities — from a self-governed encampment known as Camp Resolution. The camp was located at a vacant lot and had been authorized by the city, which also owned the trailers where residents lived.

Sweeps, like punitive fines and arrests, don’t address the root of the problem — they just trap people in cycles of poverty and homelessness.

One of the residents who’d been at the hospital during the sweep was assured that her belongings would be kept safe. However, she told me she lost everything she’d worked so hard to acquire, including her car.

The loss of her home and community of two years, along with her possessions, was already traumatizing. But now, like most of the camp residents, she was forced back onto the streets — even though the city had promised not to sweep the lot until every resident had been placed in permanent housing.

Aside from being inhumane, the seizure of personal belongings raises serious constitutional questions — especially since sweeps often take place with little to no warning and authorities often fail to properly store belongings. Six unhoused New Yorkers recently sued the city on Fourth Amendment grounds, citing these practices.

Sweeps, like punitive fines and arrests, don’t address the root of the problem — they just trap people in cycles of poverty and homelessness. Encampments can pose challenges to local communities, but their prevalence stems from our nation’s failure to ensure the fundamental human right to housing.

People experiencing homelessness are often derided as an “eyesore” and blamed for their plight. However, government policies have allowed housing, a basic necessity for survival, to become commodified and controlled by corporations and billionaire investors for profit.

Officials justify sweeps for safety and sanitation reasons, but in the end they harm and displace people who have nowhere else to go.

Meanwhile, the federal minimum wage has remained stagnant at $7.25 since 2009 and rent is now unaffordable for half of all tenants. Alongside eroding social safety nets, these policies have resulted in a housing affordability crisis that’s left at least 653,000 people without housing nationwide.

While shelters can help some people move indoors temporarily, they aren’t a real housing solution, either.

Human rights groups report that shelters often don’t meet adequate standards of housing or accommodate people with disabilities. Many treat people like they’re incarcerated by imposing curfews and other restrictions, such as not allowing pets. Safety and privacy at shelters are also growing concerns.

Officials justify sweeps for safety and sanitation reasons, but in the end they harm and displace people who have nowhere else to go. Instead, governments should prioritize safe, affordable, dignified, and permanent housing for all, coupled with supportive services.

Anything else is sweeping the problem under the rug.

About the author:
Farrah Hassen, J.D., is a writer, policy analyst, and adjunct professor in the Department of Political Science at Cal Poly Pomona. This op-ed was distributed by OtherWords.org.

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League of Women's Voters to discuss recent SCOTUS decision on Social Media Censorship

CHICAGO - Does the First Amendment allow U.S. government officials to intervene and prevent the spread of misinformation and disinformation on social media?

Jill Wine-Banks, a distinguished attorney and MSNBC Legal Analyst known for her prominence in political and legal discourse, is scheduled to speak about the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent action on social media censorship. This virtual event will take place on Tuesday, August 20, at 7 p.m. via Zoom. The program is free and is presented by the League of Women Voters of Illinois’ Mis/Disinformation Task Force.

The U.S. Supreme Court recently had an opportunity to rule on this question. Instead, they declined to issue decisions in two cases, punting them back to officials in Texas and Florida.

Among her many accomplishments, Wine-Banks was named General Counsel of the U.S. Army by President Carter, where she supervised what was, in essence, the world's largest law firm.

She started her legal career as the first woman to serve as an organized crime prosecutor at the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. Four years later, she was selected to be one of the three Assistant Watergate Special Prosecutors in the obstruction of justice trial against President Nixon's top aides. Nixon was named an unindicted co-conspirator in that case, but the evidence presented led to Nixon’s resignation.

In 2014, she was named by the Secretary of Defense to the Judicial Proceedings Panel’s Subcommittee on Sexual Assault in the military, where she served until 2017. She was also the first woman to serve as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the American Bar Association.

Those who wish to join the online talk can register for the event here.

To tackle the concerning increase in misinformation and disinformation, particularly its impact on our elections, the League of Women Voters of Illinois established the Mis/Disinformation Task Force in January 2024. The goal of the task force is to educate the public about misinformation and disinformation. For more information, please visit lwvil.org/misdis-info.

Five Illinois professors named University Scholars

CHAMPAIGN - Five University of Illinois professors at the Urbana-Champaign campus have been named University Scholars in recognition of their excellence in teaching, scholarship and service.

The recipients include Zeynep Madak-Erdogan, who is actively involved in the Cancer Center at Illinois. A professor in the study of food and nutrition, she served as a health innovation professor at the Carle Illinois College of Medicine and is an active member of the Center for Genomic Diagnostics at Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology.

Renowned history professor Robert Morrissey has gained widespread recognition nationally and internationally, positioning him as a prominent figure among eminent scholars in the fiercely competitive realm of early American history. In 2020, he played a pivotal role in the initiation of a groundbreaking collaborative initiative focused on art history and practice within Illinois-descended tribal communities.

Award-winning chemistry professor Joaquín Rodríguez-López, an outstanding research advisor mentoring 30 graduate students and 10 postdocs, created “The Electrochemistry Bootcamp,” which combines laboratory and classroom instruction on the basics of electrochemistry for a three-day immersive experience for young scientists from all over the world. He has been recognized five times as an outstanding teacher by his students and has also received the 2023 School of Chemical Sciences Teaching Award.

Jacob Sherkow has authored or co-authored more than 60 articles and essays, two books on COVID-19 innovation policy, four book chapters and many op-eds. The main body of his work focuses on intellectual property and medical therapies, agency regulation and the legal and ethical issues attendant to advanced biotechnologies. A law professor, he holds faculty appointments at the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, the Carle Illinois College of Medicine and the European Union Center. He has also advised major scientific organizations on bioethical issues, including the Adaptive Immune Receptor Repertoire Community and the New York Genome Center.

Hanghang Tong, has published more than 200 refereed papers and four books. A professor of computer science, he conducts highly influential research focused on large-scale data mining and machine learning, especially for graph and multimedia data. His work has theoretic and applicable impact, solving real-world problems from high-impact application domains where graph mining often plays a fundamental role, such as social networks, bioinformatics, security and e-commerce.

“When you consider the diversity of scholarship across all three of our universities and the standards of academic excellence that we nurture and grow through our recruitment of esteemed educators and researchers, all of our University Scholar recipients should be deservedly proud of the honor,” Nicholas Jones, the University of Illinois System’s executive vice president and vice president for academic affairs, said in today's statement.

The scholars program recognizes faculty excellence and provides $15,000 to each scholar for three years to enhance their academic careers. The money may be used for travel, equipment, research assistants, books, or other purposes.The scholars program recognizes faculty excellence and provides $15,000 to each scholar for three years to enhance their academic careers. The money may be used for travel, equipment, research assistants, books, or other purposes.

“The University Scholars program celebrates the remarkable achievements of the named individuals,” Jones added. “Our faculty represent the strong foundation of the world-class academic experience that contributes to the betterment of society and draws students and researchers to the U. of I. System universities from across the globe. The University Scholars are exemplars of that faculty excellence.

Commentary | Be careful walking after dark, the police may be scary

by Glenn Mollette, Guest Commentator

Recently, I was taking a late night walk in Owenton, Kentucky. Owenton is a little town of maybe six hundred people in rural north central Kentucky. I had just finished watching the sad Biden-Trump debate and decided that a walk and some ice cream sounded good.

I walked to our local convenience store which is about a half mile from where I was staying in Owenton. It was a beautiful summer night and I only saw two cars on the road in route to the store. I bought an ice cream bar and had it eaten within twenty steps of the store when the only car I saw on the way home pulled up beside me and someone asked, “Sir, are you alright?”

It was the local city police. I responded, “Yes sir, I’m doing fine.”

He asked, “Would you like a ride home?” To which I replied, “No sir, I’m just out for a walk.”

He then asked, “Have you been drinking?”

I replied, “No sir, just been eating a Snicker’s Ice Cream Bar.”

He continued, “Are you sure?”

“Yes sir, I’m sure.”

He then asked, “Where are you going?” I told him the street which was only about five more minutes of walking time.

I thought all was well as he and another policeman drove off but they made a U-turn and pulled right back up in front of me. The cop got out of the car and told me he wanted to do a breathalyzer test.

I’ve never had one in my life. I agreed to it. He was right in the middle of the street. I walked out to meet him and he told me to blow into the straw. I complied. He shook his head because, of course, the test was negative.

The officer told me his name and I responded by telling him mine and we shook hands. He told me to be safe walking home. He then wanted to know exactly where I lived and I gave him the street name and house number.

As I walked up the street and neared home, I looked up. Once again, he and the other officer passed by. I suppose they were checking to see if I went where I said I was going.

This was really dramatic and over the top. I was simply taking a walk.

I wasn’t falling into the street or staggering from one side to the other. I was walking. He had no cause to stop and embarrass me but called me out into the middle of the street for a breathalyzer. Fortunately, not one car drove by while he was doing that. It’s a small town and no one was out at 11:10 at night.

Almost no one gets out and walks in this town. If anybody has to go to the local convenience store, they drive their car even it’s just a block or two. Thus, maybe the police thought if someone was out walking then surely the person had to be up to no good or intoxicated.

I’m, very supportive of the police. I’m appreciative of all who work to keep us safe. We need good police officers protecting us. However, this was ridiculous.

Don’t harass people just because you are bored and have nothing else to do.

I feel sorry for the many people in this nation who have been racially profiled for years. They are often pulled over because they are Black or a different nationality. Sometimes people are pulled over if they are driving a red sports car or if they are someone who is an “outsider.”

Often small towns can be very cliquish. If they don’t know who you are or if you are not “one” of the community residents then you are immediately profiled as an outsider and outsiders are often disliked, shunned or just treated badly.

Freedom to move about the country is a wonderful privilege. Let us be appreciative of our freedom this fourth of July week.

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He is the author of 13 books including Uncommom Sense, the Spiritual Chocolate series, Grandpa's Store, Minister's Guidebook insights from a fellow minister. His column is published weekly in over 600 publications in all 50 states. The views expressed are those of the author and are not necessarily representative of any other group or organization. We welcome comments and views from our readers. Submit your letters to the editor or commentary on a current event 24/7 to editor@oursentinel.com.

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Commentary |
State-Level marijuana legalization has been a stunning success

Contrary to some critics’ claims, legalization states have not experienced any spike in either psychosis or mental illnesses.

by Paul Armentano

It’s been over a decade since Colorado and Washington became the first two states to legalize marijuana for adults. With the benefit of hindsight, it’s fair to ask: Has this policy been successful?

Absolutely. A policy of legalization, regulation, and education is preferable to a policy of criminalization, stigmatization, and incarceration.

Let’s be clear. Legalization didn’t create or normalize the marijuana market in the United States. The market was already here.

Illustration by Gordon Johnson/Pixabay

But under a policy of prohibition, this market flourished underground — and those involved in it remained largely unaccountable. They didn’t pay taxes, they didn’t check IDs, and they didn’t test the purity of their products. Disputes that arose in the illicit marketplace were not adjudicated in courts of law.

By contrast, under regulation, cannabis products in many states are now available from licensed manufacturers at retail stores.

Cannabis is cultivated, and products are manufactured, in accordance with good manufacturing practices. Products are lab tested and labeled accordingly. And sales are taxed, with revenues being reinvested in the community. Since 2014, retail sales of adult-use cannabis products have generated more than $15 billion in tax revenue.

Most importantly, millions of Americans — many of them young adults — are no longer being arrested for possessing a substance that is objectively safer than either tobacco or alcohol.

According to data compiled by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the annual number of marijuana-related arrests in the United States fell from 750,000 in 2012 to 227,000 in 2022, the last year for which data is available.

In short, these state-level policy changes have resulted in countless Americans being spared criminal records — and the lost opportunities that accompany them — in the past decade.

Teen use of cannabis has not grown with legalization. A CDC report says use has actually dropped among high school students.

Photo: Dimitri Bong/Unsplash

And contrary to opponents’ fears, cannabis use by teens has not risen in parallel with legalization.

According to data provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the percentage of high schoolers who use marijuana actually fell 30 percent over the past decade. Compliance check data from California, Colorado, Nevada, and other legal marijuana states show that licensed marijuana retailers do not sell products to underage patrons.

Also contrary to some critics’ claims, legalization states have not experienced any spike in either psychosis or mental illnesses.

According to findings published last year in the Journal of the American Medical Association, rates of psychosis-related health care claims are no higher in jurisdictions where cannabis is legal than in those where it’s not. Stanford University researchers similarly reported last year that residents of states where cannabis is legal exhibit no higher levels of psychosis than those in non-legal states.

Legalization is also successfully disrupting the illicit marketplace. According to a 2023 survey, 52 percent of consumers residing in legal states said that they primarily sourced their cannabis products from brick-and-mortar establishments. By contrast, only 6 percent of respondents said that they primarily purchased cannabis from a “dealer.”

Many consumers in non-legal states also reported that they frequently traveled to neighboring legal states to purchase cannabis products rather than buying from illicit dealers in their own state.

Twelve years into states’ marijuana legalization experiment, public support for making marijuana legal nationwide has never been higher. To date, 24 states have legalized the adult-use market.

None of these states have ever repealed their legalization laws. That’s because these policies are working largely as voters and politicians intended — and because they’re preferable to cannabis criminalization.

After a century of failed policies and “canna-bigotry,” the verdict is in. Legalization is a success, and the end of cannabis prohibition can’t come soon enough.

Paul Armentano is the Deputy Director for NORML, the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. This op-ed was adapted from an earlier version published at The Hill and distributed for syndication by OtherWords.org.

Commentary |
Cash bail is unfair and violates the right to due process

Photo: Sasun Bughdaryan/Unsplash

Election years are a scary time for people of color in the U.S. They are marked by race-based voter suppression efforts, a rise in racist political rhetoric, and even a surge in racist hate crimes.

by Sonali Kolhatkar

Many Americans haven’t heard of cash bail. But the idea is central to an election year battle over racism, policing, and mass incarceration.

When arrested on suspicion of committing a crime, everyone in the United States has the right to due process and to defend themselves in court. But in a cash bail system, when judges set bail amounts, those who cannot pay the full amount remain jailed indefinitely — a clear violation of their due process rights — while the rich can pay their way out of jail.

A 2022 report by the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights examined the impact of cash bail and found that between 1970 and 2015, the number of people jailed before trial increased by a whopping 433 percent.

There are currently about half a million such people stuck in jails across the nation who haven’t been tried or convicted of any crimes. The report also found “stark disparities with regards to race,” with Black and brown men most often subject to higher bail amounts.

Thankfully, many states and cities are moving to reform this unfair practice.

In 2023, Illinois became the first state to entirely abolish cash bail. Other states, such as New Mexico, New Jersey, and Kentucky, have almost entirely ended cash bail requirements in recent years. In California, Los Angeles County has also similarly eliminated cash bail for all crimes except the most serious ones.

But in this election year, Republicans are rolling back these efforts — most recently in Georgia.

The state recently passed a bill expanding cash bail for 30 new crimes, some of which appear to be aimed at protesters, such as unlawful assembly. Further, it criminalizes charitable bail funds — and even individuals — that bail out people who can’t afford to bail out themselves.

Marlon Kautz, who runs the Atlanta Solidarity Fund, called cash bail “a loophole” in the criminal justice system, allowing courts to indefinitely jail people without charges if they cannot pay exorbitant bail amounts.

“Police, prosecutors, and politicians want a bail system that allows them to punish their political enemies, poor people, and people of color without trial,” said Kautz, whose fund has bailed out people protesting a massive new police training facility opponents call “Cop City.” Kautz was one of three people affiliated with the fund to be arrested on apparently politicized charges last year.

Reversing progress on bail reform is a new flashpoint in the GOP’s culture wars. “It could be a sign that Republicans intend to bash their Democratic opponents as soft on crime,” the Associated Press reported. Alongside Georgia, Republicans in Indiana, Missouri, and Wisconsin have introduced numerous bills expanding the use of cash bail.

Expanding the racist criminal justice system is a cynical GOP election-era ploy, one that has little to do with public safety.

“It is exceedingly rare for someone who’s released pretrial to be arrested and accused of a new offense that involves violence against another person,” said Sharlyn Grace, an official at the Cook County Public Defender’s office in Illinois. “Fears about public safety are in many ways greatly overblown and misplaced.”

“National studies contradict” the claim, the AP adds, that people are any less likely to show up for a court date if they’re released without bail.

Election years are a scary time for people of color in the U.S. They are marked by race-based voter suppression efforts, a rise in racist political rhetoric, and even a surge in racist hate crimes. The expansion of cash bail laws is yet another attack on Black and brown communities — one that must be exposed and confronted.

We shouldn’t let reform efforts fall victim to election year politics.

Sonali Kolhatkar is the host of “Rising Up With Sonali,” a television and radio show on Free Speech TV and Pacifica stations. This commentary was produced by the Economy for All project at the Independent Media Institute and adapted for syndication by OtherWords.org.