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Civil Rights

Ritter reads as part of Matthew Shepard national theater project

Gov. Bill Ritter read last night as a member of the nationwide simultaneous production of "Laramie Ten Years Later: An Epilogue," a play that...

Coloradans say Obama immigrant detention reform falls short

AURORA — As they have once a month for six months now, a crowd of about 50 people stood outside the GEO Aurora ICE Processing Center Monday night, in a cold rain, to protest its expansion. The center will nearly quadruple in size this year.

Iranian Nobel Laureate urges U.S. focus on human rights

BOULDER-- Iranian attorney and 2003 Nobel Peace Prize winner Shirin Ebadi urged the United States to center its policy toward Iran on human rights in a speech Friday that kicked-off a two day symposium here at Naropa University Friday night. A fearless defender of women's rights in Iran and a harsh critic of the patriarchal readings of Islam dominant in the Middle East, Ebadi took issue with the "clash of civilization" posture that has characterized West-Middle East relations over the past 30 years. She highlighted the value of greater cultural exchange and spoke on Iran's pursuit of nuclear power. She also congratulated President Obama on joining the world's club of Nobel winners. She saw the surprise award as encouragement for the U.S. to further pursue peace and dialogue as part of the international community.

Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Act passes despite GOP opposition

On Thursday the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act was passed as part of the National Defense and Authorization Act...

Colorado Latino leaders work to derail proposed census boycott

As a proposed national Latino census boycott receives increased media attention, many Latino and immigrant organizations in Colorado say they’re thankful the movement hasn't taken hold so far in the Centennial State. “We’re hoping it doesn’t become a huge issue here,” said Chandra Russo spokeswoman for the Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition. “Latinos gain strength in numbers. Diminish the numbers and you diminish the influence and power of Latinos. Only uninformed people would propose something of this nature. They’re not aware of the damage they might do.”

Gun case headed to Supreme Court might broaden wide range of rights

The Supreme Court agreed Wednesday to hear a case filed against a citywide ban on handguns in Chicago. Analysts say the case, McDonald v....

Vatican defense: ‘Only 5%’ of clergy sex abusers and most of those gay

** Updated Below** Wednesday in Geneva, Vatican representative to the United Nations Archbishop Silvano Tomasi defended the Church against accusations of irresponsibility in the...

U.S. Catholics support health reform; reject position advanced by bishops

According to a poll conducted this month by Belden Russonello and Stewart for the group Catholics for Choice, churchgoing Catholics support both a public...

Aspen-area school superintendent still on hot seat for banning Obama speech

It’s been more than two weeks since President Obama’s shockingly innocuous speech to schoolchildren urging them to, gasp, stay in school and work hard,...

At CU, Terri Schiavo’s brother ties Obama to rising ‘culture of death’

BOULDER — A powerful precursor to the national shouting match over "death panel" health-reform this summer was the Terri Schiavo case, where a woman...
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