civil rights

UPDATE Bronx Teen from Ecuador Held by U.S. Refugee Resettlement (ORR) Reunited with Family after Detention

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Five leading child advocacy organizations had filed an amicus brief in federal court supporting 16-year-old Bronx teen, Joel, from Ecuador who had been held by the United States Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR). His case was heard at a White Plains federal court on Monday, Nov. 17. Norwood News reached out to the advocates for an update on the latest court proceedings, as well as asking which part of The Bronx Joel lives in. While we’re still waiting on the latter, we’ve since been informed that a judge has since ordered Joel released into the custody of a legal guardian and has been reunited with his extended family in the area, while his legal case continues. 

Different Generations Discuss Democracy at 2nd Manhattan “No Kings” Rally

By SÍLE MOLONEY & DAVID GREENE
While many lament the polarized and seemingly internecine nature of politics in America and around the world in recent years, it was at least a breath of fresh air to witness one sweet, intergenerational exchange of thoughts on democracy aboard a busy downtown 1 train on Saturday, Oct. 18. It unfolded organically between a group of adults from Northwest Bronx Indivisible (NBI) who were on their way downtown to join the second, nationwide “No Kings Day” rally in Manhattan and a group of teens and kids on their way to a basketball game the same day.

Family & Friends Remember Bronx Teen Murdered in Brooklyn

By DAVID GREENE
Family and friends of Tyson Harps, 16, gathered at the Owens Funeral Home on Malcolm X Boulevard in Harlem on Saturday, Nov. 15, to say goodbye to the Bronx teen who was gunned down as he visited friends on Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn on Saturday, Nov. 1. One attendee said that after the service, mourners released 16 white doves and balloons into the cloudless, blue sky.

Op-Ed: It’s Time for Albany to Stand Up to PBMs and Protect Patients 

By ADAM AGOVINO
Pharmacies are closing at a pace our communities cannot afford. In 2024, according to NYC Center for an Urban Future, 10% of all New York City pharmacies shut down. Behind these closures is a quiet but devastating force: Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs). These powerful middlemen dictate what pharmacies are paid for prescriptions, and too often, they set reimbursement rates so low that pharmacies lose money with every prescription they fill.

An Overview of Puerto Rico’s Political Status and Future

By GENE ROMAN
Puerto Rico’s political future is never far from the minds of its citizens and in recent months, its political status has, once again, been the subject of debate. Puerto Rico (the “Island”) is a territory of the United States. The U.S. acquired the Island from Spain in 1898, and it has belonged to the United States ever since. In 1917, Puerto Ricans became U.S. citizens. Everyone born in Puerto Rico is a citizen of the United States, but Puerto Rico is not a state; it continues to be a territory.

UPDATE Amid Federal Shutdown Hochul Announces $30M in Emergency Food Assistance Funds

By SÍLE MOLONEY
New York Gov. Hochul held a rally on Monday, Oct. 27, with New Yorkers impacted by what were described as Washington Republicans’ devastating cuts to health care, food assistance and other critical programs. State officials said with nearly three million New Yorkers at risk of losing the food assistance they usually receive through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) starting Nov. 1 due to the GOP’s federal government shutdown, the governor announced the same day that she is also fast-tracking $30 million in State funds to support over 16 million meals.