NAACP Files Lawsuit over Law Blocking Birmingham Minimum Wage

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2016/02/minimumwageprotest.jpeg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:360;s:4:"file";s:31:"2016/02/minimumwageprotest.jpeg";s:5:"sizes";a:7:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:31:"minimumwageprotest-336x202.jpeg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:202;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:31:"minimumwageprotest-140x140.jpeg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:29:"minimumwageprotest-80x80.jpeg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:31:"minimumwageprotest-600x338.jpeg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:338;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:31:"minimumwageprotest-518x311.jpeg";s:5:"width";i:518;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:31:"minimumwageprotest-442x265.jpeg";s:5:"width";i:442;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:31:"minimumwageprotest-125x125.jpeg";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}}s:10:"image_meta";a:12:{s:8:"aperture";s:1:"0";s:6:"credit";s:0:"";s:6:"camera";s:0:"";s:7:"caption";s:0:"";s:17:"created_timestamp";s:1:"0";s:9:"copyright";s:0:"";s:12:"focal_length";s:1:"0";s:3:"iso";s:1:"0";s:13:"shutter_speed";s:1:"0";s:5:"title";s:0:"";s:11:"orientation";s:1:"0";s:8:"keywords";a:0:{}}}
        )

    [_media_credit] => Array
        (
            [0] => Ashley Cleek
        )

    [_navis_media_credit_org] => Array
        (
            [0] => WBHM
        )

    [_navis_media_can_distribute] => Array
        (
            [0] => 
        )

    [_imagify_optimization_level] => Array
        (
            [0] => 1
        )

    [_imagify_data] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:2:{s:5:"stats";a:3:{s:13:"original_size";i:107586;s:14:"optimized_size";i:84133;s:7:"percent";d:21.800000000000001;}s:5:"sizes";a:8:{s:4:"full";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:59:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/02/minimumwageprotest.jpeg";s:13:"original_size";i:107586;s:14:"optimized_size";i:84133;s:7:"percent";d:21.800000000000001;}s:9:"thumbnail";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:6:"medium";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}}}
        )

    [_imagify_status] => Array
        (
            [0] => success
        )

)
1655618575 
1461847721

The NAACP filed a federal lawsuit Thursday contending a law that blocked a minimum wage increase in Birmingham is racially motivated. The suit names Alabama Governor Robert Bentley and Attorney General Luther Strange. Plaintiffs include Greater Birmingham Ministries and two fast-food workers.

The State of Alabama has no minimum wage, relying instead on the federal floor of $7.25 an hour. So the Birmingham City Council passed an ordinance raising the city’s minimum wage to $10.10. But in February the legislature passed and the governor signed a bill that says only the state can set minimum wages, effectively nullifying Birmingham’s action.

The suit contents a majority-white legislature is blocking the will of a majority-black council and city. It also says the law disproportionately affects African-Americans because they would be more likely to benefit from a wage increase.

The law does not specifically mention Birmingham and applies statewide. Still, attorney Penda Hair says there doesn’t need to be a smoking gun to prove racial motivation.

“You don’t have to have a confession that ‘I’m doing this in order to hurt people of color.’ You look at all the factors,” says Hair.

Greater Birmingham Ministries Executive Director Scott Douglas says the law prevents a sincere effort to promote the prosperity of the city.

“[The city’s] motto is ‘the people are the city,'” says Douglas. “The legislature must think Birmingham is an uppity city and they’re making a joke of that motto.”

The suit does not seek monetary damages. Instead it calls on the court to block the state law so the local minimum wage can go into effect.

A statement from Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange says the lawsuit is really about a dispute between the Birmingham City Council and the state legislature, but he says his office will vigorously defend the law. The governor’s office did not immediately respond for comment.

 

Birmingham Minimum Wage Lawsuit by WBHM News

 

Screen addiction and suicidal behaviors are linked for teens, a study shows

The study, published in JAMA, followed teens for years and evaluated addictive behaviors, as well as suicidality.

Trump administration cuts specialized suicide prevention service for LGBTQ+ youth

The 988 Suicide and Crisis Prevention Lifeline included a service that provided specialized suicide prevention support by phone and text for LGBTQ+ kids. That's ending.

HIV prevention drug hailed as a ‘breakthrough’ gets FDA approval

A drug called lenacapavir, administered in two injections a year, offers protection from HIV comparable to daily pills. One looming question: Will it be affordable for lower resource countries?

The U.S. could use ‘bunker buster’ bombs in Iran. Here’s what to know about them

Iran's most fortified nuclear facility, called Fordow, is buried deep inside a mountain. Only the U.S. has the 30,000-pound bombs — often referred to as "bunker busters" — capable of reaching it.

If a U.S. ‘bunker buster’ hits a nuclear site, what might get released into the air?

So far, strikes on Iran's facilities have created limited chemical and radiological hazards. Experts say that's not likely to change even if the U.S. uses a big bomb.

Pro-Trump media figures split over the U.S. role in the Israel-Iran conflict

Many of President Trump's nominal media allies are breaking with him over his backing of Israel, arguing it will lead to a wider war.

More Front Page Coverage