Skateboarders around the world are celebrating Ignacio Echeverría, a 39-year-old Spanish banker who died during the London Bridge attack that killed eight people. Echeverría was allegedly skateboarding near the bridge when he saw a woman being stabbed by one of the three attackers. Echeverría used his skateboard to assault the attacker before being stabbed by another. He later died. Spain’s Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy tweeted his condolences, “Dismayed by the murder of Ignacio Echeverría, my condolences to his family. We will always remember him for his heroic and exemplary act.” In a statement, the Spanish government said, “The government wishes to convey to his relatives and friends that they are not alone…

As historians are at pains to point out, the current ‘refugee crisis’ is not without precedent. Though we should be wary of too simplistic historical parallels, ‘lessons from history’ provide an important longer view on contemporary displacement. But we can also look to the history of art and literature for a politics of recognition of the refugee and asylum seeking figures that populate our smartphone and television screens. Stories of exile, migration and forced displacement are abundant in Western literature and art. As ever, Shakespeare provides an ideal starting point: Twelfth Night begins with a shipwreck on the coast of Ilyria (present day Adriatic coast) and with Viola’s words, ‘What…

The temperature is heating up, schools are almost out of session, and love is in the air, which can only mean summer is right around the corner. But, be warned, a summertime staple is shaking things up in a big way.  “We are banning two scoops of the same flavor,” ice cream giant Ben & Jerry’s announced on its site. But fear not, it’s for a reason we can all get behind: marriage equality.  As the most popular ice cream brand in the world, Ben & Jerry’s is making a statement in Australia, where 72 percent of the population supports marriage equality. To help drum up support before the the next parliamentary sitting on…

Bernie Sanders speaks to supporters at a rally in support of the nation's first universal health-care system, in Boulder, Colo., October 17, 2016. Brennan Linsley/Press Association. All rights reserved.All mainstream European newspapers professed themselves “shocked” by Trump's victory. Representing large swathes of liberal and institutional elites, they expressed fears that his presidency will be destabilising and adventurist for both sides of the Atlantic. Le Monde characterised the victory as "a fundamental transformation" comparable to the fall of the Berlin Wall and 9/11. For The Guardian, Trump "will halt all the progressive narrative about America in the 21st Century"; further, xenophobic and right-wing Europeans, with Le Pen first among them, will…

Houston Astros outfielder George Springer pulled double duty at the All-Star game, not only representing his team and the National League in the contest but also speaking publicly to promote the interests of SAY, The Stuttering Association for the Young.  Springer has lived with a speech impediment since his childhood but saw the opportunity to wear a mic and conduct an in-game interview as a chance to inspire and empower children everywhere who suffer from speech impediments.  He stated, simply and effectively:  SAY praised Springer and shared updates on him all night on its Twitter feed.  Aside from this good deed, Springer is having a tremendous season and is currently in contention…

Statue of Cecil John Rhodes, Kimberley Club, 2014. Flickr/ flowcomm. Some rights reserved.In the days that have followed the shock result of the UK’s referendum on EU membership, a profound sense of foreboding has settled across liberal and progressive Britain. Whatever expectations the British people may have entertained throughout the course of the campaign, it is now painfully clear that the primary result of the referendum will be to hand control to a small number of right-wing demagogues dedicated to reversing the advance of modern cosmopolitan Britain. And this rag-tag cabal looks likely to set the narrative of democratic politics in Britain for years to come. Amidst flawlessly-crafted cries of…

Serena Williams wrote a stirring essay for Forbes, in honor of Black Women’s Equal Pay Day, discussing her struggles growing up and the adversity she continues to face even as a superstar on the world stage. The essay blends her personal experiences with statistical evidence that together demonstrate how far society is from equality when it comes to how employees of color and women are paid. The piece also illuminates her own struggles with imposed limitations as a black woman looking to thrive in a predominately white and European field. Williams writes: She ends with a message of inspiration, citing the progress made and the strength of those who continue to fight for nothing more…

An Egyptian protester holds a cross and a copy of Islam's holy book, the Quran, during a protest in Tahrir Square to condemn sectarian clashes in Egypt, 2013. Amr Nabil /Press Association. All rights reserved.Last week, an Egyptian court ordered the release of all defendants accused of assaulting a Coptic woman in the southern city of Minya. Rumors had spread of a relationship between a Coptic man and Muslim woman in Al-Karm village. On 20 May, hundreds of armed Muslims reacted and attacked the homes of seven Coptic families, dragging the elderly mother of the man, stripped naked, through the streets of the village. Only six attackers were arrested but later…

Vandals painted a racial slur on LeBron James’ Los Angeles home on Wednesday morning, and police are treating the graffiti as a hate crime. James spoke about the incident at press conference today. He discussed his decision to talk about the incident saying, “I look at it as, if this is to shed light and keep the conversation going, then on my behalf, I’m OK with it,” comparing his decision to the decision by the mother of Emmit Till, who held an open-casket funeral “because she wanted to show the world what her son went through … being black in America.” “No matter how much money you have, no matter how famous…

The adage, “To whom much is given, much is expected,” can’t just apply to high school graduates. Beginning with the class of 2020, all Chicago Public School students who meet traditional academic requirements necessary to graduate must also present a post-graduation plan before they can cross the stage to receive their diploma. Chicago’s mayor, Rahm Emanuel, and the city’s Chief Education Officer Janice Jackson hope to raise a million dollars for the “Learn. Plan. Succeed” initiative to add eight additional counselors to 172 high schools that teach almost 110,000 students. Chicago Public Schools have reported to the mayor’s office since 1995. But critics rightly point out that underfunded mandates like…