Conflict with police has become a staple at Occupy Wall Street protests across the land. So why is one woman being singled out to take the blame, being asked to resign, and targeted for ouster?
For those not in the know, Linda Katehi is the Chancellor of UC Davis, where a viral video of police pepper-spraying sitting protesters was filmed on Friday, November 19th. Here’s the film, for those who haven’t seen it.

This incident started when alleged police brutality erupted on the UC Berkeley campus, where another viral video was filmed, …

Mike Groll / AP Photo
Remember Hiram Monserrate? He’s a TNA success story, and by success, I mean he’s not in office anymore.
Senator-elect Monserrate was arrested in 2008 after a dispute and physical altercation between him and his girlfriend, Karla Giraldo, was caught on a surveillance tape. He was later convicted of misdemeanor assault. Soon thereafter, The New Agenda launched a successful campaign with NOW NY and the Eleanor Roosevelt Legacy Committee to have him expelled from the New York Senate. This was no easy feat and took several months of …

For anyone who has ever made a wrong turn, second-guessed themselves,  or been mistreated/ misunderstood. This song is perfect. More like this, please!
[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/ocDlOD1Hw9k" width="425" height="344" allowfullscreen="true" fvars="fs=1" /]

Geraldine “Gerry” Ferraro, a former prosecutor and United States Representative, and who, in 1984, became the first woman to run for Vice President on a major party ticket, died Saturday from complications from a blood cancer she had been fighting for 12 years. She was 75 years old.
Ms. Ferraro devoted so much of her life to helping her fellow women. During Women’s History Month, it is right that we should recount her life story, and with reverence, express our gratitude. Geraldine Ferraro has earned her place in history for her …

Today is St. Patrick’s Day, one of my favorite non-official holidays. Like many Americans, I’m pretty much a mix of various European ethnicities, with a pinch of Native American here and there. Probably the strongest strand in this genetic construction that is me is the Irish thread. My maiden name is Patterson, so of course it’s been a lifelong identification. I love to read Irish literature, listen to Irish music, and the brogue hits my ear like a melody every time. Their history is pretty fascinating as well, and this …

People around the world are uniting today to celebrate women on the 100th International Women’s Day (IWD). In addition, women and men will be engaging in reflection and dialogue over the obstacles women still face, and how to address them. The official theme for this year is access to education and pathways to work, with a focus on STEM fields (Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) . March is also Women’s History Month here in the United States, the theme of which is our shared history, so in keeping with both …

My Grandmother, Velma Davis Embry, behind the lunch counter at her first restaurant.
My favorite time of year is upon us as of today: Women’s History Month! The theme for 2011’s Women’s History Month is Our History is Our Strength. The idea behind the theme is to integrate the traditional, trailblazing histories we usually cover with the local and social histories of women from our communities, and indeed, of our families.  Every woman has a place in some kind of history.
With that theme in mind, I thought I’d share the story …

Black History Month is already upon us, as no doubt those of you with school-aged children know. Schools are busy all this month sharing the stories of Black Americans and their historical contributions to our nation and culture. Because of the annual celebration that happens every February, thankfully most school children gain familiarity with the contributions of important figures like Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, Dr. W.E.B.Dubois, Sojourner Truth, George Washington Carver, and of course Martin Luther King, Jr.
This year I decided to dig a little deeper, so I could bring …

We should defend every woman who is the victim of spittle-inflected invective of the sexist variety, whether we agree with her politics or not, and Michele Bachmann is no exception. The display of hatred toward her that marked Chris Matthew’s “journalism” on Tuesday night was unsettling for many of us. We’re used to it from Chris, but that doesn’t make it any more palatable to watch. It’s fair to note that Matthews did not start this latest round of invective directed at Bachmann, he was just worked up after a …

Rebecca Traister’s article Cowgirl Country in the New York Times Magazine this weekend was an interesting read for what it did and didn’t say. I’m thrilled to have another female voice at the Times, especially one talking about politics and women, but I do wish Traister would take the time to do some cursory research when she writes her articles, and develop her arguments more thoroughly. A little questioning of her own assumptions might help, too.
I was particularly bothered by this paragraph about the lack of American women in our …