Kentucky 'Religious Freedom' Bill Goes to Beshear, Critics Warn It May Gut Civil Rights Protections

Rae Hodge — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 05:48:24 +0000

After a lengthy partisan battle that lasted hours into the night, a bill that would allow Kentuckians to ignore laws that they say violate their religious beliefs cleared the state Senate.

Supporters say the "Religious Freedom Act" sponsored by Rep. Robert Damron, D-Nicholasville, would protect religion from government encroachment. WFPL's Phillip Bailey reported earlier this week:

Noise and Notes: Louisville NAACP Raoul Cunningham on The State of Civil Rights

Phillip M. Bailey — Sun, 20 Jan 2013 04:11:20 +0000

NAACP President Raoul Cunningham has been involved with civil rights since he was a 14-year-old activist protesting against Jim Crow in downtown Louisville.

Still, Cunningham says that in 2013 there are still many pertinent issues and some will be before the Supreme Court this year, such as cases dealing with affirmative action and gay marriage.

The most important question the justices will face deals with a key provision of the Voting Rights Act that could unravel the historic legislation. For Cunningham, this will be a defining moment for the Roberts Court on matters of civil rights.