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KYRC LOS ANGELES 2025 Recap
Nearly three years after our first Los Angeles Camp at The Beehive, we returned to meet a new moment shaped by growing challenges to immigrant communities. Our 15th camp was a powerful day centered on immigration rights, education, and empowerment. Workshops and panels led by KYRC presenters, community partners, and educators provided tools for resistance, healing, and hope. With the support of the Roybal staff, and our incredible volunteers, KYRC Los Angeles 2025 became a da
Nov 221 min read


Judge Demands Accountability from Border Patrol Chief Over Excessive Force
U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis made it clear that accountability and restraint must guide how federal immigration agents operate during Chicago’s “Operation Midway Blitz.” After learning that Border Patrol agents under Chief Gregory Bovino may have violated her previous order limiting force, Ellis took decisive action—requiring Bovino to appear before her nightly for a week. “I’m not going to tie the agents’ hands because I’m not out there, and that’s not my job,” she stated.
Nov 222 min read


Texas ICE Plan Turns Immigrant Detention Into a Profitable Private Industry
The proposed ICE transportation system in Texas represents a dangerous escalation of immigration enforcement that removes accountability and transparency from the process. According to planning documents obtained by WIRED, ICE is considering a “nonstop operation” using private contractors to collect immigrants detained in all 254 Texas counties and transport them to detention sites. Each county would have its own team of armed contractors authorized to “perform transport duti
Nov 222 min read


Understanding The Importance Of Snap Benefits As A Social Safety Net For All Americans
In this gripping episode of the KYRC Podcast, we confront the devastating toll of America’s longest government shutdown that stretched beyond 40 days and drained over $10 billion a week. Families who depend on SNAP are going hungry, blocked from the benefits they’ve earned, as political gamesmanship turns food access into leverage. Through raw stories and urgent commentary, we explore how millions are forced to choose between survival and dignity while the government funds wa
Nov 221 min read


ICE Recruits Fail Drug Tests, Background Checks Amid Rush to Expand Force
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been fast-tracking new recruits into training before completing background checks, a deeply troubling move tied to President Donald Trump’s mass deportation push. According to current and former Department of Homeland Security officials, the rush has resulted in unqualified and even dangerous individuals entering ICE’s ranks. “There is absolutely concern that some people are slipping through the cracks,” one DHS official admitted,
Nov 192 min read


ICE Is Hiring Dozens Of Health Workers As Lawsuits, Deaths In Custody Mount
The Trump administration’s decision to expand health staff inside immigration detention centers comes amid a surge in detainee deaths and a decline in federal oversight—raising urgent questions about accountability rather than care. ICE has reported 20 detainee deaths in custody in a single year under Trump, nearly matching the Biden administration’s entire tally, a staggering figure given that more than 60,000 migrants are currently detained. These facilities are described
Nov 182 min read


Brandon Jackson Teaches St. Louis Youth How To Stay Safe & Confident During Police Encounters
Brandon Jackson led an unforgettable session at the Know Your Rights Camp in St. Louis, where he poured into students the critical knowledge of how to navigate encounters with authority. He explained federal and local laws not as dry statutes but as urgent lessons for survival, framing them through scenarios like investigatory stops, traffic stops, and warrant searches. Each example carried weight, showing how everyday moments could escalate without preparation. The young par
Nov 111 min read


Jennings High Senior Jacob Jackson Uses Brotherhood & Leadership To Drive Community Change
Jacob Jackson, a senior at Jennings Senior High School and president of Gentleman of Vision, shares how the mentoring program shaped his values of brotherhood, manhood, and discipline through stepping. Deeply committed to community involvement and education, Jacob draws inspiration from the Know Your Rights Camp’s mission to empower Black communities. This is influenced by role models like KYRC co-founder @Kaepernick7—whose stand for social justice cost him his NFL career. Un
Nov 101 min read


Etoya R. White Shows St. Louis Youth How Mental & Physical Wellness Can Build A Fuller Life
At the Know Your Rights camp in St. Louis, licensed professional counselor Etoya R. White led a session that bridged mental and physical health in practical, accessible ways. He engaged young audiences through humor and relatable examples, making wellness feel approachable rather than abstract. White highlighted how sessions like these help fill important gaps in education, empowerment, and access to resources—areas where many communities often go underserved. Closing his tal
Nov 101 min read


Two Middle School Students Share How Culture, Rights & Education Inspire Their Future
In this thought-provoking conversation, Ellis, an eighth grader, and Lydia Lockhart, a seventh grader, share their unique insights and future aspirations. Ellis highlights the rich cultural history of braids in African heritage and reflects on the powerful act of taking a knee, inspired by KYRC co-founder @kaepernick7's fight against oppression. He speaks on the value of education and reading, especially within the African American community. Lydia, full of ambition, dreams o
Nov 91 min read


Cbabi Bayoc & Bmike Odums Show Youth How Art Can Fuel Community Change
Cbabi Bayoc and Brandan “Bmike” Odums, celebrated visual artists, led an inspiring art and activism session at Know Your Rights Camp in St. Louis. Bayoc shared his murals and series, emphasizing the importance of recognizing the creators behind powerful visuals. Odums spoke on imagination as a tool for activism, urging participants to envision and build the futures they want. Both highlighted art’s collaborative role in social movements, complementing actions like marches and
Nov 91 min read


18-Year-Old Lacienne De Joie Is Rebuilding A Better St. Louis Through Community Action
Lacienne De Joie, an 18-year-old student from Parkway West High School and St. Louis Community College, is determined to uplift her community. After learning about Missouri’s delayed educational system for Black people at a camp, Lacienne became more motivated to make a difference. A visit to the National Museum of African American History and Culture inspired her vision to transform St. Louis. She plans to launch community initiatives to clean neighborhoods, replace liquor s
Nov 81 min read


Youth Power Is The Shield Protecting Public Schools From Misinformation And Political Attacks
Charli Cooksey, founder and CEO of We Power, delivers an urgent call to protect public education. She warns of efforts to dismantle schools and emphasizes that young people must rise through advocacy, organizing, and civil disobedience. For Cooksey, this fight is personal—rooted in her connections with students and their dreams. She stresses that truth, not propaganda, should guide political decisions and highlights the danger of misinformation spreading online. By urging com
Nov 81 min read


Mykail James a.k.a. The Bougie Budgeter Sparks Powerful Money Conversations At KYRC St. Louis
Mykail James, widely known as the Bougie Budgeter, led a financial education session at the St. Louis Know Your Rights Camp, stressing that money is deeply political and financial defense is essential. She introduced both new and familiar concepts, sparking conversations about budgeting, entrepreneurship, and homeownership that reflected the youth’s eagerness to learn. James highlighted the systemic barriers marginalized communities face and reminded participants that financi
Nov 71 min read


Colin Kaepernick Reflects on KYRC St. Louis Camp & Expanding Youth Empowerment Nationwide
Our co-founder @Kaepernick7 reflected on the Know Your Rights Camp’s 14th event in St. Louis, honoring its deep impact on the community. He spoke to the camp’s mission of equipping young people with the tools to navigate today’s shifting digital and political landscape. For Colin, true empowerment is about making youth feel seen, heard, and capable of shaping their futures. The heart of the camp’s success lies in inspiring self-determination and preparing the next generation
Nov 61 min read


Trump Cuts $8M Grant to Chicago Schools Over Equity Policies
The Trump administration has decided to cancel an $8 million Magnet Schools Assistance Program grant for Chicago Public Schools (CPS) because the district refused to eliminate its Black Student Success Plan and restrict the rights of transgender students. Federal officials claimed CPS’s decision “fails to address the harms befalling CPS students,” according to Craig Trainor, acting assistant secretary for civil rights. CPS leaders pushed back, stressing that both policies fol
Nov 41 min read


California Fights Back to Protect FEMA Disaster Funds
California cities and counties are fighting back against the Trump administration’s attempt to tie FEMA and disaster preparedness funding to unrelated political demands. A coalition of 29 local governments — including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Oakland, San José, and Santa Clara County — has filed a lawsuit challenging more than $350 million in threatened cuts to Department of Homeland Security and FEMA grants. At stake is money that funds emergency response, disaster preven
Nov 32 min read


Immigration Raids Devastate LA Fashion District, Immigrant Communities and Businesses Reeling
Businesses in Los Angeles’ Fashion District are facing serious economic harm due to recent immigration raids that have frightened customers and workers. Federal operations that began in June—part of the Trump administration’s crackdown—have targeted businesses with search warrants and detentions, sending a chilling message to immigrant communities. At Ambience Apparel, officers in tactical gear detained workers after accusing the owner of using false documents. This display o
Oct 312 min read


Black Employment in Federal Leadership Rolled Back Under Trump
For many Black public servants, the Trump administration’s dismissal of key Black officials has felt like a targeted effort to erase hard-won representation within the highest levels of government. Robert E. Primus, who led the Surface Transportation Board, discovered he had been fired through an abrupt email, not a conversation. “I didn’t see it coming at all,” he said, later reflecting that maybe the administration believed “this job was not intended for Blacks.” His firing
Oct 312 min read


NBC News Cuts Diversity Teams, Sparking Fears for Inclusive Coverage
NBC News’ decision to eliminate its dedicated teams covering Black, Asian American, Latino, and LGBTQ+ communities marks a deeply concerning shift at a time when inclusive storytelling is more essential than ever. As part of layoffs affecting “about 150 staffers,” NBC confirmed that the news verticals NBC BLK, NBC Asian America, NBC Latino, and NBC OUT will no longer be supported by their own specialized teams. While NBC says these platforms will “continue to publish stories,
Oct 312 min read
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