Auto supplier ZF Group to cut 7,600 jobs in powertrain unit by 2030

Auto supplier ZF Group to cut 7,600 jobs in powertrain unit by 2030

By Ilona Wissenbach BERLIN (Reuters) -ZF Friedrichshafen will cut around a quarter of its workforce in its electrified powertrain technology unit by 2030 under a restructuring deal reached with its works council and labour union IG Metall, the German auto supplier said on Wednesday. The move is part of a broader plan announced by ZF Group last year to eliminate up to 14,000 positions in Germany as the auto industry struggles with weak electric vehicle demand and global trade tensions. ZF also has a high debt burden from past acquisitions. The company said the 7,600 job cuts would be accompanied by shorter working hours and a postponed wage increase to help lower costs by more than 500 million euros ($536 million) by 2027. The agreement includes early retirement options and severance packages, with a commitment to avoid forced redundancies. POWERTRAIN TECHNOLOGY UNIT STAYS IN-HOUSE ZF, which employs about 30,000 people in the powertrain technology division producing electric, conventional and hybrid systems, said it would keep the business in-house after abandoning plans to spin it off. New CEO Mathias Miedreich, who took over on Wednesday following the early exit of his predecessor Holger Klein over disagreements about the division's future, described the deal as exploring "new ways" for the industry while acknowledging the "hard cuts" for employees. The agreement follows months of protests by ZF workers, highlighting broader challenges for German suppliers. Last week, rival Bosch announced another 13,000 job cuts, as suppliers struggle with weak auto markets and uncertainty over U.S. tariffs. Germany's auto sector has shed about 55,000 jobs since 2023, according to industry association VDA, with suppliers hit hardest. CONFIDENCE IN GERMAN TECHNOLOGIES ZF's works council chief Achim Dietrich said the pact signalled confidence in "Made in Germany" technologies. IG Metall's Barbara Resch added that workers had made concessions and expected ZF to remain a "job engine" with fair conditions. The company pledged to help employees move to new roles, including retraining opportunities. Under the pact, weekly working hours at the unit's German sites will be reduced by about 7% through 2027, while a planned 3.1% pay rise will be postponed from April to October 2026. (Reporting by Ilona Wissenbach, Writing by Kirsti KnolleEditing by Madeline Chambers and Louise Heavens)

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October 01, 2025

Auto supplier ZF Group to cut 7,600 jobs in powertrain unit by 2030

Auto supplier ZF Group to cut 7,600 jobs in powertrain unit by 2030 By Ilona Wissenbach BERLIN (Reuters) -ZF Friedrichshafen will cut aroun...

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Government shutdown leaves federal agencies scrambling to manage workforce cuts

Government shutdown leaves federal agencies scrambling to manage workforce cuts

For the first time in nearly seven years, parts of the U.S. government are closed after the Senate failed to pass a continuing resolution to fund operations late Tuesday. Essential government employees are still reporting to work Wednesday; however, they will not see a paycheck until after the shutdown is resolved. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that about 750,000 workers will be furloughed amid the shutdown. "The number of furloughed employees could vary by the day because some agencies might furlough more employees the longer a shutdown persists and others might recall some initially furloughed employees," the CBO said. Members of the military also could go without pay, but funds appropriated to the military could be used by the Department of Defense to help mitigate some of the loss of pay. Why there is a shutdown Congress is required to pass an annual budget or a continuing resolution. Continuing resolutions allow the government to continue functioning temporarily, typically at existing spending levels. Even though Republicans hold a majority in the House and Senate, the party needs 60 votes to get a funding bill through the Senate. With only 53 Republicans, cooperation from Democrats is required for a budget or continuing resolution to pass. Democrats say that passing a continuing resolution is not simply a carryover of the previous budget, as upcoming changes to Affordable Care Act tax credits and Medicaid verification processes are expected to increase the number of uninsured Americans. This issue has led the two parties to blame each other for the shutdown. Senate Majority Leader John Thune was urging some Democrats to break ranks. "Democrats may have chosen to shut down the government tonight, but we can reopen it tomorrow," he said. "All it takes is a handful of Democrats to join Republicans to pass the clean, nonpartisan funding bill that's in front of us. And I hope, I really hope that some of them will join us to reopen the government, resume bipartisan appropriations work and get back to the business of the American people." Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer says it is on Republicans, claiming they are failing to work with Democrats to reach a compromise. "Republicans are plunging America into a shutdown, rejecting bipartisan talks, pushing a partisan bill and risking America's health care," he said.

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October 01, 2025

Government shutdown leaves federal agencies scrambling to manage workforce cuts

Government shutdown leaves federal agencies scrambling to manage workforce cuts For the first time in nearly seven years, parts of the U.S. ...

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Gaza flotilla says Israeli vessels intimidated its boats as it nears blockade

Gaza flotilla says Israeli vessels intimidated its boats as it nears blockade

(Reuters) -The international flotilla trying to deliver aid to Gaza said Israeli vessels approached some of its boats and engaged in "dangerous and intimidatory manoeuvres" on Wednesday as it neared the war-stricken strip. The mission's organisers said two Israeli "warships" had approached fast and encircled two of the flotilla's boats, Alma and Sirius. All navigation and communication devices went down in what one organiser on board, Thiago Ávila, described in a press conference as a "cyber attack". The flotilla appeared to have recovered some communications. Israeli officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Global Sumud Flotilla consists of more than 40 civilian boats carrying about 500 people, among them parliamentarians, lawyers and activists including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg. 'DANGEROUS MANOEUVRES', DRONE ATTACK The mission is the latest sea-borne attempt to break Israel's blockade of the Palestinian enclave to deliver food and medicine. It is currently within 120 nautical miles of Gaza's coast, inside an area that Israel is policing to stop any boats approaching. It expects to arrive on Thursday morning if not intercepted. "These hostile actions placed unarmed civilians from over 40 countries in grave danger," the flotilla said in a statement, adding that it will continue its course towards Gaza. It was not clear who operated the vessels that approached the flotilla. A video post on the flotilla's Instagram page showed the silhouetted outline of what appeared to be a military vessel with a gun turret near the civilian boats. Reuters confirmed that the video was filmed from the vessel Sirius because its rigging and lines matched file imagery of the boat. Reuters could not confirm the identity of the other vessel in the video or when the video was taken. The flotilla has raised tensions in recent days since it was attacked by drones, which dropped stun grenades and itching powder on the vessels, causing damage but no injuries. Israel did not comment on that attack, but has said it will use any means to prevent the boats from reaching Gaza, arguing that its naval blockade is legal as it battles Hamas militants in the coastal enclave. Italy and Spain deployed naval ships to help with any rescue or humanitarian needs but have said they will not engage militarily. Turkish drones have also followed the boats. However, Italy and Spain said they would stop following the flotilla once it got within 150 nautical miles (278 km) of Gaza for safety reasons. PAST ATTEMPTS TO DELIVER AID At the press conference held by organisers on Wednesday, Francesca Albanese, the top U.N. expert on Palestinian rights, said any interception of the flotilla "would be yet another violation of international law, the law of the sea" since Israel had no legal jurisdiction on waters off Gaza. Israel has imposed a naval blockade on Gaza since Hamas took control of the coastal enclave in 2007 and there have been several previous attempts by activists to deliver aid to Gaza by sea, both during the latest conflict and others. In 2010, nine activists were killed after Israeli soldiers boarded a flotilla of six ships manned by 700 pro-Palestinian militants from 50 countries. In June this year, Israeli naval forces detained Thunberg and 11 crewmembers on a small ship organised by a pro-Palestinian group called the Freedom Flotilla Coalition as they approached Gaza. Italy and Greece on Wednesday jointly called on Israel not to hurt the activists aboard and called on the flotilla to hand over the aid to the Catholic Church for indirect delivery to Gaza - a plea the flotilla has previously rejected. (Reporting by Mrinmay Dey in Bengaluru, Emma Pinedo and Alvise Armellini; Writing by Edward McAllister; Editing by Aidan Lewis)

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October 01, 2025

Gaza flotilla says Israeli vessels intimidated its boats as it nears blockade

Gaza flotilla says Israeli vessels intimidated its boats as it nears blockade (Reuters) -The international flotilla trying to deliver aid to...

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Freeform's '31 Nights of Halloween' begins. See 2025 schedule.

Freeform's '31 Nights of Halloween' begins. See 2025 schedule.

Halloween loverscan pick their poison from a lineup offrightening flicksall October long thanks to Freeform. Freeform's annual"31 Nights of Halloween"programming features a watchlist of spooky films beginning Oct. 1 and continuing throughout the month. The monthlong event has become a fan favorite; according to Nielsen data shared by Freeform, the movie marathon reached 22 million viewers last year. From old classics like "Casper" and "The Addams Family" to Disney favorites like "Hocus Pocus" and "Halloweentown," the lineup offers a variety of movies for viewers to choose from each day. The network will also play a full day's worth of Tim Burton films for a marathon on Monday, Oct. 13. Here's a look at the full schedule and how to watch. Traditionally, the day gives children and adults alike the opportunity to transform into someone or something else. Trick-or-treaters and other participants don outfits, wigs and accessories to show off their disguises for the event. According to the Library of Congress, Halloween comes from the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, a religious celebration to welcome the harvest at the end of summer. During the festival, people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts. Later, in the eighth century, Pope Gregory III designated Nov. 1 as All Saints Day, intending to incorporate Samhain festival traditions. The evening before All Saints Day became known as All Hallows Eve, and later, Halloween, per the Library of Congress. Halloween 2025:See costume trends for adults, including 'KPop Demon Hunters,' 'Phillies Karen,' more Freeform's "31 Nights of Halloween" movie marathon will be available to watch live on the network via TV provider, including Verizon, Xfinity, Dish, DirecTV and more. Live programming is available to watch online atFreeform.comwith a TV provider login. Click on a date in the calendar below to see the day's movie schedule. All programming is subject to change,per Freeform. Here's a full list of the movies included in this year's "31 Nights of Halloween" programming and dates they will be shown. See schedule above for times. "101 Dalmations" (1996) (Live Action): Oct. 17 "Addams Family Values": Oct. 6, Oct. 7, Oct. 11, Oct. 12, Oct. 22, Oct. 24, Oct. 25, Oct. 26 "Aladdin": Oct. 14, Oct. 19, Oct. 29 "Alice Through the Looking Glass": Oct. 6, Oct. 18 "Alice in Wonderland" (2010) (Live Action): Oct. 6, Oct. 18 "Arachnophobia": Oct. 10 "Beastly": Oct. 3 "Beauty and the Beast" (1991) (Disney Animated):Oct. 19 "Beetlejuice": Oct. 1, Oct. 2, Oct. 4, Oct. 5, Oct. 9, Oct. 10, Oct. 12, Oct. 13, Oct. 14, Oct. 15 "Casper" (1995): Oct. 1, Oct. 2, Oct. 4, Oct. 5, Oct. 8, Oct. 9, Oct. 18, Oct. 19, Oct. 20, Oct. 21, Oct. 25, Oct. 28, Oct. 29, Oct. 30, Oct. 31 "Cruella": Oct. 17, Oct. 30 "Disturbia": Oct. 10, Oct. 23 "Edward Scissorhands": Oct. 1, Oct. 4, Oct. 7, Oct. 11, Oct. 13, Oct. 23, Oct. 29 "Frankenweenie": Oct. 27 "Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween": Oct. 4, Oct. 5, Oct. 15, Oct. 16 "Halloweentown":Oct. 19 "Halloweentown II: Kalabar's Revenge":Oct. 19 "Haunted Mansion" (2023): Oct. 4, Oct. 11, Oct. 14, Oct. 19, Oct. 24, Oct. 30 "Hocus Pocus": Oct. 1, Oct. 3, Oct. 4, Oct. 5, Oct. 7, Oct. 9, Oct. 11, Oct. 12, Oct. 14, Oct. 15, Oct. 17, Oct. 18, Oct. 20, Oct. 22, Oct. 24, Oct. 27, Oct. 28, Oct. 31 "Hocus Pocus 2": Oct. 5, Oct. 7, Oct. 17, Oct. 22, Oct. 31 "Hotel Transylvania": Oct. 2, Oct. 3, Oct. 8, Oct. 9, Oct. 11, Oct. 12, Oct. 15, Oct. 16, Oct. 20, Oct. 21, Oct. 26, Oct. 27, Oct. 28 "Hotel Transylvania 2": Oct. 2, Oct. 3, Oct. 8, Oct. 9, Oct. 11, Oct. 12, Oct. 15, Oct. 16, Oct. 20, Oct. 21, Oct. 26, Oct. 27, Oct. 28 "Incredibles 2" (Disney-Pixar):Oct. 16 "Maleficent: Mistress of Evil": Oct. 2, Oct. 15, Oct. 18 "Matilda": Oct. 5, Oct. 6, Oct. 10, Oct. 19, Oct. 30, Oct. 31 "Monsters University" (Disney-Pixar): Oct. 3, Oct. 18, Oct. 26, Oct. 29 "Monsters, Inc." (Disney-Pixar): Oct. 3, Oct. 18, Oct. 26, Oct. 29 "Mrs. Doubtfire": Oct. 11 "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End": Oct. 20 "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest": Oct. 8 "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales": Oct. 27 "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides": Oct. 4 "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl": Oct. 8 "Sleepy Hollow" (1999): Oct. 10, Oct. 13, Oct. 23, Oct. 24 "Something Wicked This Way Comes" (1983):Oct. 17 "Spooky Buddies": Oct. 9, Oct. 12, Oct. 25, Oct. 28 "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street": Oct. 10, Oct. 13, Oct. 23 "The Addams Family" (1991): Oct. 6, Oct. 7, Oct. 11, Oct. 12, Oct. 21, Oct. 22, Oct. 24, Oct. 25, Oct. 26 "The Black Cauldron": Oct. 12, Oct. 22 "The Haunted Mansion" (2003): Oct. 1, Oct. 12, Oct. 18, Oct. 22, Oct. 26, Oct. 28 "The Incredibles" (Disney-Pixar):Oct. 16 "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" (2010):Oct. 17, Oct. 30 "The Witches" (1990): Oct. 3, Oct. 4, Oct. 25 "Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas": Oct. 2, Oct. 5, Oct. 13, Oct. 19, Oct. 21, Oct. 25, Oct. 31 "Toy Story of TERROR!" (Disney-Pixar): Oct. 11, Oct. 12, Oct. 16 "Twitches": Oct. 5, Oct. 24 "Twitches Too": Oct. 5 Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. She can be reached atmelina.khan@usatoday.com. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Freeform's '31 Nights of Halloween' schedule, movie list, how to watch

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October 01, 2025

Freeform's '31 Nights of Halloween' begins. See 2025 schedule.

Freeform's '31 Nights of Halloween' begins. See 2025 schedule. Halloween loverscan pick their poison from a lineup offrightening...

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Spooked by AI, Bollywood stars drag Google into fight for 'personality rights'

Spooked by AI, Bollywood stars drag Google into fight for 'personality rights'

By Arpan Chaturvedi and Aditya Kalra NEW DELHI (Reuters) -In India, Bollywood stars are asking judges to protect their voice and persona in the era ofartificial intelligence. One famous couple's biggest target is Google's video arm YouTube. Abhishek Bachchan and his wife Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, known for her iconic Cannes Film Festival red carpet appearances, have asked a judge to remove and prohibit creation of AI videos infringing their intellectual property rights. But in a more far-reaching request, they also want Google ordered to have safeguards to ensure such YouTube videos uploaded anyway do not train other AI platforms, legal papers reviewed by Reuters show. A handful of Bollywood celebrities have begun asserting their "personality rights" in Indian courts over the last few years, as the country has no explicit protection for those like in many U.S. states. But the Bachchans' lawsuits are the most high-profile to date about the interplay of personality rights and the risk that misleading or deepfake YouTube videos could train other AI models. The actors argue that YouTube's content and third-party training policy is concerning as it lets users consent to sharing of a video they created to train rival AI models, risking further proliferation of misleading content online, according to near-identical filings from Abhishek and Aishwarya dated September 6, which are not public. "Such content being used to train AI models has the potential to multiply the instances of use of any infringing content i.e. first being uploaded on YouTube being viewed by the public, and then also being used to train," the filings said. Representatives for the Bachchans and Google spokespersons did not respond to Reuters' queries. The Delhi High Court last month asked Google's lawyer in court to submit written responses before the next hearing on January 15. YouTube's India managing director, Gunjan Soni, last month described the platform as "the new TV for India". With around 600 million users, India is YouTube's biggest market globally, and it is popular for entertainment content like Bollywood videos. LAWSUIT ALLEGES YOUTUBE VIDEOS ARE 'EGREGIOUS' Indian courts have already started to back Bollywood stars upset about generative AI content damaging their reputation. In 2023, a Delhi court restrained the misuse of Anil Kapoor's image, voice and even a catchphrase he often used. Reuters is first to report details of the Bachchans' specific challenge against Google, which was contained in court filings spanning 1,500 pages where they mostly target little-known sellers for unauthorised physical merchandise like posters, coffee mugs and stickers with their photos, and even fake autographed pictures. They are also seeking $450,000 in damages against Google and others, and a permanent injunction against such exploitation. The lawsuits contain hundreds of links and screenshots of what they allege are YouTube videos showing "egregious", "sexually explicit" or "fictitious" AI content. The judge in early September ordered 518 website links and posts specifically listed by the actors to be taken down, saying they caused financial harm to the couple and harmed their dignity and goodwill. Reuters, however, found videos similar to the examples of infringing videos cited in Abhishek's papers on YouTube. Among them: a clip showing Abhishek posing but then suddenly kissing a film actress using AI manipulation; an AI depiction of Aishwarya and her co-star Salman Khan enjoying a meal together while Abhishek fumes standing behind; and a crocodile chasing Abhishek as Khan tries to save him. Khan was in a relationship with Aishwarya long before her marriage. His spokesperson did not respond to Reuters' queries. AI CAN GENERATE BOLLYWOOD LOVE STORIES YouTube's data-sharing policy states creators can opt in to share their videos for training models of other AI platforms, likeOpenAI, Meta and xAI. YouTube adds: "We can't control what a third-party company does" if users share videos for such training. The Bachchans argue in their filings that if AI platforms are trained on biased content that portrays them in a negative manner and infringes their intellectual property rights, then AI models "are likely to learn all such untrue" information, leading to its further spread. Eashan Ghosh, chair professor for intellectual property rights at the National Law University Delhi, said it would be difficult for actors to build a direct case against YouTube since their grievances are mostly with creators and personality rights infringement. But "it wouldn't be beyond the pale for the court to nudge YouTube to write something into their user policies or set up a queue jump for celebrity claimants to get quicker responses to legal requests," he said. YouTube in May disclosed that it had paid more than $2.4 billion to Indian creators in the last three years. The actors alleged that creators infringing their personality rights can make money when videos become popular. Reuters found a channel on YouTube titled "AI Bollywood Ishq" that shares "AI-generated Bollywood love stories". Its 259 videos have garnered 16.5 million views. The most popular video with 4.1 million views shows an AI animation of Khan and Aishwarya in a pool, while another shows them on a swing. In a tutorial, the channel explains it used simple text prompts to create an image via X's Grok AI and then turned it into a video using Chinese AI startup MiniMax's Hailuo AI. A Reuters test generated an AI video showing lookalikes of Bollywood stars Khan and Abhishek in a fistfight within five minutes. Grok, MiniMax and the owner of YouTube channel @AIbollywoodishq did not respond to Reuters' queries. It was unclear whether the YouTube channel consented to sharing those videos for AI training. "Content is made only for entertainment and creative storytelling," the channel's page said. (Reporting by Arpan Chaturvedi and Aditya Kalra; Editing by Jamie Freed)

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October 01, 2025

Spooked by AI, Bollywood stars drag Google into fight for 'personality rights'

Spooked by AI, Bollywood stars drag Google into fight for 'personality rights' By Arpan Chaturvedi and Aditya Kalra NEW DELHI (Reut...

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Paul Bettany Hasn’t Watched ‘A Knight’s Tale’ Since It Came Out Because He Misses Heath Ledger ‘Too Much’: ‘It Was Like Another Lifetime Ago’

Paul Bettany Hasn't Watched 'A Knight's Tale' Since It Came Out Because He Misses Heath Ledger 'Too Much': 'It Was Like Another Lifetime Ago'

Paul Bettany hasn't watched his breakthrough film "A Knight's Tale" since it released in 2001 — and the reason why will tug at your heartstrings. When asked by a fan at L.A. Comic Con about the medieval action comedy, Bettany — who played poet Geoffrey Chaucer opposite Heath Ledger's squire-turned-knight William Thatcher — admitted he hasn't watched it in over two decades. More from Variety '10 Things I Hate About You' Director Says a Follow Up Film Is 'Definitively in the Works' With Hopes of a New Trilogy: We Have Some 'Pretty Good Ideas' Michael Caine Says 'I Was Terrified' of Heath Ledger's Joker on 'Dark Knight' Set, Recalls 'Intense' Press Tour as Journalists Only 'Wanted to Talk About His Death' Colin Farrell on Joining Heath Ledger and Joaquin Phoenix as Comic Book Villain Golden Globe Winners: 'I Don't Feel Like I'm Part of That Pantheon' "I saw [the film] when it first came out. I've never seen it again since," Bettany said (viaEntertainment Weekly). "There are lots of reasons for that, and just one of them is that I miss Heath too much." Ledger, who was also known for his roles in "10 Things I Hate About You" (1999), "Brokeback Mountain" (2005) and "The Dark Knight" (2008), died in January 2008 at 28 years old. His death was ruled an accidental overdose from prescription medicine. "It was a really long time ago. It was like another lifetime ago," Bettany said of "A Knight's Tale." "And people do come up sometimes, people come up to me on the street and quote things at me, and I literally can't remember. I can't remember any of it." After films like "A Knight's Tale," "Gangster No. 1" and "A Beautiful Mind" launched his career in Hollywood in the early 2000s, Bettany went on to join the Marvel Cinematic Universe as J.A.R.V.I.S. and Vision. He was at L.A. Comic Con on a panel alongside his "WandaVision" co-star Elizabeth Olsen. In a2021 interview with Vulture, Bettany spoke more about his experience working with Ledger on "A Knight's Tale." "I can tell you that he just had a light that shined off him. He was a movie star, you know?" Bettany told Vulture. "Just immediately, you met him, and he shone, as you lot say, and it was very hard not to fall in love with him — I think for anybody. He was a very playful, joyous spirit." Best of Variety What's Coming to Disney+ in October 2025 What's Coming to Netflix in October 2025 Oscar Predictions: Paul Thomas Anderson's Overdue Narrative Takes Center Stage With 'One Battle After Another' as 'Anemone' Makes NYFF Debut Sign up forVariety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us onFacebook,Twitter, andInstagram.

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October 01, 2025

Paul Bettany Hasn’t Watched ‘A Knight’s Tale’ Since It Came Out Because He Misses Heath Ledger ‘Too Much’: ‘It Was Like Another Lifetime Ago’

Paul Bettany Hasn't Watched 'A Knight's Tale' Since It Came Out Because He Misses Heath Ledger 'Too Much': 'It W...

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USA TODAY and EJI partner to explore history of racial injustice

USA TODAY and EJI partner to explore history of racial injustice

The USA TODAY Network has partnered with the Equal Justice Initiative to publish 10 stories of racial injustice that shaped the country and continue to influence it in the present day. Based in Montgomery, Alabama, EJI is a nonprofit legal advocacy organization and public history institution. It developed the "Injustices" series to illuminate the legacy of racism, bigotry and discrimination in America. Each part of the series — EJI hired professional journalists to report on these historical events in video and written forms — tells a story of racial injustice in American history. While some may be familiar, the project is designed to fill gaps in the American education system, EJI founder Bryan Stevenson said. To him, that makes learning about them particularly crucial. "This is the kind of American history everyone needs to know," Stevenson said. The stories will be published in USA Today and many of the hundreds of papers in its network. The story behind the series begins in 2013. That is when EJI began publishing a physical calendar highlighting an incident of historical racial injustice each day. The calendar inspired some to ask Stevenson what they could do to help. He said he would tell them that learning itself helps. "The more you learn about this history, the more equipped you are to think appropriately about contemporary issues," Stevenson said. In recent years, EJI expanded its public education work; this partnership is among the latest such projects for the nonprofit. The series covers events from Ohio's passage of its "Black Laws" in 1807, which prohibited Black people from testifying in cases with a single white party and left Black people vulnerable to crime by white perpetrators; the 1944 South Carolina execution of a 14-year-old Black boy after a sham trial the violent opposition to integration in schools following a 1954Supreme Courtdecision, which led Gov. Herman Talmadge of Georgia to declare, "Blood will run in the streets of Atlanta." Stevenson hopes people sit with the discomfort that learning about these parts of history can cause. By questioning the forces that led to the injustices, people may start conversations about the importance of the rule of law, fair treatment and integrity in government, he said. "We don't have those conversations if they're not triggered by the lessons that are learned by some of these … difficult stories," he said. Stevenson feels many began having those conversations in years, particularly after the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer in 2020. But he thinks we are now in a period of backlash. "I think that there has been an overreaction to some of the activism we saw five years ago, where people are trying to prevent any discussion about history," he said. For example, several government websites were temporarily removed educational pages about trailblazing icons such as the Tuskegee Airmen, Navajo code talkers and Jackie Robinson in an effort to scrub their website of diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. He hopes education can lead to real change. "If we understood the historical context of some of those acts, we wouldn't have been so afraid to do something in response," Stevenson said. Have questions about the justice system? Evan Mealins is the justice reporter for The Tennessean. Contact him with questions, tips or story ideas atemealins@tennessean.com. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:USA TODAY publishes Equal Justice Initiative's 'Injustices' series

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October 01, 2025

USA TODAY and EJI partner to explore history of racial injustice

USA TODAY and EJI partner to explore history of racial injustice The USA TODAY Network has partnered with the Equal Justice Initiative to pu...

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