From Australia to Louisiana, citizens are pushing for government action. Editor’s Warning: Violence and Death. 

Happening in the World: Rallies are erupting across Australia as citizens call for stricter laws on violence against women. The demonstrations are occurring due to the recent increase in gender-based killings. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has stated the issue is a national crisis as, on average, a woman has been killed in Australia every four days. Demonstrators also feel this serves as a national emergency and must be addressed. However, Albanese believes this classification is reserved for natural disasters and other instances that require cash. Instead, he argues this issue must be addressed on a day by day basis. This isn’t the first time gender based violence has occurred to this extreme in the country as, in 2021, similar marches took place as a result of sexual misconduct allegations in the government. (BBC) 

Happening in the US: Louisiana is set to get a new city after the State’s Supreme Court has allowed for a part of Baton Rouge to become the separate city of St. George. Originally, residents planned to simply start a new school district and the idea altered into creating a new city altogether. Back in 2015, they worked to collect signatures, but couldn’t get enough to bring their proposal to court. In 2019, in their attempt to try again, they were able to make it onto a ballot and even won the election. However, went on to endure a lengthy battle in court. As of now, the proposal has passed and St. George is set to be a city with 100,000 residents, becoming one of the largest in the state. (NYT) 

Happening in the City: The MTA has been banned from using facial recognition to impose fare dodging in an attempt to protect New Yorker’s privacy. The policy has been praised by privacy advocates as well as government groups due to the State Legislature increasing the maximum fine for fare evasion by $100. Policy expert at the nonprofit New York Civil Liberties Union, Michael Sisitzky, argued that these new fines put vulnerable New Yorkers at risk and criminalizes citizens inability to pay fare. Though the MTA hasn’t used facial recognition in its updated surveillance system, the NYPD has been using it since 2011. However, it is unclear if this new law prohibits the NYPD from using its facial recognition technology on MTA’s surveillance footage to identify fare dodgers. (Gothamist) 

Happening in Our Community: On Monday, April 29, from 6:30 to 9:00 pm, the Harriman Institute is hosting a screening for Claustro, which is to be followed by a discussion with the director, Olzhas Bayalbayev. The event will be moderated by Tatiana Efremova. For more information and to make seat reservations, look here. 

Image via Wikimedia Commons.