Champaign-Urbana High School Students Lead Protest For Racial Justice
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Champaign-Urbana High School Students Lead Protest For Racial Justice

Editor’s note: This story was reported by University of Illinois journalism student Farrah Anderson, with coverage coordinated by College Of Media journalism professor Chris Evans and professional journalists at Illinois Public Media. CHAMPAIGN – Between chants of “say their names,” protestors holding cardboard signs wound through the streets of Champaign Saturday. In response, the names…

New Illinois Law Expands Black History Education — But How Will It Be Taught?
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New Illinois Law Expands Black History Education — But How Will It Be Taught?

DANVILLE – Brennon Hightower says Black history is lacking in the education her two sons receive at their public school in Danville, a city in east-central Illinois. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Hightower decided to homeschool her sons — aged 10 and 15 — using curricula she found and liked. But even that material included very…

University of Illinois Students Remember Atlanta Spa Shooting Victims
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University of Illinois Students Remember Atlanta Spa Shooting Victims

Editor’s note: This story was reported by University of Illinois journalism student Gwyn Skiles, with coverage coordinated by College Of Media journalism professor Chris Evans and professional journalists at Illinois Public Media. URBANA – University of Illinois community members gathered outside of the Beckman Institute for a vigil honoring the victims of the Atlanta Spa…

How Anti-Asian Hate Is Affecting Central Illinois’ Asian American Communities
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How Anti-Asian Hate Is Affecting Central Illinois’ Asian American Communities

URBANA – Anti-Asian hate appears to have worsened during the pandemic.  A recent study from California State University finds anti-Asian hate crimes reported to police in major U.S. cities rose 150% last year — even as overall hate crimes dropped 7%. And an analysis released this month by the group Stop AAPI Hate found nearly…