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West Point was accused in a federal lawsuit Tuesday of improperly using race and ethnicity as factors in admissions by the same group behind the legal challenge that resulted in the U.S. Supreme Court striking down affirmative action in college admissions.

Students for Fair Admissions claims the U.S. Military Academy sets benchmarks for how many Black, Hispanic and Asian cadets there should be in each class. The lawsuit filed in New York’s Southern District claims West Point is violating the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which contains an equal-protection principle that binds the federal government.

“Instead of admitting future cadets based on objective metrics and leadership potential, West Point focuses on race,” according to the complaint. “In fact, it openly publishes its racial composition ‘goals,’ and its director of admissions brags that race is wholly determinative for hundreds if not thousands of applicants.”

The academy said in a prepared statement that it “does not comment on ongoing litigation to protect the integrity of its outcome for all parties involved.“

The filing comes after the Supreme Court in June struck down affirmative action in college admissions, forcing institutions of higher education to look for new ways to achieve diverse student bodies. The court’s conservative majority invalidated admissions plans at Harvard University, and the University of North Carolina, the nation’s oldest private and public colleges, respectively.

That ruling did not cover West Point and the nation’s other military academies.

But Edward Blum, president of SFFA, said in a prepared statement that with the recent high court decision, “it must follow that the U.S. military’s higher education institutions must end their race-based policies as well.”

“Over the years, courts have been mindful of the military’s unique role in our nation’s life and the distinctive considerations that come with it,” Blum said. “However, no level of deference justifies these polarizing and disliked racial classifications and preferences in admissions to West Point or any of our service academies.”

West Point produces about 17% of newly commissioned Army officers each year, according to the lawsuit.

West Point in recent years has made concerted efforts to diversify its ranks, with officials increasing outreach to metropolitan areas like New York City, Atlanta and Detroit.

Minority enrollment was about 38% for the class of more than 1,240 that entered the academy north of New York City this summer.

The academy also recently complied with recommendations from a commission created by Congress to remove honors to Robert E. Lee and other Confederate officers as a way to address racial injustice. Still, some graduates of color from West Point and the nation’s other military schools have described hostile environments.

The lawsuit filed Tuesday also names the Department of Defense, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and other officials.

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In a comprehensive study conducted by the Pew Research Center from July 10 to July 16, and released on September 13, responses from a sizeable sample of U.S. adults revealed a profound disillusionment among Americans towards the nation’s political landscape. Researchers concluded that citizens were mostly exhausted and disillusioned with politics with many grappling to find viable alternatives to Democrats and Republicans.

The in-depth research by the Pew Center discovered that 65% of respondents admitted feeling persistently drained and exhausted when contemplating politics. The researchers concluded that this widespread exhaustion indicates a broader sentiment of disillusionment with the political sphere. “Yet it is telling that a majority of Americans are unable or unwilling to identify the strong points of the nation’s political system,” Pew researchers wrote.

The study, which highlighted an ever-dwindling faith in the political system, revealed that only 4% of U.S. adults believe the political system is functioning well or very well, while another 23% hold that it operates somewhat adequately. A striking 63% express little to no confidence in the future of the U.S. political system.

The study authors also found what they called a “trust deficit in governmental institutions.” They noted that favorable views of governmental and political institutions have plummeted to historic lows. A mere 16% of respondents claimed to trust the federal government consistently or most of the time. The authors revealed that this level of trust has remained depressingly low for almost two decades, reaching one of the lowest points in nearly seventy years. “As a society, we’ve lost faith in the very institutions meant to represent us,” one survey respondent asserted.

Also, a growing discontent towards both political parties is evident from the research, with 28% expressing unfavorable views of both, the highest percentage in three decades. An equivalent share of adults, 25%, feel inadequately represented by either party. For most of the more than 8,400 respondents in the survey, recent candidate choices have been underwhelming. As the 2024 presidential campaign gains momentum, 63% of Americans express dissatisfaction with the candidates who have emerged thus far. The discontent is mirrored in the broader assessment of political candidates, with only 26% rating their quality as very or somewhat good. “Where are the candidates who truly represent our interests?” questioned another participant.

Reflecting the public’s frustration, significant portions of Americans advocate for changes in the political system. Proposals such as age and term limits, along with eliminating the Electoral College, draw substantial support. “It’s time for a system that truly represents the people, not just the powerful,” declared another survey respondent, who also highlighted the divide and discontent in American politics. Republicans and Democrats were found to agree on one thing in an era of ferocious partisanship: 86% think that the parties prioritize infighting over problem-solving.

The survey underscored the public’s enduring belief that big interests and campaign donors heavily influence politics, with a resounding 72% concurring that a small group of people with selfish interests control the government. Further, views of Congress, the Supreme Court, and the President are at historic lows. Approximately 72% hold an unfavorable view of Congress, while 54% harbor negative opinions of the Supreme Court.

President Biden’s approval rating still languishes at around 40%, while 63% of Americans said they are dissatisfied with all the current presidential candidates.

Many Americans also believe elected officials have lost touch with their constituents. “Their end goals are personal and not for the betterment of the voters who elected them,” says a man in his 60s. According to survey results, engaged citizens are the most exhausted and angered by politics. “A democracy shouldn’t leave its citizens feeling this weary and angry,” remarked one respondent.

The public also has grown more frustrated with the erosion of respectful debate, with many respondents lamenting the decline in respectful and fact-based political discourse over recent years, reflecting a broader frustration with the state of the nation’s politics. “Nearly half of those who identify as politically independent or with something other than the Democratic or Republican Party view both parties negatively,” researchers found.

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NEW YORK (AP) — Rihanna and A$AP Rocky are giving the world the first look at their second child together, a boy they’ve named Riot Rose.

The 35-year-old pop star and the 34-year-old rap star dropped photos Tuesday of their family of four, including their second son, who was born Aug. 1, according to People and other reports.

The couple’s first child, RZA, was born in May 2022.

Rihanna made her pregnancy public after her performance at February’s Super Bowl halftime show, when the bump that was visible in the tight clothes she wore under her baggy red jumpsuit set off a wave of social media speculation.

The couple used the same street photographer, Diggzy, to shoot their new family snaps. In one, they’re leaning against a car with their kids. In another, A$AP balances their oldest on his shoulders. Others show Rihanna smiling for the camera with one of her children in her arms.

Diggzy shot photos of the two in New York when they formally revealed their first pregnancy.

A nine-time Grammy Award winner, Rihanna has 14 No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 hits, including “We Found Love,” “Work,” “Umbrella” and “Disturbia.”

A$AP Rocky began his career in 2011 with the hip-hop collective ASAP Mob and released his first studio album, Live, Love, A$AP, in 2013, when it debuted at No. 1. He’s been nominated for two Grammys.

The couple publicly revealed their relationship in 2020.

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* This article was originally published here

70 degrees on 7th Avenue—a perfect day for the 54th annual African American Day Parade in Harlem this past Sunday, Sept. 17. This year’s official theme has been the event’s unofficial theme since its 1969 inception: “Celebrating African American Culture.” 

Tandy Lau photos

Floats, marching bands, sweaty elected officials, and several souped-up Department of Sanitation (DSNY) garbage trucks made their way uptown on Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard from 111th Street to 137th Street as smiling tots, proud residents, and folks trying to get onto the other side of the street looked on. 

Mayor Eric Adams recalled a three-decade history with the parade dating all the way back to when he was a transit cop. 

“I’ve been marching in this parade for almost 30 years, [first] as a police officer, [then as a] state senator, borough president, and now as the Mayor of the City of New York,” Adams said. “Harlem has always held it down. Keep doing it…[it’s been] a long journey. We’re going to keep marching together.”

“I enjoyed being out in [the] community to continue this tradition, which I have done for years, even before City Council,” added Harlem Councilmember Kristin Richardson Jordan. “This year, it was a particularly great honor to march with the Freedom Fighters Contingent [since] just a few weeks ago, we celebrated the street naming of Black Panther Way.”

Bill Moore photos

Even after all these years, the parade is still evolving. African American Day Parade chair Yusuf Hasan pointed to the newly-implemented “Get Involved” Saturday event outside the Harlem state office building, which provided children’s book readings and local health panels for the community. All in all, Hasan says the weekend was a resounding success.

“This year’s parade was very great,” he said. “And I think this year is a prelude for what we’re going to do for our 55th anniversary coming next year.”

He says 2024 will focus on politics and government, pointing to the inaugural grand marshals Shirley Chisholm and Adam Clayton Powell Jr. 

Sunday’s parade marks the first since the February passing of the event’s chair emeritus and founding member Abe Snyder, one of 13 organizers who started the African American Day Parade, Inc. in 1968 in hopes of celebrating Black culture, providing positive representation, and honoring their forebears. Since then, the parade has marched up Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard (aka 7th Avenue) on the third Sunday of September. 

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* This article was originally published here