A civil rights hero who broke the mold on activism

+ why Congress has limited power to reform policing US Edition - Today's top story: Japanese American soldiers in World War II fought the Axis abroad and racial prejudice at home [View in browser]( US Edition | 3 June 2021 [The Conversation]( Academic rigor, journalistic flair When my children were little, they would periodically ask me whom I loved best. And my way out of that impossible question was to say, “I love each of you more than the other.” It confused them enough in a satisfying way to settle the question for a while. This week, I could say the same thing about the stories we’ve published. Usually I pick one or two stories to highlight in our politics newsletter, but I couldn’t choose standouts this week because they all stood out. There was the gut-wrenching detail of USC Dornsife historian Susan Kamei’s story about Japanese Americans who, during World War II, were forced from their homes by the government, “imprisoned in a detention camp under armed guards and behind barbed wire – and then … required to join the military to fight for the nation [that had locked [them] up.](” University of Memphis historian Aram Goudsouzian wrote a lyrical story about James Meredith, a civil rights hero “who does not associate himself with the civil rights movement. He espouses conservative ideas of self-reliance, discipline, morality and manhood, yet he proclaims a radical mission to destroy white supremacy.” Meredith’s complex personality and attitudes are a lesson, Goudsouzian wrote, [that “humans are too complicated to assign to one political tribe.”]( And we had a story for those who are still slack-jawed at the brazenness of Belarus’ authoritarian leader, Alexander Lukashenko, who forced down a commercial air flight so that his police could remove and arrest a dissident Belarusian journalist. Political analyst Tatsiana Kulakevich from the University of South Florida fills in the blanks on the complex relationship between Lukashenko and his powerful supporter, Russian leader Vladimir Putin – hint, they’re yachting buddies – and how what was essentially an airplane hijacking [complicates the upcoming summit meeting]( between Putin and U.S. President Joe Biden. “Russia is critical to holding Lukashenko accountable,” writes Kulakevich, “but Putin is unlikely to endorse any effort to do so.” Naomi Schalit Senior Editor, Politics + Society Soldiers of the Japanese American 442nd Regimental Combat Team in Bruyères, France. U.S. Army Signal Corps via Wikimedia Commons [Japanese American soldiers in World War II fought the Axis abroad and racial prejudice at home]( Susan H. Kamei, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences Young Japanese American men who were incarcerated because they were presumed to be disloyal were considered loyal enough for compulsory military service. Civil rights activist James Meredith grimaces in pain as he pulls himself across Highway 51 after being shot in Hernando, Mississippi, during his March Against Fear. AP Photo/Jack Thornell, File [Shot 55 years ago while marching against racism, James Meredith reminds us that powerful movements can include those with very different ideas]( Aram Goudsouzian, University of Memphis Meredith is a civil rights hero who doesn't fit neatly into political categories. He espouses conservative ideas, yet he proclaims a radical mission to destroy white supremacy. Biden is expected to confront Russian leader Vladimir Putin (center) over his stalwart backing of Europe’s last dictator, Alexander Lukashenko (left). From left to right: Sergei Ilyin/Sputnik/AFP via Getty Images and Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images [Belarus plane hijacking snarls Biden’s hopes to repair strained US-Russia relationship]( Tatsiana Kulakevich, University of South Florida Some tension was inevitable at the June 16 US-Russia summit. But Vladimir Putin's defiant support for Belarus's rogue regime now pits him harder against the West. - [Congress can’t do much about fixing local police – but it can tie strings to federal grants]( Alexis Karteron, Rutgers University - Newark While many in America are looking to Congress to pass police reform legislation, the federal government has almost no control over state and local police departments. - [Ex-prisoners are going hungry amid barriers, bans to benefits on the outside]( Margaret Lombe, Boston College; Von Nebbitt, Washington University in St Louis Formerly incarcerated Americans face food insecurity rates double that of the general population. A 1996 law that prohibits drug felons from getting crucial benefits may be partially to blame. - [Body cameras help monitor police but can invade people’s privacy]( Bryce C. Newell, University of Oregon Police body cameras have the potential to make private details about people's lives, including some of the most stressful experiences of their lives, public and easily accessible online You’re receiving this newsletter from [The Conversation](. Not interested anymore? [Unsubscribe](. 303 Wyman Street, Suite 300 Waltham, MA 02451