I vaguely recall hearing about Medgar Evers when I was a kid, somewhere on TV, probably in a PBS documentary. My dad has always been fond of historical documentaries, and when I was a kid, we literally only had four channels to choose from. 

I watched the movie Mississippi Burning back in the late 80s, and I recall news stories and movie critics that mentioned Medgar Evers while discussing the movie, but I didn’t really get a full history lesson on his life and death until I went back for my undergraduate degree at ASU from 2005-2008. 

I regularly state that I feel I received an excellent public education, but I didn’t receive a formal lesson about one of the most accomplished civil rights activists in American history, Medgar Evers, until I attended college. 

Bu-bu-but, I’ve been told that all of our public schools are wOkE!?

Recently, at the latest Peoria (PUSD) board meeting, the board voted to end their partnership with the Arizona School Boards Association (ASBA). ASBA is a former state affiliate of the National School Boards Association (NSBA). NSBA has been around for nearly 100 years and ASBA for over 80 years.  ASBA “is a private, non-profit, non-partisan organization committed to professional development, leadership, and essential services to public school governing boards across Arizona.”

You may be thinking, “Secular Activist Lady, what does this have to do with Medgar Evers and the Civil Rights Movement?” 

The answer is: a lot. 

You see, the justification to end its partnership with ASBA given by PUSD Board President, Heather Rooks was that “kids don’t pay attention to racism when they’re on the playground.”

Read Jeanne Casteen's full article here

THIS WEEK IN SECULAR NEWS

RIP Johnson Amendment?: Every year, Secular AZ's legal team fields complaints involving churches endorsing candidates from the pulpit; in 2024, we responded to over 70 electioneering reports. It all stems from the 1954 Johnson Amendment, which bars tax-exempt non-profits, including churches, from endorsing or opposing political candidates...until now. In a court document filed last week, the Internal Revenue Service says it will allow houses of worship to endorse candidates for political office without losing their tax-exempt status, as long as it's viewed "through the lens of religious faith." So churches can now explicitly tell their congregations who to vote for, while secular non-profits (ahem) remain restricted? Huh.Seems like this shift will turn churches into opaque political PACs and further chip away at the wall between church and state, all subsidized by taxpayers. Read more.

When you're not cruel enough for TPUSA: Charlie Kirk's Turning Point USA, apparently now the GOP's official patriotism arbiter, just dropped its legislative scorecard... and ironically, Arizona Republicans are flailing. (Why "ironically"? Because as Secular AZ's legislative scorecard shows, the AZGOP virtually voted in lockstep to violate church:state separation!) Only a handful earned the coveted "patriot" badge, while others were demoted to "erratic" or, gasp, "betraying America." Turns out, compromise is for commies, and if you're not fully aligned with TPUSA's brand of conservatism (which, let's remember, includes advising young women to seek an "M-R-S degree"), you're basically a traitor. The message is clear: fall in line, or prepare for a primary challenge from the folks who think bipartisanship is a dirty word. Read more. 

Fighting back against discrimination:  River Chunnui, special education teacher and recipient of a Secular AZ Secular Champion award, was subjected to a year of relentless harassment, including vandalism and public "grooming" accusations, after simply informing colleagues about International Transgender Day of Visibility. Despite an investigation clearing Chunnui, certain Peoria Unified board members relentlessly attacked them, even disclosing Chunnui's home address. This forced Chunnui to leave their position, but not before suing the district for gender discrimination. This case highlights the vital need for inclusive and safe educational environments for all. The settlement will help fund Chunnui's Family Prism Project, an organization dedicated to supporting diverse families in navigating the school system. Read more.

Making Measles Great Again: After being virtually eradicated for 25 years, the measles virus is having a comeback. Thanks to plummeting vaccination rates, 2025 has seen more cases than any year since 2000. While most public health experts are horrified, "Health" Secretary RFKJR is casually downplaying the outbreak. His department is cutting funding to health services while he offers "muted support" for vaccines. Looks like 'merica's public health is now just as nonsensical as the  b̶r̶a̶i̶n̶-̶w̶o̶r̶m̶-̶r̶i̶d̶d̶e̶n̶-̶c̶o̶n̶s̶p̶i̶r̶a̶c̶y̶-̶t̶h̶e̶o̶r̶i̶s̶t̶ person in charge of it.  Read more. 

Your thermometer is lying to you: Your favorite librul hoax that definitely isn't real, a.k.a. climate change, is forcing Arizona into "uncharted territory" with extreme heat, breaking records for consecutive 100-plus degree days. In 2023, Maricopa County saw 645 heat-related deaths, over half the national total. But this isn't just a local issue; global temperatures are rising, exacerbated in Phoenix by the urban heat island effect, leading to more pollution and increased burn injuries. Doctors warn of a surge in vector-borne diseases and lung issues, too. Experts gathered at a recent "People's Hearing" to implore policymakers to act, especially in light of concerns about environmental funding cuts thanks to DOGE and the science-denying GOP. Read more.