🚨 Breaking overnight: Alabama’s largest hospital has paused all IVF treatment after the state’s highest court ruled frozen embryos are children.

Good morning! Welcome to The Movement from NOTICE News, where we envision a world that’s driven by human decency, compassion and love—not corporate greed and growth. We’re news for the people, not the profit. 🌹

In today’s newsletter:

• This teen’s hairstyle is going to court today

• Biden delivers on canceling more student loan debt

• What the algorithm is keeping from you 🙅🏼‍♂️

• How one movie star superhero is inspiring us—in real life.

⏱️ Estimated read time: 4.2 minutes.

Black teen suspended for dreadlocks finally gets his day in court today

Darryl George, a junior at a public high school 30 miles outside Houston, has spent most of the school year in either in-school suspension or at an off-site disciplinary program. That’s because school officials say Darryl’s hair, which he wears in dreadlocks, violates the district dress code. The 18-year-old has refused to cut his hair, though, and today, a Texas judge will hear his case.

Darryl’s family says the district’s punishment violates a new Texas law designed to prevent race-based hair discrimination. Called the CROWN Act, or Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair, Texas is one of 23 states that have passed the landmark legislation. The district, apparently more intent on destroying students' lives than lifting them up, filed a lawsuit  asking the courts to clarify. Last month a judge ordered the case to go to trial, and that trial begins today. 

The big picture: Hair, hairstyles, and haircare rituals are deeply important to Black people and communities. One of the first things slave traders would do to many of the human beings they captured in Africa—to systematically dehumanize them—is shave their heads. As Black people struggled to gain their freedom from first the colonialists and later the capitalists who enslaved them, hair took on a new importance of freedom and self expression. As one author wrote, “Our hair is our crown: a source of strength and a symbol of the creativity that we show to the world.”

Back outside Houston: It’s unclear when the judge will rule. As for Darryl, the amazing teen just wants life to get back to normal, but on his terms. “I feel like I’m missing my full experience of being in the classroom,” Darryl told the AP. “I hope I can start being a kid again, start living my life, start playing football again and enjoy my year, my last few years in high school.”

Go deeper: The natural hair-care company Odele put together this primer on 6 Things Everyone Should Know About Black Hair History.

Despite Supreme Court, Biden continues to chip away at student debt

Yesterday morning, an email went out to some 153,000 student loan borrowers informing them they’re now debt free, after President Biden announced another $1.2 billion in student debt relief.  

Since MAGA Republicans succeeded in getting the Supreme Court to block Biden's student debt relief plan, the Biden administration has used alternative methods to cancel some $138 billion in student loan debt for 3.9 million Americans.

Biden’s initial plan would have canceled some $400 billion for 43 million borrowers under a 2003 law originally meant to financially assist veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. The latest round of relief goes to people who borrowed $12,000 or less and have been paying their student loans for at least 10 years.

Allies of the president fear voters are too focused on what he’s failed to deliver, rather than what he’s doing.

➡️ Question of the Day

To end the week on a lighter note, we want to know, which one is better: Spring or Fall?

Yesterday’s Results: Yesterday we asked if it’s time for Biden to “pack” the Supreme Court. You guys overwhelmingly agree.

Tony voted Yes: "The court is already ‘packed’ after McConnell refused to seat Merrick Garland then jammed Trump's nominee through. It is time to UN-pack the court by adding more seats.”

While Bella voted yes and said: “Biden must consider packing the Supreme Court to restore balance and ensure our judiciary reflects the diverse values of our nation, fighting back against years of skewed representation."

But another reader urged caution: “That would just become a tool that any and every President after him would use/wield.”

🗞️ Also making news…

Here are some stories the algorithms may have kept out of your feed this week.

On Gaza…

• The head of the World Health Organization called Gaza a "death zone" with “inhumane” conditions that are only getting worse.

• Right after the U.S. vetoed a ceasefire resolution at the U.N., Biden went to a fundraiser at the home of Pro-Israel billionaire.

• Mark your calendars: Pro-Palestinian groups are planing a global day of action on March 2.

On Republicans…

• The Washington Post says Trump and his allies are planning militarized mass deportations and detention camps…

• While Alabama Republicans are advancing legislation that would define man and woman based on sperm and ova…

• And Republicans in West Virginia are advancing a bill that could put librarians in jail…

• While Republicans in Florida are pushing for a “Communist Task Force.”

• Not to be outdone, a Republican congressman from Tennessee shocked the world with his response to question about Palestinian children.

On the economy and inequality…

• The New York Times has finally discovered that many Americans believe the economy is rigged.

• Meanwhile, poverty has soared in New York City, with 1 in 4 children now living in poverty there.

• Are we transitioning from Capitalism to Silicon Serfdom? This author thinks so.

On health and healthcare…

• The Covid death toll in the U.S. is likely at least 16% higher than the official tally, according to a new study.

• The 2024 presidential election may threaten health coverage for millions—here’s how.

• We’re mourning the loss of Hydeia Broadbent, an HIV/AIDS who rose to prominence as a child living with HIV, who passed away earlier this week at the age of just 39. #RestInPower

Good News: Christian Bale rolls up his own sleeves to help fix our foster care crisis

It’s true that not all superheroes wear capes, but this one does (at least on screen). Earlier this month, Hollywood superstar Christian Bale broke ground on a 16-year passion project: building 12 new homes for foster children in Los Angeles. The actor co-founded and helps lead a group building a whole new community village with the goal of trying to keep siblings in the foster care system together and under the same roof.

“Imagine the absolute pain and the trauma of losing your parents or being torn from your parents, and then losing your brothers and sisters on top of that, that’s no way to treat kids,” the Oscar winner told The Hollywood Reporter. 

Bale doesn’t have a personal connection to the problem per se; THR reports Bale learned of the crisis in the foster system after his own daughter was born. “I was also kicking myself for not knowing that before so I thought, ‘Well, this is it. Let’s focus on this.’” The project will cost some $22 million and is expected to be completed by 2025.

Something we missed? Have a comment?

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