I became a pretty unpopular guy last week with a lot of Washingtonians when we defeated the Mosquito. Some folks are hoping that I get mugged by a hooligan. Others want to sue me. Someone posted my home and work address on the Internet. One particularly eloquent fellow called me a Jewboy and wished death…
As we told everyone last month, NYRA has been working with the ACLU and the National Coalition Against Censorship on an amicus brief in support of the First Amendment right of youth to play video games. The US Supreme Court could take away that right this year, and we are intent on stopping them. Click…
NYRA is pleased to announce the winners of our first annual NYRA Awards. This year we gave three separate awards: The Youth Rights Progress Award, The NYRA Achievement Award, and the Ageist of the Year Award. To learn about all the nominees go here. The Youth Rights Progress Award was given to Congressman George Miller,…
On July 10, members from NYRA-DC attended a youth hearing held by the DC City Council and brought important youth rights issues to the attention of the council and the city. NYRA-DC President Larry Pretlow II spoke to the council about reforming the Youth Advisory Council so that it would provide an effective, meaningful voice…
Before the Committee of the Whole of the Council of the District of Columbia Testimony of Larry T. Pretlow II, President On behalf of the DC Chapter of the National Youth Rights Association on Reforming the Youth Advisory Council July 10, 2010 First of all, thank you to Chairman Gray and the Council for holding…
A multi-year effort to change the start time of Zionsville Community High School (ZCHS) in Indiana has finally ended, and ended the right way – in victory. The campaign began in March of 2009 when ZCHS student Erica Park presented research to her AP English class outlining the physical and psychological benefits of allowing students…
NYRA is pleased to welcome our newest chapter, NYRA-Austin: Peeps 4 Change. Based in Texas, this chapter is NYRA’s first chapter led by a mother-son team. Co-founders Shanda & Dalton Scott intend for the chapter to work to ensure students get fair treatment and a free and appropriate public education in Williamson County, Texas. One…
My law professor said something today that resonated with me. He said: You only possess the rights that you assert. In other words, liberty is no longer (if it ever truly was) the default in our society. In a nation that ever increasingly exhibits aspects characteristic of a police state, in the era of the…
One of NYRA’s most legally active chapters, NYRA Southeast Florida has continued their good works in fighting against the enforcement of an illegal curfew in the city of West Palm Beach. The lawsuit itself, their piece de resistance, is tentatively scheduled for July 2010. It is a milestone for NYRA as a whole, as it…
Leaders from the National Youth Rights Association – Southeast Florida chapter and NYRA’s project the Community Alliance for the Ethical Treatment of Youth joined local youth rights activists in Gainesville, FL for a teen rights rally yesterday. By all accounts the rally was well attended and exciting for all in attendance. The rally was organized…
