Iris Halpern in the Press

  • She Fought a Book Ban. She May Never Teach Again.

    Summer Boismier, a high school English teacher in Oklahoma, lost her teaching license after she protested a book ban. Now she is fighting to return to the classroom.

    By Dana Goldstein

    The New York Times

    Jan. 29, 2026 Updated 7:49 a.m. ET

    Photographs by Nick Oxford

    Dana Goldstein spent several days with Summer Boismier in the suburbs of Oklahoma City.

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  • US librarians tackle ‘manufactured crisis’ of book bans to protect LGBTQ+ rights

    The Guardian

    By Claire Wang

    Mon 15 Dec 2025 13.00 CET

    For decades, libraries served as a safe haven for many queer and marginalized youths in eastern Texas, says former county library director Rhea Young. Unlike the school cafeteria, the library was a space where they could explore and find acceptance in who they wanted to be.

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  • Former 9NEWS anchor sues Denver station alleging discrimination during stroke recovery

    A 9NEWS representative said the station provided appropriate, reasonable accommodations

    By Elizabeth Hernandez | ehernandez@denverpost.com | The Denver Post

    PUBLISHED: November 11, 2021 at 3:21 PM MST | UPDATED: November 11, 2021 at 4:16 PM MST

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  • A memorial for Elijah McClain in Boston last year. Mr. McClain, 23, died after he was restrained with a chokehold and injected with ketamine, a powerful sedative, in Aurora, Colo., in 2019.Credit...Jessica Rinaldi/The Boston Globe, via Getty Images

    Elijah McClain’s Family Reaches Settlement With City of Aurora, Colo.

    Elijah McClain’s Family Reaches Settlement With City of Aurora, Colo.

    Mr. McClain died days after he was detained by the police in Aurora in 2019. The terms of the settlement were not made public.


    By Christine Hauser| New York Times     Oct. 19, 2021

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  • Librarian Fired in Books Dispute to Receive $700,000 Settlement

    By Adeel Hassan

    Oct. 9, 2025

    The New York Times

    County officials in Wyoming fired Terri Lesley, a library director, after she refused to purge children and young adult books that contained sexual content and L.G.B.T.Q. themes.

    Listen to this article · 5:34 min

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  • A protest against book banning at the Georgia State Capitol in 2022.

    The Resistance: Five People Standing Up to Book Banners

    By Andrew Richard Albanese and Nathalie op de Beeck | Publishers Weekly

    Sep 16, 2024

    For many, defending the freedom to read has come at a steep cost. We recently talked with five librarians and educators who are standing up to the would-be censors.

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  • Denver gay couple alleges mold inspector sent homophobic texts in discrimination complaints

    Men and their landlord say contractor treated them differently because of tenants’ sexual orientation

    By Saja Hindi | The Denver Post

    PUBLISHED: November 9, 2023 at 6:00 AM MST | UPDATED: November 9, 2023 at 6:03 AM MSTDescription goes here

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  • Llano County, former librarian Suzette Baker reach settlement in wrongful termination suit

    By Bayliss Wagner,

    Austin American-StatesmanUpdated March 7, 2025 4:21 p.m.

    Llano County has agreed to settle a lawsuit over its firing of librarian Suzette Baker amid a pressure campaign to remove several books from its public libraries, according to a Thursday court filing.

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  • Residents of Llano County waiting to hear if their library system will be shut down on April 13, 2023.

    Judge denies motion to dismiss Llano librarian's lawsuit after she was fired over book ban

    Texas Public Radio | By Kayla Padilla

    Published August 28, 2024 at 1:08 PM CDT

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  • Erie Community Library, part of the High Plains Library District in Weld County.

    Former Weld County librarian wins settlement after district fired her for promoting LGBTQ, anti-racism programs

    By Matt Bloom| CPR NEWS Sep. 22, 2023,

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  • Former Douglas County Schools Superintendent Corey Wise at the CPR News studios in Denver on Thursday, April14, 2022.

    Douglas County School District settles with ousted superintendent Corey Wise over complaint

    By Jenny Brundin |CPR Apr. 17, 2023, 7:00 am

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  • Explosive claim of transgender discrimination at Denver tire company

    By: Jennifer Lee Kovaleski

    Denver 7

    Posted 12:52 AM, Oct 04, 2017

    and last updated 1:33 AM, Oct 04, 2017

    DENVER -- The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EOCC) has filed a lawsuit against a Denver tire company claiming it refused to hire a transgender man because of his sex. 

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  • Polis signs workplace harassment bill, removing ‘severe or pervasive’ requirement


    By Bente Birkeland| CPR News Jun. 6, 2023, 4:00 pm

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  • Jenny Brundin/CPR News Lacey Ganzy stands with her children, Jeramiah and Nevaeh. The family filed a lawsuit against the Douglas County School District for failing to protect students from racism and bullying.

    Lawsuit alleges Douglas County School District failed to protect students from racial harassment

    By Jenny Brundin |CPR News Aug. 2, 2023, 2:52 pm

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  • From top, clockwise: Rachel Woolf, Gretchen Ertl, Rachel Woolf for Education Week

    Schools Teach Civics. Do They Model It?

    By Stephen Sawchuk — May 07, 2019 | Education Week Corrected: May 13, 2019

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  • Lake County Dispatchers Settle Undersheriff Sexual Harassment Suit For $875K

    By Claire Cleveland

    ·Jan. 22, 2020, 4:00 am

    CPR News

    photo credit:Daniel Schwen/Wikimedia Commons

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  • Steamboat Springs restaurant owes $50,000 in back wages to immigrant workers

    By Noelle Phillips | nphillips@denverpost.com | The Denver Post

    PUBLISHED: October 4, 2016 at 3:00 PM MDT | UPDATED: October 5, 2016 at 10:24 AM MDT

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  • Elijah McClain in an undated photo. Family photo

    Judge finds sufficient evidence to continue Elijah McClain case

    McClain died after an encounter with police officers and paramedics in 2019.

    By Kyla Guilfoil | ABC NEWS July 19, 2022, 10:28 PM

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  • Grocery chain pays $280,000 to settle deaf job applicants' EEOC claims

    (Reuters) - Arizona-based supermarket operator Sprouts Farmers Market will pay $280,000 to settle claims that it refused to hire three deaf job applicants or provide sign-language interpreters during job interviews, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said.

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  • University of Michigan student Becca Wong, who said Young Life removed her "in direct retaliation" for reporting sexual assault in their local ministry. Sylvia Jarrus for Insider

    Young Life is under federal investigation after 4 women say they were removed from the ministry for reporting sexual misconduct

    Rachel Premack | Business Insider Oct 19, 2021, 10:08 PM CEST

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  • A librarian was fired after refusing to ban books. She fought back

    January 2, 2024 | Heard on All Things Considered

    By Matt Bloom

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  • Workers’ rights Q&A: Dealing with discrimination in the workplace Author By Special to The Denver Post | Special to The Denver Post PUBLISHED: May 17, 2020 at 6:00 AM MDT

    By Iris Halpern and Ellen K. Giarratana

    During the COVID-19 pandemic, we have witnessed an alarming uptick of xenophobia and racism. Just like when the Muslim, Sikh, Arab, Middle Eastern and South Asian communities faced increased discrimination after 9/11, Asian Americans and many immigrant groups are suffering from a wave of a hate crimes and prejudice.scription goes here

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  • Sheriff and deputies awarded $5M in 1st Amendment retaliation case

    By: Rachel Saurer

    Posted: Jan 28, 2025 / 10:42 PM MST

    Updated: Jan 29, 2025 / 12:49 PM MS

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  • Q&A: What are my rights during COVID-19?

    By Special to The Denver Post | Special to The Denver Post

    PUBLISHED: May 3, 2020 at 6:00 AM MDT | UPDATED: May 3, 2020 at 9:07 AM MDT

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  • Officials explain hiring process of Aurora officer accused of pistol-whipping, choking suspect

    John Haubert faces four felony charges.

    By: CB Cotton

    Posted 7:05 AM, Jul 28, 2021

    and last updated 7:20 AM, Jul 28, 2021

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  • Steamboat Springs restaurant owes $50,000 in back wages to immigrant workers

    By Noelle Phillips | nphillips@denverpost.com | The Denver Post

    PUBLISHED: October 4, 2016 at 3:00 PM MDT | UPDATED: October 5, 2016 at 10:24 AM MDT

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  • Lawsuit against Pueblo 60 school district alleges severe racial bullying

    Lawsuit against Pueblo 60 school district alleges severe racial bullying

    By Jenny Brundin| CPR Nov. 1, 2024, 4:00 am

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