Cyrus Mehri Announces Run for NFLPA Exec. Director, Ellen Eardley Returns to M&S, Jay Angoff Defends the ACA and U.W. Clemon Speaks Out On Charlottesville
Cyrus Mehri Announces Bid to Become the NFL Players Association’s Next Executive Director
While appearing on HBO’s “Real Sports” with Bryant Gumbel, Cyrus Mehri announced his candidacy for Executive Director of the NFL Players Association. You can view a clip from the interview below:
Cyrus Mehri Announces Bid to Head the NFLPA: Real Sports Trailer (HBO)
NFL legends like Jim Brown, Harry Carson, Joe Greene, Kellen Winslow and John Wooten have since come out to endorse Mr. Mehri, saying that he is the change the NFLPA needs. Since then, Mr. Mehri’s announcement has been featured in media outlets across the country, including the Washington Post, USA Today, Associated Press and ESPN, as well as several high profile sports blogs.
Prominently featured in the coverage was Mr. Mehri’s role in the development and implementation of the Rooney Rule, citing the program’s success as a key tenant of Mr. Mehri’s platform. Many stories also mentioned Mr. Mehri’s success as a civil rights attorney, fighting for those who cannot always fight for themselves.
To learn more about the campaign and how you can support Cyrus, visit cyrus4nflpa.com
Recent media coverage includes:
- ESPN, “Attorney Cyrus Mehri plans to challenge DeMaurice Smith for NFLPA job in 2018”
- Washington Post, “Lawyer who was driving force behind NFL’s Rooney Rule will run for NFLPA executive director”
- USA Today, “Ousting DeMaurice Smith won’t be easy, but Cyrus Mehri offers different vision for NFLPA”
- Pro Football Talk (NBC Sports), “Mehri wants to start CBA negotiations early”
- CBS Sports, “Co-author of Rooney Rule to challenge NFLPA’s DeMaurice Smith for his job”
- Sports Illustrated Now – Full show aired on August 30
Jay Angoff Defends the ACA
M&S’s Jay Agnoff weighed in on the state of health insurance this summer during the height of the debate over whether Congress might repeal or replace the Affordable Care Act. A New York Times article looking into whether a provision proposed by Republicans back in July would allow insurance companies to offer “junk insurance” — an insurance option popular with insurance companies before the ACA that offers less-than-comprehensive coverage with high deductibles — allowed Jay Angoff to explain why this would be a problem. Angoff noted that the plans “are just the classic example of insurance that disappears exactly when you need it.”
Ms. Eardley also founded the University’s first institutional equity office, creating a central place to address all forms of discrimination and sexual violence. During her tenure, Kevin McDonald, vice chancellor for inclusion, diversity and equity, credited her with “building a team of highly qualified equity professionals, increasing transparency through annual reports of allegations of discrimination and sexual violence, improving key equity-related university policies, and co-chairing the MU Sexual and Intimate Partner Violence Task Force.”
Last week, students at the University of Missouri’s It’s On Us Mizzou released this statement lamenting Ms. Eardley’s departure, noting “Ellen’s dedication, and MU’s commitment to the value of her office, made our university a better place.”
Before taking on her role at MU, Ms. Eardley practiced law at M&S for eight years, where she was a Partner. She also taught Sex Discrimination Law at American University’s Washington College of Law during this time.
“Serving as a senior leader in Missouri as the University dealt with long-standing institutional racism and a sexual violence epidemic transformed the way I think about civil rights enforcement,” said Ms. Eardley. “I am delighted to return to M&S with a renewed commitment to advocacy.”
Ms. Eardley plans to build a Title IX practice at M&S, using her Title IX expertise to collaborate with non-profits working to end sexual violence in the nation’s schools and universities.
M&S Defends the Affordable Care Act During Senate GOP’s Failed Attempt at Healthcare Overhaul
M&S’s Jay Agnoff weighed in on the state of health insurance this summer during the height of the debate over whether Congress might repeal or replace the Affordable Care Act. A New York Times article looking into whether a provision proposed by Republicans back in July would allow insurance companies to offer “junk insurance” — an insurance option popular with insurance companies before the ACA that offers less-than-comprehensive coverage with high deductibles — allowed Jay Angoff to explain why this would be a problem. Angoff noted that the plans “are just the classic example of insurance that disappears exactly when you need it.”
In July, Mr. Angoff spoke to a crowd at Lincoln University in Missouri about the state of American’s health care system. In the forum, “Surviving Healthcare Reform,” Mr. Angoff spoke about his experience overseeing implementation of the ACA in Missouri and explained that insurance companies will have more accurate rates — and lower rates — as they have more data to work with. While each of the speakers offered solutions to combat rising health care costs in Missouri, the Senate bill to repeal the ACA lost support of two key Republicans back in Washington, D.C.
To read more:
News Tribune, “LU health care forum defends ACA”
New York Times, “In Clash Over Health Bill, a Growing Fear of ‘Junk Insurance’”
Of Counsel Judge Clemon Offers His Thoughts on Charlottesville to the New York Times
Following the violent protests in Charlottesville last month, the New York Times published a number of stories investigating race relations, Southern history and how it is manifesting in our society today. Judge U.W. Clemon is no stranger to these issues, having served as Alabama’s first black federal judge and spending much of his career devoted to civil rights issues. In the New York Times’ August 18 story, “In Monument Debate, Calls for an Overdue Reckoning on Race and Southern Identity,” Judge Clemon commented on what he saw happening in Virginia:
“U. W. Clemon, a Birmingham lawyer who was the first black federal judge in Alabama, said the Charlottesville protesters were ‘acting out of desperation’ after recognizing that their sway in the so-called New South was eroding. ‘They see blacks and women and Jews in pretty powerful positions – and not just up North, but here down South – and I think that they see their power and influence dwindling,’ he said.”
Read the complete story here.