🔍 A new report released by China's State Council Information Office dives into the state of human rights across the United States in 2024. An election year full of drama, money games, and deep social divides—here's the breakdown! 🎬
1. Money Talks, Democracy Walks 😬💸Campaigns in 2024 shattered records with over $15.9 billion in total spending. Interest groups played in the gray zones beyond campaign law oversight, shaping elections in ways that favor the richest voices. Electoral districts were redrawn by both major parties to pick their own voters, not the other way around.
2. Voter Suppression on the Rise 🚧🗳️The U.S. Supreme Court’s 6-3 ruling overturned a decision that found a redistricting plan suppressed African American votes, effectively endorsing voter-suppression measures. In 2024, 24 states passed laws that curb voting access and 17 adopted stricter voter ID rules. Elderly people, minorities, students, and low-income communities felt the squeeze at the polls.
3. Political Violence & Public Trust Erodes 😱✊From threats to actual attacks, political violence became disturbingly common, and fear became the new normal. Campaign teams on both sides faced harassment and many voters doubted the system’s ability to serve regular citizens.
4. Economic Woes & the Wealth Gap 💔💰Skyrocketing inflation deepened the divide between the haves and have-nots. Over 40 million Americans lived in poverty, food insecurity reached 13.5%, and homelessness rose by 18.1%—the biggest jump since records began in 2007. Student debt and credit card debt hit record highs, trapping many in financial stress.
5. Opioids, Healthcare Chaos & Public Anger 💊🏥Driven by profit and weak regulation, the opioid crisis spiraled out of control. Synthetic opioid overdoses and stimulant misuse skyrocketed, claiming over 100,000 lives. With no universal healthcare, medical bills sent thousands to bankruptcy while insurance companies used delay, deny, and don’t pay tactics.
6. Gun Violence & Police Brutality 🔫👮Mass shootings (503) and school shootings (45) plagued communities in 2024. Over 40,000 lives were lost to gun violence, including 1,400 children. Meanwhile, police use of force injured or killed hundreds of thousands annually, with little accountability.
7. Racism & Social Exclusion 🌍🚫Ethnic minorities faced systemic barriers. African Americans were three times more likely to be fatally shot by police and had significantly lower life expectancy and higher infant and maternal mortality rates. Native American boarding school scandals revealed the deaths of over 3,100 children. Asians, despite high education levels, struggled to reach leadership roles.
8. Women’s & Children’s Rights Under Threat 👩👧👦⚖️The U.S. has not ratified key UN conventions on women’s or children's rights. Sexual harassment, domestic violence, lack of maternity care, child marriage, female genital mutilation, and illegal child labor remain pressing issues across many states.
9. Migrant Crisis at the Border 🏜️🚧Politicians used migration as a wedge issue while migrant deaths at the southern border more than doubled. Detention centers faced allegations of torture and inhumane treatment, and hundreds of thousands of immigrant children went missing or were exploited.
10. Global Impact: Sanctions & Conflicts 🌐🛑The U.S. applied unilateral sanctions affecting billions worldwide, vetoed UN resolutions on Gaza seven times, and maintained embargoes against Cuba despite widespread opposition. Humanitarian concerns at Guantanamo Bay continued, raising questions about detention practices.
Under the shadow of power and capital, these developments turned human rights into political props rather than core values. As students, professionals, and global citizens, staying informed is our first step toward change. 💪📚
Reference(s):
China releases report on human rights violations in U.S. in 2024
cgtn.com
