By Megan Sayles
AFRO Business Writer
msayles@afro.com

Early voting is underway around the nation ahead of Election Day 2024, set for Nov. 5. 

In Georgia, more than 1.9 million residents have already cast their ballots, representing more than a quarter of all voters in the Peach State. Martin Luther King III, son of the late civil rights leader, held an in-person early voting event on Oct. 21 in partnership with the Harris-Walz presidential campaign.

Although North Carolinians are still recovering from the destruction of Hurricane Helene, over 1 million of them have made it to the voting booth. In Nevada, 144,575 residents had voted as of Oct. 22. 

The right to vote is one of the cornerstones of democracy, but Black Americans have been subjected to a long history of disenfranchisement. Tactics like literacy tests and poll taxes have given way to gerrymandering and restrictive voter identification laws. Modern attempts at voter suppression and intimidation make it even more important for individuals to know how to spot and fight unlawful practices. 

“As much as it’s important to know the voting laws in your state, it’s also critical that voters know what protections are in place to safeguard their right to cast a ballot. There are federal voter protections in laws like the Voting Rights Act, the National Voter Registration Act, the Help America Vote Act and the Uniformed Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act,” said Kiayna O’Neal, digital director at VoteRiders. “Each of these is meant to protect voters from things like discrimination and intimidation at the polls, being taken off of voter registration rolls, language difficulties and issues for overseas voters.”

Founded in 2012 as a direct response to the rise of stringent ID laws in the U.S., VoteRiders is a nonpartisan nonprofit that strives to ensure all citizens can exercise their right to vote. O’Neal warned that the existence of these federal protections does not mean that they are enforced and free from attack. 

In fact, the Voting Rights Act, enacted in 1965 after Martin Luther King Jr. led the Selma marches in Alabama, has been weakened in recent years. In 2013, the United States Supreme Court struck down a section in the legislation that required certain states with a history of discrimination to get approval from the federal government before changing their voting laws. The ruling set a precedent that’s made it more difficult to challenge discriminatory policies. 

“Intimidation and suppression examples can vary depending on the voter, the state and the situation,” said O’ Neal. “With all the misinformation and disinformation out there about voter fraud, I wouldn’t be surprised if we see more instances of voter’s citizenship being questioned at the polls— that in itself is a form of intimidation.” 

Rebekah Caruthers, vice president of the Fair Election Center, has already observed attacks on the right to vote this election season.

In Georgia, 300,000 people showed out on Oct. 15, the first day of early voting. Caruthers believes one of the reasons behind the state’s record turnout for early voting is tied to a harmful law passed in 2021. 

“Georgia has now made it illegal for organizations to pass out water or snacks for those standing in line,” said Caruthers. “Georgia is notorious for 10 to 12 hour lines. That’s a clear example of voter suppression because the hope is that people will get too tired, too hungry or too thirsty, and they will leave.” 

She added that the lengthy wait times are more common in predominantly Black neighborhoods of the state.

“Mind you, those long lines tend to be in Black areas,” said Caruthers. “They’re not in the White suburbs.” 

Aside from Black communities, Latinx, young people, first-time voters and people with disabilities are more likely to experience voter disenfranchisement, according to Caruthers. 

According to the American Civil Liberties Union (ALCU), interrogating voters about their citizenship, criminal record or other qualifications; deceptively posing as an election official; disseminating false information about voter requirements and displaying misleading signs about voter fraud in relation to legal penalty are all forms of voter intimidation. 

Caruthers believes poll workers are one of the most important players in defending against voter suppression and intimidation. 

“Poll workers are the frontline workers in our democracy,” said Caruthers. “If it wasn’t for poll workers, election clerks and local election officials across the country who are trying to do their jobs, we wouldn’t be able to have elections.”

Voters are reminded that if they encounter voter suppression efforts or intimidation, they can contact the Election Protection hotline at 866-OUR-VOTE, or 866-687-8683. 

There are also language-specific numbers: Spanish 888-839-8682, Asian languages 888-274-8683 and Arabic 844-925-5287. 

Voters can also consult the Fair Election Center’s Know Your Rights Guide and VoteRider’s HelpLine at 866-432-8683 before heading to the polls to make sure they’re prepared.

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Learn about ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) issues ahead of the 2024 election

United Way’s programs and services, as well as our advocacy work, supports equity, access, and opportunity for all—with a focus on ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) households.

People at or below the ALICE budget threshold struggle every day to pay for the basics—like housing, food, healthcare, transportation, and childcare. In Maryland, 39% of households—nearly one million—don’t bring in enough income to keep pace with the cost of living. 

A significant portion of Maryland’s workforce, including cashiers, cooks, restaurant staff, drivers, warehouse workers, health aides, childcare providers, office staff, and more, live as ALICE. A majority of these peopel are working in one or more jobs, and still live just one emergency away from financial crisis. 

Policy change is a powerful way to break down longstanding barriers and strengthen lives, communities, and our economy. As we approach the 2024 election, it is crucial for voters to be aware of the challenges for ALICE households—which affect us all—at the ballot box. 

The Maryland State Association of United Ways’ #VoteForALICE social media campaign encourages voters to consider ALICE issues at the ballot box and prioritize policies that promote economic stability and opportunity for all.

Hundreds of thousands of workers in Maryland currently live below the ALICE threshold, including 36% of retail salespersons, 49% of cashiers, and 12% of the state’s registered nurses. These hardworking individuals contribute essential services to our communities, but their income can’t keep pace with the high cost of living in the state.

“As we approach the 2024 election, it is crucial for eligible voters and policymakers to be aware of ALICE issues and consider the needs of ALICE households when voting,” said Franklyn Baker, President and CEO of United Way of Central Maryland. “Our Maryland State Association of United Ways stands united in our vision for healthy, thriving communities and work around the clock to tackle challenges in housing, childcare, transportation, digital access, and more that impact ALICE households—and policy change is often the first step in addressing inequities that prevent people from getting by—or even getting ahead.”

Want an easy way to stay informed on the issues and directly contact your elected officials? Sign up for Voter Voice, United Way’s advocacy platform that educates and mobilizes supporters, and does the work of reaching out to policy makers for you! 

“The Maryland State Board of Elections is committed to educating eligible voters about how to participate in the General Election and appreciates the Maryland State Association of United Ways and others’efforts to communicate with Marylanders around the upcoming election,” said Jared DeMarinis, StateAdministrator, Maryland State Board of Elections. “Marylanders should visit the VOTE MD website  for information on registering to vote and how to vote in this important election.”

Make your voice heard and take action today! UNITED, we can help improve the financial security and well-being of Maryland households that struggle to make ends meet.

To learn more about the challenges ALICE households face, to read the latest interactive ALICE Report, and to find helpful election resources so that you can vote to help ALICE households, visit uwcm.org/ALICE.

About United Ways in Maryland

United Ways in Maryland support and drive work in their respective regions to advance healthy communities, financial security, youth opportunity, and community resiliency.

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By Ashlee Banks
Special to the AFRO

Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks (D) faced off against former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) in their first and only debate. The two front runners are aiming to replace retiring Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.), who has said he will not seek a seat in Congress in Jan. 2025.

On Oct. 10, NBC News chief political analyst Chuck Todd moderated the debate alongside three panelists, WBAL’s Deborah Weiner, NBC Washington’s Tracee Wilkins and Maryland Public Television Anchor Jeff Salkin. The two candidates answered questions about reproductive freedom, foreign policy and more.

On the issue of abortion, Hogan stated that he would codify Roe v. Wade if elected, however Alsobrooks stated that Hogan’s actions told a different story when he was governor.

“The fact of the matter is when the former governor had an opportunity to stand up for the women of Maryland, he didn’t,” said Alsobrooks. “He vetoed abortion care legislation. He double downed and refused to release the funding to train abortion care providers. This was just two years ago.”

“The fact of the matter is there will be no vote on Roe if he gives the majority to the Republicans in the Senate,” added the Prince George’s executive.

Hogan fired back and stated, “Her whole campaign is based on lies.”

“When I ran for governor, I promised to support women’s access to abortion and I delivered on that promise for eight years,” said Hogan.

To which Alsobrooks stated, “The problem he’s going to have is his party doesn’t agree with him. The Republican Party has declared war on the reproductive freedoms of women, contraception, IVF. The fact of the matter is there will be no vote on Roe if he gives a majority to the Republicans.”

During the debate, the former Maryland Governor made it clear to voters that he is running as a moderate and not as a Republican.

“You’re going to hear nothing but red vs. blue,” said Hogan during his opening remarks. “I care more, a lot more about the red, white and blue.”

“The only way we’re going to make a difference is if we can find strong, independent leaders,” Hogan added.

However, Alsobrooks used her time to undermine Hogan and tie him to the Republican Party.

She contended that if Hogan were to win the election, he would help the GOP pass legislation that aligns with the party’s agenda including passing a national abortion ban.  

“The fact of the matter is, if he wanted to be an independent, he should have run as one,” said Alsobrooks. “When Mitch McConnell called him, he put the jersey on…he ran into the game.”

Later in the debate, Alsobrooks addressed controversy that she benefited from tax credits that she did not qualify for and used thousands of dollars on a pair of properties in the DMV.

According to reports, the Prince George’s County executive claimed a homestead tax exemption for more than a decade that is to be used on an individual’s primary residence, yet the property at issue was a rental. In addition, Alsobrooks also claimed a tax break created to help senior citizens for her home in Washington, D.C. This helped her cut her taxes in half.

During the debate, Alsobrooks argued that the Washington D.C. home belonged to her grandmother and that when she took on the mortgage the tax credit was already in place.

“When I learned about it, I reached out to the D.C. government, and I have paid back the amount of that tax credit, and I’m working to pay off the interest,” said Alsobrooks.

Although the two candidates focused most of their attention on issues plaguing the nation, they briefly discussed the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Alsobrooks stated that Israel has a right to defend itself against Hamas and called for a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel in order to provide aid to those impacted in Gaza.

“We recognize a horrific attack that occurred in Israel on Oct. 7 and I believe that in this moment, we have an obligation to make sure that we’re getting those hostages home to their families,” said Alsobrooks. “And then we get to a ceasefire, making sure, as well, that we get aid into Gaza for the Palestinians who are suffering.”

Hogan said that the U.S. needs to continue to support Israel and he criticized Alsobrooks for supporting both sides.

“At moments like this, people have to stand up and be counted and we as a country have to stand with our allies and Israel is our most important ally,” said Hogan. “And I don’t think you can try to walk down the middle on this issue.”

With just a few weeks to go before Nov. 5, Alsobrooks holds a nearly double-digit lead ahead of the former governor and could become the state’s first Black senator.

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Obama is asking all men, including Black men, to rethink our relationship with women in positions of power, and to reevaluate our understanding of manhood.

By Keith Boykin

“Black Vote, Black Power,” a collaboration between Keith Boykin and Word In Black, examines the issues, the candidates, and what’s at stake for Black America in the 2024 presidential election.

Former President Barack Obama just ignited a firestorm of debate about Black men and manhood. Speaking to Black men in Pittsburgh on Oct. 10, Obama warned about the attitude of “sitting out” of the election “or supporting somebody who has a history of denigrating you because you think that’s a sign of strength.” 

“Putting women down” is “not acceptable,” he said. 

His comment sparked criticism from those who felt Obama was scolding Black men again. I have a more nuanced take with two key points.

Black Men Are a Success Story

First, Black men are a success story for Kamala Harris and the Democratic Party. After all the gaslighting from Republicans about Black men leaving the Democratic Party four years ago, Joe Biden won 87 percent  of the vote from Black men in 2020. That makes us the second most loyal constituency of the Democratic Party. Only Black women, who voted 95 percent for Biden, are more supportive. 

A Washington Post-Ipsos poll last month found Black men overwhelmingly support Harris over Trump on every issue, including abortion, crime, the economy, and immigration. The Pew Research Center found that Black men are more confident in Kamala Harris than Trump to make good decisions about issues that affect us. A CNN poll last month found very little gender divide among Black voters. And research this summer found that Black men in Georgia supported Kamala Harris and strongly disapproved of Trump. 

That means Kamala Harris will probably win 85 percent to 90 percent of Black men. That’s good news, and Black men should be celebrated for that. 

Personally, I don’t understand how any Black man could vote for Trump after he led a lynch mob against the now exonerated Central Park Five, lied about Barack Obama’s birth certificate, blackballed Colin Kapernick out of the NFL, and bragged about bringing back racist policing tactics like stop-and-frisk. But I also know that unanimity of opinion is unattainable. No candidate or party is ever going to get 100 percent of Black people to support them, but 87 percent is pretty damn good. 

That’s why I’ve said before that we can’t pathologize Black men for our voting patterns when other groups, mainly White women, are the real problem.

An Internal Conversation With Black Men

That brings me to my second point. Contrary to the hot takes on social media, I don’t think Obama was scolding or pathologizing Black men. Instead, he was having an internal conversation with Black men to get us to examine some of the reasons that some of us don’t support Kamala Harris. That’s why the Black men Obama was speaking to in the room seemed to agree with him. 

The question is how do you increase voter turnout for Black men, when 66 percent of Black men said they planned to vote compared to 71 percent of Black women, and that tiny gap could make a huge difference in a close election.

Obama made a point that a small but vocal contingent of men, including Black men, refuse to support any woman candidate for president. Many of them have unrealistically high expectations for Kamala Harris but don’t hold Trump to the same standards. 

One Black man in Pennsylvania told reporters he plans to vote for Trump because Harris “doesn’t come from a background similar to the majority of Black Americans.” That makes no sense. Does he think a White man who spent his career refusing to rent to Black people and spreading racist lies about us understands the Black experience better than a Black woman who grew up in Oakland, attended Howard University, and joined AKA sorority? I’m sorry. I call bullshit. That man just doesn’t want to vote for a woman.

Obama wasn’t speaking to all Black men. He was speaking to that man and to the Black men who have no problem with Trump selling cheap mugshots and $400 gold sneakers as “Black outreach” but when a Black woman who spent her entire life around Black people tries to get them to vote for her it’s considered “pandering.” Just stop lying about why you’re voting for Trump because you’re making yourself sound ridiculous. 

“And you’re coming up with all kinds of reasons and excuses, I’ve got a problem with that,” Obama said. “Because part of it makes me think — and I’m speaking to men directly — part of it makes me think that, well, you just aren’t feeling the idea of having a woman as president, and you’re coming up with other alternatives and other reasons for that.”

It’s the exact same message that Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul delivered on the “Win With Black Men” Zoom call with 40,000 Black men supporting Kamala Harris in July. “Sometimes as Black men we get confused as to what strength is, and sometimes we think that standing behind a Black woman as a leader does not display strength as Black men,” Raoul said. 

So why are we acting all new with Obama?

He wasn’t just focused on Black men. He delivered a similar message to all men at a rally in Pittsburgh the same day. “I’m sorry, gentlemen — I’ve noticed this, especially with some men who seem to think Trump’s behavior, the bullying and the putting people down, is a sign of strength,” he said. “I am here to tell you that is not what real strength is and has never been.”

Part of the confusion may be that critics thought he was shaming the Black men in the room when actually he was describing an issue he’s seen among other men in the community. But Obama is asking all men, including Black men, to rethink our relationship with women in positions of power, and to reevaluate our understanding of manhood.

Being a man is not about controlling women, mocking the weak, or insulting the vulnerable. That’s a caricature of manhood that Trump creates. Manhood is about honesty, fairness, responsibility, duty, and courage. A real man is secure enough in his identity to stand up in a crowd of “yes men” and tell them “No” when they do wrong.

True manhood is powerful. It’s about using our strength not just to help ourselves, but to help those in need.

Keith Boykin is a New York Times–bestselling author, TV and film producer, and former CNN political commentator. A graduate of Dartmouth College and Harvard Law School, Keith served in the White House, cofounded the National Black Justice Coalition, cohosted the BET talk show My Two Cents, and taught at the Institute for Research in African-American Studies at Columbia University in New York. He’s a Lambda Literary Award-winning author and editor of seven books. He lives in Los Angeles.

This article was originally published on WordinBlack.com.

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A group of White evangelical pastors are urging their followers to vote for Vice President Kamala Harris — and Franklin Graham is not happy.

By Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware

In his prime, the Rev. Billy Graham, the legendary Baptist minister and televangelist, was known as the “Pastor to Presidents.” Over nearly seven decades, Graham was a regular presence in the Oval Office, giving spiritual counsel to every sitting president from Harry Truman to Donald Trump. 

Since entering politics in 2016, Trump himself has had the White evangelical Christian vote on lockdown. In the 2020 presidential election, for example, Trump’s tough brand of social conservatism led 70 percent of them to choose him over President Joe Biden.

Now, a group of White evangelical pastors want to break Trump’s political grip on the faithful. They are urging their followers to vote for Vice President Kamala Harris, using Graham’s and Trump’s own words to make their case.

And Graham’s son, Franklin Graham — a staunch Trump supporter and an influential figure in conservative politics— isn’t happy about it. 

The younger Graham, president and CEO of Samaritan’s Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelist Association, has demanded  Evangelicals for Harris (EFH) cease and desist their campaign, and vowed to sue if they don’t stop airing their ad. 

In an interview with Premier Christian News, Franklin Graham slammed EFH, and condemned Harris — the first woman of color to occupy the vice presidency, the first to win a major party’s nomination for the presidency, and who is running neck-and-neck with Trump— as “anti-Christ in her positions.” 

“They are trying to make it look like my father would have supported Vice President Harris,” Graham said. “My father was a strong conservative all of his life, theologically as well as politically. He would have never voted for or supported someone like Kamala Harris — someone who is almost anti-Christ in her positions. She has done nothing to support people of faith and what we believe and what we stand for.”

But EFH is standing its ground. 

“Our communications, our references to Billy Graham, and this larger discussion of our community’s values are absolutely critical to a healthy democracy,” according to a response to Graham’s threat. 

At issue is the decades-long claim conservatives have on evangelical voters. 

By definition, every Christian is an evangelical; the word simply signifies the belief in God as creator and Jesus Christ as savior and signals a commitment to the gospel he taught when he was on Earth. 

Controversy ensues when regular evangelical churchgoers unwaveringly support Trump — a boorish, twice-divorced convicted felon and purported sexual abuser with little familiarity of the Bible and no clear church affiliation. 

Just recently, a group of evangelicals issued a call to return to Christianity’s basic tenets of faith and away from the political draw to Trump.

What seems to most upset the younger Graham about EFH is its video ad comparing his father’s words to Trump’s crude self-assessment. 

For example, the ad begins with a video of Billy Graham preaching: “But you must realize that in the last days, the times will be full of danger, men will become utterly self-centered and greedy for money.”

Then, there’s a clip of Trump: ”My whole life I’ve been greedy, greedy, greedy. I’ve grabbed all the money I could get. I’m so greedy.”

The membership of EFH includes different races and varied faiths, and they claim credit for helping Biden reach the White House four years ago. Their platform cites the accomplishments of the current administration and Harris’ religious background; they argue she isn’t a newcomer to Christianity and has a platform aligned with Christian values.

“We keep surprising people,” Rev. Jim Ball, founder and chair, said in a statement. “We helped Joe Biden win in 2020 and we’re helping Kamala Harris today.

”Her policies are pro-family. As a former prosecutor and attorney general, she will defend our democracy, the rule of law and continue the drop in crime,” he said. “She’ll keep the government out of private family matters. She’s pro-environment and pro-climate action. And she will keep the economy growing and wages increasing, while continuing to bring prices down.”

This article was originally published by WordinBlack.com.

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By Aria Brent 
AFRO Staff Writer 
abrent@afro.com 

Vice President Kamala Harris announced that she and running mate, Tim Walz will be making their way to several historically Black colleges and universities (HBCU) this homecoming season as they focus on securing the votes of young Black students. HBCUs in battleground states like Georgia, North Carolina and Pennsylvania will be visited during the eight stop tour. Harris’ alma mater, Howard University (HU), is on the list of schools that will receive a visit in the coming weeks. 

Known as “The Mecca” throughout the HBCU community, Howard’s homecoming is highly acclaimed and often attended by students, alumni and people from other universities too. However, this year is their centennial anniversary and they’ll be celebrating 100 years of camaraderie, community and HBCU pride. The annual event is something that many alumni look forward to attending each year, however Harris’ scheduled appearance seems to be serving as an additional incentive for people to return to the yard. 

“I’m super excited for her to be at homecoming. I think Howard’s homecoming is the perfect place for her campaign,” said Jamel Wright, a 2017 graduate of HU. “This is a great opportunity for her to engage with the community and for us to hold her accountable for some of the concerns we have.”

Wright noted that an event centered around reuniting people is the perfect occasion for Harris’ presidential campaign. He explained that it provides an opportunity for her to take a grassroots approach to interacting with her supporters and hearing their needs and wants. 

“In the Black community, voting rates can be low and this is a great occasion for her to speak to members of the Black community and hear our demands,” he said. “The Black community usually seems to be last when it comes to presidential campaigns so her going on this homecoming tour is very strategic.”

Other HU alumni who spoke to the AFRO shared similar sentiments, noting her tour to be smart and innovative.

“I’ve never seen anything like this before. I think it’s a smart way of trying to appeal to a different generation of voters,” said Mekhi Abbott, a 2023 graduate of HU. “Her being an HBCU graduate makes her relatable. And I wouldn’t be surprised if candidates in the future decide to do the same thing.”

Although Madame VP is the first to go on an HBCU homecoming tour, many of the institutions she’s visiting are no stranger to being the breeding grounds for political and social change. 

“HBCU homecomings are more than just celebrations of culture and school pride; they are pivotal moments for political and civic engagement. Historically, HBCUs have been at the forefront of voter education and registration initiatives, making homecoming an ideal space for political campaigns,” said Yolanda Stewart, Ph.D, a 1994 graduate of HU. “These events offer a unique opportunity for political campaigns to connect with an educated, civically engaged community that has been instrumental in shaping social and political movements.”

Stewart currently serves as the president of the Columbus, Ohio chapter of the Howard University Alumni Association and she’s excited to see Harris return to campus for such a monumental celebration. She noted Harris’ journey of hardwork and high achievement to be well understood by many in the HBCU community– making her return a full circle moment. 

“I’m incredibly excited to welcome Vice President Kamala Harris back to the yard for such a historic moment. Howard University has a rich tradition of producing leaders and to see one of our own not only succeed but also return to campus during a pivotal time is inspiring,” she said.  “It reflects the journey of many HBCU graduates who have worked tirelessly for progress and justice. Homecoming is not just a celebration of the past, but a moment to look toward the future and having Kamala Harris on campus reinforces the powerful legacy that HBCUs like Howard continue to uphold.”

Harris is returning to her old stomping grounds on Oct.19. However, she won’t be there long because she’s scheduled to attend homecoming events for Clark-Atlanta University (CAU) and North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (NCAT) on that same day. 

The homecoming tour started on Sept.28 at Winston-Salem State University in North Carolina, next the tour will stop in Pennsylvania and Virginia to visit Lincoln University and Virginia State University, respectively, on Oct.12. That following weekend the duo will be at HU, CAU and NCAT and on Oct. 26, the tour will conclude in Atlanta when the Harris-Walz campaign attends the combined Spelman and Morehouse College homecoming.
Disclaimer: The views expressed by Yolanda Stewart, Ph.D are her personal opinions and do not reflect the views of any organizations with which she is affiliated.

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By Keith Boykin

Three Black men have dominated the news in recent days for different reasons: Eric Adams, Marcellus Williams and Mark Robinson. Their stories don’t have much in common, but they reveal much about our country and our politics.

First, Adams, mayor of New York City, was indicted recently on bribery and corruption charges. Three years ago, when I was still living in New York, I refused to vote for him. Even after he was elected, I was still not a fan but gave him four years to prove me wrong.

He did not prove me wrong. 

Last year, Adams refused to condemn a White man who choked a Black man to death on a subway train. In January, he vetoed a ban on solitary confinement in city jails and killed  a plan to document police stops. Just as I expected, Adams brought back the racially biased stop-and-frisk policing that was ruled unconstitutional a decade ago. And in the past few months, his administration has been engulfed in scandals and resignations. 

Adams is exactly who I thought he would be, and many of us tried to warn New Yorkers. But I remember talking to Black men in Harlem who supported him over a talented Black woman named Maya Wiley, in part because he’s a Black man. For all the lies about Vice President Kamala Harris — that “Kamala is a cop” — Adams actually was a cop, and a former Republican.  But many Black men were still willing to support him.

Second is Williams, a 55-year-old Black man from St. Louis, my hometown. The state of Missouri executed him this week after the Supreme Court refused to stop his execution, even though the prosecutor said the case against Williams was flimsy and tainted. The NAACP appropriately called the execution a “lynching.”

A 6-3 Supreme Court decision split along party lines: the six conservatives  approved his execution, while the three liberals voted to stop it. Donald Trump appointed three of the six conservatives; therefore,  if Hillary Clinton had won in 2016 Williams would more than likely still be alive.

Still, some people on social media tried to blame President Joe Biden and V.P. Harris for Williams’s death. That’s a damn lie. Missouri’s Republican governor, Mike Parson, and Missouri’s Republican Supreme Court approved the execution. It was the Democratic prosecutorin St. Louis County, and the Democratic appointees on the U.S. Supreme Court, who tried to stop it.

No legal authority gives Biden the power to intervene or pardon Williams in a state murder case. So, if you’re going to criticize Democrats, at least understand how our system of government works. 

I’ve been a lifelong opponent of the death penalty in all cases, so for anyone who is upset about Williams’s execution, don’t ever tell me it doesn’t matter who wins elections. This is literally life or death. Elections have consequences.

Third, Mark Robinson, North Carolina’s lieutenant governor, has been outed as a self-hating, hypocritically porn-obsessed, Black Nazi who wants to bring back slavery and join the Ku Klux Klan. After all that, Trump and running mate JD Vance refuse to disavow him. This proves the point I’ve made many times that Republicans love Black people…who hate Black people.

I get why White people support Robinson, but how the hell can any self-respecting Black person be associated with a party like this? Just this week, Louisiana Republican Clay Higgins called Haitian Americans “wild,” nasty, “vudu”-loving, pet-eating “thugs” who should get “their ass out of our country.” And even then, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson refused to condemn his racist rhetoric.

“Clay Higgins is a dear friend of mine and…a very frank and outspoken person. He’s also a very principled man,” Johnson said. 

First of all, Clay Higgins admitted years ago that he voted for Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke for governor of Louisiana, so why is he a dear friend of Johnson?

Second, Johnson claimed that Higgins deleted the post after “he prayed about it.” Turns out that the “very principled man” only did so only after the Congressional Black Caucus brought up a resolution to censure him. 

“But, you know, we move forward,” said Johnson. “We believe in redemption around here.”

Redemption?

No, sir. There can be no redemption without contrition. So, tell me: when will Trump, Vance, Higgins, and Elon Musk apologize to the Haitian Americans whose lives they’ve endangered in the most overtly racist major-party presidential campaign in 60 years? 

These people are not the least bit remorseful about their bigotry unless it blows up in their faces. And just like Robinson, they all had a long history of racist, sexist, and inflammatory rhetoric before these scandals erupted.

And that’s the problem. Too many Americans don’t pay attention to their government until it’s time for a presidential election every four years. But Adams, Williams, and Robinson show what happens when we don’t. 

Our ignorance makes us susceptible to the clickbaiters, cynics, opportunists, hoteps, bots, and opps who spread misinformation for clout and pay. I’ve worked in local, state, and federal government, and I know that governing is complicated. The system is designed to make it easy for the powerful to maintain their power but difficult for the powerless to fight back.

So stop listening to the clout-chasing clowns who don’t know anything about government or politics who try to get you not to vote or to throw away your vote. Stop listening to cynics peddling unrealistic expectations of what can happen in a single term in office and then weaponize your disappointment. 

The truth is we can’t win if we don’t participate, and we can’t participate effectively if we don’t know the rules.

This op-ed was originally published by Word in Black. 

The post The tragedies of Eric Adams, Marcellus Williams and Mark Robinson appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Quintessa Williams
Word in Black

Springfield, Ohio, has become the center of a political firestorm after unfounded rumors surfaced that Haitian immigrants were stealing and eating pets. Despite being debunked by local authorities, these lies gained national attention after Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and his running mate, Ohio Senator JD Vance, amplified them.

Six schools, including several elementary schools and a middle school, in the 7,700-student Springfield City School District, were evacuated in the span of a week. With Black kids being 24 percent of students and minority enrollment at 50 percent of students overall, these events have disproportionately impacted students of color in the city.

Earlier this week, White House national security spokesman John Kirby called the unsubstantiated reports that led to the bomb threats “dangerous” misinformation. “Because there will be people that believe it, no matter how ludicrous and stupid it is,” Kirby said. “And they might act on that kind of misinformation, and act on it in a way where somebody can get hurt, so it needs to stop.”

On Sunday, Sept 15, Senator Vance reiterated the false claims on CNN without evidence and admitted that these stories were created. “The American media totally ignored this stuff until Donald Trump and I started talking about cat memes. If I have to create stories so that the American media actually pays attention to the suffering of the American people, then that’s what I’m going to do,” Vance said.

As students continue to face threats linked to political misinformation, concerned residents like Immah Marsh tell Word In Black it’s critical steps be taken to protect students and their schools.

“Misinformation that leads to this level of a threat should have no place in our schools, whatsoever,” Marsh says. “And it’s up to our community, state and national leaders to push back against the harmful rhetoric that threatens the well-being of Black and minority students. They have enough to worry about at school as it is. It has to stop somewhere.” 

Philomene Philostin, a Haitian American business owner in Springfield, told CNN she’s feeling the fallout from the lies about her community — and says it’s hitting the kids hardest. She said her own child has been asked awkward, uncomfortable questions about Haitian culture that leave them feeling embarrassed and upset. 

“People here, they’re really scared,” she said. 

The national impact on Black students

As K-12 schools become increasingly politicized due to culture wars over DEI, teaching Black history and other issues, the students in them — particularly Black and other students of color — bear the brunt of the fallout. These threats exacerbate a harsh reality: For nearly 30 years, researchers have found that many Black students don’t feel safe at school.

According to a 2023 Journal of Adolescent Health report, 9.1 percent of all students aged 11-17 often stayed home due to feeling unsafe at school. The prevalence of feeling unsafe was higher among students of color, with nearly 9 percent of Black students and just over 11 percent of Hispanic/Latino students reporting feeling unsafe. In comparison, just over 7 percent of White students reported feeling unsafe.  

In addition, the repeated bomb threats and evacuations in Springfield highlight the emotional and psychological toll such events take on students — particularly Black students, who are already more likely to experience racial tension in schools. A 2020 study by the Education Resources Information Center found that minority students are 30 percent more likely to report feelings of fear and anxiety related to threats to school safety than their White peers. 

Allison Wiltz, an English teacher from New Orleans, tells me that these feelings can manifest in lower academic performance, higher absenteeism rates and reduced engagement in school activities — all of which disproportionately impact Black students.

“The recent school evacuations in Springfield make it clear that racism is more than ill-will or disrespectful words,” Wiltz says. “Language has power, and it perpetuates violence that impacts our marginalized students the most.”

The impact of misinformation, bomb threats, and unsafe school environments aren’t unique to just affect K-12 students. False narratives and political misinformation targeting immigrant and Black communities are part of a troubling pattern of violence at the college level. In early 2022, bomb threats targeted 49 Historically Black Colleges and Universities and 19 Predominantly Black Institutions.

“The recent bomb threats experienced by HBCUs have shaken students and fractured their sense of safety and belonging, which are critical to their academic success and wellbeing,” Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said in a statement at the time.

Where do we go from here?

Misinformation, bomb threats, and unsafe school environments all exacerbate the challenges Black students already face in the education system, from racial disparities in discipline to unequal access to resources.

On Monday, Sept. 16, Ohio’s Republican governor, Mike DeWine, said state police will now conduct daily sweeps of schools in Springfield after authorities were forced to investigate “at least 33” bomb threats that led to evacuations and temporary building closures. 

“We cannot let the bad guys win,” DeWine said in a separate statement. “We must take every threat seriously, but children deserve to be in school, and parents deserve to know that their kids are safe. The added security will help ease some of the fears caused by these hoaxes.”

“Springfield is a community that needs help,” Mayor Rob Rue said in an interview with The Washington Post. The mayor added that national leaders should provide help and not “hurt a community like, unfortunately, we have seen over the last couple of days.”

This article was originally published by Word In Black.

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More than 15 million Christians are not registered to vote so organizations are working to energize and register the faithful.

By Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware
Word in Black

For many generations, Christians have been encouraged to participate in the political system in spite of the “Be in the world, but not of the world” scripture used by many to remain aloof. The Black church, especially, has been the center of prayer and protest, and of Jesus and justice.

The upcoming general election in this country — one tasked with “saving the soul of the country,” as President Joe Biden put it — demands the attention of everyone of good faith to make the country better in whatever way they see fit.

”Don’t complain, Vote” is among the many slogans on front lawns around the nation, along with those who profess the candidate of their choice. According to Voter Registration Sunday, a campaign to foster increased voter registrations, more than 15 million Christians are not registered to vote. 

So, organizations of varied faiths have aligned themselves to encourage participation by the myriad members of their combined groups.

From Sunday service to virtual organizing

For some, the message will be emphasized every Sunday through the Nov. 5 presidential election.

“I’m preaching about lessons from the Daughters of Zelephedad (Numbers 27) when women’s rights and human rights were on the line,” says Ambassador Suzan Johnson Cook regarding her Sept. 29 sermon at Mt. Calvary Baptist Church in Gastonia, North Carolina. She says democracy and women’s rights are on the line for history’s sake. 

“These women woke up, spoke up, got up, and acted upon their conditions. As a result, all the laws were changed to reflect rights for everyone,” she says.

”That’s what this Sunday is about, to do our one ‘Black job’ and go out and vote, to make a difference throughout the land.”

The website Vote Your Faith, which facilitates registration, offers information and a comprehensive tool kit that outlines how to sponsor a voter registration Sunday event at one’s house of worship.

In July, the coalition Faiths United to Save Democracy began training volunteers to “provide a calming and moral presence for vulnerable voters at in-person polling sites,” according to their website. They did so mainly because the last election, vehemently protested by the Republican candidate for president, was the scene of potential voters being denied access to the polls and of perfectly safe voting places being called unsafe, not to mention the voter identification laws enacted since that election. 

“Increasingly violent rhetoric and events throughout the 2024 election has given voters credible concern about violence or intimidation at the polls,” according to the FUSD site. Trained poll chaplains and peacekeepers will be deployed to the most vulnerable polling places. At this point, targeted states are Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Wisconsin during early voting and on Election Day, Nov. 5.

“God intends for all creation to thrive. The current state of politics emphasizes the importance of protecting the vote for all people, especially for people of faith. It is crucial to ensure safe access to the polls in all communities,” said Rev. Moya Harris, director of Racial Justice at Sojourners.

“The involvement of poll chaplains and peacekeepers is essential in actively safeguarding the vote in local communities. This is integral to our call as people of faith — to combat chaos with love and witness.”

This article was originally published by WordinBlack.com.

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By Stacy M. Brown
NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia

(NNPA Newswire) – New York City Mayor Eric Adams pleaded not guilty Sept. 27 to charges of bribery, wire fraud, soliciting campaign contributions from foreign nationals and conspiracy.  The charges mark a pivotal moment in Adams’ tumultuous tenure, which high-level resignations and a series of federal investigations have plagued, NBC News reported. 

“I am not guilty, your honor,” Adams told 

U.S. Magistrate Judge Katharine Parker.

Federal prosecutors announced the 57-page criminal indictment late Sept. 26, marking the first time a sitting mayor in the city’s history has faced such charges.

Adams allegedly sought and accepted illegal “nominee” or “straw” contributions. By “smuggling their contributions” to Adams’ campaign through the straw donors and actors from overseas, Adams “defeated federal laws that serve to prevent foreign influence on U.S. elections,” according to the indictment.

In 2018, when Adams had announced his plans to run for New York City mayor, he allegedly accepted and sought illegal campaign contributions to his upcoming mayoral campaign, the indictment says.

Businesses also circumvented the city’s ban on corporate contributions “by funneling their donations through multiple employees,” according to the indictment.

In a video statement posted online, Adams fiercely denied the allegations, calling the charges “entirely false” and “based on lies.” He asserted that federal authorities had targeted him because of his commitment to standing up for New Yorkers. Adams vowed to fight the charges in court. He made it clear he had no plans to resign.

The indictment follows months of escalating federal scrutiny. Earlier this month, federal agents searched the homes of several of Adams’s top officials and seized phones, including that of Police Commissioner Edward Caban, who resigned on Sept. 12. Authorities also confiscated the phone of Caban’s twin brother, James Caban, a former police officer who now runs a nightclub security business. Investigators reportedly are looking into whether bars and clubs in Manhattan and Queens paid James Caban to act as a police liaison and if those establishments received special treatment from local precincts.

The indictment adds to a series of ongoing federal probes into Adams’ administration, which has already seen numerous high-ranking officials come under investigation. These probes began last year when federal agents seized the mayor’s electronic devices after searching the home of his chief fundraiser.

Calls for Adams to step down have intensified after the charges. New York City Comptroller Brad Lander and New York State Sen. Zellnor Myrie, who have launched campaigns for next year’s mayoral race, have publicly called for the mayor to resign.

“The hardworking people of New York City deserve a government and leadership they can trust. Right now, they don’t have it,” Lander posted on X.

The New York Working Families Party, a major progressive group, also demanded Adams’ resignation, stating that “he has lost the trust of the everyday New Yorkers he was elected to serve.”

Adams, a former NYPD captain, was elected in 2021 on promises to restore public safety and reinvigorate the city post-COVID-19. His administration, however, has been criticized for the handling of issues like the migrant crisis and subway safety, as well as for his late-night socializing and disputes over city spending, particularly on education. Despite these challenges, Adams has maintained a defiant stance, denying all wrongdoing.

In his video statement, Adams remained resolute: “I always knew that if I stood my ground for New Yorkers, I would be a target—and a target I became. If I am charged, I am innocent, and I will fight this with every ounce of my strength and spirit.”

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Staff Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

A September poll by Emerson College Polling, DC News Now and The Hill, revealed that Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks (D) is leading her Republican opponent, former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan in the race for the U.S. Senate.

About 49 percent of voters polled said they’d choose Alsobrooks if the November election was “today,” while 42 percent said they’d vote for Hogan. Alsobrooks also has a 63 percentage point lead among Black voters.

“In this poll, 9 percent of the respondents are still undecided about the Senate race. Given that the margin of difference here is 7 percentage points, the outcome of how they vote will determine the winner,” said Nina Kasniunas, associate professor of political science at Goucher College. “What’s not clear from this poll is whether those voters are undecided because they need more information about who Alsobrooks or whether these are folks who previously supported Hogan as governor but are torn about supporting him for the Senate.”

While this seat would normally be a sure thing for Democrats, the stepping down of Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) in May 2023 opened up the door for Hogan, a Republican with enough popularity to potentially turn the normally blue seat to red. 

“The outcome of this race will be critical to determining which party controls the Senate,” said Kasniunas.

Democrats currently enjoy a slim majority in the Senate, which means the Maryland contest could tip the balance of power to either side of the aisle in the Congress’ upper chamber.

“Today’s poll demonstrates what we’ve known for a while: Marylanders understand we must defend our Democratic Senate majority to protect our freedoms, fight for safer communities, and lower costs so hardworking families can not just get by, but can thrive,” said Alsobrooks in a statement to the AFRO. “But we also know we still have a lot of work left to do, and this will be a tight race.”

With less than 50 days remaining in the election cycle

, Alsobrooks said she’ll continue “traveling to every corner of our state to remind Marylanders what exactly is at stake in this race – their futures.” 

In a May poll by Emerson College Polling, Alsobrooks got 48 percent in a hypothetical matchup of the November election, while Hogan got 38 percent. About 14 percent of registered voters were undecided.

Blake Kernen, campaign spokeswoman for Hogan, said “even in a poll like” this one “Hogan is gaining ground.”

“He’s working to win every vote and represent all Marylanders,” she said.

The September poll also found that the economy is a top issue for 40 percent of likely voters. Following the economy is crime (14 percent), housing affordability (14 percent), threats to democracy (8 percent), education (8 percent), immigration (5 percent), health care (5 percent) and abortion access (3 percent). 

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By Ashlee Banks
Special to the AFRO

After a six-week recess, lawmakers have returned to the U.S. Capitol and are working to put forth legislation that will benefit their constituents.

U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Fla.-20) told the AFRO that she is focused on passing a string of appropriations bills to avoid a government shutdown that will impact millions of Americans.

“We hope that we can pass the appropriations bill. That’s the biggest concern,” said the congresswoman. “Another issue we’re having to move quickly on is a resolution to combat the continued violence and threats taking place in Ohio against Haitians.”

In recent weeks, Republicans have falsely accused Haitian migrants of eating domestic animals in Springfield, Ohio. Former President Donald Trump repeated the allegations during the presidential debate with Vice President Kamala Harris on Sept. 10. Although law enforcement has denounced the false narrative, Haitians have become targets of threats and violence.

“We’re looking at introducing a resolution by the end of the week that actually condemns the false statements,” said Cherfilus-McCormick. “They aren’t illegal. They came here through a legal pathway. Statements such as what Donald Trump Jr. said that Haitians have low IQs and they are scientifically inferior… those are the kinds of things that play into White supremacy.”

Cherfilus-McCormick added that it is imperative that members of Congress hold Trump, his running mate, Sen.  J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, and other GOP members accountable for spreading misinformation.

U.S. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.-4) told the AFRO that for the remainder of the congressional session he would like to pass legislation that reforms the U.S. Supreme Court.

“I’m looking to build on the court reform measures that have now been recognized by President Joe Biden as important for the nation’s future,” said Johnson. “So, things like term limits for Supreme Court justices and a code of conduct that is binding and has an enforcement mechanism.”

He added that he will also “introduce the Judiciary Accountability Act which will bring the 30,000  judicial branch employees under the protection of the civil rights laws so they will not be subject to rampant and unaddressed discrimination and sexual harassment.”

The Democratic lawmaker doubts that his proposed legislation will pass during this session given that Republicans have control of the U.S. House of Representatives. However, he is hopeful that these measures will be passed next session if Democrats regain control of the House during the elections while maintaining control of the Senate.

U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II (D-Mo.-5) told the AFRO that he is focused on passing the Rural Housing Service Reform Act, which, if enacted into law, would help preserve affordable housing opportunities.

“I’m working with my Republican colleague U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-Mo.-3) to put forth legislation during a session where Congress hasn’t seen a surplus of significant legislation come through,” said Cleaver.

Rep. Luetkemeyer told reporters that this legislation is the answer to affordable housing.

“Owning a home used to be fundamental to the American dream, but it has become incredibly difficult and less realistic for Missouri families,” said the Republican representative. “I thank Congressman Cleaver for his dedication to remedying this issue, and I’m proud of our bipartisan work.”

Cleaver told the AFRO that he and Luetkeymer are not “foolish enough to think ambitiously” and doubts that the bill will be passed this session. However, he said, “I’m caught up in this whole thing about trying to demonstrate to the American people and to the world that we are not a dysfunctional legislative body. But, so far I’m losing.”

At this time, Congress has less than four months to pass meaningful legislation before the start of a new session in January 2025.

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By Ashlee Banks
Special to the AFRO

While the U.S. faces an ongoing mental health crisis, several members of the Congressional Black Caucus have introduced legislation to combat it.

In April 2024, U.S. Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.-16) introduced the Access in Mental Health Act to strengthen the mental health workforce.

“As an educator for 20 years, I saw firsthand how the lack of mental health professionals and culturally responsive care impacted my students and their families,” Bowman told the AFRO. “Not only do we need more mental health professionals in our communities and schools, but we need more Black and Brown mental health professionals who are equipped to provide culturally responsive and trauma-informed care.”

If enacted into law, the Access in Mental Health Act would provide grants to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), and Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) to improve graduate programs that focus on mental health such as psychology, counseling, social work and psychiatry. The statute would also provide $10,000 grants per year to cover the cost of attendance for students who are pursuing graduate degrees in the mental health field.

“My would rectify the lack of diversity in the mental health workforce by providing grants to HBCUs…to create and expand programs and to support tuition costs,” said Bowman. “We’ve been facing a national mental health crisis over the last few years and Congress must begin to take action by strengthening our mental health workforce and investing in opportunities for young people from all communities.”

At this time, the New York congressman’s statute has only been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. However, given Bowman’s status as an outgoing Democratic lawmaker, it is unclear if and when the bill will be brought to the House floor for a vote.

U.S. Sen. Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.), the first Black and openly LGBTQ+ senator, also introduced the Pride in Mental Health Act to Support LGBTQ+ Youth in Mar. 2024 to help combat the nation’s mental health crisis.

“Accessing mental health care and support has become increasingly difficult in nearly every state in the country,” Butler told reporters. “Barriers get even more difficult if you are a young person who lacks a supportive community or is fearful of being outed, harassed, or threatened.”

If passed, the statute would provide mental health and crisis intervention resources for at-risk LGBTQ+ youth through federal grants. In addition, the act would require lawmakers to provide a report on the mental health outcomes and care of LGBTQ+ youth in foster care and other federal social services programs.

Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.), a cosponsor of the Pride in Mental Health Act believes the legislation is the solution to the mental health crisis plaguing children and teens across the nation.

“Mental health care is health care and for some LGBTQ+ youth, receiving access to the mental health care they need can mean the difference between living in safety and dignity, and suffering alone through discrimination, bullying and even violence,” Smith told reporters.

The Minnesota senator added, “The data shows what many parents and educators see every day. An epidemic of students in classrooms dealing with anxiety, depression and other serious mental health conditions, with nowhere to turn.”

At this time, the bill has only been introduced in the U.S. Senate. It is unclear when it will be taken up for a vote.

Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) told reporters that this act is “a crucial step” towards breaking barriers to mental health care for the youth.

“It’s time to pass this bill…to build a more just future for all children and teens,” said Merkley.

In order for both bills to pass in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, they will need bipartisan support.

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By Stacy M. Brown
NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia

(NNPA Newswire) – The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s (CBCF) 53rd Annual Legislative Conference (ALC) on Sept. 14 culminated in an influential Phoenix Awards gala at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in downtown Washington, D.C. This year’s theme, “From Vision to Victory: Amplifying Black Voices,” was not just a celebration of Black culture and heritage but also a call to action to defend and expand fundamental freedoms in an increasingly challenging political climate.

The Phoenix Awards, always the pinnacle of the conference, honored individuals who have made significant contributions to the progress of Black Americans.

President Joe Biden received the Congressional Black Caucus Lifetime Achievement Award. He praised the CBC for its integral role in bolstering his administration’s efforts. 

“With the CBC, we went big, and we went bold, and we are better off today than we were four years ago,” Biden said. 

He also stressed the importance of continued vigilance to ensure a future where freedom, justice and equality prevail. “We must show up; we must look to the future. I’m looking to you to help lead the way,” he told the audience.

And Democrats are looking to another CBC alum to lead the way. Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, also addressed the gathering, calling on the CBC to leverage its history as “the conscience of the Congress” to shape the nation’s future. 

“The CBC has always had a vision for the future of our nation; a future where we can see what is possible unburdened by what has been;” Harris said, “a future where we fulfill the promise of America; a promise of freedom opportunity and justice, not just for some but for all.”

Another Black leader in whom Democrats see a bright future is Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, who was awarded the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Annual Legislative Conference Honorary Co-Chairs’ Award. 

“I am standing before you as probably the most improbable governor in America… It’s an exciting time for our country, and I’m so grateful to be your partner in the work,” Moore said.

Other honorees included the late Sheila Jackson-Lee, former U.S. representative for Texas’s 18th congressional district; the 14th Librarian of Congress, Dr. Carla Hayden; and Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison. 

An “in memoriam” tribute was displayed on the large screen above the stage and featured influential African Americans who died this year, like singer Frankie Beverly, actor James Earl Jones, hip-hop artists Fatman Scoop and Rich Homie Quan, actress Erica Ash, Rev. James Lawson and baseball superstar Willie Mays.

Throughout the week, the ALC tackled pressing issues impacting the Black community. Rep. Hank Johnson, D-Ga., led a session on Supreme Court reform, highlighting the challenges posed by the Court’s “6-3 MAGA supermajority” and its recent rollbacks on voting rights, reproductive rights and affirmative action. Johnson advocated for court reforms, including adopting a code of conduct, term limits and court expansion, arguing these changes are necessary to protect democracy and restore balance to the judicial system.

Rep. Lauren Underwood, D-Ill., moderated a panel on Black maternal health, focusing on the critical need for research and programs such as the NIH IMPROVE Initiative. The discussion underscored the alarming disparities in health care for Black women and the importance of ongoing efforts to address this crisis.

A significant highlight was the 16th Annual Black Women’s Roundtable (BWR) Public Policy Forum Series, in partnership with the CBCF. The forum spotlighted Black women’s leadership, power and influence in shaping a new movement and political era, particularly as the nation heads into the 2024 presidential election cycle. Contributors to the 11th Annual Black Women’s Roundtable Report shared insights on Black women’s roles in various movements, from civil rights to social justice.

Sybrina Fulton, Trayvon Martin’s mother, led the “Mothers of the Movement” workshop at the conference. The session brought together African-American mothers who have lost loved ones to police violence. These mothers shared their stories and discussed their efforts in advocating for criminal justice reform and stricter gun laws to prevent future tragedies.

Congressman Glenn Ivey’s session on the challenges facing Black-owned businesses amidst conservative attacks on DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) programs emphasized the need for legislative advocacy. The push for the Black Wealth Agenda Resolution, H.R. 1101, seeks to enshrine DEI commitments into law.

CBCF President and CEO Nicole Austin-Hillery emphasized the critical moment in history that the conference represents. “We are at a defining moment in history. Just weeks ago, we saw the first African American woman nominated to run for president by a major party,” she said. 

Austin-Hillery said the ALC’s mission remains to empower the global Black community by creating real opportunities and ensuring true equity. Reflecting on the conference’s essence, she added, “Each and every voice adds to our collective strength; every collective action emphasizes our unity and our determination. And all of those things are necessary to move us from vision to victory.” 

The sentiment was echoed throughout the conference, driving home the imperative to protect progress and work toward a future where equality and justice are not just ideals but realities. Vice President Harris summarized it this way during her remarks at the Phoenix Awards:

“Each of us has a job to do, and the bottom line is we know what we stand for and that’s why we know what we fight for. And when the CBC fights, we win.”

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By Ashlee Banks
Special to the AFRO

Attorney and political commentator Angela Rye moderated a panel discussion titled, “Black Women Belong…in the Senate” on Sept. 13 during the Congressional Black Caucus’ (CBC) 53rd Annual Legislative Conference located at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C.

The panel included Sen. Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.), Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) and Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks.

Both Alsobrooks and Rochester are vying to become their states’ first Black female U.S. senator. In November, Alsobrooks will face off against former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan for Maryland’s U.S. Senate seat, and Rep. Rochester will go toe to toe with Republican challenger Eric Hansen to represent Delaware in the upper chamber.

Rye told the AFRO she was pleased to be asked to host the panel discussion.

“Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester asked me to moderate this panel and it felt spiritual from the beginning,” said Rye. “When we think about what we’ve done to facilitate opportunities and spaces for people of color, it’s clear that whenever we come and we open up the door other folks come in with us.”

Alsobrooks told the AFRO she was happy to be part of the discussion.

“It was so exciting to be here to speak to the importance of having all of us represented in the Senate,” said Alsobrooks. “I believe that people of every race, of every gender and every background have to be represented in the Senate in order for our policies to be more complete, our country cannot reach its promise.”

Rye, Alsobrooks, Rochester and Butler spent an hour discussing issues plaguing the Black community, which include gun violence and reproductive rights. They also talked about ways in which they would try to resolve these controversial topics.

Alsobrooks told CBC attendees that if elected to the U.S. Senate her first order of business would be to pass legislation in support of reproductive rights.

“The Women’s Health Protection Act which codifies in federal law a woman’s right to choose is going to be the very first piece of legislation I co-sponsor,” said Alsobrooks. “I would like for our daughters to have the opportunity to not have fewer rights than their mothers and grandmothers.”

Rochester said if she were to become a U.S. senator she would focus on “delivering for citizens in Delaware.”

“I’ve been meeting with small Black business owners, talking to veterans in my state,” said Rochester. “We’ve had roundtables on a whole host of issues. We even developed a plan for agriculture.”

To date, only three Black women have served in the U.S. Senate. Carol Mosley Braun was the very first Black woman to serve in the upper chamber of Congress where she represented Illinois from 1993-1999. Vice President Kamala Harris served in the U.S. Senate beginning in 2017 and then resigned in 2021 to join President Biden in the White House. In 2023, Sen. Butler became the only Black woman currently serving in the U.S. Senate when she replaced the late California Sen. Dianne Feinstein.

Rye told the AFRO that Black women are underrepresented in the U.S. Senate because both Democratic and Republican leaders have “determined that we’re unelectable.”

“We have some work to do to demonstrate that is not the case,” said Rye. “I think what Kamala Harris did, what Carolyn Mosley Braun did, what Lisa Blunt Rochester is doing, and what Angela Alsobrooks is doing, proves that all wrong.”

Alsobrooks told the AFRO that although it is “challenging” for women to be elected to the U.S. Senate, “progress is being made.”

“We’re seeing that in this race. My daughter, who’s 19, is voting for the first time and she’s voting for her mother and voting for Vice President Harris,” said Alsobrooks. “We are moving forward and I’m just excited that this election cycle, God willing, we’re going to see not just one Black woman in the Senate but at least two.”

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Staff Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

Democracy in America and closing the racial economic wealth gap were topics of discussion on Sept. 12 at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s (CBCF) 2024 Annual Legislative Conference (ALC). 

Day two of the event kicked off with a National Town Hall under the theme “Pathways to Prosperity: Advancing Democracy and Black Economic Opportunity.”

The event was hosted by veteran journalist and moderator Don Lemon and included Dr. Michael McAfee, president and CEO of PolicyLink; LaTosha Brown, co-founder of the Black Voters Matter Fund; Alexis McGill Johnson, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Action Fund and Planned Parenthood Federation of America; and Derrick Johnson, president and CEO of the NAACP. 

Legislators, top officials and leaders from around the country, including Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D), attended the two-part town hall to discuss the state of American democracy and explore ways to increase access to economic opportunities for Black Americans.

“There is a huge disparity in terms of wealth between the Black community and the majority community, and we know it is our obligation to do what we can to close that gap,” said Nicole Austin-Hillery, president and CEO of the CBCF. “ is a moment for us to use our collective and collaborative thinking and strategies to make a difference.”

Austin-Hillery encouraged attendees to “figure out how each of you, in your own communities, in your own jurisdictions, can be leaders right where you sit.”

Moore fired up the crowd with powerful remarks on why and how the racial economic wealth gap should be closed and what he’s doing in Maryland to slash poverty and create economic equality.

“We didn’t have, in our state, an 8-1 racial wealth gap because one group is working eight times harder,” said Moore. “If you do not understand things like racist procurement policies and how government dollars are being used to support some and not others, then you cannot understand why this gap exists in the first place.”

Moore detailed victories won in the fight to eliminate economic disparities in Maryland. 

 “We’ve been able to raise minimum wage,” he said, “Because gone should be the days when you have people who are working jobs– and in some cases multiple jobs– and still living at or below poverty line. We’ve been able to pass the most aggressive housing package in the history of the state of Maryland, turning renters into homeowners.”

Moore emphasized that policy matters when it comes to economic opportunities for African Americans. Still, he acknowledged that this was not enough. 

“We will not make progress with policy alone,” said Moore. “We’re going to need everybody involved in this conversation.” 

Moore highlighted that “this country has lost $16 trillion in GDP (Gross Domestic Product) over the past two decades because of the racial wealth gap.”

“Racism is expensive, bigotry is expensive,” he said.

Moore vowed to use every day left of his first term as governor to work towards economic equality. 

“Our time in these seats are temporary,” he said, addressing the conference audience. “We’re not going to waste a minute.” 

Democracy in America

Panelists of the town hall answered questions from Lemon regarding solutions to the democracy issues faced by Black America and the country as a whole. 

“What happens to a nation when the population that it never loved becomes the majority?” quipped Dr. Michael McAfee, president and CEO of PolicyLink. “We haven’t really designed our institutions and our systems for the multi-racial democracy we have. In too many instances, we haven’t shown the intellectual and the applied interest to do that work.” 

“It’s unsexy work,” said McAfee, “But it’s foundational work. That’s what nation building work looks like.”

Derrick Johnson said “work, not rhetoric” will help ensure African Americans advance regardless of the general election results this year.

Derrick Johnson spoke on solutions to the problem.

“If we’re saying that economic advancement is through home ownership, we have to chart out how to get there,” he said. 

Johnson said loan forgiveness was one avenue of helping African Americans buy homes by putting dollars back into their pockets.

Through revisions to the PSLF, $5.2 billion was forgiven for 66,900 borrowers, according to the U.S. Department of Education. 

Derrick Johnson said this “opens up the ability for individuals to get into home ownership.”

Still, it seems as though as soon as one battle is won, another rages on.

“Private equity firms are buying up lots of homes to create permanent home renters,’ said Derrick Johnson. “We have to revise public policies to prevent that so we can get into the game.”

Rep. Troy Carter (D-La.-02), ALC honorary co-chair, echoed Johnson’s sentiment.

“Today’s conversation isn’t just about identifying problems, it’s about finding real, tangible solutions,” said Carter. “It’s time to push the policies that expand access to capital for Black entrepreneurs…invest in education and workforce development and create affordable job options.”

“We need to dismantle the systems of discrimination in hiring, lending and tax practices,” said Carter. “We must ensure that Black Americans have a seat at the table- or seats- at the table when decisions that shape our economy, shape our future and shape our lives are being had.”

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By Megan Sayles
AFRO Business Writer

On day one of its Annual Legislative Conference (ALC), the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) took on Black maternal health, Black infertility, family building and reproductive justice. 

Experts from across the country weighed in on challenges, opportunities and policies regarding reproductive health for Black women, who disproportionately experience maternal mortality, infertility and miscarriages. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Black women are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than White Women. The public health agency also reports that they are more likely to encounter infertility compared to their White counterparts. 

“Across the board, Black women and Black birthing people have worse maternal health outcomes than our White counterparts,” said Nicole M. Cooper, executive vice president and chief strategy and innovation officer at United Way Worldwide. “From preterm births, to lack of access, to equitable care, to insufficient prenatal care and poor postpartum recovery supports and services, the U.S. health system is failing Black women and their families during a time that should be full of joy and hope.” 

Examining infertility and maternal mortality in the Black community

Dr. Lasha Clarke is the assistant director of research and translation at Morehouse School of Medicine’s Center for Maternal Health Equity. Since 2021, the center has been conducting a Fertility Equity Study. 

Clarke shared that the study has concluded that Black women face infertility twice as much as White women. They are also half as likely to seek fertility care. Clarke stressed the importance of destigmatizing infertility.

“Infertility is a medical condition–not a social condition,” said Clarke. “It’s not something that we need to feel a sense of shame or blame around.”

The center also found that in certain segments of the country, Black women are five times more likely to die during childbirth. Even when controlling for socioeconomic factors, they are more likely to experience maternal mortality than their counterparts. Clarke said this is also reflected in infertility. 

“In our study and even in the broader literature, Black women who are of high socioeconomic resources are reporting the same thing,” said Clarke. “They are experiencing infertility, but there are barriers to seeking care that are not strictly the finances of it.”

These barriers include racial biases and discrimination from providers and limited access to education about maternal health and fertility. 

The role of doulas and midwives 

Considering the poor state of Black maternal health in the U.S., many women turn to non-traditional care providers, like birthing centers, doulas and midwives. 

Baltimore County Delegate Jennifer White Holland (D-10) pointed out that Maryland does not have any free-standing birthing centers. 

“That limits the options that birthing people have in finding other alternatives to receive their care,” said Holland. 

She noted that the state has made progress on supporting doulas. In 2022, Maryland started the Medicaid Doula Services Program, which provides reimbursement to these professionals. But, the compensation is not yet enough.

“Unfortunately, the reimbursement rates are so low that there isn’t really an incentive for doulas to participate, which makes it very cost-prohibitive for many birthing people to access doula services,” said Holland. 

Leah Jones, director of maternal health and birth equity initiatives for SisterSong, said her organization is aiming to mitigate certification issues for community midwives in Georgia. 

“They’re literally people who can teach physicians how to do their work. They’re reflecting our communities, our issues and our stories. However, they have licensing issues in Georgia,” said Jones. “We have been on a continuous fight to make sure their legitimization gets pushed through legislation and that communities can reach into midwives, doulas and birth workers who look like them, talk like them and live in their neighborhoods.”

Black men as allies in the fight for reproductive rights

Historically, a dangerous and unfounded stereotype has been propagated about Black fathers being absent parents. Data from the CDC refutes this generalization. It found that Black fathers were more likely to feed and eat meals with their children; bathe and dress them; and take them to activities compared to other racial groups. 

“The best piece of advice that I ever received as an expectant father was that everything she feels, the baby feels,” said Charles Johnson IV, founder of 4 Kira 4 Moms. “It’s your job fundamentally to make sure that she feels safe, protected and happy at all times, as much as humanly possible.”

He started his organization after his wife, Kira Johnson, died during a routine C-section in 2016. Johnson said it’s critical for Black men to be informed about the spectrum of labor options and how to advocate for their partners even before they become pregnant. 

Sheehan Fisher is an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Northwestern University. He also serves as associate dean of diversity, equity and inclusion for the institution. Fisher acknowledged that for a lot of Black women, pregnancy can be an isolating experience. This is only compounded by their heightened risk factors for poor maternal health outcomes. Fisher said he believes Black men should eliminate the isolation their partners may feel while on their maternity journey. 

“She needs a partner who can be an advocate throughout the whole experience,” said Fisher. “Fathers are not clinicians or doctors, but they can be trained to know what to look out for.”

Charles Daniels Jr., CEO of Father’s Uplift, explained that Black men must first address their mental health in order to be good partners through pregnancy. 

“We need to go to therapy,” said Daniels. “We need to get the necessary help to be able to be present.” 

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By Ashlee Banks
Special to the AFRO

Lawmakers and African leaders gathered at the U.S. Capitol to host “Africa Diaspora Day on the Hill” as part of September Diaspora Heritage Month on Sept. 9.

U.S. Reps. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Fla.-20), Jonathan Jackson (D-Ill.-1), Troy Carter (D-La.-2), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Calif.-37), Senator Tim Kaine (D-Va.), bankers, business leaders and academics hosted a forum titled, “The Rise of Global Africa: Forging a New U.S. Economic Partnership with Africa and the Caribbean,” at the U.S. Capitol’s Visitor Center. The event was just one measure being used to strengthen ties between the U.S. and Africa.

Cheriflus-McCormick told the AFRO that this event was important to her and other lawmakers looking to “have control over our narrative,” and strengthen and stabilize African and Caribbean nations.

“When I travel throughout the United States we have one commonality, African Americans and Black people in the United States have a connection to their diaspora…and they want more mechanisms and means to connect,” stated the Florida congresswoman. “In Congress we’ve been looking at active ways to strengthen our relationships with Africa and the Caribbean, so this seemed like the merging of the perfect points where we can actually come together and talk about how the federal government can help.”

Jackson told the AFRO it was important for him to co-host the forum with fellow Democratic lawmakers because “Africa is the centerpiece of so much of the world’s future.” He added that the forum “reaffirms that.”

“Twenty-five percent of the world’s population will be in Africa in the next 25 years, so the question becomes how are we aligning ourselves to strategically work with Africa,” said Jackson. “We’ve had a long dark history with Africa and now we are well poised to have a beautiful future politically, economically and culturally.”

The Illinois lawmaker stated that African nations need fair trade agreements to help stabilize the continent. 

“We’re going to champion to have fair transparent trade agreements, on the same terms with African people that we have with Europeans, Asians and others,” said Jackson.

The Democratic lawmaker also emphasized that “the wealth of Europe and the wealth of America came from Haiti and came from Africa,” which stripped Caribbean and African nations of their assets, leading to a lower quality of life.

Jackson stated, that is why it is imperative that U.S. lawmakers work to help these nations regain their economic strength.

The four-hour forum provided four sessions for attendees titled, “The Global Diaspora: Contributing to Our Common Destiny,” “Building Partnership and Sharing Economic Prosperity,” “Women Leadership: Is Gender Parity a Reality,” and “The New Africa: Defying the Odds in Innovation and Building Unity.”

Cheriflus-McCormick told the AFRO that these panels were designed to help Black Americans and lawmakers strategize how to move forward with policy and diplomacy that can strengthen the relationship between the U.S., Africa and the Caribbean.

“It’s important for Black Americans to be connected to Africa to ensure that our stories aren’t being erased. Our story began millions of years before slavery and now we’re connecting that,” said Cheriflus-McCormick. “This is an important time for us to show that we’re not just talking about strengthening our relationship with Africa, but we’re actually taking affirmative steps forward and we want to make sure that the diaspora is at the forefront.”

Lawmakers hope they will be able to pass legislation by the year 2050 to help strengthen nations in the Caribbean and Africa.  

“We have to show up to the Congressional hearings and tell them what we want,” Jackson told the AFRO. “We don’t want other people making decisions for us…so we can build and grow our own continent.”

“Let’s look forward to the future,” Jackson added.

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By Willy Blackmore

A federal judge in Louisiana has blocked the federal government from investigating whether race should be considered as a factor in the enforcement of environmental laws, including the issuing of pollution permits. 

The ruling from the U.S. District Court for Western Louisiana, issued late last month, makes permanent a hold on disparate impact assessments that was put in place back in January.

The decision by Judge James Cain, an appointee of former President Donald Trump, effectively bars the Environmental Protection Agency from using Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, the agency’s best — and arguably only — enforcement mechanism for environmental justice issues.

At issue is the EPA’s action taken on a claim that Earthjustice, an environmental law organization, filed with the agency in 2022 on behalf of residents in St. John the Baptist parish — a community located in the heart of the state’s infamous Cancer Alley. Earthjustice wanted the EPA to investigate whether petrochemical corporations deliberately located a vast network of industrial facilities in a predominantly Black community, disparately harming the residents. 

The landscape for the claim looked much more favorable then: the Biden administration and the EPA had taken a much more aggressive approach with environmental justice issues. A draft plan negotiated between the EPA and the state of Louisiana showed that there was the possibility of overhauling the pollution permitting process, so that the cumulative effect of an industry on a given area would be considered. 

Things changed when then-state Attorney General Jeff Landry sued the EPA over its use of the disparate impact framework. He argued that Title VI should come into play only if an investigation found clear proof of overt racial discrimination. 

In Landry’s argument, the federal government essentially would need to find indisputable evidence that a Louisiana official pushed the chemical companies to build in St. John’s Parish with the explicit intent of harming its Black residents. 

After the lawsuit, the EPA dropped its investigation, as well as similar Title VI investigations in Republican-controlled states across the country. An April letter from 23 Republican state attorneys general called disparate impact “racial engineering,” and made it clear that Louisiana is not alone in its desire to quash Title XI investigations. 

While the new ruling only applies to Louisiana, other states will likely try to get similar protections from EPA investigations. 

“Louisiana has given industrial polluters open license to poison Black and brown communities for generations, only to now have one court give it a permanent free pass to abandon its responsibilities,” Patrice Simms, Earthjustice’s vice president for healthy communities, said about the August ruling in a statement. “Louisiana’s residents, its environmental justice communities, deserve the same Title VI protections as the rest of the nation.”

Now, it seems more a question of whether environmental justice communities outside of Louisiana will be able to keep their Title VI protections too.

This article was originally published by Word In Black.

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By Michael Kunzelman
The Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — From jail, Shane Jenkins helped sell T-shirts, tote bags and other merchandise promoting the notion that he and other rioters who attacked the U.S. Capitol are political prisoners unjustly held in pretrial detention.

That disturbed the judge who sentenced the Texas man to seven years in prison for storming the Capitol, trying to smash a widow with a metal tomahawk and hurling makeshift weapons at police officers guarding the building on Jan. 6, 2021. U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta assured Jenkins that he wasn’t getting punished for his political beliefs.

“And what bothers me about this notion of being (a) political prisoner is it continues to fuel the lie that somehow an election was stolen, that somehow people who are being charged because of their actions and not their beliefs are the victims. That is false,” the judge told Jenkins.

Mehta is among several judges presiding over the nearly 1,500 riot cases in Washington who have pushed back on false narratives being spread about the Jan. 6 attack and the idea that the rioters are being treated unfairly by the criminal justice system.

“Twelve people looked at the same evidence that people who are here today just saw,” Mehta told Jenkins at his sentencing. “And it’s hard for me to believe anybody could come to any other conclusion. It’s all on video.”

A jury convicted Jenkins last year of charges including obstructing an official proceeding, the Jan. 6 joint session of Congress called to certify President Joe Biden’s 2020 electoral victory over Trump.

Prosecutors argued that Jenkins played a pivotal role in the attack. He struck a windowpane six times with the spike end of the tomahawk before another rioter stepped in to break the window.

“Are we going in or not?” he shouted at the crowd.

Destroying the window allowed rioters to enter a conference room, where they made improvised weapons from the broken parts of wooden furniture. Mob members used the furniture pieces to attack police officers guarding an entrance in a tunnel on the Capitol’s Lower West Terrace.

Jenkins told the judge he never would have been at the Capitol if he “had any inkling things were going to go the way they did” and regrets not doing more to “de-escalate the situation.”

“Things definitely got out of hand,” Jenkins said before the judge handed down his sentence. “I did get caught up in the heat of the moment, but I never had a malicious plan or intent. There was never any premeditated anything to January 6th for me.”

A website promotes Jenkins as the founder of a group that seeks to “shed light on the January 6th defendants and the treatment they have faced from the government.” The website hawked apparel with Jan. 6-themed slogans, including “Free the J6 political prisoners” and “Want my vote? Help the J6ers.”

Defense attorney Kyle Singhal told The Associated Press that he believes that Jenkins’ views on Jan. 6 have evolved, and his client wouldn’t consider himself a political prisoner or a hostage today.

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By Ariyana Griffin 
AFRO Staff Writer 
agriffin@afro.com

Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks,  the Democratic U.S. Senate candidate for Maryland, spoke at Morgan State University on Aug. 29  imploring students, alumni, faculty and staff to exercise their right to vote. 

Alsobrooks won the Democratic party’s Maryland primary, garnering 357,052 votes – 53.37 percent of all ballots cast. The primary results led her Democratic competitor David J. Trone to drop out of the race after he spent millions to receive 42.80 percent of all votes submitted. Alsobrooks is now running against former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, a Republican candidate who pulled 183,661 votes, tallying 64.18 percent of votes in his category for the primary election. If elected, Alsobrooks would be the first Black senator– male or female – from the state. 

Morgan State University communications professor Dr. Jason Johnson expressed that this was a great opportunity for students to get involved and learn more about Alsobrooks and her platform. He shared that he did a general knowledge quiz for his media literacy course to see who knew of her, and was surprised by the numbers. 

“My class has sophomores, juniors and seniors,” Johnson told the AFRO. “Out of 25 students, only about two of them knew who Angela Alsobrooks was– only two out of about 25– which is especially amazing because four or five of those students came from the county where she was the county executive.” 

“This is a great opportunity for her to explain and introduce herself to young people who should be a part of her base,” said Dr. Johnson. 

Alsobrooks took to the historically Black institution’s campus, deemed a National Treasure in 2016 by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, to highlight the importance of utilizing the right to vote–especially this election season.  

“I’m fighting for your future. It’s not one that you live on the margins. I’m fighting because I believe that our country owes it to you,” said Alsobrooks. “You should live beyond your wildest dreams. I believe that every one of you is owed by our country the real opportunity to have economic opportunity and to be able to buy homes for your families.”

“We want you all to have the technology, the jobs and innovation, all that you desire for yourself,” she said, adding that those present deserve to “ live in safe communities.” 

For the young women present, Alsobrook said she’s running for senator to ensure they are able to make their “own decisions with privacy and freedom,” especially when it comes to issues regarding their bodies.

She spoke about the fight it took for African Americans to gain the right to vote in the United States and how she plans to fight against rights being taken away.

“I want you to have at least as much freedom as your parents and grandparents. The voting rights that some of our foreparents fought for–they jumped in front of dogs and water hoses because they knew the importance of the right to vote.” Alsobrooks said. “We’re not going to let anybody take that right from us. We’re not going to have any right that belongs to us, taken from us. Be it the voting right, the right to control your body, the right to live in peace and dignity.”

Alsobrooks also said those in the LGBTQ community deserve “to live with dignity and to be treated with fairness.” 

After speaking to the audience, she took time to speak to and take photos with attendees and members of campus organizations. Some students shared that they felt motivated after hearing Alsobrooks speak. 

“I am very hopeful for the next generation and really inspired by the fact that there’s a Black woman that looks like me running for Senate,” Carlona Brevard, a senior political science major at Morgan State University, told the AFRO. 

“I am a political science major going into pre-law. Right now, I’m standing on this side of the fence, but one day I’ll be on the other.”

Tyler S. Dawkins, a freshman strategic communication major from Upper Marlboro, Md. spoke on what Alsobrooks’ senate run means to him and the Black community. 

“I believe it’s important to elect Angela Alsobrooks into the U.S. Senate,” he said. “When people see her in the Senate, they see their mom, their sister,  their aunt, they see themselves.”

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By Aziah Siid
Word in Black

From the civil rights movement of the 1950s and ’60s to the Black Lives Matter protests following George Floyd’s death, Black students have been marching in the streets and demanding justice. Some are more hesitant than others about engaging in political discussions or activism, while others jump in as soon as they get the chance.

Now, with a presidential election on the horizon — one that could see Vice President Kamala Harris become the first woman of color in the Oval Office — educators and experts see a historic, teachable moment unfolding outside the classroom. They are exploring ways to get students engaged with what’s happening around them and how their voices can influence history.

“Black people — especially young Black people — can make a huge difference in swaying election outcomes,” says Diane Robinson, educator and founder of Yard Girl Productions, which makes films about education and social change. One need look no further, she says, than to the last presidential and midterm elections: “In 2020 and 2022, Black people and young people were key to the outcomes of those elections.” 

This year, “young people are 40 percent of the (U.S) electorate — they can determine the outcome of the election by either staying home or how they vote,” Robinson says. “Their voices and vote especially definitely matter.”

K-12 students and voting  

Jonathan Collins, professor of science and education at Teachers College, Columbia University, says K-12 students and political activism go hand in hand. Schools have helped educate young people about politics for generations, and not just in civics classes.

During the civil rights era, for example, Black children were on the front lines of the movement, even if they weren’t old enough to vote. Ruby Bridges was just 6-years-old when she became the first student to integrate an all-White school in the South; in the Children’s Crusade in Birmingham, about 1,000 grade-school students marched every day for a week, demanding equality.

More recently, after Floyd, Breanna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbury and other unarmed Black people were shot and killed under questionable circumstances, Black K-12 students joined Black Lives Matter activists in protest marches from New York to California. And there have been youth-led movements demonstrating against everything from school shootings to climate change.

With data showing 1 in 4 Black people age 23 or younger is registered to vote, several nonprofit voter-registration organizations have popped up in recent years, looking to harness that political power. Organizations like The Civics Center and the Youth Voter Movement help students organize in-school voter registration drives and provide information on voting laws in all 50 states.

More specifically, initiatives like Black Voters Matter and other activist networks work to mobilize young Black voters to gather and utilize their voice. 

Threat to Black voices 

Despite the long tradition of student activism and voting, the right of young people to protest is under threat. They point to Project 2025, a far-right blueprint for the next Republican president, that would remake the federal government — including shutting down the Department of Education.

If that happened, full control of the nation’s education policies would revert to the states, and students would lose the Office of Civil Rights, a key department responsible for investigating complaints of discrimination. Without the Education Department, Black students likely would lose the right to equitable resources, culturally relevant learning, and other essential support for Black students. Given that, it’s highly likely Black students would be opposed to Project 2025.

One way Collins recommends students who oppose the plan and want to make it known is to create or ensure they have a safe space to come together and share their thoughts. Second, he says, is to start having important conversations among peers and others about what changes in their schools, around their neighborhoods, and in the districts they’d like to see. 

“There will be a response to what they identify as an important problem,” he says. “Especially Black kids. We don’t even see the idea that we have agency in these kinds of processes.”

He cites an example from his own high school experience to illustrate the point.

“I went to an all-black high school,” he says. Back then, “the idea that we could go to a school board and actually push back against some of the rules and policies that were forced upon us — we didn’t think that was possible.”

Yet Robinson, the educator and filmmaker, says students using their voices to oppose something real going on in their lives is the foundation for initiating change, forcing policy makers to pay attention and connect it to their right to vote.

“Based on what I have learned by spending time with young Black people and asking them what inspires them to get involved in our political system, I think it is always best to start with the issues young people care about,” Robinson says. 

Fighting disinterest  

Too often, young Black people are disillusioned with politics; studies show they don’t believe one vote makes a difference in their lives. According to a Harvard Youth Poll, fewer Black voters under age 30 plan to vote in the upcoming presidential election than did at this point in the 2020 election cycle.

But an increasing number of Black elected officials — including Harris, the vice president, who could become the first president to graduate from an HBCU and the first who is a member of a Black sorority — could drive up voter participation among Black youths. For the first time since 2016, they will have someone on the presidential ballot who looks like them.

“Representation matters, and this is where the authenticity of the representation matters,” Collin says. “The job of the representative is to kind of be that conduit between communities. So if we get representatives who are comfortable in these community spaces, well, then you have someone who’s there and who comes from where you come from to have a certain kind of political conversation. ”

Robinson, who in 2020 followed the lives of a diverse group of students and activists in the film ‘The Young Vote’, agrees. Besides representation, she says, it’s about equipping young people with the tools and skills they need to take action.

“Specifically, a young African American woman that I followed in The Young Vote was encouraged by her teacher to reach out to a local elected leader about an issue that was really important to her,” Robinson says. “This started her journey as a student activist and got her to make the connections between what she cared about and the political system.” 

Still, there are different ways for young Black people to get involved in a movement or a campaign. Some use their social media presence; others stand on street corners, handing out flyers or speaking into a bullhorn. Still others prefer taking trips to Capitol Hill to watch committee meetings or contact their members of Congress.

“The young woman that we followed in The Young Vote was initially skeptical about the power of voting but she realized that it was a powerful way to use her voice,” Robinson says. “I also learned from her that voting alone does not make you a “beautiful citizen” but it is staying engaged in your community in an ongoing way.”

This article was originally published by Word In Black.

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By Catherine Pugh
Special to the AFRO

This past Democratic National Convention (DNC) held at the United Center in Chicago from Aug. 19-22, is my sixth.  My first was in 2000, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles; followed by 2004, Fleet Center, Boston; 2008, Pepsi Center and Invesco Field, Denver; 2012, Cable Arena, Charlotte, N.C., and  my hometown in 2016, Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia.

Every convention is confronted with protestors and Chicago was no different.  On the first day of the convention buses were held up for hours by protestors. The bus I was on sat for three-and-a-half hours before we were allowed to disembark. However, the protestors were unable to disrupt the excitement that was to follow once delegates and friends entered the convention halls. Every day following, we experienced little if any delay. They were smooth rides to the convention center and the check-in and security checkpoints moved quickly.

I can’t remember feeling this much excitement at a DNC; perhaps it rivaled the nomination of President Barack Obama who had survived a tumultuous battle for the nomination against Hillary Clinton  in 2008–quite a contrast to his crowning nomination in 2012.  

This year was more like 2012. My first two conventions were California and Boston, where Al Gore followed by John Kerry, respectively, became the Democratic nominees and lost the presidential elections.  There are those who would argue the election was stolen from Gore,  and I’m certain Hillary Clinton supporters laid claim to the same kind of defeat. The 2016 DNC in Philadelphia where Clinton was nominated saw disruption by Bernie Sanders holding his delegates to nearly the end of the convention in an effort to have his agenda heard, even though Hillary had won enough delegates to be the Democratic nominee for president.  The Democrats wanted unity and for Bernie to come under the tent.  

I don’t think anyone could have predicted–I know I could not–that on July 21, 2024, President Joe Biden would step down and endorse the candidacy of Vice President Kamala Harris to be the next president of the United States and in just  little under a month she would galvanize the Democratic Party and wrap up enough delegate votes to claim the nomination prior to the convention.  

Each day of the convention was filled with excitement. It was difficult to watch President Biden, front and center, tell America and those of us in attendance: ”I gave my best to you.” 

“Thank you Joe,” was the chant that roared through the center during his speech and every time his name was called.  I am sure he felt the love. That would be the last time we would see Joe during the convention even though many speakers, including the nominee and every former president paid tribute to him.  President Biden and his family left the convention following his speech for a well-deserved vacation.

On day two the featured speakers were the Obamas, and everyone I asked thought the best speech given outside of the vice president’s was that of Michelle Obama.  I was mesmerized by her presentation and forceful, calm delivery that had us sitting on the edge of our seats or standing and applauding uncontrollably.  The words of Michelle will be etched in history and will include her remarks when referring to Trump. She said, “Who’s going to tell him that the job he’s currently seeking might just be one of those ‘Black jobs.’” She was chiding remarks made by Trump during his debate with Biden when he referred to immigrants taking “Black jobs.”

To have witnessed two of the most engaging speeches, that of Michelle and Barack Obama, which were sheer joy and evoked emotions that made you wish the presidential election were happening outside the door of the convention center that day. 

During the ceremonial roll calls, every state was assigned their own song.  While almost everyone would agree that Aretha Franklin’s “Respect” is a great song, it had no connection to the state of Maryland–a state that has produced so many great artists, including Toni Braxton, Sisqo, Dru Hill, Billie Holiday and Frank Zappa. Most songs played for the states either reflected an artist born in that state, a theme song that had become a part of a top state official’s campaign or a hit song with the state’s name mentioned like Beyonce’s “Texas Hold ‘Em” used by Texas.

Besides Maryland, of course, my favorite roll call presentation was that of Tennessee and the remarks given by its second speaker, state Rep. Justin Pearson who had been expelled from office in 2023 with one other Black member Justin Jones for protesting in support of gun safety and was reinstated a few days later. They are worth Googling.  I predict we will hear from this 29-year-old in the future of Democratic politics. 

Lil Jon was quite a highlight in the Georgia roll call, chanting, ”Get your hands up. We are not going back,” while New York featured director Spike Lee out front before the speech of its Gov. Kathy Hochul and played “Empire State of Mind” by Jay-Z and Alicia Keys. North Dakota also featured an Alicia Keys song, “Girl on Fire.”

Nothing seemed more beautiful at the moment than on the third evening to hear poet Amanda Gordon recite a new poem “The Hill We Climb,” which began: ” We gather at this hallowed place because we believe in the American dream….”

My favorite two verses from her poem were: “We are one family regardless of religion, class, or color, for what defines a patriot is not just our love of liberty, but our love for one another.” And her conclusion: ”Let us not just believe in the American dream. Let us be worthy of it.”

There were many surprises during the convention, from the appearance of Kerry Washington, Oprah Winfrey and the rumor that ran rapidly that Beyonce was going to perform on the last evening.  

Other than Beyonce not appearing, I thought that most of the key speakers, including the Clintons, did not disappoint. Hillary drew out the loud chant from the crowd: Lock him Up, ” referring to Republican nominee Donald Trump.  

No one from Maryland appearing on the stage at the DNC let attendees down, evident by the ringing applause.  Gov. Wes Moore, U.S. Senate candidate Angela Alsobrooks, Congressman Jamie Raskin–all were well-received, left indelible impressions, and kept very busy schedules during the convention speaking at caucuses and hosting their own events.

The families of the vice presidential candidate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, who also gave a riveting speech during the convention, along with Kamala’s family, including her husband, Doug provided moments of applause, tears and joy during the convention. “Joy,” by the way when mentioned during the convention became synonymous with Kamala.

The presidential nominee was elegant and engaging.  When I left the convention center in Chicago I felt I knew her, and I am sure that most of us who heard her felt the same.  She carried us on a journey from childhood, a life of service to this moment of in-person acceptance of the Democratic nomination for president of these United States.  She was not boastful but brilliant.  She laid out a plan for America with confidence and courage.  She was forceful and fearless. The applause and standing ovations were relentless and reassuring that Democrats had made the right choice in pushing forward a woman who could become the first woman and woman of color to be elected to the presidency of the United States.

The post Reflections on the Democratic National Convention appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

While joy was a buzzword at the convention to nominate Vice President Kamala Harris, plenty of speakers brought the Black church to the party.

By Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware

Word in Black

For generations, the Black church has been a cornerstone of Democratic Party politics, from “souls to the polls” voting drives to hosting candidates who want to reach Black audiences. 

So it was no surprise when Sen. Raphael Warnock, a Georgia lawmaker and ordained minister, took the stage at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Aug. 19 he also took his audience to church. After referencing his mother — who, after years of picking cotton picked her son at the ballot box in 2020 — he compared voting to an act of faith.

“Voting is a prayer we pray collectively for the kind of world we desire for ourselves and our children,” said Warnock, senior pastor of Atlanta’s Ebenezer Baptist Church, which was once pastored by Martin Luther King Jr. “And our prayers are stronger when we pray together.”

Warnock was among several voices that intertwined faith, Black church traditions and politics before a national audience at the DNC. The speakers offered faith as a rationale to make Vice President Kamala Harris the next president — itself a mission to save the soul of the country. 

Rep. James Clyburn of South Carolina, D-S.C., one of the party’s elder statesmen, referenced scripture in his presentation for Harris: “As 2 Corinthians informs, we are troubled on every side, yet not distressed. We are perplexed, but not in despair, persecuted but not forsaken, cast down but not destroyed.

“Our great democracy has been tested, and so has the basic goodness of the American people,” Clyburn said. “But our resolve to remain a great country with freedom and justice for all will not falter.”

Rev. Cindy Rudolph, of Oak Grove AME Church in Detroit, was one of several clergy who spoke at the DNC. She praised the leadership of Harris and Tim Walz, the Minnesota governor and Harris’ running mate, saying it dovetails with Jesus’ teachings. 

“As we look upon our leadership, we see what You require of us: To do justice, like the justice Vice President Harris has championed her entire career,” Rudolph said in her benediction. “To love mercy, like the mercy Governor Walz has modeled as a lifelong public servant and educator. And to walk humbly, like the humility President Biden has embodied with decades of outstanding servant leadership.”

The faith factor seemed widely felt. 

“The inclusion of more deeper faith-based references during night one at the Democratic National Convention was a subtle nod, I believe, to President Biden’s own walk of faith,” says digital creator Linnyette Richardson-Hall, #PoliticalDIVAsez. “He is a deeply religious man for whom his faith is everything and he’s not been shy about telling the world how it’s shaped and sustained him. He’s not ostentatious nor zealous in his profession – he’s as humble as the beatitudes suggest.” 

She called the insertion of faith at the DNC “an excellent way to showcase the stark differences” between Biden and

Trump. One, she says, is “a man who believes versus someone who wants you to think he knows something about faith.” 

Ray Winbush, a professor, researcher and activist at Morgan State University, agreed.

“I think we’ve gotten so used to negative political discussions, it was refreshing to hear and see love expressed publicly,” he said. 

It was a challenge, however, for any other speaker to come close to Warnock. Given the rapturous response to his speech, delivered in the cadence of a skilled Baptist minister, one wondered if Warnock would extend the opportunity to save a few individual souls in the process.

Along with comparing voting to prayer, the reverend went on to express good wishes for his neighbor’s children, the poor children of Israel and Gaza, those in the Congo, in Haiti and the Ukraine, “because we’re all God’s children.”

“And so, let’s stand together. Let’s work together. Let’s organize together. Let’s pray together. Let’s stand together. Let’s heal the land,” he said, to rousing applause. “God bless you. Keep the faith.”  

Commentators instantly lit up social media. On the Facebook page of Win With Black Women, members went wild for Warnock: the tone of his presentation, the possibility it might involve an altar call, wondering why an organ wasn’t playing. They were impressed that he strayed considerably from the teleprompter.

The Black faith traditions Warnock invoked resonated, “but in an actual real way, actual real faith, honest and true,” says Jacqueline Malonson, owner of Jax Photography. “I was struck and heartened. I know it when I see it and feel it, and it gives me hope.”

This article was originally published kn WordinBlack.com.

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Prince George’s executive is seeking to become first Black senator from Maryland

By Asia Matthews
Special to the AFRO

Black women seeking to make political history were highlighted during the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. 

At the forefront, of course, was Vice President Kamala Harris, who secured the Party’s nomination as she seeks to cement her place in history as the first woman to assume the helm of the White House. But in a smaller spotlight were two women also chasing history: Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks and U.S. Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), both vying to join the exclusive club of Black women to serve in the U.S. Senate.

Alsobrooks, who would become the first African American senator from Maryland should she win, delivered a prime time speech on night two of the convention, elevating her national visibility. But hours before that, Alsobrooks and Rochester were feted at a fundraiser held at the DuSable Black History Museum in Chicago, where forerunners Sen. LaPhonza Butler (D-Calif.) and former Sen. Carol Moseley Braun (D-Ill.) – Black women who served in the U.S. Senate – were expected to attend.

Alsobrooks used the opportunity to explain her policy priorities and life experiences. She later expounded on her commitment to advancing women’s rights, health care reform, and economic opportunities for students and young people. 

The Maryland executive said she believes in the right of a woman to freely make her own health care decisions, and it should be supported by a federal law that protects a woman’s reproductive rights. 

“One of the first pieces of legislation that I want to co-sponsor is the Women’s Health Protection Act, to ensure that women have codified in federal law the right to choose,” she said.

Alsobrooks also supports the Inflation Reduction Act, which was championed and created by President Biden. She wants some of the Act’s provisions to be expanded to help decrease health care costs. 

Additionally, Alsobrooks said she wants to enhance economic opportunities, particularly for young people and college students who attend HBCUs like Morgan State University in Baltimore.

“My No. 1 issue is making sure that students, like the students at Morgan State University, can graduate with the real expectation that they can afford to buy a home, to have high paying jobs, to support their families and to be able to live the American dream,” she said.

Alsobrooks stressed the importance of voting, calling it both a “right” and “an obligation.” She encouraged students to exercise their right to vote. 

The Prince George’s politician would need the momentum gained from her DNC appearance as she vies for the Senate seat against Republican candidate, former Gov. Larry Hogan.

The pair presents sharply contrasting visions for Maryland’s future, setting the stage for a pivotal election that will influence the direction of the state’s policies and priorities.

For example, the “Hogan for Maryland” campaign sent an open letter to Alsobrooks on July 3, urging her to reconsider her support for new taxes and fees.

“The burden of these regressive taxes and fees will be paid by the struggling Marylanders who can least afford them,” the campaign wrote. 

Stating that the affordability crisis affects all Marylanders regardless of political affiliation, the campaign stressed the need for leaders like Alsobrooks to prioritize the people over party interests.

“The affordability crisis impacts everyone in our state,” Hogan wrote. “At this critical time, Marylanders deserve leaders who are willing to stand up to the party bosses to fight for them.”

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Staff Writer
tmcqueen@.com

With 78 days left before Election Day 2024, President Joe Biden (D) officially handed the reins to Vice President Kamala Harris (D) in his Aug. 19 speech at the Democratic National Convention (DNC). Biden served as keynote speaker on day one of the conference, where Harris is expected to accept the party’s nomination on Aug. 22.

“Are you ready to vote for freedom? Are you ready to vote for Democracy and America? Are you ready to elect Kamala Harris and Tim Walz?” asked Biden at the top of his speech in Chicago. “Our best days are not behind us, they’re before us.”

Harris became the official Democratic Party nominee for president on Aug. 6 via a virtual roll call. Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, her running mate, will officially accept their nominations during the DNC.

As he took the stage, Biden fondly paused for lengthy applause from the DNC crowd. Those in attendance shouted “Thank you Joe,”as Biden reflected on his presidency and what’s at stake in November.

“America, I gave my best to you,” said Biden, quoting lyrics from “American Anthem” by Norah Jones.

Biden spoke on his economic successes during the address, touting “record small business growth.” He also noted that his administration has worked to ensure that “total prescription cost can be capped at $2,000 no matter how expensive the drug.”

The $2,000 out-of-pocket cap is for anyone with Medicare Part D. The cap will fully go into effect in 2025 through the Inflation Reduction Act, which Biden signed into law in 2022. 

Biden also acknowledged the results of his executive action earlier this year to tighten security at the U.S.-Mexico border.

“Border encounters have dropped over 50 percent,” said Biden.

The standing ovation Biden received at the convention was a stark contrast to how the Democratic Party treated him after a poor June 27 debate performance. In the days and weeks after, top Democrats called for Biden to step down. 

Biden officially withdrew from the 2024 presidential election on July 21, puting his support behind Harris.

Much of night one of the DNC was about pushing excitement for and confidence in a Harris-Walz ticket.

Hillary Clinton (D), a former presidential candidate, spoke during opening night about progress and highlighted Harris’ past as a lawyer.

Clinton pushed the need to fight to get Harris in office this November in hopes of accomplishing what Clinton was not able to in 2016.

“No matter what the polls say, we can’t let up. We have to fight for Kamala as she will fight for us,” said Clinton. “We’re opening the promise of America wide enough for everyone. Together, we put a lot of cracks in the highest, hardest glass ceiling.”

Clinton highlighted several women who have run for president or were nominated for the vice presidential role in the U.S. including Shirley Chisholm and Geraldine Ferraro.

“We both got our start as young lawyers helping children who were abused or neglected,” said Clinton about Harris. “Kamala carries with her the hopes of every child she protected, every family she helped (and) every community she served. As president, she will always have our backs.”

DNC Chair Jaime Harrison shared what Americans can look forward to at this year’s DNC.

“In the coming days, the party will undertake a transparent and orderly process to move forward as a united Democratic Party with a candidate who can defeat Donald Trump in November,” he said. “As we move forward to formally select our party’s nominee, our values as Democrats remain the same – lowering costs, restoring freedom, protecting the rights of all people and saving our democracy.”

U.S. Rep. Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.-07) acknowledged the historical aspect of this year’s convention.

“I am honored to support the Kamala Harris-Tim Walz team,” said Mfume, in a statement sent to the AFRO. “I have attended every Democratic convention since 1980, where I was a delegate for the late Senator Ted Kennedy. Without a doubt, this will be among one of the more historic ones.”

Democrats paid homage to Biden for his dedication to the party throughout the first night of the DNC.

“The American people owe President Biden an enormous debt of gratitude for the unparalleled progress he has delivered over the last four years,” said Harrison. “We will honor that legacy and the decision that he has made today, through a firm commitment to nominating and electing a Democratic president this November who will carry that torch into the next four years.”

Harris made a sudden and brief appearance on stage hours ahead of Biden, recognizing his leadership.

“This is going to be a great week,” said Harris, to much applause and cheers. “I want to kick us off by supporting our incredible President Joe Biden. Joe, thank you for your historic leadership, for your lifetime service to our nation and for all you will continue to do.”

Day one of the convention featured delegation breakfasts and caucus meetings.

It also included DemPalooza, a series of trainings and panels to ensure Democrats win up and down the ballot in November. Sessions included talks about the future of immigration reform, protecting the vote and talking to friends and family about Project 2025.

There’s much more to come at the DNC including a speech from former President Barack Obama. 

On day two, a youth council meeting will be held, along with a session to address Black voters. The rural council and disability caucus meeting will also be held in the afternoon. 

Day three of the conference, a variety of different caucuses will meet. The Black, Hispanic, AAPI Caucus and Native American Caucuses will each hold their sessions on the morning of Aug. 21. 

On the final day of the convention, there will be a session to address how women in politics can combat misinformation created via artificial intelligence and another on how to gain political ground in places that are considered “factory towns.” The day will also include a session titled “Crisis in the Court: It’s Time for Reforms to Restore Legitimacy and to Protect Our Constitution.”  The Women’s Caucus will also meet, along with the poverty and interfaith councils. 

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By Stacy Brown
NNPA Newswire

Chicago has transformed into one of the most fortified locations in the world this summer as the Windy City plays host to the Democratic National Convention (DNC). With the influx of thousands of delegates, media personnel and political dignitaries, the city has seen unprecedented security measures involving the Secret Service and state and local police, turning downtown Chicago into a near-impenetrable fortress.

Security preparations have been visible across the city, particularly in the downtown area. To stop any attempts to vandalize the courthouse, towering security gates with concrete pillars appeared overnight at the Dirksen Federal Building in the Loop. Similarly, residents and visitors along the Magnificent Mile and Gold Coast were met with unexpected road closures and additional security barriers, even miles away from the primary DNC venues. Roads near Chicago Avenue have been blocked, with police officers stationed on standby and large security gates restricting sidewalk access.

In the South Loop, manhole covers have been sealed with tamper-evident markers, a precautionary measure to detect any unauthorized access. The DNC Public Safety Joint Information Center, which includes local and federal law enforcement agencies, has warned of additional road closures throughout the convention. Some closures will last the entire duration of the DNC, while others will be more temporary.

The security measures extend to the city’s hotels, where 15,000 media members, thousands of delegates, and volunteers are staying. These hotels have become largely inaccessible by vehicle due to barriers that include city trucks and steel walls, forcing guests to walk several blocks with their luggage. In response to security concerns, congressional officials have advised House Democrats to exercise extra caution when planning their travel, including booking lodging under different names to avoid detection. Officials have also cautioned against visiting certain areas where violent encounters may be more likely to occur.

“The protesters aren’t staying in a designated protest site… and there are people who are going to go and really try to cause trouble,” one lawmaker warned, echoing concerns about potential disruptions.

While demonstrations from Trump supporters are anticipated, the primary concern for law enforcement is the potential for violence from tens of thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators expected to protest U.S. funding for Israel’s war in Gaza. In a welcome packet sent to Democratic attendees, convention officials emphasized that the Secret Service has been working closely with various law enforcement agencies, including the Capitol Police and the Chicago Police Department, to ensure the safety of the event.

High-profile speakers like Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz are set to deliver speeches at the convention, and numerous dignitaries, including President Joe Biden, former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, and former First Ladies Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton, are expected to attend. The rumor mill is abuzz with speculation that celebrities like Beyoncé and Taylor Swift might make surprise appearances.

Monday marked the first of a week-long briefing at the Office of Emergency Management and Communications, where the Secret Service coordinates the efforts of federal, state and local agencies. The office is also responsible for disseminating information if any unplanned situations arise.

As the first wave of protests swept through downtown, Chicago Police responded with a robust presence, including shoulder-to-shoulder patrol officers and bike units along the protest routes. Federal dog teams screened vehicles at the United Center, and U.S. Coast Guard teams patrolled the lakefront. Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling assured the public that the city is prepared to handle any situation.

“We want people to exercise their First Amendment rights,” Snelling stated. “We will protect them while they’re doing it, but we will not guarantee that we’re not going to make arrests if they start to act violently or commit crimes.”

This article was originally published by NNPA Newswire.

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By Stacy M. Brown
NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia

(NNPA Newswire) – On the 116th anniversary of the Springfield Race Riot, President Joe Biden signed a proclamation establishing the Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument in Springfield, Illinois. The new monument will preserve 1.57 acres of federal land and highlight a significant but painful moment in American history, when a White mob attacked the Black community in Springfield, leading to the lynching of two Black men and widespread destruction of homes and businesses.

“Our history is not just about the past; it’s about our present and our future,” Biden said during the announcement. “The Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument will help us remember an unspeakable attack on the Black community and honor the Americans who came together in its aftermath to help deliver on the promise of civil rights.”

The Springfield 1908 Race Riot was a violent response by a White mob to allegations against two Black men, Joe James and George Richardson, held in the Sangamon County Jail. The mob’s demands for their release escalated into widespread violence after the men were moved to another location for their safety. 

Throughout the weekend of Aug. 14-16, 1908, two Black men, Scott Burton and William Donnegan, were lynched, and dozens of Black-owned and Jewish-owned businesses were looted and destroyed.

The riot, which occurred just blocks away from President Abraham Lincoln’s home, shocked the nation and led to the founding of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Civil rights leaders such as Ida B. Wells-Barnett, W.E.B. Du Bois and Mary Church Terrell played pivotal roles in establishing the NAACP, an organization that has been instrumental in the fight for civil rights in the United States.

NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson attended the event at the White House on Aug. 16, where President Biden signed the proclamation. The president also hosted guests in the Oval Office, including the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), the trade association of the Black Press of America.

The designation marks Biden’s 11th use of the Antiquities Act, following the establishment of the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument in 2023, created on the 82nd anniversary of Emmett Till’s birth. The White House announced that the National Park Service (NPS) will manage the Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument and include the charred foundations of five homes never rebuilt after the riot.

“Establishing the Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument is an important step in recognizing and remembering this painful but important moment in America’s history,” said Interior Secretary Deb Haaland. “The Springfield 1908 Race Riot was a horrific and significant part of our nation’s march toward equality and civil rights. As we work to tell America’s story—even when difficult—may this monument help us learn from the past in order to build a more just and equitable future.”

NPS Director Chuck Sams also applauded the new monument. “This national monument will provide current and future generations an opportunity to reflect on the tragic events but also to be inspired by the resilience of the Black community and national leaders that went on to fight for social change and civil rights in America,” Sams said.

The Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument joins an extensive network of sites dedicated to commemorating civil rights history across the United States, including the Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument and the Brown v. Board National Historic Park. The NPS plans to collaborate with local communities to prepare for interpretation, commemoration, and visitor experiences at the new site, which will eventually be part of the NPS’s African American Civil Rights Network.

White House officials said the new monument underscores the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to advancing civil rights and racial justice. Officials said it also builds on previous actions such as signing the Emmett Till Antilynching Act, establishing the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument, and making Juneteenth a federal holiday.

With the president’s actions, the Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument became part of the National Park System, which now includes 431 national park sites.

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By Aria Brent 
AFRO Staff Writer 
abrent@afro.com  

As Vice President Harris continues her campaign for president, the support is rolling in at rapid speeds. Many calls and campaigns have been organized to help the presidential candidate receive the financial, communal and political aid she needs to successfully compete to be the next commander-in-chief. 

With a great amount of endorsements and backings from celebrities, political figures and elected officials, Harris seems to be moving full steam ahead with her campaign. The excitement surrounding this historic candidacy is shared by many. The AFRO reached out to D.C. Councilmember Janeese Lewis George to get her input on watching a fellow Black woman run for president.

AFRO:  What do you think will be VP Kamala Harris’ greatest challenge during this campaign for president?

Janeese Lewis George: From a practical standpoint, I think Harris’ biggest challenge will be the short amount of time she has to build a strong campaign, but the momentum we’ve seen in just the last week has made it abundantly clear she’ll have no problem overcoming it. 

Dealing with the racism and sexism that will undoubtedly shape conversations in this race is not something you get used to even though you expect it. Navigating those conversations and overcoming those who think that way will be a challenge. 

AFRO: As a fellow Black woman in politics, how do you feel about her stepping into this role as a presidential candidate? 

JLG: Our country is stronger when leaders reflect the full diversity of the people in our communities. That’s true at the local level and at the national level. My experiences as a woman of color who grew up in a union household shapes my policymaking in ways that are very needed in our country. I’m confident that will be true for Harris’s leadership as well. Harris and I both attended Howard University, we both are members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and we both served as assistant district attorney and assistant attorney general in a state office.I am incredibly proud of her for multiple reasons and of how far she has come and I know that she has the experience and qualifications to step into this role. 

AFRO: If elected, how do you hope to see Harris impact the nation?

JLG: We’re already seeing it. There is Obama 2008 energy happening right now and we’re seeing it at her rallies, in her fundraising and in the people signing up to volunteer. That’s the energy it will take to defeat Donald Trump in November and that’s the energy it will take to advance progressive wins in 2025. 

AFRO:  Where do you think her influence is needed most right now? 

JLG: We need national action on gun control. Every community in this country has been affected by Congress’s failure to act on guns and I hope VP Harris can make progress on it with urgency.

This moment is also making it clear that we need D.C. statehood. To have a major party candidate promising to overturn D.C. home rule is incredibly dangerous. The people who live in D.C. deserve to elect their own leaders, just like everyone else in this country and the only way to ensure that is by making D.C. the 51st State.

AFRO:  How do you think having a Black woman as president will affect the climate of Black women in politics?

JLG: Black women are already doing incredible work in local government, in Congress, in state governments, federal agencies, in the courts and more. I’ll celebrate the nation’s first Black and Indian woman president, but at the end of the day I’ll get back to doing the work. 

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By Megan Sayles
AFRO Business Writer
msayles@afro.com

The Montgomery County Planning Board has submitted its updates to the county’s Growth and Infrastructure Policy (GIP) for 2024 to 2028. As of Aug. 1, it is now in the hands of the Montgomery County Council for review. 

The policy, which is revised every four years, is designed to ensure county infrastructure, like roads and schools, is sufficient to support growth and new development. 

“The GIP is vital to ensuring the county is meeting the evolving needs of a growing and diverse population,” said Jason K. Sartori, planning director for Montgomery County, in a statement. “We have shifted from a growth policy decades ago that was appropriate as farmland was converted into neighborhoods, to one that complements the infill and redevelopment of maturing neighborhoods, major employment centers, town centers and downtowns that we see today.” 

The top recommendations for the GIP include: extending a 50 percent impact-tax discount to developers who construct single family homes 1,800 square feet or smaller, exempting development projects that transform office space into residential units from impact taxes and exempting three or more bedroom households from school and transportation impact taxes. 

The planning board also suggested that the county conduct a Local Area Transportation Review for an upcoming development project that’s expected to generate heavy traffic and forgo transportation mitigation requirements during the construction of affordable housing units. 

“Our recommended updates to the growth policy ensure the county can continue to strengthen economic development opportunities while supporting transportation networks and school communities with the infrastructure needed to meet expected population and employment growth,” said a statement from Artie Harris, chair of the planning board. “The recommended GIP update is forward-thinking by aligning with the county’s goals of promoting housing for all, achieving racial equity and social justice, fighting climate change and harnessing economic development tools to create thriving communities.” 

The Montgomery County Council will host a public hearing for the GIP on Sep. 10. Residents can sign up to testify at the meeting on the council’s website. The policy must be approved by November 15 under county law. 

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By Megan Sayles
AFRO Business Writer
msayles@afro.com

D.C. Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb has sued leading online ticket exchange and resale company StubHub, accusing the platform of deceptive pricing. The civil suit was filed in a D.C. trial court on July 31. 

Schwalb accused the company of engaging in “drip pricing,” a strategy where companies initially market a low price to attract consumers and later disclose additional fees during the purchasing process. The charges include fulfillment and service fees. 

“For years, StubHub has illegally deceived District consumers through its convoluted junk fee scheme,” said Schwalb in a July 31 release. “StubHub lures consumers in by advertising a deceptively low price, forces them through a burdensome purchase process and then finally reveals a total on the checkout page that is vastly higher than the originally advertised ticket price. This is no accident—StubHub intentionally hides the true price to boost profits at its customers’ expense.” 

The District houses several professional sports teams, including the Washington Commanders, Nationals and Capitals, as well as 41 entertainment venues and theaters. The attorney general asserts that the city has been disproportionately impacted by StubHub’s practices as visitors and residents spend more per capita on live entertainment than other major destinations, like New York, Los Angeles and Chicago.

“The District is home to one of the nation’s largest and most vibrant live entertainment scenes, and StubHub’s predatory tactics disproportionately harm District residents,” Schwalb continued. “That is why today we’re suing to end StubHub’s exploitative pricing scheme.” 

In the complaint, Schwalb claims the ticketing platform previously used an all-in-pricing model from 2014 to 2015, which advertised prices that included mandatory fees up front. StubHub then conducted a study to compare the more transparent model against drip pricing. 

During the testing period, the company randomly assigned customers to one of the two pricing strategies. Stubhub discovered that even when the final price was the same, consumers were less likely to buy tickets in the all-in-pricing model. It subsequently implemented drip pricing. 

The lawsuit also asserts that StubHub engages in dark patterns, including creating a false sense of urgency and high demand. According to the complaint, the company has sold nearly 4.9 million tickets to Washingtonians and for District events, amassing $118 million in hidden fees. 

The litigation follows the Federal Trade Commission’s 2023 announcement of a proposed rule that would prohibit hidden and bogus fees for resorts, concert tickets, hotel booking and more. 

StubHub says the back-end fees help the company provide a secure ticket-buying experience. The platform charges a fee when consumers buy and sell tickets on the site. These fees can vary depending on the ticket price, time before the event and supply and demand. 

“StubHub is committed to creating a transparent, secure and competitive marketplace to benefit consumers,” wrote StubHub in a statement to the AFRO. “We are disappointed that the D.C. attorney general is targeting StubHub when our user experience is consistent with the law, our competitors’ practices and the broader e-commerce sector. We strongly support federal and state solutions that enhance existing laws to empower consumers, such as requiring all-in pricing uniformly across platforms.”

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By Dana Peck
Special to the AFRO

In a spiritually charged gathering at The Carter Center, Dr. Jamal Harrison Bryant, the visionary senior pastor of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Stonecrest, Georgia, spearheaded an empowering event on Aug. 5 aimed at mobilizing voter turnout and educating the community about Project 2025. 

Bryant, former senior pastor of Baltimore’s Empowerment Temple, has a history of galvanizing communities towards non-violent action, having previously served as the national youth and college director of the NAACP, where he guided 70,000 young people globally. 

Bryant’s newest 5-5-5 plan is a direct response to Project 2025. The campaign features four major events held on the fifth of each month leading up to Election Day in November. 

Bryant provided a historical context of democracy, emphasizing the challenges faced by Black communities. He critiqued Project 2025, underscoring its potential negative implications for Black communities. He called for a concrete plan and youth engagement, stressing the importance of voter registration, education, and turnout efforts. 

“Ladies and gentlemen, it is incumbent upon us not to just talk amongst ourselves, but to go to the barbershops, and to the basketball courts,” Bryant told the gathering. “I want to challenge those of you who are part of the D9 (Divine Nine, Black fraternities and sororities), those of you who are part of civic organizations, those of you who are part of grassroots organizations, and those of you who are connected to faith organizations. 

“I want to encourage you on Oct. 5 and Sept. 5 that this is an all-out [voter registration effort]. I want you to leave no door left unlocked. Let no phone number be left untexted.”

The event began with an opening prayer by Bishop William Murphy, bishop of worship at Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship, who invoked the scripture from Nehemiah 4. His message resonated deeply with the attendees, reminding them not to be distracted by external conflicts while working towards their goals. This spiritual grounding set the tone for an evening dedicated to unity, purpose and action.

Bryant invited nine leaders to share his vision with attendees.

Rashad Richey, a strategist representing The Carter Center’s Georgia Democracy Resilience Network, delivered a powerful address on the significance of democracy and the critical role of informed voting. He highlighted the spiritual battle behind physical challenges, urging attendees to manifest change. He called for a coalition of responsibility among community members to safeguard democratic principles.  His emphasis on coalition-building underscored the necessity of collective action in the face of political challenges.

Virginia Harris, president of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, stressed the importance of electing leaders who genuinely care about the people. She introduced initiatives such as Mobilize Monday and public policy engagement kits, designed to keep the community informed and engaged. Harris’ call to action was clear: informed voting is essential for true representation and effective governance.

Attorney Mo Ivory, commissioner- elect for Fulton County Commission’s District 4, offered a detailed analysis of the legal implications of Project 2025. She emphasized the importance of local involvement and strategic planning beyond emotional victories. Ivory’s insights into the legal landscape provided attendees with a comprehensive understanding of the stakes involved in the upcoming elections.

Yatonya Oliver, president of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority’s Dekalb Alumni Chapter, focused on the critical role of youth engagement in the voting process. She stressed the importance of mobilizing apathetic voters through community engagement and innovative outreach strategies. Oliver’s passion for youth involvement was evident, inspiring many to take active steps toward fostering a culture of informed and enthusiastic voters.

Darrel Taylor, president of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity’s Decatur Alumni Chapter, emphasized the necessity of voter education, registration, and civic engagement. He highlighted unique opportunities for voter registration, particularly in high schools, aiming to instill the values of civic duty and participation in the next generation of voters.

Dr. Johni Cruse Craig, social action chair for Delta Sigma Theta Sorority’s Stone Mountain – Lithonia Alumni Chapter,  discussed imperative strategies for Get Out the Vote (GOTV) efforts. She outlined a multifaceted approach: educate, register, mobilize and protect. Her comprehensive strategy underscored the importance of a holistic approach to voter mobilization, ensuring every eligible voter is informed, registered and motivated to cast their ballot.

Bernard Levett, president of the 100 Black Men of Dekalb, highlighted the chapter’s extensive involvement in civic engagement and the critical importance of youth education on voting. His message reinforced the idea that educating young people about their voting rights and responsibilities is fundamental to sustaining a vibrant democracy.

Mayor of Stonecrest Jazzmin Cobble shared her success in mobilizing voters through effective public policy. She stressed the importance of evaluating policies over emotional attachment to candidates, advocating for a more rational and informed approach to voting. Cobble’s practical perspective resonated with attendees, many of whom seemed to leave with a renewed sense of purpose.

Congressman Hank Johnson, U.S. representative for Georgia’s 4th congressional district, praised Pastor Bryant and the collective efforts of the community. He critiqued the previous Trump administration while celebrating the Biden-Harris administration, highlighting the urgency of protecting democracy. Johnson’s passionate speech served as a rallying cry for attendees to remain vigilant and proactive in their civic duties.

Bryant expressed a heartfelt thanks to the various contributors and organizations. He shared that launching at The Carter Center was a full circle moment for him.

“I went with my parents to play with Amy Carter at the White House at 7 years of age,” he recalled. “I was on the cover of newspapers all over the country because they hadn’t seen a Black kid playing with a White kid on the White House lawn. This was 1977 and so for me to be back in this place is overwhelmingly gratifying.”

Maisha Land, creator of the Stroll to the Polls Movement, said, “It was refreshing to finally hear a discussion with tangible outcomes in mind for civic engagement and accountability for before and after elections. Learning about Project 5-5-5 tonight really focused me.  I realize more than ever that fighting the plans put in for the demise of our communities is not enough, that ‘I have a dream’ is not enough…. We must have a plan. I am looking forward to Project 5-5-5 and helping with the lift.”

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DNC chair Jaime Harrison breaks down how Kamala Harris has improved the lives of hardworking Americans — and Trump can’t say the same.

By Jaime Harrison
Word in Black

Last week, Donald Trump once again showed the world what he truly is: racist, disrespectful, and unfit to lead. In a conversation with the National Association of Black Journalists, Trump claimed that Vice President Kamala Harris “could be” a “DEI hire” and “happened to turn Black.”

Those despicable comments say a lot about Trump’s character, and they also tell us something else — Trump and JD Vance don’t think they can beat Vice President Harris so they need to resort to racist and sexist comments. They know they can’t win an election on the merits of policy ideas or leadership ability. And we know that they are scared. 

Trump and Vance should be scared because Vice President Harris has done more good in the last three-and-a-half years as vice president than they’ve done in their entire lives. 

Vice President Harris played an essential role in President Biden’s initiatives that invested an unprecedented $16 billion in HBCUs and to date have forgiven $167 billion in student loan debt for nearly 5 million Americans. The Biden-Harris administration also capped the cost of insulin at $35 per month for seniors and acted to lower prescription drug costs. Over the last three years, we’ve seen Black unemployment go down, and new Black-owned small businesses are opening every day. 

In every corner of our nation, the vice president has improved the lives of hardworking Americans. Trump certainly can’t say the same. 

But that’s nothing new for Kamala Harris. Let’s take a look at some of the work she has done before taking office:

As a young lawyer in California, she fought against a measure that would allow prosecutors the option of trying juvenile defendants as adults. During her tenure as district attorney of San Francisco, she made history when she officiated the first same-sex wedding in California after Proposition 8 was overturned, and created a groundbreaking program to provide first-time drug offenders with the opportunity to earn a high school degree and a pathway to employment. While she was attorney general of California, Vice President Harris defended the Affordable Care Act in court and took on big banks that were preying on vulnerable Americans. 

Now when you consider her accomplishments, think about the fact that she is the first woman and first person of color to hold these jobs in California. She has spent a lifetime making critical decisions when all eyes were on her, and she has more than enough experience handling doubters who scrutinize her every move. The pressures of the presidency will be nothing new. 

That is why we know she will not back down when it comes to supporting the Black community. She’s not planning to coast on past accomplishments. Once she’s in office, she will continue fighting for policies that create equity and opportunity for Black Americans across the country and uplift our voices in every corner of the world.

I can guarantee you that promises made by the vice president are promises kept. Because over the past three years, I’ve had the privilege of getting to know her well. She reminds me so much of the Black women who shaped my life. I see the strength and determination of my grandmother, who picked cotton and raised a family on next to nothing. I see the warmth of my mother who had me as a teenager and worked three times as hard to make sure I could be anything I wanted. And I see the brilliance of my wife who succeeds at literally everything she does. 

The vice president embodies the best qualities of our community and our country. And she needs us now to rally around her and show her the same love and respect we show the women in our lives.

We’re already seeing that support through record fundraising numbers, droves of new volunteer signups and the unbelievable attendance at rallies. There’s renewed energy around this election. But we have to keep that energy going all the way through November because we cannot risk another four years of Donald Trump.

No matter what he says, Trump is not fighting for us. At best, he’s fighting in spite of us. We cannot let the world forget the division and violence that took place on his watch. His policies did not make Black communities any wealthier. 

Trump’s rhetoric at the NABJ conference told us that not only will nothing change if he’s back in the White House, but there is much more damage he can do. 

Thankfully, we have the power to stop him. We can usher in a new generation of leaders and an America that works for all of us. 

That starts when we elect Kamala Harris to serve as president of the United States. 

Jaime Harrison currently serves as the Chair of the Democratic National Committee. As the son of a single teenage mom, Jaime Harrison was raised by his grandparents in Orangeburg, South Carolina. Jaime knows what it’s like for a family to have to choose between paying the electric bill and putting food on the table, and what it feels like to go to sleep in a home with no heat, because the power was shut off.

But thanks to a good public school education, the love of his family, and the support of his community, Jaime was able to earn a scholarship to Yale University and attend Georgetown Law. After college, Jaime came back home to Orangeburg to teach at his old high school, then worked to help empower disadvantaged kids to attend college. Jaime also served as an aide to legendary South Carolina Congressman Jim Clyburn. In 2013, Jaime was elected the first African American chair of the South Carolina Democratic Party, a position he held until 2017, when he was appointed by DNC Chair Tom Perez as an Associate Chair of the DNC. In 2020, Jaime ran for the U.S. Senate from South Carolina, building a national grassroots movement and setting a fundraising record for the most raised by a Senate candidate. Jaime and his wife Marie live in Columbia, South Carolina, where they raise their two young sons.

This article was originally published on WordinBlack.com.

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By Ashlee Banks
Special to the AFRO

Members of Congress talk about the importance of Black media organizations like the AFRO and why it is consequential for Black publications to highlight stories impacting marginalized communities.

U.S. Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-Md.-5) believes that since its inception, the AFRO has been a cornerstone in the Black community.  

“Not only a publication, but a public service, the Afro newspapers gives voice to the people, shares important information and knowledge with folks who often don’t see the care and consideration afforded other news consumers,” Ivey told the AFRO.

He added that the AFRO’s “roots run deep in the Black community and has long provided nourishment for our community’s curious minds.  It is a cornerstone in developing our sense of self-reliance, in politics, healthcare, the arts and many other areas of endeavor for people of color.”

John Henry Murphy Sr., a former slave, established the AFRO in 1892. He wanted to use the AFRO as a platform to share pictures and storytelling to advance the Black community and give people hope following the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863.  

The publication is the longest running Black family-owned newspaper in the nation covering a wide variety of issues impacting the Black community including politics, arts & entertainment, foreign affairs, sports, business and more.

U.S. Rep. Gabe Amo (D-R.I.-1) told the AFRO that Black publications are in the best position to elevate Black voices and need to be preserved.  

“Anyone doubting the importance of Black media and diversity in journalism only has to watch Donald Trump’s interview at the National Association of Black Journalists conference,” Amo told the AFRO.

Amo said the former Republican president “wasn’t expecting” the three Black reporters to hold him “accountable.”

The Democratic lawmaker is referring to the controversial discussion that took place on July 31 between ABC’s Rachel Scott, Fox’s Harris Faulkner, Semafor’s Kadia Goba and former President Donald Trump at the NABJ convention in Chicago. The three Black female journalists pressed Trump on his past remarks, key political issues and questions that Black voters have regarding his political record.

Lawmakers believe that Black publications will continue to play a pivotal role in delivering information to voters, especially during this election cycle where Vice President Kamala Harris has made history as the first Black and South Asian woman to run for the Oval Office.

“When journalists take on the task of writing the first draft of history, I hope it’s a draft that reflects the full depth and breadth of the American experience today,” said Amo. “I’m a strong supporter of elevating voices of color because if we don’t tell our stories, then no one will.”

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Staff Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

After the U.S. Senate passed two major online safety bills for kids in a 91-3 vote, parents with Parents for Online Safe Spaces (ParentsSOS) are now pushing for members of the House to pass the legislation. House members will return on Sept. 9.

The Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA 2.0) and the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) were passed in a bipartisan vote on July 30.

“We intend to keep sharing our stories and express to our legislators that no family should have to bear the pain that we live with daily. No one expected this bill to advance out of the Senate but we did it,” said a spokesperson for ParentsSOS, an organization led by parents who lost their children due to the influences of social media. “When lawmakers in the House hear our personal stories and that there’s such a common-sense solution to addressing the wide range of harms young people face, we are confident they will support KOSA too.”

“We are determined to make KOSA a legislative priority in the House and get it signed into law before the end of the year,” said the spokesperson from ParentsSOS.

ParentsSOS members are currently meeting with their House representatives at home during the Congressional recess. Parents are also expected to meet with representatives one-on-one once House members return.

“We lost our 12-year-old son Matthew to an online viral challenge on TikTok and YouTube. This is after he was allowed access to the internet for just one hour,” said Todd Minor Sr., in a July 25 press conference on the bills. “The never-ending pain of his loss and never seeing is smiling face again coupled with the tragic memories of performing CPR on him to try and save his life stays with us every day.”

Minor said he’d heard from several of Matthew’s classmates and friends that they could not opt out of seeing online challenges when they were on social media. 

“They felt that there was no way out,” said Minor.

Other parents, through ParentsSOS, shared the stories of their children who have lost their lives due to cyberbullying and online drug dealing.

KOSA aims to force tech companies to take reasonable steps in changing their design of their products and services used by children to prevent harm. COPPA 2.0 is an enhanced version of the 1998 COPPA, which was created to protect the privacy of children under the age of 13. 

The original COPPA’s requirements include enforcing website operators to acquire parental consent before collecting personal information from youth and providing a reasonable way for parents to review the personal information collected.

COPPA 2.0 could increase protections by banning advertising to kids and teens under the age of 17.

“It is really just about empowering young people and parents to take back control over their lives online,” said Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), a bill sponsor, at the July 25 press conference. “To say to big tech, ‘we no longer trust you to make decisions for us.’”

According to the Pew Research Center, 16 percent of teens say they use social media almost continuously. 

In late 2023, a study by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found that social media platforms generate almost $11 billion in ad revenue from American youth. The authors of the study found that this emphasizes the need for increased transparency and regulations of the practices of tech companies to mitigate the potential impacts on youth mental health.

Though the future for the bill may be uncertain, Biden announced his support for the initiative highlighting his efforts on the issue and encouraging the House to pass the legislation.

“The Senate took a crucial bipartisan step forward to make our kids safer online. There is undeniable evidence that social media and other online platforms contribute to our youth mental health crisis. It is past time to act,” said Biden. “The last time Congress took meaningful action to protect children and teenagers online was in 1998 – before the ubiquity of social media and smartphones. I encourage the House to send this bill to my desk for signature without delay.”

Vice President Kamala Harris, likely Democratic nominee for president, also announced her support of the effort.

“​​I applaud the Senate for passing the Kids Online Safety and Privacy Act today. This bipartisan legislation will help protect children’s mental health, safety and privacy online,” said Harris, upon the bill’s passage. “I have spent my entire career fighting for the well-being of children, and I urge Congress to pass this bill as we continue to invest in our children and their health.”

Though there is much evidence as to why the push for child online safety is needed, it still faces some road blocks such as an often divided House and opposition from some national organizations such as the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation.

“We would definitely support the bills with changes,” said Ash Johnson, senior policy manager at Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF). 

One of those changes includes no ban on targeted advertising. Johnson emphasized the need for no large shifts in regulatory compliance burdens from the 1998 COPPA. 

“Making big changes like that is where you run into the biggest compliance hurdle for businesses,” said Johnson.

The House also has until the Sept. 30 deadline to pass the 2025 fiscal year budget to prevent a government shutdown, a process which dragged on last year.

Despite this, ParentsSOS believe this issue will rise as a top and urgent concern for all legislators.

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By Willy Blackmore
Word in Black

There has been a wave of endorsements big and small for Vice President Kamala Harris since President Joe Biden announced that he would not run for reelection this year. 

Some were very quick in coming, like Biden’s own endorsement, while others that took a matter of days were still slow enough to create some degree of controversy, namely that of Barack and Michelle Obama. 

But on July 31, Harris got an endorsement that stands out because it’s one President Biden did not receive: The Green New Deal Coalition, which includes more left-leaning and youth-oriented environmental groups like the Sunrise Movement, is backing the vice president in the 2024 race against Donald Trump.

Harris — who served both in the Senate and as the state attorney general in California before becoming the first woman to serve as vice president — mostly shares President Biden’s climate record. But while the administration passed the largest climate bill ever, the Inflation Reduction Act, Biden has still been criticized by groups in the Green New Deal Coalition for not doing enough in the face of the climate crisis. The more left-leaning groups have also been highly critical of his approach to the war on Gaza. So any change at the top of the Democratic ticket is welcomed by the coalition.

“This has really lit a candle of hope for a lot of us that have been in the doldrums for the past year or so,” Kaniela Ing, the coalition’s national director, told Inside Climate News.

The one big material point of difference between Harris and Biden happened during the Obama administration. After plans were finalized to allow oil exploration off the California coast near Santa Barbara for new hydraulic-fracturing wells, then-attorney general Harris sued the federal government. Climate groups have not forgotten that she was willing to challenge Big Oil in such a manner (not to mention her own party), and they want to see more of that from the White House.

Harris was also a co-sponsor of the Green New Deal legislation in the Senate. In the 2020 Democratic presidential primary, she ran on increasing federal spending on climate issues by $10 trillion over a decade, and also advocated for a carbon tax.

There’s a bit of identity politics at play in the endorsement, too, as there likely will be throughout Harris’s historic campaign: The Green New Deal Coalition believes that, as a Black woman, Harris will be an effective advocate.

Willy Blackmore is a freelance writer and editor covering food, culture, and the environment. He lives in Brooklyn.

This article was originally published on WordinBlack.com.

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By Steve Peoples and Matt Brown
The Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump has found tremendous success from the very first moment he stepped onto the presidential stage by stoking racial animus.

Democrats expressed new outrage this week at the former president’s derisive and false charge that Vice President Kamala Harris, who is of Jamaican and Indian heritage, only recently “turned Black” for political gain. Some Republicans — even from within Trump’s own campaign — seemed to distance themselves from the comment.

But Trump’s rhetoric this week, and his record on race since he entered politics nearly a decade ago, indicate that divisive attacks on race may emerge as a core GOP argument in the three-month sprint to Election Day — whether his allies want them to or not.

A Trump adviser, granted anonymity Aug. 1 to discuss internal strategy, said the campaign doesn’t need to focus on “identity politics” because the case against Harris is that she is “so liberal it’s dangerous.” The adviser pointed to Harris’ record on the Southern border, crime, the economy and foreign policy.

In a sign that Trump may not be coordinating his message with his own team, the Republican presidential nominee doubled down on the same day with a new attack on Harris’ racial identity. He posted on his social media site a picture of Harris donning traditional Indian attire in a family photo.

Sen. Cynthia Lummis, a Wyoming Republican who has endorsed Trump, was among a number of lawmakers on Capitol Hill who said Aug. 1 that the rhetoric around race and identity is not “helpful to anyone” this election cycle.

“People’s skin color doesn’t matter one iota,” Lummis said in an interview.

Trump turned to an old tactic against Harris

It’s been less than two weeks after President Joe Biden ended his reelection bid and endorsed Harris. Trump has had to pivot from campaigning against an 81-year-old White man showing signs of decline to facing a 59-year-old Black woman who is drawing much larger crowds and new enthusiasm from Democratic donors.

Trump went to the National Association of Black Journalists convention on July 31. In an appearance carried live on cable news and shared widely online, he falsely suggested Harris misled voters about her race.

“I didn’t know she was Black until a number of years ago when she happened to turn Black and now she wants to be known as Black. So, I don’t know, is she Indian or is she Black?” Trump said.

At a Pennsylvania rally hours later, Trump’s team displayed years-old news headlines describing Harris as the “first Indian-American senator” on the big screen in the arena. And Ohio Sen. JD Vance, Trump’s running mate, told reporters traveling with him that Harris was a “chameleon” who changed her identity when convenient.

Harris attended Howard University, the historically Black institution where she pledged the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, and has often talked throughout her career about being both about being Black and Indian American.

Trump’s team argued that his message on race is part of a broader pitch that may appeal to some Black voters, although very few allies defended his specific rhetoric this week.

“What impacts our historic gains with Black voters is President Trump’s record when compared to Kamala’s,” said Trump campaign senior adviser Lynne Patton, pointing to the “cost of living, securing the border, deporting Kamala’s illegal aliens, making neighborhoods safe again and keeping men out of women’s sports.”

Veteran Republican pollster Frank Luntz said he explored racial politics during a July 31 focus group with swing voters almost immediately after Trump’s interview. He found that Harris may be vulnerable to criticism based on her gender, but race-based attacks could hurt Trump among the voters that matter most this fall.

Much has changed, Luntz said, since Trump rose to prominence by questioning the citizenship of Barack Obama, the nation’s first Black president.

“Trump seems to think that he can criticize her for how she’s dealt with her race. Well, no one’s listening to that criticism. It simply doesn’t matter,” Luntz said. “If it’s racially driven, it will backfire.”

Eugene Craig, the former vice chair of the Maryland Republican Party, said that Trump “got what he wanted” at the NABJ convention but that the substance of his argument risked being more offensive than appealing.

“The one thing that Black folks will never tolerate is disrespecting Blackness, and that goes for Black Republicans too,” said Craig, who is Black and worked as a staffer for conservative pundit Dan Bongino’s 2012 Senate campaign. He is now supporting Harris.

Trump has a long history of racist attacks

Trump has frequently used race to go after his opponents since he stepped into presidential politics nearly a decade ago.

Trump was perhaps the most famous member of the so-called “birther” movement questioning where Obama was born. He kicked off his first campaign by casting Mexican immigrants as “rapists” and drug traffickers and later questioned whether a U.S. federal judge of Mexican heritage could be fair to him.

While in the White House, Trump defended a White supremacist march in Charlottesville, Virginia, and suggested that the U.S. stop accepting immigrants from “shithole” countries including Haiti and parts of Africa. In August 2020, he suggested Harris, who was born in California, might not meet the Constitution’s eligibility requirements to be vice president.

And just two weeks after formally entering the 2024 campaign, he dined with notorious White supremacist Nick Fuentes at his Mar-a-Lago residence.

Trump won in 2016 but lost reelection in 2020 to Biden by close margins in several swing states. He swept the 2024 Republican primary even while facing a raft of criminal charges.

Some Trump critics worried that his racial strategy might resonate with a significant portion of the electorate anyway. Voters will decide in November whether to send a Black woman to the Oval Office for the first time in the nation’s nearly 250-year history.

“I hope Trump’s attacks on Harris are just him flailing about ineffectively. But put together Trump’s shamelessness, his willingness to lie, his demagogic talent, and the issue of race — and a certain amount of liberal complacency that Trump is just foolish — and I’m concerned,” Bill Kristol, a leading conservative anti-Trump voice, posted on social media Aug. 1.

The Harris campaign thinks there’s little upside for Trump

A Harris adviser described the moment as an opportunity to remind voters of the chaos and division that Trump breeds. But the adviser, granted anonymity to discuss internal strategy, said it would be a mistake for Democrats to engage with Trump’s attacks on race at the expense of the campaign’s broader focus on key policies.

So long as the campaign does not get distracted, the adviser said, Harris’ team believes there is little political upside for Trump to continue attacking Harris’ racial identity.

Harris told a gathering of a historically Black sorority on July 31 that Trump’s attack was “the same old show: the divisiveness and the disrespect.”

On the ground in at least one swing state, however, there were signs that Trump’s approach may be resonating — at least among the former president’s White male base.

Jim Abel, a 65-year-old retiree who attended a rally for Vance in Arizona on July 31, said he agreed with Trump’s focus on Harris’ racial identity.

“She’s not Black,” Abel said. “I’ve seen her parents. I’ve pictures of her and her family and she’s not Black. She’s looking for the Black vote.”

But several high-profile Republican voices disagreed.

Conservative commentator Ben Shapiro posted on X a picture of a road sign with two directions. One led to, “Attack Kamala’s record, lies and radicalism,” while the other, “Is she really Black?”

“I dunno guys, I just think that maybe winning the 2024 election might be more important than having this silly and meaningless conversation,” Shapiro wrote.

___

Brown reported from Chicago. AP writers Stephen Groves, Mary Clare Jalonick and Farnoush Amiri in Washington; and Gabriel Sandoval in Glendale, Arizona, contributed to this report.

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By Fedrick C. Ingram
Word In Black

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis isn’t interested in being a leader.

Leaders listen to the people, even those they don’t agree with, in order to foster democracy and empathy for the communities they’ve been elected to serve. 

That is what leaders do.

Last year, at the start of Black History Month, DeSantis blocked the country’s first AP Black Studies course for being “too woke.” This year, just in time for Black Music Month in June, DeSantis vetoed $32 million in cultural and museum grants from his state budget. He clearly wasn’t listening to the voices of his constituents, none of whom asked for such an unprecedented attack on art and culture. A principled leader wouldn’t even imagine eliminating the entire arts budget for the third largest state in the country, depriving countless communities of a vital human endeavor.

That is what autocrats do. 

While slashing the entire arts budget for the state is not a legal crime, it is a moral crime. Art is one of the most important things humans create and an outlet for the frustrated and the forgotten. It can also free the soul from place and time so we can experience the sublime.

That is what art and an arts education did for me. 

As I have written before, music changed the entire trajectory of my life. From a kid born in the Miami projects with a bad stutter to an accomplished leader in education, I needed art to better understand my own potential. 

Learning to sing and then play an instrument before graduating boosted my self-esteem, taught me discipline and stoked my desire to master something on my own steam.

I found new heroes through arts education, too. Names like Branford Marsalis, Prince and Gerald Albright were just as big to me as Michael Jordan or Eddie Murphy. They not only showed me beauty but revealed my connection to my people’s legacy. Of course, I already knew names like Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass or A. Philip Randolph, but to understand the soundtrack of Black America as it strove from slavery to freedom was a new frontier. Understanding the music I was playing connected me to the triumphs of my people, made me puff out my chest a bit more and stand a bit straighter.

Studying the arts can also have tangible academic benefits as well. We know it can have a marked increase on standardized reading scores and reduce the need for teacher discipline — a big deal for Black students who are disproportionately punished for behavior in school. Students engaging with arts education had a nearly 4 percent reduction in discipline, a 13 percent increase in standardized writing scores, and an 8 percent increase in compassion for others.

The good news is that most public school children have access to arts education—whether that’s painting, music, writing or many other forms. According to a 2019 report from the Arts Education Data Project, 96% of K-12 students have access to arts education, with 65% participating. 

However, that access is not guaranteed for all children, especially in Florida where public schools are being hollowed out by school vouchers at an increasing rate. So what does this mean for low-income and Black children who, according to a 2020 Knight Foundation study, “report lower levels of access to arts and cultural activities than higher-income or White residents.”

Without the arts, there are voices that will go unheard, and their attachment to the community will be diminished.

It’s hard for me to think that was not the goal.

The beauty of art, aside from the aesthetics, is that it not only comments on the status quo, but challenges it. Nina Simone, Marvin Gaye, and Public Enemy have turned art into social commentary. That commentary spawns action and activism. To undermine that endeavor feels like a calculated move from a governor who has regularly shown his disdain for dissenting voices.

This is the same governor banning books by authors whose stories and identities veer too close to some ugly truths instead of the jingoistic fantasy he has in his head. His rejection of AP Black Studies was partly due to his inability to reconcile how queer experiences related to the Black experience — has he never heard of playwright Lorraine Hansberry, author James Baldwin or dancer Alvin Ailey? 

I suspect he does know who these people are — but they all made art that challenges his worldview that America is a land with no rough edges, no deep-seated conflicts that have left scars on multiple generations. He and his extremist pals prefer an America that has only done the right thing. In this way, there is no trouble — only troublemakers; anyone who dares to remind us that we still have a long road to true equality must be silenced.

To paraphrase the great John Lewis, we must remain troublemakers. Whether we do that by casting a ballot or writing a song, we must insist on searching for an imagined tomorrow to make today a better place. We must stay connected to the ones before us who inspired us through music, books, plays and movies. Let’s dance, paint, sculpt, and write our brave new future into the soil of this country so we will never forget our past or give up on our glorious future.

This article was originally published by Word In Black.

The post The fate of art and soul in Florida appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

Former President Donald J. Trump, Republican presidential nominee, fueled controversy during a question and answer session at the 2024 National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) Annual Convention and Career Fair on July 31. 

Rachel Scott, senior congressional correspondent for ABC News, opened the conversation by asking Trump to explain why Black voters should vote for him, considering previous insulting comments he has made about Black elected officials and other people of color.

“I don’t think I’ve ever been asked a question in such a horrible manner,” said Trump, in response to the first question.

“Are you with ABC? Because I think they’re a fake news network. I think it’s a very rude introduction,” he continued.

Trump evaded a response to the first question, instead taking several digs at Scott, the company she works for and NABJ itself for a late start due to technical difficulties. 

The conversation with the former president caused a stir once it was disclosed to the Black journalists that make up NABJ and the general public. NABJ leadership addressed the controversy around the invitation, emphasizing that they spent months in communication with both political parties about participating in the convention.

Trump said NABJ invited him “under false pretense,” claiming that Vice President Kamala Harris (D) would be in attendance for the session as well. Ultimately, she was not on the stage for the conversation at the convention.

“NABJ has been in talks with both the Democratic and Republican parties since January. NABJ was in contact with Vice President Kamala Harris’ team for an in-person panel before President Joe Biden dropped out of the race in July,” said NABJ President Ken Lemon in a statement. “We were advised by her campaign at the time that her schedule could not accommodate this request.”

Lemon said the last word they received from her campaign, earlier this week, was that Harris would not be available in person or virtually during the convention. Less than an hour before the conversation, NABJ announced that they were in conversation with Harris’ campaign for a live or virtual Q and A in September.

“We are in talks about virtual options in the future and are still working to reach an agreement,” continued Lemon. 

Throughout the session with Trump, moderators tried to move forward with the Q and A by asking questions on some of the most pressing issues for Black Americans, such as the economy and abortion.

On the topic of abortion, Trump said he is proud of the Supreme Court’s move to overturn Roe v. Wade, leaving the decision to each individual state.

“Right now, it’s an amazing thing. It’s out of the federal government, it’s [up to the] states and people are voting,” he said.

Since Roe v. Wade was overturned, at least 14 states have criminalized abortions.

During the session, Trump doubled down on criticism of Harris’ actions around the border and expressed concern about “Black jobs” being taken by people who enter the U.S. illegally.

“Coming from the border are millions and millions of people that happen to be taking Black jobs,” said Trump. 

When asked to finally answer the question of “What is a ‘Black job?’” Trump stated that “a Black job is anybody that has a job.”

Trump claimed Harris has allowed millions to flock to the border, referring to her as the “border czar” due to Biden assigning her to address the root causes of Central American migration as vice president.

“She’s done a horrible job,” criticized Trump.

Before the Q and A, NABJ convention co-chair Karen Attiah announced her resignation via X, formerly known as Twitter.

“I have decided to step down as co-chair from this year’s #NABJ24 convention in Chicago,” she said. “While my decision was influenced by a variety of factors, I was not involved or consulted with in any way with the decision to platform Trump in such a format.”

Lemon backed NABJ’s decision to move forward with Trump’s invitation stating that it was in line with their usual practices concerning political candidates

“It has always been our policy to ensure that candidates know that an invitation is not an endorsement,” said Lemon. “While we acknowledge the concerns expressed by our members, we believe it is important for us to provide our members with the opportunity to hear directly from candidates and hold them accountable.”

The convention included a live fact-checking option on the NABJ website, which attendees applauded at the event.

Ahead of the session, the National Newspapers Publishers Association (NNPA) issued a strong statement against the invitation, demanding that it be rescinded. 

“I strongly oppose Trump’s participation in the NABJ annual convention and career fair,” declared NNPA National Chair Bobby Henry, via the NNPA Newswire. “The NNPA represents over 250 African American-owned newspapers and media companies and has been a pillar of the Black Press of America for 197 years.”

Henry said Trump’s “divisive rhetoric and actions have harmed marginalized communities, particularly the Black community.” 

“Allowing him a platform at this event undermines the NABJ’s values of inclusion and solidarity and risks normalizing his damaging behavior.”

NABJ was founded on Dec. 12, 1975 by a group of 44 individuals with a focus on providing “quality programs and services to and advocacy for Black journalists worldwide.”

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By Ryan Coleman
Special to the AFRO

The vice presidency was described by the first man to hold the office, John Adams, as “the most insignificant office that ever the invention of man contrived or his imagination conceived.” 

Originally, the runner-up in the presidential vote — to be carried out by the decidedly un-democratic Electoral College — was to be named vice president. 

The idea of a distinguished politician being vice president for nearly two hundred years, and a series of hacks and non-entities occupying the vice presidency became the norm, rather than the exception. If I polled average Americans on three legislative accomplishments directed by the last three vice presidents, Mike Pence, Joe Biden and Dick Cheney, I feel confident that 90 percent of them would barely be able to name two. 

This is for a reason. The vice president’s role is to stand in the background, to be the tie-breaking vote for the Senate, and to be the ambassador to foreign nations, but never to overshadow the president. So what is different about Kamala Harris? Her identity – as the first female, Black vice president – led to an unprecedented level of scrutiny. The fact that an intelligent Black woman is one step away from being the president is too much for some to handle. 

Born in Oakland, Calif., Harris graduated from Howard University and the University of California- Hastings College of the Law. She has held positions in the office of the district attorney of Alameda County, the San Francisco DA’s Office and the City Attorney of San Francisco. In 2003, she was elected DA of San Francisco. She was elected attorney general of California in 2010 and was re-elected in 2014. Harris served as the junior U.S. senator from California from 2017 to 2021. 

As a senator, Harris advocated for healthcare reform, the DREAM Act, strict gun control laws and tax reform. She gained a national profile with her intelligent questions during the confirmation hearings of Brett Kavanaugh. 

Harris has shined for fighting the causes of under-represented Americans. Recently, the vice president has emerged as one of the administration’s leading voices pushing Israel to do more to limit Palestinian casualties in its war against Hamas and to get humanitarian aid into Gaza. 

On the campaign trail, Harris is connecting with voters who are less than excited about the Democratic ticket. She has been defending Biden’s mental acuity, calling the special counsel’s depiction “gratuitous, inaccurate and inappropriate.” In a speech on February 2nd at South Carolina State University, a historically Black institution, she spoke of threats to democracy posed by Donald Trump and said that the former President “has stoked the fires of hate and bigotry and racism and xenophobia for his own power and political gain.” 

Harris is also the campaign’s strongest voice on abortion, the issue that, since the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision, in June 2022 has likely galvanized more voters— including women in Republican-led states—than any other. She began a recent fundraising email by declaring, “I’m furious,” and launched a national tour in Wisconsin on the fifty-first anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision. 

“These extremists want to roll back the clock to a time before women were treated as full citizens,” she said, standing near a big banner that read “TRUST WOMEN.” Recalling Trump’s comment that he was proud to appoint three Supreme Court Justices whose votes were critical to overturn Roe, she asked, “Proud that women across our nation are suffering? Proud that women have been robbed of a fundamental freedom? Proud that doctors could be thrown in prison for caring for their patients?” 

In Republican audiences, though, Harris is readily mocked and dismissed. At a Nikki Haley event at the Thunder Bay Grille, in Davenport, Iowa, —Haley said, “We cannot ever have a President Kamala Harris. She’d send a chill up your spine.” 

What, exactly, is so terrifying about Harris wasn’t clear, but Haley hit the note of Biden’s frailty again in a recent CNN interview, seeming to suggest that Trump, if nominated, would lose to Biden and that Biden would not finish a second term. “There will be a female President of the United States,” she said. “It will either be me, or it will be Kamala Harris.” 

Some Republicans and others have wild conspiracy theories and racist overtones as a result of her race and as a result of her gender. They lie to themselves to hide their racist and sexist disposition. The truth is they are scared of change. They are scared of the true story — that Black Americans are equal to White Americans. Kamala Harris is an excellent vice president. 

Human nature leads us to avert our gaze when confronted with situations that disturb us. Part of our nation’s ongoing struggle with race is that too many look away and too few look deeply. For those of us who consider ourselves Christian, this shows up in the continued refusal to see the face of God in others and to love our neighbors as ourselves. 

Racism can never be defeated under such circumstances. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr says it best, “Whites, it must frankly be said, are not putting in a similar mass effort to re-educate themselves out of their racial ignorance. It is an aspect of their sense of superiority that the White people of America believe they have so little to learn…resonant resolutions about brotherhood fall pleasantly on the ear, but for the Negro there is a credibility gap he cannot overlook.” 

 Ryan Coleman can be reached at randallstownnaacp@gmail.com

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By Megan Sayles
AFRO Business Writer
msayles@afro.com

President Joe Biden recently announced new efforts to reduce housing costs for Americans. The proposals include imposing rent caps on corporate landlords and building more affordable housing.

The move comes after the Biden-Harris administration revealed its Housing Supply Action Plan in May. It is designed to drive down housing expenses over time by increasing the supply of homes across the country. 

“Families deserve housing that’s affordable—it’s part of the American Dream,” said Biden in a  July 16 statement. “Rent is too high and buying a home is out of reach for too many working families and young Americans, after decades of failure to build enough homes. I’m determined to turn that around.”

According to Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies, 49 percent of renters were cost-burdened in 2021, spending more than 30 percent of their income on housing.

If passed by Congress, Biden’s proposal would deny federal tax credits to landlords who increase rent by more than 5 percent each year. The policy would start this year and continue for the next two years. Landlords who control more than 50 units would be subject to the cap, ultimately reaching more than 20 million renters in the U.S. 

“Rent’s too high and a home is out of reach for too many working and young Americans. After decades of failure to build enough homes, the president decided that it was time to take action to turn that around,” said Stephen K. Benjamin, senior adviser to the president and public engagement director at the White House. “We’ve seen this trend of corporate landlords, those on Wall Street primarily, buying hundreds and thousands of homes in one community and significantly increasing rents higher than normal inflation would dictate.” 

High rents often have a disproportionate impact on Black and Brown families. In 2021, the Pew Research Center found that 58 percent of households led by Black adults are renters. This is compared to 27.9 percent for households led by White adults.

Benjamin highlighted that the president is also working to remove barriers to homeownership, a means of creating generational wealth for Black Americans. According to the adviser, nearly 250,000 Black adults have purchased a home with the help of a Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loan since 2021. 

He also said Biden’s foreclosure prevention measures have kept more than 160,000 African Americans in their homes.

“People just want a fair shot, an opportunity to do the great things that God has in store for them. They want a level playing field that realizes that oftentimes the system does not work for Black and Brown tenants across this country,” said Benjamin. “The civil rights challenge of the 21st century is, how do I build generational wealth? For many of us, it’ll be through housing.”

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By Stacy M. Brown
NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia

(NNPA Newswire) – A group of well-known Black Democratic leaders unveiled Project FREEDOM, a fresh strategy to combat Project 2025, a contentious 922-page plan to reform the federal government put forth by a conservative Washington think tank and other political allies.

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have repeatedly warned in campaign speeches that if Donald Trump wins a second term, he plans to use the conservative blueprint to exert unprecedented presidential power, eliminate the Department of Education and federal housing assistance, and significantly cut or restrict food stamps and other social welfare programs.

Trump has tried to distance himself from Project 2025, calling some of the proposals “seriously extreme,” but its architects helped shape his Republican Party platform. 

Project FREEDOM, the organizers said in a virtual news conference, is designed to engage Black voters in four key battleground areas.

In the plan, the group says it aims to mobilize voters of color through town halls, community events, digital campaigns and phone banks in Michigan, North Carolina, Las Vegas, and the Pennsylvania/Tri-State area.

Project FREEDOM aims to provide voters with a substantial policy agenda for Democrats ahead of the November election, offering a clear and precise contrast to Project 2025. 

Organizers say Project FREEDOM is based on four pillars: Freedom to Live, Freedom to Learn, Freedom to Vote, and Freedom to Thrive.

“When people show you who they really are, you have a responsibility to speak your truth. Project FREEDOM is our opportunity to speak in one collective voice and say, ‘This will not stand,” said Rev. Michael McBride, co-founder of Black Church PAC and the National Black Brown Gun Violence Prevention Consortium, which work to center Black and Brown gun violence prevention practitioners and scale up life-saving interventions related to urban and communal violence.

They said Freedom to Live is born from the idea that the Black community should be able to “live freely and without fear.” Organizers are calling for the passage of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which Republicans in the U.S. Senate have stalled. 

“The way to really engage voters to go to the polls is to make sure they know we’re not just going for a celebratory vote. Instead, we’re going to the polls with our bag of demands with us,” said Tamika Mallory, co-founder of Until Freedom, an intersectional social justice organization.

Mallory emphasized the need to address income inequality, educational challenges and police violence. She referenced the case of Sonya Massey, an unarmed 36-year-old Black woman and mother of two, who was fatally shot by former deputy Sean Grayson in her Illinois home. Grayson’s troubled history in law enforcement, including prior disciplinary issues, highlights systemic problems in policing that Project FREEDOM aims to address.

Meanwhile, Freedom to Thrive calls for expanding the Child Tax Credit, increasing the federal minimum wage to match inflation, and a pilot program for universal basic income in low-income communities nationwide. 

Additionally, Freedom to Learn focuses on education, including canceling student debt and protecting Black American history in public schools. 

Freedom to Vote aims to strengthen voting rights, advocate for the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act’s passage, and reshape the U.S. Supreme Court.

Michael Blake, founder of Project FREEDOM and CEO of KAIROS Democracy Project, emphasized the urgency of the initiative. 

“Our democracy is under siege by a man and political machine that put themselves above all those in whom they detect ‘otherness,’” said Blake, a former vice chair of the Democratic Party.

“We cannot afford to forget the pain inflicted on our people throughout Donald Trump’s administration, and we certainly cannot afford the destructiveness a second term would normalize,” Blake stated.

Project FREEDOM officials said, “Make no mistake: Communities of color are the frontline communities targeted by the poison that is Project 2025’s Christian Nationalist vision for the future, and Project FREEDOM is the antidote.”

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By Christine Fernando
The Associated Press

CHICAGO (AP) — ” Brats for Harris.” ” We need a Kamalanomenon. ” ” Gen Z feels the Kamalove.”

In the days since President Joe Biden exited the presidential race and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris, Gen Z voters jumped to social media to share coconut tree and “brat summer” memes — reflecting a stark shift in tone for a generation that’s voiced feeling left behind by the Democratic Party.

Youth-led progressive organizations have warned for months that Biden had a problem with young voters, pleading with the president to work more closely with them to refocus on the issues most important to younger generations or risk losing their votes. With Biden out of the race, many of these young leaders are now hoping Harris can overcome his faltering support among Gen Z and harness a new explosion of energy among young voters.

Since July 21, statements have poured out from youth-led organizations across the country, including in Arizona, Wisconsin, Michigan, California, Minnesota, North Carolina and Pennsylvania, as leaders thanked Biden for stepping aside and celebrated the opportunity to organize around a new candidate. On July 26, a coalition of 17 youth-led groups endorsed Harris.

“This changes everything,” said Zo Tobi, director of communication for the Movement Voter Project, a national progressive funding group focusing on youth-led organizations, when he heard the news that Biden was dropping out of the race and endorsing Harris. “The world as it is suddenly shifted into the world as it could be.”

As the campaign enters a new phase, both Harris and her Republican rival, Donald Trump, are expected to target messages aimed at younger voters who could prove decisive in some of the most hotly contested states. 

Trump spoke late July 26 at a Turning Point USA conference and Harris plans to deliver a virtual address July 27 to Voters of Tomorrow, an organization focused on young voters.

John Della Volpe, director of polling at the Harvard Kennedy School Institute of Politics, who has worked with Biden, said the “white-hot energy” among young people is something he hasn’t seen since former President Barack Obama’s campaign. While there’s little reliable polling so far, he described the dynamic as “a combination of the hopefulness we saw with Obama and the urgency and fight we saw after the Parkland shooting.”

In many ways, it was the first time many young people felt heard and felt like their actions could have an impact on politics, he and several young leaders said.

“It’s reset this election in profound ways,” he said. “People, especially young people, for so long, for so many important reasons have been despondent about politics, despondent about the direction of the country. It’s weighed on them. And then they wake up the next morning, and it seems like everything’s changed.”

About 6 in 10 adults under 30 voted for Biden in 2020, according to AP VoteCast, but his ratings with the group have dipped substantially since then, with only about a quarter of the group saying they had a favorable opinion of him in the most recent AP-NORC poll, conducted before Biden withdrew from the race.

That poll, along with polls from The New York Times/Siena and from CNN that were conducted after Biden dropped out, suggest that Harris starts off with somewhat better favorable ratings than Biden among young adults.

Sunjay Muralitharan, vice president of College Democrats of America, said it felt like a weight was lifted off his chest when Harris entered the race.

Despite monthly coalition calls between youth-led groups and the Biden campaign, Muralitharan spent months worrying about how Biden would fare among young voters as he watched young people leave organizations such as the College Democrats and Young Democrats to join more leftist groups.

College Democrats issued statements and social media posts encouraging the party to prioritize young people and to change course on the war in Gaza and have “worked tirelessly to get College Dems programming” at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago later this summer. But they received limited outreach in return, Muralitharan said.

A Harris campaign represents an opportunity to move in a new direction, he said. The vice president has shown her vocal support for issues important to young voters such as climate change and reproductive rights, Muralitharan said, adding that she may also be able to change course and distance herself from Biden’s approach to the war in Gaza.

“The perpetual roadblock we’ve run into is that Biden is the lesser of two evils and his impact on the crisis in Gaza,” he said. “For months, we’ve been given this broken script that’s made it difficult for us to organize young voters. But that changes now.”

Santiago Mayer, executive director of the Gen Z voter engagement organization Voters of Tomorrow, said the Biden campaign “created an entirely new framework for operating with youth organizations” that can now be transitioned into supporting Harris’ campaign.

“Gen Z loves VP Harris, and VP Harris loves Gen Z,” he said. “So we’re ready to get to work for her.”

___

The Associated Press receives support from several private foundations to enhance its explanatory coverage of elections and democracy. See more about AP’s democracy initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) signed a plain language executive order on July 23 that aims to make state services and programs more accessible. Moore also recognized 34 years of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). 

“If a Maryland family cannot understand updates about a hurricane in their community because our website is hard to read, that’s not good government,” said Moore. “This executive order will help to ensure every piece of writing that comes out of this administration in print and online is simple, accessible, proofread and easy to read. This is not just going to help out some, this is going to help out all.” 

The ADA has been in place and protecting people with disabilities from discrimination within the workplace and state and local government programs since 1990.

According to the Pew Research Center, approximately 42.5 million Americans are living with disabilities. Those disabilities include people with vision, walking, cognitive and hearing difficulties.

“Today Governor Moore is taking more action to fulfill the promise he made to all of us when he ran for office, to leave no Marylander behind,” said Rachel London, executive director of the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council. “With this executive order, he is showing his commitment to make Maryland’s government more accessible and inclusive for all of us.”

London further explained the benefit of ensuring plain language is used in Maryland’s programs and services.

“Plain language is a way of writing so people can understand information the first time they read it,” she said. “When state agencies use plain language in their public documents and on their websites, more people can access the information they need and the information they want. Creation of the Maryland plain language plan will help state agencies take the steps necessary to make sure that happens.”

London touted the strength of the plain language approach, highlighting positive results the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council has seen through implementing it in Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) services.

“The MVA’s Driver’s Manual and learner’s permit test are now in plain language, making it easier for all new drivers to understand the rules of the road,” she said. “We are proud to say that since the plain language tests were rolled out late last year, the MVA has seen a 15 percent increase in people passing the test.”

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

State Sen. Cory V. McCray (D-Md.-45) hosted a two-day apprenticeship program that gave youth the chance to learn about the electrical industry July 23 and July 25. 

Around 70 YouthWorks participants (ages 14-19) toured the International Brotherhood of Electrical Worker (IBEW) Local 24 Apprenticeship facility in West Baltimore and learned about the basics of conduit bending and the difference between residential, commercial and industrial electrical work.

“I’m an electrician. I went through a five-year apprenticeship program. I’m also in my second term in the Maryland State Senate,” said McCray, introducing himself to the group and explaining how important the program is to him. “We collectively partner with a number of different organizations. Every year we do an apprenticeship tour, making sure we bring as many young scholars from our city to this space.”

During the day, McCray talked with students about overcoming obstacles and making the most of life’s opportunities. He also emphasized the importance of perseverance, efficient resource use and time management.

“The only expectationsa that we have for our apprentices are that they have a good attitude, that they’re ready to show up to work on time and that they are willing to learn,” said McCray. “Every apprentice has a journeyperson that they’re working next to that’s training them on the basic functions of (what they need to know) in this electrical profession.”

Dave Springham, training coordinator at the IBEW Local 24 Apprenticeship facility, explained the difference between an apprenticeship and an internship.

“Do you get paid as an intern? Sometimes. Traditionally, you’re doing it for academic credit…life experience. Sometimes you get paid, sometimes you don’t,” said Springham. “Every one of our apprentices, every single minute on the job site are getting paid well.”

“Our first year apprentices with absolutely zero experience, first day on the job, start at over $21 an hour,” Springham continued.

The students were engaged throughout the day, asking questions and volunteering for the demonstrations.

“It was very educational and I really appreciated it,” said Kirsten Tyler, 17. “There’s definitely not a negative thing I got from today. It helped me figure out what it is that I want to do after college, and that there’s definitely multiple things I could do. It’s not just college or nothing.

“I would love to go to an apprenticeship, but that would be my second option as opposed to me going to school for being a chiropractor – something that I’ve always wanted to do,” she continued. “I’m definitely appreciative of the program for allowing me to be able to experience this because I didn’t know anything about apprenticeships and I have a lot of knowledge about it now.”

McCray emphasized that the aim of the program was to introduce Baltimore youth to more of the opportunities that are out there for them.

For those hesitant about apprenticeships, Tyler encouraged other youth to just give it a try and don’t give up.

“There is nothing worse than failing and never trying to do something again. If something doesn’t work out, the best thing that you can do is continue to try and build and prosper,” she said. “And apprenticeships are one of those opportunities where there’s no downfall. It’s easy work and you’re getting paid.”

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By Ashlee Banks
Special to the AFRO

Some members of the Congressional Black Caucus opted against attending Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s joint session address to Congress.

On July 24, the Israeli leader spoke to members of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate to discuss the longstanding relationship between the Middle Eastern nation and the United States.

Netanyahu also used the hour-long speech to declare that he would have “total victory” in the Israel-Hamas conflict.

U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) did not attend Netanyahu’s speech and said Congress should not lend its “platform to a war criminal.” 

“I continue to grieve for nearly 40,000 Palestinians killed by the Israeli military,” said Pressley in a statement. “The violence and bloodshed we have seen over the last nine months is devastating.” 

U.S. Rep. Jamaal Bowman, (D-N.Y.) was also absent from the address and said Congressional leaders made a bad call by inviting Netanyahu to the Capitol grounds.

“I am disgusted and horrified by Netanyahu’s violent and bigoted speech to the joint session of Congress, but I am not surprised,” said Bowman in a statement. “It was completely predictable that he would use this as an opportunity to fearmonger and tell lies to try and win support and funding for his indiscriminate bombing campaign.”  

In total, more than 100 Democratic members on both the House and Senate side skipped the prime minister’s address.  

Lawmakers were not the only ones displeased with Netanyahu’s visit. While the Israeli leader was speaking to Congress, a large group of demonstrators gathered near Union Station to protest Netanyahu’s speech. During the demonstration, protestors removed three American flags and replaced them with Palestinian flags. While some protestors burned at least one of the American flags, others spray-painted words like “Hamas,” “Gaza,” “Genocide Joe,” and “Child Killers” on a monument just feet away from the station’s entrance.

On the evening of July 24, House Republicans were spotted replacing the Palestinian flags with American flags.

The very next morning, Washington, D.C. city workers were seen removing the graffiti from the monument.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) condemned the protests, saying “there is a difference between lawful expression and disorderly conduct.”

“Defacing public property, desecrating the American flag, threatening Jews with violence and promoting terrorist groups like Hamas is not acceptable under any circumstance,” said Jeffries in a statement.

The protest came a day after pro-Palestinian demonstrators participated in a sit-in at the U.S. Capitol ahead of Netanyahu’s visit. Nearly 400 demonstrators with Jewish Voice for Peace staged the protest. At least 200 were arrested for crowding, obstructing or incommoding in the Cannon House Office Building. 

The Israeli prime minister’s visit comes nearly 10 months after the Israel-Hamas conflict began. On Oct. 7, Hamas launched an attack against Israel, abducting 251 people and killing 1,200 Israelis. Since October, Israel has engaged in countless attacks against Palestinians, resulting in the deaths of nearly 40,000 people, mostly women and children. 

Bowman said Congress should be focused on the safety of Palestinians and ensuring that they do not have to live in a constant state of fear.

“It’s our responsibility to uplift the shared humanity of all people and work together toward peace,” said the Democratic lawmaker.

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By Ashlee Banks
Special to the AFRO

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and other Republican leaders have asked members of their caucus to stop launching racist and misogynistic attacks against Vice President Kamala Harris.

On July 23, Johnson met with Republicans and said that neither Harris’ race nor her gender has anything to do with her running for president.

“This election will be about policies and not personalities,” Johnson told reporters..  

This comes after Harris accepted President Biden’s nomination to replace him in the 2024 presidential race after he announced that he would withdraw from the race.

Since then, GOP Congress members have lobbed attacks against Harris in an effort to undermine her run for the Oval Office. 

On July 23, U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles, (R-Tenn.) introduced articles of impeachment against Harris over the border crisis and accused her of breaching the public’s trust regarding President Joe Biden’s mental and physical health.

Ogles contended that Harris failed to evoke the 25th amendment to have Biden removed from the White House “when it became apparent that he was…incapable” of fulfilling his presidential duties.

U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, (D-Texas) condemned Ogles for the filing.

“Andy Ogles needs to focus on making sure that he can be an honorable member that people can trust and believe absolutely deserves his spot here in and stop trying to do the bidding of Trump going after the vice president,” Crockett told the AFRO.

The Texas lawmaker added that Ogles does not have a good reason to file articles of impeachment against the vice president.

“These people clearly don’t understand what the requirements for an impeachment are in the first place,” said Crockett. “But, that’s their game because they don’t have anything of substance. We have wasted so many tax dollars because they decided that they wanted to go after the president consistently on a bogus impeachment.”

This is Ogles’ second time filing articles of impeachment against Harris. He did the same last year, however, he did not garner enough support from House Republicans to bring it to the floor for a vote. House Democrats believe history will repeat itself.

After Ogles filed articles of impeachment against Harris, U.S. Rep. Tim Burchett, (R-Tenn.) called Harris a “DEI hire” in a tweet.

“The incompetency level is at an all-time high in Washington,” said Burchett. “The media propped up , lied to the American people for three years and then dumped him for our DEI vice president.”

U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, (D-N.Y.) told the AFRO Republicans are threatened by the vice president and will call anyone who has “rightfully earned their place” a DEI hire.

She said this rhetoric comes from a “party of largely one gender and one identity.”

In recent days, House Democrats have reminded Republicans that Harris served as the first Black attorney general in California; she represented California in the U.S. Senate, becoming the second Black woman to serve in the upper chamber after Carol Moseley Braun; and she made history again to become the very first Black vice president.

Harris is expected to be named the Democratic presidential nominee during the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in August.

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By Art Jones 

There was an attempted assassination of Donald Trump at an outdoor rally on the afternoon of July 13. All of the national television coverage the next day featured Republican and Democratic politicians– along with  political pundits– expressing shock and surprise that such a horrific act could happen here in America. 

Television news reporters chimed in, saying, “It is almost unthinkable that something like this would  happen at such an event.” President Biden made a national announcement condemning the shooting and stating that “we cannot, we must not go down this road in America.” But if we step back for just a moment and look at this matter with clear eyes, no one should  be all that surprised that a man who spent nearly a decade stirring the cauldron of  divisiveness and hate should be the victim of his own rhetoric. 

America is a violent nation. Violence is as American and natural as vanilla ice cream melting down a hot apple pie. America is a nation born in violence. From the American Revolution to the War of 1812, the  Mexican-American War, the Civil War, the Spanish-American War, the incessant annihilation  of Native Americans, World War I and II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, the  20-year war in Afghanistan– and now–the conflict in Ukraine, America has proven itself to be a  warrior nation. 

From its inception to this very day, America has been actively engaged in no fewer than 108 serious military conflicts. When America is not busy trying to take land from Native Americans or Mexicans, it hones its  nefarious creed by terrorizing African Americans. After Emancipation, African Americans had  to endure over one hundred years of Jim Crow lynchings. It is documented that over 6,000  lynchings of black Americans occurred, individuals who were just trying to live their lives as  decent human beings. Not one of these culprits has ever been brought to justice. 

The United States is a little over 248 years old. Since the founding of this nation in 1776 to this very day in 2024, this country has only known a colossal 17 years of peace. That is less  than one out of over 13 generations. 

America is a warrior nation. 

So let’s take a look at Trump. He has yet to concede the 2020 election to Joe Biden. On  Jan. 6, 2021, he incited an angry mob to launch an insurrection to end the U.S.  governmental system. It cost the lives of five Capitol Hill police officers. Trump  was never arrested for creating such a human tragedy.  

Let it be clearly noted that if his predecessor had attempted anything like this he would be in prison today, serving a lengthy sentence for sedition and trying to overthrow the American government. At rallies, Trump urged attendees to commit violence on those who voiced opposition to his  position. 

Trump has said that if he loses the 2024 election, there would be a “bloodbath.”

During the last debate, he made it clear that the only way he would accept the results of this  year’s election would be if he won.

John Kennedy never uttered such inflammatory words against Nixon in his run for the  presidency in 1960. Yet, he was assassinated. His brother Robert never came close to spewing such highly bombastic rhetoric in 1968– yet, he too lost his life to gun violence. So, when are the politicians, news casters, and pundits voicing such shock and surprise that the  cheerleader of violence in this country should be within the crosshairs of a would-be  assassin?

Violence is in the DNA of the American nation. This maniacal desire to rape, plunder,  subjugate and dominate all others has brought us to the events of Saturday. It is time this  country acknowledged this fact about its history. Mr. Trump has provoked an intense climate  of hate, a hatred far more potent than that which existed at the time of the tragic  assassination of John Kennedy in November 1963. And as Malcolm X said of Kennedy’s death then, the same can be said to characterize the events surrounding the attempted  assassination of Donald Trump in 2024: “The chickens have come home to roost.” 

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Word In Black’s owners and publishers tell why Harris has the leadership experience we need for a free, prosperous, and more just future. 

By Word In Black Owners

As the next presidential election rapidly approaches, our nation is, without question, at a crossroads. To the left is continued racial, economic and social progress; to the right is regression, division and the ongoing resurrection of overt, violent White supremacy. 

Therefore, the result of November’s vote will not only define the trajectory of America in general but also determine the fate of Black America in particular, with far-reaching consequences that could last for generations. 

With such historically high stakes on the table — and an election in which the Black vote could be a decisive factor — we at Word In Black wholeheartedly, and without question endorse Vice President Kamala Harris for the next president of the United States. It is our first-ever political endorsement, and we make it without reservation.

At this pivotal moment in American history, Harris represents the change we want to see now. She is a transformational figure, poised to make history not only as the first woman to serve the nation as commander-in-chief but also as the first Black woman, first HBCU graduate and first member of a Black Greek letter organization to hold the most powerful job on earth.

Our endorsement, however, begins with President Joe Biden, who is among the most effective champions for Black America in history and who chose her as his running mate. The Biden-Harris administration created 2.6 million jobs for Black workers, cut child poverty in half, grew Black household wealth, and slashed insulin and asthma inhaler prices. They forgave $168.5 billion in student loan debt, pushed to close the Black-White digital divide, made meaningful investments in policies to fight climate change, and appointed a record number of Black judges to the federal bench. 

The president also demonstrated unparalleled leadership, selflessness and patriotism by withdrawing from the 2024 presidential race and endorsing Harris to replace him on the Democratic Party ticket. She will almost assuredly continue his agenda, but with the added perspective of her lived experience in Black spaces.

Harris has impressive credentials: former San Francisco district attorney, former California attorney general, former U.S. senator, current vice president. Her personal story — child of immigrant activist parents, Howard University graduate, member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., the first Black woman to hold statewide elected office in California — is compelling. She is a fearless champion of civil rights and has advocated for criminal legal system reform, access to health care and investment in underserved communities.  

Furthermore, Harris’s intelligence, tenacity, charisma and joy on the campaign trail sets her apart from her Republican opponents. Her elevation as the Democrats’ presumptive presidential nominee has electrified the campaign, generating excitement not seen since Barack Obama’s historic 2008 run to become America’s first Black president.

Consider: within the first 24 hours of Harris’ candidacy, her campaign took in a stunning $81 million — the largest single-day fundraising effort in American political history. The total included some $3 million in small-dollar, grassroots donations from an impromptu fundraising drive led solely by Black men and women. 

It is clear evidence that Harris’ presence in the nation’s highest office will be an unprecedented step toward greater representation and inclusion of diverse voices at the highest levels of government.

For nearly 200 years, we in the Black press have stood for freedom, justice, equality, and democracy. We have spoken truth to power, especially when others in the mainstream, White-owned media have avoided it, or have actively spread falsehoods about our leaders and our communities. 

Hear us, then, when we say Harris represents the best hope of defeating two existential threats to Black America: the return of the former president, a bigoted, twice-impeached convicted felon and purported rapist who is attempting to divide America; and Project 2025 — a radical, far-right political, economic and social agenda he will almost certainly implement if he wins the White House. 

For us at Word in Black, the choice for president is as obvious as it is historic. The Republican nominee represents an America that will return to its ugly, violent, racist past, a time when we were treated like second-class citizens and our communities were under constant threat. Harris represents a new generation of leadership, a future built on optimism, inclusion and continued progress toward a more perfect union. 

On Tuesday, November 5, 2024, Black Americans have an opportunity to determine which version of the nation we want for ourselves and our children. We, the owners and publishers of Word In Black, encourage our readers and supporters to join us in supporting Vice President Kamala Harris in her extraordinary presidential campaign.

Together, we can make a difference and ensure that our voices are heard in shaping the future of our country.

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

Early July 26, Vice President Kamala Harris (D) gained the key endorsements of Barack and Michelle Obama in her bid to be the 2024 Democratic presidential nominee.

They made the announcement through a video where Harris can be seen walking and talking on the phone with the Obamas about their endorsement.

“We called to say, Michelle and I couldn’t be prouder to endorse you and do everything we can to get you through this election and into the Oval Office,” said the former president to Harris.

Harris thanked them for their friendship and support.

“Oh, my goodness. Michelle, Barack, this means so much to me,” said Harris. “I am looking forward to doing this with the two of you—Doug and I both—and getting out there, being on the road.”

President Joe Biden (D) stepped down via social media on July 21, putting his support behind Harris shortly after his announcement. This action by the president started a huge wave of funding and endorsements for Harris.

Harris still has to be officially nominated at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) next month. This year’s DNC will be held in Chicago from Aug. 19-22.

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By Ben Jealous

What if there was a blueprint for a future presidential administration to unilaterally lay waste to our constitutional order and turn America from a democracy into an autocracy in one fell swoop?

That is what one far-right think tank and its contributors created. And more than a hundred other far-right organizations have now signed on to support that blueprint. What could possibly go wrong?

Maybe you have heard about Project 2025. It was cooked up by the far-right Heritage Foundation. That organization’s leader says we are in a “second American Revolution” that he suggests could turn violent if those who oppose their disastrous plan to kill our democracy do not get in line behind it. 

For its 51-year history, the Heritage Foundation has always been an instrument of the Far Right. Around 2016, it started to become dangerously extreme. Project 2025, and its 900-page guidebook for ending the American experiment, is perhaps its most extreme – and dangerous – initiative yet.

The premise behind Project 2025 is that our constitutional system of checks and balances somehow is skewed against the American people based on their politics. It is an argument that itself exposes the extremity of those making it. 

Our Constitution provides a framework, as do our democratic institutions, for political debate and disagreement within the natural parameters of our system of government. Although our country has too often bucked the very principles of our founding, we used to be able to agree that, generally, America is a Republic that elects its leaders through representative democracy. And that for our government to serve the best interests of all its people, we must protect debate and a free exchange of ideas, as well as the mechanisms of democracy itself and the separation of powers among the three branches of government. 

Project 2025 wants to throw all that out the window. It attacks democratic institutions that separate nonpolitical civil service from loyalty to any particular party or leader. It prescribes purging the federal government of anyone who might be considered disloyal to the ruling party. It allows the president to usurp power from other branches of government, like Congress’s power of the purse. Project 2025 endorses presidential powers that include ignoring how Congress appropriates spending, where the president has the unquestioned authority to redirect congressionally passed spending at will.

Democracy Forward, a pro-democracy legal organization, refers to Project 2025 as “among the most profound threats to the American people.” That is due to the plan’s clear harm to the lives, livelihoods and wellbeing of countless millions of Americans – “from attacking overtime pay, student loans and reproductive rights, to allowing more discrimination, pollution and price gouging,” according to Democracy Forward.

It is no wonder that when Americans learn about the Project 2025 roadmap, they reject its policy prescriptions overwhelmingly. 

A recent survey by Navigator Polling found strong opposition to Project 2025’s possible impacts on healthcare: “83 percent oppose removing protections for people with pre-existing conditions, 81 percent oppose putting a new tax on health insurance for people who get coverage through their employer and 80 percent oppose banning Medicare from negotiating lower prices and eliminating the $35 monthly insulin cap.” 

Project 2025 also calls for defunding public education and eliminating Head Start, the early education program that serves a million primarily low-income children. It lights the path for actions that could reduce food assistance for 40 million people and cost hundreds of thousands of people their jobs. 

Project 2025 also supports the defunding or dismantling of key federal agencies, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which is vital in tracking hurricanes and the impacts of climate change. Rather than acknowledging the urgent need for climate action, Project 2025 accuses NOAA of being “one of the main drivers of the climate change alarm industry.” That is a level of climate denialism not even seen among fossil fuel companies and petrostate governments these days. 

How could anyone in their right mind think eliminating agencies on the frontlines of climate science is a good idea at a time like this?? Our cities are cooking under extreme heat. Forests are burning. And experts say Hurricane Beryl, which just slammed Texas – the strongest tropical storm ever recorded this early in the season – indicates we could be facing one of the most devastating hurricane seasons ever. In Texas alone, Beryl killed at least eight people and caused power outages for more than 2.5 million in this summer’s extreme heat. And, again, the season is just getting started.

We have big problems to solve. An authoritarian power grab that guts checks and balances is no way to solve them. A strong democracy that is responsive to its people is the only way we will create a rising tide of opportunity that lifts all boats. It is the only way we will protect people’s fundamental rights and survive the climate crisis. We have seen enough examples of dictatorships around the world to know it is a road to failure and misery. Project 2025 emphasizes consolidating power, punishing political opponents, and making the government work for the powerful few over the many. That is not the country Americans want or deserve.

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By Talib I. Karim

On July 19, 2024, we lost a giant in the fight for justice: Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee. Her relentless dedication led to the legislation that made Juneteenth a federal holiday, further cementing her legacy of advocating for justice and equality. Congresswoman Lee chaired the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security, and the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Transportation Security and Infrastructure Protection. She also chaired the multimillion-dollar Congressional Black Caucus Foundation.

Congresswoman Jackson Lee was a tireless champion for her diverse constituency and a beacon of servant leadership.

I arrived in Washington, D.C. in 1990, after leaving the U.S. Air Force Academy to complete my engineering and legal studies. I landed my first Capitol Hill job with the help of Congressman Harold Ford Sr., as an intern in the office of his CBC colleague and California’s first known African American Lt. Governor, Congressman Mervyn Dymally.

Since then, my work on and off Capitol Hill has been significant. Yet, none of my experiences have been more memorable and impactful than my tenure as Chief Technology Counsel and Legislative Director for Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee.

My very first assignment was drafting the Congresswoman’s statement introducing General Charles Bolden at the start of his Senate confirmation to become the first African American permanent NASA Administrator. This was a wonderful opportunity as General Bolden along with Guy Buford, and Fred Gregory (who once served as NASA Interim Administrator) were my childhood heroes and fueled my own dreams of following in their shoes as an astronaut.

As Legislative Director, I also helped the Congresswoman championed reforms of the nation’s healthcare system during the adoption of President Obama’s Affordable Care Act. As chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus’ Health Task Force, our office was at the forefront of advocating for the most progressive elements of the legislation. We mobilized support for Congressman Conyers’ proposed Health Care for All legislation, organized town halls, brain trusts, and listening sessions, and ultimately secured community health center funding. We opposed provisions that would have restricted doctors from owning their hospitals, pushed for expanded Medicaid coverage, and fought against the punitive tax, which was ultimately ruled as unconstitutional, that disproportionately affected African Americans and the poor.

Our office also tackled the disparity between crack and powder cocaine penalties, successfully reducing the ratio from 500:1 to 18:1. We led initiatives on concussion injuries in the NFL, meeting with legends like Jim Brown and questioning the NFLPA president.

My role extended to oversight hearings of the Justice Department, including personal meetings with Attorney General Eric Holder.

The Congresswoman represented a diverse constituency, from the homeless and inmates to oil executives and celebrities. One of the honors of my experience was drafting the congressional proclamation for Michael Jackson. Despite controversies, her bold and diverse hires reflected her fearless leadership style. She recruited military veterans, activists, and professionals from various backgrounds, including Muslims, Arabs, Latinos, Ethiopians, Southern Conservative Christians, and Jews.

The demanding nature of her office was exemplified by a New Year’s Eve call ensuring a speech was ready. This environment fostered loyalty and dedication among her staff, affectionately known as Team SJL. The Congresswoman’s mentorship opened doors for many, with alumni becoming tech executives, industry leaders, and advocates. Some of her staff have gone on to serve as senior aides in the House, Senate, and for governors.

Immediate predecessors like Arthur Sidney, the late Prof. Greg Berry, and Christina McMorris served respectively as the Chief of Staff for Congressman Hank Johnson and Chief Counsel to Congresswoman Karen Bass. Greg Berry returned to the staff of Representative Jackson Lee until his death two years ago.

Reflecting on these experiences paved the way for my current work leading the development of AI tools for law firms, corporations and government agencies. Additionally, it positioned me to assume the role of champion in my own right, advocating for AI-driven afterschool and summer programs to end youth violence in D.C., Maryland and across the country. And while our policy positions didn’t always align, Congresswoman Jackson Lee gladly lent her star power to support the initiatives of STEM4US, which benefitted the youth.

As we honor her legacy, those she mentored must continue her style of servant leadership, willing to embrace controversy and speak out for justice. Our youth need the firm yet loyal leadership Congresswoman Jackson Lee embodied.

The Quranic passage that inspires me during times of trial is: “And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient, who, when disaster strikes them, say, ‘Indeed we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we will return.’” (Quran 2:155-156).

Long live the memory and legacy of fearless servant leadership embodied by Sheila Jackson Lee. Her work and impact will continue to inspire those committed to justice and equity. In the spirit of her unwavering dedication, we continue to strive for a future where technology and justice work hand in hand to create a more equitable society.

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By Stacy M. Brown
NNPA Newswire

In an unprecedented display of unity and determination, over 50,000 Black men gathered on a July 22 Zoom call hosted by Roland Martin’s Black Star Network, raising over $1.3 million for Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign. This powerful show of support came just a day after 40,000 Black women joined in a similar Zoom call, generating about $2 million for Harris and sending a resounding message of solidarity and resolve.

The men’s call, led by Martin and co-hosted by Bakari Sellers and others, was a powerful statement against former President Donald Trump, who has been twice impeached and convicted of 34 felonies. Martin, visibly moved, tweeted, “I have no words. And not just because I’m tired. My @BlkStarNetwork just told me that 53,862 people registered for our #WinWithBlackMen video call. We raised $1.3 million and counting from 17,000 donors.”

Bakari Sellers shared a poignant story that underscored Harris’s compassion and unwavering support. He recounted a harrowing time in 2019 when one of his twin daughters was born with a rare liver condition. 

“The first person to call me was Kamala Harris. I am not sure people understand the pain and suffering that goes along with being a Black man in this country,” Sellers said. “I am not sure people understand what it means to stand strong in this country. To have your back against the wall. But I am going to stand with her because she stood with me during my darkest moment when I almost lost my daughter. When I had to protect my wife.”

The Zoom call resonated with the slogan, “We Rocking with Kamala Harris,” reflecting the participants’ unyielding support. This extraordinary event followed President Joe Biden’s announcement that he would not seek the Democratic nomination, prompting the Win with Black Women network to organize a Zoom call showcasing their preparedness to back Harris.

The women’s call drew an astonishing 40,000 attendees and featured influential speakers such as Reps. Joyce Beatty, Maxine Waters, and Jasmine Crockett. These leaders passionately emphasized the vital role of Black women in the upcoming election and shared compelling stories about Harris that highlighted her qualifications and leadership qualities. Distinguished attendees included D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, Maryland Senate hopeful Angela Alsobrooks, civil rights leader Bernice King, and Black Voters Matter co-founder LaTosha Brown. “We have a plan. This is not arbitrary. We are ready,” asserted Holli Holiday, one of the call’s moderators.

The energy was electric, with attendees voicing their readiness to work tirelessly to elect Harris. “This is work. Roll up your sleeves; we got work to do,” one attendee urged. Another declared, “Fired up and ready for this moment led by an intergenerational legion of Black women. Let’s get to work. Let’s gather our sons, daughters, nieces, and nephews. Let’s do what Black women do!”

In a less-publicized yet equally significant gathering, a large group of Black men and boys convened in Atlanta to discuss the state of America and the importance of Harris’s candidacy against Trump in the 2024 election. These weekly discussions are critical for spreading accurate information and countering misinformation.

“The reason that we’ve gathered tonight is that there is so much misinformation, disinformation, that is being put out. So, we wanted thought leaders from across the political spectrum to come in tonight and talk directly to Black men about what they know, what they experience, and what some of the real statistics and facts are,” said Attorney Mawuli Mel Davis, co-founder of the non-profit hosting these discussions. “That’s critically important because the sources of our information are important for us to make sure that we’re basing our decisions on good quality information.”

This article was originally published by NNPA Newswire.

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By AFRO Staff

Maryland Governor Wes Moore (D) announced his endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris on July 22 after President Joe Biden stepped down the day before and put his full support behind Harris. 

“The American people deserve a champion who will continue the progress of the Biden-Harris Administration, and that’s why I am proud to voice my full support and offer my full endorsement to Vice President Kamala Harris to be the Democratic nominee for president,” said Moore. “I had lengthy conversations with both the president and the vice president yesterday, and I offered my full support for Kamala Harris’ candidacy to both of them directly.”

“Vice President Harris has the experience, record, vision and wisdom to unify the country. She will have the unique ability to energize the Democratic Party base and mobilize a unique coalition, and we must rally around her and elect her to serve as the next president of the United States,” continued Moore.

Harris has already filed with the Federal Election Committee (FEC) as a presidential candidate and changed the “Biden for President” campaign slogan to “Harris for President.” 

Many Democrats were quick to put their support behind Harris, including former President Bill Clinton and former candidate for president Hillary Clinton also put their full support behind Harris.

“We are honored to join the president in endorsing Vice President Harris and will do whatever we can to support her,” they said. “We’ve lived through many ups and downs, but nothing has made us more worried for our country than the threat posed by a second Trump term. Now is the time to support Kamala Harris and fight with everything we’ve got to elect her. America’s future depends on it.”

Maryland Democratic Party Chair Ken Ulman released a statement announcing that Maryland Democratic National Convention Delegates met virtually on July 22 and unanimously voted to endorse Harris.

“Vice President Kamala Harris possesses experience that uniquely qualifies her to serve as President of the United States, a strong track record of delivering for the American people on the heels of the Biden-Harris Administration and the leadership to unite the party through this unprecedented time,” said Ulman. “The Maryland Democratic Delegation stands unanimously behind her candidacy, eager to cast our votes for her and campaign vigorously for a historic victory this November.”

Senator Chris Van Hollen also weighed in on the announcement with a statement sent to members of the press.

“Kamala Harris has fought tirelessly to advance the aspirations of every American and build an inclusive economy that supports working Americans, families and seniors,” said Van Hollen. “Having served with her in the senate, and worked closely together during her time as vice president, I’ve seen firsthand that she has what it takes to defeat Trump this November and to continue moving our nation forward. The stakes for our democracy could not be higher – and I’m committed to working alongside Vice President Harris to get the job done.”

Delegates will cast their votes for Harris during the Democratic National Convention in Chicago from August 19-22.

Word that Moore planned to endorse Harris came through Maryland First Lady Dawn Moore, who joined a late-night July 21 Zoom call hosted by Win With Black Women, a national network of Black women leaders. The meeting was closed to the press and off the record for those present. 

More than 40,000 Black women joined the call that concluded after midnight on July 22. While Zoom usually caps audience size at 1,000, a participant on the call reached out to leaders of the company and had the restriction lifted. Attendees described the occasion as “electrifying” and “encouraging.” As a result of the call, more than 1.5 million dollars were raised during the meeting. 

Dozens of prominent Black women, including elected officials and leaders of national organizations including the Divine Nine, spoke in support of Harris for president.  Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks gave comments, as well as CEO and President of the National Council of Negro Women President Shavon Arline-Bradley; Dr. Johnnetta Cole; Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-Calif- 43); U.S. Representative Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas-30); Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio-3); Bernice King, who said this is the first time she’s ever publicly endorsed a presidential candidate, and Bishop Vashti McKenzie.  

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The Democratic Party says it’s an inclusive of women and people of color. It’s time to prove it and get behind Kamala Harris.

By Keith Boykin
Word in Black

“Black Vote, Black Power,” a collaboration between Keith Boykin and Word In Black,
examines the issues, the candidates, and what’s at stake for Black America in the 2024 presidential election.

“There are decades when nothing happens, and there are weeks when decades happen.”  

That’s what it felt like this week when President Joe Biden dropped out of the race for re-election and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to be the Democratic Party’s new nominee.

Now the party must unite behind Kamala Harris, allow her to pick a new running mate, and move on to defeat Donald Trump.

After weeks of Democratic in-fighting, Biden’s historic withdrawal shifts the momentum away from the Republican Party and back toward the Democrats heading into their convention in Chicago next month.

The great stunt queen, Donald Trump, thought he won the publicity wars last week when he dramatically announced his new running mate, the inexperienced freshman Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, and told the world the story of surviving an assassination attempt in his rambling 90-minute convention speech.

Now that’s old news, and we have a fundamentally different race. Instead of a contest between two unpopular, old White guys, the new race pits a 59-year-old Black woman against a 78-year-old convicted felon. 

It’s the past versus the future. An all-White-male Republican ticket or a Democratic ticket led by an accomplished Black woman. A party that carries the heavy baggage of scandals, impeachments, indictments, and 34 felony convictions from Donald Trump or a party that has an opportunity to reinvent itself with Kamala Harris.

I’ve said all along that I will support the Democratic nominee for president, but I’ve publicly worried about the donor class and wondered if they would accept Harris as the new nominee. 

Some floated ideas of an open primary or a “blitz primary” with candidate forums moderated by Republicans like Condoleezza Rice. And TV producer Aaron Sorkin even suggested the ridiculous idea that Democrats should nominate Republican Mitt Romney for president.

No, no, and no.

Now is the time for the Democratic Party to step up. 

All those Democratic donors and party insiders who spent the past few weeks pushing Biden out of the race better pony up their money, time, and energy and start contributing to Kamala Harris’ campaign and the Democratic Party. This is the new Plan B.

We’ve heard a lot of Democratic names floated for president in the past few weeks: Gavin Newsom, Gretchen Whitmer, Josh Shapiro, Pete Buttigieg, Wes Moore, Andy Beshear, and Mark Kelly. But now that President Biden has endorsed Vice President Harris, I hope and expect those leaders will stand down and support her, if for no other reason than loyalty to President Biden. 

But also because there are financial obstacles if Democrats nominate someone other than Harris. Harris was Biden’s running mate, so she can tap into the $96 million Biden has in the  bank. Any new candidate may have to start from scratch. Let’s not make this any more complicated than it needs to be.

Now is the time for the Democratic Party to step up. You say you are an inclusive party of women and people of color. It’s time to prove it and get behind Kamala Harris. The Congressional Black Caucus quickly announced its support for Harris.

Donald Trump is a threat to democracy. He must be defeated. We have the power to stop Project 2025 and Agenda 47. 

The wind is finally at our backs. Let’s get to work.

Keith Boykin is a New York Times–bestselling author, TV and film producer, and former CNN political commentator. A graduate of Dartmouth College and Harvard Law School, Keith served in the White House, cofounded the National Black Justice Coalition, cohosted the BET talk show My Two Cents, and taught at the Institute for Research in African-American Studies at Columbia University in New York. He’s a Lambda Literary Award-winning author and editor of seven books. He lives in Los Angeles.

This article was originally published on WordinBlack.com.

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

Just months before the 2024 presidential election, President Joe Biden (D) announced that he is stepping down from being the Democratic nominee for president and putting his support behind Vice President Kamala Harris.

Biden faced many calls for him to step down after a rough televised presidential debate in June. Despite the damage done, he remained persistent in going forward with his campaign–that is until July 21.

“It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your president. While it has been my intention to seek reelection. I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as president for the remainder of my term,” said Biden in a statement via X, formerly known as Twitter, on July 21. “I will speak to the nation later this week in more detail about my decision. For now, let me express my deepest gratitude to all those who have worked so hard to see me reelected. I want to thank Vice President Kamala Harris for being an extraordinary partner in all this work.”

Biden also sent out a separate message on X saying he’s putting his support behind Harris.

“My very first decision as the party nominee in 2020 was to pick Kamala Harris as my Vice President and it’s been the best decision I’ve made,” said Biden. “Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year. Democrats — it’s time to come together and beat Trump. Let’s do this.”

The reactions he’s received thus far for his decision have been commending.

“This is such a courageous and historic move on the part of President Biden. His full endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris is a directive to all the pledged delegates and superdelegates of the Democratic Party to back her as the nominee of the party at their convention in three weeks,” said Nina Kasniunas, an associate professor of political science at Goucher College in Maryland. 

“Trump is a deeply flawed candidate and Kamala Harris is a fresh face, a real choice for so many swing voters who indicated they wouldn’t vote for Trump or Biden,” she added.  “There will be a lot of work ahead and the Democratic Party and its allies will have to be ready with strong mobilization efforts, but Kamala Harris is ready to take on Trump.” 

Will Hanna, a longtime Biden supporter based in Baltimore, said this news was tough but provides new opportunities.

“I just believe that the president made the best decision for him, his family and for the country. He’s had a stellar career, and he’s done nothing but support this country all of his life,” said Hanna. “We now have the opportunity to have the first African-American woman president.”

Angela Alsobrooks, Democratic nominee for a Maryland seat in the U.S. Senate, released a statement shortly after the news emphasizing her support of Harris, who endorsed her campaign over a month ago.

“It is paramount that Democrats come together quickly and unite behind a qualified leader. Kamala Harris is that leader. She will provide a clear and stark contrast to the regressive vision Donald Trump has for this country,” said Alsobrooks. “I am proud to be behind her 100 percent and know that she will defeat Donald Trump and continue the great legacy of accomplishments that President Joe Biden and she spearheaded. Kamala, my friend, let’s go!”

Baltimore City Mayor Brandon M. Scott (D) was also quick to back Harris after Biden’s announcement.

“President Biden has been one of the best, most accomplished presidents of my lifetime. He’s been a true partner to Baltimore and a champion in the fight to end gun violence everywhere. We’ll continue that fight together for the remainder of his tenure,” said Scott via X. “Now’s the time for us to rally around Vice President Kamala Harris and defeat Donald Trump. Black women have saved this country time and time again. For that reason and a hundred others, there is no other — or better — option than the Vice President to unite our party and win in November.”

Rep. Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.) released a statement on Biden’s decision to step down.

“It has been a tremendous honor to serve alongside President Biden in the Congress, and his tenure as the leader of our great nation will be revered forever. At this moment, we all would be better off if we allow him to have the dignity that he deserves and has earned in this moment,” said Mfume. “He has been and remains a great president who through the simple eloquence of his example has led our nation and the world through tough and difficult times.”

Ken Ulman, chair of the Maryland Democratic Party, released a statement lifting up Biden’s legacy.

“In three and half years, President Biden navigated the country through COVID-19 and the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, passed historic investments in infrastructure and climate, lowered prescription drug prices for seniors, passed landmark gun safety legislation and so much more,” said Ulman. “Our country and party owe Joe Biden a debt of gratitude. As president, he is a remarkable leader that has always put his country first.”

—-

Original announcement: President Biden on drops out of presidential race, endorses VP Harris

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By Ashlee Banks
Special to the AFRO

In an unexpected turn of events, President Joe Biden has withdrawn from the 2024 presidential race.

On July 21, Biden took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to share a message with the nation.

“While it has been my intention to seek reelection, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term,” said Biden. “Let me express my deepest gratitude to all those who have worked so hard to see me reelected.”

Following the president’s announcement, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) praised Biden for his achievements over the last four years.

“President Joe Biden is one of the most accomplished and consequential leaders in American history,” said Jeffries. “America is a better place today because President Joe Biden has led us with intellect, grace and dignity.”

U.S. Rep. Gabe Amo (D-R.I.) said Biden is the epitome of a good leader who has “achieved historic progress for the American people.”

“ selflessly defended democracy and fought for the soul of our nation,” said Amo. “I will always be proud to have worked in President Biden’s White House.”

Shortly after Biden made his decision to leave the presidential race, he endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for president.

“My very first decision as the party nominee in 2020 was to pick Kamala Harris as my Vice President. And it’s been the best decision I’ve made,” wrote Biden. “Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year.”

If Harris does become the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee, this will put her on track to become the nation’s first Black-South Asian female president.

Biden’s withdrawal comes weeks after more than a dozen Democratic lawmakers have asked the president to step aside following his shaky debate performance on June 27 against former President Donald Trump.

Last week, top Congressional Democratic leaders, including Jeffries, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) each had private meetings with Biden and encouraged him to step aside.

Trump, who has expressed a preference for running against Biden, nonetheless reacted to the news with seeming relish, saying in a post on his Truth Social site that Biden “was not fit to run for President, and is certainly not fit to serve.”

U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas-30) blamed her colleagues for pushing Biden out of the race.

“Well, I hope the geniuses that pushed the most consequential President of our lifetime out, have a plan,” said Crockett. “Joe wasn’t the problem…dems were.”

The Texas lawmaker stated that she will “only work for” Harris if she becomes the Democratic presidential nominee.

“If it’s anyone OTHER than her, enjoy campaign season…I hope all of my disenchanted colleagues are able to find some walking shoes and get to work because I WILL NOT,” added Crockett.

U.S. Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) stated that he fully supports the vice president.

“Kamala Harris is the most qualified and best choice to lead us forward,” said Bowman

Biden announced that he will address the nation later this week to discuss his decision to withdraw from the presidential race.

Biden plans to serve out the remainder of his term in office, which ends at noon ET on Jan. 20, 2025.

—–

Reactions from Maryland Democrats on Biden’s decision

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

Gov. Wes Moore (D) and Mayor Brandon M. Scott (D) spoke at the commencement for the first cohort of the Maryland Corps Service Year Option, a campaign promise of Moore’s.

“Keep doing you, keep serving, keep protecting each other. This is going to be a moment that people will remember for generations to come and they are going to remember you,” said Moore to the large cohort of graduates at Camden Yards in Baltimore on July 16. “I want to thank you for being leaders and making your entire state proud.”

The program, which began in 2023, offers recent high school graduates, GED recipients or those with a school completion certificate, an opportunity to get exposed to different career paths and serve their community while earning at least $15 an hour. The first year of this program saw around 240 corps members graduate.

“The work all of us have done was not just to fulfill our duties, but to make a real difference in the lives of those around us,” said Courtnei Wright, Maryland Corps Service Year Option Graduate, to her peers on the sweltering hot day. “I especially want to extend my thanks to Governor Wes Moore and to the state of Maryland for providing us with this opportunity and experience like no other.”

Paul Monteiro, secretary of the Maryland Department of Service and Civic Innovation, emphasized the diversity among the cohort and how they were able to work together despite those differences.

“I am proud to say there are Republicans in this concourse, they’re Democrats in this concourse and they’re independents in this concourse,” said Monteiro. “I’m proud to say that we have almost every jurisdiction in this state in this concourse right now, and over 80 percent of this cohort, started the race and finished it together.”

About 500 people are expected to be in the 2024-2025 cohort. This new cohort will begin on September 11 and conclude in Summer 2025. 

Nancy Noriega, an executive assistant at one of the host sites for the members Asian American Center of Frederick, shared that three of the four members at her site will continue with her company after graduating.

“It’s great for us because they know the ins and outs and we’re excited that they want to continue servicing the community,” said Noriega. “We are a nonprofit, and we serve a lot of refugee and immigrant families that come to the U.S. We help them prepare with citizenship services, also English classes. The members that we have played a really big role in helping us reach out to the community, doing outreach with us for the different programs that we have.”

Noriega said her organization had a pleasant overall experience and are looking forward to welcoming the next group of cohort members in September.

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

North Atlantic Treaty Organization Alliance (NATO) members held their 2024 summit in Washington D.C., commemorating 75 years since they signed the North Atlantic Treaty in the District and discussing ways to ensure collective defense.

“In 1949, when leaders of 12 countries, including President Truman, came together in this very room. It had been four years since the surrender of the Axis powers and the end of the most devastating world war the world had ever known,” said U.S. President Joe Biden (D) during his speech at the NATO summit on July 9. “Here, these 12 leaders gathered to make a sacred pledge to defend each other against aggression, provide their collective security and to answer threats as one. They knew to prevent future wars, to protect democracies, to lay the groundwork for a lasting peace and prosperity, they needed a new approach. They needed to combine their strengths. They needed an alliance.”

“Today, NATO is more powerful than ever: 32 nations strong,” touted Biden. 

The conference was held from July 9 to July 11, featuring discussions on partnerships, support for Ukraine and strengthening defense and deterrence.

In his speech, Biden pushed that Ukraine will prevail against Russia, stopping any potential Russian invasion efforts in surrounding European countries.

“Make no mistake, Ukraine can and will stop Putin, especially with our full, collective support,” said Biden as he welcomed NATO members to the summit. “Together, we’ve built a global coalition to stand with Ukraine. We’ve provided significant economic and humanitarian assistance. We’ve supplied Ukraine with weapons it needs to defend itself: tanks, armored fighting vehicles, air defense systems, long-range missiles and millions of munitions.”

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky took to social media on July 10 to acknowledge the support Ukraine is receiving from NATO members. 

“I am grateful to the United States, Denmark and the Netherlands for taking practical steps to achieve the goal of all Ukrainians: to strengthen the Ukrainian air force with F-16s,” said Zelensky via X, formerly known as Twitter. “This is a clear signal that Russia’s ability to terrorize Ukrainian people, cities and communities will continue to reduce.”

“I anticipate that our air force capability coalition will be strengthened even further through the joining of new participants. F-16s bring just and lasting peace closer, demonstrating that terror must fail everywhere,” he continued.

NATO also held a live-streamed public forum from July 10 to July 11 in Washington D.C., aiming to help the public better understand NATO’s goals and policies through various debates, interactive sessions and panel discussions with NATO leaders.

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By Rev. Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr.

There are moments in life when the convictions of the spirit and personal consciousness collide in opposition to the mainstream, popular outcries for the blood, life and the end of the future existence of another human being. I refuse to be a silent witness to another lynching in America. Thus, the following is what I have observed and witnessed firsthand over the past days to the lynch mob-like escalation of calls for President Joe Biden to step down from campaigning for reelection in 2024. I am not representing any organization or political party. On July 4, while sitting quietly in Raleigh, N.C., I jotted down my personal views.

Although I am a proud Democrat, I am so saddened by the backstabbing cowardice of those who dare to publicly call for President Biden to step down while having an utter contradictory refusal to utter publicly any call for former President Donald Trump to step down and to end his fascist-engaging campaign to retake the White House. The question is why? The attempted political lynching of President Joe Biden has more to do with disingenuous political infighting than difficulties at a nationally televised political debate. What are the real motives from all of those who are calling for President Biden to step down?

Some will say my words and expressions here are too strong and controversial. That may be true because there should be strong words and expressions that always should call out and condemn any form of lynching. A political lynching is also a crime against the oneness of our humanity. Such is the situation today in America. It is the politics of division versus the politics of unifying all Americans for the best interests and future of the nation that is on the ballot. Democracy is on the ballot. Justice is on the ballot. Equality is on the ballot. Equity is on the ballot. Freedom is on the ballot.

The antidote to the current resurgence of ignorance, racism, cowardice, fascism and retrenchment from freedom, justice, equality and equity is to work hard daily and diligently to ensure the largest voter turnout this year in American history. Why do I claim responsibility for urgently making this statement on July 4, 2024? African Americans, like others who fought and died in the fields and streets in the 13 American colonies during the Revolutionary War against the British Empire 248 years ago, have a birthright to the Declaration of Independence signed on July 4, 1776, and later to the Constitution of the United States of America.

Although thousands of people of African descent, who were not enslaved, enlisted and fought for freedom and independence against the British, no people of African descent were invited or permitted to attend the formative meetings of the newly emerging nation’s democracy and Constitutional Convention held in Philadelphia in 1787. My great, great, great, great-grandfather, the Rev. John Chavis (1763-1838), fought as a young, enlisted soldier in the Revolutionary War against the British in our home state of North Carolina and in the state of Virginia. The Chavis family has lived in Granville County, North Carolina, for over 285 years. My father, Benjamin F. Chavis Sr. (1898-1965) enlisted and fought as a young sergeant major soldier in the United States Army in World War I.

The point here is that generations of African and African-American soldiers have enlisted and fought and died to defend and protect the nation and democracy for the past 248 years. And we are not going to permit anyone or anything to deny our birthright to freedom and democracy. For us, the right to vote in America is blood-stained and sacred. We know from our lived experience the horror, pain and suffering from centuries of physical lynchings in America to satisfy the sheer fear, hatred, White supremacy and ignorance of racism. Today, we also know when mobs cry out for the downfall and political lynching of those who have been our allies in our long struggle for freedom, justice, voting rights and equity, we cannot be silent.

It is ironic that also here in Raleigh, fewer than 24 hours after the questionable so-called debate in Atlanta, President Biden spoke eloquently and forcibly at the NC State Fairgrounds about a couple of miles away from the John Chavis Memorial Park in downtown Raleigh. President Biden said, “I know I’m not a young man, to state the obvious. I don’t walk as easy (sic) as I used to. I don’t speak as smoothly as I used to. I don’t debate as well as I used to. But I know what I do know — I know how to tell the truth.” 

The truth is therapeutic. Our nation needs more truth over the lies and prevalent fake news.

At the same time, as the calls for President Biden to step down, the United States Supreme Court has now ruled that future and past presidential “official acts” of violence, crime, repression, voter suppression, and insurrection are all immune from prosecution as long those acts are official acts within the core responsibilities of a President of the United States. This is dangerous and fundamentally against the meaning and principles of democracy. That is why now, more than ever before, we must raise our voices and mobilize our families and communities to go out and vote in record numbers in the swing states and in every other state across the nation. We all have work to do. We said back in the 1960s Civil Rights Movement, “When things get tough in our struggle for freedom, we have to become tougher.”

Join me and raise your voice with me. Let’s vote in record numbers throughout America. Stop the lynching of President Joe Biden.

This article was originally published by NNPA Newswire.

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

Former President Donald Trump (R) returns to the campaign trail on July 9 with a televised rally in Florida. The gathering took place at one of his golf clubs, the Trump National Doral Miami. 

At the rally, Trump challenged Biden, offering an additional debate this week after a subpar one for the Democratic president on June 27. Trump also challenged Biden to a game of golf, something they argued about during the CNN debate.

“If he wins, I will give the charity of his choice, any charity that he wants, $1 million,” said Trump at the rally.

During the event Trump teased a potential vice president pick, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), but did not officially confirm who his running mate will be. 

James Singer, a Biden-Harris campaign spokesperson, released a statement during the rally rejecting Trump’s challenges.

“Joe Biden doesn’t have time for Donald Trump’s weird antics – he’s busy leading America and defending the free world,” said Singer.

Throughout the rally, Trump reveled in the Democratic party being at odds concerning whether or not to keep Biden as the party’s presidential nominee. He also discussed increasing border control and improving the economy. 

During a Zoom press call ahead of the rally, the Biden-Harris campaign and supporters hammered Trump’s responsibility for the undoing of Roe v. Wade via several Supreme Court appointments during his presidency. They also pushed that voting for Trump is voting for Project 2025, despite Trump’s recent attempts to distance himself from it.

Project 2025 is a massive presidential transition plan for the next conservative administration to carry out. It was created by the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank. The plan includes eliminating the U.S. Department of Education and removing the terms “diversity, equity and inclusion,” “abortion” and “reproductive health” from all federal documents and agencies. 

Project 2025 assumes that a conservative president will enter office in January 2025, ready to implement these wide-ranging, upending policies.

“Unfortunately for team Trump, no matter what they say, we know exactly what Trump is planning to do and he cannot run from what he has already done,” said U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-TX-16) during the call. 

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By Michael A. Grant, J.D.

I have admired Joe Biden since 1988. I did not think the plagiarism charge should have caused him to abort his presidential aspirations back then. I was ecstatic when the seasoned, scrappy senator from Scranton joined – and added heft – to Barack Obama’s run for the White House. And lastly, I proudly voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020.

As president, Biden compiled an enviable track record.

His list of accomplishments is well-documented: Infrastructure, a bold climate initiative, a herculean effort to lift millions of Americans’ student loan debts, greatly reducing the cost of life-saving insulin, protecting millions from the scourge of COVID, getting relief checks in the hands of millions of struggling Americans during the pandemic, signing several bi-partisan bills into law and much more. Biden could end his presidency with his head held high knowing that he served his country honorably. But the time to end his occupancy in the White house may soon come upon him.

The Book of Ecclesiastes should guide his next steps: “For everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under heaven.” Knowing when to exit will determine how history will record the character of this remarkable public servant.

I assume that the Democratic Party elites, the president’s inner-circle and, most assuredly, his family will advise him to continue his campaign. But these enablers are deluding themselves and misleading the voters. The president’s debate performance was not just an isolated incident. The CNN-sponsored event unearthed – in a dramatic fashion – what many of us have believed for some time.

Our president is experiencing diminished capacity. It has been reported that he got sleepy during the debate. The issue is not whether the president is beginning to exhibit signs of cognitive decline, the issue is how could the enlightened members of our party put him through four more years of a grueling schedule that will begin at age 82 and end at age 86?

If, however, President Biden decides to stay in the race, I will support him because Donald Trump’s mental stability and poor judgment are also being seriously discussed. The former president has already shown us that he is one of the most ruthless, vindictive, egomaniacal, dishonest and bigoted persons on the national stage today. He is a walking nightmare. Trump fuels hatred and pits Americans against each other. A skilled demagogue, he has risen to power – like Adolph Hitler – stirring up the worst impulses and fears in many of his mindless followers.

This commentary should in no way be construed to suggest that American voters will be forced to choose between the lesser of two evils. There is no comparison: Joe Biden is a decent human being; Donald Trump is evil incarnate. When I saw him peddling the Bible, I was reminded of one of my dear grandmother’s favorite poems: “The devil won the robe of Christ” by Joyce Kilmer. My grandmother was an authentic Christian and by her fruit, we all knew it.

So where do we go from here? If President Biden voluntarily steps aside, the Democratic party could enjoy an old fashion brokered convention. I am confident that by re-opening the nominating process, a younger, more promising candidate will emerge.

If the Democratic Party is wise enough and nimble enough, a vetted politician with the right credentials could capture the imagination of the country in a short span of time and lead Democrats up and down the ticket to victory in November. The new standard bearer could then serve as a granite wall against the pernicious designs of the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025, an insidious plot to turn the federal bureaucracy into a vehicle for autocratic (fascist) rule, something that would, no doubt, cause the founding fathers to turn over in their graves.

President Biden, lead us to victory by empowering the next generation to step up and save our Constitutional democracy. A grateful nation will honor your self-sacrifice as a true servant leader.

This article was originally published by National News Release.

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By Michael Biesecker and Alanna Durkin Richer
The Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Law enforcement officials were working July 14 to learn more about the 20-year-old Pennsylvania man who they say tried to assassinate former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally and to determine what drove him to open fire, killing one spectator.

Authorities identified Thomas Matthew Crooks of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, as the shooter who fired from a rooftop outside the rally venue in nearby Butler before he was killed by the Secret Service.

An FBI official said late July 13 that a motive had not yet been determined. Public court records in Pennsylvania show no past criminal cases against Crooks, who graduated from high school two years ago.

Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, said on social media the upper part of his right ear was pierced in the shooting. Two spectators were critically injured, authorities said. The man killed was Corey Comperatore, a former fire chief from the area who Pennsylvania’s governor says died a “hero” by diving onto his family to protect them.

Relatives of Crooks didn’t immediately respond to messages from The Associated Press. His father, Matthew Crooks, told CNN late July 13 that he was trying to figure out “what the hell is going on” but wouldn’t speak about his son until after he talked to law enforcement.

Crooks graduated from Bethel Park High School in 2022. In a video of the school’s graduation ceremony posted online, Crooks can be seen crossing the stage to receive his diploma, appearing slight of build and wearing glasses. The school district said it will cooperate fully with investigators. His senior year, Crooks was among several students given an award for math and science, according to a Tribune-Review story at the time.

Jason Kohler, who said he attended the same high school but did not share any classes with Crooks, said Crooks was bullied at school and sat alone at lunch time. Other students mocked him for the way he dressed, such as hunting outfits, Kohler said.

“He was bullied almost every day,” Kohler told reporters. “He was just an outcast, and you know how kids are nowadays.”

Crooks’ political leanings were not immediately clear. Records show Crooks was registered as a Republican voter in Pennsylvania, but federal campaign finance reports also show he gave $15 to a progressive political action committee on Jan. 20, 2021, the day President Joe Biden was sworn into office.

Butler County district attorney Richard Goldinger told AP on July 14 that Crooks had been previously unknown to investigators in his county and had not been on their radar. He said the investigation had so far not turned up any evidence that he had coordinated with anyone else in the region.

A blockade had been set up July 14 preventing traffic near Crooks’ house, which is in an enclave of modest brick houses in the hills outside blue-collar Pittsburgh and about an hour’s drive from the site of the Trump rally. Police cars were stationed at an intersection near the house and officers were seen walking through the neighborhood.

Bomb-making materials were found inside Crooks’ vehicle near the Trump rally and at his home, according to two officials who were not authorized to speak publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. A white Allegheny County Police truck identified as bomb squad pulled up to the home late Sunday morning.

Law enforcement recovered an AR-style rifle at the scene of the shooting, according to a person familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the ongoing investigation.

Investigators believe the weapon was bought by the father at least six months ago, two law enforcement officials told AP.

The officials said federal agents were still working to understand when and how Thomas Crooks obtained the gun. The officials were not authorized to publicly discuss details of the investigation and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.

An AP analysis of more than a dozen videos and photos from the scene of the Trump rally, as well as satellite imagery of the site, shows the shooter was able to get close to the stage where the former president was speaking.

A video posted to social media and geolocated by AP shows Crooks wearing a gray t-shirt with a black American flag on the right arm lying motionless on the roof of a manufacturing plant just north of the Butler Farm Show grounds where Trump’s rally was held.

The roof where Crooks lay was less than 150 meters (164 yards) from where Trump was speaking, a distance from which a decent marksman could reasonably hit a human-sized target. For reference, 150 meters is a distance at which U.S. Army recruits must hit a scaled human-sized silhouette to qualify with the M-16 rifle.

Images of Crooks’ body reviewed by AP shows that at the time of the shooting he appears to have been wearing a T-shirt from Demolition Ranch, a popular YouTube channel with more than 11.6 million subscribers that regularly posts videos that show creator Matt Carriker firing off handguns and assault rifles at targets that include human mannequins and vehicles.

Carriker, who lives in Texas, did not respond to a phone message or email on July 14, but posted a photo of Crooks’ bloody corpse wearing his brand’s T-shirts on social media with the comment, “What the hell.”

_____

Associated Press journalists Marc Levy in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Julie Smyth and Joshua Bickel in Bethel Park, Michael R. Sisak in New York, Michael Kunzelman in Silver Spring Maryland, Mike Balsamo in Chicago and Colleen Long in Washington contributed.

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By Ashlee Banks
Special to the AFRO

Former President Donald Trump was injured in what law enforcement is treating as an assassination attempt during a rally in Pennsylvania on July 13.

The presumed Republican presidential nominee was rushed offstage shortly after loud popping noises were heard. He was seen exiting the stage with several Secret Service members with a bloody right ear and a pumped fist, signaling to his supporters that he was okay.

Trump’s campaign says the former president is “fine,” however, the extent of his injuries remains unknown.

According to authorities, one rally attendee and the suspected shooter are both confirmed dead following the event.

President Joe Biden issued a statement shortly after the news broke saying he is “grateful” that the former president is safe.

“I’m praying for him and his family and for all those who were at the rally, as we await further information,” said Biden. “There’s no place for this kind of violence in America.”

Several political officials took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to share their thoughts about the incident.  

“My thoughts and prayers are with former President Trump. I am thankful for the decisive law enforcement response,” said House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.). “America is a democracy. Political violence of any kind is never acceptable.”

U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, (D-Vt.) condemned the alleged attack against Trump.

“Political violence is absolutely unacceptable,” said Sanders. “I wish Donald Trump, and anyone else who may have been hurt, a speedy recovery.”

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore stated that “political violence” is unacceptable.

“This kind of cowardice must be roundly condemned by all Americans. We have to be a country that can learn to disagree without turning to political violence,” said Moore. “I am praying for President Trump’s safety and recovery.”

U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) blamed House Democrats and members of the media for the tragedy.

“The Democrats and the media are to blame for every drop of blood spilled today. For years and years, they’ve demonized him and his supporters,” said Greene. “Today, someone finally tried to take out the leader of our America First and the greatest President of all time.”

Former Vice President Mike Pence stated that he and his wife are “praying for President Trump and ask “every American to join” them.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a 2024 presidential candidate, stated that this is a time for Americans to come together.

“Now is the time for every American who loves our country to step back from the division,” said Kennedy. “Renounce all violence and unite in prayer for President Trump and his family.”

At this time, there is no word on whether this incident will impact Trump’s appearance at the Republican National Convention slated for July 15-18 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

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By Marco Cerino
The Philadelphia Tribune

As former president and presumptive Republican candidate Donald Trump attempts to court Black voters who feel disillusioned by President Joe Biden’s administration, it should be noted that Trump’s idea of “Black jobs” does not include high-ranking positions in his administration.

An analysis of the two main presidential candidates on the 2024 ballot shows a stark contrast in the makeup of their administrations.

The appointment of Gen. Charles Q. Brown to head the Joint Chiefs of Staff made him the ninth Black person in a high-ranking position under Biden, including Cabinet secretaries and those in Cabinet-level roles like United Nations ambassador, director of national intelligence and trade adviser.

Despite having 62 different names in appointed or acting roles, Trump only included one Black person in his administration at that level — Dr. Ben Carson served as secretary of Housing and Urban Development, or HUD.

“The characterization of Black jobs by Donald Trump, who only had one Black person in his Cabinet, is not only demeaning to the African-American community but a concerning issue from the perspective of the NAACP,” said NAACP Philadelphia Branch President Cathy Hicks in a statement Friday. “It is important to recognize that African Americans hold positions in every job industry and contribute significantly to the American workforce. Stereotyping and generalizing job roles based on race is not only inaccurate but also perpetuates harmful biases towards the African-American community. It is essential to promote equality and fair treatment in the workplace, ensuring that all individuals have equal opportunities to succeed and thrive in their chosen careers. Trump cannot say he is the best for the Black community and Black vote, if he can only see us in marginalized positions.”

Biden appointed the first Black chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff last year when Brown assumed the role for a four-year term. The decision seems to reflect the prioritizing of diversity in the Biden administration among Cabinet members and senior staff, one of his many significant departures from his predecessor.

Nyron Crawford, an assistant professor of political science at Temple University, believes the “Black jobs” comments were mainly a political maneuver, aimed to create a wedge issue around immigrants.

The lone Black appointee, he said, does serve as a reminder of Trump’s combative history with the Black community, including his demands that the Central Park Five be sentenced harshly, concerns over a Black contestant winning season one of “The Apprentice,” and other callous comments and stances.

“Donald Trump has no real regard for African Americans,” Crawford told The Tribune in an interview Monday about Trump’s record. “It doesn’t really serve a purpose. It’s not backed by any policy. Biden has done well on , compared to predecessors.”

Historically, it has been a challenge to get Black faces and voices into Cabinet roles.

President Lyndon Johnson was the first to appoint a Black person to his Cabinet, naming Robert Weaver to lead HUD in 1966. Of the 25 total appointed in history, 18 have been under Democratic presidents, while seven have been selected by Republicans, including four under President George W. Bush.

The Clinton administration had the most African-American Cabinet secretaries with seven overall, including four appointed when taking office in January 1993. The Obama administration had four Black Cabinet members at once, the most in history. Vice President Kamala Harris is the highest ranking Black Cabinet member ever.

Historical firsts for Blacks in high-profile government roles usually come during Democratic administrations. Biden broke through another glass ceiling with his nomination of Ketanji Brown Jackson, who joined the Supreme Court in September 2022 as the first Black female justice. Trump added three White justices to the bench, who have voted to support conservative decisions like the weakening of affirmative action, the overturning of Roe v. Wade and, most recently, granting immunity for “official acts” of a president.

“The temperament and tone of a presidential administration is set by its people,” political commentator Jay McCalla said in an interview Monday. “Trump’s Cabinet members were largely sycophants. Trump has been conspicuously against Black folks. Trump’s coalition wanted a certified mouthpiece for their right-wing blather, so they chose Ben Carson.”

Multiple calls for comments were made to Philadelphia Republican leaders and have gone unreturned at time of print.

This article was originally published by the Philadelphia Tribune.

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By Stacy M. Brown
NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia

(NNPA Newswire) – As mainstream media and some Democrats zero in on President Joe Biden’s recent debate missteps, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is drawing attention to Donald Trump, the 34-times convicted felon and twice-impeached former president. The ACLU released its memo, “Trump on Surveillance, Protest, and Free Speech” as part of its 2024 election policy series. The analysis, written by ACLU experts on topics like the First Amendment, surveillance and privacy, details the dangers posed by a potential second Trump administration and provides a road map to combat them.

The memo highlights what it calls an unprecedented threat to democracy, pointing to Trump’s promises to criminalize dissent, suppress free speech, expand government surveillance and target political opponents. 

“The Trump presidency, with its false declarations of national emergencies in service of discrimination and total disregard for the rule of law, demonstrated what we’ve always known—that relying on unwritten norms for presidential behavior is grossly insufficient. Trump is now threatening to be even less constrained if given a second chance,” said Cecillia Wang, deputy legal director of the ACLU.

According to the memo, a second Trump administration would likely:

• Leverage federal law enforcement to attack journalists and protesters, violating First Amendment rights and possibly deploying the military in urban areas to suppress protests.
• Exploit executive powers to spy on Americans using authorities like Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act and Executive Order 12333, leading to the mass collection of private data.
• Target political opponents through investigations and prosecutions, replacing civil servants with loyalists, and demanding employee loyalty pledges.

The ACLU’s roadmap for protecting civil liberties includes litigation to defend those wrongfully prosecuted, mobilizing public support to limit executive power, and state and local advocacy to enact strong data protection laws. 

“Donald Trump has made no secret of his disregard for the rule of law and his intent to corrupt the immense powers of the federal government to target his opponents and break the institutions that could pose checks and balances to presidential power,” said Mike Zamore, national director of policy and government affairs for the ACLU. “In a second term, unleashed and feeling invulnerable from legal and political repercussions, he would pose an unprecedented challenge to our constitutional values. But the ACLU is ready. If Trump is elected and comes for our First Amendment rights, we’ll stand with the people of this country to defend our freedom.”

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This decisive action comes as accusations of corruption fly along with a deepening constitutional crisis.

By Stacy M. Brown
NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia

(NNPA Newswire) – New York Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, renowned for her unyielding and fiery approach to governance, has taken unprecedented steps against Supreme Court Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito by introducing articles of impeachment on July 10. This decisive action comes as accusations of corruption fly along with a deepening constitutional crisis.

Ocasio-Cortez arrived in Congress in 2019 with a flair, temperament and youthful enthusiasm not seen in a long time. She also arrived as part of “The Squad,” a group of progressive Democrats. And the 34-year-old firebrand, better known as AOC, has taken a no-holds-barred approach to governing, something rarely seen in Democrats. Now, she’s leading the charge against a heavily right-leaning and potentially corrupt U.S. Supreme Court.

“The unchecked corruption crisis on the Supreme Court has now spiraled into a Constitutional crisis threatening American democracy writ large,” Ocasio-Cortez declared in a press release. She condemned the justices for their “pattern of refusal to recuse” from cases involving their personal and financial interests and their “failure to disclose” millions of dollars in gifts spanning decades.

The impeachment resolutions are rooted in allegations that Thomas and Alito have repeatedly failed to disclose significant financial gifts and have refused to recuse themselves from cases with clear conflicts of interest. Thomas faces additional scrutiny for not recusing himself from cases involving his wife’s legal and financial interests. At the same time, Alito is accused of presiding over cases where he had a personal bias.

Ocasio-Cortez’s bold move follows a contentious 6-3 Supreme Court ruling that granted presidents broad immunity from criminal prosecution, a decision that favored former President Trump amidst his multiple felony charges related to his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results. 

“Today’s ruling represents an assault on American democracy. It is up to Congress to defend our nation from this authoritarian capture,” Ocasio-Cortez wrote on social platform X.

Their affiliations with the “Stop the Steal” movement, which questioned the validity of the 2020 election, have made the allegations against Thomas and Alito worse. Thomas’s wife played a significant role in the movement, and Alito faced criticism for a flag associated with the movement flying over his home. Both justices have refused calls to recuse themselves from related cases, raising serious concerns about their impartiality.

In parallel with Ocasio-Cortez’s impeachment resolutions, Democratic lawmakers have proposed reforms to increase accountability within the Supreme Court. These include imposing term limits on justices, establishing an enforceable code of ethics, expanding the number of judges, and enhancing congressional oversight.

This week, Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) called on Attorney General Merrick Garland to appoint a special counsel to investigate Justice Clarence Thomas for potential violations of ethics, false statements and tax laws. They highlighted solid evidence of Thomas’s failure to disclose over $267,000 in forgiven debt for a luxury motorcoach and numerous other undisclosed gifts from billionaire benefactors.

The senators stressed the need for thorough investigation and accountability, noting that no government official should be above the law. “Presented with opportunities to resolve questions about his conduct, Justice Thomas has maintained a suspicious silence,” they wrote.

Ocasio-Cortez underscored the gravity of the situation, concluding, “The integrity of our democracy is at stake. We must act decisively to uphold the rule of law and ensure that no one is above it, not even Supreme Court Justices.”

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By Dr. Ron Daniels
National News Release

I sincerely believe Joe Biden is a decent, caring human being who has been an outstanding President. However, I am also convinced that it is time to express our gratitude to Biden for his exemplary service and respectfully ask him to step aside. It’s time to rally around Vice-President Kamala Harris to lead the Democratic Party and this nation to victory over Donald Trump and the MAGA Movement.

With the race between Biden and Trump essentially deadlocked for months (which is scary) with large numbers of American voters expressing consistent concern over the age of both candidates, Biden’s political advisors and strategists made a bold decision to “shake-up” the race by calling for the earliest presidential debate in the history of presidential debates. Their gambit was that Biden would put the “age” issue to rest by winning the debate as he did against Trump in the first debate in the 2020 campaign.

It was a bold move that backfired badly. Within the first few minutes of the debate the optics of Biden’s appearance and slurred, mumbling speech confirmed the worst fears of vast numbers of voters that he was too old to serve another term as President. Though an “old” candidate himself, whose incoherent utterings at rally’s have not been sufficiently highlighted in the media, Trump proceeded to vigorously pummel Biden with a line of outrageous lies that were not challenged by the Moderators or more importantly, not countered consistently and effectively by a tired, weary looking and all too often incoherent President: a disturbing scene that led political commentator Dr. Julianne Malveaux to describe as a debate between the “Mumbler-in Chief and Liar-in-Chief.”

Trump was pathetic, but Biden was a disaster, not only because he looked old, but his performance also revealed some serious slippage in his cognitive capacities which solidified the perception in the minds of large numbers of voters that he should not be re-elected President. No matter what Biden’s supporters may think, “perception is reality.” Therefore, the path forward out of this painful predicament must be based on that reality!

Democrats are not only in danger of losing the White House, but there is also a legitimate concern that if Biden hangs on, the negative impact on down ballot races for the Senate and House of Representatives could be devastating. Under these dire circumstances, it’s time for bold, decisive action. I believe Biden must be persuaded to graciously and enthusiastically step aside and pass the torch to the person he selected to be the first Black Woman Vice-President of the United States, Kamala Harris.

Biden deserves praise for the extraordinary accomplishments of the Biden-Harris administration in the face of one of the most severe crises in the history of the nation, the global COVID-19 Pandemic which precipitated an economic collapse with “Great Depression” levels of unemployment, business and home foreclosures, homelessness, hunger and poverty. Lest we forget, it was Joe Biden who outlined a bold agenda to “Build Back Better” and skillfully navigated a rigid, seemingly unshakable partisan divide to successfully pass the most impressive and impactful series of social and economic legislation bills since Lyndon Baines Johnson (LBJ).

And, because of an inexplicable reluctance to tell the story or ineffective messaging, it is easy to forget the fact that Joe Biden not only selected a Black woman to be his running mate, he selected the first Black woman to the Supreme Court and proceeded to advance a “Lift Every Voice” Black Agenda which translated into issuing an Executive Order on Equity; vigorously supported the George Floyd criminal justice reform act and John Lewis Voting Rights Act; massive increases in funding for Pell Grants and Historically Black Colleges and Universities; billions of dollars in the Department of Transportation to rebuild Black communities decimated by urban renewal and more recently by gentrification; and 5 billion to address gun violence in Black communities based on the Live-Free Model that only failed to be enacted due to reductions in the size of the bill demanded by conservative Democrats as a concession for their vote to ensure passage. Biden has yet to enact the HR-40 Commission by Executive Order but has signaled support for a “study bill.”

You can make the case that Joe Biden has the most significant civil rights record since John F. Kennedy (JFK) and LBJ. Plaudits are in order for Biden’s extraordinary record of accomplishments, but all that he has achieved is definitively endangered by the prospect of victory by Trump and MAGAISM. Democracy is in danger and Black America is in danger if the Democrats fail to win the White House. And, that prospect looms large in face of the troubling revelations about a decent human being and exemplary public servant that the nation and the world witnessed during the debacle of July 27th and its aftermath.

We respect, appreciate and admire you President Biden, but the perilous historical moment we face demands that we rally around Vice-President Kamala Harris to lead the Democratic Party joined by independents, disaffected Republicans and people of conscience and good will to a resounding victory over Trump and MAGAISM!

President Biden, I predict that an enthusiastic statement from you announcing that you are passing the baton to Vice-President Kamala Harris will be an electrifying moment; a historical moment that will break the current stalemate in the campaign for president. Kamala Harris is an extraordinary leader who will brilliantly present and defend the milestone legislative record of the Biden-Harris administration and articulate the urgency and vision for “finishing the job” in this moment of grave threat to democracy.

As a Black woman with Caribbean and Asian South Pacific Island roots, I predict that Black women, women of color and women of all backgrounds will rise-up and rally around Kamala Harris as she leads the charge to protect women’s reproductive rights and fulfills Biden’s pledge to pass federal legislation restoring the rights enshrined in Roe v. Wade.

Polls have consistently indicated “lukewarm” support among Black voters as the most reliable base of the Democratic Party. Well, that’s about to change. The Black base will be fired-up as Kamala Harris clearly and articulately shares the substantial record of accomplishments on racial justice issues by the Biden-Harris administration, and continues to fight for the Floyd and Lewis Acts and openly embraces HR-40 (polls commissioned by the organization Reparations United indicate that pledging to enact the HR-40 Commission by Executive Order will motivate unlikely voters, especially younger Black voters, to come off the sidelines and engage).

As the esteemed, legendary, elder statesman Rev. Jesse L. Jackson might say, rallying around Kamala Harris will “Keep Hope Alive,” that victory over the retrograde, reactionary forces of Trump and MAGAISM is not only possible but certain. So let us not equivocate or hesitate; we need an urgent and immediate groundswell, positively urging and encouraging President Joe Biden to endorse his loyal, dedicated running mate, Vice-President Kamala Harris as his replacement as the Democratic Party’s candidate for President of the United States. That historic announcement will mark the beginning not of a Blue Wave, but a tsunami, a massive wave of Rainbow voters marching on ballot boxes to defeat Trump and MAGAISM and rescue democracy; a momentous victory that will pave the way to resume the essential complex task of creating a “more perfect union.” 

This article was originally published by National News Release.

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By Ashlee Banks
Special to the AFRO

Several Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives are demanding that President Joe Biden withdraw from the presidential race over health concerns.

U.S. Reps. Lloyd Doggett, (D-Tx.), Raúl Grijalva, (D-Ariz.), Seth Moulton,(D-Mass.), Mike Quigley, (D-Ill.), Angie Craig, (D-Minn.) Mike Sherrill, (D-N.J.) and Adam Smith, (D-Wash.) are doubtful that Biden has what it takes to carry out another presidential term.

They have suggested replacements for Biden which include, Vice President Kamala Harris, California Governor Gavin Newsom, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker.

However, Biden has repeatedly stated that he will not step aside.

While on the campaign trail in Wisconsin on July 5, Biden stated that he confirmed he is still running for re-election and will “win again” against former President Donald Trump.

U.S. Hank Johnson, (D-Ga.) said that the backlash Biden is facing stems from a “bad debate performance,” however it will “blow over.” 

Congressional members who believe Biden is no longer fit to serve as president encourage voters to look to alternative candidates following Biden’s debate performance.

On June 27, CNN’s Jake Tapper and Dana Bash moderated a debate between Biden and Trump. During the debate, Biden was spotted wearing a blank stare repeatedly throughout the 90-minute segment, leaving some to question whether the president is struggling with Dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.

Following the debate, Biden met with Democratic governors and blamed his performance on his travel schedule and a lack of sleep.

He also told them that he would no longer schedule events after 8 p.m. to ensure that he gets rest.

Despite some members calling into question whether Biden has the ability to serve, the majority of House Democrats have thrown their support behind the president.

U.S. Rep. Dan Goldman, (D-N.Y.) believes that Biden should remain on the Democratic ticket.

“Joe Biden has been an outstanding president who has preserved and protected our democracy at home and abroad,” said Goldman. “The candidate who should be dropping out of this race is the twice impeached convicted felon who has vowed to destroy our democracy.”

Rep. Johnson stated that he supports the president, however if Biden were to step down and Vice President Harris were to run for office, he would support her as well. 

“I think that she would make an excellent president,” said Johnson.  

However, U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, (R-Fla.) said he does not think that Harris would fare well if she became the Democratic Party’s nominee.

“The problem is the voters have spoken,” said Donalds. “Democratic voters chose Joe Biden.”

U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, (D-N.Y.) stated that she has been in talks with Biden and believes Democrats need to shift their attention to matters impacting Americans across the nation such as social security benefits and the cost of living to defeat Trump.

“If we can do that and continue our work on student loans, secure a ceasefire and brings those dollars back into investing in public policy then that’s how we win in November,” said Ocasio-Cortez.

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By Tashi McQueen 
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

Baltimore City Councilman Mark Conway (D-District 4) was set to lead a legislative oversight hearing on July 10 about Baltimore’s recently revealed opioid crisis, but it was abruptly canceled.

The cancellation led to a public exchange about why it was called off when Conway released a statement on the matter, saying he didn’t agree to cancel the hearing.

“I specifically asked that we hold off on any decision on the hearing until I had a strong understanding and agreement from the administration on how we were going to go forward. We did not get that,” Conway told the AFRO. “The purpose of the hearing was to understand the problem, and I’ve requested private hearings with the agencies that could help me understand the problem. I thought we were working towards understanding what that might look like. Instead, I was offered a meeting with the city solicitor.”

Conway expressed that he didn’t believe that a meeting with the city solicitor would be the best way to gain the comprehension he needed about where the city is concerning the public health crisis. 

“I understand we have pending litigation that we want to be careful about. I fully agree and respect that,” said Conway. “I don’t feel fully equipped to make decisions on this matter unless I can get briefed from our city agencies. I think that’s a pretty basic and very reasonable ask.”

Mayor Brandon M. Scott (D) released a rebuttal to Conway’s comments shortly afterward.

“Councilman Conway’s statement regarding this cancellation is categorically false. Private briefings were offered to the Councilman in lieu of a public hearing, which can only serve to endanger the litigation that we have been fighting on for more than six years and are now poised to win at trial later this year,” said Scott. “Our administration is handling this case with the diligence and care it deserves, and have repeatedly communicated our position publicly and directly to the Councilman. We will avoid doing anything that endangers this case – because winning this case is what’s best for our residents.”

Councilwoman Danielle McCray (D-District 2) is also leading legislative hearings on the opioid crisis, an ongoing effort for the Health, Environment and Technology Committee since 2022. Her committee’s hearings are still set for July 24, August 28 and Sept. 25.

McCray did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

“This is all still very fresh,” said Conway. “We may revisit the idea of a hearing – I’m still evaluating that.”

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By Amber D. Dodd
Special to the AFRO
adodd@afro.com 

On Father’s Day, recognized this year on June 16, Hannah Rosenzweig, Jamal Holtz and Diane Robertson premiered their film “51st State.” The documentary was shown at the second annual D.C./DOX Film Festival, a program that highlights projects capturing and cultivating life in the nation’s capital. 

Rosenzweig created the film while Robertson served as the executive producer. The documentary follows statehood activists and D.C. natives Holtz and Demi Stratmon. Their work is housed under 51 for 51, an organization committed to D.C.’s statehood.

“We have to see D.C. statehood as a fight for racial justice,” Holtz told the AFRO. “There are people who are advocating around racial justice across the country, but we have to see D.C. statehood as an intersection to those issues.”

In 1787, the founding fathers decided that D.C. cannot have congressional representation since the federal government is located there. 

This set the precedence for the lack of political power and representation for D.C.’s 700,000 residents today. Though D.C. residents are America’s highest taxpayers, there is no Senate or State representation.

Historians argue that D.C.’s statehood is an issue of voter suppression and disfranchisement as Wyoming and Vermont, two states with lower populations than D.C., possess full political representation in the House and Senate. 

“People don’t think about this as a voting rights issue, but it very much is,” Stasha Rhodes, strategist and Democracy Reform Leader and former director of 51 for 51, said. “Our democracy, specifically in the Senate, gives more power to smaller, Whiter, redder states.”

United States House of Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton, a staple in the nation’s capital, serves as Congress’ only representation for the district.

“We don’t have any senators, the District of Columbia only has me on the House floor,” said Norton, who makes an appearance in the documentary. “The fight is really about becoming equal to other Americans.”

The fight for D.C. statehood is done through three different legislative acts; For the People Act (H.R. 1), The Washington D.C. Admissions Act (S.51) and the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act (H.R.4.). The bills did not pass during the 2021 legislative session.

The bills garnered the support of notable politicians such as the ACLU, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and U.S. President Joe Biden. 

“We have to push those individuals, especially those Democrats senators who have not yet spoken on D.C. statehood,” Stratmore said. “D.C. is a Black and Brown place, it’s easy to disenfranchise a group of people that have been disenfranchised for the entire history of this country.”

Holtz and the 51 for 51 team vie for statehood in other avenues such as the Young Democrats of D.C.. Holtz becomes president of the respective organization, inviting D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser.

“We are always going to fight for D.C. statehood,” Bowser said, to the Young Democrats of D.C. “I am counting on you to take us to the next level.”

Robertson, Rosenzweig and Holtz participated in a panel after the documentary’s premiere. Fawn Johnson, news director of the Bloomberg Industry Group, moderated the panel. 

“As a historian and democracy advocate, I just saw this as the perfect story to tell,” Robertson said. 

“D.C. is not going to become a state until the other 50 states decide that it should be a state, and that requires education, so this was the perfect vehicle to tell a story that would go beyond its intended audience and be used in places where people aren’t thinking about it.”

The trio agreed that the film serves as a starting point for nationwide support of D.C. statehood. “One of the things Jamal and I talked about was the importance of this story…of the need for statehood outside of the city,” Rosenzweig said. “That was a reason for somebody outside of the district like myself to make the film and hopefully bring it to new audiences. ”

Visuals of the everyday Black Washingtonians enjoying their lives, even through their struggle for political representation, is a potential connection point for D.C.’s goals for statehood.

“Culture allows for connection,” Holtz said on authentic D.C. representation. “I go back to using the word ‘humanity.’ People get to connect with the human themes rather than the policy.”

Longtime statehood activist Henry Hughes said statehood efforts are intertwined with the roots of Black activism. 

“This cycle is about self determination,” Hughes said.

If D.C. earns its statehood, it would be the first majority Black state in American history. This, Holtz says, could garner the support of Black communities who could empower their respective senators to support D.C. as the 51st state.

“There are Black people in South Carolina, in Texas, all over the country that have a connection to the Black culture displayed at an all-time high in Washington D.C.,” Holtz told the AFRO. “I think it’s important to showcase what D.C. is for other people to at least feel an immediate connection and familiarity…Black people across the country should be outraged that D.C. is not a state.”

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

Baltimore City officials are looking for applicants who support and are willing to oversee the city’s vision for their newly acquired hotels. City officials aim to turn the two Downtown Baltimore hotels, Holiday Inn Express and the Sleep Inn and Suites, into permanent supportive housing for those experiencing homelessness. 

The City of Baltimore acquired the two properties and the adjacent parking lot in February for $15.2 million, using federal funds through the American Rescue Plan Act. The Holiday Inn Express is located at 221 N. Gay St. and the Sleep Inn and Suites on 301 Fallsway.

“When I look at these hotels behind us and beside me that were once the Holiday Inn Express and the Sleep Inn and Suites, I see an important investment in the people of our city. Tackling homelessness is not a one-size-fits-all approach,” said Baltimore City Mayor Brandon M. Scott (D) at the unveiling of the two hotels on July 1. “It requires individualized and innovative responses to every aspect of the system and every factor that can lead a person to homelessness. These hotels provide us more capacity and another tool in the toolbox to continue that work.”

The hotels are currently being used as temporary housing for those experiencing homelessness in the city, which Ernestina Simmons, director of the Mayor’s Office of Homeless Services (MOHS), confirmed will continue as they go through their request for proposals (RFP) process.

Simmons said 378 families have been served at these two locations, including 136 adults over the age of 50 and 40 children (zero to 17).

“When you look at why permanent supportive housing, think of every developer and nonprofit organization that wants to stand behind this work,” said Simmons. “You are meeting people where they are, you’re seeing them as they need to be seen and you’re saying ‘housing isn’t going to be your challenge today.’”

A few days after Scott and other city and national officials unveiled the two properties, the MOHS released their RFP. 

According to MOHS, they are seeking proposals from non-profit, for-profit and joint ventures that plan to rehabilitate and run permanent supportive housing within the two properties. They also want the proposals to incorporate varied affordability levels of no more than 60 percent of area median income and a 55-year affordability covenant.

MOHS expects at least 100 units to be made available between the two buildings as well as onsite services ranging from mental health aid to case management services.

For those interested in submitting a proposal, the deadline is August 16 at 3 p.m.

MOHS will also host an optional virtual bidder’s conference on July 15 at 3 p.m. to help those applicants who may need technical assistance. Registration is mandatory to attend the conference. Go to homeless.baltimorecity.gov to register. 

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By Aria Brent
AFRO Staff Writer
abrent@afro.com

On July 1, the Supreme Court ruled that presidents do have some immunity for official acts that took place during their presidency. This decision was made in a 6-3 ruling, with the majority opinion belonging to the conservative justices. The ruling will be applicable for all current and future presidents, however this Supreme Court decision is especially beneficial for former president Donald Trump. This decision aligns with his claims of immunity to criminal prosecution for his role in the events that took place in the nation’s capital on Jan.6, 2021. 

Trump argued to dismiss the indictment he received from a federal court based on four counts of conduct that happened during his presidency, following the 2020 election. He was charged with conspiring to overturn the results by spreading false claims of election fraud in an attempt to interfere with the collecting, counting and certifying of the election results. 

Trump claimed that the charges should be dismissed based on presidential immunity.

President Joe Biden spoke on the Supreme Court’s opinion on presidential immunity the night of July 1. 

“The presidency is the most powerful office in the world.  It’s an office that not only tests your judgment, perhaps even more importantly it’s an office that can test your character because you not only face moments where you need the courage to exercise the full power of the presidency, you also face moments where you need the wisdom to respect the limits of the power of the office of the presidency,” said Biden. “This nation was founded on the principle that there are no kings in America.  Each of us is equal before the law.  No one is above the law, not even the president of the United States.”

Biden said that the Supreme Court’s decision on presidential immunity, “almost certainly means that there are virtually no limits on what a president can do.”

“Nearly four years ago, my predecessor sent a violent mob to the U.S. Capitol to stop the peaceful transfer of power.  We all saw it with our own eyes.  We sat there and watched it happen that day.  Attack on the police.  The ransacking of the Capitol.  A mob literally hunting down the House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi,” said Biden. “Gallows erected to hang the vice president, Mike Pence.  I think it’s fair to say it was one of the darkest days in the history of America.”

“Now the man who sent that mob to the U.S. Capitol is facing potential criminal conviction for what happened that day,” continued Biden. “The American people deserve to have an answer in the courts before the upcoming election.  The public has a right to know the answer about what happened on Jan. 6th before they ask to vote again this year.”

Following the Supreme Court decision, Trump took to social media to express how just he found the ruling to be and to further argue his innocence regarding the events that took place on Jan. 6. 

“Total exoneration! All of these unfair charges represent the worst level of election interference ever seen in our country’s long and storied history,” said Trump, on his social media platform, Truth Social. “It must be understood that I was totally and completely innocent from the beginning of this giant and highly illegal scam, long before the Supreme Court’s decision was released. The impact of the immunity ruling is a loud and clear signal for justice in the United States.”

Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett (TX-30)  also weighed in on the decision and the justices who hand a hand in the ruling.

“Let us be clear: not only is the outcome of today’s decision deeply flawed, so too was the judicial process that enabled it to move forward. Make no mistake—Justices Thomas and Alito should never have taken part in determining the outcome of this case,” said Crockett, in a statement sent to the AFRO. “Justice Thomas should have been immediately precluded due to his wife’s active involvement with President Trump’s Chief of Staff as they worked to overturn the 2020 election, raising a clear conflict of interest in the outcome of this case.” 

Crockett continued, saying that “despite these egregious actions, this Court has enabled itself to be a separate, unequal branch of government—one which has repeatedly operated without basic judicial ethics, without oversight, and without accountability.

”

“While today’s ruling will leave shocks felt throughout our judicial system, it is the American people and Congress who must check this institution and build back the system of government our Founding Fathers envisioned before it was too late,” she said. “It is time Congress fulfill its constitutional duty to ensure our Court is accountable, transparent, and protects the law and the American people rather than the special interests of wealthy donors. It is time we safeguard our democracy by preventing the appointment of judges who will overturn decades of precedent all due to their own blatantly political biases.”

Chevron ruling

Just days before the July 1 immunity ruling, on June 28, a 40-year-old ruling decision known as the “Chevron deference” was overturned, removing federal agencies power to interpret laws and decide the best ways to apply them. The ending of this deference is expected to deeply affect agencies like the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Sen.Ben Cardin (D-Md.) commented on this ruling, sharing that the decision is regressive and it prioritizes corporations over the American people. 

“I am deeply troubled by the Supreme Court’s decision today to overturn the doctrine of Chevron deference for federal agencies to set rules to protect the American public,” Cardin stated. “The ideological right of the Court has once again set aside decades of precedent at the behest of powerful corporate interests and made a decision that turns back the clock on the ability to protect the public’s health and welfare. This includes keeping our environment clean and combating financial fraud in our markets.”

Homelessness

On June 28, the Supreme court handed down a decision that makes it easier for communities across the nation to ticket, fine or arrest the unhoused. 

In a 6-3 ruling in the case of City of Grants Pass v. Johnson, the justices in the majority determined that it’s not cruel and unusual punishment to target homeless people that are occupying public spaces via ban enforcements and criminal or civil penalties — even if there are no alternative shelter or housing options available for them.

Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D.,(D-NC-12) released a statement condemning the ruling, declaring it to be dangerous and disgraceful. 

“The Supreme Court’s ruling that homelessness is not a protected status under the Eighth Amendment is a dangerous disgrace and is at odds with who we are as a nation,” stated Adams. “It punishes poor people for simply trying to exist. Instead of penalizing people without a roof over their head or a bed to sleep in, we should be working to make sure that every American in every corner of our country has a place to live— a fundamental human right.”

All of the court rulings mentioned here were made by the same 6-3 conservative majority vote.

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By Lisa Mascaro, Zeke Miller and Seung Min Kim
Associated Press

President Joe Biden, in a letter to congressional Democrats, stood firm against calls for him to drop his candidacy and called for an end to the intraparty drama that has torn apart Democrats since his dismal public debate performance.

Biden’s efforts to shore up a deeply anxious Democratic Party came on July 8 as lawmakers returned to Washington confronting a choice: Decide whether to work to revive his campaign or try to edge out the party leader, a make-or-break time for his reelection and their own political futures.

Biden wrote in the two-page letter that “the question of how to move forward has been well-aired for over a week now. And it’s time for it to end.” He stressed that the party has “one job,” which is to defeat presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump in November.

“We have 42 days to the Democratic Convention and 119 days to the general election,” Biden said in the letter, distributed by his reelection campaign. “Any weakening of resolve or lack of clarity about the task ahead only helps Trump and hurts us. It’s time to come together, move forward as a unified party, and defeat Donald Trump.”

Anxiety is running high as top-ranking Democratic lawmakers are joining calls for Biden to step aside despite his defiance. At the same time, some of the president’s most staunch supporters are redoubling the fight for Biden’s presidency, insisting there’s no one better to beat Trump in what many see as among the most important elections of a lifetime.

Biden followed up the letter with a phone interview with MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” show, on which he insisted that “average Democrats” want him to stay in the race and said he was frustrated by the calls from party officials for him to step aside.

“They’re big names, but I don’t care what those big names think,” Biden said.

He threw the gauntlet at his critics, saying if they’re serious they ought to “announce for president, challenge me at the convention” or rally behind him against Trump. Later, Biden joined a call with members of his national finance committee, while first lady Jill Biden campaigned for her husband in a three-state swing focused on engaging veterans and military families.

Biden followed up the letter with a phone interview with MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” show, on which he insisted that “average Democrats” want him to stay in the race and said he was frustrated by the calls from party officials for him to step aside.

“They’re big names, but I don’t care what those big names think,” Biden said.

He threw the gauntlet at his critics, saying if they’re serious they ought to “announce for president, challenge me at the convention” or rally behind him against Trump. Later, Biden joined a call with members of his national finance committee, while first lady Jill Biden campaigned for her husband in a three-state swing focused on engaging veterans and military families.

“For all the talk out there about this race, Joe has made it clear that he’s all in,” she told a military crowd in Wilmington, North Carolina. “That’s the decision that he’s made, and just as he has always supported my career, I am all in, too.”

Democratic voters are split on whether Biden should remain the Democratic Party’s nominee for president, or whether there should be a different Democratic nominee, according to a New York Times/Siena College poll.

More voices spoke up July 8, including the chair of the House’s Congressional Progressive Caucus, Rep. Pramila Jayapal, who was not ready to cast aside Biden, saying that the threat of a second Trump presidency remains too high. Yet one of the most endangered Democrats this election cycle, Sen. Jon Tester of Montana, said in a statement, “President Biden has got to prove to the American people—including me—that he’s up to the job for another four years.”

As lawmakers weigh whether Biden should stay or go, there appear to be no easy answers.

It’s a tenuous and highly volatile juncture for the president’s party. Democrats who have worked alongside Biden for years — if not decades — and cherished his life’s work on policy priorities are now entertaining uncomfortable questions about his political future. And it’s unfolding as Biden hosts world leaders for the NATO summit this week in Washington.

Time is not on their side, almost a month from the Democratic National Convention and just a week before Republicans gather in Milwaukee to renominate Trump as their presidential pick. Many Democrats are arguing the attention needs to be focused not on Biden but on the former president’s felony conviction in the hush money case and pending federal charges in his effort to overturn the 2020 election.

It’s what Biden himself might call an inflection point. As he definitely says he will only step aside if the Lord almighty comes and tells him to, Democrats in the House and Senate are deciding how hard they want to fight the president to change his course, or if they want to change course at all.

In an effort to “get on the same page,” House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries is convening lawmakers for private meetings before he shows his own preference, according to a person familiar with the situation and granted anonymity to discuss it. He planned to gather on Monday some Democrats whose bids for reelection are most vulnerable.

A private call Sunday, July 7, including some 15 top House committee members exposed the deepening divide as at least four more Democrats — Rep. Jerrold Nadler of New York, Rep. Jim Himes of Connecticut, Rep. Adam Smith of Washington state and Rep. Mark Takano of California — privately said Biden should step aside.

Nadler, as one of the more senior members on the call, was the first person to say that Biden should step aside, according to a person familiar with the call who was granted anonymity to discuss it. He did so aware of his seniority and that it would allow others to join him.

Many others on the call raised concerns about Biden’s capability and chance of winning reelection, even if they stopped short of saying Biden should step out of the race.

Still other members, including Rep. Maxine Waters of California and Rep. Bobby Scott of Virginia, both leaders in the Congressional Black Caucus, spoke forcefully in support of Biden, as did Rep. Richard Neal of Massachusetts, the top Democrat on the powerful Ways and Means Committee.

And several lawmakers appeared frustrated that leadership was not providing direction or a path forward, according to people familiar with the call. One Democratic lawmaker said regardless of the decision, the situation has to “end now,” one of the people said.

Neal said afterward that the bottom line is Biden beat Trump in 2020 and “he’ll do it again in November.”

The upheaval also is testing this generation of leaders, headed by Jeffries and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. Both New Yorkers have refrained from publicly directing lawmakers on a path forward as they balance diverse opinions in their ranks.

Behind the scenes is Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, who continues to field calls from lawmakers seeking advice about the situation, and is widely viewed as the one to watch for any ultimate decision on Biden’s future because of her proximity to the president and vote-counting skills in party politics.

Pelosi spoke up last week, saying Biden’s debate performance raised “legitimate” questions he needed to answer, but she has remained supportive of the president. And Biden called her last week when he reached out to other party leaders.

When Biden’s prime-time ABC interview on Friday appeared to do little to calm worried Democrats, and some said made the situation worse, Pelosi stepped forward to publicly praise Biden on social media as a “great President who continues to deliver for America’s kitchen table.” She added, “and we’re not done yet!”

Schumer has kept a lower profile throughout the ordeal but will convene Democratic senators Tuesday for their weekly lunch when senators are certain to air many views.

One Democrat, Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, had intended to gather senators Monday to discuss Biden privately, but a person familiar with his thinking said those conversations will take place in Tuesday’s regular caucus luncheon with all Democratic senators.

Another Democrat, Sen. Alex Padilla of California, said it was “time to quit the hand-wringing and get back to door knocking.”

Padilla spoke with Biden over the weekend, and urged his campaign to “let Joe be Joe.”

“Given the debate, I think the campaign has no choice,” Padilla said Sunday, explaining that Biden needs to hold town halls and unscripted events to show voters “the Joe Biden that most people in America have come to know and love.”

While some deep-pocketed donors may be showing discomfort, strategists working on House and Senate races said they have posted record fundraising as donors view congressional Democrats as a “firewall” and last line of defense against Trump.

As Democratic candidates campaign alongside Biden, the advice has been to focus on building their own brands and amplifying the way the work that’s done in Congress affects their local districts.

This article was originally published by the Associated Press.

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By Rev. Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr.

NNPA NEWSWIRE — There are moments in life when the convictions of the spirit and personal consciousness collide in opposition to the mainstream, popular outcries for the blood, life, and the end of the future existence of another human being.  I refuse to be a silent witness to another lynching in America. Thus, the following is what I have observed and witnessed firsthand over the past days to the lynch mob-like escalation of calls for President Joe Biden to step down from campaigning for reelection in 2024.  I am not representing any organization or political party.  On July 4, 2024, while sitting quietly in Raleigh, North Carolina, I jotted down my personal views.

Although I am a proud Democrat, I am so saddened by the backstabbing cowardice of those who dare to publicly call for President Biden to step down while having an utter contradictory refusal to utter publicly any call for former President Donald Trump to step down and to end his fascist-engaging campaign to retake The White House. The question is why?  The attempted political lynching of President Joe Biden has more to do with disingenuous political infighting than difficulties at a nationally televised political debate.  What are the real motives from all of those who are calling for President Biden to step down?

Some will say that my words and expressions here are too strong and controversial.  That may be true because there should be strong words and expressions that always should call out and condemn any form of lynching.  A political lynching is also a crime against the oneness of our humanity. Such is the situation today in America. It is the politics of division versus the politics of unifying all Americans for the best interests and future of the nation that is on the ballot. Democracy is on the ballot.  Justice is on the ballot. Equality is on the ballot. Equity is on the ballot.  Freedom is on the ballot.

The antidote to the current resurgence of ignorance, racism, cowardice, fascism, and retrenchment from freedom, justice, equality, and equity is to work hard daily and diligently to ensure the largest voter turnout this year in American history. Why do I claim responsibility for urgently making this statement on July 4, 2024?  African Americans, like others who fought and died in the fields and streets in the 13 American colonies during the Revolutionary War against the British Empire 248 years ago, have a birthright to the Declaration of Independence signed on July 4, 1776, and later to the Constitution of the United States of America.

Although thousands of people of African descent, who were not enslaved, enlisted and fought for freedom and independence against the British, no people of African descent were invited or permitted to attend the formative meetings of the newly emerging nation’s democracy and Constitutional Convention held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1787. My great, great, great, great-grandfather, the Rev. John Chavis (1763-1838), fought as a young, enlisted soldier in the Revolutionary War against the British in our home state of North Carolina and in the state of Virginia. The Chavis family has lived in Granville County, North Carolina, for over 285 years. My father, Benjamin F. Chavis Sr. (1898-1965) enlisted and fought as a young sergeant major soldier in the United States Army in World War I.

The point here is that generations of African and African-American soldiers have enlisted and fought and died to defend and protect the nation and democracy for the past 248 years. And we are not going to permit anyone or anything to deny our birthright to freedom and democracy.  For us, the right to vote in America is blood-stained and sacred. We know from our lived experience the horror, pain and suffering from centuries of physical lynchings in America to satisfy the sheer fear, hatred, White supremacy and ignorance of racism. Today, we also know when mobs cry out for the downfall and political lynching of those who have been our allies in our long struggle for freedom, justice, voting rights and equity, we cannot be silent.

It is ironic that also here in Raleigh, fewer than 24 hours after the questionable so-called debate in Atlanta, Georgia, President Biden spoke eloquently and forcibly at the NC State Fairgrounds about a couple of miles away from the John Chavis Memorial Park in downtown Raleigh. President Biden said, “I know I’m not a young man, to state the obvious. I don’t walk as easy (sic) as I used to. I don’t speak as smoothly as I used to. I don’t debate as well as I used to. But I know what I do know — I know how to tell the truth.”  

The truth is therapeutic.  Our nation needs more truth over the lies and prevalent fake news.

At the same time, as the calls for President Biden to step down, the United States Supreme Court has now ruled that future and past presidential “official acts” of violence, crime, repression, voter suppression, and insurrection are all immune from prosecution as long those acts are official acts within the core responsibilities of a President of the United States. This is dangerous and fundamentally against the meaning and principles of democracy. That is why now, more than ever before, we must raise our voices and mobilize our families and communities to go out and vote in record numbers in the swing states and in every other state across the nation.  We all have work to do.  We said back in the 1960s Civil Rights Movement, “When things get tough in our struggle for freedom, we have to become tougher.”

Join me and raise your voice with me. Let’s vote in record numbers throughout America.  Stop the lynching of President Joe Biden.

The Rev. Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. is president and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA).

The post Stop the lynching of President Joe Biden appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Stacy M. Brown
NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia

(NNPA Newswire) – A new report released this month has revealed that the federal government spent $14.9 billion on advertising contracts over the last 10 fiscal years to inform the public about various programs and services. However, despite the government’s mandate to provide contract opportunities to businesses owned by minorities, women and other socially or economically disadvantaged groups, significant disparities persist.

The report found that contracts with those businesses represented about 14 percent of total federal advertising spending, amounting to $2.1 billion from fiscal years 2014 to 2023. Additionally, federal agencies allocated about $1.1 billion for COVID-related advertising contracts, with only 3.5 percent, or about $37 million, awarded to these disadvantaged businesses.

Additionally, the report does not specify the amount allocated to Black-owned media. Several previous reports suggest that Black-owned media received no more than $10 million of the total $14.9 billion spent.

“Of the $14.9 billion spent, a disproportionately small fraction has gone to Black-owned media,” National Newspaper Publishers Association Chair Chairman Biden Henry stated. The NNPA is the trade association representing the Black Press of America. “This underrepresentation, neglect, and disrespect not only undermines the economic stability of Black-owned businesses, but also limits the diversity of voices and perspectives essential to a vibrant democracy. The NNPA calls for immediate and substantial reforms to ensure fair and equitable distribution of federal advertising dollars.”

In 2023, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) introduced a bill called the Federal Government Advertising Equity Accountability Act requiring federal agencies to detail their advertising spending with small, disadvantaged businesses and businesses owned by women and minorities in their annual budget justifications. Norton, along with Reps. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.), Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), and Val Demings (D-Fla.), co-authored a letter to President Biden seeking answers about the inequity in federal advertising contracts awarded to minority- and women-owned media and advertising agencies compared to the rest of the industry.

A Government Accountability Office (GAO) study revealed that the federal government spent more than $5 billion on advertising over five years, with Black-owned businesses receiving only $51 million, or 1.02 percent of those funds. Black-owned newspapers and media companies received a small portion of the $51 million.

Jessica Lucas-Judy, director of strategic issues for GAO, clarified in an email to the Black Press: “Black American-owned businesses were awarded $256 million (21 percent) of the $1.2 billion in federal advertising contracts obligated to minority-owned businesses from FYs 2014 through 2023. When looking at the number of businesses, 148 Black-owned businesses were awarded advertising contracts during that time period.” 

Lucas-Judy added, “I double-checked with my team; the data from FPDS identified Black-owned businesses generally, rather than Black-owned newspapers/media outlets specifically. I think the only way to find the information you’re looking for would be to review each individual contract.”

The trend of underrepresentation in federal advertising contracts has been around for a while. In March 2016, Holmes Norton joined with the NNPA to call for a report on federal advertising contracts with minority-owned newspapers and media companies. The NNPA is the trade association of more than 250 African American-owned newspapers and media companies. The conglomerate comprises the 197-year-old Black Press of America.

Norton emphasized that the federal government, as the largest advertiser in the country, should ensure equal opportunities for news outlets and media companies owned by individuals of color, especially as African Americans and Hispanic Americans continue to grow in number in the United States.

“The federal government is the largest advertiser in the United States, and it has an obligation to ensure equitable access to its contracts for SDBs and businesses owned by minorities and women,” Norton stated.  “The GAO’s findings demonstrate that there is still much progress to be made.”

In 2007, GAO had already investigated advertising spending by five agencies—the Departments of Defense, Treasury, Health and Human Services, the Interior and NASA—and found that only 5 percent of the $4.3 billion available for advertising campaigns went to minority-owned businesses. Thirty-one members of Congress joined the call for accountability in the federal government’s advertising practices.

The latest GAO report, released June 27, 2024, highlighted those three agencies—the Departments of Defense, Health and Human Services (HHS) and Homeland Security—were responsible for more than half of advertising contract obligations to specified businesses from FYs 2014 through 2023, totaling about $1.3 billion. While these agencies obligated the most dollars to selected companies, other agencies had higher percentages of their obligations directed to these businesses. For instance, NASA allocated 99 percent of its advertising contract dollars to specified businesses, albeit a lower total dollar amount.

“The NNPA notes, as we have raised over the past decade, the issues of equity, inclusion, and accountability with respect to federal advertising dollars spending with Black-owned newspapers and other media companies,” NNPA President & CEO Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. stated.

“The latest GAO report is very telling and documents decades of racial discrimination and inequality concerning the allocations of federal advertising dollars. We live in a data conscious society and marketplace,” Chavis added. “We appreciate the data transparency of the GAO report that raises the urgency for immediate systematic change in federal government advertising spending to be more equitable and inclusive of advertising with the Black Press of America in this fiscal year.”

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By D. Kevin McNeir
Special to the AFRO

When national faith leaders, including Poor People’s Campaign co-chairs, Bishop William J. Barber II and Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharis, held a press conference on June 10 at First Congregational Church Sanctuary in Northwest D.C., their goal was to drum up support for the June 29 “Mass Poor People’s and Low-Wage Workers Assembly and Moral March on Washington, D.C. and to the Polls.” 

The vision was realized just days ago, after thousands descended on the capital in support of economic justice and voting rights.

Barber and his colleagues were not disappointed with the level of commitment and passion displayed by those in attendance on Saturday, June 29 – men and women representing their home states that included New Jersey, Alabama, California, New York and more than a dozen others. 

Speakers both at the microphone and in the crowd seemed to have one thing in mind: devising and following a strategy that will force America’s political elite to take notice of the needs of the poor. 

“Congress can pass legislation providing $20 million for war but cannot pass a budget to house the homeless. We deserve a place to live and we will take our demands to the ballot box this fall,” said Bryant. 

One attendee, Patricia Bryant, shared her view in the form of a spoken word manifesto. 

“Dearly beloved, 140 million people are gathered here and across the nation to form a more perfect union – that man and women who struggle daily to stay alive yet poverty is the way they die,” she said. “We are strong– not weak. Our votes are our voices. The ballot box should be our choice. We will lift ourselves up from the bottom and rise. And we will demand that America give this land of the free back to the people – to the natives – to the poor.”

Similar to the first Poor People’s Campaign, a two-week initiative that began on Sunday, May 12, 1968, this year’s Campaign and March brought hundreds of activists and concerned citizens back to the National Mall. The first march included powerful sermons, speeches and personal testimonies about the myriads of challenges faced by the poor. 

Exactly 56 years later, what began as a labor of love by Coretta Scott King and the Rev. Dr. Ralph Abernathy, following the tragic death of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on April 4, continues. However, unlike in 1968, Barber and his colleagues are employing a new strategy that significantly expands the goals of the Poor People’s Campaign. 

Armed with a 17-point agenda, Barber said they will call on all candidates running for elected office in the 2024 general election in November to step up and answer the needs of the poor.

“In this time, poor people, low-wage workers, religious leaders and moral advocates are bringing our voices together to tell America that we’re ready for protest and agitation in the street; litigation in the court and legislation in the suite; and we’re bringing our massive swing vote to the ballot box,” Barber said. ”We are not accepting the silence from the media and political establishment that ignores 800 daily deaths of poor and low-wealth people. Together, we will take this nation to higher ground.”

A look at the numbers reveals America’s burgeoning working poor 

Barber’s co-chair, the Rev. Dr. Theoharis, emphasized her colleague’s words. 

“Poverty is a death sentence in the United States and it doesn’t have to be this way,” said Dr.Theoharis. 

According to a 2021 report by the Brooking Institution, the pandemic hurt low-wage workers the most – and so far, the recovery has helped them the least. 

The report defined low-wage occupations as those with a media hourly wage no greater than $17.50 per hour. Further, it is estimated that 53 million Americans ages 18 to 64 – 44 percent of all workers – earn low hourly wages. Their median hourly earnings are $10.22 and for those working full time year-round, median annual earnings are about $24,000. 

While other Americans are optimistic about life in the “new normal” era of post pandemic life – the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reveals that minimum wage workers have little chance of escaping the throes of poverty – at least not without state- or federal-based programs. 

Keith Bullard, deputy director for the Union of Southern Service Workers, said he’s had enough. 

“When workers’ rights come under attack, we fight back,” he said. “Workers today are being forced to work in this oppressive heat while we should be protected from it. Because of the negligence of our employers – the big corporations – workers are being denied even the most basic of needs. America’s major corporations make billions of dollars, so they have the money to do what’s right. But we know that the only way they’ll do the right thing for workers is if we are willing to stand up, keep standing up, speak up and continue to speak up,” Bullard said. 

In 2022, 78.7 million workers, 16 and older in the U.S. were paid at hourly rates, representing 55.6 percent of all wage and salary workers. Among those paid by the hour, 141,000 workers earned exactly the prevailing federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour. About 882,000 workers had wages below the federal minimum. Together, these 1.0 million workers with wages at or below the federal minimum made up 1.3 percent of all hourly paid workers – little or no change from 2021. 

America’s poor advised to vote for the change they require 

Barber emphasized that poor people — whether they identify as Democrats, Republicans or Independents – represent one of the largest untapped voting blocs in the country. Based on statistics compiled by the Poor People’s Campaign, he posited that poor and low-wealth people do not vote to their full potential, even though they represent nearly 30 percent of the national electorate and close to 40 percent of voters in battleground states.

He then challenged listeners to consider what would happen if the poor were to vote with full strength – how they could give their support only to candidates who endorsed policies critical to them and to others facing poverty – from voting rights and raising the federal minimum wage to housing issues, LGBTQ+ rights and climate change.

“Like the Prophet Moses, honored by Jews, Muslims and Christians, led the people out of bondage of Egypt, it’s time to rise,” Barber said. “Like the dry bones in the valley of Ezekiel’s vision, we’ve got to rise.” 

One participant at the March and a fellow minister, the Rev. Hannah Broome, agreed with Barber saying the time to make their demands is now. 

“As moral leaders, we cannot afford to waste time when the cries of the oppressed call for immediate action,” she said. “We are the swing vote that can steer our nation toward compassion, shift the political landscape for all and not just the few and can ensure that all voters have equal and guaranteed voting rights.” 

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By Ashlee Banks                                                                                                                         Special to the AFRO

The Biden-Harris administration and members of Congress continue to address the gun violence epidemic in the U.S. and remain optimistic that they will be able to pass gun reform legislation.

In recent years the U.S. has seen gun violence erupt in cities like Baltimore, Washington, D.C., Chicago and Oakland, California, sometimes claiming the lives of innocent bystanders and young children. Americans have also seen an uptick in mass shootings which have occurred in unconventional spaces.

On May 14, 2022, Payton Gendron opened fire at a Tops Friendly Markets Supermarket in Buffalo, New York, killing 10 Black Americans. A few years prior, on June 17, 2015, Dylann Roof opened fire at the predominantly Black Emanuel AME Church, killing nine parishioners. Those two incidents are merely two of dozens of such mass shootings that have claimed numerous American lives. Despite the losses, however, lawmakers have not been able to pass comprehensive gun reform to curb the violence.

President Joe Biden recently spoke with voters while campaigning in New York and said that over the course of his presidency, he has met with victims of gun violence and emphasized the importance of protecting American lives.

“ remind us of why we must fully implement a significant gun safety law…and we must ban assault weapons,” said Biden.  

Over the years, members of Congress have introduced legislation that could help prevent gun violence across the country, however, the proposed statutes fail to garner bipartisan support.

On March 20, U.S. Reps. Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.), Gabe Amo (D-R.I.) and Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) introduced the Destroy Zombie Guns Act, which if enacted into law would close a loophole that has permitted gun disposal companies to destroy just one part of a firearm before reselling the remaining portions, which the lawmakers fear could find its way  into the wrong hands.

“A ‘zombie gun’ is exactly what it sounds like – it’s a gun that should not be living, it shouldn’t be able to operate, it shouldn’t be in use,” said Frost. “I refuse to see another life taken or another family devastated because of gun violence. We need to destroy zombie guns now.”

In 2023, U.S. Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-Md.) introduced the Raise the Age Act in the U.S. House of Representatives, which if enacted into law would forbid any licensed gun dealer from selling a semiautomatic rifle or shotgun to a customer under the age of 21.

“Some of the most horrific and heartbreaking mass shootings in our history were committed by 18-, 19-, and 20-year-olds using assault weapons, including the massacres at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown in 2012, at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida in 2018, and at Columbine High School in Colorado in 1999,” said Ivey.

“This bill alone won’t fix the problem of gun violence. But we know that inaction will NOT stop the mass killings! The time for action is long overdue,” Ivey added.

While some politicians push forward to find solutions to legal challenges and the underlying causes of gun violence in the U.S., they are also taking issue with the U.S. Supreme Court for rolling back protections that could prevent the next mass shooting.

Although the high court upheld a ban to keep firearms away from domestic abusers in U.S. v. Rahimi, the majority-conservative court also reversed a ban on bump stocks in Garland v. Carrillo last month.

“As victims recognize #GunViolenceAwarenessMonth, a deaf, blind & unaccountable Justice Thomas appeases wealthy firearms industry patrons,” said U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.) in a social media post. “His edict opens the door wide for the sale of bump stocks, which enables mass killings w/ more efficiency. See you in Bali, Justice Thomas.”

Following the U.S. Supreme Court rulings, both Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have vowed to pass tougher gun legislation if re-elected.

“Americans should not have to live in fear of this mass devastation,” said Biden. “I call on Congress to ban bump stocks, pass an assault weapon ban, and take additional action to save lives – send me a bill and I will sign it immediately.”

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, (D-N.Y.), is ready to answer Biden’s call and is enlisting the help of his Republican colleagues.

“Weapons of war have no place in a civilized society,” said Jeffries. “It’s time for extreme MAGA Republicans to join us in the fight to achieve commonsense gun safety, or get out of the way.”

“American lives are at risk,” added Jeffries.

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

The Prince George’s County Council recently released two dates for special elections to replace former Council Member Jamel “Mel” Franklin who resigned on June 14.

“After nearly 14 years of service, At-Large Council Member Mel Franklin has resigned his position. Franklin served two terms representing District 9 beginning in December 2010, before being elected twice as an At-Large Council Member,” said Jennifer A. Jenkins, Prince George’s County Council administrator, in a statement on June 14. “We thank Council Member Franklin for his years of dedication, hard work and service.”

“We are committed to a smooth transition for the benefit of our residents,” she continued. 

The special primary election is set for Aug. 6 and the special general election is on Nov. 5. Prospective applicants must file a certificate of candidacy with the Prince George’s County Board of Elections by July 5. 

On June 20, about a week after Franklin resigned, Maryland State Prosecutor Charlton T. Howard III announced that charges were filed in the Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County against Franklin with multiple counts of felony theft scheme, perjury and embezzlement.

“Our office strives to hold individuals in positions of public trust accountable if they violate that trust and exploit the Maryland electoral process for personal financial gain,” said Howard in a statement on June 20.

According to the document, Franklin is accused of embezzling $124,450 from the Friends of Mel Franklin campaign committee account from 2020 through October 2023. Franklin allegedly used the funds to pay for personal subscriptions, credit card debt, personal loans and cosmetic procedures for himself and a friend.

According to the charges, from 2021 through December 18, 2023, Franklin was in a similar scheme embezzling $8,719 from the campaign account to third parties to pay for Franklin’s personal expenses.

Franklin allegedly falsified information on campaign finance reports filed with the Maryland State Board of Elections instead of reporting the expenses described in the document.

The AFRO reached out to Franklin for comment but did not receive a response.

The post Prince George’s County Council announces special election after recent resignation appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Keith Boykin
Word In Black

If you’re thinking of not voting in the November presidential election, let me give you one important reason why you should vote — the courts.

Let’s say you’re a progressive who wants Medicare for All, the Green New Deal, the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act and reparations for Black people. Trump opposes all these things, but Biden is too much of an incrementalist for you. So you decide not to vote. What’s the worst that could happen, right?

Well, if Trump is elected, he could appoint up to three new right-wing Supreme Court justices and hundreds of lower court federal judges. Why is that important? Because federal judges have lifetime tenure. Many join the bench when they’re in their 40s or 50s and stay in position for decades until they die or retire.

That means that when the next president comes along in 2028, it will be virtually impossible to implement a progressive agenda. Any policies you support will be struck down by Trump-appointed Supreme Court Justices and federal judges for the next two to three decades. 

We’re seeing it already. In just four years in office, Trump appointed one-third of the U.S. Supreme Court and 242 federal judges. That’s why so many of Joe Biden’s policies have been struck down.

Trying to go to college? The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 last year that colleges and universities can no longer use race in admissions to create a more diverse student body. All six justices who killed affirmative action were appointed by Republican presidents. The three Democratic-appointed justices dissented.

Struggling to pay your student loans? The Supreme Court killed student loan debt relief that would have helped 40 million Americans. Once again, all six justices were Republican appointees.

Need to have an abortion? The Supreme Court ruled two years ago that women no longer have reproductive rights to control their own bodies. All six justices who overturned Roe v. Wade were Republican appointees. 

Did you fall behind on your rent during the pandemic? The Supreme Court ended the nationwide eviction moratorium that protected millions of American renters from being kicked out of their apartments. Once again, a 6-3 Republican decision.   

Want to vote for a Black member of Congress? The Supreme Court ruled that Republicans can use a racially gerrymandered voting map that disenfranchised Black voters in South Carolina. But all six Republican-appointed justices allowed the map. 

And it’s not just the Supreme Court.

Looking to launch a Black business? A federal judge in Texas ruled that the Minority Business Development Agency, a 55-year-old agency, is now illegal because it discriminates against White people. Once again, the judge was appointed by Donald Trump.

Need startup money for a new firm? A federal appeals court in Georgia ruled that a venture capital fund for Black women called the Fearless Fund can no longer focus on helping Black women. Both judges who voted against Black women in the 2-1 decision were appointed by Donald Trump.

Need help on the farm? A federal judge in Florida stopped President Biden’s debt relief program that helped Black farmers because it was unfair to White farmers. The judge was appointed by Republican President George Bush, exposing the influence of conservative jurists appointed years ago.

Then, just a few days ago, a Trump-appointed federal judge in Texas wouldn’t even allow emergency disaster assistance for Black farmers because it was unfair to White men.

Republican-appointed judges in the state courts are just as dangerous for Black people.

Want to wear your natural hair? A Texas judge ruled that a school district could force high school student Darryl George to cut his locs, despite the state’s CROWN Act that prohibits hairstyle discrimination. The judge ran as a Republican.

Want to protest racism? A Missouri judge just expunged the records of the infamous St. Louis couple who previously pleaded guilty to assaulting Black Lives Matter protesters with guns. The judge was appointed by Missouri’s Republican governor.

Elections have consequences. President Biden appointed the first Black woman on the U.S. Supreme Court and appointed more Black judges in his first 1,000 days than any president in history. In fact, he appointed more Black judges than the last four Republican presidents combined. Trump, on the other hand, was the first president since Richard Nixon 50 years ago to appoint no Black judges to the U.S. Courts of Appeals. Give him another four years, and it’s all over for us.

While we’re busy scrolling through social media every day, hundreds of decisions are happening in courtrooms all around the country that affect our lives.

By not voting, you’re not helping Black people or promoting the progressive cause. You’re consigning your children to live under a legal regime governed by anti-Black Republican judges for years to come.

This article was originally published by Word In Black. “Black Vote, Black Power,” a collaboration between Keith Boykin and Word In Black, examines the issues, the candidates and what’s at stake for Black America in the 2024 presidential election.

The post With a Trump win, Republican judges will rule the courts — and our lives appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Mekhi Abbott
AFRO Intern
mabott@afro.com

The Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED) researched the fiscal and community impact of sports and entertainment venues in the District with a new report, released on June 13. The report included an analysis of major sports teams potentially relocating to the District, while also including the economic impact that sports and entertainment facilities have had in the city as of date. 

The report showed that major sports have generated significant revenue for the city, including a total of $5 billion in 2022. In 2023, nearly 7.5 million people traveled to the District to watch a major sporting event and 88 percent were non-District residents. 34 percent of visitors travel from Virginia, 30 percent travel from Maryland and an impressive 24 percent of fans travel from outside of the DMV. 

“D.C. is the sports capital. We know how important sports are to our city’s economy and culture,” said Mayor Muriel Bowser in a press release. “They create jobs, generate tax revenue, and spur economic development. But sports also create a lot of pride in our city, they bring people together, and we look forward to continuing to support our teams in ways that benefit our city and residents and help knock D.C.’s comeback out of the park.”

The venues included in the report are Capital One Arena, Audi Field, Nationals Park and the Entertainment and Sports Arena. Capital One Arena is home to the National Basketball League Washington Wizards and the National Hockey League Washington Capitals. Major League Soccer’s DC United play at Audi Field. The Women’s National Basketball League Washington Mystics play games both at the Entertainment and Sports Arena as well as Capital One Arena. Audi Field is also home to the annual Truth and Service Classic, a rivalry game between the city’s own Howard Bison and the Hampton Pirates.

The report also showed that sport outings increase metrorail ridership. Gallery Place station, close to Capital One, has the second highest daily ridership in the city, second only to Union Station. 

A poll showed that 76 percent of D.C. residents would support a Washington Commanders relocation to the city. The Commanders used to call Robert F. Kennedy (RFK) Memorial Stadium home but they now play at Commanders Field in Prince George’s County, Md. Hosting a National Football League franchise is projected to produce over $1.25 billion in economic revenue, $25 million in tax revenue, $289.8 million in labor income and create 2,095 jobs. The last professional team to play in RFK Stadium was DC United in 2019.

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By Stacy M. Brown
NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

(NNPA Newswire) – In a ruling that would make it difficult for Americans to dictate what the Supreme Court, those in power or individuals seeking office and the presidency can’t do, the high court issued what could be a devastating ruling in the so-called Chevron decision. 

On June 28, the Supreme Court consigned to history the 1984 ruling known as Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council, potentially jeopardizing the safety and rights of consumers and the environment. The decision could lead to skyrocketing phone bills, soaring healthcare costs, and the dismantling of regulations on food safety and consumer protections that have been in place for decades. 

In a 6-3 decision, the conservative majority of the court dealt another blow to the power of federal agencies. In writing for the majority, Chief Justice John Roberts declared, “Chevron is overruled. Courts must exercise their independent judgment in deciding whether an agency has acted within its statutory authority.” 

Liberal Justice Elena Kagan, in her dissent, warned that a “longstanding precedent at the crux of administrative governance thus falls victim to a bald assertion of judicial authority.”

At the time of its decision four decades ago, Chevron was a victory for the Reagan administration’s deregulatory agenda, granting judges the ability to defer to federal agencies in interpreting ambiguous statutes. The flexibility allowed Democratic and Republican presidents to implement new regulations across various issues. However, many Republicans have increasingly criticized Chevron, arguing it gives too much power to agency bureaucrats. Environmental activists and other groups on the left have defended Chevron for its ability to address issues like climate change.

The case that led to this ruling involved a challenge to a federal regulation requiring fishing vessel operators to fund data collection for fishery conservation and management. The National Marine Fisheries Service, which oversees ocean resources, issued a rule in 2020 mandating vessel operators pay up to $710 a day for independent observers to monitor operations. Small owner-operators argued this cost was burdensome, challenging the service’s authority under the 1976 Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. The lower courts had ruled in favor of the federal government.

The Trump administration has supported a campaign by the conservative justices to limit the power of federal agencies, and this decision is the most recent in that series. The court’s conservative majority, including three Trump appointees—Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett—has repeatedly struck down agency actions lacking explicit congressional authorization, following the “major questions doctrine.”

Former acting Solicitor General Neal Katyal sounded the alarm in an NBC News interview, saying, “The Supreme Court has done an extraordinary thing, an extraordinarily dangerous thing. Most government regulation in this country is not done by Congress. It’s done by administrative agencies… What the Supreme Court did today by a 6–3 vote is overturn Chevron. That is going to make it much more difficult to regulate businesses, to protect consumers, to protect the environment and to protect our healthcare.”

Katyal emphasized the sweeping impact of the ruling, noting that regulations by agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency, Food and Drug Administration and Federal Communications Commision, which influence everything from environmental standards to food safety and phone bill costs, will now face greater challenges. He warned, “This decision… is going to change government as we know it.”

The political dynamic behind the ruling reflects the decreasing productivity of Congress due to partisan divides, leading to a greater reliance on agency rules to achieve regulatory goals, particularly by Democratic presidents. The 1984 Chevron precedent, which called for judicial deference to federal agency interpretations of ambiguous laws, has been a target of conservatives and business interests for years. With the ruling, the Supreme Court has dramatically shifted the landscape of American governance, with opponents arguing that it potentially jeopardizes decades of consumer and environmental protections and ushered in a new era of regulatory challenges.

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Editorial by
Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee

Juneteenth was first celebrated in the State of Texas capital city of Austin in
1867 under the direction of the Freedmen’s Bureau. The Freedmen’s Bureau
was established to aid newly freed enslaved persons with their transition into
freedom, and remains the oldest known celebration of slavery’s demise, and
jubilation at their newfound FREEDOM. Juneteenth is a celebration of
African American culture that recognizes each generations’ sacrifice and
contributions that played a major role in making America live up to its
promise. Through the efforts of so many courageous African Americans, the
conscious of our nation transformed from slavery to one more accepting of
diversity as its strength to form a more perfect union.

My work to establish a Juneteenth Federal holiday began in 2013, when I
introduced my first Juneteenth Resolution recognizing the day’s importance.
I continued to introduce a Resolution each year.

In 2020, the world witnessed with their own eyes and ears as George Floyd
gasped for help while a Minneapolis police officer suffocated him with his knee for over nine minutes. Shortly afterward, streets filled with marches
across the nation.

This same emotion and response were also evident in the halls of Congress. It was apparent when I sent out a “Dear Colleague” seeking support from m
fellow Members of Congress to join as cosponsors of my 116th Congress
Juneteenth Resolution. The Resolution was introduced on June 15, 2020,
with over 200 original sponsors, and reached a total of 214 bipartisan
cosponsors before being adopted by the House of Representatives on June
30, 2020.

After seeing this tremendous level of support for the Juneteenth Resolution,
I knew the time had arrived for Juneteenth to become a federal holiday and
I tasked my Policy Director, Lillie Coney, to have Legislative Counsel draft a
Juneteenth Federal Holiday bill for introduction. The bill was drafted, and a
“Dear Colleague” was sent inviting members to join as original cosponsors of
the bill to establish Juneteenth as a Federal Holiday.

When I first introduced the bill, the House Parliamentarian blocked its
enrollment or listing as a House Bill because it violated a rule that prohibited
the introduction of bills establishing federal holidays. When I asked why the
parliamentarian did this, I was informed that House procedural Rules
prevented its introduction. The reply from the Parliamentarian was that the
bill included a specific date, “June 19,” which is prohibited by the House
Rules.

Because the holiday was Juneteenth—its name is the date, I directed that
“June 19” be removed from the House bill. After this change was made,
another “Dear Colleague” was circulated informing members of the change,
and the bill was introduced on June 18, 2020, with the designation of H.R.
7232, the “Juneteenth National Independence Day Act.”

My staff confirmed with the Congressional Research Service of the Library of
Congress, that H.R. 7232 was the first bill ever introduced in the history of
the House or Senate that would establish Juneteenth as a Federal Holiday.

Following the introduction of H.R. 7232, Senator Ed Markey’s staff reached
out to collaborate on a Senate Companion bill to H.R. 7232, the “Juneteenth
National Independence Day Act and introduced the Senate version of my
bill, under the designation of S. 4019 on June 22, 2020. Although, there was
one difference–the Senate bill included the date “June 19,” because there was
no rule in the Senate prohibiting a date.

The work of the 116th Congress ended without passage of the Juneteenth
National Independence Day Act; however, both the House and Senate
adopted their respective Juneteenth Resolutions for the first time.
In the 117th Congress, on June 16, 2021, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee
and Senator Edward Markey simultaneously introduced both Juneteenth
National Independence Day Bills (known as H.R. 1320 and S. 475), and they
issued a joint press statement announcing the joint bill introduction.

Although the House could not advance H.R. 1320, the Juneteenth National
Independence Day Act, it would take up its Senate companion bill once it was
passed by that chamber. My efforts shifted to getting allies in the Senate to
work towards its passage. My long-time Juneteenth partner in the Senate,
Senator John Cornyn, joined this effort wholeheartedly and became the lead
Republican sponsor of the Markey bill, but this was not enough to meet the
required 60 votes to bring it before the full Senate for a floor vote.

Fifty-four bipartisan Senators are listed on the bill at the introduction of
S.475, the “Juneteenth National Independence Day Act”.

It would have been unwise to force a vote before we were certain it would
pass without objections. In the Senate if fewer than sixty Senators do not
agree to a vote on a bill it will not proceed. This meant that our next step was
to get six additional Senators to cosponsor S. 475 to ensure it would pass
without objections.

In March, Republican Senators John Hoeven of North Dakota and Shelley
Moore Capito of West Virginia, and Democratic Senators Mark Kelly of
Arizona joined as cosponsors of the bill. In May, Senators Ben
Cardin of Maryland and Jon Ossoff of Georgia added their names. And on
June 8, 2021, my dear friend Senator Raphael G. Warnock of Georgia became
the sixtieth Senator to cosponsor the bill.

Senator Warnock is the Senior Pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta,
the former pulpit of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It was poetic that
Senator Warnock’s co-sponsorship of the bill was the deciding factor in its
path to becoming the first Federal Holiday in nearly 30 years since the
Martin Luther King, Jr. Federal Holiday was established. The bill was taken
up by the Senate and passed on June 15, 2021, and sent to the House. The
House passed the bill on June 16, 2021.

President Biden was in Europe on June 16, 2021, when he decided to return
to the United States to sign the bill into law— just in time for the first
celebration of the Federal Juneteenth National Holiday to take place on
Friday, June 18, 2021, due to June 19 falling on a Saturday.

I was invited along with the entire Congressional Black Caucus, and Ms. Opal
Lee, to the White House for the official signing of the Juneteenth National
Holiday Act bill. At that moment, I thought of State Representative Al
Edwards, who introduced the June 19, Emancipation Bill, the first state
holiday bill in the nation, which became law establishing Juneteenth as a
holiday starting in 1980 for the state of Texas.

I applaud the U.S. Senate for passing S. 475, Juneteenth National
Independence Day Act, the companion legislation to H.R. 1320, which
commemorates the end of chattel slavery—America’s Original Sin, and to
celebrate the perseverance that has been the hallmark of the African
American struggle for equity and equality.

I thank Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts for contacting my office in June
2020, with his request to introduce the Senate companion to H.R. 7232. I
also thank my Senator, the senior Senator from Texas, Senator John Cornyn
for his continuous and steadfast support of the Juneteenth holiday, along
with others who spearheaded this effort in the Senate, including Senate
Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who shepherded the bill through the
process to ensure its passage.

My unwavering appreciation and thanks to President Joe Biden for sending
a powerful message about the importance of Juneteenth, by his swift action
to sign the bill in time for the National Holiday to be timely celebrated in
2021.

This is the history of how Juneteenth became the most recent Federal
Holiday, as the nation joined 47 states in recognizing this day as a time to
bond with African Americans in commemoration and celebration of
‘America’s second Independence Day.’

The post Do You Know the Legislative History of the Juneteenth Federal Holiday? appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

The rejection has ignited a firestorm of criticism, highlighting the broader issue of racial inequity in media representation. Atlanta, a city with a rich history of Black culture and leadership, finds its Black-owned media sidelined at a critical political event.

By Stacy M. Brown
NNPA Newswire Senior Correspondent

(NNPA Newswire) – CNN has come under fire for denying media credentials to every Black-owned media entity, including those based in Atlanta, for the presidential debate on June 27. Despite granting over 600 media credentials, not even one was extended to Black-owned outlets, sparking outrage and accusations of systemic exclusion in a predominantly Black city.

The rejection has ignited a firestorm of criticism, highlighting the broader issue of racial inequity in media representation. Atlanta, a city with a rich history of Black culture and leadership, finds its Black-owned media sidelined at a critical political event.

The National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), a leading voice for Black-owned media, revealed a letter from CNN rejecting their request for credentials. In an email, CNN’s Dylan Rose said the network could provide the Black Press transcripts and photos from the debate.

The NNPA represents the 197-year-old Black Press of America, which counts The Atlanta Voice, Atlanta Daily World and the Atlanta Inquirer among its more than 230 newspapers and media companies.  The popular Rolling Out magazine also counts among the Black Press’ members frozen out by CNN.

Media personality and Black Star Network owner Roland Martin tweeted that his phone had been “buzzing from Black-owned media outlets in Atlanta who say they are being denied media credentials to the debate.”

The prolific news leader further noted, “They don’t care about us.  This is despicable. The treatment of Black-owned media is pathetic.”

Added NNPA President and CEO Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr., “CNN’s decision is an affront to the very essence of press freedom and diversity. In a city where Black voices and perspectives are essential, this exclusion is both a slap in the face and a stark reminder of the ongoing struggles for equitable media representation.”

The timing and nature of the rejection letter have only fueled the outrage. Despite having ample time and resources to accommodate a diverse range of media outlets, CNN’s refusal to include Black-owned entities suggests a troubling oversight or, worse, a deliberate and overtly racially-motivated dismissal.

Local Black-owned media outlets, many of which have served the Atlanta community for decades, expressed their frustration and disappointment with collective assertions that CNN has intentionally overlooked the heartbeat of the city’s news and culture.

The exclusion comes at a time when media diversity and representation are under intense scrutiny. 

Advocacy groups and community leaders have also called for immediate corrective actions from CNN and other major networks to ensure that Black-owned media entities are not just included but are given the respect and opportunities they deserve.

In the wake of the debate, the spotlight remains not just on the candidates but also on the institutions that shape public discourse. CNN’s decision cast a long shadow over the debate, raising critical questions about who gets to tell the story and who gets left out.

“Our exclusion from this pivotal event is not just an insult to our organizations but to our readers and viewers who rely on us for their news,” Chavis argued.

The post CNN faces backlash for excluding Black-owned media from presidential debate coverage appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen and Madeline Seck 
AFRO Political Writer and AFRO Intern

At the 2024 National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) Convention in Baltimore on June 21, panelists discussed the importance of racial impact studies in public policy making, especially in an election season.

Panelists included Major Neill Franklin (Ret.), treasurer of the Law Enforcement Action Partnership; Captain Sonia Y. W. Pruitt (Ret.) of the Montgomery County Police Department in Maryland; Jiles H. Ship, president of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives New Jersey; and Special Agent Trevor Velinor (Ret.), police commissioner of the US Virgin Islands Police Department.

A racial impact study is a technique that the government can apply to look at how a policy or budgetary measure would affect different racial groups. 

“I work very closely with the New Jersey Legislative Black Caucus and a number of other state legislators in the state of New Jersey. I will tell you, when the legislation is made and we’re not at that table, we’re probably on the menu. You need to be at that table,” said Ship. “One of the things we were able to do in New Jersey, any legislation that’s dealing with public safety that comes up, before any reports are signed by the governor, they have to have a racial impact study.”

On Jan. 21, 2021, President Biden issued Executive Order 13985: Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government. This order reinforced preventable measures to ensure laws created have equal opportunities and equity for all. 

“Whoever is elected into office decides on what policy is going to be impacting you and your daily lives,” said Jiles, pushing the importance of getting out to vote. “Decisions being made right now on the U.S. Supreme Court going to impact everyone in this room’s daily lives.”

State Sen. Jill P. Carter (D-Md.-41) was also in attendance and spoke to the AFRO afterward about the use of racial equity impact studies in Maryland and how effective they are for inclusive lawmaking.

Since 2021, the Maryland General Assembly has enacted a requirement for racial equity impact notes to reduce racial discrimination and inequities on significant criminal justice bills making their way through the Legislature. 

“It happened around the time the whole country seemingly woke up about the racial disparities in this country, it happened around the time of George Floyd,” said Carter. “Senators and the Senate president got together and we all discussed what are some of the ways that we can make this place more balanced racially. One of the suggestions was to have a racial impact note on every piece of legislation.”

Carter elaborated on how racial equity impact notes have supported her legislative efforts.

“There’s a lot of times, of course, when many people want to contend that issues don’t have a racial impact and that it’s only imagined by some Black people that it has a disparate impact on the Black community,” said Carter. “This helps us legitimize our arguments and helps us use data to show what percentage of Black people are impacted by a certain piece of legislation.

“I think every single legislature should have a racial impact study and note on every piece of major legislation,” continued Carter.

Though moves are being made in state and local legislatures to consider how policies will impact the Black community if enacted, Jiles encouraged African Americans to do their part to ensure Black people have a say in public policy.

“People come to us all the time complaining about policies that law enforcement have, agencies have in place. The first question I asked them was when was the last time you were at a council meeting when they were deciding what that policy was going to be?” said Jiles. “Do you know who your state representative is?”

He also encouraged the Black Press to help reach African Americans with the truth about policy-making, especially about policies that will directly impact the Black community.

The post Experts discuss importance of racial impact studies in public policy appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and U.S. Rep. Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.), alongside several Maryland congressional delegation members, announced more than $15 million for Baltimore City’s Hanover Street Corridor revitalization project on June 26.

“While the Hanover Street Corridor has long been a critical route into Baltimore City from the south, it has also been an obstacle to progress for the communities it passes through,” they said in a joint statement. “We worked to deliver $15.5 million in funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to improve transit, pedestrian walkways and other transportation options in South Baltimore. This investment will help realize a new vision for the corridor – a vision to bring neighborhoods together and promote equitable access to economic opportunity for the residents of South Baltimore.”

The 2.4-mile corridor is located between Interstate 95 and the Baltimore City boundary line with Anne Arundel County, Md.

The federal funding derives from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grants program under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021.

Some of the legislators wrote to U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in March supporting the city’s application for the funds.

“It is impossible to overstate just how critical the Hanover Street Corridor Revitalization Project is for Baltimoreans, particularly those residents in South Baltimore in neighborhoods like Cherry Hill and Curtis Bay who rely on the corridor for connection to the rest of the city,” said Mayor Brandon M. Scott (D) in a statement. “The importance only became heightened following the tragic collapse of the Key Bridge earlier this year, which limited other routes of travel and increased the amount of traffic utilizing the century-old Vietnam Veterans Memorial Bridge. This federal grant will move this project forward fully with federal dollars and ensure that the Baltimoreans that need it most realize the benefits of this updated transportation corridor.”

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CNN, which declined to provide Black-owned media with any of the more than 800 credentials it passed out, enabled a boatload of misinformation and flat-out lies to pass through their airwaves like bad wind.

By Stacy M. Brown
NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

(NNPA Newswire) — The first presidential debate of 2024 between President Joe Biden and criminally convicted former President Donald Trump was nothing short of a shameful display of unhinged and unchecked behavior. CNN, which declined to provide Black-owned media with any of the more than 800 credentials it passed out, enabled a boatload of misinformation and flat-out lies to pass through their airwaves like bad wind.

“Absolutely disgraceful that the CNN moderators refuse to fact-check Trump on anything,” said human rights activist and attorney Qasim Rashid. “This is journalistic malpractice, and it is decimating our democracy.”

Writer and attorney Olayemi Olurin tweeted, “It is a failure on CNN not to fact-check Trump’s lies, but the thing is… if Joe Biden were performing the way he’s supposed to in a debate, his answers would be the fact check. So, three things are true: Trump is lying his off, the mediator isn’t doing their job, and neither is Biden.”

Biden, whose campaign said he suffered from a cold during the debate, took some of his biggest shots at Trump after the former president refused to accept the results this fall regardless of who won. Trump said he would only accept the results “if it’s fair, legal, and good.”

“You’re a whiner,” Biden said. “When you lost the first time… you appealed and appealed to courts all across the country. Not one single court in America said any of your claims had any merit, state or local, none. But you continue to promote this lie about somehow, there’s all this misrepresentation, all this stealing. There’s no evidence of that at all. And I tell you what, I doubt whether you’ll accept it, because you’re such a whiner. The idea if you lose again, you accepting anything? You can’t stand the loss. Something snapped in you when you lost last time.”

Without any rebuttal, Trump also incredulously asserted that former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was primarily to blame for the violent uprising on Jan. 6, 2021.

The moderators then cut to a commercial. And that was just a tiny part of CNN’s massive failure. Meanwhile, at the People for American Way reception and debate watch party at the Wharf in Washington, D.C., attendees sighed and expressed anger at their television sets as Trump told lie after lie. Despite having two anchors and a mute button, the host network failed to challenge him. 

“The debate turned into a 90-minute Trump rally,” said Alice Wilkes of Northeast. “I waited and waited for the moderators to say something, or, at least, cut him off.”

At Busboys & Poets on K Street in Northwest, where former lawmaker Nina Turner hosted a watch party, a packed house cheered as Biden called Trump “a sucker” and noted that he had “sex with a porn star” behind his wife’s back.

During the debate, Biden addressed questions about his age and stumbled when he tried to mock Trump’s fitness. “You can see he is 6-foot-5 and only 223 pounds or 235 pounds… well, anyway,” Biden said. 

Later, he agreed to Trump’s challenge of a golf match on one condition: “If you carry your own bag.”

Several Black voters expressed disappointment in the way both candidates talked about Black people. 

“It’s like they forgot about Black people,” Byron Cooper of Southeast said.

“Trump commuted some sentences and pardoned some drug dealers. That’s supposedly what he did for the Black community,” Cooper remarked. “Unfortunately, to some Black people, that’s enough, which is ridiculous because the guy is a stark raving racist.”

During the debate, Trump revived attacks on Biden and Democrats over the 1994 crime bill that disproportionately harmed African Americans. Neither Biden nor CNN failed to mention Trump calling for the execution of five Black and Brown teenagers who were innocent of sexually assaulting a White woman in Central Park.

Biden did mention how Trump has called skinheads and White nationalists “good people.”

In his two-minute closing argument, Trump personally attacked Biden’s record abroad. “They don’t respect you throughout the world,” he said. 

Trump claimed he had the largest tax cut and the largest regulation cuts in history, but the country is now “exploding.” 

“We’re a failing nation, but it’s not going to be failing anymore,” he said. We’re going to make it great again.”

For his close, Biden noted, “We have made significant progress from the debacle President Trump left in his last term.”

Biden then summarized some of his signature policies. In terms of the economy, he vowed not to raise taxes on anyone making under $400,000 a year and to continue his work to reduce health care and childcare costs and give families financial breathing room. 

“We’re going to continue to fight to bring down inflation and give people a break,” Biden said in closing.

The post CNN’s shameful spectacle: The 1st presidential debate of 2024 a complete disaster appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By D. Kevin McNeir and Madeline Seck
Special to the AFRO 

Just under 100 people gathered in Northwest Washington, D.C., on June 27 to attend a presidential debate watch party at the HQ DC House – the first debate between the candidates since their last showdown on Oct. 22, 2020. 

But with former president Trump rolling off more than 36 statements that have since been verified as false, and with President Joe Biden’s often shaky and undisputedly lackluster performance, neither of the two candidates was at their best. 

As for those who attended the watch party, their numerous facial and verbal expressions, which ranged from exasperation to utter dismay, suggested that they may have had a better time walking just a few blocks away to take in a Washington Wizards basketball game at Capital One Arena or to enjoy a play at the Shakespeare Theatre Company. 

The watch party, sponsored by the Kairos Democracy Project and People For the American Way, attracted a diverse group of voters, with those under 30 and African Americans representing the majority. 

As was expected, economic issues dominated the discussion, including the Trump-era 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which will expire in 2026 if it is not extended, and the impact that inflation and the cost of living – which have increased since the latter days of the pandemic – continue to have on more and more American households.  

However, the two moderators, CNN anchors and correspondents Dana Bash and Jake Tapper, also pressed Biden and Trump on a host of other topics that remain at the top of many Americans’ concerns: the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, immigration, abortion and health care, particularly for veterans of the armed forces. 

The AFRO spoke to attendees at the watch party to learn more about issues they are passionate about and their reactions to the debate. 

Seth Washington, 25, a graduate of North Carolina A&T who lives in Waldorf, Maryland, and works on Capitol Hill, said he attended the watch party because he wanted to be around people who, like him, were interested in the discourse between the candidates. 

“The key issues for me are the four H’s: homelessness, hunger, higher education and healthcare,” said Washington, a Black man who added that he has voted in every election since he became legally of age. 

“The age of both Trump and Biden also concerns me because neither of them is connected to the younger generation,” he said. “Being seasoned and having experience are both commendable qualities but the next president must have his ear to the ground. As for my contemporaries, yes, we’re voting. However, not in the numbers that we should.”

Washington also noted that many of his friends have mixed views about the relevance of their vote given the results of the 2016 presidential election in which Hillary Clinton, despite receiving nearly 2.9 million more popular votes than Donald Trump, lost the race after Trump garnered 304 electoral votes to Clinton’s 227. It marked the fifth time in U.S. history and the second time this century that a presidential candidate has won the White House after losing the popular vote.  

Jessica Davis, a city commissioner in DeLand, Florida, brought her 12-year-old daughter with her to the watch party so she could observe the debate and hear the candidates weigh in on the major policies. 

“Although she may not be able to vote, I think a lot of the things that relate to education matter to our family,” Davis said. “I’m here to see who will best represent us because the decisions the next president makes will impact all Americans, particularly those who live in the community in which I serve.” 

Dawne Trope, an employee with the national nonprofit Community Opportunity Alliance, said after watching the debates at home in 2020, she wanted to be around others who had ideas similar to her own. 

“Things that need to happen for Americans are the creation of more affordable housing and more stable jobs and making sure people have adequate income so they can afford the cost of housing and other living expenses,” Trope said. “We also need a health care system that’s accessible to everyone.” 

Like Trope, Maite McPherson, 22, a recent graduate of Duke University and a fellow for the House of Representatives, said she wanted to watch the debate in the company of like-minded people so that it would “be fun rather than depressing.” 

“I think most Americans have already made up their minds at this point. I don’t believe anyone’s going to be persuaded to vote one way or the other by tonight’s debate,” McPherson said. “I will always vote, and while I think everyone should vote in federal elections, I find it difficult to get people to become more involved in local elections which I think are even more important. As for the presidential election, I can understand why citizens are frustrated and why they don’t believe that either candidate represents their needs or concerns.”

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
Tmcqueen@afro.com

With the first presidential debate of this election season just days away, Vice President Kamala Harris (D) made a stop in College Park, Md. to recognize the second anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade., a landmark case that made abortion a constitutional right. 

“Over the past two years, in states across our nation, the extremists have proposed and passed laws that criminalize doctors and punish women. Laws that limit access to contraception and to fertility treatments like IVF. Even some of them, trying to revive laws from the 1800s,” said Harris.

According to the Center for Reproductive Rights, a non-profit organization of reproductive rights advocates and lawyers, around 14 states have made abortion illegal.

“Two years ago today, Donald Trump’s Supreme Court majority ripped away the fundamental freedom for women to access the health care they need and deserve. The consequences have been devastating. If given the chance, there is no question he will ban abortion nationwide, with or without the help of Congress,” said Biden in a statement on June 24, acknowledging the day. “I will never let that happen. My message to Americans is this: Kamala and I are fighting like hell to get your freedom back. And we won’t stop until we restore the protections of Roe v. Wade for every woman in every state.”

At the gathering, Harris doubled down on Biden’s sentiments.

“In the case of the stealing of reproductive freedom from the women of America, Donald Trump is guilty,” said Harris, gaining cheers from the crowd.

The lively crowd chanted “four more years” and “restore Roe” several times throughout the event.

Throughout her speech, Harris played up Trump’s part in and lack of remorse for the overturning of Roe v. Wade.

“When he was in the White House, Donald Trump handpicked three members of the United States Supreme Court because he intended for them to overturn Roe v. Wade,” said Harris. “As intended, they did.”

There are currently six Republican-nominated justices on the U.S. Supreme Court and three Democrat-nominated justices.

“Today is more than just an anniversary. It’s proof that we should never take for granted our liberties,” said Democratic nominee for U.S Senate and Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks at the gathering. “It’s the confirmation that we must be vigilant and fighting for and protecting, with everything we have, our rights.

“Electing Vice President Kamala Harris and President Biden means that we will have a country that remains recognizable to us,” said Alsobrooks.

Voters’ perspectives of a candidate’s views on abortion surely matter as a poll by Navigator Research, a project led by pollsters, finds that 68 percent of Americans believe it is important for Biden and Congress to protect abortion access this year. 

In Our Own Voice, a national partnership to uplift Reproductive justice leaders, finds that Black voters are six times more likely to vote for a candidate who supports abortion access than one who opposes it.

The poll by Navigator Research also shows that 80 percent of women are supportive of increasing access to birth control pills, 70 percent for easier access to fertility planning such as IVF, 57 percent for an abortion pill and 56 percent for in-clinic abortions.

Trump did not make any public statements on the anniversary of Roe v. Wade. 

Previously Republicans have said the decision restored power to the states concerning abortion and protects the lives of unborn children.

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By Ashlee Banks
Special to the AFRO

The Biden-Harris administration and members of Congress applaud the U.S. Supreme Court for upholding a law that temporarily bans domestic abusers from possessing firearms.

“As a result of today’s ruling, survivors of domestic violence and their families will still be able to count on critical protections, just as they have for the past three decades,” said President Joe Biden.

U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts penned the 8-1 majority opinion in the United States v. Rahimi case.

“When a restraining order contains a finding that an individual poses a credible threat to the physical safety of an intimate partner, that individual may – consistent with the Second Amendment – be banned from possessing firearms while the order is in effect,” wrote Roberts.

Vice President Kamala Harris stated that the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling will keep “important” protections against domestic violence in place.

“This case is yet another reminder that some want to take our country back to a time when women were not treated as equal to men and were not allowed to vote—and husbands could subject their wives to physical violence without it being considered a crime,” said Harris. “The fight to protect common sense gun safety measures is not over.”

Respondent Zackey Rahimi, a domestic abuser, who was served a restraining order against his girlfriend for threatening her life with a firearm, contended that by being temporarily stripped of his weapon, his Second Amendment rights had been violated.  

However, after the U.S. Supreme Court granted certiorari to Rahimi’s case and heard oral arguments from both parties, it ruled to keep in place limitations prohibiting temporary gun use for domestic abusers.

U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson, (D-Ga.-4) stated that the majority-conservative court sometimes gets it right.

“In the span of a week, this same Court struck down a bump stock ban and upheld keeping guns out of the hands of domestic abusers,” said Johnson. “While I agree with today’s decision, we have more work to do to keep Americans safe from gun violence.”

Both Biden and Harris used the verdict to tout their efforts to curb gun violence across the nation and gun violence against women.

The Biden-Harris administration passed the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act which has prevented the sale of nearly 30 thousand firearms to convicted domestic abusers.  

The vice president emphasized that U.S. Citizens need to vote for Biden this November or gun safety legislation could be at “risk” of being rolled back if former President Donald Trump were to be re-elected.

“Trump is a threat to our freedoms and our safety, and we must defeat him in November,” said Harris. “Trump has made clear he believes Americans should ‘get over’ gun violence, and we cannot allow him to roll back commonsense protections or appoint the next generation of Supreme Court justices.”

Following the ruling, President Biden vowed that he and Harris will remain committed to ending gun violence against women.

“We will continue to call on Congress to further strengthen support and protections for survivors and to take action to stop the epidemic of gun violence tearing our communities apart,” said Biden.

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BALTIMORE–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Jun 22, 2024–The Biden-Harris Campaign announced an immediate commitment to a $1.5 million advertising-buy with the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) representing the Black Press of America across the United States. The Biden-Harris Campaign also helped to sponsor the NNPA’s 2024 Annual National Convention in Baltimore, Maryland, June 19-22, 2024.

Jasmine Harris, Director of National Black Media for Biden-Harris 2024, made the announcement of the advertising-buy with the Black Press at the NNPA convention. “In August of last year, our campaign announced the earliest and largest investment into Black media for any reelection campaign in history. This partnership with the NNPA is a continuation of those efforts, and will strengthen our work in meeting Black voters where they are, to underscore the stakes of this election for Black America. President Biden and Vice President Harris are responsible for creating millions of new jobs for Black workers, and record low Black unemployment. Black America has far too much to lose this election.”

Bobby R. Henry Sr., Chairman of the NNPA emphasized, “It is extremely important to show support of the business side of the Black Press owned by Black business leaders. Verbal support is good, but financial support is better.”

This year marks the 197 th Anniversary of the Black Press of America. Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr, NNPA President and CEO, concluded, “The Biden-Harris Campaign is being responsive to interests of Black America through the campaign’s advertising initiatives with the National Newspapers Publishers Association. The Black vote throughout the United States will be a key determinative factor to the outcome of the 2024 national elections. We profoundly thank the Biden-Harris 2024 Campaign.”

SOURCE: National Newspaper Publishers Association

Copyright Business Wire 2024.

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By William J. Barber, II

If you’re an ordinary American who goes to work to pay the bills or takes care of a loved one most days, it’s easy to feel down when you see the headlines about the 2024 election. Donald J. Trump has been convicted of 34 felonies for falsifying business records to cover up hush money he paid to bury an alleged affair with a porn star during the 2016 campaign, and the Republican Party continues to think he’s their best candidate. At the same time, President Biden, is struggling to hold together his Democratic base as images of devastation in Gaza continue to dominate the news. Stories of good news in politics seem few and far between. 

But as a preacher, I learned a long time ago that you don’t get to the good news by looking away from problems; the good news is most often found right in the midst of trouble. Yes, politics is a mess in 2024. But, at the same time, several popular movements of everyday people struggling for economic justice have emerged that have the potential to reshape our politics. Against the backdrop of decades of rising inequality, low-wage worker movements have made huge strides since the pandemic, insisting that living wages are a moral issue for “essential workers” and seeing the largest increase in real wages in decades. Young people who’ve watched education and healthcare costs soar have come together to form effective coalitions for debt relief and won billions in loan forgiveness. Leveraging worker power, unions have waged effective strikes and negotiated new contracts while expanding to include new workers, especially in the South. Though they’re rarely in the headlines, these movements made up of millions of low-income workers have the potential to re-frame political debates for people who are weary of the status quo. The good news in 2024 is that poor and working people are the new swing vote in US politics.

A report from Lake Research Partners demonstrates just how powerful this untapped coalition of low-income voters could be. Looking back at the past three Presidential elections, they found that in the seven states that will likely decide the 2024 election—Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Nevada, and Pennsylvania—low-income voter participation was an average of 12 percentage points lower than that of their higher income voters. Using past averages to project 2024 turnout, this study measured the difference between the margin of victory in the last Trump/Biden matchup and the number of eligible low-income voters who are likely not to vote. In Georgia, for example, Biden won by almost 12,000 votes in 2020. In North Carolina, he lost by 74,000. But in both states, more than a million eligible low-income voters will likely not vote in 2024 if past trends continued. That’s a huge potential swing vote, and the proportions are similar across the seven swing states in the study.

Since the 2024 Presidential race will likely be a rematch of 2020, this study used exit poll data from 2020 to ask who unlikely low-income voters would vote for if they did turnout in 2024. Of the 1.3 million likely nonvoters in Georgia, 746,000 would likely be Biden voters. Of the 1.1 million in North Carolina, some 594,000 would likely go for Biden. In short, Biden and other Democrats have a huge advantage among this demographic when they are able and willing to vote. The overwhelming takeaway of this study is that a relatively small increase of low-income voter turnout in any of these seven states would dramatically increase Biden’s chances of winning a second term in the White House. The millions of low-income people who’ve risen up as leaders in movements for economic justice over the past few years have the power to decide the outcome of the 2024 election.

Celinda Lake and her research partners are consultants for the Biden campaign, and their is clearly focused on the potential for his candidacy in 2024, but the potential power of this swing vote is much larger than one election or even one political party. Both Democrats and Republicans have ignored low-income voters for decades precisely because they are unlikely voters. But when the nonpartisan Poor People’s Campaign, which I serve as a co-chair, surveyed poor people to ask why they don’t vote, the number one reason they gave was, “No one speaks to us.” 

This is why our campaign has committed hold a Mass Poor People’s and Low Wage Worker’s Assembly in Washington, DC, on June 29^th. We are bringing the everyday people who’ve demanded better wages from their bosses to Washington insist that Republicans, Democrats, and Independents make clear what they will do to address the needs of 135 million Americans who are living on the edge in the richest nation in the history of the world. And we are committing to go home to our communities and reach 15 million of the unlikely low-income voters with the message that they have power in 2024. If they show up, especially in seven key states, their votes will decide the outcome in 2024. When they do, they will be in a position to help shape the reconstruction of an American democracy that works for all of us.

William J. Barber, II is President of Repairers of the Breach and author of the new White Poverty: How Exposing Myths About Race and Class Can Reconstruct American Democracy. 

The post The Good News In 2024: Poor People Are the New Swing Vote appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen 
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

After weeks of agency hearings led by the Baltimore City Council Ways and Means Committee, the council overwhelmingly approved Mayor Brandon M. Scott’s (D) $4.2 billion budget on June 17.

“Tonight, the Baltimore City Council unanimously voted to pass the Fiscal Year 2025 Budget without any amendments. At the beginning of this budget process, our city was staring down a more than $100 million deficit that we were able to close without cutting services or eliminating the jobs of any city workers,” said Scott in a statement shortly after the vote. “This budget maintains important investments that will sustain our historic reductions in gun violence, bolster our work to support Baltimore’s young people through recreation and parks and unprecedented funding in City Schools and continue to modernize city government to improve services for all residents.”

This was the city council’s second year having the ability to cut and re-align funding for the city’s budget. Last year, the council reallocated $10 million to benefit a range of issues, including violence prevention and better working conditions.

This year’s budget includes an increased operating budget of $3.47 billion and a capital plan of $732 million.

Though the budget process was rather peaceful, there was some turbulence concerning the date for the final vote.

“Unfortunately, I will not be able to vote yes on this budget as the vote has been scheduled and rescheduled multiple times and ultimately was rescheduled during a vacation that I planned with my wife and our family a year ago,” wrote Councilman Zeke Cohen (D-District 01) hours before the final vote via X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. 

Council President Nick Mosby (D) responded to Cohen’s remarks after the final vote for the bill. 

“I think it’s really important, as we highlight all of the hard work that folks have done, that we also maintain the integrity of the process,” said Mosby. “There was a voting session that was scheduled last Thursday. Unfortunately, it fell directly on a Jewish holiday. In order for us to be more inclusive we needed to ensure that we voted this week. For something that’s important and statutorily required like passing the budget, we cannot do that in the eleventh hour. That’s why we’re voting this week.”

Mosby also said council members are advised not to schedule vacations during budget time.

Scott must now sign the budget by the end of the month as the new fiscal year begins on July 1.

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

Celebrating 40 years since Maryland’s divestment from apartheid-era South Africa, the “Marylanders Cry Freedom: Civil Rights At Home and Abroad” is an exhibition that opened inside of Baltimore’s City Hall on June 18, highlighting impactful contributions to the Civil Rights Movement.

During the opening ceremony Baltimore City Mayor Brandon M. Scott (D) emphasized that the fight for civil rights is ongoing, acknowledging the 400 years of slavery, decades of segregation and the battle to stop police brutality and “realize the liberty and justice for all promised centuries ago.”

“We must acknowledge our state and our city’s deep ties to this challenging part of America’s past,” said Scott. “Baltimore, as a port city, played a significant role in the transatlantic slave trade. Baltimore was where some of the strictest policies and codes in the country were created, worsening the mistreatment of African Americans.”

Scott acknowledged the people who didn’t settle for the harmful past of Baltimore and worked to change things for the better.

“Because of their perseverance and unwillingness to back down we are here,” he said, to the large crowd in the rotunda of City Hall. “You are here able to hold power in these halls that used to serve laws to prevent those who look like us from achieving our excellence. We can never forget the history, the good and the bad.”

The exhibit was created through the partnership of Baltimore City, the Maryland and KwaZulu-Natal Sister State Committee, a partnership between Maryland and the Province of Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa and the Sister States of Maryland, a conduit for Maryland’s sister state relationships.

“It’s important for us to ensure that something like art, that is a living tool, a living symbolic representation of that struggle, continues,” said Baltimore City Council President Nick Mosby (D). “That’s why we must continue to support our artists, that’s why we must tell our own stories.”

The exhibit will be open to the public weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
Tmcqueen@afro.com

By Tierra Stone 
AFRO Intern 
tierrastone@afro.com 

The National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) is hosting its annual four-day convention at the Four Seasons in Baltimore from June 19-22. This year, the event consists of an array of sessions concerning the Black Press, Black communities, families and voter turnout.  

Damon Todd Hewitt, president and executive director of the Lawyer’s Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, was keynote speaker of the June 20 session titled, “What is at Stake for African Americans: the 2024 Vote,” held on day two of the convention. He spoke primarily about the range of challenges Black people are facing throughout the nation today. 

“We actually exist in a moment of strategic and orchestrated erasure,” said Hewitt. “They’re trying to erase references to facts. They’re trying to erase everything that we use to understand ourselves, to know ourselves, to know our identity, to know what our struggles are and to know what our plan should be next.”

The Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law was founded in 1963 by urging of John F.Kennedy to ensure that lawyers used their expertise to bring awareness to the fight of the civil rights movement and to help bring it inside the courtroom. Hewitt not only detailed the history of voting but how the Lawyers Committee has worked to maintain and increase the voting numbers of African Americans. 

“It wasn’t until 1965 that the passage of the Voters Rights Act which resulted from Bloody Sunday and the March from Selma to Montgomery, where everybody came to Selma— including Malcolm X. That was the first opportunity for Malcolm X to join the Civil Rights Movements in a larger context,” he said. “It is this civil rights event that is commemorated annually because of its urgency and importance. The Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law has poured into that over the years.”

Hewitt highlighted why African Americans should take to the polls during this year’s general election on Nov. 5. 

“Our voice is on the line,” said Hewitt. “We fought so long for a voice in the political process. I think that our vote is the loudest and clearest part of our voice.”

This year, Americans are voting for the president, congressional members and state and local legislators.

Hewitt explained that there’s been a recent wave of voter restriction laws, voter intimidation, misinformation and disinformation. For example, Georgia passed laws in 2021 to ban voters from receiving food and water while waiting in line to cast their ballots. 

According to the Brennan Center for Justice, a non-profit public policy organization, in 2021 more than 440 bills restricting voter access were introduced in 49 states throughout the country. From January 2021 to December 2021 the Brennan Center for Justice recorded that around 19 states passed 34 laws effectively restricting voting access.

Hewitt shared that when voter suppression happens online it can also play a part in prohibiting people from voting. 

“Voter suppression is not just when they close polls early or play those little tricks,” he said. “What people do online is a form of voter suppression. When they discourage you to vote online and try to make you think you shouldn’t vote or there’s a reason not to vote, and ‘somebody ain’t doing enough for the Black man’ and that’s why you shouldn’t vote’ that’s a form of voter suppression in some countries even voter suppression online is outlawed for some reason in America that’s not enforced,” he said. 

To fight against these actions Hewitt suggests African Americans turn out to the polls this November and use the Election Protection hotline, 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683), a voter information helpline where people can access election facts and options.

Furthermore, Hewitt prompted the Black Press to answer the call to action by publishing and spreading information Black Americans need this election season.

“We need your help. I mentioned the election protection hotline. The hotline only works when people call it,” he said. “We need targeted advertising to reach the Black community.” 

He also encouraged local Black publications to write about the opportunities and Black power in the communities they operate within.

“We need space, opportunity ​​and publications and platforms to lift the ideas ,” said Hewitt. “We need to leverage that reputation capital.”

Aside from Hewitt’s presentation, the day included a panel on GenZ voter issues and a session called “Get Your Money Right for Your Business.” Convention attendees were then able to tour Baltimore’s famed National Great Blacks in Wax Museum. The second day of the conference concluded with the NNPA Fund’s Messenger Awards Reception.

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NNPA 2024 National Convention opens in Baltimore

By Aria Brent 
AFRO Staff Writer 
abrent@afro.com

Day one of the 2024 National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA)  Annual National Convention featured board meetings, capped off by a welcome reception on the terrace level of the Four Seasons Hotel in Baltimore on June 19. The conference is scheduled to take place until June 22, with four days of events. 

The board meetings allowed NNPA publishers to gather and discuss what can be anticipated for the rest of the year and what members of the Black Press need to focus on this election year. 

“The association and the foundation met today and we’re making progress. The board is looking at the initiatives that we’re working on in the organization– it was very impactful,” said Denise Rolark-Barnes, publisher of the Washington Informer. “It’s always good when the publishers can get together and I think that’s what’s most important. When we all get together we get to share what we’re all experiencing.”

It’s no secret that the Black Press has always played a significant role in getting our communities educated, empowered and registered to vote. This year, those efforts are needed more than ever and the NNPA convention is the perfect place for brainstorming and collaboration to ensure this happens.

“We’re very concerned about the upcoming election and voter turnout and participation. Not only are we concerned about who’s running, but sure our community shows up and shows out,” Barnes exclaimed 

After the board meetings, a rooftop reception welcomed NNPA members to network with another and celebrate the Juneteenth holiday. 

Remarks were given by convention sponsors, along with words from NNPA President and CEO, Benjamin Chavis Jr. He introduced corporate partners that made this year’s convention possible and spoke on how some of the sponsors are working hand in hand with the NNPA to address issues in the Black community, like disproportionate health issues. 

“Pfizer has done a great job,” said Chavis. “As some of you know, there’s a particular heart disease that affects African Americans: ATTR-CM. Pfizer is working and has developed a medication that helps extend the lives of brothers and sisters with this disease.”

The evening was enjoyed by all and the “family feel” of the NNPA was well and alive. Chavis noted that the need to convene with other Black publications and media outlets is needed– especially in 2024.

“From the East Coast to the West Coast, from the North to the South– I am so proud of the Black Press of America,” he said. 

Similar sentiments were echoed by David Miller, of Our Weekly, which is based in Los Angeles. Miller noted that camaraderie is vital to the success of the Black Press.

“Having so many different publishers, we’ve become a family. We look forward to coming together, collaborating and having general conversation” said Miller. “It’s always good to see family.” 

Miller spoke on how the more than 200 Black papers of NNPA lean on each other. 

“We’re all African American newspapers, and we all have a lot in  common. When coming to collaborate and share our stories, a lot of times we have the same issues or situations. It’s good to hear that you’re not alone,” said Miller. “We’re all dealing with the same concerns and being able to talk about those with others definitely helps. It also enhances us to be able to share and create opportunities.” 

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously voted on June 13 to dismiss a challenge to mifepristone, an abortion pill, saying opponents lack standing to contest the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) actions concerning the drug.

“Today’s decision does not change the fact that the fight for reproductive freedom continues. It does not change the fact that the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade two years ago, and women lost a fundamental freedom,” said President Joe Biden (D) in a statement. “It does mean that mifepristone, or medication abortion, remains available and approved.”

The FDA approved mifepristone in September 2000 to be used for terminating a pregnancy up to seven weeks gestation, according to the FDA’s website. In 2016, they approved its use for up to 10 weeks.

Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), who has been vocal about protecting abortion rights in Congress, commented on the decision.

“It was correct that the Supreme Court made the decision to keep this single right intact – women’s access to this particular reproductive medication,” said Alsobrooks in a statement. “But I, like so many women across this country, shouldn’t have to wait with bated breath to see if justices will allow us to make our own health care decisions. I shouldn’t have to fear for our daughters’ and granddaughters’ futures in this country.”

With the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022, abortion access has become a top issue for one in eight voters or 12 percent, according to a health-tracking poll by KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation), a health policy organization. About half of voters polled say they believe the upcoming presidential, congressional and state-level elections will have a “major impact” on abortion access.

For that reason, the decision has drawn a range of responses.

“I have both relief and anger about this decision. Thank goodness the Supreme Court unanimously rejected this unwarranted attempt to curtail access to medication abortion, but the fact remains that this meritless case should never have gotten this far,” said Nancy Northup, president and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights, in a statement shortly after the decision. “In the end, this ruling is not a ‘win’ for abortion—it just maintains the status quo, which is a dire public health crisis in which 14 states have criminalized abortion.”

According to the Center for Reproductive Rights, the 14 states that have made abortion illegal include Arkansas, Idaho, Texas and West Virginia.

“While we’re disappointed with the court’s decision, we will continue to advocate for women,” said Erin Hawley, a senior counsel for Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative legal advocacy group, in a statement. 

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By Stacy M. Brown
NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia

(NNPA Newswire) — Former President Donald Trump’s return to Capitol Hill on June 13 sparked significant backlash, with critics condemning his appearance at the site of the deadly Jan. 6, 2021, attack—a violent insurrection by his supporters. Trump has refused to take responsibility for his actions on that day or his conduct generally, even though a New York jury found him guilty of 34 felony criminal charges last month in connection with paying hush money to cover up an extramarital affair with an adult film star.

In total, Trump faces nearly 90 felony charges in four jurisdictions, including Washington, D.C.

Outside the Capitol, several protesters gathered, carrying signs with messages such as “Failed Coup” and “No One is Above the Law,” displaying some of the public’s lingering outrage over Trump’s actions and his return to the scene of the insurrection.

Democratic leaders were particularly vocal about Trump’s visit. Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett expressed outrage, stating, “Three years after waging a continual war on our democracy, Donald Trump, a convicted criminal, returns to Capitol Hill to hang out with the very same MAGA extremists who acted as his proxies on January 6.”

She continued, “Trump and his cronies attacked our free and fair elections, they attacked our peaceful transition of power, and they attacked our Capitol – and the American people are fighting back at the ballot box to defend democracy.” 

Crockett also emphasized the importance of the upcoming elections, advocating for Hakeem Jeffries as the next speaker to restore order in the House, and reaffirming support for President Joe Biden.

Former January 6 Select Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson of Mississippi echoed Crockett’s sentiments, expressing his dismay at Trump’s audacity to revisit the Capitol. 

“After inciting a deadly insurrection that defiled the halls of Congress, how dare Trump show his face on these grounds?” Thompson said. He lambasted Congressional Republicans for allowing Trump’s visit and stressed that Trump remains a significant threat to democracy.

“Since January 6, Donald Trump, a twice-impeached convicted felon, has repeatedly doubled down on his disrespect for the rule of law and continues to sow hate and division,” Thompson said. “He still presents the same dire threat to our democracy that he did three years ago — and he’d be wise to head back to Mar-a-Lago and await his sentencing.”

California Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff also decried Trump’s meeting with the “same MAGA Republicans who enabled his assault on democracy and supported his extremist policies and authoritarian agenda.”

“The American people can’t afford another four years of Trump and his allies destroying our democracy to maintain their grip on power,” Schiff protested. “Every Republican meeting today with Donald Trump – who has promised to be a dictator on day one if he’s elected and prophesied a bloodbath if he’s not – should commit today to accept the results of November’s free and fair election, but of course, they will not. Nothing means more to them than power — not oath, not truth, not decency, not democracy. Nothing. We must hope and pray that they do not reap the despotic whirlwind they attempt to sow.”

Approximately 140 police officers were assaulted on Jan. 6, 2021, at the Capitol, including about 80 from the U.S. Capitol Police and 60 from the Metropolitan Police Department. Five officers died after the attack.

Trump, whom a civil jury found responsible for sexually assaulting a writer and a separate court found liable for nearly $500 million in business fraud, still faces several serious charges related to his attempts to overturn the 2020 election results. These include conspiracy to violate civil rights, conspiracy to defraud the government, corrupt obstruction of an official proceeding, and conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding.

“Today, arrived at the scene of the crime and continues to throw fuel on the flame,” added Democratic Rep. Zoe Lofgren of California. “He inspired an angry mob to try to overturn our Constitution, and I wonder if the ex-president has even read the document himself. I learned during the January 6th investigation to take Mr. Trump at his word, and his unhinged comments about democracy and America’s future make it clear that he is a threat to our system of government.”

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By Sen. Corey McCray

Back in April, I received an email from Dr. David Jernigan, a professor at Boston University School of Public Health. Dr. Jernigan informed me about a study published in JAMA Internal Medicine, which examined the impact of Senate Bill 571—legislation I proudly sponsored during the 2020 Legislative Session. The timing of this study is particularly significant as it coincides with the recent passage of similar legislation aimed at further improving public safety in Maryland’s 45th Legislative District.

The findings were eye-opening, especially for a city like Baltimore, where public safety and combating crime and violence are paramount for every elected official, law enforcement officer, community activist, parent, store owner and taxpaying citizen. Passed in 2020, Senate Bill 571 reduced the operating hours for bars and taverns that sold packaged liquor in East Baltimore. The new operating hours were changed from 6 a.m. – 2 a.m. to 9 a.m. – 10 p.m. This legislation arose from a desperate plea from a neighbor in the Berea Community, who was concerned about a local store that had been the site of two shootings in the first week of October 2019.

Researchers in Boston found that reducing the hours of alcohol sales in this East Baltimore community from 20 hours to 13 hours a day resulted in a 23 percent annual decrease in all violent crime. Violent crime is defined as any incident where the offender uses or threatens to use harmful force against another person, animal, or object. One month after Senate Bill 571 went into effect on July 1, 2020, the community experienced a 51 percent drop in homicides. This was followed by a 40 percent yearly drop in homicides for the community. The study included data from May 1, 2018, to December 2022.

In essence, Senate Bill 571 achieved more than the community, city leaders, and I had hoped for.

 Our young scholars deserve to walk to school and play in their community without constant worry from parents and guardians about violence breaking out. What message are we sending to our young people when liquor stores are open at 6 a.m. before the school bell rings at 8:30 a.m., while they are walking to school? Furthermore, all our residents– both young and old– deserve to feel safe in their neighborhood. 

The Berea Community, like many others in East Baltimore, has long suffered from the ripple effects of poorly regulated alcohol sales: increased crime, violence and a pervasive sense of insecurity. The legislation was less about regulating liquor sales and more about reclaiming our neighborhoods amidst high crime and violence. No other jurisdiction in the state of Maryland allows liquor establishments to be open for 20 hours a day– so why did Baltimore City?

Building on the success of Senate Bill 571, the C.A.R.E. Community Association and McElderry Park within Maryland’s 45th Legislative District followed in its footsteps with the passage of Senate Bill 45 this year. As the Senate sponsor of Senate Bill 45, I am proud to say that this legislation was signed into law by Gov. Moore on May 16, 2024. I would also like to acknowledge the strong leadership of Del. Jackie Addison, who led the effort in the House of Delegates. This legislation, similar in nature to SB 571, reduces the hours of liquor stores and taverns that sell packaged goods to 9 a.m. until 10 p.m. in both communities. In other words, these establishments cannot operate outside of these hours, further aligning with our efforts to reduce activity that has the potential to lead to crime and improve community safety.

Senate Bill 45 was born out of redistricting (which added both communities to the 45th district), the calls from residents for a safer environment following a rise in violent crime, and the necessity to protect our neighborhoods.

The continued effort to regulate liquor sale hours is a testament to the commitment of our communities and leaders to prioritize public safety and well-being. It’s not just about changing laws; it’s about changing lives. And that’s a responsibility I, and hopefully every policymaker, take very seriously.

While historical disinvestment explains many of the deep-rooted issues our communities face, it’s clear that Senate Bill 571 is not the sole solution to combating all crime. However, I do know that SB 571, along with SB 45, are tools in our arsenal that have proven effective. Both are necessary measures for East Baltimore, and their positive impacts further magnify what can be achieved when we prioritize the safety and well-being of our communities. Let this be a reminder that meaningful change is possible, and it starts with listening to the voices of those we serve.

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By Ashlee Banks
Special to the AFRO

The Biden-Harris administration held the second annual Juneteenth concert on the South Lawn of the White House on June 10.

The event started at 7:30 pm and was hosted by comedian Roy Wood Jr., who cracked jokes throughout the night while also emphasizing the importance of celebrating Juneteenth.

The holiday commemorates June 19, 1865, the day that enslaved people in Galveston, Texas found out that they were free through the Emancipation Proclamation signed by President Abraham Lincoln on Jan. 1, 1863. 

President Joe Biden gave a speech during the concert and stated that the June 10 celebration was a “fitting tribute” for the holiday. The president also took a moment to discuss recent attacks launched against diversity and equity programs across the nation. 

“Old ghosts in new garments trying to take us back– taking away your freedoms, making it harder for Black people to vote or have your vote counted,” he added. “Our history is not just about the past, it’s about our present and our future…for all of us.” 

In attendance were Congressional members Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas-30), Ayanna Pressley, (D-Mass-7), Cori Bush (D-Mo-1) Maxine Waters, (D-Calif-43) and Steven Horsford, (D-Nev-4), attorney Ben Crump, MSNBC host Symone Sanders-Townsend and rapper Joey Bada$$. 

“It’s an honor to be invited–especially looking at what this nation faces at this point. Specifically, with what I’d consider essentially a race war,” said Ameshia Cross, a Democratic strategist. “We’re seeing measures to erase curriculum that is reflective of what actually happened in American history.”

Pressley stated she attended the Juneteenth concert to pay tribute to Opal Lee, the advocate who pushed for the holiday to become nationally recognized. 

“She made this possible and many fought to make this holiday real,” said Pressley. “There are a lot of people who bled, who prayed, who paved the way…for me to be involved everyday in the work of Black liberation.”

Over a two-hour period, guests experienced performances from Patti LaBelle, Anthony Hamilton, Kirk Franklin, Raheem DeVaughn, Charlie Wilson, Doug E. Fresh, Gladys Knight and many other talented artists.

LaBelle sang her hit song “Love, Need and Want You,” Hamilton sang his classic “Charlene” and Kirk Franklin gave the audience a show while dancing to his song “Love Theory.” 

“This was a celebration of achievements against a backdrop of people who are trying to erase it and make it harder for Black people to have access points,” said Cross. “President is going against all odds to ensure there’s equity and strength for the Black community.”

In 2021, Biden signed a law that made Juneteenth a federal holiday. This year Juneteenth will be recognized on Wednesday, June 19.

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

At a campaign rally at the Kentland Community Center in Landover, Md., Vice President Kamala Harris (D) endorsed the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks. 

“I was so proud to support her when she was state’s attorney and to endorse her when she was county executive. Today, I then proudly endorse Angela Alsobrooks for the United States Senate,” said Harris, amidst the cheers of the crowd on June 7. “She was the first assistant state’s attorney in Prince George’s County, Md., to specialize in domestic violence cases. To be here to support her today is to know she will be an experienced leader on this issue.”

The event also addressed National Gun Violence Awareness Day.

Throughout the gathering, leaders emphasized that the leading cause of death for children and teens in the U.S. is guns, according to the CDC. Speakers put emphasis on voters to choose those candidates and leaders that will support gun safety regulations on the federal level.

“Together we can break the cycle of gun violence and create a world where safety is given, not a privilege, in every community,” said Isabella Socha Soares, social lead for the Students Demand Action-University of Maryland chapter of Everytown for Gun Safety, a non-profit gun control advocacy organization.  “Students all over the country want to feel safe and not fear that they might go to school and not come home. I fight as a student not because I want to, but because I have to for students across the nation and for future generations.”

Gov. Wes Moore (D) and more top Maryland Democrats were present, supporting Alsobrooks and other Democratic nominees in this year’s general election. 

“Today, tomorrow and all the way through November, we are going to ride with Angela Alsobrooks. We’re going to ride with the Biden-Harris Administration,” said Moore. “We have to have the right leaders in place who are going to fortify our future, who are going to actually use their time and their energy and their power to increase freedoms and not to decrease them.”

Alsobrooks outlined what she would do as senator about crime and gun violence prevention.

“As a senator, I’ll stand for common sense approaches to make sure that firearms don’t end up in the hands of the wrong people, who can’t pass a background check,” she said. “I won’t back down from holding gun manufacturers accountable.” 

Republican nominee for U.S. Senate, former Governor Larry Hogan’s campaign responded to the event via X, a social media platform formerly known as Twitter.

“While Angela Alsobrooks is campaigning today, instead of just offering more platitudes, we urge her to tell voters how she will address the skyrocketing crime on her watch in Prince George’s County, Md.,” reads the statement. “Hogan has put forward a plan to address this out-of-control crime wave by funding law enforcement, taking repeat violent criminals off the streets and getting guns out of the hands of violent criminals and the mentally ill.”

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By Stacy M. Brown
NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

(NNPA Newswire) – In a moving gathering of survivors and spectators, a select group of invitees congregated at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema in northeast Washington, D.C., on June 3. The occasion? The unveiling of a long-awaited documentary that sheds new light on the deadly events of Jan. 6, 2021, a day etched in the annals of American history.

The deft hands of Oscar-winning filmmakers Sean Fine and Andrea Nix Fine drew viewers into a heart-rending gut-punch of a narrative as the curtains pulled back and the screen came to life. The documentary titled, “The Sixth,” not only captured the horror and chaos of that fateful day but also delved deep into the lives of those thrust into the heart of the storm, evoking a profound emotional response from the audience.

“It’s never been a mystery as to what happened…. But tonight, we bring forth a narrative that transcends mere recounting,” said Andrea Fine, one half of the acclaimed filmmaking duo. “‘The Sixth’ doesn’t just document the events—it humanizes them.”

The film eschewed the typical focus on the perpetrators and even the insurrection’s primary instigator, former President Donald Trump, opting instead to shine a spotlight on the untold stories of resilience and courage. Through the eyes of six individuals—a diverse ensemble that included a Black photographer named Mel D. Cole; Erica Loewe, a Democratic staffer who serves as the only caregiver to her mother who lives with Alzheimer’s; Congressman Jamie Raskin, and three Metropolitan DC police officers—the audience gained unprecedented insight into the human drama that unfolded amidst the chaos.

Torn with anxiety and right in the middle while capturing all the chaos was Cole, thinking about a world where his toddler son might have to grow up without him because the photographer doesn’t know if he’ll survive the Trump-inspired riot.

Raskin, there to help certify President Joe Biden’s election victory over Trump, is drenched with emotion, having buried his 25-year-old son a day earlier. Raskin’s son had suffered from mental health challenges and committed suicide. Making the heart pound ever more, Raskin also had to worry about his daughters, who were inside the Capitol as the attack unfolded.

Loewe, believing death was imminent and worried about who would care for her mother, was among Congressman James Clyburn’s staffers who were barricaded inside an office where rioters were just feet away.

“Every single one of our characters is serving the public in different ways,” said Andrea Fine. “And so we love that idea of, what if you’re just coming to do your job, and you’re saddled with that, and how they came through.”

As the documentary unfolded, viewers were transported back to the Capitol grounds, where the echoes of violence still reverberated. From Raskin’s anguish, Cole’s uneasiness and Loewe’s uncertainty to Officer Christina Laury’s harrowing experiences and the gripping personal history of then-D.C. police chief Robert Contee, “The Sixth” left no stone unturned in its quest for truth.

The fear of rioters yelling at law enforcement, and Contee demanding more help and responding incredulously as U.S. Department of Defense officials held back on sending the National Guard because they were concerned about “optics.” All the while, the rioters blast through lines of undermanned officers, beating them, including policeman Daniel Hodges, mercilessly.

“Politics was inherent in the violence,” said Andrea Fine. “What we were trying to do is like, okay, what happened that day? Truthfully. Really. And how did it feel to go through it? How did it affect the people who just showed up to work?”

While the National Guard stood just minutes away but refused to assist, D.C. Metropolitan Police struggled mightily to fight off the mob, with some of the rioters yelling, “Get his gun,” as they grabbed and viciously assaulted one officer.

With ladders, poles and other makeshift missiles flying from the crowd (Cole says he couldn’t understand how and where the rioters got their hands on such objects), officers desperately tried to defend the Capitol with pepper spray. They appeared to be the only ones who suffered harm from the aerosol.

Infuriatingly so, after District and Capitol Police finally received assistance from state police officers from Maryland, Virginia and New Jersey, Trump tepidly asked his supporters to go home as the deadly event reaches its conclusion and only when the National Guard unhelpfully arrives. 

As the credits rolled and the lights came up, the audience grappled with the weight of what they had witnessed. In the words of Mel D. Cole: “For anyone from D.C., this film hits different…. It’s just a different day for all of us here.”

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By Stacy M. Brown
NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

(NNPA Newswire) – In what quickly turned into a polarizing week for Black Americans, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) delivered a scathing denunciation of Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) on the House floor, while rapper and entrepreneur 50 Cent visited Capitol Hill, presumably to advocate for Black entrepreneurs. Both events highlighted the stark divisions within the Black community regarding political allegiances and historical perspectives.

Donalds, who earlier co-hosted a Donald Trump campaign event for Black voters in Philadelphia, incredulously asserted, “You see, during Jim Crow, the Black family was together. During Jim Crow, more Black people were not just conservative—Black people have always been conservative-minded—but more Black people voted conservatively.”

Jeffries responded forcefully, condemning Donalds’ remarks as inaccurate and deeply offensive. 

“Mr. Speaker, it has come to my attention that a so-called leader has made the factually inaccurate statement that Black folks were better off during Jim Crow,” he stated. “That’s an outlandish, outrageous, and out-of-pocket observation.”

Highlighting the brutal realities of the Jim Crow era, Jeffries continued, “We would not be better off when a young boy named Emmett Till could be brutally murdered without consequence because of Jim Crow. We were not better off when Black women could be sexually assaulted without consequence because of Jim Crow. We would not be better off when people could be systematically lynched without consequence because of Jim Crow. We were not better off when children could be denied a high-quality education without consequence because of Jim Crow. We would not be better off when people could be denied the right to vote without consequence because of Jim Crow. How dare you make such an ignorant observation?”

The Congressional Black Caucus echoed Jeffries’ condemnation in a statement: “This is a pattern of embracing racist ideologies that we see time and again within the MAGA Republican Party. Rep. Donalds is playing his role as the mouthpiece who will say the quiet parts out loud that many will not say themselves. His comments were shameful and beneath the dignity of a member of the House of Representatives. He should immediately offer an apology to Black Americans for misrepresenting one of the darkest chapters in our history for his own political gain.”

On the same day, 50 Cent, meeting with lawmakers in a visit hyped as an attempt to advocate for Black entrepreneurs and Black representation in the liquor industry, commented on the political climate. 

Speaking to CBS News congressional correspondent Nikole Killion, 50 Cent gave a nod to an alarming trend among Black men identifying with the twice-impeached Trump, who is a convicted felon and still under indictment. When asked about his stance in the upcoming presidential election, the rapper – who supported Trump in 2020 – said he hadn’t decided yet but highlighted Trump’s appeal among Black male voters. 

“I see them identifying with Trump,” he explained, “because they got RICO charges.”

Trump has more than 50 felony charges pending in three jurisdictions after a Manhattan jury convicted him of 34 felonies related to hush money payments he made to an adult film actress to cover up their extramarital affair. A New York jury also twice found him guilty of sexually assaulting a woman, while a judge declared the former president committed massive business fraud and ordered Trump to pay nearly $500 million in fines and restitution.

But the week underscored a significant divide within the Black community, juxtaposing Jeffries’ and the Congressional Black Caucus’s fierce defense of historical accuracy and social justice against Donalds’ and 50 Cent’s perspectives.

Many noted that Jim Crow laws, enforced through local and federal legislation, relegated Black Americans to second-class citizenship, enforcing racial segregation and instilling systemic violence and terror. That era included the wrongful execution of 14-year-old George Stinney Jr., convicted by an all-White jury in 1944 after just 10 minutes of deliberation. Stinney’s case epitomized the racial injustice of Jim Crow.

Jeffries further criticized the romanticization of Black family history during that oppressive period, which included the Scottsboro Boys being wrongly accused of raping a White woman in 1931, 14-year-old Emmett Till being lynched in 1955 after being falsely accused of whistling at a White girl, and four Black girls being murdered in a church bombing in Alabama in 1963. 

Not gone unnoticed, too, is that Donalds is married to a White woman, something that would have led to his lynching during Jim Crow.

“You better check yourself before you wreck yourself,” Jeffries told Donalds. “I yield back.”

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By Ashlee Banks
Special to the AFRO

U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, (D-Texas-18) recently announced that she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

The 74-year-old took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to share that she is currently undergoing cancer treatment and will rely on her Democratic colleagues to hold down the fort while she is absent from the U.S. Capitol.

“I am confident that my doctors have developed the best possible plan to target my specific disease. The road ahead will not be easy, but I stand in faith that God will strengthen me,” Jackson Lee said in a statement.

“I am committed to working with our Congressional Leadership, including Leader Hakeem Jeffries and the Speaker of House, to serve this nation and be present for votes on legislation that is critical for the prosperity and security of the American people,” the Texas Democrat added.

The congresswoman has held her congressional seat for 30 years and is running for re-election after a failed attempt to become the mayor of Houston. Many Democrats do not believe her cancer diagnosis will hinder her chances of being re-elected in November. 

U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas-30) stated that Jackson Lee’s recent win in the primary race is evidence that re-election is probable- regardless of the cancer diagnosis.

“ won her primary, it’s a safe Democratic seat. She will win the general election no matter what happens,” said Crockett. “I think that what people need to do is have some compassion and know that this job is hard on all of our bodies…people should focus on praying for the congresswoman.”

U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla-19) weighed in with his point of view. 

“You come here for a period of time and then you leave. I think that a lot of our members really need to start considering that this is not a career, this is service,” said U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla-19). “This is not against Sheila or anybody else. It’s just a matter of fact that you have to have fresh blood in this place in order to get away from…the old ways.”

The Florida lawmaker added that although he and Jackson Lee have not always seen eye to eye politically, the conservative legislator is praying for her and said he hopes she makes a “full recovery.”

U.S Rep. Jamie Raskin, (D-Md-8) spoke of the congresswoman’s strength and ability to face the challenges ahead of her, while also serving the citizens of her district. 

“Sheila Jackson Lee is tough as nails and she’s a great political leader,” said Raskin.“I trust her to make the right decisions for herself and the people she represents.”

Jackson Lee’s recent diagnosis comes more than a decade after the congresswoman announced that she beat her fight against breast cancer. She has asked that her constituents and U.S. citizens keep her and her family in their prayers during this time.

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

After weeks of counting ballots, the Maryland State Board of Elections has finalized the state primary results.

The primary featured shocking wins throughout the local level, including Councilman Zeke Cohen’s (D-District 1) 50.92 percent win for Baltimore City Council President and Mayor Brandon M. Scott’s 52.78 percent victory. Political spectators believed it would be a close race between Scott and former Mayor Sheila Dixon, who received 38.88 percent of the vote in the end. 

“The Democratic primary highlighted what citizens want from their public servants. They want better city services, they want transparency and they want us focused on issues that matter for quality of life, like education, opportunities for youth and public safety,” said Cohen. “For me, the focus is always around building a diverse, robust coalition, delivering world-class city services and making government more accessible, proximate and transparent.”

Cohen unseated Baltimore City Council President Nick Mosby by a large margin. Mosby received 23.26 percent of the votes and candidate Shannon Sneed got 25.83 percent.

“Baltimore, you’ve been with me through every win and every loss, so I simply want to say thank you,” said Mosby via X, the social media platform formally known as Twitter. “Thank you for believing in me and allowing me the privilege of serving you.”

Though most of the 14 city council members have secured their spots on the November ballot, Eric Costello (D-District 11) and Robert Stokes Sr. (D-District 12) did not.

Candidate Jermaine Jones unseated Stokes by 369 votes and political contender Zac Blanchard unseated Costello by a mere 48 votes. 

With Councilman Kristerfer Burnett (D-District 8) stepping down from the council this year, the seat opened up for others to run, including former State Delegate Bilal Ali and Paris Gray, a community outreach coordinator for Baltimore City Council District 8. Gray won with 41.41 percent of the vote, and Ali received 37.71 percent.

Blanchard, Gray and Jones are the Democratic nominees for their respective races and are in line to be the newcomers to the council. Baltimore City is a primarily Democratic region, meaning whoever wins the Democratic nomination is likely to take the seat in November.

The council could soon shrink from 14 to eight if Baltimore residents vote in favor of the referendum on the ballot this November. PEACE Baltimore, a civic engagement organization that is leading the initiative via a petition, argues that some other counties in the state have about eight or fewer districts and have about the same population as Baltimore. They also argue that taking away six of the districts would help the city save millions.

The Baltimore County Circuit Court judge slate, Judges Michael S. Barranco; Patricia DeMaio; Marc A. DeSimone; and James Rhodes also secured their spots in the November election. The group of sitting judges fought to keep their seats after the usually uncontested race became a challenge with the entrance of Robert N. Daniels, an assistant attorney general, whose name placed him second on the ballot. 

Sitting Judges Christine Marie Celeste, with 34.64 percent of the votes, and Ginina A. Jackson-Stevenson, with 30.72 percent of the vote, secured their spots in the November election for the Anne Arundel Circuit Court.

In Cecil County, Md., County Executive Danielle M. Hornberger was unseated for the Republican nomination by Adam Streight, a sergeant with the Cecil County Sheriff’s Office. Streight received 53.24 percent of the votes and Hornberger got 46.76 percent.

The general election is Nov. 5. Early voting will take place from Oct. 24 to Oct. 31.

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
Tmcqueen@afro.com

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) signed an expansive executive order supporting Maryland’s climate goals and efforts to move away from fossil fuels. The order will impact all government agencies and buildings throughout the state.

“It is bold and we will get it done,” said Moore to a lively crowd of Henderson-Hopkins School students, educators and state legislators in East Baltimore. “Today’s order ensures that the state of Maryland focuses on environmental justice and economic justice in all of our climate work. Climate justice is economic justice if you’re doing it right. We are going to craft policies that reflect that mindset.”

The “Implementing Maryland’s Climate Pollution Reduction Plan” executive order directs the Department of the Environment to develop new policies to decrease building emissions, direct the Maryland Energy Administration to create a framework to reach 100 percent clean energy by 2035 and implement new policies that include reducing energy use by enforcing zero-emission heating standards.

The order also calls on all state agencies to submit a Climate Implementation Plan.

“Each plan is going to center on how we can meet our goals of cutting emissions by 60 percent by 2031 and achieving net zero in our state by 2045,” said Moore. “These proposals must be submitted by every single state agency because every single state agency is going to have a role to play and is going to have accountability measures we must meet.”

The Maryland Department of the Environment will be the center of the state’s whole-of-government approach to addressing climate. The Maryland Department of the Environment will submit an annual report directly to Moore about each agency’s progress on the climate change initiatives mentioned.

Moore said Henderson-Hopkins was chosen as the location for the executive order signing due to its Solar4Us project, which will provide solar power to 175 low—to moderate-income households in the school community and surrounding area.

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

Under pressure to address the large flow of migrants at the U.S.-Mexico Border, President Joe Biden signed an executive action on June 4, temporarily restricting illegal immigrants.

“Migrants will be restricted from seeking asylum at our southern border unless they seek it after entering through an established lawful process,” said Biden in a speech on June 4. “This ban will remain in place until the number of people trying to enter illegally is reduced to a number that we can manage.”

The order will go into effect on June 5.

Some Democrats are not on board with this initiative.

In a statement, U.S. Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.-09), co-chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Foreign Affairs and Immigration Task Force, spoke about her concern for Black immigrants and how they will be impacted.

“President Biden’s executive action to close daily border crossings arbitrarily at 2,500 will prevent countless Black immigrants from the Caribbean, the African continent and Latin America from exercising their legal right to apply for asylum at our ports of entry,” said Clarke. “We should move toward a more nuanced approach that considers the real humanitarian issues that migrants are facing each day.”

“We urge the Biden-Harris Administration to prioritize efforts to address the root causes of migration and expand pathways for legal migration for people who are fleeing violence and persecution and who are seeking a better life,” Clarke continued.

In his speech, Biden pointed towards congressional Republicans who thwarted his efforts to pass a bipartisan border bill in February for resorting to this method of reform.

“I’ve come here today to do what the Republicans in Congress refuse to do–take the necessary steps to secure our border,” said Biden. “Four months ago, after weeks of intense negotiations between my staff and Democrats and Republicans, we came to a clear bipartisan deal.”

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA-04), Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN-06) and Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY-21) released a joint statement on Biden’s executive action, calling it a “political stunt.”

“President Biden’s Executive Order is nothing more than a desperate political stunt,” Johnson, Emmer and Stefanik. “Over a year ago, House Republicans passed the Secure the Border Act, which would actually fix the problem, but Joe Biden and Senate Democrats continue to drag their feet on taking meaningful action, sacrificing the safety and security of our communities.”

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By Aria Brent
AFRO Staff Writer
abrent@afro.com

 Congressman Kweisi Mfume (MD-07) announced on June 5 that he has been appointed to the U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs. The decision to appoint the veteran congressman was made by Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and was later unanimously approved by the U.S. House Democratic Caucus.

“From my time on the Baltimore City Council, fighting to divest city funds from the then-apartheid government of South Africa, to working alongside former President Bill Clinton to bring peace and order in Haiti, I have never shied away from using whatever platform I have had to find solutions to global problems,” stated Mfume.

While serving in this position Mfume will be responsible for oversight and legislation regarding national security developments affecting foreign policy; foreign assistance; the Peace Corps; strategic planning and agreements; war powers, treaties, executive agreements and the deployment and use of United States Armed Forces. He will also be lending his expertise to peacekeeping, peace enforcement; enforcement of United Nations or other international sanctions; arms control and disarmament issues; arms control and disarmament issues and a plethora of other matters.

“This appointment is a tremendous honor and responsibility that I do not take lightly given today’s state of affairs. I look forward to joining my colleagues on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs to ensure the United States remains an advocate for peace, security, and equality both at home and abroad,” Mfume shared.

Although this role with the U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs is Mfume’s most recent venture in the world of politics, he has a lengthy record when it comes to serving his community and our nation. He’s served as a member of Congress under five presidents, including Presidents Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, William J. Clinton, Donald J. Trump, and Joseph R. Biden. He is currently working in Congress as a member of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus and the Congressional Caribbean Caucus.

 In addition to this, he has witnessed and served through events such as the fall of the Berlin Wall, the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the first Gulf War, the Panamanian incursion (“Operation Just Cause”), U.S. intervention in Haiti (“Operation Uphold Democracy”), attempts to coordinate foreign interference in U.S. elections, the rise of global cyberthreats and the abolition of apartheid in South Africa.

“From the famine in Africa to the strife in the Middle East, there are so many hotspots today that require strong voices for fairness. I have worked tirelessly throughout my life and in many different capacities to address global issues that impact our people,” Mfume shared. “I am eager to utilize my experiences and begin working now as the only Maryland congressperson appointed to the House Foreign Affairs Committee.”

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By DaQuan Lawrence
AFRO International Writer
DLawrence@afro.com

On May 23, the White House and Biden administration held a state dinner in honor of Kenyan President William Ruto and Her Excellency Rachel Ruto, who visited the U.S. during a recent trip in the interest of diplomacy.

The occasion featured a dynamic ambiance with magnetic views of the nation’s capital, celebrity and political A-listers as well as a splendid menu, designed in the interest of the East African guests of honor. 

The dinner highlighted bilateral relations among Kenya and the U.S. and the 60-year partnership among the two countries as the world has developed from the cold war era into a multipolar, geopolitical landscape that features multiple nations, such as the U.S., Russia and China, vying for global dominance. 

“Mr. President, six decades ago, when Kenya declared its independence, President Lyndon B. Johnson wrote a letter from our nation to yours. And he said, ‘May the responsibilities of freedom wake the best that is in you,’” said President Biden, during a joint press conference held in the East Room of the White House. 

“Today, we mark 60 years of partnership between our democracies, and we’re fulfilling that wish together…Not only in Kenya and America but around the world, it’s had [a] positive impact,” Biden continued. 

Throughout his remarks, Biden mentioned Kenya’s role in joint counterterrorism operations that have diminished the influence of ISIS and al-Shabab across East Africa, the nation’s work in Haiti via the Multinational Security Support Mission, as well as upcoming economic cooperation initiatives. 

“Today, we’re launching what we’re calling the Nairobi-Washington Vision. This initiative is going to bring together international financial institutions and nations from all around the world to mobilize more resources for countries saddled with debt,” Biden said. 

The goals of the new initiative include creating more opportunities for private-sector financing and promoting transparent, sustainable and affordable lending practices for developing nations. 

President Biden also announced that in addition to the U.S.’ $250 million investment for crisis-response, the nation will be providing an additional $21 billion available to the International Monetary Fund and up to $250 billion in new lending capacity from multilateral development banks to invest in lower-income nations. 

In addition to President Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, the event involved an extensive guest list which featured over 500 esteemed attendees, including 42^nd U.S. President Bill Clinton and his wife, the 67^th U.S. Secretary of State the Honorable Hillary Rodham Clinton. Leaders such as AFRO CEO and publisher, Dr. Frances “Toni” Draper, were also in attendance with AFRO Director of Operations, Andre Draper. 

“It was a once in a lifetime experience,” said Dr. Frances “Toni” Draper. “Every single detail was addressed and no expense was spared but– most importantly– it was an honor to be in the same room as the President of Kenya, President Rudo; his wife, Her Excellency Rachel Ruto; President Joe Biden and the First Lady, Dr. Jill Biden.”

Draper noted that, before May 23, a Kenyan leader hadn’t been honored with a White House state dinner since 2003. In addition, the event was significant because there have been no state dinners in honor of an African country and its leader since 2008, when President George W. Bush hosted Ghanaian President John Kufuor.

“We were honored to be there,” said Draper. “It was good to see the president standing strong. Many people have commented about his age– but he is the president of the country and he and Dr. Jill Biden represented us well.”

Aside from the “exquisite” food, Draper said she also enjoyed performances by country star Brad Paisley and the Howard University Choir. Leaders from various industries and prominent civil rights leaders, such as Rev. Al Sharpton, could be seen enjoying the event’s festivities. 

The state dinner was attended by a large group of dignitaries, diplomats and state and municipal leaders from around the nation. U.S. Senator Cory Booker was present, along with Governor of New Mexico Michelle Lujan Grisham, Governor of Massachusetts Maura Healey, Governor of Maine Janet T. Mills and many others. 

At least six leaders of prominent U.S. cities were also in attendance, including Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens; Mayor Kate Gallego of Phoenix; Mayor Brandon Johnson of Chicago; Mayor of Augusta, Ga, Garnett Johnson; Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson and Mayor of Charlotte, Vi Lyles. 

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By Black PR Wire

(Black PR Wire) Washington, DC — Recently, When We All Vote launched the Culture of Democracy Tour, a summer of action to register, educate and engage thousands of voters and volunteers. The Culture of Democracy Tour brings voting to popular culture through events, sweepstakes, campaigns, voter registration drives and more in partnership with the organization’s thousands of volunteers and partners. 

More than 200 partners have joined When We All Vote’s Culture of Democracy Collective — a network of leading national and community organizations, including sports, corporate and entertainment partners, committed to registering, educating and mobilizing voters. Members include Essence, BET, Lyft, Girls Inc., NAACP Legal Defense Fund, Global Black Economic Forum, Lime, the Divine Nine National Pan-Hellenic Organizations, VoteRiders and the Executive Leadership Council, as well as major sport teams like the Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves, Atlanta Dream, Dallas Wings, Los Angeles Lakers, Washington Mystics, New England Revolution, Houston Dynamo and more. 

“At a time when fewer young people are identifying with political parties, the work of nonpartisan organizations like When We All Vote has never been more critical,” said Beth Lynk, executive director of When We All Vote. “Through the Culture of Democracy Tour this summer, we will bring voting to the culture and meet voters where they are — transforming how they view and participate in democracy and taking this momentum to the biggest stop of all: the ballot box.” 

Culture of Democracy Tour

When We All Vote’s Founder and Co-Chair Michelle Obama continues to be a trusted voice in the political space. She will use her voice throughout the tour to engage eligible voters. 

More than 40 million Gen Z’ers will be eligible to vote in November, and almost half are people of color,  including 8.8 million Latinos and 5.7 million Black youth. 71 percent of the people who registered with When We All Vote in 2020 were young people and people of color, with a turnout rate of 83 percent — surpassing the national average by nearly 20 percentage points. With reports of lower voter enthusiasm dominating the narrative, the Culture of Democracy Tour is critical to remind voters of their power and encourage voter participation. Highlights include:

• Events: When We All Vote will join some of the summer’s biggest events and celebrations to register voters, including: 

• The Roots Picnic in Philadelphia, PA, on June 1 and 2
• Blavity House Party Music Festival in Nashville, TN, on June 14 and 15 
• Essence Festival of Culture and the Global Black Economic Forum’s Summit and Conference in New Orleans, LA, between July 4 and July 7
• National Days of Action and Volunteer Mobilization: Hundreds of volunteers will host voter registration drives and get their communities registered and ready to vote: 
• Pride Month voter registration drives throughout June
• Juneteenth Weekend of Action June 19-23 
• The Voting Rights Act Anniversary on August 6 
• Digital Campaigns: When We All Vote will engage voters around the issues motivating them most through campaigns with partners, such as: 

• Digital and in-person activations with sports leagues and athletes
• Digital campaigns around key issues for voters, including reproductive rights, climate change and the state of the economy 

• A back-to-school campaign as a part of the My School Votes program for high school students throughout August
• New partnerships with celebrity talent and brands

Culture of Democracy Collective

The more than 200 members of the Culture of Democracy Collective will register voters through their platforms. For example: 

• Lyft will offer discounted rides to the polls during primaries, early voting and on Election Day across the country, as well as help riders, drivers and team members register, prepare to vote and understand voting ID requirements
• Lime will share voter registration deadlines and offer free e-bike and e-scooter rides to polling locations on Election Day
• Amalgamated Bank will promote voter registration in branches to help inform their customers and employees about the elections and encourage them to vote
• Essence and the Global Black Economic Forum will register and mobilize voters and protect democracy
• The Executive Leadership Council will convene Black business leaders to mobilize around voter education and registration in both the workplace and in their local communities 
• Clare V. will release a VOTE t-shirt in support of When We All Vote
• Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated and other organizations in the Divine Nine will mobilize their membership around Juneteenth to register people to vote 
• Drag Out the Vote will encourage the community to register voters for Pride Month
• State Voices will help galvanize their large network to host Parties at the Polls
• Southern Poverty Law Center will register voters through statewide campaigns in Alabama and Mississippi 

Earlier this year, When We All Vote laid out its three-pronged strategy for 2024: 1) register at least 500,000 Americans to vote; 2) reach and mobilize 5 million voters to cast their ballots; 3) change the culture around voting with partners and celebrity co-chairs and ambassadors.  

ABOUT When We All Vote: 

When We All Vote is a leading national, nonpartisan initiative on a mission to change the culture around voting and to increase participation in each and every election by helping to close the race and age gap. Created by Michelle Obama, When We All Vote brings together individuals, institutions, brands, and organizations to register new voters across the country and advance civic education for the entire family and voters of every age to build an informed and engaged electorate for today and generations to come. We empower our supporters and volunteers to take action through voting, advocating for their rights, and holding their elected officials accountable.

In 2020, When We All Vote ran a robust, multifaceted campaign and reached more than 100 million people to educate them about the voting process and get them registered and ready to vote. The initiative also led in voter education, registration, and volunteer engagement and as a result, 512,000 people started or completed the voter registration process, and nearly 500 media, corporate, and nonprofit partners joined its efforts.

Michelle Obama launched When We All Vote in 2018 and is joined by fellow Co-Chairs Stephen Curry, Becky G, Selena Gomez, Tom Hanks, H.E.R., Liza Koshy, Jennifer Lopez, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Janelle Monae, Chris Paul, Megan Rapinoe, Shonda Rhimes, Bretman Rock, Kerry Washington and Rita Wilson.

When We All Vote is an initiative of Civic Nation, a 501(c)(3) organization, and works with Civic Nation Action, a 501(c)(4). Learn more here.

ABOUT Civic Nation:

Civic Nation is a nonprofit ecosystem for high-impact organizing and education initiatives working to build a more inclusive and equitable America. Civic Nation shifts culture, systems, and policy by bringing together individuals, grassroots organizers, industry leaders and influencers to tackle some of our nation’s most pressing social challenges. Civic Nation is home to seven national initiatives and campaigns: ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge, Change Collective, It’s On Us, Online for All, SAVE On Student Debt, We The Action, and When We All Vote. Learn more here.

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By Stacy M. Brown
NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

(NNPA Newswire) — Marian Robinson, mother to former first lady Michelle Obama, died on May 31, at age 86. Her loved ones said she leaves behind a void in the hearts of many. As a steadfast figure in the Obama White House, Robinson’s presence extended far beyond familial ties, touching the lives of all who knew her.

Marian Lois Shields set out on a journey that was characterized by fortitude and compassion after emerging from the vibrant tapestry of Chicago’s South Side. From her early days as a teacher to her later role as a trusted secretary, Robinson’s life was a testament to the values of family and service, showcasing her personal achievements and contributions.

In a heartfelt tribute, Michelle Obama fondly recalled her mother’s enduring influence, describing her as the unwavering pillar of their family. Robinson’s wisdom, honed through life’s diverse experiences, was a beacon of light during times of uncertainty. Her steadfast support and gentle nature were not just sources of strength but unique qualities that endeared her to the entire Obama clan.

Throughout Barack Obama’s historic presidency, Marian Robinson was a symbol of stability, offering sage advice and unconditional love. Despite the grandeur of the White House, she maintained her down-to-earth charm, forging deep connections with staff and finding solace in everyday routines, thereby extending her influence beyond her immediate family.

Reflecting on her mother’s legacy, Michelle Obama shared cherished memories of their time, illustrating their profound bond. Robinson’s unwavering presence and nurturing spirit created a sense of home amidst the whirlwind of public life.

“Her wisdom came off as almost innate, as something she was born with, but in reality, it was hard-earned, fashioned by her deep understanding that the world’s roughest edges could always be sanded down with a little grace,” the family said.

Michelle, Barack, Malia and Sasha Obama; and Craig, Kelly, Avery, Leslie, Austin and Aaron Robinson joined to pen a heartfelt remembrance of the matriarch.

“Our mother, mother-in-law, and grandmother had a way of summing up the truths about life in a word or two, maybe a quick phrase that made everyone around her stop and think,” they wrote. “Don’t sweat the small stuff. Know what’s truly precious. As a parent, you’re not raising babies — you’re raising little people. Don’t worry about whether anybody else likes you. Come home. We’ll always like you here.”

The family recalled that, as a young woman, Robinson studied to become a teacher before working as a secretary. She fell quickly and madly in love with Fraser Robinson, another South-Sider with a “boxer’s strength and jazz-lover’s cool.” Together, they raised two children, Craig and Michelle, in a tiny upstairs apartment on Euclid Avenue in South Shore.

Robinson volunteered for the PTA and taught her children to read at an early age, sitting together as they sounded out words on a page, giving them the strength and confidence to walk to school — and out into the world — all on their own. She once chewed out a police officer who had accused Craig of stealing a bike, demanding that the adult apologize to her son.

On summer nights, she’d pack the family into the car with a steaming plate of chicken for a trip to the drive-in movies. On New Year’s Eve, she’d pass around pigs in a blanket and raise a toast to Auld Lang Syne. And every night, for years on end, she and Fraser would hold court at the dinner table, where they indulged all manner of questioning, teaching their children to believe in the power and worth of their own voices.

“On Election Night in 2008, when the news broke that Barack would soon shoulder the weight of the world, she was there, holding his hand,” the family wrote.  “With a healthy nudge, she agreed to move to the White House with Michelle and Barack. We needed her. The girls needed her. And she ended up being our rock through it all.”

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By Aria Brent
AFRO Staff Writer
abrent@afro.com

In just four short years, Councilmember Janeese Lewis George has brought a great amount of change to the Ward 4 community. Although she represents a small community, the impact she’s making is being felt all across the Washington, D.C. area. Within the last year George has become best known for the work she’s done to raise the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits throughout the District, however, she’s up for reelection this year and the young council member has a lot more plans for helping her community.

George was elected into her position in 2020 and was officially sworn in January 2021, however, her passion for politics and community activism is something she’s been pursuing since her adolescence. George was born and raised in Ward 4 and she’s a proud graduate of School Without Walls High School. Throughout her youth she participated in a series of youth-based programs that prepared her for her current career in politics. 

“I’ve been active and involved in politics my whole life. When I was younger, I was a really big student activist. I served as a student representative on the D.C. Board of Education. I was a Ward 4 representative on the D.C. Youth Advisory Council, and served as D.C.’s  YMCA youth mayor when I was younger,” George recalled. 

As a Ward 4 native, George said she has a great understanding of what her community needs and as a councilmember she knows exactly how to provide the citizens she serves with the proper resources to help them thrive. 

Noting that Ward 4 has the highest population of Latino and Eastern African residents in the D.C. area, for example, George discussed some of the challenges she’s overcome while serving a community that has a language barrier. She explained to the AFRO that she’s working to increase the neighborhoods’ safety by creating legislation that assures food, housing and the overall security of the community is solid. In addition, she’s also provided her community with resources that boost education and access to jobs.

“I have the largest Latino population, and the largest Ethiopian and Eritrean population and oftentimes landlords will use language barriers and they use the threat of immigration status to provide poor housing to those tenants. Community safety is also extremely important and right now it’s the number one issue. We’ve seen an increase in homicides and robberies and neighbors aren’t feeling safe. My approach has involved focusing resources where they’re needed most,” she said. “I made every agency provide resources to the neighborhood. I was able to bring the violence interrupter program to the neighborhood and I’ve been able to use the attorney general’s office as well to crack down on nuisance properties and businesses who were also not being good partners to that neighborhood.”

She continued, “I had job fairs in the neighborhood offering anybody a job. I made it so that we could put a library on Kennedy street to provide a resource that could help people apply for jobs, help young people have a place to go to do homework, to have air conditioning and to have internet and WiFi–things that people think are luxuries but they are not.”

Those who know her best spoke with the AFRO about some of her strongest qualities, noting her to be focused on results and hands-on when it comes to community involvement.

“Her greatest strength would be how result-oriented she is. She finds ways to get problems solved whereas other people just articulate them. She is great at articulating them but also coming up with plans to get the problems fixed,” said James Lewis, brother of Councilmember George. “I want her to continue to focus on the results and putting concrete plans into positions and bills in place that help the community.”

As an example of George’s efficacy, supporters point to the major role she played in getting legislation created to raise the SNAP benefits throughout the city. The hometown hero shared how vital this legislation was and how it’s going to continue to help D.C. residents for years to come. 

“One-fifth of D.C. residents struggle with hunger right now and those are disproportionately people of color and seniors. When we were talking about raising the wage for SNAP benefits, it was our job as a council to write the budget and to find this money and we had to get creative,” George said. “We did the budget and we had to allocate all the funds in the budget. We always end up having excess revenue and I asked if I could write an amendment that said ‘If we have extra revenue this is where the adverse $30 million should go’ and I was able to create an amendment that says if we have these excess dollars they must go to funding this SNAP benefit.” 

The lawmaker is currently amidst her campaign for reelection and she shared how excited she is to continue the work she’s been doing for the last four years and what she plans to address if elected to serve for another four years. 

George shared, “My second term is about leaving this ward better than I found it with more opportunities, more resources, and everyone being able to feel safe and thrive in this city. People can anticipate that I’m going to continue to deliver for our ward and I’m going to continue to be a warrior for Ward 4 in every sense of the word.” 

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

With Baltimore County Executive John “Johnny O” Olszewski securing the Democratic nomination for Maryland’s 2nd Congressional District, consideration has begun on who would finish the rest of his four-year term and potentially succeed him.

One potential candidate named was the previous chair of the council, Baltimore County Councilman Julian Jones (D-District 4).

“I’m humbled and honored that people would consider me,” said Jones, emphasizing that there is no current vacancy, so his focus is not on the potential opening at this time. “Right now, I’m just humbled and really focused on doing my job as being the best councilperson I can be for all the citizens of Baltimore County.”

The Charter of Baltimore County states that the county administrative officer would immediately be the interim county executive upon Olszewski’s resignation, but the County Council is left to make a definitive decision on who will finish his term. 

“I’m confident that my colleagues, as well as myself, will do what’s best for Baltimore County,” said Jones.

The council’s current chairman, Izzy Patoka (D-District 2), was also named.

“Quite a few people have reached out to me and asked me to consider that and I will be making some sort of decision towards my future at the end of this year,” said Patoka.

Matthew Crenson, professor emeritus of political science at Johns Hopkins University, said Patoka and Jones have both been vocal on the council and are more likely to get re-elected because they are Democrats.

“It’s critical that our next county executive continue to build on the foundational and transformative reforms we’ve put in place to open our government like never before, to further embed principles of equity and suitability into the culture of governing and to embrace data and innovation so that we can keep building a better Baltimore County for decades to come,” said Olszewski, when asked about his thoughts on who should succeed him.

According to the Maryland State Board of Elections’ 2020 list of eligible active voters in Baltimore County, of the 566,408 people listed, 55 percent were registered as Democrats and 25 percent were Republicans.

Currently, on the County Council, there are four Democrats and three Republicans.

County Councilman David Marks (R-District 5) revealed the names of a few more potential persons that may run based on the county’s ability to either select a council member for the position or choose a “caretaker” to carry out the rest of the county executive’s term.

“If you follow what happened in 2018, when County Executive Kamenetz passed away, the council’s impulse was to appoint a caretaker who would serve until the next election,” said Marks. “I have a feeling that’s probably the direction the council is going to go.”

Marks said Barry Williams, former Baltimore County Department of Recreation and Parks director and State Senator Kathy Klausmeier (D-Md.-08) are among the names of potentially interested “caretakers.”

Williams worked for 16 years in the Baltimore County Government. He serves as a member of the Board of Directors for the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, the Maryland State Fair and Agricultural Society and the Pikesville Armory Foundation. He has also worked in several overseeing positions in the Baltimore City and Baltimore County school systems.

Klausmeier has been a state senator for 21 years, during which she has co-led legislation to create the nation’s first Prescription Drug Affordability Board and a bill in 2018 to prohibit the use of gag clauses which prevent pharmacists from discussing lower drug prices with customers.

Tashi McQueen is a Report For America corps member.

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By Darlene Superville 
The Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — On election night 2008, as Barack Obama sat nervously in a Chicago hotel suite and awaited news on whether he would become the country’s first Black president, his mother-in-law was by his side.

“Are you ready for this, Grandma?” Obama asked Marian Shields Robinson, who years earlier had doubted that he and her daughter, Michelle, would last.

Six months, tops, she had predicted.

“Never one to overemote, my mom just gave him a sideways look and shrugged, causing them both to smile,” Michelle Obama wrote in her memoir, “Becoming.” “Later, though, she’d describe to me how overcome she’d felt right then, struck just as I’d been by his vulnerability. America had come to see Barack as self-assured and powerful, but my mother also recognized the gravity of the passage, the loneliness of the job ahead.”

She continued: “The next time I looked over, I saw that she and Barack were holding hands.”

The union of Barack and Michelle Obama, the 20-something lawyers who met one summer while working at a Chicago law firm, endured and made history. In her own way, Mrs. Robinson would, too.

She died peacefully on May 31, the former first lady and her brother, Craig Robinson, and their families announced in a statement.

“There was and will be only one Marian Robinson,” they said. “In our sadness, we are lifted up by the extraordinary gift of her life. And we will spend the rest of ours trying to live up to her example.”

Besides being the mother of the nation’s first Black first lady, Mrs. Robinson was also unusual for being one of the few in-laws who lived at the White House with the president and his immediate family.

Until January 2009, Mrs. Robinson had lived her entire life in Chicago. She was a widow and in her early 70s when Obama was elected in 2008 and resisted the idea of starting over in Washington. President Obama said the family suggested she try Washington for three months before deciding. The first lady enlisted her brother to help persuade their mother to move.

“There were many good and valid reasons that Michelle raised with me, not the least of which was the opportunity to continue spending time with my granddaughters, Malia and Sasha, and to assist in giving them a sense of normalcy that is a priority for both of their parents, as has been from the time Barack began his political career,” Mrs. Robinson wrote in the foreword to “A Game of Character,” a memoir by her son, formerly the head men’s basketball coach at Oregon State University.

“My feeling, however, was that I could visit periodically without actually moving in and still be there for the girls,” she said.

Mrs. Robinson said her son understood why she wanted to stay in Chicago, but still used a line of reasoning on her that she would use on him and his sister. He asked her to think of the move as an opportunity to grow and try something new.

“As a compromise, I opted to move to the White House after all, at least temporarily, while still reserving lots of time to travel and maintain a certain amount of autonomy,” she wrote.

Granddaughters Malia and Sasha were just 10 and 7, respectively, when they started to call the executive mansion home in 2009 after their dad became president. In Chicago, Mrs. Robinson had become almost a surrogate parent to them during the presidential campaign. She retired from her job as a bank secretary to help shuttle them around.

At the White House, she was a reassuring presence, and her lack of Secret Service protection made it possible for her to accompany them to and from school daily without fanfare.

“I would not be who I am today without the steady hand and unconditional love of my mother, Marian Shields Robinson,” Michelle Obama wrote in her memoir. “She has always been my rock, allowing me the freedom to be who I am, while never allowing my feet to get too far off the ground. Her boundless love for my girls, and her willingness to put our needs before her own, gave me the comfort and confidence to venture out into the world knowing they were safe and cherished at home.”

Her White House life was not limited to caring for her granddaughters.

Mrs. Robinson enjoyed a level of anonymity that the president and first lady openly envied, allowing her to come and go from the White House as often as she pleased on shopping trips around town, to the president’s box at the Kennedy Center and to Las Vegas or to visit her other grandchildren in Portland, Oregon. She gave a few media interviews but never to White House press.

She attended some White House events, including concerts, the annual Easter Egg Roll and National Christmas Tree lighting, and was a guest at some state dinners.

White House residency also opened up the world to Mrs. Robinson, who had been widowed for nearly 20 years when she moved to a room on the third floor, one floor above the first family.

She had never traveled outside the U.S. until she moved to Washington, taking her first flight abroad on Air Force One in 2009 when the Obamas visited France. She joined them on a trip to Russia, Italy and Ghana later that year, during which she got to meet Pope Benedict, tour Rome’s ancient Colosseum and view a former slave-holding compound on the African coast.

She also accompanied her daughter and granddaughters on two overseas trips without the president to South Africa and Botswana in 2011, and China in 2014.

Craig Robinson wrote that he and his parents doubted whether his sister’s relationship with Obama would last, though Fraser Robinson III and his wife thought the young lawyer was a worthy suitor for their daughter, also a lawyer. Craig Robinson and his parents were sitting on the front porch of their Chicago home one hot summer night when Obama and his sister stopped by on their way to a movie.

Her parents exchanged knowing glances as soon as the couple departed. “Too bad,” Mrs. Robinson said. “Yep,” answered Fraser Robinson. “She’ll eat him alive.”

Craig Robinson wrote that his mother gave the relationship six months. Barack and Michelle Obama tied the knot on Oct. 3, 1992 and have been married for 31 years.

Marian Lois Shields Robinson was born in Chicago on July 30, 1937. She attended two years of teaching college, married in 1960 and, as a stay-at-home mom, stressed the importance of education to her children. Both were educated at Ivy League schools, each with a bachelor’s degree from Princeton. Michelle Obama also has a law degree from Harvard.

Fraser Robinson was a pump operator for the Chicago Water Department. He had multiple sclerosis and died in 1991.

Besides the Obama family, Mrs. Robinson is survived by her son, Craig, his wife, Kelly, and their children Avery, Austin, Aaron and Leslie.

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

At the fourth and final bill signing ceremony of the 2024 Maryland General Assembly, Gov. Wes Moore (D) signed several much anticipated and controversial public safety measures into law.

“When we entered office, we said that public safety was going to be our number one priority. In order to actually get the results we wanted it meant that we were going to have to move differently,” said Moore at the live-streamed bill signing on May 16. “Baltimore had endured over 300 homicides every year for eight straight years before we took office. The issue of public safety mattered too much to think that we could call on everyone else to take action without being willing to take action ourselves.”

That action includes passing several major public safety bills, including legislation to create the Center for Firearm Violence Prevention and Intervention, the Juvenile Law Reform, the Pava Marie LaPere Act and the Pava LaPere Legacy of Innovation Act of 2024.

“There was a challenging issue that we came into session this year dealing with youth who have committed crimes. It was an issue that we heard from constituents, from law enforcement, from defense attorneys, from the Department of Juvenile Services, that the juvenile service system was not working as effectively as possible,” said Senate President Bill Ferguson (D-Md.-46). “This is probably one of the most controversial and hard issues that we have because, at the end of the day, what we’re talking about are kids.”

“I am very proud of the work that we are going to be putting into law today to create greater accountability, rehabilitation and coordination, or ARC, within the juvenile justice system,” said Ferguson. 

The Juvenile Law Reform bill permits the juvenile court system expanded jurisdiction over 10 through 12-year-olds who have allegedly committed car theft, animal abuse, offenses involving firearms and third-degree sexual offenses. The law previously stated that no child under 13 can be charged with a crime.

The two LaPere bills are in homage to Baltimore Tech CEO Pava La Pere, who was allegedly murdered in her downtown apartment by a convicted repeat sex offender in September 2023. 

“Pava was a friend. You never forget meeting Pava,” said Moore. “She was an entrepreneur– someone who had a brilliant mind, someone who committed herself to building a brighter and a better future for all of us.”

“These two bills in concert do two things, they both make sure that the tragedy that happened to Pava never happens again,” said Moore. “They also celebrate the light that Pava was and that she still is.”

The governor’s office also released a list of vetoed bills from this session, including legislation that would have modernized the state’s public notice requirements concerning estate administration and a bill that would have allowed out-of-state RV dealers to temporarily participate in Maryland RV shows. 

In a letter to House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones (D-Md.-10), Moore said he vetoed the public notice bill because it did not adequately address the multifaceted issue of the current requirement, which costs the state a lot of money but helps local news stay alive and thriving in a time when they are dwindling throughout the country.

In a letter to Ferguson, Moore said he vetoed the RV bill because it would take business away from Maryland-licensed RV dealers without affording them the same opportunity as the bill did for licensed out-of-state RV dealers.

Moore also signed the fiscal year 2025 (FY25) budget into law. 

“By working together, we made significant investments in public safety, education, housing, child care,” said Moore. 

Moore also highlighted that state officials and legislators made these investments without raising personal income tax, corporate income tax, sales tax or state property tax.

Legislators were at odds in addressing the $761 million projected deficit for FY25. House delegates believed in raising taxes and fees to close the gap, while the Senate and the governor opposed raising taxes.

The House and Senate reconciled $257 million of revenues by increasing vehicle registration fees, generating a Transportation Network Company impact fee, an annual registration surcharge on owners of zero-emission and plug-in electric vehicles, raising the dealer processing charges and raising fines for speeding in work zones.

Tashi McQueen is a Report For America corps member.

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By Ashlee Banks
Special to the AFRO

The Biden-Harris administration says the deadly attack on a Palestinian camp did not cross the line set by President Joe Biden.

On May 28, during a press briefing, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters that “Israel has a right to go after Hamas.”

“We understand that this strike did kill two senior Hamas terrorists who are directly responsible for the attacks against the Israeli people,” said Kirby. “But, as we’ve said many times, Israel must take every precaution possible to do more to protect innocent life.”

Kirby’s comments come after Israel launched a deadly strike on a Palestinian camp in Rafah on May 26, killing more than 45 people.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the attack a “tragic mishap.”

Netanyahu added, “We are investigating the incident and will obtain a conclusion because this is our policy.”

Following the attack, members of Congress and human rights groups blasted Netanyahu and condemned the deadly offensive.

“Netanyahu and his right-wing government must stop the strikes in Rafah immediately,” U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna, (D-Calif.) told the AFRO. “I condemn the horrific bombing of a refugee camp and the killing of innocent civilians.”

The California lawmaker added, “1.4 million people in Rafah are refugees and have nowhere else to go.”

Ahmed Benchemsi, advocacy and communications director for the Human Rights Watch, told the AFRO

that the Biden-Harris administration needs to do more to hold Israel accountable.

“Pressure on Israel from the United State does work,” Benchemsi told the AFRO. “Unfortunately, there has been too little and too late of that, but it’s still time to impose other measures and to stop selling weapons to Israel.”

This latest attack comes months after Hamas launched a surprise attack against Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing at least 1,200 people and kidnapping more than 250 others. As a result, Israel has retaliated and launched numerous attacks in Gaza for months, resulting in the deaths of more than 35,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children.

Last week, the International Criminal Court (ICC) announced that it was seeking arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Hamas leaders Yahya Sinwar, Mohammad Diab Ibrahim al-Masri and Ismail Haniyeh. Karim Khan, the court’s top prosecutor, has accused Israeli and Hamas leaders of committing war crimes since the conflict began last fall.

Khanna said the only way to prevent further bloodshed in Gaza is for members of Congress and the Biden-Harris administration to stop sending “offensive weapons” to Israel “if these attacks continue.”

In recent months, the Biden-Harris administration has sent various military aid packages to support Israel in its fight against Hamas.

The post Biden-Harris administration criticized for failing to condemn Israeli attack in Rafah appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Angelina Hicks and Vani Sanganeria
New York Amsterdam News

As the U.S. enters its first presidential election in which convincing misinformation can be created by artificial intelligence (AI), supporters of former President Donald Trump are spreading AI-generated images of him posing with Black celebrities, historical figures, and ordinary Black people.

Trump backers often used the fake images to illustrate and amplify a genuine trend: polls showing growing, although still modest, support for Trump among Black voters.  

Some of the photos, which can look strikingly real, began as parodies but ended up being used for political persuasion in posts viewed by millions of people. At least one photo was used in a dubious fundraising scheme by a person purporting to be a top Trump advisor.

The New York Amsterdam News has identified AI-generated images by using a variety of established methods, including running the images through AI image detection tools. Our methods can be found here. 

In 2020, only about 12 percent of Black voters cast their ballots for Trump, according to exit polls—the lowest among any major ethnic group. But last fall, the New York Times trumpeted a poll conducted with Siena College that found 22 percent of Black voters in swing states would support Trump this time around. While the results suggest growing support for Trump among Black voters, only 403 Black voters were polled from the six swing states, making it hard to draw firm conclusions. 

The NYT poll was followed by one from NBC News showing that 20 percent of Black voters would consider supporting Trump, although it included only about 120 Black people.

Despite their limitations, these polls received widespread attention. Not long after the NYT poll was released, internet personality and conspiracy theorist Dom Lucre, who has 1.2 million followers on X, posted an AI-generated image of Trump marching in a huge crowd of Black men. The caption read, “President Trump can’t lose” because he has “n*****” backing him in this election. The post was viewed more than 11 million times.

The same image—this time with a grayscale filter—was also posted by Vernon Jones, a former Georgia state representative and vocal Trump supporter with more than 633,000 followers on X. He posted, “We’re coming, and we’re bring Black MEN voting with us!” The image was viewed more than 83,000 times. 

Lucre and Jones did not respond to requests for comment.

Diara Townes, a research consultant for the Disinfo Defense League, said such posts show an intent to “reverse reality” and sway Black voters.

“When you see AI images being produced from a party that doesn’t normally get that kind of support, you can see that the intent is to basically revise reality,” Townes said.

Two days after the NBC poll, a Trump-focused account on X with more than a million followers posted NBC’s headline superimposed on an AI image of Trump grinning in a crowd of smiling Black men.

That account, @PapiTrump, says it engages in parody. Most of its posts appear to support Trump, and the account was reportedly popular among followers of the QAnon conspiracy theory. The person or people behind @PapiTrump could not be reached for comment, but the post with the real headline on the phony photo racked up more than 200,000 views. Replies showed that while some people recognized the photo as fake, others apparently did not. 

“Awesome pic! Beautiful smiles,” said one reply.

“Imagery can make things feel more real, more palpable, more vivid,” said Kurt Sampsel, who focuses on disinformation and community engagement at PENAmerica. “I think that that is a big part of what’s going on here.”

A new riff on an old theme

While generative AI is new, Black voters have been targets of election disinformation campaigns time and time again. A U.S. Senate report found that Russian interference in the 2016 election mainly targeted Black voters in an attempt to divide the U.S. electorate and encourage more support for Trump.

In 2020, two right-wing political operatives launched a robocall campaign designed to keep Black voters in New York, Ohio, and other states from voting. The calls falsely warned voters that mail-in voting would reveal their personal information to police departments and credit card companies. In connection with that scheme, Jacob Wohl and Jack Burkman pleaded guilty to a felony fraud charge in Ohio and were fined more than $5 million by the Federal Communications Commission, among other penalties. 

Some of today’s most widely spread AI-generated images of Trump weren’t created by foreign actors or clearly identifiable political operatives. Instead, many originated from accounts labeled as satire.

One of the most prominent is @Trump_History45, or Trump History, which has accounts on X, Instagram, Facebook, Telegram, and Truth Social, with the X account having the biggest following—of more than 142,000 followers. Since its first post in August, the account has been run anonymously, but the Amsterdam News discovered that Trump History is owned and operated by Joseph Perez, a social media coordinator for PragerU, a popular conservative media organization with more than 2.2 million followers on Instagram that has featured prominent right-wing figures such as Tucker Carlson and Candace Owens. 

The Amsterdam News matched a residential address associated with Perez to the address listed on Trump History’s merchandise website. Perez declined an interview in an email to the Amsterdam News and did not respond to a list of questions, but he wrote, “I suppose I have to update the merch store! I didn’t know that you can see my personal info there!”

In an email, a spokesperson for Prager said it is not affiliated with the Trump History account “in any capacity.”

Brogan Wassell, who used to work with Perez at PragerU as an “AI-integration consultant,” said in an interview with the Amsterdam News that he collaborated with Perez on Trump History. 

Wassell said Perez owns and runs the account, adding that he had trained Perez in Midjourney, a popular AI imagery tool, and had also generated several images on the Trump History account himself. 

“There’s a sort of symbiotic relationship that happened, because I joined Prager to integrate AI tools into the pipeline at the company,” Wassell said in an interview with the Amsterdam News. “I looked over at what Joe was making, because I’m also active on Twitter in the AI community, and I noticed one of the images that had been generated by was on the Trump History account.

“I put two two together, and I walked over to his office, and I was like, ‘Nice job,’” Wassell said.  

Trump History posts AI-generated images of Trump as Santa Claus, Trump with Harry Potter, and Trump as the first man on the moon. The account also posts less fantastical AI-generated images of Trump with Black people, often engaged in activities like posing outside, walking in a march, or eating a meal together. Often, Perez captions images that depict Trump with his Black “supporters” or “homies.”

Wassell described Perez as the “ideas guy” behind the account, which took off when right-wing political influencers such as Jack Posobiec and the Krassenstein brothers started retweeting their images. 

In one post of Trump posing with a thumbs up in front of a group of Black people, some dressed in traditional African attire, Trump History captions the image, “Donald Trump takes a photograph with his supporters outside of the Fulton County Jail – August 24th, 2023.”

A Trump History image of Trump holding up a fist next to Black men is captioned, “No one has done more for the black community than Donald Trump.” The caption next to an image of Trump and Black men eating watermelon reads, “Donald Trump is the least racist person of all time.”

One AI-generated image depicts Trump posing with a group of Black men, with the caption “Joe Biden would NEVER take a picture like this.” Wassell said Perez was “making a joke about gangster, thug Trump, or hood Trump,” something that is “ridiculously over the top” because Trump is not from “the backwoods or hood or any ghetto.”

Wassell described Perez as “a bit of a jokester,” a “very nice guy” with a troll-ish streak, and as someone much smarter than most people give him credit for. He said the satirical context of their work is important, which is why they apply a Trump History watermark to their AI-generated images.  

While Wassell said that he can tell Trump History’s AI images are “too real to the point where it doesn’t reflect reality,” he acknowledged that “there’s people who get tricked.” He said “we live in a social ecosystem now where you can influence—very, very drastically—perceptions” and warned people to “be careful what you look at.” 

In December, the anonymous Instagram account @trapfortrump, which often posts memes and other content involving Trump with Black people, reposted the image without a watermark, making it more difficult to understand that the image is not real.

“A fantastic picture,” one comment reads. “Those men next to Trump. Amazing.” Another addresses the questionable photo: “Is this real? Anyways how can I get this pic to put up at my house?”

In response to the image, another comment references recent polls about Black support, writing that “media like Fox is talking about the increase of black male voters but not black women.”

Trump History’s AI-generated images of Trump and Black supporters are “clearly designed and purposely made for satire,” Wassell said, but also act as political commentary on why “Trump gets a super-high percentage of the Latino and Black vote compared to” other Republican presidential candidates such as George W. Bush and Mitt Romney. 

When users repost Trump History’s AI-generated images to signal Black support for Trump, “the imagery definitely enhances the message you’re trying to carry,” Wassell said.

Disinformation expert Townes said some viewers of this kind of imagery could be fooled into thinking it’s authentic.

“If you showcase imagery that looks like that, and people who are exposed to that imagery don’t know that it’s AI, they can then be deceived into believing that, ‘Oh, does have support. Maybe I should take the time to look into this candidate again,’” she said.

In multiple posts, the user behind @trapfortrump, which has more than 30,000 followers on Instagram, asserted that the images are real. In one post featuring an AI-generated image of Trump standing in front of a grill surrounded by Black people, a user in the comments asked, “Is this real? Lol.” The @trapfortrump account replied simply, “Ya.”

Another AI-generated image shows Trump playing cards with a group of Black men. “Who took this pic?!” one user commented. “Me, n****,” replied @trapfortrump. 

Wassell said he and Perez never intended to deceive viewers or for the images on Trump History to be taken as real. The account exists in the “meme universe,” he added. 

For some users, depictions of Trump with Black voters can be monetized—whether by directly selling merchandise emblazoned with the AI-generated images or peddling catch phrases associated with them. @Trump_History45, for example, has a website selling T-shirts with AI-generated images of the former president, including one of Trump posing with a group of Black men. 

The image on that T-shirt had appeared on iFunny early last August with a satirical caption about Trump posing with the Wu-Tang Clan in 1989. X user and self-described “Trump loyalist” @Antunes1 then reposted it without the satirical caption and with the slogan, “N***** FOR TRUMP,” which received more than 72,000 views. @Antunes1 did not respond to requests for comment.

About six months later, the image got called out as fake. X user,@LgqLana, a left-leaning influencer with 75,000 followers, tweeted, “Dang, how many hoods does Trump want us to believe he visited? This is some desperate disrespectful shit. Republicans have such a low view of Black men that they couldn’t even AI-generate Black men in suits.”

But that didn’t stop pro-Trump internet personalities from using it. In September, Stephanie Bush, the creator and self-proclaimed “AI artist” behind the YouTube channel Surviving the Phuckery, used the image in a thumbnail for a video titled “Blacks Support React and Rally Around Donald Trump,” which has received more than 350,000 views.

The video displays the AI-generated image next to a TikTok clip by a Black creator, who calls on viewers to “free Trump” because “we need him out of jail.” 

Bush uses the AI-generated image again in a sequel. This time, she stitches the image together with a clip from comedian Theo Von’s podcast, in which a guest says Black voters began to love Trump “once he started getting Black people out of jail and giving them free money.” The sequel has received about 333,000 views. 

Bush’s videos are mostly illustrated with AI-generated art, imagery, and memes of Trump with Black people she generated herself or discovered online. She also uses a cartoonish AI-generated avatar to represent herself and her voiceovers.  

Her channel—which has around 30 videos and nearly 1.5 million views—helps reach its audience by using tags such as “blacks4trump,” “n***** for trump,” and “black people who love trump,” as well as “gays against groomers,” “texas border invasion,” “transgenders in womens sports,” “bill gates lab grown meat,” and “latinos for trump.”

“I never thought this channel would go as quickly as it’s going,” Bush said in a video.

An AI image advertises fundraising scheme

In March, Marcia Ann Mims Coppertino, founder of the Coppertino and Associates Consulting Group, posted the AI-generated image featuring the NBC News tweet on Facebook and LinkedIn. According to her website, her organization is a marketing firm and alleges to be a “Trump Congressional District Focus Group.”

Coppertino used the AI-generated image to advertise an alleged fundraising event in Torrance, Calif., for the Trump campaign. Her ad calls on voters, particularly “Black entertainers and sports figures,” to raise $500 million to “help President Trump step out of hell with demons on his trail.” Coppertino lists a variety of suggested donation amounts—ranging from $100 as Trump’s “volunteer team” to $1 billion as Trump’s “Deliverer.”  

In an interview with the Amsterdam News, Coppertino said, without evidence, that Trump “refers to me as his most trusted advisor” and claimed, “I’m part of what we call the ‘incoming political appointees group’ from the White House.” Told that no public records or articles mentioning her and Trump were found on any news sites, Coppertino insisted her role as a trusted advisor is “accurate.” 

Coppertino used that AI image of Trump surrounded by a group of young Black men to convey what she called a conservative political awakening among Black voters.

“We wanted to make sure that the message was that Blacks were there for him,” Coppertino said. “And you can see the smile on Trump’s face.” 

At first, Coppertino insisted that the AI-generated image was not only real but familiar. “There’s about two out of that crowd that I knew personally,” Coppertino said, adding that one was a Trump donor who attended her fundraiser. Coppertino did not specify which men in the image she knew, nor did she give their names; she said she could “put that in an email” but never did. Later, she wrote, “I am not sure where any images have come from.”

Coppertino claims that her fundraiser brought in between $500,000 and $1 million, but declined to be more specific. An online search of Federal Election Commission records turns up no results for either “Coppertino and Associates Consulting Group” or Marcia Coppertino.

She said “about 65 people” attended the event, of whom 80% were Black, and 12 were allegedly staffers from the official presidential campaign. Coppertino did not provide any names, details, or documentation of the event or funds she said she collected. In public campaign finance records, the Amsterdam Newsfound no political contributions made by her or her consulting company to the Trump presidential campaign. Later, in response to questions, Coppertino saidthat if parties involved with fundraising “do not report back with docs, paperwork, or information that such events took place…we do not pressure them.”

Officials from the Trump presidential campaign did not respond to multiple requests for comment. 

Over the last four decades, public records show, Coppertino has been an executive or founder of more than a dozen other nonprofits or corporations. At least 11 of these, including her consulting company, went defunct after tax board suspensions.  

She reposted the AI-generated image and link to the fundraising event through one of her nonprofits, Mercy Mission Bear Hospital and Adoption Agency, which had previously launched a fundraising campaign for a children’s hospital, according to an archive of the website. The nonprofit’s legal address belongs to an Extra Space Storage Facility, and its “hospital annex” address, according to the archived website, belongs to a pest and termite control company. Informed of this, Coppertino later said that the legal address had been used to “store overflow teddy bears.”

In her interview, Coppertino said she heard Trump was getting behind reparations—which he isn’t—and she thinks he will deliver a 21st-century redemption for Black voters, akin to the Emancipation Proclamation. “He’s a white man,” she said, “but he’s also a white God.” 

What the platforms can do about AI imagery

Whether spread by dubious advisors or internet influencers, AI-generated images should be moderated by the social media platforms they spread on, according to Nora Benavidez, a disinformation specialist and director of digital justice and civil rights at Free Press, a nonprofit that researches and campaigns for platform accountability and free expression on the internet. Benavidez said today’s technology is refined enough to create generative content, but not enough to detect it reliably.

Many automated tools can “miss some of these or even flag false positives,” Benavidez said. “Humans must be part of reviewing content and auditing the results of automated AI detection tools.” 

Last year, X owner Elon Musk laid off a significant portion of the platform’s content moderation team, leading to the resignation of the team’s top executive. Shortly after, YouTube discontinued its election integrity policy, leaving up false claims of election fraud in the 2020 presidential election and other U.S. elections. 

A blanket ban might not be the answer to curbing misleading content or ensuring free expression. Marking images as AI-generated could be one way to ensure that parody does not devolve into disinformation. Benavidez noted that many governments require basic disclosures in certain sectors, such as food companies that must disclose ingredients in their products. 

“We have to get to the point where the use of a machine to create content is widely labeled and known,” she said. 

While AI-generated images may not change Black voters’ minds en masse, a March poll of nearly 2,500 adults by the American Press Institute found that Black voters were more likely than any other major race or ethnicity group to have a great or moderate amount of confidence in election information from social media. In swing states such as Georgia and Arizona, which Biden won in 2020 by slim margins of nearly 12,700 and 10,500 votes, respectively, small influences could have an impact on national outcomes. 

“I don’t believe, at the end of the day, our little account is going to swing an election,” Wassell said about the Trump History account. “But I do believe in the power of ideas. We’re in uncharted territory.” This article was originally published by New York Amsterdam News. This story was made possible through a partnership between the AmNews and the investigative and OSINT reporting program of the University of Southern California Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism.

The post UNREAL: Trump backers use AI images to suggest strong Black support appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Ashlee Banks
Special to the AFRO 

President Joe Biden recently announced that due to the PACT Act, nearly 900 thousand veterans and survivors who were exposed to toxins while serving in the U.S. military have received disability benefits over the last two years.

In Aug. 2022, Biden signed the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act into law, which has provided benefits for more than 888,000 veterans and survivors who sustained injuries and illnesses while serving in the U.S.

The legislation was named after Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson, a combat medic who passed away from a rare form of lung cancer.

In a White House statement obtained by the AFRO Pres. Biden stated, “our nation has a sacred obligation to properly prepare and equip the troops we send into harm’s way and to care for them and their families when they return home.”

“Sometimes military service can result in increased health risks for our veterans, and some injuries and illnesses like asthma, cancer and others can take years to manifest,” he added. 

Veterans sometimes run into challenges connecting their injuries and illnesses to their time served, therefore the president signed the PACT Act into law to help veterans establish a direct connection between the two.

“The PACT Act eliminated these barriers and ensures veterans get the care and service they deserve,” said Biden.

White House Domestic Policy Advisor Neera Tanden and Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough recently held a press call to discuss the president’s bipartisan Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act.

Tanden told reporters, the statute is “the most significant expansion of benefits and services for toxic exposed veterans in more than 30 years.”

“We owe them a debt that we can never repay,” she said. “Since taking office President Biden has enacted 30 bipartisan bills to better support veterans.” 

The president is also working on other key legislation that supports veterans in every area of their lives, such as helping veterans find employment, ending homelessness and protection for veterans to prevent them from becoming victims of scams.

The post President Biden provides benefits for veterans who sustained injuries and illnesses while serving in the U.S. military appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Megan Sayles 
AFRO Business Writer
msayles@afro.com

A recent report from Oxford Economics discovered that U.S. small- and midsize-businesses (SMBs) generated $14.7 billion in revenue through advertising on TikTok in 2023. The enterprises spanned industries, including food and beverage, health and wellness, automotive, business services, tourism and real estate. 

In particular, Black-owned businesses have created more than 1.5 million videos, amassing more than 3.3 billion views. Eighty-three percent of them say they’ve experienced sales increases after promoting on TikTok, according to the report. 

“TikTok provides a new path to business growth for SMBs,” wrote Oxford Economics. “These organizations use TikTok’s wide reach and high engagement to promote their brand, create awareness of products and services and track the success of business initiatives in the app.”

Fifty-seven percent of Black businesses said TikTok is critical to their existence. Not only has the platform boosted their sales, it’s helped them to scale. Fifty-nine percent of Black SMBs have used the app to hire a new employee, and 76 percent have been able to secure a new investor with the help of the platform. 

In April, President Joe Biden signed a bill into law that made way for a potential ban of TikTok. U.S. lawmakers have argued that the app poses a national security risk as it’s owned by China-based company, ByteDance. The technology company has a year to sell its stake in the app before it’s shut down. 

Some Black SMBs worry a ban could harm their businesses. 

“This potential ban is concerning for minority companies like myself because TikTok is more than just a social media platform. It’s a lifeline,” said Felicia Jackson, founder of CPRWrap. “It saved the life of my business, and because other people were able to see it, it saved the lives of people out there in the world.”

Jackson is a mother of three and former healthcare professional from Chattanooga, Tenn. In 2002, during a family outing, her 2-year-old son began choking. Although she was CPR-certified, Jackson froze out of sheer panic. 

Her husband thankfully stepped in to save their child, but Jackson couldn’t shake the fact that she was unable to take action. This inspired her to create CPRWrap, a portable first aid tool for resuscitation. 

The kit provides a template with simple CPR instructions that can be placed over a person undergoing a cardiac emergency. The product hit the market in 2018. 

“When I first saw TikTok, I didn’t think promoting my business was something that was feasible because my daughter was on it a lot and she used it for dancing,” said Jackson. “I thought it was entertainment only and that my business would not fit on the platform at all.”

It was a disheartening conversation with a mentor that finally pushed Jackson to take to the app. The mentor told Jackson she should make a White person the face of her company, implying that would be the only avenue for growth. 

She posted about the experience in February 2022 and went viral, garnering more than 754,000 views and 137,000 likes.  TikTok users flooded the comment section with questions about Jackson’s invention, and she posted another video introducing the life-saving tool. 

Nearly 1.4 million people saw the clip. 

“We made almost $600,000 dollars from that one video, and I was able to keep my doors open,” said Jackson. “I was able to hire, pay myself and buy inventory.” 

Jackson’s growth on TikTok has also spurred more followers on her other social media pages. For her, the platform was the key to overcoming an obstacle that many minority businesses face, a lack of visibility. 

“Could a ban jeopardize my livelihood? Yes, there’s a possibility it could,” said Jackson. “It’s disheartening to see.” 

Stormi Steele, CEO and founder of Canvas Beauty, said while she’s been thinking about the potential ban, she hasn’t allowed it to consume her. 

“When the time comes, I hope that people and brands like mine on TikTok can be a voice for not seeing it go away because to me it does more good than bad as of right now,” said Steele. 

The small-town Mississpi native created her first product, the Canvas Hair Blossom Serum, in 2015 while working as a hairstylist. Soon after, she decided to quit her day job and start selling the hair product online. 

In her first year, Steele generated $1 million in sales. The brand continued to rapidly grow, hitting the $20-million mark in 2020. 

But, Steele almost went bankrupt. 

“I grew so fast, and I just didn’t know a lot or how to properly vet people who wouldn’t take advantage of me,” said Steele. “In 2023, we launched a new product called Body Glaze, and it did moderately decent numbers on the website, considering we had been in business before. But, when we got TikTok, we saw this tremendous boom.” 

She posted her first viral video last August. It follows Steele as she prepares Body Glaze orders. In the same month, Canvas Beauty joined TikTok Shop, which enables brands to sell directly through content on the app. 

By December, Steele secured a new 30,000 square-foot warehouse for the business, which she moved into in March. She’s also been able to grow her staff from 10 to 60 employees. The brand captured about $5 million in sales in March alone—the vast majority of which came from TikTok. 

Though Steele isn’t allowing the potential TikTok ban to intimidate her, she is conceiving courses of actions if the app is prohibited.

“As of right now, I’m focused on the day-to-day of it all and trying not to make myself afraid of what the future may be,” said Steele. “I’m also intentionally putting measures in place if the worst was to happen.” 

Megan Sayles is a Report for America corps member. 

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By Naba’a Muhammad
StraightWords.com

Black men and Black America need more than just hope, Mr. President, as you seek to rally Black voters and win reelection in the fall.

Your historic Morehouse speech referenced God and history– but that isn’t enough. What are your real commitments to Black voters backing the Democratic Party, the most loyal voting bloc in U.S. political history?

Before you say Black folks cannot afford to lose to Trump, that’s not the issue. The question is how bad do Democrats want to win? And can America, a nation in which a recent poll said 106 million people see civil war coming, afford to let Trump win?

Black male voter support for MAGA Man isn’t about fake Trump swagger, ugly sneakers, barbershop chatter or Black men trapped in basements who can’t get a woman. Please don’t bring Caucasian male pathology syndrome over here with Black men and try to find some equivalency. There is none.

Trump isn’t winning, Biden is losing.

Al Jazeera has reported: “In 2016, Trump received 8 percent of the Black vote according to the exit polls, the highest level of support by Black voters for any Republican since George Bush in 2000. By the 2020 U.S. presidential election, support for Trump among Black voters had surged to 12 percent.” That’s not a surge if you track Black voter support for the GOP prez candidate over several decades. Plus that 12 percent was all Black voters, male and female.

In 2020 NBC News reported: “Support for the Democratic presidential candidate reached a new low among Black men this year, according to the NBC News poll of early and Election Day voters. Eighty percent of Black men supported Joe Biden, down slightly from Hilary Clinton’s 82 percent in 2016 but significantly down from Barack Obama’s level of support among Black men in 2012 and 2008.”

Instead of figuring out the problem or disconnect, the Dems and their operatives demonized Black men. Black support for the Dems has been slipping for years.  

Many Black men, like many young Blacks and some Black women, are sick of the Democrats, Biden and their failures. Failures? Yes. Has Biden condemned police misconduct and killing of Black people, or instructed his Justice Dept. to vigorously prosecute these cases? Never. He didn’t pass the George Floyd police reform bill nor the John Lewis voting rights act at the federal level when he had House and Senate.

The president raised these two issues as threats speaking at Morehouse. When he had the power to eliminate some state level threats to Black lives and voting rights, he allowed then-Democratic senators Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Christian Sinema of Arizona to block and kill the federal legislation.

Studies and complaints show inflation, loss of Covid relief programs, higher prices for food, gas, rent, homes and taxes for small businesses hurt Blacks more. 

Some Black males are clinging to Trump to rebel against the Democratic political plantation and some out of plain spite given that Trump has promised nothing. He held a Bronx rally May 23 trying to draw out images of Blacks and Latinos backing him—but he has made no commitments to Blacks.

Supporting someone giving you nothing is foolishness.

But Blacks saw billions poured into cities as humanitarian aid for migrants while West Side neighborhoods in Chicago haven’t recovered from 1960s riots. While Biden touted reinvestments in America at Morehouse, many aren’t seeing any difference. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, speaking to the media May 17, talked about population losses tied to decades of disinvestment in Black neighborhoods.

He told the press,  “The lack of affordable housing, loss of jobs, and closed schools and mental health clinics have impacted many of Chicago’s communities, and disproportionately hurt Black Chicagoans in particular.”

Blacks have seen little done and little spent to solve the homeless crisis, which hits them harder. Black men coming home from prison seeking to turn their lives around are given just about nothing. 

Biden asked May 19 at all-male Morehouse College: “And most of all, what does it mean, as we’ve heard before, to be a Black man who loves his country even if it doesn’t love him back in equal measure?”  

Biden declared “democracy” was the way. I beg your pardon, Mr. President. Blacks live under continued oppression in a perpetual fight for some measure of freedom, justice and equality in the “world’s greatest democracy.” This “democracy” was birthed out of the Black holocaust of the transatlantic slave trade and Native American genocide.

Black men should have zero interest in trying to prove love to a nation that hates, abuses but loves to use them.

Consider U.S. Airman Roger Fortson, who was cut down by bullets fired by an Okaloosa County, Fla., sheriff’s deputy. Authorities said an armed offender was killed by an officer in fear of his life. Lies. 

The Black legal gun owner opened the door to his apartment to a sheriff, who he didn’t see when he looked out a peephole. He opened the door, legal gun by his side. He was blasted into oblivion. Biden and his administration have said nothing.

The president highlighted some $23 billion he said was invested in HBCU’s over four years, but he gave $18 billion in aid to Israel weeks ago. Are investments in Israel’s military and slaughter of Palestinians more important than Black institutions that may have been underfunded, perhaps, by a trillion dollars over the years?

“What’s happening in Gaza and Israel is heartbreaking,” said the president at Morehouse. “Innocent Palestinians caught in the middle of all this: men, women and children killed or displaced—in desperate need of water, food and medicine. It’s a humanitarian crisis in Gaza.”

Slaughter in Gaza isn’t just happening, Israel is killing people.

Yet Biden supports Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the face of International Criminal Court charges of war crimes in Gaza. The charges against Netanyahu followed the president’s Morehouse remarks but Biden fully backs the prime minister and Israel.

Can we say the same thing about Biden’s support for Black America?

Mr. Biden spoke of “extremists” “who close the doors of opportunity; strike down affirmative action; attack the values of diversity, equality, and inclusion.” Are these “extremists” in corporate board rooms, board members at colleges and universities, and political bodies? Because that’s where these efforts are being destroyed and eliminated.

Black voters could be the difference in the 2024 presidential election, especially in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. The election could literally come down to 45,000 votes as we look at the electoral college, not the popular vote of millions. 

It’s going to take more than ads released May 23 by Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris blasting Trump for his anti-Black actions, attitudes and racism.

“A New York Times poll published earlier this month found Biden leading former President Trump among Black voters, 63 percent to 23 percent, a significant decrease from the 87 percent of Black voters who voted for Biden in 2020,” Huff Post noted May 23.

Mr. President, here’s your question: Can you afford to lose not just an election but your country?

 This article was originally published by straightwords.com.  

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By Stacy M. Brown
NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia

(NNPA Newswire) — A petition calling for conservative Supreme Court justices and noted Donald Trump supporters Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas to recuse themselves from major cases related to the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack has amassed 102,837 signatures as of 4 p.m., May 24. Following a report from The New York Times that highlighted potential conflicts of interest for the conservative justices, MoveOn launched the petition.

The Times reported that an upside-down American flag, a symbol associated with the twice-impeached and four-times indicted Trump’s false claims of election fraud, was displayed outside Alito’s home in January 2021. The flag appeared outside the Alito residence in Alexandria, Virginia, on Jan. 17, just days after Trump supporters stormed the Capitol. Alito told the Times that the flag was “briefly placed” there by his wife during a disagreement with neighbors.

The revelation has again raised concerns about Alito’s impartiality as the Supreme Court considers two significant cases: one addressing charges against the Jan. 6 rioters and another determining whether Trump can claim immunity from prosecution on election interference charges. Justice Thomas also faces scrutiny for his involvement in cases related to the 2020 election, particularly because his wife, Ginni Thomas, contacted Trump officials and lawmakers, urging them to overturn the election results.

MoveOn’s petition argues that Alito must be held accountable for what they describe as a breach of ethics. “He must recuse himself immediately or be removed by Chief Justice John Roberts, and the Senate Judiciary Committee must swiftly investigate and take action on conflicts of interest,” the petition states.

Rahna Epting, MoveOn’s political action executive director, emphasized the need for immediate action to restore public trust in the Supreme Court. “The only way to begin to restore any trust in the Supreme Court—and to ensure any semblance of a fair hearing on Trump’s baseless immunity claims—is for Justices Alito and Thomas to recuse themselves, or be removed by Chief Justice Roberts,” Epting said.

He criticized Chief Justice John Roberts for failing to address these “conflicts of interest,” contributing to the Supreme Court’s lowest public approval ratings ever. “Justice Roberts’ failure to act—and allow these conflicts to go unchecked, has put the Supreme Court at its lowest public approval ever, with the public losing trust in the institution’s integrity and seeing it as the tool of a partisan right-wing agenda that it is,” Epting added.

The petition also calls for the Senate Judiciary Committee to investigate the alleged conflicts of interest and consider impeachment if necessary. “Our country and our democracy deserve better,” Epting said.

Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has also urged Alito to recuse himself from cases related to the 2020 election and the Capitol attack. “Flying an upside-down American flag—a symbol of the so-called ‘Stop the Steal’ movement—clearly creates the appearance of bias,” Durbin said in a statement.

In response to growing public pressure, the Supreme Court adopted a code of ethics in November last year, following reports of undisclosed luxury trips and gifts received by some justices, including Thomas and Alito. However, the code lacks enforcement mechanisms, prompting continued calls for stronger accountability.

“The Court is in an ethical crisis of its own making, and Justice Alito and the rest of the Court should be doing everything in their power to regain public trust,” Durbin said.

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By Ashlee Banks
Special to the AFRO 

U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., slammed the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) efforts to obtain an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.  

“Who really cares about the ICC,” Greene told the AFRO.

 “The United States of America isn’t interested in international law or international courts,” she added. “I’m not interested in the ICC telling the United States of America or telling any country what they can or cannot do.”

Her remarks come after the ICC announced this week that it was seeking an arrest warrant for Netanyahu and alleged that the prime minister committed grave crimes amid the Israel-Hamas conflict.  

Karim Khan, the ICC’s top prosecutor, stated that the court is looking to obtain arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Hamas leaders Yahya Sinwar, Mohammad Diab Ibrahim al-Masri and Ismail Haniyeh.

Khan said in a statement that the ICC has “reasonable grounds to believe” that Netanyahu and Gallant “bear criminal responsibility” for numerous war crimes such as intentionally starving civilians and purposely “directing attacks” against civilians in Gaza.

The court also believes that Hamas leaders have engaged in war crimes by taking hostages and engaging in rape and other types of sexual violence against Israelis.

The ICC’s announcement comes months after Hamas launched an attack against Israel on Oct.7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and kidnapping more than 250 others. Since then, Israel has launched countless attacks in Gaza, which has killed more than 35,000 Palestinians – mostly women and children – displaced millions and left others on the verge of starvation.

“The ICC’s responsibility is to get down to whether in fact there have been war crimes committed,” U.S. Rep. Yvette Clarke, D-N.Y., told the AFRO.  

“I am one who tries not to get in the midst of judicial proceedings. I mean we’ve had difficulty with our courts here in the U.S. as well,” said Clarke. “But, whatever will help us to make sure that we preserve the dignity of humanity and we stop the killing, I’m all for it.”

A three-judge panel will now decide whether to issue arrest warrants for the Israeli and Hamas leaders, a decision that could take roughly two months.

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The case, Alexander v. South Carolina State Conference of the N.A.A.C.P., No. 22-807, presented a complex challenge of distinguishing the roles of race and partisanship in drawing voting maps, especially as Black voters predominantly support Democrats.

By Stacy M. Brown
NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

(NNPA Newswire) — The U.S. Supreme Court has reinstated South Carolina’s redrawn congressional map, declaring it was not unconstitutional racial gerrymandering. Justice Samuel Alito authored the 6-3 opinion, which overturned a lower court’s finding that the map had illegally removed 30,000 Black voters to favor a White Republican candidate in the 1st Congressional District.

The decision has prompted strong reactions, including from Devon Ombres, senior director for Courts and Legal Policy at the Center for American Progress.

“This ruling allows South Carolina to strip power away from Black voters and implement a congressional map that is clearly racially gerrymandered,” Ombres stated. “The majority cherry-picked evidence disregarded inconvenient proof of racial gerrymandering and substituted its own judgment of the facts instead of deferring to the court below. Worse, the majority makes it clear that, in the future, it will be more difficult to challenge unconstitutional racial gerrymanders.”

The case, Alexander v. South Carolina State Conference of the N.A.A.C.P., No. 22-807, presented a complex challenge of distinguishing the roles of race and partisanship in drawing voting maps, especially as Black voters predominantly support Democrats. A unanimous three-judge panel of the Federal District Court in Columbia, S.C., had ruled in early 2023 that the state’s First Congressional District, drawn after the 2020 census, violated the Constitution by prioritizing race. However, the Supreme Court’s ruling now overturns that decision.

The lower court had held its decision while Republican lawmakers appealed to the Supreme Court, with the parties urging a resolution by Jan. 1. After the deadline passed, the panel ruled in March that the 2024 election would proceed under the contested map, acknowledging practical constraints. “With the primary election procedures rapidly approaching, the appeal before the Supreme Court still pending and no remedial plan in place,” the panel wrote, “the ideal must bend to the practical.”

The disputed district, centered in Charleston, has been a Republican stronghold since 1980, except for in 2018. The 2020 race was notably close, leading Republican lawmakers to strengthen the district’s Republican tilt post-census. The state judges ruled that this goal was achieved by “bleaching African American voters out of the Charleston County portion of Congressional District No. 1,” moving 62 percent of Black voters to the Sixth District, represented by James E. Clyburn, a Black Democrat.

Republican lawmakers admitted that the district was redrawn for partisan gains, but challengers, represented by the ACLU and NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, argued that race was the primary factor. 

“That predominant reliance on race is impermissible even if mapmakers used race as a proxy for politics,” their brief stated.

Justice Elena Kagan, joined by the court’s other liberal justices, dissented. Kagan contended that the ruling encourages state lawmakers to use race as a proxy for partisan objectives. 

“Go right ahead, this Court says to States today. Go ahead, though you have no recognized justification for using race, such as to comply with statutes ensuring equal voting rights,” Kagan wrote. “Go ahead, though you are (at best) using race as a shortcut to bring about partisan gains—to elect more Republicans in one case, more Democrats in another.”

Due to the South Carolina case’s reliance on the equal protection clause of the Constitution, it differs from a comparable Alabama case that is subject to the Voting Rights Act. Ombres underscored the broader implications, stating, “Congress must pass legislation to revitalize the Voting Rights Act to ensure that the will of American voters matters—not just the will of those already in power.”

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By Stacy Brown
NNPA Newswire

In April, employers in the United States added 175,000 jobs, signaling a slower but steady pace of labor market growth. According to the latest Labor Department report, this is the 27th consecutive month the unemployment rate has remained below 4 percent.

The slight uptick in the unemployment rate to 3.9 percent contrasts with previous periods of low unemployment. Notably, the rate has been sustained at historically low levels, comparable to those recorded during low-unemployment periods between 1967 and 1970 and 1951 and 1953.

Following a robust start to the year, April’s job growth represents a cooldown, with the smallest increase in half a year. Average hourly wage growth also moderated to $34.75, up 3.9 percent from the previous year. Despite this, wages have consistently outpaced inflation since May of the prior year, marking a significant shift after years of lagging behind.

“The great American comeback continues,” stated President Joe Biden in response to the data while emphasizing the creation of over 15 million jobs since he took office. “When I took office, I inherited an economy on the brink, with the worst economic crisis in a century,” he continued. “Now we are seeing that plan in action, with well over 15 million jobs created since I took office, working-age women employed at a record high rate, wages rising faster than prices, and unemployment below 4 percent for a record 27 months in a row.”

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries echoed Biden’s sentiments and highlighted the positive trends in the job market. “The April Jobs Report showed another month of consistent job creation by the Biden-Harris administration,” Jeffries stated. “Wages are up, unemployment remains near historic lows, and the American economy is continuing to grow at a steady pace.”

Both leaders acknowledged the ongoing work required to ensure widespread economic prosperity, contrasting their approach with that of congressional Republicans. “While House Democrats are working to build on this economic progress, House Republicans are continuing to push Donald Trump’s extreme MAGA agenda to benefit the wealthy, well-off, and well-connected,” Jeffries asserted.

The healthcare and social assistance sectors saw the most substantial job growth, reflecting ongoing demand for services in the post-pandemic economy. Health care added 56,000 jobs, with notable gains in ambulatory health services, hospitals, and nursing and residential care facilities. Social assistance, including social work and counseling, also experienced an increase of 23,000 jobs.

Meanwhile, the warehousing, transportation and retail sectors showed signs of rebounding after the slowdowns experienced during the pandemic. Warehousing and transportation added 22,000 jobs, while retail saw an increase of 20,000, particularly in general merchandise and building material, garden equipment, and supplies dealers.

Construction added 9,000 new jobs, indicating a slower but still noteworthy pace compared to previous years despite sensitivity to interest rate hikes.

Economists attribute the prolonged period of low unemployment to various factors, including demographic shifts and federal stimulus measures. However, uncertainties persist due to the Federal Reserve’s decision to maintain interest rates amid concerns about inflation, which could impact future economic conditions.

Biden said the April job report provides insight into the “resilience of the American economy.” 

This article was originally published by NNPA Newswire. 

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

Just ahead of former Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby’s sentencing on May 23, her story has gained national attention.

“We are enthused about the grassroots efforts that have taken place and now the support from many of the national organizations, supporters and the media,” said Haki Ammi, a supporter of Mosby and member of the Baltimore Chapter of Rev. Al Sharpton’s National Action Network (NAN). “We started making small noises, and it manifested.”

In November 2023, Mosby was convicted on two counts of perjury for falsely claiming her finances were negatively impacted during the COVID-19 pandemic in order to withdraw funds from Baltimore City’s Deferred Compensation Plan. 

In February, a jury in Greenbelt, Md., delivered a split verdict, finding Mosby guilty of making a false mortgage application to purchase a property in Longboat Key, Fla., but acquitting her of allegedly doing the same to purchase a home in Kissimmee, Fla.

Mosby could face up to 40 years for her convictions.

Earlier this month, Mosby’s legal team filed for no incarceration and one year of supervised release. The prosecution responded by insisting on 20 months in prison.

“The government requests the court sentence the defendant to 20 months incarceration followed by a period of supervised release,” said the prosecution in the memorandum. “This sentence appropriately reflects the seriousness of the defendant’s conduct and is not greater than necessary to satisfy the purposes of sentencing.”

Throughout her trial, supporters came out in busloads to stand with her.

“Wherever there is injustice, I will show up,” said Josephine Mourning, president of the Prince George’s County, Md. chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, on Feb. 16.

The NAN and 14 other organizations wrote and signed a letter to President Biden on May 7, asking him to pardon Mosby.

In part, the letter reads:

“On behalf of the nation’s civil rights, justice and advocacy organizations, we write to request a presidential pardon of former Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby. Ms. Mosby was wrongfully convicted and will face sentencing of up to 40 years in federal prison on May 23, 2024 after enduring the political persecution and malicious prosecution of the Trump Administration’s Department of Justice. 

We are deeply concerned that the last administration abused their power to advance a meritless indictment against Ms. Mosby and worse, the current administration’s U.S. Department of Justice ignored a clear political motive of the malicious prosecution against Ms. Mosby.

We ask that you grant a full pardon to Ms. Marilyn Mosby before May 23, 2024, and restore her full rights. Given that this prosecution illustrates selective prosecution within the last administration, we ask that you direct a thorough review of the prosecution of Black elected officials and other persons of color.”

As well, National Civil Rights Attorney Ben Crump and more than 50 other lawyers signed Mosby’s application for a presidential pardon.

On May 16, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said she had not spoken to the president about Mosby’s pardon and could not comment further.

“Obviously, those letters have come through. I just haven’t spoken to the president directly about this,” said Jean-Pierre at a press briefing. “We do not want to speak about individual cases. We believe it’s inappropriate. We want to be really, really mindful here.”

Even so, Ammi said he and the other supporters won’t stop. 

“We’re not taking our foot off the pedal,” said Ammi. “We understand President Biden has Gaza, the Congo and Haiti, but we respectfully say that this is an election season, and he will need the support of Black people. He should use his good judgment.”

Maryland-based organizers gathered over 100 supporters on May 19 for a cookout in Mosby’s name. The cookout was aimed at strengthening support for her.

Mosby was present, greeting and speaking with supporters.

“I knew that coming in, trying to equalize, balance the scales of justice, was going to come with a tax,” said Mosby in a passionate speech to a crowd of her supporters in Clarksville, Md. “I decided I wanted to reform the criminal justice system because this is a system that disproportionately impacts people of color.”

As the Baltimore City State’s Attorney, Mosby enacted progressive practices and tried police officers in court for their alleged part in harmful or deadly interactions with suspects, such as in the Freddie Gray incident in 2015. Mosby served in the position from 2015 to 2023, losing the elected office after being indicted in 2022.

The prosecution insists that Mosby’s convictions have nothing to do with her progressive policies.

“Ms. Mosby was charged and convicted because she chose to repeatedly break the law, not because of her politics or policies,” said the prosecution in a recent memorandum.

Mosby maintained her innocence and encouraged her supporters to attend Thursday’s sentencing and sign her online petition for a pardon, which has more than 61,000 signatures as of May 20.

Tashi McQueen is a Report For America corps member.

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By Ashlee Banks
Special to the AFRO

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y. blasted U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito after an upside-down American flag seen hanging at his residence in Alexandria, Va., days before President Joe Biden’s inauguration in 2021.

The upside-down flag is a symbol of the “Stop the Steal” movement used by former President Donald Trump supporters, after Trump lost the 2020 election to Biden.

Alito has since denied the flag’s placement and stated that his wife turned the flag upside down due to a spat with a neighbor. 

Despite the justice’s explanation, Jeffries said in a statement obtained by the AFRO that “Alito should apologize immediately for disrespecting the American flag and sympathizing with right-wing violent insurrectionists.”

U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson, D-Ga. said in a statement that “U.S. law mandates that the flag of the United States of America ‘…should never be displayed with the union down, except as a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property.’”

Several Democratic lawmakers, including Jeffries, are now demanding that Justice Alito “recuse himself from cases involving the 2020 election and former President Donald Trump.”

Johnson said in a statement that if Alito refuses to recuse himself it “would only further erode public trust and confidence in the Supreme Court, and in the Rule of Law the Court has a duty to uphold.”

“It is well documented that the insurrection supporting ‘Stop the Steal’ activists used the upside-down flag as a symbol of protest against the 2020 election results,” said Johnson. “Justice Alito blamed the upside-down flag on his wife. It is apparent that Justices Alito and Thomas, along with their wives, are MAGA kindred spirits.”

On the contrary, Attorney Joseph McBride, CEO of the McBride Law Firm, took to X to share his thoughts and stated that he stands with the justice.

McBride “fully right to express his constitutionally protected political opinion that America, is indeed, a nation in distress.”

While some believe that Alito has every right to openly support the former president, others believe that U.S. Supreme Court justices should remain politically neutral.

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By Ashlee Banks
Special to the AFRO

Police departments across the nation are struggling to fill law enforcement positions. Now, members of Congress have introduced the Recruit and Retain Act to address the police hiring crisis.

On May 14 both U.S. Reps. Wesley Hunt, R-Texas, and Glenn Ivey, D-Md., took to the House floor to introduce the measure. If enacted into law the bill would increase recruitment for qualified officers, provide departments across the nation with grants to reduce application-related fees such as background checks, psychological evaluations and testing and require the Department of Justice to create new guidelines for police agencies applying for Community Oriented Policing Services grants.

Hunt said in a statement obtained by the AFRO that “In recent years law enforcement agencies have found recruiting new officers to be a major challenge. The Recruit and Retain Act addresses this challenge and provides real support to help law enforcement.”

Ivey said in a statement “Recruiting and retaining highly trained law enforcement professionals is of the utmost importance. Our ability to attract and develop the best, brightest and most compassionate and dedicated men and women of differing backgrounds is vital to the health and well-being of our nation.”

This statute was introduced just days after Roger Fortson, a Black senior airman was shot and killed by a Florida deputy while in his apartment. Fortson’s name has been added to a long list of Black Americans who have died at the hands of police officers in recent years.

U.S. Rep. Cori Bush, D-Mo. opposes the measure and said in a statement that “Michael Brown. George Floyd. Breonna Taylor. Tamir Rice. Theirs and so many other precious lives have been lost or permanently altered due to our country’s failed approach to public safety.”

She added, “As a leader in the movement for community-led safety and as someone who has met with and responded directly to the needs of both community members and police chiefs across my district, I believe that public safety is a matter of public health.”

Ivey told the AFRO that this act aims to quell the issue of police brutality by requiring police officers to be properly vetted and have “diverse and culturally competent” backgrounds to better serve their communities.

The Maryland lawmaker stated that police brutality has been a hot button issue for nearly 15 years, “you started seeing the videotapes of the excessive force and people who are not African American finally realized that this is a real issue.”

He added “The question became how do we address it and one of those was training. But, the other one was maybe we need to pick better people for these positions to start with.”

Ivey strongly believes that if more departments recruit officers who are culturally sensitive then that could help with “better policing” and creating a stronger relationship between communities and law enforcement.

To date, the act has been endorsed by the Fraternal Order of Police, the National Association of Police Organizations, the National Sheriffs Association, Major County Sheriffs Association, Major Cities Sheriffs Association, the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, and R Street.

If passed in the U.S. House of Representatives, the bill will need to pass in the U.S. Senate and be signed into law by President Joe Biden.

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By Darlene Superville, Matt Brown and Bill Barrow
The Associated Press

ATLANTA (AP) — President Joe Biden on May 19 told Morehouse College graduates during his commencement speech that he heard their voices of protest over the Israel-Hamas war, and that scenes from the conflict in Gaza have been heartbreaking.

“I support peaceful nonviolent protest,” he told students at the all-male, historically Black college, some who wore keffiyeh scarves around their shoulders on top of their black graduation robes. “Your voices should be heard, and I promise you I hear them.”

The president said there was a “humanitarian crisis in Gaza, that’s why I’ve called for an immediate cease-fire to stop the fighting” and bring home the hostages taken when Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7. 

The comments, toward the end of his address that also reflected on American democracy and his role in safeguarding it, were the most direct recognition to U.S. students about the campus protests that have swept across the country.

“It’s one of the hardest, most complicated problems in the world,” Biden told the graduates. “There’s nothing easy about it. I know it angers and frustrates many of you, including my family. But most of all I know it breaks your heart. It breaks mine as well.”

The speech — and one planned later that day in Detroit — is part of a burst of outreach to Black constituents by the president, who has watched his support among these voters soften since their strong backing helped put him in the Oval Office in 2020.

Biden spent much of his address focused on the problems at home. He condemned Donald Trump’s rhetoric on immigrants and noted that the class of 2024 started college in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and George Floyd’s murder. Biden said it was natural for them, and others, to wonder whether the democracy “you hear about actually works for you.”

“If Black men are being killed in the street. What is democracy?” he asked. “The trail of broken promises that still leave Black communities behind. What is democracy? If you have to be 10 times better than anyone else to get a fair shot.”

Protests over the war have roiled America’s campuses. Columbia University canceled its main commencement ceremony. At Morehouse, the announcement that Biden would be the commencement speaker drew some backlash among the faculty and those who oppose the president’s handling of the war. Some Morehouse alumni circulated an online letter condemning administrators for inviting Biden and they solicited signatures to pressure Morehouse President David Thomas to rescind it.

The letter claimed that Biden’s approach to Israel amounted to support of genocide in Gaza and was out of step with the pacifism expressed by Martin Luther King Jr., Morehouse’s most famous graduate.

The Hamas attack on southern Israel killed 1,200 people. Israel’s offensive has killed more than 35,000 Palestinians in Gaza, according to health officials in the territory.

But in the end, there were no major disruptions at the event, and applause for his remarks was muted. 

At least seven graduates and a faculty member sat with their backs turned during Biden’s address, and another student draped himself in a Palestinian flag. Protesters near the ceremony carried signs that said “Free Palestine,” “Save the Children” and “Ceasefire Now” as police on bikes kept watch.

On the stage behind the president as he spoke, academics unfurled a Congolese flag. The African country has been mired in a civil war, and many racial justice advocates have called for greater attention to the conflict as well as American help in ending the violence.

The class valedictorian, DeAngelo Jeremiah Fletcher, said at the close of his speech that it was his duty to speak on the war in Gaza and that it was important to recognize that both Palestinians and Israelis have suffered.

“From the comfort of our homes, we watch an unprecedented number of civilians mourn the loss of men, women and children, while calling for the release of all hostages,” he said. “It is my stance as a Morehouse man, nay as a human being, to call for an immediate and permanent cease-fire in the Gaza Strip.”

Biden stood and shook his hand after Fletcher finished.

Kingsley John, a graduating senior, said “the temperature on campus was expected given we had the president of the United States come and speak.” John said he stood “in solidarity” with his classmate and that Biden “seemed to be reflective and open to hear the feedback.”

The college also awarded Biden an honorary degree. After he accepted the honor, Biden joked: “I’m not going home,” as chants of “four more years” broke out in the audience before he left the stage. He was heading to Detroit to speak at an NAACP dinner.

Georgia and Michigan are among a handful of states that will help decide November’s expected rematch between Biden and Trump. Biden narrowly won Georgia and Michigan in 2020 and needs to repeat — with a boost from strong Black voter turnout in both cities.

Biden spent the back end of the past week reaching out to Black constituents. He met with plaintiffs and relatives of those involved in Brown v. Board of Education, the landmark 1954 Supreme Court decision that outlawed racial segregation in public schools. He also met with members of the “Divine Nine” Black fraternities and sororities and spoke with members of the Little Rock Nine, who helped integrate a public school in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1957.

In Detroit, Biden planned to visit a Black-owned small business before giving the keynote address at the NAACP’s Freedom Fund dinner, which traditionally draws thousands of attendees. The speech gives Biden a chance to reach thousands of people in Wayne County, an area that has historically voted overwhelmingly Democratic but has shown signs of resistance to his reelection bid.

Wayne County also holds one of the largest Arab American populations in the nation, predominantly in the city of Dearborn. Leaders there were at the forefront of an “uncommitted” effort that received over 100,000 votes in the state’s Democratic primary and spread across the country.

A protest rally and march against Biden’s visit were planned in Dearborn. Another protest rally was expected at the dinner venue.

___

Associated Press writers Joey Cappelletti in Lansing, Michigan and Colleen Long and Mark Sherman in Washington contributed to this report.

___

This story has been corrected to reflect that the first name of Rev. Lea is Claybon, not Clyburn.

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By Aria Brent 
AFRO Staff Writer
abrent@afro.com 

As commencement season begins, the AFRO spoke with Black graduates from colleges and universities near and far about receiving their degree during a time of protests related to the Israel-Hamas war and the right to freedom of speech. Many students in the class of 2024 also either graduated high school or started college during the 2019- 2020 school year, which was derailed by the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. 

For high school students, the contagious illness made it nearly impossible to socialize in group settings–making the cancellation of traditional events like prom and graduation nonnegotiable. For college freshman, the first year experience was curtailed as coronavirus spread from city to city, ultimately making numerous laps around the globe as different strains emerged.

Ja’Miyah Stokes, a recent graduate of Jackson State University, was a high school senior when the pandemic abruptly halted her day-to-today life.

“Not having an actual graduation ceremony was hard,” she said. “I was mad for a while because I had worked hard and had been through so much during my high school experience, so I was looking forward to my big moment.”

Kairee Hunter, 22, a native of West Baltimore, graduated from Penn State with a degree in animal science on May 4.

He started at Penn State’s Harrisburg campus in the Fall of 2019, thinking he would have a full freshman year like so many students before him. Instead, he went home for spring break in 2020 and didn’t return again for more than a year.

“It was kind of weird because we didn’t even finish the first year,” Hunter told the AFRO. “We were on spring break and they told us not to come back.” 

Once the campus reopened with the option to return in his sophomore year, Hunter decided to remain at home with his family. But it was no easy feat. Hunter was trying to matriculate at a university in a degree program that was heavy with lab work for future veterinarians. 

“It was weird transitioning and picking up where we left off –trying to act like nothing would be affected. It was weird in terms of the comfortability levels in the classroom. Some went back, but I stayed virtual from Fall 2020 through Spring 2021,” he said. 

Throughout two years at Penn State’s Harrisburg campus, and three years at the historic institution’s main campus, Hunter overcame mountain after mountain. 

First, there was the aspect of learning how to become a veterinarian– virtually.

“It made me less focused. When I was on Zoom I was more distracted,” he recalled. 

Then there was the isolation. For Hunter, who was already comfortable being by himself and “marching to the beat of his own drum,” the social opportunities missed began to take their toll.

“I definitely missed out on the social aspect,” he said. “It was hard to actually envelop myself. Normally I would talk to different people, we would study together or compare assignments.” None of that was possible in a global pandemic with – at the time– no vaccine to fight it. 

Looking back, Hunter is just glad he made it through and was able to actually have a graduation– something that is eluding more and more students across the nation as protests and calls for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war intensify. 

On Oct. 7 terrorists from Gaza shot, assaulted and kidnapped thousands of Israelis in an early morning attack, prompting an Israeli response that many say is unfairly impacting innocent Palenstinians in Gaza. Now, American college students are protesting, staging sit-ins and calling for the U.S to stop Israel’s plan to wipe Hamas “off the face of the earth,” according to the words of Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant. 

“It’s not at all fair,” said Hunter, speaking on the canceled graduation ceremonies being canceled as American students demand divestment from Israel and call for the country to stop the brutal attacks in Gaza. 

“I don’t think that schools are responding in the appropriate way by calling the police, tearing down the camps and taking away the graduations. This is our Constitutional right,” said Hunter. “It’s very backwards.” 

President Joe Biden recently spoke on the chaos unfolding across the country on college campuses. “Violent protest is not protected – peaceful protest is,” said Biden. “Vandalism, trespassing, breaking windows, shutting down campuses, forcing the cancellation of classes and graduations – none of this is a peaceful protest.”

Biden also spoke against protestors that threaten or instill fear in others.

“There is no place for hate speech, or violence of any kind: anti-semitism, islamophobia, discrimination against Arab-Americans or Palestinian-Americans,” said Biden. “It’s simply wrong. There’s no place for racism in America.”

The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is one of the universities throughout the U.S. that has canceled their classes due to protests and encampments turning violent.

Jenae Talison is a second year graduate student at UCLA who has watched over the last two weeks as the turmoil on campus has unfolded. As graduation approaches, she noted that the ongoing protests on campus have resulted in an increased police presence and disruptions to campus activities.

“We’ve been virtual for like the last two weeks and it’s been weird having to continue life as a student like people aren’t being attacked and arrested down the street,” stated Talison. “They just randomly emailed us about classes being virtual and the abruptness of it all reminded me of COVID.”

The soon-to-be graduate explained that although she lives off campus, the effects of the protester and police interaction have affected her motivation to finish classes strong this quarter. She recalled the events that happened on campus that led up to the current environment the student body is dealing with. Talison clarified that UCLA is still scheduled to have their main commencement ceremonies the weekend of June 14 to June 16, however she is fearful that they’ll cancel them in the month they have left before the big ceremonies.  

“They canceled USC’s ceremony and I’m a little nervous we’re next. We’re a public university so our policies for protesting are a little different, but they’ve been enforcing similar police protocols for the protesting that’s been happening,” she stated. “We need more security for the students’ safety.”

Although institutes like Columbia University and the University of Southern California have canceled their commencement ceremonies, other colleges, like Lincoln University in Philadelphia, have held their graduation exercises according to plan. On the list of 2024 graduates were two special names: Ericka Alston Buck, the AFRO’s arts and culture writer, and the legendary icon, Stevie Wonder, who received an honorary doctorate of humane letters. Alston Buck has been working on her undergraduate degree in human resources for two decades. On May 5, she walked across the stage and officially earned her degree after the challenges of adult life, parenthood and a global pandemic.

“Lincoln University understands the needs of adult students. Being able to graduate while working full time and being a parent made this 20-year journey possible for me,” said Alston Buck. “Receiving my degree on the same day that Stevie Wonder received his honorary doctorate made the moment all the more special. He is an iconic figure in the music industry and a champion for social causes.” 

“He epitomizes the spirit of excellence and service that Lincoln University instills in its graduates,” Buck continued. “His presence added an extra layer of significance to an already momentous occasion.”

Stevie Wonder’s next commencement stop will be the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore, where he is set to speak on May 23 after Misty Copeland gives her address at the institution on May 22.

AFRO Political Reporter Tashi McQueen contributed to this article. 

The post Commencement season 2024: College seniors speak on graduating in tumultuous times appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Catherine Pugh
Special to the AFRO

The morning after a primary election—whether you win or lose—can be daunting but, perhaps, mostly reflective. Candidates will ask themselves, “Did I do everything I could…put it all on the table? Did I knock on enough doors, encounter enough potential voters, explain my reasons for running clearly whether in debates, advertisements, mailers, community meetings or private receptions?”

For some, the results answer this self-evaluation. For others, they await the final counts to begin their reflections.

With two councilmen deciding to go in different directions — Kristerfer Burnett in West Baltimore retiring as representative of the 8th District and Zeke Cohen heading to the presidency of the Baltimore City Council — primary elections in those districts are too close to call.

In District 12, a seat held by Robert Stokes Sr. since 2016, he trails his challenger by 140 votes, and District 11 incumbent Eric Costello leads unexpectedly by only 25 votes, so they wait, along with former Mayor Sheila Dixon for the counting of about 13,000 mail-in ballots to give their acceptance speech or to concede.

A win can come after much struggle but a loss can hit even harder. Winning requires as much grace as losing. That was seen on the night of the primary for some of the top candidates. 

“There might be some votes left to be counted but I think it is safe to say we are destined for a second term. A victory tonight means the work has just begun,” said Mayor Brandon Scott on election night. “I want to extend my thanks to former Mayor Dixon for her passion for the city and for her years of service and for her commitment to our residents and for a very, very hard-fought race. But now it’s time to turn the page. I am blessed to have another term to serve as your mayor.” 

City Council President Nick Mosby pledged to help Zeke Cohen with transitioning into a position he has held since 2020. He also thanked Baltimore residents for their support on social media. 

“You’ve been with me through every win and every loss, so I simply want to say, Thank You. Thank You for believing in me and allowing me the privilege of serving you,” Mosby tweeted. 

Zeke Cohen, the Democratic nominee for president of the City Council, was also gracious in his win, saying, “I am grateful to Nick Mosby for his call today and for his leadership.”

Congressman David Trone, who lost to opponent County Executive Angela Alsobrooks in his bid for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate, immediately pledged his support for Alsobrooks after his loss.

“I had an opportunity to speak to Congressman Trone; I thanked him so much for his call. I want you to know we are united in our focus to keep the Senate ‘Blue.’ I am so grateful for his support,” Alsobrooks said.

The Democrat also thanked voters. She said, “I woke up feeling grateful! Grateful for your support, for the movement we’ve built, and for this history we’re going to make.”

Alsobrooks, now the Democratic nominee for the Senate seat to be vacated by Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., will face Republican nominee, former governor of Maryland Larry Hogan in the November General Election. Republicans have not won a Senate seat in Maryland since 1980.

With most of the results announced, the electorate would have awoken the morning after the primary with smiles or frowns at the outcome. 

Some voters would not have played a role in that outcome having not gone to the polls because “they didn’t think they would make a difference.”

Others, however, would be pleased that their voices seemed to outweigh the influence of money on the elections through endorsements, private pacts and self-funding, suggesting that money doesn’t matter as much as people.

For example, three-term Congressman David Trone outspent Democratic nominee Angela Alsobrooks 10 to 1, injecting over $60 million of his own money into his campaign.

“Sometimes fancy slogans, lavish endorsements, overdosing commercials…don’t always matter,” said Karen Miller, public relations campaign manager and principal of Karen Miller Consulting LLC.  “The public can see through plots, and sometimes good guys or ladies just win. And, if the candidate has done everything the right way and is sincere in their approach, especially in a re-election, or has a proven record of success, even if it is an uphill battle they are hard to beat.” 

Voters are also much more intelligent and have more access to information than ever before. One voter Piccola Winkey said she did her research on all the candidates. 

“I chose the one that I believed will get the job done,” she said.

The post Candidates, voters reflect on 2024 primary election appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

With 2024 being a major election year, it is imperative that citizens of all ages have a solid understanding of how to exercise the right to vote and engage in civic duties. As the AFRO works to cover the issues and happenings of the current election year, it’s important to consider civic education in a country that boasts a democratic system. 

“Civics education in K-12 prepares students to live in a democracy,” said Nina Kasniunas, an associate professor of political science at Goucher College. “It teaches students how to think critically about our governmental system and gives them the knowledge and ability to think about and address the problems that arise in our society.”

According to Civics for Life, an initiative through the Sandra Day O’Connor Institute for American Democracy, civic education helps to foster a sense of national identity, helps people understand their rights, encourages civic responsibility and helps create meaningful participation in society.

Social studies standards in Tennessee include lessons about American identity as citizens, the various levels of the political system, and its purpose and how it functions. Maryland’s social studies standards include teaching youth the historical development of the foundational processes of authority and power in American society and helping students question them to gain a better understanding of them.

“Research has shown that having a strong foundation in civics education leads to greater civic engagement as adults,” said Kasniunas. “Without a good civics education, we risk a generation that’s unprepared to step up to leadership roles in our democracy.”

It appears that youth in recent years have heard the call, with increased voter turnouts in the 2022 and 2018 midterm elections. They are also exercising their rights by protesting at college campuses over the nation’s stance and involvement in the Israel-Hamas war. 

In addition, younger people are running for notable offices across the country, and some have even won their campaigns, such as Congressman Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.-10) and Maryland State Dels. Jeffrie Long (D-Md.-27B) and Joe Vogel (D-Md.-17). Frost, Long, and Vogel were 25 when they were elected.

“Young people need civics education because it helps them understand their responsibilities and power as citizens,” said Mileah Kromer, director of the Sarah T. Hughes Center for Politics. “A robust civics education is a building block– a necessary foundation– for future change-makers.  You can’t expect to improve this country unless you know exactly how government functions and where power is held.”

Though American schools put an emphasis on preparing youth for their civic responsibilities, it is not common practice for every American school to remind and register 17-18-year-old high schoolers of their civic duty to vote. 

According to a survey by the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning (CIRCLE) and Engagement, an independent research organization, about two-thirds of respondents, 64 percent, said they were encouraged to vote in high school, while 50 percent say they were taught how to register to vote. CIRCLE found that youth who said they were encouraged to vote or taught how to register to vote in high school are more likely to vote and participate in other civic activities.

According to CIRCLE, about 50 percent of eligible youth, ages 18-29, voted in the 2020 presidential election.

Kasniunas says while adults are important in the process of learning civics, youth can and should take responsibility as well. 

“When students take the initiative, it’s a practice that is more likely to become a lifelong habit,” said Kasniunas. “If you do it for them, it’s not as likely to have the same effect. We want students to have agency to vote because they understand why it’s important.”

Tashi McQueen is a Report For America corps member.

The post A time to educate: The importance of civic studies in K-12 classrooms appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Catherine Pugh 
Special to the AFRO 

The Baltimore City Board of elections updated its election results as mail-in ballots were being counted.  As of Thursday night leads in city races expanded and decreased.  A total of 79,159 votes have been cast in Baltimore City’s election. The totals include early voting numbers 13,451, Election day numbers of 39,641 and mail-in-ballots of 26,067. 

Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott pulled further ahead of his closest opponent former Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon by 8,898 votes, earning a total of 51.42 percent with a total of 40,700 votes. Dixon took 40.17 percent with a total vote count of 31,802.

In West Baltimore’s District 8, Paris Gray, who was endorsed by outgoing Councilman Burnett, pulled ahead by 142 votes earning 2,343 votes to his nearest opponent Bilal Ali , whose vote count totals 2,201.

In the 11^th District of Baltimore City, incumbent Eric Costello held a 25-vote lead on May 14. The mail-in votes gave him a total vote count of 2,901 in the Democratic primary, while his fellow Democrat, Zac Blanchard, earned a total vote count of 2,814.

In the 12^th District incumbent Robert Stokes is 211 votes behind his challenger Jermaine Jones.  Stokes’ vote count is 2,010 to Jones’ 2,221.

Vote counts are still listed as unofficial on the Baltimore City Board of Elections website.

The post Baltimore City primary election reports updated with new totals appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

The 2024 Maryland primary election finally arrived on May 14. The months and weeks leading up the day have been filled with candidates’ attempts to reach voters through public forums and televised discussions.

All throughout the state polls opened at 7 a.m. and will close at 8 p.m., presenting the last chance for voters to have their say on several levels of government offices from the U.S. Senate to city council members.

“I just think that we need strong leadership and we haven’t had that in the last few years,” said Baltimore native Bernard Webster, 61, as he exited the voting poll at the War Memorial Plaza, directly across from City Hall. 

“If I don’t vote I don’t have a say, ” said Webster. The AFRO was able to catch up with voters as they exited the polls to share why they decided to vote, their choices and top concerns from this election season.

Kyle Pompey, echoed Webster’s sentiments when asked why decided to exercise his right to vote.

“I came out to vote because if we don’t come out to vote, we don’t have control,” said Pompey. “You need to come out and vote if you want to control what’s going on in the city.”

Erica Myers, 36, said she came out in recognition of the African-American plight.

“The reason why I came out today is because I think about the sacrifices and the legacy of my grandmother and my ancestors, who fought so hard to vote,” she said. “I don’t ever want to take it for granted— regardless of what’s going on in the world.”

Myers said she is concerned about her tax dollars being properly allocated and support for city residents looking to do more than survive, but thrive.

Baltimore native, Marc Edmunds, 70, said voting this election season was important, in part, because it will decide who gets to be mayor. 

“I wanted to make sure we have a change in city hall,” said Edmunds. “Mayor Scott is a good man. I know he means well, but I have an issue when there’s no heat in the schools during wintertime and no air conditioning. I have an issue with that.”

Edmunds also said he had a good experience at the polls today, but was surprised at the small number of people coming to vote at the War Memorial poll site.

With more ways to vote in the modern era, registered voters had the option of mail-in and early voting, voting on election day is no longer the main voter turnout day.

According to the Maryland State Board of Elections, in Baltimore City for the 2022 Midterm primary election, 34,577 people voted by mail, nearly 14,000 voters turned out for early voting and more than 40,000 voters came out for election day.

At the Baltimore Unity Hall poll site, one voter said she came out primarily to vote for former Baltimore City Mayor Sheila Dixon, a top candidate for the seat.

“I basically wanted to vote for Sheila Dixon because I think she is a good person,” said Barbara Horton, 71 of West Baltimore. “I think she deserves another opportunity.”

Political spectators are expecting another close race this year between Mayor Brandon M. Scott and former mayor Dixon. In the 2020 primary election, Scott won with 29.6 percent of the vote over Dixon, who received 27.5 percent. With last minute major endorsements from Baltimore City State’s Attorney Ivan J. Bates and former mayoral candidate Thiruvendran Vignarajah, Dixon increased her chances for snagging a win this year.

Due to Baltimore City being a majority Democratic city, the winner of the Democratic primary will most likely secure the seat.

Results from the polls are expected to roll in after voting ends at 8 p.m.

Tashi McQueen is a Report For America corps member.

The post Baltimore voters take to the polls for Maryland’s primary election appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By: Dayvon Love

There is often public criticism of Black elected officials that generally reflects a sentiment that they lack courage. As an advocate for my people, I have engaged in some of the most scathing critiques of Black elected officials, and this has been extremely important in the effectiveness of the work of my organization, Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle (LBS). 

In Baltimore, we do not have community controlled, independent Black electoral infrastructure that can produce candidates for public office. This means that Black people who are looking to run for office have to rely on institutions outside of our community in order to be viable candidates for public office. The truth is, by the time we arrive at the ballot box, the choice regarding who represents us has largely been made for us. We are largely picking between candidates for public office that have been vetted by the corporate sector and the political establishment.

In the grand scheme of things, many of the Black people who are in elected office do not work for us, they are henchmen of interest outside of our community. I don’t expect Black elected officials to do anything unless we organize ourselves effectively to make them do it. We have to make it hurt for them to go against the interests of our community. The development of this electoral infrastructure is a long term endeavor that LBS hopes to build on behalf of Black people in Baltimore.

There are a handful of Black elected officials that have used their time in office to challenge powerful interests on behalf of our community. And while it is important to criticize Black elected officials when they are engaged in activity that is harmful to our community, we have to acknowledge when they do things that challenge powerful institutions on our behalf. More importantly, we should acknowledge the mechanisms that are used to punish those who do take these kinds of positions. The federal prosecution and conviction of Marilyn Mosby is an act of the law enforcement establishment punishing her for taking stances against their racist policy positions on criminal justice issues.

Outside of being the Black woman that prosecuted the officers that killed Freddie Gray in 2015, Mosby was a target of conservative prosecutors and the Fraternal Order of Police. I know first hand that her stances on issues that I have worked on contributed to her being a target of the law enforcement establishment. Her support of police accountability legislation, expungement of criminal convictions that stemmed the testimony of corrupt police officers, decriminalization of cannabis and support of community based approaches to violence prevention as an alternative to police centric approaches to public safety are issues that we have worked on together. These policies were efforts to fight back against the system of White supremacy that weaponizes the criminal justice system to undermine the humanity of Black people. Prosecuting her for taking money out of her own account, amongst other charges that have no potential to harm anyone, is a political punishment for taking positions that challenge the racist policies of the law enforcement establishment.

In Maryland there has been an aggressive push against policies that seek to reduce the harm that the criminal justice system has done to Black people. People like Baltimore County State’s Attorney Scott Shellenberger, Baltimore City State’s Attorney Ivan Bates and Howard County State’s Attorney and current chair of the Maryland State’s Attorney Association, Rich Gibson, have been leaders in the attempt to roll back the progress that has been made on criminal justice reform. Just to put in perspective the nature of the policy proposals that these folks are advancing, they support the repeal of the Child Interrogation Protection Act (CIPA). 

This law, passed in 2022, essentially requires that children have access to legal counsel and that a parent is notified when police conduct a custodial interrogation of that child. This is to protect youth from being coerced into making false incriminating statements against themselves. This should be a policy that is a no brainer especially given the high profile stories we have about children that have spent significant time in prison as a result of this issue (i.e. the Exonerated 5 in New York). The three Maryland DA’s that I mentioned earlier are all on the record in support of repealing this law. Marilyn Mosby’s time as Baltimore State’s Attorney provided a crucial counter to the policy agenda being advanced by the law enforcement establishment in Maryland. 

Regardless of whether you voted for Marilyn Mosby, or have legitimate criticisms of her tenure in office, one thing that we should all agree with is that the use of federal prosecution and prison time for political purposes is dangerous to those who aspire to engage the political arena on behalf of Black people. This sends a signal to Black elected officials that if they challenge powerful interests that they should expect to go to jail. 

There are allies of Marilyn Mosby that are urging president Joe Biden to pardon her conviction so that she doesn’t serve any time in jail. I support this call for her conviction to be pardoned. 

The fact that this level of advocacy is needed to get the Democratic party to address this political attack against someone who stood up to the law enforcement establishment should be a lesson on how much that needs to be done to change the exploitative relationship that Black people have to the Democratic party.

The post Marilyn Mosby, the Black electoral infrastructure and prison as weapon against Black people appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.