Source: Mario Tama / Getty

Don’t believe the hype.

The name “George Floyd” was a top trending topic on Twitter Monday afternoon, but not because the former police officer who is charged with the unarmed Black man‘s murder will go on trial next week. It’s because TMZ was the latest mainstream media outlet to refer to the upcoming court case as the “George Floyd” trial.

Derek Chauvin is the guy who murdered George Floyd.
Derek Chauvin is on trial, NOT George Floyd.

Therefore, it is the Derek Chauvin trial.
Change your headline, @TMZ. https://t.co/wgfwFWnOoC

— BrooklynDad_Defiant! (@mmpadellan) March 1, 2021

Critics argued that calling it such a name subliminally suggests that Floyd is the one who is on trial, not Derek Chauvin, the fired Minneapolis police officer who was recorded on a viral video casually using his knee to apply deadly pressure to the neck of Floyd, who was handcuffed and being steadily pressed face-first into the hot Minneapolis pavement in broad daylight in front of a growing crowd of witnesses on Memorial Day.

Just a reminder: The murderer of George Floyd – Derek Chauvin – will stand trial on MARCH 8, 2021! pic.twitter.com/fE57mnfM59

— osidosy (@osidosy) February 28, 2021

To be sure, this is much more than just a simple case of semantics.

Right wing maniacs are trying to rebrand George Floyd, who was murdered on video and executed via strangulation in broad daylight. They’re trying to call him fentanyl Floyd as if the problem was drugs and not a homicidal cop. That video is too clear for your reality-free BS.

— Young Daddy (@Toure) March 1, 2021

Chauvin has been charged with one count of second-degree unintentional murder and one count of second-degree manslaughter for George Floyd’s killing. Floyd was suspected of the decidedly nonviolent crime of using a counterfeit bill — an offense that does not carry the death penalty in any country, let alone require the use of force.

A note to all my journo friends and TV commentators, this is NOT the “George Floyd Trial” this is the “Derek Chauvin Trial.”

George Floyd, although many will try, is not the one on trial. Please and thank you.

— Bakari Sellers (@Bakari_Sellers) March 1, 2021

To this date, it is still unclear if counterfeit money was even involved. However, it is very clear that Floyd is not the one who is on trial, prompting people to wonder aloud and especially on social media why the case was even being referred to like that in the first place.

I Just wanted to be the 50 eleventh person to tweet:

George Floyd isn't on trial- because he is dead.
Derek Chauvin is on trial – because he killed him. pic.twitter.com/UAV0kccpuV

— JerriLynn (@Jerri_Lynn25) March 1, 2021

The mere phrase “George Floyd trial” lends credence to the persistent yet ultimately unsuccessful efforts to criminalize Floyd in death, treatment frequently afforded to Black men who have been killed by law enforcement. The strategy has been effective in convincing juries to acquit police officers despite overwhelming evidence that the killings were unjustified.

R.I.P. to TMZ's mentions for acting like George Floyd murdered Derek Chauvin.

— I Smoked The Used Condom PAC (@BlackKnight10k) March 1, 2021

A quick review of past high-profile murder trials shows that the critics have a very valid point.

George Floyd was tried on the sidewalk. This is the Derek Chauvin trial. https://t.co/NLB0HUENQA pic.twitter.com/jyK5Kbfq38

— KD (@Fly_Sistah) March 1, 2021

When Botham Jean was inexplicably gunned down by a trigger-happy cop who mistook the Black man eating ice cream on his sofa for a burglar in her apartment, the narrative was “The Amber Guyger Trial.” It was called the “George Zimmerman Trial” when a neighborhood watch volunteer racially profiled 17-year-old and unarmed Trayvon Martin. OJ Simpson, the Menendez Brothers, Jeffrey Dahmer, Casey Anthony — they all had eponymous murder trials.

Is George Floyd being tried posthumously for putting his neck under Derek Chauvin’s knee for nearly nine minutes? https://t.co/8szll8QcND

— Renée Graham (@reneeygraham) March 1, 2021

That historic precedent makes any reference to a “George Floyd trial” even more curious.

This should be called the Derek Chauvin trial. Or at the very least the George Floyd murder trial.

Headlines like this perpetuate racism and stereotypes in our society and happen all the time. Words matter. #BlackLivesMatter https://t.co/Q9PGGHQhWg

— Carly Thibault (@CTbow) March 1, 2021

Undeterred by journalistic tradition, the conservative Wall Street Journal published a report Monday morning suggesting that prosecutors will be hard-pressed to prove Chauvin’s guilt despite video evidence. Its headline: “George Floyd Trial Centers on Police Tactic That Is Hard to Prosecute.”

#GeorgeFloyd isn’t on trial. George Floyd was taken from us viciously, inexplicably, and inhumanely.

Derek Chauvin is on trial to tell his side of the story. A luxury that was not afforded to George Floyd and countless other men and women within the black community. https://t.co/Ygr6uwYAYH

— NAACP (@NAACP) March 1, 2021

Ignoring the low hanging fruit that is the obvious lack of diversity in mainstream media likely responsible for framing headlines as such, it’s obvious more than ever that in 2021 — when we’re fresh off an insurrection at the U.S. Capitol and ensuing presidential impeachment because of rhetoric — words matter.

Most of the SJW language policing and bitching is bullshit. But this is a fair request and I frankly agree with this. Calling it the "George Floyd trial" is very misleading and manipulative. We didn't call it the "Nicole Brown Simpson Trial". pic.twitter.com/1HThAZFrWb

— Adam Goldman (@18kGoldman) March 2, 2021

Jury selection for Derek Chauvin’s murder trial begins March 8.

SEE ALSO:

DOJ Renews Investigation Into George Floyd’s Murder Months After Stalling Under Trump Administration

Civil Rights Leaders Unite To Demand Congress Pass The George Floyd Justice In Policing Act

Source: Isaac Murray / Getty

In the wake of a historic storm that left millions of Texans languishing without power and resources, the chief civil lawyer for third largest county in the United States is launching an investigation into the circumstances leading up to the disaster.

In his probe, Harris County Attorney Christian D. Menefee will examine decisions made by the Public Utility Commission and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, as well as any affiliated parties.

Menefee, 32, is the youngest, and first Black chief civil lawyer in Harris County. His jurisdiction spans the largest county in the state.

“Members of our community died in this disaster, and millions of Texans languished without power and water while suffering billions in property damage,” Menefee said in a statement sent to NewsOne. “Harris County has a similar population to a mid-size state—what happened here is akin to Louisiana or Kentucky losing power for days. Residents in our county deserve to know what happened, who made which decisions, and whether this could have been avoided or mitigated.”

At this Friday’s Commissioners Court meeting, my office will also ask the Court for authority to take appropriate legal action on behalf of Harris County.

Our job in Harris County government is to protect Harris County residents. We’re going to do just that.

2/2

— Christian D. Menefee (@CDMenefee) February 23, 2021

The matter is another marker in the fight against environmental racism, which became more of a mainstream topic as the Flint water disaster emerged. The winter storm left millions of Texans in the literal dark and exasperated the inequities which already exist in low income communities, and those with large Black and minority populations.

This morning I spoke with NBC about the investigation the Harris County Attorney’s Office launched into the events causing the power disaster. Our goal is to protect Harris County residents and ensure this never happens again. pic.twitter.com/XcXZnwaMQJ

— Christian D. Menefee (@CDMenefee) February 25, 2021

Texans continue to report the aftershock of the storm which left with community members with sky-high electricity bills, passed over from electricity suppliers who left customers with the burden of payment.

Menefee’s lawsuit follows a slew of other investigations conducted by the Attorney General of Texas, the Travis County District Attorney José Garza, and the Texas Legislature. Menefee believes the past should have provided prologue regarding the stability of the power grids.

“I am aware state agencies are conducting their own investigation and I am willing to work with them in that process. But it’s clear Harris County cannot leave its fate to state government. We knew in 2011, after the last hard freeze, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) put state government and leaders on notice the grid was underprepared for hard freeze events. FERC made specific recommendations, and the state and the power grid manager failed to heed those warnings. Harris County government must protect its residents. My office will conduct a comprehensive investigation into these events and take legal action where appropriate.”

Menefee also stated he would testify before the Texas House’s Business and Industry Committee about adjustments to the current laws which would enable attorneys to fight for better consumer protections, according to KHOU.

Last week five of ERCOT’s board members stepped down due to the collective fallout of the disaster. Gov. Greg Abbott blasted ERCOT for its handling of the emergency. Later Abbott added reforming the organization as an item during an emergency 2021 legislative session.

SEE ALSO:

Houston Mayor Calls On Texas To Pay For Skyrocketing Energy Bills Following Winter Storm

‘Just ‘Cause I’m Black’: Teen Arrested For Walking In Street During Texas Snow Storm Speaks Out

Source: Paras Griffin / Getty

A lawyer representing a group of women claiming they were sexually abused and assaulted by rapper T.I. and his wife, R&B singer Tamkea Harris, sought out law enforcement authorities in California and Georgia to launch a criminal investigation against the couple.

New York-based lawyer Tyrone A. Blackburn will represent 11 people who say they were victimized by the couple. Four women accuse the pair of drugging and sexually assaulting them, including two instances of rape that were said to have occurred in Georgia and California, The New York Times reports.

In a press release sent to NewsOne, Blackburn said that 30 women have contacted his office, accusing the couple and members of their entourage of “forced drugging, kidnapping, rape, and intimidation.” The alleged incidents took place from 2005 to about 2017.

“These criminal allegations span over fifteen years of methodical, sadistic abuse against women in various venues throughout the country,” the statement reads. “These individual claims paint eerily consistent allegations of women prior to or upon immediately entering T&T’s home, hotel, or tour bus were coerced by Tiny to ingest drugs or unknowingly administered drugs to impair the victims’ ability to consent to subsequent vile sexual acts.”

Blackburn sent letters to the  Georgia US Attorney in the Northern District, the California U.S. Attorney in the Central District, State Attorney Generals of California and Georgia, and the Los Angeles District Attorney Office. He also requests that a criminal probe be opened to examine Georgia’s Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA), Georgia’s Rape, Kidnapping, RICO, and Terroristic Threats Statues.

In late January several women came on social media forward accusing the couple of sexual harassment and assault, including members of their inner circle of aiding and abetting, but the accusations were quickly refuted by T.I. in a video posted to Instagram. Production for their VH1 show “T.I. And Tiny: Friends And Family Hustle” has been put on hold until findings for the investigation has been reached.

“We fully expect that if these claims are thoroughly and fairly investigated, no charges will be forthcoming,” Steve Sadow, an attorney for the couple said in a statement published in the Times. “These allegations are nothing more than the continuation of a sordid shakedown campaign that began on social media and now attempts to manipulate the press and misuse the justice system.”

In support of the alleged victims and in lifting up Black women who survived sexual assault the #MeToo movement, Time’s Up and the National Women’s Law Center released a statement in support of the women.

“The level of violence that has occurred against Black survivors for so long demands stories and headlines that center them across all media,” the letter states. “We are carrying the emotional weight of this news and know that we are reliving a collective trauma akin to the exposing of [Bill] Cosby and R Kelly.”

SEE ALSO:

Activists Say Minimum Wage Hike ‘Can’t Be A Dream Deferred,’Demand Biden-Harris Deliver On Campaign Promise

Activists Say Mumia Abu-Jamal Has COVID-19 And Must Be Released From Prison Immediately

Source: Bloomberg / Getty

Activists and progressive congressional leaders are calling on the Biden-Harris administration to disregard the Senate Parliamentarian advisory opinion in order to advance the $15 minimum wage bill and full elimination of the subminimum wage for tipped workers as part of the $1.9T COVID-19 relief package.

23 congress members including Rep. Barbara Lee, Rep. Rashida Tlaib, Rep. Ro Khanna and Rep. Andy Levin have signed a letter in support of the women of color-led coalitions urging that the $15 minimum wage hike be included and passed. The group held a digital press conference on Monday where they discussed a path forward in hopes to persuade the current administration to use the full extent of the executive branch.

The fight to increase the minimum wage is a racial and gender justice issue. A large majority of essential and tipped workers are women of color, specifically Black women who put their health and mental stability on the line in order to survive in America.

“We have to deal with constant abuse, sexual harassment, people want to see us without our mask,” said April Grant an essential worker who at one point fought back tears. “And we have to deal with safety issues.”

“Black women and women of color bear the brunt of this the most,” said Rep. Lee. At least one in three Black women are frontline workers.

Saru Jayaraman, President of One Fair Wage said tipped wages and the low minimum wage are a “direct impact of slavery,” affecting 14 million workers.

After Black women charged to the polls again in mass numbers this past November, their needs must come first.

“This was a promise, it was a promise made to those who had to overcome many many odds in the midst of covid and voter suppression to cast votes in historic numbers,” said Aimee Allison, president of She The People.

“It’s a promise that can’t be a dream deferred.”

But the fate of the minimum wage hike is stalled, even though it passed in the House last week, due to the Senate Parliamentarians’ ruling stating that it could not be included in the stimulus unless it it passes through budget reconciliation or abolishing the filibuster.

Budget reconciliation allows a bill pass with majority, rather than the 60 votes needed to move legislation through the Senate. A large portion of progressive leaders want to abolish the filibuster because they feel it is often used as a tool of obstruction rather than a means of moderating healthy legislative debate.

In the public sphere, support for the minimum wage increase thrives. Close to 70 percent of Americans are in favor.

Passage of another wage hike would end the longest period of time without an increase in minimum wage in the United States, which currently stands at $7.25 an hour.

SEE ALSO:

Democrats Push To Increase Federal Minimum Wage With Next Stimulus Bill

Raising The Minimum Wage Takes Crucial Step Towards Equity And Racial Justice

Source: NurPhoto / Getty

The movement demanding the release of Mumia Abu-Jamal from prison has been renewed amid concerns for the health of the convicted cop-killer who was found guilty decades ago under questionable circumstances.

Activists and supporters of Abu-Jamal claim he has contracted COVID-19 and are pushing for both his hospitalization as well as his release after nearly 40 years behind bars.

A protest took place over the weekend in Philadelphia as demonstrators called for the city’s district attorney, Larry Krasner, to help facilitate the immediate release, treatment and hospitalization of Abu-Jamal, 67. They say Abu-Jamal “needs medical attention now.”

MUMIA HAS COVID- REMOTE CALL TO ACTION: Continuously call and urge others to call the following numbers to demand Mumia's immediate hospitalization and release:

Share widely and let’s keep the pressure on all day. #FreeMumia #FreeEmAll pic.twitter.com/kzFx5NAUAw

— Mumia Abu-Jamal (@MumiaAbuJamal) February 27, 2021

There were no immediate reports verifying the claim that Abu-Jamal has tested positive for the coronavirus.

However, there has been success in other states to release prisoners based on health concerns in jails and prisons, which have effectively become superspreader hot spots across the country.

Activist Pam Africa told the Philadelphia Inquirer that Abu-Jamal has COVID-19 symptoms.

“His breathing is challenging, and he’s afraid his lungs will be compromised,” said Africa, who added that she first learned of Abu-Jamal’s condition Friday night.

If true, Abu-Jamal’s age compounds the heightened risk he already faces as a prisoner and as a Black person, since COVID-19 has disproportionately affected minorities.

The CDC says older adults face a “greater risk of requiring hospitalization or dying if diagnosed with COVID-19.”

This is the latest effort to get Abu-Jamal released from prison.

In November, free-agent NFL quarterback and social justice activist Colin Kaepernick joined the decades-long calls for Abu-Jamal’s freedom.

“We’re in the midst of a movement that says Black Lives Matter. If that is the case, then Mumia’s life and freedom must matter,” Kaepernick said during a pre-recorded video statement alongside groups that included Black Lives Matter Philadelphia, Mobilization 4 Mumia and the Black Philly Radical Collective. “Even while living in the hells of the prison system, Mumia still fights for our human rights. We must continue to fight for him and his human rights.”

Born Wesley Cook, the activist, journalist and member of the Black Panther Party was behind the wheel of his taxi in Philadelphia just before 4 a.m. on Dec. 9, 1981, when police officer Daniel Faulkner conducted a traffic stop of a light blue Volkswagen. His brother, William “Billy” Cook, was the driver. Abu-Jamal, parked just across the street, approached the scene. Within minutes he had been shot in the chest and Faulkner had been shot dead. Abu-Jamal was arrested as the accused perpetrator.

The details of precisely how those fateful minutes unfolded remain one of the most debated accounts in recent criminal justice history. However, since his conviction in 1982, there has arguably been enough evidence stacking on the side of those who maintain Abu-Jamal’s innocence that entire books, movies, and fashions have been dedicated to the Free Mumia cause.

SEE ALSO:

5 Reasons Why Mumia Abu-Jamal Should Be Released

10 Things You Didn’t Know About Mumia Abu-Jamal

Source: CSPAN screenshot

UPDATED: 9:00 a.m. ET, March 1, 2021 —

New year, same old Candace Owens.

After starting 2021 by regurgitating debunked and hateful conspiracy theories about New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Owens — who, notably, has sympathized with Nazi leader Adolf Hitler and repeatedly blamed Black men for being killed by the police — is among the chorus of conservatives disingenuously lauding failed and former President Donald Trump.

It would take many, many, many millions for me to sell out Black people the way Candace Owens and Christian Walker and Diamond & Cotton do. They’ve sold out their people and sold their souls and they did it for a small price. They’re bad at grifting.

— Young Daddy (@Toure) March 1, 2021

This time around, she suggested Trump was a feminist. Yes, the same Donald Trump who once bragged he could sexually assault women at will because he is a celebrity. But, continuing that same inane thought, Owens managed to squeeze in what is becoming her trademark transphobia.

When a racist white person tells you, “some of my best friends are Black,“ they’re talking about Candace Owens.

— Bishop Talbert Swan (@TalbertSwan) March 1, 2021

“If you guys are wondering what actual feminism is, it’s Donald Trump having the courage to stand up on stage and call out the insanity of biological men dominating women’s sports,” Owens tweeted without a hint of irony ahead of Trump’s first public remarks since Joe Biden ousted him from the White House.

Seeing as Candace Owens is a black white supremacist, it only makes sense for her to confuse misogyny for feminism and transphobia for courage. pic.twitter.com/nxh8jaHb2j

— Kate (@ImSpeaking13) March 1, 2021

As a result, Owens was promptly and rightfully dragged across social media for her latest attempt at desperately establishing relevance beyond being relegated to a laughing stock for her hatred.

Just a reminder that Candace Owens tried to make money off liberals by running a very liberal blog. When she failed to get money out of liberal who are too smart to buy her crappy writing and brand, she suddenly became ultra-conservative. She’s one of the worst drifters around.

— James Kosur (@JamesKosur) March 1, 2021

Republicans, though, have eaten up her despicable drivel in part because Owens remains steadfast in her self-hatred and anti-Black stances. Like when they had her tap dancing before Congress in 2019 in a failed effort to downplay concerns of white supremacy and white nationalism.

black people every time they wake up and see Candace Owens is trending again pic.twitter.com/iQq6rVMMpk

— T. (@_therealtaylorm) March 1, 2021

The end result has been resounding and increasing evidence that Candace Owens is a fraud; and we have endless receipts.

Lawsuit With the NAACP

Owens now calls the NAACP “one of the worst groups for Black people,” even though the organization helped her win a racial discrimination lawsuit. In 2007, she accused some white boys of racially harassing and threatening to kill her. Owens claimed the boys were the son of then-Stamford Mayor Dannel Malloy, Connecticut’s former governor. Because of the NAACP, Owens’ family received a settlement of $37,500 from Stamford Public Schools.

Scot X. Esdaile, the Connecticut NAACP president who helped Owens with her lawsuit, was shocked to hear she had become a conservative. Esdaile told Mic, “We’re very saddened and disappointed in her. It seems to me that she’s now trying to play to a different type of demographic.”

He also said, “It’s the same type of thing Clarence Thomas did. [Thomas] reaped all the benefits of affirmative action and then tried to roll over on it. It’s that kind of mentality and disrespect.”

Anti-Trump Website

In May of 2018, BuzzFeed reported that Candace Owens was the CEO of an anti-Trump, liberal-leaning website called Degree180. Owens wrote in 2015 that it was “good news” that the “Republican Tea Party … will eventually die off (peacefully in their sleep, we hope).”

Degree180 also talked about Trump’s penis size and him being racist with an immigrant wife.

The site reportedly shut down by the end of 2016 and Owens magically “came out” as a conservative on YouTube a few months later.

Fox News

By March of 2018, Owens was slithering onto TV stations and finally made it to Fox News. She spit out a line that went viral and made her a darling of pseudo-conservatives. Owens said the National Rifle Association was founded as a civil rights organization that protected Black people from the KKK. Even the Fox News host said, “I’ve never heard that before! That’s so interesting!” She never heard it before, either, because it was a lie.

Watch the insanity below:

"The Democrats have been good at wiping away history and re-writing it” –@RealCandaceO talks about joining NRA which she says started as a civil rights organization pic.twitter.com/gqSMUKKdoU

— FOX & friends (@foxandfriends) March 4, 2018

PolitiFact confirmed she lied or is just willfully ignorant. According to the NRA’s own web site, “Dismayed by the lack of marksmanship shown by their troops, Union veterans Col. William C. Church and Gen. George Wingate formed the National Rifle Association in 1871. The primary goal of the association would be to ‘promote and encourage rifle shooting on a scientific basis,’ according to a magazine editorial written by Church.”

However, her fraudulent comment made her a media darling.

Another Lawsuit

Back in January of this year, Owens attacked New York Rep. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez for being “fiscally irresponsible” because the newly elected congresswoman couldn’t afford an apartment in Washington, D.C. However, reporter Nathan Bernard exposed Owens by posting a lawsuit that showed “she rented a $3,500 apartment, lived there for six months rent-free, then claimed she had gotten ‘toxic mold sickness’ and threatened to sue her landlord to avoid paying rent.”

At the age of 28, Candace Owens was so fiscally irresponsible that she rented a $3,500 apartment, lived there for six months rent-free, then claimed she had gotten “toxic mold sickness” and threatened to sue her landlord to avoid paying rent, legal documents prove pic.twitter.com/2rRUwvJfnn

— Nathan Bernard (@nathanTbernard) January 14, 2019

She allegedly stopped paying rent in September of 2016 and was evicted in January of 2017, which coincides with her “coming out” as a conservative only months later.

As for the mold claims, a legal analyst told Bernard Media, “The obvious question is if the place was so unlivable why stay there 6 months, even rent free? Why not get out of there especially if you can afford an apartment for $3,500? It’s not difficult to identify a toxic mold infestation either. If you started to exhibit symptoms that seemed related to the infestation, why not notify a doctor immediately? Also, why sue a year later after moving out? There are a lot of questions that arise on first glance at this case. She’s going to have a huge burden of proof at trial.”

Social Autopsy

In the spring of 2016, Owens launched an anti-cyberbullying website called Social Autopsy. She reportedly started a Kickstarter campaign to raise $75,000 (she sure likes money she doesn’t have to work for). CTPost.com described the site as a “searchable database of offensive speech found on social media.” Owens wanted to expose people who anonymously harassed others online, which is known as doxing and is a huge no-no among conservatives. She claimed she got pushback from the left, which was allegedly one of the sparks that lit her conservative fire.

However, Quillette.com reported, it was the right who attacked her.

“While Owens portrays herself as a victim of leftist persecution, the fact is that the initial backlash against Social Autopsy came mostly from the ‘cultural libertarian’ opposition to the authoritarian left. YouTube video bloggers Matt Jarbo (“Mundane Matt”) and Chris Maldonado (“Chris Ray Gun”), both strong critics of ‘social justice warriors,’ were among the first to blast the project as a terrible idea. Another early negative report came from none other than Breitbart; it was written by Allum Bokhari, a frequent co-author of the not-yet-disgraced Milo Yiannopoulos and a leading foe of the ‘SJW’ left in digital and tech culture,” the site wrote.

This would make sense because it is clearly people on the right or MAGA crazies who don’t want to be exposed for their hatred. You can hear Owens doing the voiceover for the Social Autopsy video below:

Blexit

Her term Blexit, which got her embarrassed by Kanye West who implied she “used” him, is a slogan that was stolen from the Bank Black movement. Listen to the actual founder of Blexit, Me’la Connelly, explaining how Owens stole her slogan:

Please listen to a clip of my interview below with @meleaofmpls – the actual founder of Blexit, which is about Black economic empowerment, not division. #TheRealBlexit #ReclaimBlexit #Blexit #claycaneshow pic.twitter.com/w9bP3YzGt5

— Clay 'Didn't Hold My Vote Hostage' Cane (@claycane) November 1, 2018

In addition, Owens’ Blexit site is packed with historical inaccuracies. Historian Kevin Kruse broke this down for her on Twitter and he was blocked. The thread is an excellent read packed with facts.

As Candace Owens testifies to a congressional hearing on white supremacy, I'll repost this thread in which I showed her "Blexit" site was filled with fake quotes and distortions.

(Her response to this thread was to block me immediately.) https://t.co/edyqhtPrUp

— Kevin M. Kruse (@KevinMKruse) September 20, 2019

Within only a few years, Owens had two failed internet projects, didn’t pay rent and then somehow became a conservative, landing a job at Turning Point USA. She is now known for outlandish language. She said Hitler only wanted to make Germany “great again.”

After the horrific mail bombs sent to Democrats back in October, she tweeted then deleted, “I’m going to go ahead and state that there is a 0% chance that these ‘suspicious packages’ were sent out by conservatives. The only thing ‘suspicious’ about these packages is their timing. Caravans, fake bomb threats—these leftists are going ALL OUT for midterms.”

There are true conservatives out there who have been involved in politics for years, but Owens does not appear to be one of them. She is clearly in this for fame, attention and is following the money.

SEE ALSO:

Black Conservatives Denounce Candace Owens’ After ‘Hateful’ Comments About Ahmaud Arbery

Hitler-Sympathizing Candace Owens Had A Twitter Track Record Of Inspiring Lawlessness Well Before Michigan

Travis Scott Provides 50,000 Meals to Houston Residents Affected by Texas Freeze amid Pandemic​ https://t.co/XXOyPQhB4o

— People (@people) February 26, 2021

Webster’s nonprofit the Cactus Jack Foundation—an organization he founded to empower youth in Houston—teamed up with the Houston Health Foundation and the City of Houston for the creation of an emergency food program. Through the initiative, 50,000 hot meals will be distributed to vulnerable residents in the Houston area who are homebound, senior citizens, disabled, low-income or unemployed. Following the storm, nearly half of Texas residents were under boil-water advisories and over 85,000 people did not have power. Although the advisories have been lifted there are still a lot of residents struggling to navigate the aftermath of the storm.

Webster isn’t the only Houston native who has stepped up to support his hometown. Songstress Beyoncé’s BeyGOOD Foundation teamed up with Adidas and Bread of Life—a nonprofit dedicated to eliminating food insecurity, improving healthcare and supporting the needs of the Houston community—to support residents who are facing emergency-related financial hardships stemming from the storm. The BeyGOOD Foundation and activist Trae tha Truth also distributed water and 1,000 meals. The Houston Rockets recently joined forces with Operation BBQ Relief and the Fertitta Family to host a contactless drive-thru food distribution event outside of the Toyota Center. The NBA team also held a water distribution event on February 23. “You can be a champion in more places than on the court,” Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said in a statement. “When people in your city and your community are hurting and you step up to meet their need, you are a champion in their books.”

SEE ALSO:

Beyoncé’s BeyGOOD Foundation Leads Efforts To Help Texans Impacted By Severe Winter Storm

Houston Mayor Calls On Texas To Pay For Skyrocketing Energy Bills Following Winter Storm

Source: David Dee Delgado / Getty

One week after a bombshell letter accused the NYPD and FBI of conspiring to assassinate civil rights leader Malcolm X, another stirring implication has been made.

Kelly Wood, the daughter of a deceased former NYPD officer is speaking out about a letter that purports to show that her father, Raymond Wood, was involved in the assassination plot. Wood’s daughter Kelly told NY1 that the letter is forged and called the release of the letter a “slanderous act” and a “stain” on the “reputation that he worked so to protect.”

“I know that my father did not write this letter,” Wood said. “I know that is not his signature and I know the envelope they’re using to somehow justify that the letter was mailed is also a fake.”

Wood’s nephew Reggie presented the information to Malcolm X’s daughters in hopes to submit it as evidence into his murder investigation. Last year the Manhattan District Attorney’s office announced it would review the case following the release of an in-depth documentary detailing the conspiracy theories around Malcolm X’s death.

In the letter Wood reportedly said that he played a role in the assassination plot by arresting two of Malcolm X’s security guards days before he was shot to death.

“I participated in actions that in hindsight were deplorable and detrimental to the advancement of my own Black people,” the letter says. “My actions on behalf of the New York City Police Department were done under duress and fear.”

The letter also states that Thomas Johnson, one of the men arrested in connection with Malcolm X’s murder, was wrongfully convicted.

Malcolm X’s family continues their fight to find out who was involved in the assassination of their father, who was killed 56 years ago.

“Any evidence that provides greater insight into the truth behind that terrible tragedy should be thoroughly investigated,” Ilyasah Shabazz, the daughter of Malcolm X said.

Wood believes that her cousin is positioning himself in order to gain publicity for an upcoming book release.

“My father is not a coward. He would have never, ever asked anyone to speak on his behalf after his passing. If he had something to say, he would have said it when he was alive,” Kelly Woods said.

SEE ALSO:

New Evidence Regarding Malcolm X’s Assassination Names NYPD, FBI As Co-Conspirators

Girl, Be Gone! Fraudulent Candace Owens Uses Malcolm X To Justify Her Self-Hate

Common to Produce Biopic of Voting Rights Activist Fannie Lou Hamer (Exclusive) https://t.co/ZaIcMZFDAA

— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) February 26, 2021

The film, dubbed God’s Long Summer, will delve into Hamer’s upbringing in Montgomery County, Mississippi and chronicle the experiences that led her down a path of fighting against injustice. Hamer joined the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee in 1962 and spearheaded initiatives centered on voting rights. Two years after joining SNCC, she ran for Congress and co-founded the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party which was launched to encourage and increase Black political participation. Although voter registration was at the core of her mission, she led efforts focused on family services and Black entrepreneurship.

Lynn says he wants to use this film to shine a light on her contributions. “Fannie Lou Hamer is a revolutionary figure we should all know,” he said in a statement, according to the news outlet. “Her story and impact is evidence that Black history is American history. We have all benefited from her work and dedication. I feel blessed to be working with this incredible group of producers to bring this story to the screen.” God’s Long Summer will be created under Waxylu Films. Jeff Waxman, Jennifer Madeloff, Jackie Bazan and Jay Speights will produce alongside Common. The script is being penned by Peter J. Meli who has pulled inspiration from Hamer’s autobiography To Praise Our Bridges.

This isn’t the only biopic in the works about a phenomenal Black woman. Actress and director Regina King is working on a film about pioneering politician Shirley Chisholm. The movie will highlight the journey of the Brooklyn native who made history as the first African American U.S. Congresswoman.

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Russell Westbrook Is Opening Middle and High Schools in L.A.: I 'Want to Inspire and Empower'​ https://t.co/rSQ8oYsevl

— People (@people) February 24, 2021

Westbrook is joining forces with the L.A. Promise Fund for the creation of the Russell Westbrook Why Not? Academy. The nonprofit organization is centered on providing youth with the tools and resources needed to thrive in college and in their professional careers. Research shows in California there is a significant achievement gap that stems from an unleveled educational playing field. Aware of the inequities that exist within the school system, Westbrook was determined to develop a solution that would eliminate the socioeconomic barriers standing in the way of accessibility to an adequate education.

Westbrook says witnessing the impact of his nonprofit the Why Not? Foundation propelled him to move forward with launching the schools. Seeing the obstacles faced by students from underserved communities gave him insight into their needs and inspired him to cultivate an environment where they can rise beyond their circumstances and thrive. “Creating and supporting educational opportunities for underserved youth has always been a passion of mine. It’s so important that every child has access to a good education regardless of their socioeconomic background,” he said in a statement, according to the news outlet. “My goal in partnering with the LA Promise Fund is to ensure our South L.A. students are ready for college and, ultimately, success in a 21st-century career.”

This is not the first education-focused initiative Westbrook has led. Amid the pandemic, as many schools pivoted to virtual learning, he teamed up with Comp-U-Dopt and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner‘s office of education to donate 650 computers to children in need. In 2019, he launched the Westbrook/Brownstein Green Tech Program to provide teenagers in Los Angeles with engineering, coding and computer literacy classes.

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Source: University of Pennsylvania / Penn Today

If successfully navigating the turbulent waters of politics is an indication of intelligence, then Stacey Abrams must be a genius, Ben Jealous, President of People For the American Way, a progressive social and political advocacy organization, recently suggested.

Therefore, he concluded, building off that metaphor, her political genius is just like spades, the card game that is so popular with Black folks.

The two longtime friends spoke virtually on Feb. 19 during a conversation facilitated by the University of Pennsylvania, where Jealous is a visiting scholar at the Annenberg School for Communication, the School of Social Policy & Practice as well as the university’s law school.

The playful exchange between Jealous — who is also the former president of the NAACP — and Abrams — who has been widely credited for her role in first flipping Georgia blue and then later for Democrats’ victories in last month’s Senate runoff races — had a lot of truth to it.

Allow Jealous to explain:

“You’ve got a partner, and you have to be able to trust your partner, but you also have to be willing to sacrifice in order to win. . . Sometimes you’ll have to sacrifice a queen or king to an ace, but if that gets you closer to being able to play a spade against someone else’s face card, do it. Play to win,” she said. “My grandmother said, ‘Every card only wins once; the cards are what they are,’” she said, so there was no point in holding on and waiting around. “You have to watch the table; you’ve got to know what fell. I watch my partner, but I also watch the table so that I know what not to do, or what opportunity is coming up for me to take advantage of.”

Watch Jealous offer up his Spades analogy during his conversation with Abrams.

Jealous recently penned an op-ed for NewsOne that, in retrospect, revealed a glimpse of his spades analogy line of thinking when he accurately said the recent Senate runoff elections in Georgia were a game-changer for diversity in federal courts. Just like in November’s general election, Abrams was lauded for securing the Democratic Senate wins needed to help bring that aforementioned diversity to a federal bench replete with white men.

Using Jealous’ analogy, Abrams not only played to win in those elections, but she was able to do so effectively because, as it turned out, her own gubernatorial campaign in 2018 was, in retrospect, a sacrifice in itself that was needed to effect the kind of historic electoral change for others that she has achieved to resounding results.

Oh, and did we mention that the game of spades and Stacey Abrams are both immensely popular with Black people? That part of Jealous’ analogy doesn’t hurt, either.

You can read more about the conversation between Abrams and Jealous at Penn Today.

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Source: CHANDAN KHANNA / Getty

A federal judge indefinitely blocking Joe Biden‘s 100-day pause on deportations came as the president’s administration already grants Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents with way too much latitude, advocates say. Black immigrants like those from Haiti are of particular concern to immigration activists worried about their potential return to nations either mired in conflict, poverty, both or worse.

The Texas judge’s ruling came on Wednesday, but Biden’s previously announced policy that prioritizes the deportations of people who allegedly pose a threat remained in effect.

A Washington Post reporter called it “a win for Biden,” but the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) was among those maintaining that the interim guidance was a step backward.

NEW Judge Tipton, in a midnight ruling, granted Texas’ request for a preliminary injunction halting Biden’s 100-day pause on deportations.

BUT he did not throw out the Jan 20 memo setting ICE’s new priorities, a win for Biden.

Earlier: https://t.co/vqAFzbGgTR pic.twitter.com/BkK6W8zKVv

— Maria Sacchetti (@mariasacchetti) February 24, 2021

“The interim enforcement priorities detailed today import the injustices of the criminal legal system and will lead to continued disproportionate deportations of Black and Brown immigrants,” Naureen Shah, senior advocacy and policy counsel for the ACLU, said in a statement.

The Biden Administration came into office on a promise that it would halt the deportation policies of prior administrations. But deportations continued with advocates raising awareness of the policies, in particular the conditions of Black immigrants.

Responding to a tweet about a Boston Globe op-ed Rep. Ayanna Pressley called the mass deportations amoral and dangerous.

The mass deportations of Haitians & Black immigrants is amoral & dangerous.@ICEgov is a rogue agency that is beyond reform.

We must rebuild our immigration system to affirm the dignity & humanity of every person in America, regardless of immigration status or skin color. https://t.co/lmBx85IefH

— Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (@RepPressley) February 23, 2021

Deportations of Haitians have drawn particular criticism given the current political situation in the country. Reportedly, more than 900 Haitians have been deported during Black History Month despite Biden’s expressed commitment to equity and racial justice.

Haitians have been disproportionately devastated by enforcement & deportation; over 900 Haitian immigrants have been deported just this month. We need Congress and the WH to #StopTheDeportations and pass an immigration reform rooted in racial justice. https://t.co/NbRZ6rOidj

— Fair Immigration Reform Movement (@Re4mImmigration) February 23, 2021

Over the past few weeks, Haitians have protested the ongoing rule by the current president. Many in Haiti argue that President Jovenel Moïse’s term ended earlier this month. The country also has been vague about holding elections to fill legislative and municipal seats. 

“At a time when Black immigrants are being deported, including to the lethal situation in Haiti, the Biden administration must not hesitate to put real limits on ICE,” concluded Shah.

Demonstrators protest outside the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service office in Miami on Feb. 20, 2021, demanding that the Biden administration cease deporting Haitian immigrants back to Haiti. | Source: CHANDAN KHANNA / Getty

Black lawmakers have also challenged the Biden Administration’s seeming support for Haitian President Jovenel Moïse. Reps. Yvette Clarke, Gregory Meeks, and Ilhan Omar were among those calling for the U.S. to “unambiguously reject the undemocratic actions of President Moïse to retain power in Haiti.”

In a recent op-ed, Rep. Maxine Waters called Moïse’s push for a constitutional referendum unconstitutional. The California Congresswoman also challenged the recent arrest of a Haitian Supreme Court Justice, calling out the “mild reproach” of the U.S. Embassy as ineffective.

True coverage on what’s happening in #Haiti. This should be EVERYWHERE. Haiti’s cry for freedom and outrage of dictatorship under Jovenel Moise backed by the U.S. is a huge issue. But this isn’t new! The U.S. has played a huge part in preventing the progression of the country. https://t.co/Cv8UvMkCys

— Rebecca Azor (@RebeccaAzor) February 22, 2021

Haitian American journalist Rebecca Azor pointed to an October 2019 tweet from then-Senator and candidate Biden seemingly distancing himself from the Trump administration’s stance on a brewing crisis between the Haitian president and political opposition.

As president, I would press for dialogue to prevent further violence and instability. Investing in Haiti’s prosperity and security is in the national security interest of the United States.

— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) October 23, 2019

“This just goes to show Biden is just a politician,” said Azor. “His lackluster efforts which continued the mass deportation of Haitians and his recent endorsement of Haitian President Jovenel Moise’s dictatorship, shows us that Haiti’s progression is the last thing on his mind.” 

Anoa Changa is a movement journalist and retired attorney based in Atlanta, Georgia. Follow Anoa on Instagram and Twitter @thewaywithanoa.

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Source: Karl Gehring / Getty

It’s wild that in 2021 we still must explain when and in what context white people can use the N-word. While for some it may seem like a complicated discussion worthy of debate, the answer is simple:

Not as a part of a discussion. Not as an example. Never.

And yet debates persist, even among journalists and media personalities, about whether there are conditions where people can use it. But the focus on whether white people can use the word often ignores broader issues within workplaces, illustrating much deeper issues.

I just checked The NYT Alumni Group on Facebook, and the first thing I saw was a “When is it acceptable to use the N-word?” poll. https://t.co/INpcqqfN83

— Lil Uzi Hurt (@lostblackboy) February 22, 2021

The real question is why are white people so focused on being able to say a word that has always been an offensive term leveled at Black people. A common misbelief around the word is that it was used to mean simply someone who was ignorant, so that could warrant broader use of the term.

With close to 200 years of experience defining words, an expanded entry on the Merriam-Webster Dictionary website debunked the claim that the word has other uses.

“Its offensiveness is not new—dictionaries have been noting it for more than 150 years—but it has grown more pronounced with the passage of time,” read the entry. “The word now ranks as almost certainly the most offensive and inflammatory racial slur in English, a term expressive of hatred and bigotry.”

The entry continues on to explain that despite alleged other uses or origins, the word was and continues to be a derogatory term for Black people.

“There has never been a definition like ‘an ignorant person’ for this word in any subsequent dictionary published by this company,” concluded the entry. “We do not know the source of those beliefs, but they are not accurate.”

The N-word first appeared in Merriam-Webster in 1864 and included a notation that it was used in a depreciating or derisive manner. Given the well-settled historical use and context for the N-word, why are journalists and media personalities fixated on being able to use this word in any capacity?

Slate recently suspended Mike Pesca, host of the Slate podcast, “The Gist.” As initially reported by Defector, Pesca shifted a conversation in the company Slack from a discussion about a now-former New York Times reporter’s resignation after coming under fire for using the N-word. Accounts from several staff members, and screenshots obtained by Defector, show that Pesca steered the conversation to his belief that there are situations that permit the word’s use.

The NAACP held a mock funeral to bury the N-word in Detroit in 2007. | Source: Photo by Bill Pugliano/Getty Images / Getty

Pesca even tried to hide behind an article written by a Black writer exploring whether white people can ever use the word. In a 2019 article for the Atlantic, John McWhorter focused on the case of Laurie Sheck, a professor who received backlash for her use of the N-word during a class discussion about the documentary, “I Am Not Your Negro.” McWhorter pointed out that James Baldwin had actually said, “I am not your nigger.” Sheck used the word when she asked her class why the title substituted the word “negro.”

But McWhorter’s argument for why Sheck’s use should be acceptable (for this writer it was unnecessary and sensational) does not absolve Pesca’s documented history of trying to use the word or force conversations about why he should be permitted to use it in certain circumstances.

It’s not for Pesca, or any white person, to decide their use is proper. Also, Black people using the word in self-determined expression, as did Baldwin in 1963, does not give Pesca, Sheck or anyone else the right to repeat it.

Arguably, part of the reason the word is so taboo has to do with deeper issues of power and discrimination. Forcing discussions about the use of the word, instead of confronting actual issues of power and hostility, undermines people’s experiences in workplaces and academia alike.

It’s about the power and entitlement of the person fixated on saying a word they have been told is off-limits. Also, conversations about whether white people can use the N-word are more about feelings of entitlement and whataboutism.

And this isn’t about whether the version of the word used ends in -er or -a. Or whether rappers say it, too. That’s another conversation entirely. But for the record: No, white people also can’t say it when singing the lyrics to a song.

Having journalists and others who decide coverage and narrative framings stuck on using any racial epithet is only a small part of a larger conversation about how the media is centered in whiteness and fixated on fictional harms while not addressing real challenges.

Not being allowed to use the N-word as a white person is not an injustice. Anyone claiming there is room for debate about when white or other non-Black people can use the word is not really interested in discourse.

They just want to protect a sense of entitlement and access.

Anoa Changa is a movement journalist and retired attorney based in Atlanta, Georgia. Follow Anoa on Instagram and Twitter @thewaywithanoa.

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Source: Scott Olson / Getty

Former President Barack Obama said he believes America owes a debt to the descendants of enslaved Africans, reversing his position on reparations as debate about legislation on the contentious topic gains steam in Congress.

In a conversation with co-host Bruce Springsteen on their new podcast, Obama said he supported the concept in theory but could not be vocal about his support as president because of an expected backlash from white people.

The first two episodes of #RenegadesPodcast with President @BarackObama and @Springsteen are out right now https://t.co/piXieqnYrJ pic.twitter.com/RWIqkLx3tH

— Spotify (@Spotify) February 22, 2021

“What I saw during my presidency was the politics of white resistance and resentment, the talk of welfare queens and the talk of the undeserving poor and the backlash against affirmative action,” Obama said on the podcast. “All that made the prospect of actually proposing any kind of coherent, meaningful reparations program struck me as, politically, not only a non-starter but potentially counter-productive.”

While Obama addressed the topic in different ways during his initial campaign, he repeatedly said he did not support reparations. A PolitiFact fact check referenced Obama’s response to a 2007-2008 NAACP presidential questionnaire when Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders came under fire for saying his opposition to reparations was similar to the country’s first Black president:

“I fear that reparations would be an excuse for some to say ‘we’ve paid our debt’ and to avoid the much harder work of enforcing our anti-discrimination laws in employment and housing; the much harder work of making sure that our schools are not separate and unequal; the much harder work of providing job training programs and rehabilitating young men coming out of prison every year; and the much harder work of lifting 37 million Americans of all races out of poverty.

“These challenges will not go away with reparations. So while I applaud and agree with the underlying sentiment of recognizing the continued legacy of slavery, I would prefer to focus on the issues that will directly address these problems – and building a consensus to do just that.”

This example of Obama’s hesitance to support reparations was also noted by economist William A. Darity Jrin the book, “From Here to Equality: Reparations for Black Americans in the Twenty-First Century.”

Darity and his co-author A. Kirsten Mullen argued that Obama’s narrow interpretation of reparations completely disregarded the subsequent period of Jim Crow segregation and other discrimination against Black people, the results of which still linger to this day.

Obama’s new admission came as advocates see 2021 as the year a reparations bill may finally pass. Originally introduced by the late Rep. John Conyers in 1989, House Resolution (H.R.) 40 authorizes a study commission to examine reparations. Conyers introduced the legislation every single year but H.R. 40 never made it to the floor for a vote.

Inspired by the grant of reparations to Japanese Americans in the late 1980s, Conyers worked with the National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America in crafting the legislation. Conyers expressed hope that Obama would have supported H.R. 40 during his run for president.

Activists stage a protest to mark the National Reparations Day in Washington, DC., in 2019. | Source: Alex Wong / Getty

Obama’s change of heart on the subject may come as a surprise to some given his lack of public support even for the study commission bill. Texas Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee has taken up the mantle of H.R. 50 which now has 173 co-sponsors in the house. A Senate companion bill introduced by New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker has 17 co-sponsors.

Over the past several years, the politically correct answer for elected officials asked if they support reparations has been to sidestep the question and say they support a study on the subject. Black organizers pushed the issue to the forefront of the 2020 presidential contest demanding candidates seeking the Black vote state clear positions on the subject.

Last week during a hearing, Jackson Lee said the bill is about addressing ongoing disparities. She said it would be an active commission to study and develop proposals addressing reparations. But for Lee, the presence of people she calls “the overcomes,” like former President Obama and current Vice President Kamala Harris, does not erase the past.

“Now more than ever the facts and circumstances facing our nation demonstrate the importance of H.R. 40 and the necessity of placing our nation on the path to reparative justice,” shared Lee said.

Anoa Changa is a movement journalist and retired attorney based in Atlanta, Georgia. Follow Anoa on Instagram and Twitter @thewaywithanoa.

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Source: Icon Sportswire / Getty

The WNBA and the NBA approved the sale of the Atlanta Dream on Friday, placing ownership in the hands of investor group led by Northland real estate Chairman Larry Gottesdiener, company COO Suzanne Abair and former Dream star Renee Montgomery.

BIG NEWS

https://t.co/H9ik5M4fSS#GoDream pic.twitter.com/bYQw85LZQ4

— Atlanta Dream (@AtlantaDream) February 26, 2021

Blessings Moments really do equal Momentum. I’m so excited so can y’all start showing yalls support by hitting that follow button @AtlantaDream #DreamPursuer #momentsequalmomentum pic.twitter.com/D3cgEtZGzt

— Renee Montgomery (@ReneeMontgomery) February 26, 2021

Montgomery retired this month after 11 seasons in the WNBA and became the first former player to own a WNBA team.

This is Montgomery’s second venture into owning a sports franchise. In January she partnered with former NFL player Marshawn Lynch as co-owner of Team Beasts in the new Fan Controlled Football League.

Friday’s announcement ended the 10-year investor stake for owner Kelly Loeffler, who lost her  bid for Senate last month.

Splintering between the former Georgia senator and Dream players began last year during the Black Lives Matter protests, where sports athletes played a large role in megaphoning the moment to the masses.

Loeffler, a conservative who aligned herself with overt racists, bigots and white supremacists, opposed the social justice initiatives led by sports teams. Loeffler penned a letter to WNBA commissioner Cathy Englebert last summer in an attempt to reduce the importance around the organization’s social justice initiatives.

Loeffler’s stance created tension for Black WNBA players, an organization with a large percentage of Black players who were affected by the ongoing killings of their community members around America. 70 percent of WNBA players are Black, similar to the NBA where 74.2 percent of the players are Black. Players began advocating for Leoffler to sell her stake in the team.

“We are the women of the Atlanta Dream,” Dream players said in a July 10 statement. “We are women who support a movement. We are strong and we are fearless. We offer a voice to the voiceless. Our team is united in the Movement for Black Lives. It is not extreme to demand change after centuries of inequality. This is not a political statement. This is a statement of humanity. Black lives matter,” the team said in a response to Loeffler’s criticism.

Think I’m gone put together an ownership group for the The Dream. Whose in? #BlackVotesMatter pic.twitter.com/9wclgdED2w

— LeBron James (@KingJames) January 6, 2021

At one point they even donned t-shirts that said “Vote Warnock,” advocating for Loeffler’s opponent at the polls during the Senate runoff races, Rev. Raphael Warnock.

Montgomery sprung into action around ownership after NBA star LeBron James expressed interest in purchasing the team earlier this year.

Loeffler and former co-owner Mary Brock released a statement in support of the new ownership.

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Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch / Getty

UPDATED: 2:43 p.m. ET, Feb. 26, 2021 —

St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kimberly M. Gardner is fighting back after she was recently barred from overseeing the prosecution of Mark and Patricia McCloskey, a white couple who used fear and intimidation when they were captured pointing weapons at Black Lives Matter protesters in front of their home last summer.

This week Gardner’s office filed two petitions with the Missouri Supreme Court requesting to reverse orders that disqualified her from prosecuting the case, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. The order initiated by a lawyer for the McCloskeys, claimed Gardner was biased after submitting fundraising emails where Gardner named the case during her run for office in the primaries last summer.

Gardner’s petition comes a day after a special prosecutor was appointed to oversee the case. Richard Callahan, a former judge appointed by the Obama administration, will serve as prosecutor.

Original Story:

A judge who is also a former U.S. attorney appointed by President Barack Obama has been named as the special prosecutor to investigate the white couple who menaced peaceful Black Lives Matter protesters by aiming guns at them in St. Louis last summer.

Richard Callahan, the former U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri, recently resigned as a judge in the state’s Cole County to accept the role as the special prosecutor who will ultimately determine whether Mark and Patricia McCloskey deserve criminal charges for their actions.

Callahan, 73, told the Post-Dispatch that he plans to approach the McCloskey case the same as other politically charged cases he’s handled in the past.

“I am going to approach it the same way I’ve done anything in the last 49 years — start with a blank slate, follow the evidence and see where it takes me,” said Callahan, who was appointed by Obama to be U.S. attorney in 2010.

The McCloskeys made news last summer after reports surfaced of them waving guns at protesters marching on their way to Mayor Lyda Krewson’s house. A viral video from the June 28 incident showed Mark brandishing an AR-15 and Patricia with her finger on the trigger of her gun outside of their home.

This white St. Louis couple pointed guns at protesters walking by their house. Pres. Trump later retweeted the video without explanation pic.twitter.com/XMBFgmzsug

— NowThis (@nowthisnews) June 29, 2020

Charged with unlawful use of a weapon and evidence tampering, the McCloskeys are also accused of altering the pistol held by Patricia prior to giving it to investigators. The McCloskeys’ antics earned them an appearance during the Republican National Convention in August. They spoke at a “gun rights” rally at the Missouri Capitol earlier this week.

Callahan’s appointment comes after St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kimberley Gardner, a Black woman, was disqualified from the case. Gardner subsequently appealed the decision but remains off the case because of the alleged appearance of impropriety when she mentioned the case in fundraising emails.

In her defense, Gardner said any mention of the case was to defend herself from Republican attacks ahead of elections last summer. Missouri Gov. Mike Parson, former President Donald Trump and other high-ranking Republicans threw their weight behind efforts to unseat Gardner and used the McCloskey case as a cause to rally around.

Parson has previously said he would pardon the McCloskeys if found guilty.

Anoa Changa is a movement journalist and retired attorney based in Atlanta, Georgia. Follow Anoa on Instagram and Twitter @thewaywithanoa.

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With over 1 million students and 1,800 schools under her jurisdiction, Porter, 47, says she’s ready for the challenge.

“I’ve dedicated my life to @NYCschools, and cannot imagine a greater honor than the opportunity to lead as Chancellor. @NYCmayor de Blasio and Chancellor Carranza have laid an incredible foundation. I am ready to hit the ground running and lead our schools to a full recovery,” Porter tweeted on Friday.

I've dedicated my life to @NYCschools, and cannot imagine a greater honor than the opportunity to lead as Chancellor. @NYCmayor de Blasio and Chancellor Carranza have laid an incredible foundation. I am ready to hit the ground running and lead our schools to a full recovery.

— Meisha Porter (@MeishaPorter) February 26, 2021

Porter’s appointment comes 30 years after educator Richard R. Green became the first Black New York City Schools Chancellor, serving from 1988-1989.

Carranza is stepping down after serving as chancellor since 2018, making way for Porter to assume the role on March 15. Porter, a Queens native, has decades of experience as a teacher and administrator and currently serves as the Bronx Executive Superintendent. Porter also co-founded the Bronx School for Law, Government and Justice.

Meet Meisha Ross Porter, New York City's new schools chancellor. She says she'll never forget what it's like to be in the classroom, especially now when teachers are grappling with blended learning during the pandemic. pic.twitter.com/MBYXzD8WzH

— Emma G. Fitzsimmons (@emmagf) February 26, 2021

Her appointment comes at the height of disagreements between Mayor Bill de Blasio and Carranza over the reshaping of schools, away from segregation and inequity which routinely affects Black and brown students. New York, while heralded for its diversity and culture is home to the most segregated school system in the country. White and asian students make up 75 percent of the city’s gifted student programs, where Black and Latino kids make up 70 percent of the total number of students in New York City, The New York Times reports.

On top of creating opportunities for Black and brown students to excel, the ongoing pandemic has upended life for students everywhere, especially in highly populated areas like New York City.

School procedures implemented in states like New York, California and Texas often lay the groundwork for the rest of the country, and will catapult Porter into the national conversation around education and learning.

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Kentucky Senate Passes Bill Restricting No-Knock Warrants, But Breonna Taylor’s Supporters Say It Doesn’t Go Far Enough

Source: Jason Armond / Getty

Kentucky legislators unanimously voted to approve a bill that would restrict the usage of “no-knock” warrants on Thursday, in an increasing effort to prohibit excessive force  policies evoked in the death of Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old Black woman who was fatally shot last spring after Louisville cops raided her home during a botched raid.

House members will now move forward with a vote.

The bill, filed by Senate President Robert Stivers states that no-knock warrants can only be acquired with “clear and convincing evidence” that the “crime alleged is a crime that would qualify a person, if convicted, as a violent offender.” The warrants would have to be executed between the hours of 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. Another aspect of the bill requires officers to go through a more expansive process in order to obtain warrants, as well as an eligible signature from the judge who approved the warrant.

Community activists and leaders advocated for reform throughout the summer during the Black Lives Matter demonstrations in response to the gross negligence and errors made leading to Taylor’s death. Much of the focus centered around the usage of a no-knock warrant which falsely accused Taylor of participating in a drug ring orchestrated by her former boyfriend Jamarcus Glover. In the end, Taylor was murdered while no drugs were discovered in her home.

Measures like the one which recently passed in Kentucky’s state house continue to gain widespread support, moving upwards through the government’s framework. Louisville’s Metro Council banned all no-knock warrants in June 2020, and other states like Virginia, Oregon and Florida have passed similar measures.

I woke up to messages from folks confused by the misleading post from the ACLU that SB 4 is Breonna’s Law. It is not.

HB 21 (https://t.co/6qxJU1DId3), with 15 legislative co-sponsors from across Kentucky, is Breonna’s Law. We practically mirrored it after Louisville’s bill. pic.twitter.com/UITOvBh9d7

— Attica Scott (@atticascott4ky) February 26, 2021

However in Kentucky, several legislators and community members in support of Taylor’s family believe reform has to go further to prevent another loss of life. Measures like Breonna’s Law, introduced by Kentucky lawmaker Rep. Attica Scott, calls for banning no-knock warrants and leans more heavily on police accountability.

Breonna’s Law would also require officers to turn on their body cameras while serving the warrant and anytime a police-involved shooting or a deadly incident occurs. Scott’s proposal also requires drug testing for officers involved in deadly incidents. The bill has not moved past the House.

Scott believes her colleagues in the Senate could have worked harder to compromise on a measure instead of moving forward on a seperate bill, and noted the challenges regarding policy around police reform policy due to a legislative body comprised mostly of Republican lawmakers.

“He [Stivers] could have, instead, worked with us to make sure that our bill reflected what he may have wanted to see in a no-knock warrant piece of legislation,” she told WKLY. “What political oppression looks like is the bill that we filed, House Bill 21, hasn’t even been assigned to a committee yet.”

Currently, lawmakers on Capitol Hill have a series of sweeping reforms related to criminal justice on the docket. One of which includes the Justice For Breonna Taylor Act, which was introduced in the Senate last summer. The bill has backing from Kentucky Senator Rand Paul, with the vision that both Republicans and Democrats can come together to pass reform, but the bill has stalled for a vote.

“After talking with Breonna Taylor’s family, I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s long past time to get rid of no-knock warrants. This bill will effectively end no-knock raids in the United States,” Paul said last summer.

SEE ALSO:

Louisville Police Department Finally Fires Cops Who Shot Breonna Taylor And Sought Reckless Warrant

Civil Rights Leaders Unite To Demand Congress Pass The George Floyd Justice In Policing Act

Source: Bloomberg / Getty

Recently confirmed Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said he recommended the airstrike in Syria Thursday night that targeted the militia supported by Iran that attacked Americans earlier this month in Iraq.

The reported death toll ranged from one to more than a dozen people in the attack on buildings in Syria operated by the Kataeb Hezbollah, or Hezbollah Brigades, that was authorized by President Joe Biden. The U.S. military maintains that the Iraqi militia is responsible for killing a civilian contractor and injuring one American soldier as well as other troops in a missile attack on Feb 15.

In his first military action since taking office, US President Joe Biden has launched an airstrike on targets in Eastern Syria, killing 17 Iran-backed fighters.

The attack was in response to rockets launched at an airbase in Iraq earlier this month which killed a US contractor pic.twitter.com/pBmjurObiQ

— Middle East Eye (@MiddleEastEye) February 26, 2021

Austin told the Associated Press Thursday night that he always intended to retaliate against the militia.

“We said a number of times that we will respond on our timeline,” Austin said. “We wanted to be sure of the connectivity and we wanted to be sure that we had the right targets.”

He said he had no doubt that airstrike accomplished what was intended.

“I’m confident in the target that we went after, we know what we hit,” Austin also said while flying with reporters following the airstrike. He said it was “the same Shia militants that conducted the [Feb. 15] strikes.”

Austin told the New York Times the strategy was “deliberate” based on information from allies.

“We allowed and encouraged the Iraqis to investigate and develop intelligence and it was very helpful to us in refining the target,” Austin said.

The military maneuvering was the latest indication that Austin, the first Black person to lead the Pentagon, had dived headfirst into his historic role.

U.S. bombs facilities in Syria used by Iran-backed militia blamed for deadly Iraq attack. pic.twitter.com/FgCaAaq3wZ

— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) February 26, 2021

Aside from the airstrike in Syria and aiming to withdraw troops in Afghanistan, Austin has also been busy trying to fix things back at home.

He was recently compelled to confront sex assaults in the military after a member of the Marines released an emotional video claiming her assailant was allowed to remain in the armed forces. After learning of the video, which he called “disturbing,” Austin ordered an evaluation of military sex assault prevention programs.

“This starts with me and you can count on me getting after this on Day One,” Austin said last month.

Sex assaults were not the only scourge Austin is trying to rid the military of.

Austin also signed a 60-day military “stand down” in order to properly address extremism and white supremacy in the armed forces.

“We will not tolerate actions that go against the fundamental principles of the oath we share, including actions associated with extremist or dissident ideologies,” the memo sent by Austin to senior Pentagon leadership said in part.

In a related move, Austin created a new position to directly advise him on the topic of diversity and inclusion in the Pentagon ad the military.

Austin has also taken steps to address the reported hesitancy among military members to get vaccinated to protect against the coronavirus pandemic. Perhaps specifically speaking to Black servicemen and women, Austin said he understood the doubts but also emphasized trusting science.

“Because of some things that have happened in the past, there’s a degree of mistrust, and I think we have to collectively work hard to dispel rumors and to provide facts to people,” Austin said about the initiative to increase vaccinations in the military. “It’s been my experience that when armed with the facts, people will tend to make the right decisions.”

However, he stressed that getting vaccinated was a choice.

“These are individual decisions,” Austin said. “We want to make sure that they have the best information available to make those decisions.”

SEE ALSO:

Senate Confirms Lloyd Austin, Making Him The First Black Secretary Of Defense

Lloyd Austin Credits Black Military Predecessors In Defense Secretary-Designate’s Speech

According to the Associated Press, the group invaded the Government Secondary Jangebe School in Zamfara located in northern Nigeria early Friday morning. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.

A resident who said he witnessed the attack told the AP that the gunmen ascended upon the school while raiding a nearby military camp and checkpoint, blocking security from protecting the children while the abduction took place.

Conflicting reports say that some of the gunmen even dressed up as security, forcing the students into cars, while others were ushered away on foot.

A teacher told the BBC that 421 students attend the school, but only 55 were accounted for.

BREAKING: Residents say hundreds of schoolgirls are missing in northern Nigeria after an attack by gunmen in Zamfara state. https://t.co/jCVK91r8lh

— AP Africa (@AP_Africa) February 26, 2021

“They broke the school gate and shot at the security man. Then they moved into the hostels and woke up the girls, telling them it was time for prayers. After gathering all of them, the girls were crying and they took them away to the forest. They were also shooting in the air as they were marching to the forest,” a witness told the BBC.

Parents of the children have been left to pray for a miracle that their daughters will return to safety. One parent claims that two of his daughters, ages 10 and 13, were taken during the raid. Some of the parents have ventured into the outskirts to look for their daughters.

“We are angered and saddened and by yet another brutal attack on schoolchildren in Nigeria,” said Peter Hawkins, UNICEF’s Nigeria representative. “This is a gross violation of children’s rights and a horrific experience for children to go through.”

"We utterly condemn the attack & call on those responsible to release the girls immediately and for the government to take steps to ensure their safe release.”- @PeterF_Hawkins on the attack at Government Girls Secondary School, Zamfara, northwest Nigeria.https://t.co/NxuNchpZgA

— UNICEF Nigeria (@UNICEF_Nigeria) February 26, 2021

Friday’s kidnapping occurred days after unidentified attackers murdered a student while attempting to kidnap a group of 42 people, including students and teachers from the Government Science College Kagara in Niger. The group remains in captivity.

Parents in Northern Nigeria are scared to send their children to school these days. @felicity_e discusses why kidnappers now focus on school students. WATCH! #NCTheFuss pic.twitter.com/nwOX3q2Ij7

— News Central TV (@NewsCentralTV) February 26, 2021

Officials have warned of a rise of activity between armed groups and a breakdown in security across the state.

The incident came almost seven years after the 2014 disappearance of Chibok schoolgirls who were kidnapped by the terrorist group Boko Haram, and just two months after hundreds of Nigerian boys were freed following days in captivity.

This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.

SEE ALSO:

334 Nigerian Schoolboys Freed After A Week Of Captivity And Tensions

What’s Happening In Nigeria? Everything We Know About The Violence In Lagos Amid Police Brutality Protests

Source: DANIEL SLIM / Getty

A new internal review by the New York Times revealed the renowned news outlet has work to do in creating an environment that is welcoming and inclusive for people of varying ethnic backgrounds, especially Black and Latino staff members.

“Our current culture and systems are not enabling our workforce to thrive and do its best work,” read the report in part. Initially commissioned during racial justice protests last year, the internal review found the Times’ newsroom “is a tough environment for many employees across backgrounds.”

The Times’ internal review also found that while the outlet has increased diversity in its newsroom, there is much more to be done including making sure people have the space to contribute to their fullest potential. 

Black staff, particularly Black women, scored the company low in all categories compared to other employees. Black non-leadership staff also had a higher turnover rate than white staff. 

“While The Times has a more diverse workforce than the broader industry, we are not immune from the effects: coverage that remains rooted in white perspectives, from characterizations and discussions of race to notions of what’s newsworthy,” acknowledged the report’s authors.

One example of a white perspective dictating newsworthiness is an op-ed from Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton. Last June, the Times ran an op-ed Cotton authored advocating violence against Black organizers and communities that clearly had not been vetted let alone edited. Cotton argued that the former president should send in the U.S. military to combat uprisings happening across the country. 

Black journalists at The New York Times are calling out the company for publishing this Op-Ed.

"Running this puts Black @nytimes staff in danger." pic.twitter.com/fOLqbYHLR6

— Victoria Leandra (@leandrareports) June 3, 2020

The editorial page editor, James Bennet, defended the decision to run Cotton’s op-ed, claiming that publishing it was to provide the required public scrutiny and debate. Several Black reporters and contributors expressed outrage at the outlet for allowing such a column to be published. Some even suggested the carelessness could cause members of the staff harm.  

Ultimately, the Times acknowledged the op-ed did not meet the paper’s standards. It turns out Bennet had not even read the piece he defended before it was published. Bennet subsequently resigned.

Unrelated to the Times’ coverage but indicative of its culture, top health reporter Donald McNeil recently resigned after leadership first defended his repeated use of the N-word and downplaying white supremacy on a company-funded trip with high school students before reversing course and giving him a slap on the wrist.

That is to speak nothing of the sympathetic coverage the Times has given Donald Trump and evidence of a lack of diversity when the paper embarrassingly confused actress Angela Bassett for Omarosa Manigault Newman.

Building better news and culture is the aim of the New York Times, according to its internal analysis. The Times expressed five commitments to improving culture and coverage, including expanding the fellowship program, creating more development opportunities for editors and adopting a new system for soliciting story feedback.

Part of the culture shift is the recognition that diversity is not a silver bullet. Time will tell how this renewed commitment to diversity in culture and coverage will manifest itself in the coming months.

Anoa Changa is a movement journalist and retired attorney based in Atlanta, Georgia. Follow Anoa on Instagram and Twitter @thewaywithanoa.

SEE ALSO:

Twitter Cancels The New York Times For Falsely Saying Trump Doesn’t Urge Racism

Embarrassing New York Times Typo Is More Proof Diversity Matters In Media

Source: Bloomberg / Getty

A bill designed to provide protection against discrimination based on sex, gender identity, and sexual orientation advanced in the House on Thursday, but not without resistance led by anti-LGBTQ Republicans.

According to the historic legislation’s language, the Equality Act prohibits discrimination “on the basis of the sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition of an individual, as well as because of sex-based stereotypes.”

#Breaking: The House of Representatives has passed the #EqualityAct, barring discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation.#developing

— NewsOne (@newsone) February 25, 2021

The fact that anybody would be opposed to such a law was inexplicable to Texas Rep. Al Green, who, during the period when lawmakers addressed the Equality Act on the House floor, made it clear how he felt about his Republican colleagues who had already announced their intentions against voting for the bill.

Referencing various forms of discrimination his ancestors had to face as Black people in America, Green publicly questioned Republicans’ beliefs and morals.

Opening with his usual nod to Maya Angelou, Green began, “And still I rise, Mr. Speaker,” after he was introduced. Then Green got right down to business calling out Republicans.

“You used God to enslave my foreparents. You used God to segregate me in schools. You used God to put me in the back of the bus. Have you no shame? God created every person in this room. Are you saying that God made a mistake? This is not about God, it’s about men who choose to discriminate against other people because they have the power to do so,” Green stated.

Referencing Rhode Island Rep. David Cicilline, an openly gay Democrat who helped introduce the Equality Act last week, Green said history would remember Republicans opposing the bill in this pivotal moment of progress in the country they claim to love so much.

“My record will not show that I voted against Mr. Cicilline having his rights,” Greene continued. “My record will show that when I had the opportunity to deliver liberty and justice for all, I voted for rights for all.”

Watch Green deliver those forceful and compelling words on the House floor.

WOW: Rep. Al Green (D-TX)amazing response to GOP Rep Greg Steube who said God opposes transgender rights: "You used God to enslave my foreparents. You used God to segregate me in schools. You used God to put me in the back of he bus. Have you no shame?" pic.twitter.com/nrjVAgg6t3

— (((DeanObeidallah))) (@DeanObeidallah) February 25, 2021

One day earlier, Republican Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene — one of the loudest voices against the Equality Act — lashed out in a hateful demonstration of her transphobia by taping up a sign outside of her own office challenging the topic of gender identity. Taylor Greene then tweeted a video of herself erecting the sign and wrote that “the so-called ‘Equality’ Act” will “destroy women’s rights and religious freedoms.” She said she put up the sign — reading, “There are TWO genders: MALE & FEMALE” — so that Illinois Rep. Marie Newman  —  who has a trans daughter — “can look at it every time she opens her door.”

Our neighbor, @RepMarieNewman, wants to pass the so-called "Equality" Act to destroy women’s rights and religious freedoms.

Thought we’d put up ours so she can look at it every time she opens her door https://t.co/7joKpTh6Dc pic.twitter.com/aBGRSiIF6X

— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (@RepMTG) February 24, 2021

Republican Texas Rep. Chip Roy expressed similarly ignorant views on the issue, the New York Times reported.

“This is a government using its power to tell us to bow down to the will of a cultural elite in this town who want to tell us what we’re supposed to believe,” Roy said. “We’re not going to do that.”

The House ultimately voted to pass the Equality Act, 224-206. The bill now moves on to the Senate, which is split evenly along party lines, making it entirely possible that Vice President Kamala Harris could cast the tie-breaking vote to put the Equality Act on President Joe Biden‘s desk to sign into law.

SEE ALSO:

Marjorie Taylor Greene, Who Once Called Black People ‘Slaves’ To Democrats, Champions Transphobia

Thousands Protest For Black Trans Lives Amid Continued Fights For LGBTQ Rights

Discrimination Survey Shows Who Americans Are Biased Against The Most

Source: Twitter

An influential activist and community organizer in Atlanta has died an untimely death, prompting an outpouring of emotion from the many people whose lives he directly affected.

Haroun Wakil died Wednesday. He may have suffered a seizure before he was found dead, his friends told local news outlet 11 Alive. It was unclear how old Wakil was.

Wakil founded and operated Street Groomers, an organization dedicated to cleaning up and protecting his community in Atlanta. The group’s mission was twofold, according to its website: “To clean up and take back the streets from those who terrorize our people and communities, including some drug dealers and some police officers who act as thugs targeting our people and communities of color;” and “To provide programs and projects for youth as viable alternatives to life on the streets.”

He explained to 11 Alive in 2017 why he started Street Groomers, which patrols the West End neighborhood of Atlanta and promoting a safe environment for children.

“We come from the streets,” Wakil said at the time. “And we want to save other young people in the streets.”

He added later: We gotta learn how to police our own police. We gotta learn how to police our own kids.”

People who knew Wakil took to social media to express their grief after learning of his death.

“He was a well-known presence in the city putting in work on the frontlines and with the Streetgroomers organization doing conflict resolution and community policing,” journalist Torraine Walker tweeted on Thursday.

I just got word that Atlanta activist Haroun Wakil transitioned yesterday. He was a well-known presence in the city putting in work on the frontlines and with the Streetgroomers organization doing conflict resolution and community policing. Rest in Power to a real one. pic.twitter.com/60nxbT4oBJ

— Torraine Walker (@TorraineWalker) February 25, 2021

The Atlanta Antifascists Twitter account tweeted that Wakil was “a constant presence at protests for justice around Atlanta.” The tweet was accompanied by a photo of Wakil “demonstrating neo-Confederates & racists at Stone Mountain in August.”

Devastating news that Haroun Shahid Wakil, founder of the Street Groomers & a constant presence at protests for justice around Atlanta, has died. Our thoughts to all who knew him.

Pic via @flowerunited: Haroun demonstrating neo-Confederates & racists at Stone Mountain in August. pic.twitter.com/DVMnTtpiVg

— Atlanta Antifascists (@afainatl) February 25, 2021

Atlanta City Council Preident Felicia Moore tweeted her condolences, as well.

“Miss seeing you working for the lest of these at City Hall, in the community, across the state, and the nation,” Moore tweeted. “Rest in Power my friend. I love you.”

I will miss you my friend Haroun Shahid Wakil. Miss seeing you working for the lest of these at City Hall, in the community, across the state, and the nation. Rest in Power my friend. I love you. pic.twitter.com/GcWpcqLijX

— Felicia Moore (@FeliciaAMoore) February 25, 2021

Georgia NAACP President James Woodall called Wakil “a legend” who “was truly one that we ALL looked up to – both figuratively and literally. His heart and love for our people was endless beyond understanding.”

City Councilman Antonio Brown said he was “heartbroken” over the death of Wakil, who he credited with his political success.

“We lost a brother, a friend, a hero to Atlanta, who fought relentlessly & fearlessly for fair treatment of ALL Atlantans,” Brown tweeted.

I can’t stop the tears from falling. Today we lost a brother, a friend, a hero to Atlanta, who fought relentlessly & fearlessly for fair treatment of ALL Atlantans. He was literally the force behind my run for @atlcouncil. I’m heartbroken. Rest In Power Haroun Shahid Wakil pic.twitter.com/MgUrv8YUUH

— Antonio Brown (@AntonioisMuted) February 25, 2021

Wakil had posted a Facebook tribute to Ahmaud Arbery on Tuesday, the anniversary of the unarmed Black jogger’s death in Brunswick, Georgia.

Wakil explained his strategy for achieving peace through Street Groomers during his interview with 11 Alive.

“Sometimes [it’s about] telling these young people you love them. Let them know somebody cares about them, instead of putting them down,” Wakil said at the time. “The way we’re going to save our community is by saving our kids.”

Watch the profile below.

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Ayanna Pressley Endorses Tishaura Jones As Race For St. Louis Mayor Heats Up

Civil Rights Leaders Unite To Demand Congress Pass The George Floyd Justice In Policing Act

Source: Tishaura O. Jones for Mayor / Tishaura O. Jones for Mayor

The tight mayoral race in St. Louis is heating up with a major player on the national political scene endorsing a leading candidate ahead of next week’s primary.

Massachusetts Rep. Ayanna Pressley made it abundantly clear that her preferred candidate is Tishaura O. Jones, the current city treasurer. Jones touted the key endorsement in a press release Tuesday. If elected, Jones would be the first Black woman mayor of St. Louis.

“In the years we’ve known one another, I’ve seen firsthand Tishaura’s commitment to community, and benefited from her support and counsel. I’m so grateful to call her a friend and a sister in the work of advancing equity and justice,” Pressley, an influential Congresswoman recently re-elected to her second term, said in a statement. “I’m proud to endorse Tishaura’s campaign for Mayor, and I know that every resident of St. Louis will benefit from her vision, passion, and tireless pursuit of justice, which I’ve come to know and respect so deeply.”

Jones, who previously lost in the primary for the same race in 2017, has already received endorsements from a number of local officials. They include St. Louis County Executive Dr. Sam Page, St. Louis County Prosecutor Wesley Bell as well as the St. Louis American, the city’s weekly newspaper that focuses on issues affecting African Americans.

The endorsement from Pressley could prove to make all the difference in a race where Jones was polling in a close second place, according to statistics released last month.

In that poll, Jones registered 28% support behind Aldermanic President Lewis Reed’s 30%. But the poll had a margin of error of 4%, effectively placing Jones and Reed in a dead heat.

Source: Tishaura O. Jones for Mayor / Tishaura O. Jones for Mayor

Next week’s primary will be the first time the city employs the “approval voting system” that allows voters to cast multiple ballots for mayor candidates. However, the poll showed that nearly 60% of respondents said they intended to only vote for one candidate. Among that 21% of poll respondents who said they intended to vote for more than one candidate, Reed polled at 36% compared to Jones’ 35%.

The top two vote-getters will advance to face off in the general election in April.

The primary is scheduled to take place on Tuesday.

Jones winning the general election would make her. part of the growing sorority of Black women mayors of major cities, including Atlanta, Chicago, New Orleans, San Francisco and Washington, D.C., something that is likely on Jones’ mind. Pressley’s support could be that boost Jones needs to push her ahead of the pack.

“I am thrilled that Congresswoman Pressley is joining #TeamTJ today,” Jones said in a statement Thursday. “Her voice over the past few years has been extremely important to advancing racial equity and economic progress in the midst of an incredibly challenging political environment. I look forward to working with partners in Saint Louis County, the State of Missouri, and in the Federal government, including Congresswoman Pressley, to get things done for all Saint Louisans.”

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Grand Jury Indicts St. Louis Couple Who Brandished Weapons At Peaceful Protesters For Sport

St. Louis Sheriff Who Is Also A Pastor Physically Threatens Rival Candidate On Video: ‘I’ll Smack You In Yo’ Face’

Source: Alexi Rosenfeld / Getty

A Black man accused of attacking women on the subway in New York City was hit with hate crime charges because prosecutors say he specifically targeted “light-skinned women.”

Khari Covington is facing 52 criminal counts for allegedly attacking seven women based on the color of the skin. If convicted, the 29-year-old Brooklyn man could be sentenced to life in prison, according to the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office.

“This defendant’s alleged violent and unprovoked attacks endangered the women he targeted and caused widespread fear in the community,” Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said in a statement released Wednesday. “I am committed to prosecuting all hate crimes where victims, including as alleged in this case, are targeted because of their gender, skin color or race.”

Covington told investigators he targeted the women because they are light-skinned, the DA’s office said.

At least five of the attacks happened at the Morgan Avenue L subway station in the East Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn and the other two were nearby. All seven took place between Aug. 5, 2020, and Jan. 4, including two within 24 hours. Covington was arrested on Jan. 5.

BREAKING: Khari Covington Charged With Hate Crimes in Attacks on Women at Brooklyn Subway Station https://t.co/FWugmchlrP pic.twitter.com/CKV0BS97K7

— Myles Miller (@MylesMill) January 6, 2021

Covington’s charges include second-degree burglary as a hate crime, second-degree strangulation as a hate crime, third-degree assault as a hate crime and third-degree menacing as a hate crime. He was being held on $150,000 bail.

A woman who said Covington attacked her described her experience to NBC New York.

“He came out of nowhere, he started punching me,” Bianca Fortis said. “He hit my face, my chest, my shoulder.”

A separate woman who said she was attacked at the Morgan Street subway station described a similar encounter with Covington.

“He was coming down behind me, and he must have — from the angle and from what I’ve gathered — kicked me in the side of the face and head from behind,” Elizabeth Wakefield said. “My immediate thought after it happened to me was, I really hope this doesn’t happen again to somebody else.”

SEE ALSO:

Former Oklahoma Christian University Recruiter Defends Sorting Students By Skin Color and Hair Texture

Twitter Rips YG For ‘Light-Skinned Pretty Girls’ Comment At Nipsey Hussle’s Memorial

Source: Bloomberg / Getty

Donald Trump may be gone from Washington, but the hateful, conspiracy theory-fueled ideologies that he championed are still very much present on Capitol Hill thanks to Republican Georgia Rep. Marjorie Tayor Greene.

The newly elected upstart politician who has been widely recognized for her racism and anti-Semitism doubled down on her transphobia with a tasteless apparent retaliation to a colleague putting an LGBTQ flag outside of her Congressional office.

Illinois Rep. Marie Newman tweeted a photo of herself putting the flag up after Taylor Greene “tried to block the Equality Act because she believes prohibiting discrimination against trans Americans is “disgusting, immoral, and evil.”

For clarity, the Equality Act was proposed as a means to “prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex, gender identity, and sexual orientation, and for other purposes,” according to the bill’s language.

But Taylor Greene is an unabashed supporter of discrimination and doubled down on that unfortunate truth when she retaliated against Newman’s flag by taping up a sign outside of her own office challenging the topic of gender identity. To show just how petty she is, Taylor Greene filmed a similar video of herself doing the deed.

Taylor Greene tweeted that “the so-called ‘Equality’ Act” will “destroy women’s rights and religious freedoms.” She said she put up the sign — reading, “There are TWO genders: MALE & FEMALE” — so that Newman “can look at it every time she opens her door.”

Our neighbor, @RepMarieNewman, wants to pass the so-called "Equality" Act to destroy women’s rights and religious freedoms.

Thought we’d put up ours so she can look at it every time she opens her door https://t.co/7joKpTh6Dc pic.twitter.com/aBGRSiIF6X

— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (@RepMTG) February 24, 2021

Observers of the Twitter back-and-forth astutely noted that Newman has a trans daughter, making Taylor Greene’s actions even more hateful and personal.

Ilinois Rep. Adam Kinzinger, a Republican, blasted Taylor Greene and called what she did “garbage.”

This is sad and I’m sorry this happened. Rep. Newmans daughter is transgender, and this video and tweet represents the hate and fame driven politics of self-promotion at all evil costs. This garbage must end, in order to #RestoreOurGOP https://t.co/gcPZ5Cu7Vr

— Adam Kinzinger (@RepKinzinger) February 25, 2021

Taylor Greene has been a lightning rod for controversy since well before her election in November.

She compared Black Lives Matter protesters to the KKK and suggested Black people should be “proud” of Confederate monuments. Not to be outdone, Taylor Greene has also openly supported QAnon beliefs and regularly posts videos promoting hate, including one video in which she stated that “the most mistreated group of people in the United States today are white males.”

She even said Black people “are held slaves to the Democratic Party,” fully cognizant of her loaded choice of words.

So extending that hate to the LGBTQ community is not nearly a bridge too far for Taylor Greene. Especially considering how she’s modeled her rhetoric after Trump, who was committed to banning transgender individuals from serving in the military.

As a result of her toxic behavior and actions, Missouri Rep. Cori Bush announced last month that she was moving her office to be farther away from Taylor Greene, who is also accused of helping to incite the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

“A maskless Marjorie Taylor Greene & her staff berated me in a hallway. She targeted me & others on social media. I’m moving my office away from hers for my team’s safety,” Bush tweeted on Jan. 29.

A maskless Marjorie Taylor Greene & her staff berated me in a hallway. She targeted me & others on social media.

I'm moving my office away from hers for my team's safety.

I've called for the expulsion of members who incited the insurrection from Day 1. Bring H.Res 25 to a vote.

— Cori Bush (@CoriBush) January 29, 2021

A movement to have Taylor Greene expelled from Congress resulted in her being stripped of her committee assignments. Despite a clear record of hatred, Taylor Green was still assigned to serve on the Education and Labor Committee, as well as the Budget Committee.

SEE ALSO:

Marjorie Taylor Greene Ejected From Committee Assignments After Racist Speech, Conspiracy Theories

Marjorie Taylor Greene Uses ‘Apologies’ To Escape Accountability For Her Actions

The “Weedmobile” owned by marijuana activist Ed Forchion, who calls himself NJ Weedman, outside his restaurant NJ Weedman’s Joint in Trenton, New Jersey, on Feb. 12, 2021. | Source: Bloomberg / Getty

Moving quickly on recently passed legislation, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy this week signed bills legalizing and regulating the sale of marijuana and decriminalizing possession of small amounts of marijuana. Voters approved a ballot measure last November amending the state constitution to pave the way for legal weed.

Collectively, the three bills open the door for the cannabis industry and close the gap in racial disparities in the criminal justice system. DeVaughn Ward, senior legislative counsel at the Marijuana Policy Project, told ABC News the new laws create an opportunity for “restorative justice and equity.”

“Our current marijuana prohibition laws have failed every test of social justice, which is why for years I’ve strongly supported the legalization of adult-use cannabis,” the Democratic governor said in a statement. “Maintaining a status quo that allows tens of thousands, disproportionately people of color, to be arrested in New Jersey each year for low-level drug offenses is unjust and indefensible.”

The governor continued to stress the importance of bringing equity and economic opportunity to all communities while setting minimum safety standards. 

The new legislation requires adjustment on behalf of the state’s law enforcement. New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal released guidelines for police to ensure compliance with the new laws. Grewal stressed police could no longer use the smell of marijuana as a pretense for searching a vehicle. Officers who violate the guideline against searches could face criminal charges. 

He also ordered prosecutors to apply the new laws to any pending charges and dismiss all cases where applicable. The attorney general also shared new rules for the enforcement of restrictions on underage use and possession. 

States around the country are finding that legalizing and regulating cannabis works. It's past time to end prohibition at the federal level.

— Marijuana Policy Project (@MarijuanaPolicy) February 21, 2021

The state expects the recreational marijuana marketplace to come online in about six months.

Virginia could soon follow suit, as lawmakers negotiate a final proposal for legalizing marijuana. The Virginia house and senate passed different versions of bills legalizing marijuana, with both bills going to a legislative conference for reconciliation before heading to the governor’s desk for signing. 

U.S. Sen. Cory Booker applauded the new law pointing to the damaging impact of the War on Drugs on poor communities and Black and Brown families specifically. At the end of last year, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the historic MORE ACT which would decriminalize marijuana at the federal level. It has yet to be taken up in the U.S. Senate. 

“I will continue to work with my colleagues in the Senate to end the federal marijuana prohibition so we can finally begin healing the wounds of decades of injustice,” said Booker.

New Jersey joins 15 other states, the District of Columbia and U.S. territory Guam for where marijuana has been fully legalized or decriminalized.

Anoa Changa is a movement journalist and retired attorney based in Atlanta, Georgia. Follow Anoa on Instagram and Twitter @thewaywithanoa.

SEE ALSO:

‘Rooted In Good’: Cannabis Equity And Expanding Marijuana Industry Opportunities

The Most Sweeping Bill To Decriminalize Marijuana Is A Racial And Social Justice Issue

Source: Twitter

The Harlem community in New York City has long been synonymous with “Black America” despite its increasing gentrification of the area in recent years.

The historically Black and brown neighborhoods of New York City are no strangers to gentrification. Still, some people in Harlem — a community that’s been all but synonymous with Black people — were caught off-guard this week when they saw a poster advertising the impending arrival of a new restaurant called Chalmette Fusion Bistro.

The poster showed four young white people enjoying a meal at the eatery under a placard that said “The New Soul of Harlem” was “opening soon.” The smiles on the faces of the restaurant’s patrons not only suggested an obliviousness to the decided lack of diversity in a community known for multi-culturalism but they also presented a glaring contrast to two words hovering above their heads: “new soul.”

The questions came fast and furious after a photo of the poster was tweeted Wednesday afternoon. The since-deleted tweet said the poster was displayed on the corner of 139th street and Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard — just across the street from the historic Striver’s Row neighborhood — and was accompanied by a hashtag in all caps: “#DISRESEPCTFUL.”

Again, white people living in and visiting Harlem aren’t new. Neither is the idea of white-owned restaurants or restaurants frequented by white people. But amid a national racial reckoning and push for diversity and inclusion, the poster came across as tone-deaf at best and offensive at worst.

However, a closer examination showed that the poster achieved the outrage that it was apparently — because it isn’t real. Chalmette Fusion Bistro is actually a fictional restaurant destined for the big or small screen. It all turned out to be one big nothing burger — kind of.

“This fake movie poster in the doorway of Ponty Bistro in Harlem at the corner of 139th Street got people upset today,” tweeted Harlem Bespoke, an organization that blogs about all-things Harlem. “This is apparently part of a film set since the restaurant stated they were closed this week for Hollywood stuff.”

This fake movie poster in the doorway of Ponty Bistro in Harlem at the corner of 139th Street got people upset today. This is apparently part of a film set since the restaurant stated they were closed this week for Hollywood stuff. #chalmetteharlem #chalmettenyc #harlembespoke pic.twitter.com/Ww74gI9Rll

— Harlem Bespoke (@HarlemBespoke) February 25, 2021

A quick visit to Ponty Bistro’s Instagram showed the restaurant was closing Wednesday, Thursday and Friday “due to a TV/film shoot.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Ponty Bistro (@pontybistro)

There was no reference to the poster, but the disclosure may have prompted a huge, collective sigh from native Harlemites who have seen the steady whitening of their community over the last couple of decades.

The next logical question is who is behind the production?

Either way, the owners of the Ponty Bistro are Black, according to the restaurant’s website, which means a Black-owned business is getting paid.

The poster was reminiscent of a skit from the “Chappelle Show” or “SNL” or some other sketch comedy.

However, gentrification is no laughing matter — especially to those who are displaced because of it. Affordable housing is becoming increasingly rare in Harlem, which started being populated with Black people in the 1900s after a plan for upper-class white people to live there didn’t work out. More than 100 years later, the reverse is happening.

SEE ALSO:

Non-Black Residents Sue For Housing Discrimination

Harlem Hat Shop Thrives In The Face Of Gentrification

Source: NurPhoto / Getty

New developments are ramping up in the George Floyd murder investigation. According to The New York Times, Department of Justice prosecutors recently impaneled a grand jury and interviewed fresh witnesses in the ongoing investigation into Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis officer who kneeled on Floyd’s neck for almost nine minutes.

The findings come days before a state trial for Chauvin is slated to begin on March 8, and months after the DOJ-led investigation stalled under the Trump administration.

The burden of proof lies on whether prosecutors can prove that the defendant willingly used unreasonable force, in turn violating someone’s constitutional rights.

Former Attorney General William Barr stated he preferred to wait for the state’s findings before moving when asked why the investigation was in limbo. Earlier this month The Times revealed Barr rejected a plea deal from Chauvin which warranted at least 10 years in jail.

If Chauvin is acquitted in state court the focus would then likely shift to the federal proceedings, which could include civil rights violations. However, federal civil rights prosecutions have become increasingly disappointing, especially for Black community members who rarely see justice served in the ongoing incidents of police-involved killings. The Justice Department has investigated and failed to charge police officers involved in several high-profile killings of Black community members, including Eric Garner, Tamir Rice, and Michael Brown.

“George Floyd’s death spurred a renewed and re-energized civil rights movement,” Benjamin Crump, Floyd’s family lawyer said in a statement. “It’s appropriate and gratifying that the Department of Justice under President Biden is taking racial justice seriously.”

This particular investigation will turn a watchful eye towards the Biden administration and Attorney General nominee Merrick Garland, if he is confirmed by the Senate. Biden and his administration have voiced support in reshaping the criminal justice system, but the upcoming investigation will either strengthen or distance supporters of Floyd who are still triggered by his harrowing death captured on camera. DOJ investigations into the murder of Breonna Taylor and Jacob Blake are slated to continue under the newly appointed attorney general.

On Tuesday prosecutors asked a court of appeals to consider reinstating third-degree murder charge in the state’s trial against Chauvin. Chauvin will face trial separately from the three officers who are also charged in the case.

SEE ALSO:

Civil Rights Leaders Unite To Demand Congress Pass The George Floyd Justice In Policing Act

AG Barr Blocked Plea Deal That Guaranteed Prison Time For George Floyd’s Accused Murderer