Greene County Democrat

Category: General News

  • Alabama and Japan Celebrate 40 Years of Friendship

    Alabama and Japan Celebrate 40 Years of Friendship

    Consul General Kenichi Matsuda and Honorary Consul General of Japan, Mark B. Jackson, at the Sakura Festival in Snow Hinton Park

    The Japanese American Society of Alabama (JASA) hosted the 40th Annual Sakura Festival in Snow Hinton Park to celebrate the economic and cultural connection between the two countries. The festival featured performances, games, snacks, and ceremonies prominent in Japanese culture.

    The beginning of economic ties between Japan and Alabama began in the 1970s and 1980s with the establishment of the Alabama Development Office, which established a Tokyo trade office to attract Japanese investors. The trade office allowed a direct link for Japanese business operations to receive support in Alabama, fostering the need for an organization like JASA to maintain cooperative relationships. In 1999, the organization’s efforts to bridge the gap between cultures resulted in an economic milestone with Honda announcing its first assembly plant in Talladega County. Since then, Japan’s economic influence in Alabama has generated thousands of jobs and investments that have surpassed ten billion dollars.

    Seeing the importance of Japan maintaining relationships, JASA sought to fortify a cultural understanding of Japan.

    It is no secret that Japan is a country with a unique way of life centered on humility and respect. Many customs in Japan require humbling oneself with constant consideration for those who are older or in higher positions of authority. Greetings are soft spoken and involve bowing, the complete opposite of an energetic, southern greeting with a handshake. JASA knew that “Alabama should understand and embrace not only Japanese business concepts and expectations but also cultural and educational issues.”

     

    A person wearing a blue kimono-style outfit dances in a field, holding a fan with writing on it. Others are dancing in the background under a clear blue sky.
    Awa Odori Dance Elaina Agnello

    The Sakura Festival itinerary and stalls were rich with Japanese culture, including information and graphics about Tuscaloosa’s sister city in Japan, Norishino. After a warm welcome, Honorary Consul General of Japan Mark B. Jackson took to the stage. “This is the most honorable thing I’ve been doing,” he stated. Jackson has represented Alabama in Japan for over a decade and deeply appreciates the Japanese way of life. Once he finished addressing the crowd, he welcomed Consul General Kenichi Matsuda, who flew in from Japan for the event. Matsuda is grateful for the “southern hospitality” and welcoming atmosphere he can experience here in the States. He is committed to doing his “utmost to further advance the friendship and partnership between our two nations.” The two participated in a sake barrel-breaking ceremony to signify harmony and good fortune.

    Jackson and Matsuda in the sake barrel breaking ceremony

    Alongside friendship meetings and festivals, JASA sends students to Japan in an exchange program over the summer to further understand education. The program sends twenty high school students to Japan in June to stay with families, and the Japanese students return with them in July for two weeks as well. This exchange is imperative for the current generations to appreciate what each culture offers to the other. As Executive Director of Tuscaloosa Sister Cities International, Shelley Corrill said, “How can you not love each other when you’re eating barbecue or sushi together?”

    The relationship between Japan and Alabama is a vital component of the state’s economy. Companies like Daikin, Toray, and various automotive suppliers have a strong impact on the automotive and manufacturing markets, especially in Birmingham, Huntsville, and Decatur. Without Japan’s friendship, thousands would go unemployed. JASA’s continued efforts remind us of the importance of working with other nations instead of against them. In the words of Honorary Consul Jackson, “It’s all about one word—relationships.”

    To learn more about JASA and future cultural events, visit https://japanalabama.com/

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  • Newswire: Citing a “Grave National Security Crisis”, the NAACP pushes 25th Amendment to remove Trump from office

    Newswire: Citing a “Grave National Security Crisis”, the NAACP pushes 25th Amendment to remove Trump from office

    NAACP poster on Trump

    by Hazel Trice Edney

    (TriceEdneyWire.com) – The NAACP is among those leading the call on the  President’s cabinet, including Vice President Vance, cabinet secretaries,  or another body that could be assembled by Congress, to “invoke the 25th Amendment” of the U. S. Constitution in order to have President Donald Trump removed from office amidst what appears to be the loss of his mind to the extent that he could endanger masses of innocent lives in a “grave national security crisis”.

    The call, coming from the NAACP, Democratic members of Congress, activists, and other political observers, has grown louder since Trump, joining with Israel, waged war against Iran – with no declaration of war by Congress.

    In addition to concerns about Trump’s history of what appears to be pathological lying, talk of the use of the 25th Amendment especially hit the fan on Easter Sunday morning, April 6. That was when Trump posted a profanity-laced threat to Iran on the day that is considered among the highest and holiest days on the Christian calendar as people prepared to worship in commemoration of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

    With all curse words spelled completely out, Trump wrote on Truth Social, his social media platform, “Open the F***in’ Strait, you crazy b*****ds, or you’ll be living in Hell — JUST WATCH. Praise be to Allah.”

    He was demanding that Iran open the Strait of Hormuz, which is a primary passageway for about 20 percent of the global oil supply, according to the New York Times.

    The next day, he threatened all of Iran – even innocent citizens – if there was no deal by 8 pm: “A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don’t want that ‌to ⁠happen, but it probably will,” he wrote on Truth Social.

    The NAACP responded Monday with an emailed note to its members, signed by its president/CEO Derrick Johnson:

“The stability of our nation is hanging in the balance,” Johnson wrote. “In recent weeks, we have witnessed alarming signs of President Trump’s deteriorating health and increasingly delusional behavior. The rhetoric and actions coming from the highest office in the land have reached a level of instability that we cannot ignore. His behavior is not only alarming but dangerous.”

    The NAACP email continued, “This is no longer just a matter of political disagreement. It’s a grave national security crisis. A leader unable to think clearly or act decisively jeopardizes our military readiness, erodes public trust, and threatens the safety of millions of Americans. We cannot wait for further chaos. We must protect the fabric of our democracy right now.”

    The organization then listed three demands:

    • “Invoke the 25th Amendment: The Vice President and the Cabinet must step forward immediately to ensure the continuity of governance.”
    • “Remove the threat: We must address this presidential incapacity to protect our nation from further uncertainty.”
    • Congressional action: “Once the Vice President and the Cabinet step up, Congress must follow through and act with the urgency this situation demands to uphold the principles of our Constitution.”

    Section 4 of the Constitution’s 25th Amendment states as follows:

    “Whenever the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive departments or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as Acting President.
    “Thereafter, when the President transmits to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his written declaration that no inability exists, he shall resume the powers and duties of his office unless the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive department or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit within four days to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office.
    “Thereupon Congress shall decide the issue, assembling within forty-eight hours for that purpose if not in session. If the Congress, within twenty-one days after receipt of the latter written declaration, or, if Congress is not in session, within twenty-one days after Congress is required to assemble, determines by two-thirds vote of both Houses that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall continue to discharge the same as Acting President; otherwise, the President shall resume the powers and duties of his office.”

    It is not likely that there would be enough will to remove Trump from office given the dedication that the Republican majorities have maintained toward him. Besides, this week, Congress remained on Easter recess and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson has not criticized Trump’s conduct, nor his war with Iran. The primary criticism is coming from Democrats.

    Still, the NAACP is adamant about what it feels must be done:
    “There’s no sugarcoating it,” Johnson concluded in his email. “President Trump has shown himself to be unfit, unwell, and unhinged. Together, we can force our leaders to prioritize the health and safety of our nation before it’s too late.

  • Newswire: Inflation hits highest one month spike in four years due to Iran War

    Newswire: Inflation hits highest one month spike in four years due to Iran War

    Gas station sign in California, showing high gas prices

    By Joe Jurado, NewsOne

    While Iran and the United States have agreed to a two-week ceasefire that’s looking shakier by the day, the impact of the war is still being felt by the global economy. Last month, inflation rose at its sharpest in four years, largely driven by higher gas prices. 

    According to NBC News, inflation rose to 3.3% in March, up 0.9% from the month before. Gas prices increased by 21.2%, their largest single-month increase since 1967. I gotta be honest, folks, I’m getting real tired of living through historically bad economic changes. While a ceasefire was declared last Tuesday, there hasn’t been a meaningful drop in gas prices. Anecdotally speaking, I’ve seen gas prices drop a whopping 10 cents from $4.99 to $4.89 in Arizona. 

    The misguided Iran war has created a series of headaches for the Trump administration. Trump ran on lowering prices, and AP reports that there are growing concerns that if gas prices continue to stay so high, it would have dramatic downwind consequences for the American economy. There was already a cost-of-living crisis before the Iran war, and the inflated gas prices could result in families struggling to afford other necessities, such as rent. Once the essentials become a struggle to afford, it would slow spending in other sectors, slowing the economy and potentially leading to further unemployment. 

    “It’s painful in the near term,” Michael Pearce, chief U.S. economist at Oxford Economics, told AP. “It’s going to get more painful in April,” as a result of further gas price increases lifting inflation even higher. 

    AP reports that there are growing concerns that if gas prices continue to stay so high, it would have dramatic downwind consequences for the American economy. There was already a cost-of-living crisis before the Iran war, and the inflated gas prices could result in families struggling to afford other necessities, such as rent. Once the essentials become a struggle to afford, it would slow spending in other sectors, slowing the economy and potentially leading to further unemployment. 

    From AP: Consumer sentiment plunged to a record low in April, according to a survey released Friday by the University of Michigan, largely because of the Iran war and concerns over higher gas prices. Their Index of Consumer Sentiment fell to 47.6, from 53.3 in March.

    “Many consumers blame the Iran conflict for unfavorable changes to the economy,” said Joanne Hsu, the university’s director of consumer surveys.

    High prices had angered American voters before the war and the spike in prices for oil and everything that entails, from the pump to the grocery store, could make it more difficult for the president’s party to hold on to seats in both the House and the Senate in next year’s midterms.

    Polling by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research last month found that about six in 10 Republicans are at least “somewhat” concerned about affording gas in the next few months.

    Another point of concern regards the Strait of Hormuz, which has become a focal point in the conflict. While ships were able to flow freely through the Strait of Hormuz before the war, Iran has locked down access and is considering charging a toll for entry. This would obviously lead to a permanent increase in prices, as that cost would definitely be passed down to the consumer. 

    One of the downwind effects of the Strait’s closure is rising food prices. While food costs remained relatively neutral throughout March, much of the world’s fertilizer supply passes through the Strait of Hormuz. Should Iran and the U.S. fail to agree on a permanent ceasefire resolution, it would likely lead to food scarcity, which would obviously increase prices. Those increases would also be compounded by rising fuel costs, as the nation’s food supply is largely transported via diesel trucks. 

  • Newswire: Trump announces ceasefire with Iran, fends off allegations that the US caved

    Newswire: Trump announces ceasefire with Iran, fends off allegations that the US caved

    by Zack Linly, NewsOne

    On Tuesday evening, after weeks of mixed messaging on our progress in the Iran war turned into threats to end the nation’s entire “civilization,” President Donald Trump took to his Truth Social platform to announce a two-week pause on his plans to start bombing Iranian bridges, electricity plants, and factories because a ceasefire has been negotiated. And because we’ve all heard this song before, folks on social media seem to largely believe that Trump caved to end the war that is bringing his administration nothing but embarrassment and bad press. 

    Meanwhile, Trump, his Cabinet, and MAGA-friendly media outlets are working overtime to spin the narrative that it was actually Iran that caved, ignoring all evidence to the contrary — including the myriad of reports that the missile strikes have not ended.

    “Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, of Pakistan, and wherein they requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran, and subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks,” Trump wrote Tuesday evening. “This will be a double sided CEASEFIRE! The reason for doing so is that we have already met and exceeded all Military objectives, and are very far along with a definitive Agreement concerning Longterm PEACE with Iran, and PEACE in the Middle East. 

    We received a 10 point proposal from Iran, and believe it is a workable basis on which to negotiate. Almost all of the various points of past contention have been agreed to between the United States and Iran, but a two week period will allow the Agreement to be finalized and consummated. On behalf of the United States of America, as President, and also representing the Countries of the Middle East, it is an Honor to have this Longterm problem close to resolution.

    Now, to anyone who isn’t a MAGA sycophant, dedicated to spinning Trump’s confused social media posts into golden nuggets, it looks like Trump stumbled across an excuse to back off from his tough talk and save a little face in the process.

    After all, Trump has been claiming for weeks that  Iran is “begging” for a deal, and that the administration “had very, very strong talks,” and “points of agreement,” only for the Iranian government to deny the “talks” are even happening. Trump previously told reporters that a 15-point proposal to end the war was sent to the Iranian government, and that it “gave us most of the points,” only for the Iranian government to completely reject Trump’s terms shortly after.

    Now, Trump is saying Iran’s 10-point counter-proposal to the U.S. is a “workable basis on which to negotiate,” which really makes it seem like he was the one “begging for a deal,” especially since the contents of Iran’s 10-point plan seem to largely benefit Iran.

    I mean, Iran even included a $2 million toll on ships crossing the Strait of Hormuz that no one had to pay before Trump decided to help the Israeli government launch an unprovoked war on Iran. What exactly are we winning here?

    That’s a lot of tough talk, only for Trump to eagerly announce that he is open to Iran’s demands, which, again, came after the nation rejected his.

    And that’s why Trump and his administration are scrambling to force-feed Americans the narrative that it’s a mutual deal that both nations will benefit from, and he’s out here launching investigations against any media outlet that says otherwise.In fact, Trump had another one of his social media meltdowns after CNN reported, “Iran claims victory, says it forced US to accept 10-point plan,” and that the Iranian Security Council said in a statement, “The enemy, in its unfair, unlawful, and criminal war against the Iranian nation, has suffered an undeniable, historic, and crushing defeat.”

  • Newswire: Stunning photos from Artemis II show Earth, moon, eclipse from space

    Newswire: Stunning photos from Artemis II show Earth, moon, eclipse from space

    Earthset captured through the Orion spacecraft window at 6:41 p.m. ET, April 6, 2026, during the Artemis II crew’s flyby of the moon.

    by Kerry Breen, CBS News on Google

    Stunning photos taken by the Artemis II crew were released on Tuesday, showing spectacular views from the far side of the moon and an eclipse in space. 

    One image from NASA showed “Earthset” — the Earth dipping behind the moon. Part of the Earth is seen in darkness, while Australia and Oceania are visible on the planet’s surface. Details of the moon appear in the photo’s foreground. 

    “from the other side,” the White House said about the image.

    Earthset captured through the Orion spacecraft window at 6:41 p.m. ET, April 6, 2026, during the Artemis II crew’s flyby of the moon.

    Another stunning photo showed the moon eclipsing the sun. The eclipse was not visible from Earth, only to the crew aboard the spacecraft, and the astronauts needed to wear eclipse glasses to protect their eyes until the moon completely covered the sun.

    “From the crew’s perspective, the Moon appears large enough to completely block the Sun, creating nearly 54 minutes of totality and extending the view far beyond what is possible from Earth,” NASA said about the image.

    This image taken by the Artemis II crew during their lunar flyby on April 6, 2026, shows the moon eclipsing the sun.
    This image taken by the Artemis II crew during their lunar flyby on April 6, 2026, shows the moon eclipsing the sun.

    Astronaut Victor Glover said the sun’s corona remained visible and bright during the eclipse, creating “a halo almost around the entire moon.” He said the photos of the eclipse didn’t do the display justice.

    Another photo shared by NASA on Tuesday morning shows the ridged craters and long shadows of the moon as parts of it come into view along the boundary between lunar day and night.

    The Artemis II crew is now making their trip back toward Earth. They are expected to splash down off the California coast, near San Diego, on Friday evening.

  • Eutaw City Council meets to approve paying bills and announces up-coming events

    Eutaw City Council meets to approve paying bills and announces up-coming events

    The Eutaw City Council met for its second regular meeting of the month, on Tuesday, March 24, 2026. All members of the Council were present: Valerie Watkins (District 1), Jonathan Woodruff (District 2), Tracey Hunter (District 3), Lorenzo French (District 4) and Carrie Logan (District 5) .

    Mayor Corey Cockrell, presided at the meeting, assisted by City Clerk, SheKelvia Spencer, Administrative Assistant, Joe Powell, Legal Counsel, Zane Willingham, and Kendrick Howell, Chief of Police.

    There were only two items of business on the official agenda, The Council approved both. The first was payment of $75.00 dues for 2026 to the Eutaw Area Chamber of Commerce. The second was to pay monthly bills for the City of Eutaw.

    Mayor Cockrell gave a report of his activities on behalf of the city and plans for future events. He said the city was planning a clean-up day for Saturday, April 11, 2026, to clean-up litter on the streets and roadways, especially around city facilities such as City Hall, Branch Heights Community Center, Robert H. Young Community Center and others. There will be a cook-out at City Hall to provide lunch for those who volunteer as part of the clean-up effort.

    The Mayor called attention to a financial report, compiled by James Lewis, the city’s financial advisor. The report is a revenue and expense statement for the City’s General Fund for the first five months of the fiscal year ending February 28, 2026.

    The report shows the city is following its budget for the year so far. Mayor Cockrell asked council members to review the report and address any questions to him or Mr. Lewis.

    Mayor Cockrell announced his plans for a “junior mayor and council program” to involve young people in understanding and making city policies and decisions. He introduced a student from Greene County High School, Elias McGhee, who will be part of the program.

    Council member Valerie Watkins reported that the city staff had corrected some sewage problems on Roebuck Avenue but was not sure that this was a permanent solution to the drainage problems in her neighborhood. Tracey Hunter reported that work has begun to fix the lagoon, which should alleviate long standing problems with sewage in Branch Heights.

    Councilwoman Carrie Logan thanked the city for sending her to the National League of Cities training in Washington, D. C. She met with Congresswoman, Terri Sewell, and presented her with a copy of the city’s plans that are in need of funding. She also met with Senator Tubberville and learned about Federal resources to support cities and small towns.

    Councilman Lorenzo French said he was helping with the April 11th clean-up day and asked for people to volunteer. Councilman Woodruff said he had no report but was trying to live up to the motto, “Let’s respect each other and respect ourselves, as members of the City Council”.

    John Cashin, recently selected as the Chairperson of the Greene County Airport Authority reported on efforts to raise funds for resurfacing the runway, cutting down trees that were obstructing visibility and general working to re-open the Eutaw Airport, as soon as improvements movement could be made and certified by the appropriate state and Federal aviation authorities.

    A young man wearing a black shirt and brown pants stands next to an adult man in a blue blazer and jeans, both smiling, in front of a plain background.
    Elias McGhee and Mayor Corey Cockrell
  • Newswire: Alabama governor commutes death sentence of man who didn’t kill anyone

    Newswire: Alabama governor commutes death sentence of man who didn’t kill anyone

    Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey commuted on Tuesday, March 10, the death sentence of Charles “Sonny” Burton to life without parole, saying his execution, which was set for Thursday, would be “unjust.”

    In 1991, Burton was one of six men involved in the robbery of an AutoZone store in Talladega that ended with the murder of a customer, Doug Battle; Burton did not pull the trigger in the killing.

    “Doug Battle was brutally murdered by Derrick DeBruce while shopping in an auto parts store. But DeBruce was ultimately sentenced to life without parole. Charles Burton did not shoot the victim, did not direct the triggerman to shoot the victim and had already left the store by the time the shooting occurred. Yet Mr. Burton was set to be executed while DeBruce was allowed to live out his life in prison,” Ivey said in a statement.

    “I cannot proceed in good conscience with the execution of Mr. Burton under such disparate circumstances. I believe it would be unjust for one participant in this crime to be executed while the participant who pulled the trigger was not,” she said.

    Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall expressed disappointment in a statement first to NBC News. “There has never been any doubt that Sonny Burton has Douglas Battle’s blood on his hands,” he said.

    “Burton does not deserve special treatment because he is old — he could have been executed a long time ago, but like many death-row inmates, he chose to drag out his case through endless frivolous appeals. I firmly believe that he should have faced the punishment imposed by a jury of his peers and upheld by numerous judges,” he said.

    Burton admits to entering the store armed with a gun. He said he stole cash from a safe in the back room, then fled outside to wait by a getaway car.

    Inside the store, one of his accomplices, Derrick DeBruce, shot Battle, 34, in the back, killing him. The state acknowledged this fact in its response to Burton’s application for a stay of execution from the U.S. Supreme Court.

    Burton’s death sentence was possible because of a legal doctrine known as felony murder, which allows prosecutors to treat anyone involved in certain felonies, such as robbery or burglary, equally responsible for a killing that occurs during the crime, even if they did not commit the act themselves.

    In a phone interview earlier this month from William C. Holman Correctional Facility, the site of the state’s execution chamber, Burton told NBC News he had no idea Battle’s murder was going to happen.

    “I didn’t assist nobody. I didn’t aid nobody. I didn’t tell nobody to shoot nobody,” he said.

    Ivey had faced a growing chorus of voices asking for mercy for Burton, 75, including the victim’s daughter, who published an op-ed in the Montgomery Advertiser urging Ivey to spare his life.

    Burton expressed gratitude to NBC News for that show of support.

    “She forgave me, and I want to say how much I appreciated that,” he said. “She lifts a whole lot of guilt off me.”

    Burton’s family and legal team expressed their gratitude in a statement from federal defender Matt Schulz, who represented Burton for nearly two decades.

    “Governor Ivey’s decision is to be applauded, as it demonstrates measured, responsible, and respectable leadership. Though a ‘thank you’ indeed falls short of the level of gratitude the parties wish to express, Sonny Burton, his family, his friends, his legal team, and all those who have supported Sonny’s request for clemency thank you, Governor Ivey,” said Schulz.

    Schulz also shared a statement from Burton to Ivey. “Just saying thank you doesn’t seem like much. But it’s what I can give her. And I do thank her. Thank you, Governor,” said Burton.

    Burton would have been the ninth person to be executed by nitrogen gas — a method first carried out in Alabama in 2024. He is only the second person to have his death sentence commuted by Ivey. 

  • Greene County Commission meets, approves way for the public to support ambulance services

    Greene County Commission meets, approves way for the public to support ambulance services

    The Greene County Commission met on Monday, March 9, 2026, for its regular monthly meeting. Three commissioners were present for the roll call: Garria Spencer, Chair, Tennyson Smith and Allen Turner. The other two commissioners: Latasha Johnson and Roshonda Summerville arrived late and participated in the meeting when they arrived.

    The meeting began with a report from Assistant Engineer Culliver, who asked that the Commission approve a resolution designating Noah’s Way as a county road for repair and maintenance purposes. The road is in District 5, and Commissioner Summerville has been trying for some time to get the road designated as a county road. At the earlier Commission work session, the status of Noah’s Way was discussed. The Commissioners decided to send the official decision to the Commission meeting, where the resolution was adopted.

    Culliver asked the Commission to approve the agreement with ALDOT to pursue the TAP grant to redo the sidewalks on the interior of the Old Courthouse Square, now named for Sheriff Thomas Gilmore. This project will complement the Street Scape project, which was completed last year by the City of Eutaw on the outside perimeter of the Thomas Gilmore Square.

    The TAP grant, which totals over a million dollars with an 80% state grant and 20% matching for engineering and construction, will redo all of the interior sidewalks on the square. This will make it easier for the many people who use this pathway to exercise and stay healthy.


    The third item on the agenda, which dealt with approving a contract for a Water Park Administration and Engineering firm to help design a “splash pad for children,” was tabled.

    The Commission approved travel for the Engineer and Assistant Engineer to attend a training conference on May 5 and 6 at Perdido Beach.

    The next item was added to the agenda at the meeting. Legal Counsel Mark Parnell proposed that the commission could establish an account, under the Commission’s General Fund, where individuals and businesses could contribute to support the ambulance service and have their contribution be tax-deductible, since the Commission and the ambulance service are public corporations – providing a service, not trying to be for-profit. The resolution creating a fund for contributions to the ambulance service was approved.

  • Newswire : On 61st Anniversary of Bloody Sunday, worries about the future of voting rights and calls to action

    Newswire : On 61st Anniversary of Bloody Sunday, worries about the future of voting rights and calls to action

    A diverse group of people, including several public figures, gathered on the Edmund Pettus Bridge, singing and celebrating while holding signs advocating for voting rights.

    People crossing the Edmund Pettus bridge on Sunday and  Spiver Gordon, Greene County civil rights veteran and foot soldier next to Congresswoman Sewell on bridge

    By Kim Chandler, Associated Press and other sources

    SELMA, Ala. (AP) — Sixty-one years after state troopers attacked Civil Rights marchers on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, thousands gathered in the Alabama city this weekend amid new concerns about the future of the Voting Rights Act.
    The March 7, 1965, violence that became known as Bloody Sunday shocked the nation and helped spur passage of the landmark legislation that dismantled barriers to voting for Black Americans in the Jim Crow South.
    The anniversary was celebrated in this city that served as crucible for the voting rights movement, with events through the weekend ending with a commemorative march across the bridge Sunday. But the commemoration came as the U.S. Supreme Court considers a case that could limit a provision of the Voting Rights Act that has helped ensure some congressional and local districts are drawn so minority voters have a chance to elect their candidate of choice.
    “I’m concerned that all of the advances that we made for the last 61 years are going to be eradicated,” said Charles Mauldin, 78, one of the marchers beaten on Bloody Sunday.
    Former and current Democratic officeholders, civil rights leaders and tourists descended on Selma to pay homage to the pivotal moment of the Civil Rights Movement and to issue calls to action. Speakers warned of the looming court decision and criticized the Trump administration’s actions on immigration and efforts to roll back diversity, equity, and inclusion.
    Standing at the pulpit of the historic Tabernacle Baptist Church, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, said that like the marchers on Bloody Sunday, they must press forward.
    “Years after Bloody Sunday, the progress that stemmed from that sacrifice is now being rolled back right in our faces,” the governor said. Moore is the nation’s only Black governor currently in office.
    “We are choosing this fight because those who marched across the Edmund Pettus Bridge deserve better than us cowering while the freedoms that we inherited and they fought for, are being ripped away,” Moore said.
    Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, speaking at a rally at the foot of the bridge, said racism is on the rise in America and “Trump’s Supreme Court is gutting the Voting Rights Act.”
    “Let’s march forward today with the knowledge that we are the inheritors of the faith that brought marchers to the bridge 61 years ago. It is now on us to bend the arc of the moral universe toward justice,” Pritzker said.
    The annual commemoration in Selma is a mix of a civil rights remembrances, church services and a street festival filled with vendors and food trucks. It is also part political rally with an eye on November’s midterm elections and a longer view to the 2028 presidential race.
    The commemoration included a tribute to the late Rev. Jesse Jackson, the civil rights leader and two-time presidential candidate who regularly attended the annual Selma march. He died on Feb. 17 at age 84.
    Yusef Jackson said his father’s legacy will be carried forward. “In November, we will go back to the polls and take our government back, setting our country on the right path,” Jackson said.
    The looming court decision cast a shadow over the festivities. Justices are expected to rule soon on a Louisiana case , Calais vs Louisiana, about the role of race in drawing congressional districts. A ruling prohibiting or limiting that role could have sweeping consequences, potentially opening the door for Republican-controlled states to redistrict and roll back majority Black and Latino districts that tend to favor Democrats.
    U.S. Rep. Shomari Figures won election in 2024 to an Alabama district that was redrawn by a federal court to give Black voters a greater voice. His district will likely be targeted if the state gets the opportunity to redraw lines. He said what happened in Selma and the subsequent passage of the Voting Rights Act “was monumental in shaping what America looks like and how America is represented in Congress.”
    In 1965, the Bloody Sunday marchers led by John Lewis and Hosea Williams walked in pairs across the Selma bridge headed toward the state capital of Montgomery. Mauldin, then 17, was part of the third pair behind Williams and Lewis.
    At the apex of the bridge, they could see the sea of law enforcement officers, including some on horseback, waiting for them. But they kept going.
    “It wasn’t that we didn’t have fear, it’s that we chose courage over fear,” Mauldin recalled.
    Spiver Gordon, Greene County civil rights leader said this anniversary was a little bitter-sweet, since three close friends, Rev. Jesse Jackson, Joanne Bland and Rev. Bernard Lafayette, had all passed in the three weeks leading up to this 61st anniversary of Bloody Sunday.
    A crowd of several thousand filed behind elected officials on this Sunday for the march across the bridge, this time protected by state law enforcement officers.

  • Newswire : After a president-filled celebration, Rev. Jesse Jackson’s family gathers for an intimate homegoing

    Newswire : After a president-filled celebration, Rev. Jesse Jackson’s family gathers for an intimate homegoing

    Private family funeral for Rev. Jesse Jackson

    By The Associated Press

    CHICAGO — A day after former presidents, sitting governors and local Chicago residents alike attended a vibrant, televised celebration for the late Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr., the family and friends who knew him best hosted a more intimate gathering Saturday to grieve the civil rights leader at his organization’s headquarters.

    The private memorial service at the Rainbow PUSH Coalition’s headquarters on the South Side of Chicago includes only a few hundred attendees, most of whom are family members, allies and confidants. The homegoing is meant as a capstone to a week of services held across the country

    “I foresee tomorrow will represent everything that Rev. Jackson stood for,” the Rev. Chauncey D. Brown, a pastor to a Chicago-area church and mentee of Jackson’s, said Friday.. “It will include dignitaries and icons, as well as many from where the true power lies, with the people in the streets.”
    Some members of the public who gathered outside the PUSH headquarters were allowed to enter the chamber.
    “Over the last two weeks, we’ve been focusing on connecting to people that Reverend worked with across the years,” said Rev. Janette Wilson, a longtime senior advisor to Jackson and executive director at Rainbow PUSH Coalition. “When you look at his work, it is so vast in the economic and political arenas.”
    Since his death last month, Jackson’s family and allies have honored the late reverend with commemorations, community service and demonstrations they say continue his work.
    Mourners were first allowed public visitations at the Rainbow PUSH headquarters in February, giving Jackson’s longtime neighbors a chance to say goodbye to the civil rights leader.
    The late reverend then lay in state at the South Carolina Capitol. Jackson grew up in segregated Greenville, South Carolina. As a high schooler, he led fellow students into a protest that desegregated a local library, starting a lifetime of civil rights activism.
    Services honoring Jackson in Washington, D.C., were postponed after a request for him to lie in honor at the U.S. Capitol was denied. House Republican leadership cited the precedent that only former presidents and senior generals regularly receive the privilege.
    Jackson’s mentees also honored his legacy by organizing on issues such as voting rights, economic inequality and political organizing in the weeks after his passing. Rainbow PUSH hosted a forum for community organizers and clergy whom Jackson mentored to discuss his impact on their careers.
    Wilson said that the best way to honor Jackson is to continue advocating for progressive, inclusive solutions to the pressing economic and political challenges of the day. She cited policies that addressed the impending socioeconomic effects of artificial intelligence, improved public schools and a focus on youth mental health as areas he was contemplative on at the end of his life.
    She also said that Jackson never shied away from being political.
    “We’re in a global moment where peace in the world is in jeopardy, where we just have bombs being dropped carelessly, killing children, innocent victims of political actions,” said Wilson of the ongoing war in the Middle East. “When the government cuts SNAP benefits and you have millions of children and families who will be food insecure, I think you have to tell them that we’re fighting for you.”
    Services honoring Jackson in Washington, D.C., were postponed after a request for him to lie in honor at the U.S. Capitol was denied. House Republican leadership cited the precedent that only former presidents and senior generals regularly receive the privilege.
    Jackson’s mentees also honored his legacy by organizing on issues such as voting rights, economic inequality and political organizing in the weeks after his passing. Rainbow PUSH hosted a forum for community organizers and clergy whom Jackson mentored to discuss his impact on their careers.
    Wilson said that the best way to honor Jackson is to continue advocating for progressive, inclusive solutions to the pressing economic and political challenges of the day. She cited policies that addressed the impending socioeconomic effects of artificial intelligence, improved public schools and a focus on youth mental health as areas he was contemplative on at the end of his life.
    She also said that Jackson never shied away from being political.
    “We’re in a global moment where peace in the world is in jeopardy, where we just have bombs being dropped carelessly, killing children, innocent victims of political actions,” said Wilson of the ongoing war in the Middle East. “When the government cuts SNAP benefits and you have millions of children and families who will be food insecure, I think you have to tell them that we’re fighting for you.”
    The headquarters also greeted nearly 100 progressive activists from Minnesota. The assembled groups represented civil, labor and immigrants’ rights groups who were recently thrust into the national spotlight after President Donald Trump’s administration’s enhanced immigration enforcement operation in the state sparked protests.
    “It’s really empowering, at least for me, to see the coalition coming together and to understand the history of civil rights and human rights and immigrants’ rights,” said Yeng Her, the organizing director at the Immigrant Defense Network, one of the organizations that has protested the Trump administration in Minnesota.
    The Jackson family invited the activists to Chicago to learn more about Jackson’s strategies and find resources for their own organizations. Organizers met Rainbow PUSH alumni and some of Jackson’s children.
    The gathering was a prelude to both the private service for Jackson’s family and another commemoration.
    On Sunday, members of the Jackson family and many of Jackson’s mentees will travel to Selma, Alabama, to commemorate the “Bloody Sunday” protest marches when civil rights activists were beaten by police on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in 1965.
    Jackson himself often attended the same anniversary march.
    “Reverend always thought three-dimensionally,” said Jimmy Coleman, a longtime aide to Jackson and native of Selma.
    “Selma has always stood for the basics of what civil rights is, what we are debating in policy. He was always focused on what we needed in terms of policy in any given political moment, and that’s what the march represents,” said Coleman.