PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE
The City of Boligee is applying to the Alabama Department of Transportation for a federal capital funding award under Section 5310 of the Federal Transit Act. This funding is for capital assistance to help meet the transportation needs of seniors and individuals with disabilities in Greene County.
A public hearing will be held on Wednesday, July 30, 2025 at 11:00Am in the [Cafateria at the Boligee Town and Community Center at 17404 Co Road 20 Boligee, Alabama 35443 for public comments.
Contact Information: William Baylor, Strategic Project Lead, Delta DB, 205-475-4493 will@deltadb.org
Category: Health
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Public Hearing Notice
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Sarah Duncan Brewer announces candidacy for Eutaw City Council, District IV
EUTAW, AL – Longtime community member and dedicated public servant, Sarah Duncan Brewer, has officially announced her candidacy for the Eutaw City Council, representing District IV. With a distinguished record of service within Greene County and a deep commitment to civic engagement, Brewer is eager to bring her extensive experience and proactive vision to the city’s leadership.
For the past two decades, Mrs. Brewer has been a cornerstone of the Greene County Board of Education. Her career there began as secretary for the Superintendent, a role that provided her with foundational insights into the administrative workings of local institutions. She later transitioned to the critical position of HR Coordinator/Payroll Clerk for the Board of Education, where she has been responsible for managing essential financial operations. This 26-year tenure has honed her skills in organization, fiscal responsibility, and public administration.
Beyond her professional life, Sarah Duncan Brewer is a devoted member of the Second Baptist Church, where her voluntary commitment to service spanning 35 years extends to her role as Financial Secretary. Her active participation in the church community underscores her dedication to the well-being and betterment of Eutaw residents.
A staunch advocate for civic participation, Mrs. Brewer has been a registered voter since becoming eligible, consistently exercising her right to elect candidates into office for over 40 years. This long-standing engagement with the democratic process has given her a unique perspective on local governance.
“After observing the current condition of our city and county, I felt it was time for me to step into the ring and see if I could help make a difference in our city,” stated Brewer. Her decision to run stems from a desire to translate her observations into tangible improvements for Eutaw.
Brewer emphasizes her belief that while many factors contribute to realizing a vision, significant improvements are within reach. “Over the years, I’ve watched how politicians often wait until election time to make improvements,” she reflected. “I thought, why not make these changes all the time? Because it is right to give our citizens quality services.” Her platform is rooted in the principle of consistent, proactive service to the community, not just during campaign cycles.
Sarah Duncan Brewer is married to Albert Brewer. They are the proud parents of two children, Alvin (Cara) Brewer and Ashley (Jason) Brewer Lincoln, and doting grandparents to three granddaughters, Maya Faith, Nola Grace, and Ava Joy. Her deep roots in the community and commitment to family further underscore her dedication to fostering a thriving environment for all Eutaw residents.
Brewer invites residents of District IV to engage with her campaign as she looks forward to discussing her vision for a stronger, more vibrant Eutaw. -
School board approves multiple personnel and administrative items
Greene County Career Center demonstrates unlimited career opportunities for scholars
The Greene County Board of Education met in regular session, Monday, July 21, 2025, with all board members in attendance. As part of his report to the board, Superintendent Dr. Corey Jones invited Ms. LaMonica Little, Career Coach at the Greene County Career Center for a presentation. She gave an overview of the various activities, including trips, students were engaged in during the previous school year. She noted that Greene County High School scholars are prepared for college, work force or military. The areas of workforce training include welding, heavy equipment operations, HVAC, various medical assistants programs and more. Once students compete training and are certified in the field, they are readily offered positions of employment.
Students are also provided all assistance available to earn scores for college entrance. Ms. Little demonstrated multiple trips students are afforded to universities, industries, state and national competitions as part of their preparation. She said that there are unlimited career opportunities for students if they will do the work. “ If a student is still at home after graduation, then that student wants to just be at home,” she said.
Superintendent Jones also presented his 11 Goals for administrating the school system during the upcoming school term.
Then board approved the following personnel items recommended by the superintendent.
* Rescind recall of Shana Lucy, Third grade teacher at Eutaw Primary School
* Rescind TEAMS Contract 2025-2026 – Lorissa Holder – GCHS, Science (1 Year Contract)
Resignations: Jennifer Miller-Reeves, SPED para-professional – Robert Brown Middle School, effective July 1, 2025; Samon Sanders – Truancy Officer Duties, effective May 30, 2025;
Roshonda Clark, Second grade teacher – EPS.
Employment: Devin Woods – ISS Instructor – RBMS; Dequandra Lyles – Elementary teacher – RBMS; Victoria Moore – TEAMS Science teacher – GCHS; Akeem Tyree – ISS Instructor – GCHS; Laquita Hunter – Long-term sub – Learning Academy; Kavalyn Bryant – First grade – EPS; Angela Pruitt – Third grade – EPS; Denetria Ruffin – Second grade – EPS; Zarquashia Taylor – Health Science teacher – GCCC; Glenda Hodges – Long-term sub (Special Services) – EPS;
TEAMS Contract 2025-2026 – Victoria Moore – GCHS, Science (1Year Contract);
* Voluntary transfer of Demetris Lyles from 4th grade teacher at Robert Brown Middle School to 6th grade teacher at Robert Brown Middle School, effective 2025 – 2025 school year.
* Personnel for Summer Learning for the 2025-2026 school year: Brenda Lawrence – Nurse
Salary for Mental Health Coordinator of $40,000 to be paid in accordance with the FY 2026 Mental Health Services Coordinator Grant.
Additional Service Contracts 2025 – 2026 for the following employees at Greene County High School: (Separate Contract): Head Girls Basketball – Torethia Mitchell; Assistant Girls Basketball – Lorissa Holder; Head Boys Basketball (Varsity) – Howard Crawford; Head Girls Track – Tracey Hunter; Head Boys Track – Howard Crawford; Asst. Flag Football – Howard Crawford;
The following to perform after hours CCR related activities during the 2025-2026 school year, to include weekend and after school activities: Paula Calligan; Tomora Morris-Hill; Shamyra Jones; Patricia Rhone; LaMonica Little; Tweila Morris; Tamika Thompson; Lorissa Holder; Janice Askew; Drenda Morton; Tura Edwards.
Update to additional service contract to include Flag Football.
Additional Service Contracts 2025 – 2026 for the following employees at Robert Brown Middle School: (Separate Contract): Tavaris Lacy –Head Basketball (Girls/Boys) – Rescind (approved at June 13, 2025 meeting); Tavaris Lacy – Head Basketball (Boys); Dequandra Lyles – Head Basketball (Girls.
The board approved the following administrative items.
* Partnership between the University of Alabama Health Resources and Service Administration Implementation IV Project and the Greene County School District to target 5th grade students at Robert Brown Middle on helping to build positive character skills.
* Memorandum of Agreement between Greene County Board of Education and The University of Alabama for the district’s participation in BAMA-STOP School Violence Program.
* Agreement between Greene County Board of Education and Governors Local Workforce Areas and Sirius Workforce LLC to provide summer personnel for summer 2025 work-based learning program.
* Agreement between the Greene County Board of Education and Greene County Ambulance Service to provide ambulance services during home football games for the 2025 – 2026 season.
* Quote from Divot Assets in the amount of $8,500 to perform on site inventory for FY 2025.
* Travel for Juniors, Seniors and chaperons to tour Spelman College and Clark Atlanta University on July 31, 2025.
* Adjustment of the summer rate for teachers to $50 per hour for the CTE Summer Camp, CTE Preparation and New Year Planning in relation to the CCR Grant.
* Adjustment of the all-day/weekend after hours rate for CCR related activities to $250 per day.
* Agreement between the Greene County Board of Education and H&H Educational Services, LLC to provide psychometric services for the 2025-2026 school year.
* Contractual Agreement for Greene County Board of Education and Denise Horton to serve as Instructional & Behavioral Aide for the system FY 2025-2026.
* Agreement between the Greene County Board of Education and West Alabama Therapy, LLC to provide physical and occupational therapy to IDEA eligible students for the 2025-2026 school year.
* Agreement between Greene County Board of Education and Kim Herren to provide developmental delay services for pre-school children during the 2025- 2026 school year. *Agreement between Greene County Board of Education and Tammy W. Lewis MSCCC-SLP to provide speech therapy services for the 2025-2026 school year.
* Agreement between Greene County Board of Education and Behavioral Solutions of Mississippi for Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Consultative Services (behavior services) for the 2025-2026 school yea.r
* Agreement between Greene County Board of Education and Demisha Stough to provide gifted services for the 2025-2026 school year (Second grade Child Find).
* Contract between the Greene County Board of Education and West Central Officials Association for football officials for the 2025 – 2026 school year at GCHS.
* Contract between Greene County Board of Education and Corey Morton to serve as technology assistant and provide technical support for the district for the 2025 – 2026 school year.
* Memorandum of Agreement for Special Education Services between Community Service Programs of West Alabama, Inc. Head Start/Early Head Start and Greene County Board of Education for 2025 – 2026 school year.
* Payment of all bills, claims, and payroll.
* Bank reconciliations as submitted by Mrs. Marquita Lennon, CSFO.
Contract between the Greene County Board of Education and West Central Officials Association for football officials for the 2025 – 2026 school year at RBMS.
CNP Department rate increase for meal prices and salad prices beginning FY 2025-26.
Service Contract between Greene County Board of Education and Zachary Rutledge to develop and provide a Dual Enrichment (Welding Level I Lab) program for students at Greene County Career Center for the 2025 – 2026 school year.
CSFO Ms. Marquita Lennon presented the financial snapshots for the period ending June, 30, 2025. Points of Interest included: Operating Reserve – 8.33 months combined general fund; 8.34 months cash reserve. All bank accounts have been reconciled. General fund balance totaled $8,832,479.71 (reconciles to the summary cash report). Accounts payable check register totaled $229,188.01; Payroll register totaled $920,638.24 (total gross pay to include employer match items). Combined ending fun d balance totaled $8,815,832.25. In local revenue, property taxes totaled $21,049.69; sales taxes totaled $145,119.39; other taxes totaled $5,831.36. Local Revenue totaled $172,000.44.
Ms Lennon noted that all the funds are in place for the Track & Field Project (Phase I of the Sports Complex at Greene County High School). The expected cost of Phase I will be approximately $1.9 million. The State Department of Education is providing a portion of the cost. -
Newswire : From eggs to hotels, prices soar as inflation redefines daily life
By Stacy M. Brown Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent
Prices across the United States are about 26% higher than before the COVID-19 pandemic, pushing everything from a weekend hotel stay to a simple cup of coffee out of reach for many families. A budget hotel room in Nashville can now cost $500 for the weekend—without breakfast—and a single cup of coffee can cost $7. Rental cars are also commanding premium rates, with four days in a midsize Toyota Camry easily topping $670.
It’s so bad in America that a foreign news organization dug into the pricey details. The Times of London reported that inflation, which began accelerating in 2021, has left American consumers grappling with the most persistent cost increases in decades. According to NerdWallet data cited in the report, the impact has been felt across every income bracket, fueling a growing sense that even basic experiences are becoming unaffordable.Travel and Lodging: Soaring Costs
Hotel rates have climbed 24% over the past decade, The Times reported. In Manhattan, the average nightly rate hit a record $417 in September 2024, according to real estate analytics firm CoStar. Miami Beach hotels averaged $283 a night last year, up from $230 in 2019, while Las Vegas rooms rose to $198, up nearly 41% over the same period. Rental car prices surged early in the pandemic and remain high. While rates stabilized over the past year, costs have increased 29% since 2015.
Airfares are technically down 18.5% compared to 2015, but The Times noted that this decline reflects airlines’ “unbundling” services to show lower headline fares while tacking on fees. Southwest Airlines, for example, ended its “bags fly free” policy and now charges $35 for the first checked bag and $45 for the second.
Dining and Groceries: Everyday Pain PointsEating out has become markedly more expensive, with restaurant prices up 49.3% in the last ten years. Fast food chains have been forced to raise prices due to wage increases, higher energy costs, and supply chain problems. A dozen large Grade A eggs averaged $6.23 in March before dipping to $4.55 by May, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The Waffle House restaurant chain temporarily imposed a 50-cent surcharge per egg.
Grocery essentials have spiked in price, The Times reported. Baby wipes that cost $4.99 four years ago now average $6.63, while a unit of dog food jumped from $5.78 to $8.42, according to NielsenIQ.
Lindsay Owens, executive director of the Groundwork Collaborative, said some companies have exploited the situation for profit. “They decided to see if they could pass along all of their rising costs so that their margins wouldn’t be eaten into,” Owens told The Times. “And when they realized that they could, they decided to go for more.”
Entertainment and Theme Parks: A Luxury for the WealthyThe price of live entertainment has soared. NerdWallet figures show concert and theater tickets are up 39% since 2015. The most recent Broadway season was the priciest on record, averaging $129 per ticket, and top shows often exceed $1,000 a seat. Dolly Parton’s December Las Vegas shows sold out in minutes, with resale prices climbing to $1,600. At Disney parks, costs have risen steeply. A four-day Walt Disney World trip for a family of four, including a Disney hotel, cost $4,266 last year, more than $1,000 from five years earlier, The Wall Street Journal reported.
What Comes Next
While inflation has retreated from its 9% peak in 2022, The Times cautioned that Americans shouldn’t expect relief anytime soon. New tariffs introduced by the Trump administration are expected to drive prices even higher in the months ahead. With costs still climbing, many households are left with tough decisions about which necessities—and experiences—they can continue to afford. “We’re often seeing the highest demand in the luxury space,” Sally French, a NerdWallet finance expert, said. “People want the hotel that’s going to make for an amazing photo… People are spending more on higher-end things they wouldn’t have done in the past.”
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Newswire : Black Americans still face deep retirement gaps despite higher incomes
By Stacy M. Brown Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent
A report from the Employee Benefit Research Institute shows that Black Americans continue to face serious challenges in saving for retirement, even as their incomes grow.
The 2025 Retirement Confidence Survey, which included a special oversample of Black workers and retirees, found that the wealth gap remains wide at every income level. Among households earning $75,000 or more, only 33% of Black Americans reported having $250,000 or more in savings and investments, compared with 63% of non-Black Americans. Debt remains a significant barrier. 63% of higher-income Black households said debt is a problem, while just 45% of non-Black households at the same income level said the same. Nearly half of upper-income Black respondents said debt affects their ability to save or live comfortably in retirement.
While many Black Americans expressed confidence managing day-to-day budgets, fewer felt prepared to invest or plan for the long term. The study showed that Black Americans with higher incomes were less likely to have personally saved for retirement, 77%, compared with 87% of non-Black Americans. Retirement experiences also differed sharply. Forty-four percent of Black retirees said they retired earlier than planned because of a health problem or disability, compared with 32% of non-Black retirees.
After leaving their main jobs, Black retirees were more likely to work for pay to make ends meet, and more often said their retirement lifestyle was worse than expected. Access to financial advice and planning remains uneven. Just 31% of Black respondents reported currently working with a financial advisor, although nearly half expect to do so in the future. Black Americans were more likely to seek help with reducing debt, creating wills or estate plans, and arranging life insurance than simply determining if they had saved enough to retire.
Researchers Craig Copeland and Lisa Greenwald wrote, “Black Americans reported disproportionately lower financial resources, and how they feel about retirement and financial security is clearly impacted by having less resources.” They continued, “In particular, Black retirees are struggling with higher likelihoods of their retirement lifestyle being worse than expected and having to retire earlier than planned because of a health problem or disability.” “Still,” the researchers concluded, “there are some modifications in the financial system that could help improve their prospects, such as increased assistance in balancing competing financial priorities like debt reduction, supporting family, and building long-term savings.” -
Newswire : 1700 ‘Good Trouble Lives On’ events held across the nation on July 17
Barbara Arnwine, president/CEO of the Transformative Justice Coalition, at a ‘Good Trouble Still Lives On’ Rally in Chicago.
By Hamil Harris
(TriceEdneyWire.com) – When U. S. Rep. John Lewis died on July 17, 2020, instead of somber memorial services, his family and civil rights leaders and activists held rallies and marches and got into what he had described as “good trouble,” meaning pushing for truth and justice even when it means taking a risk.
Five years later, in his memory and honor, “Good Trouble Lives On,” a string of protest events took place in more than 1,700 communities across the country July 17. A growing coalition of leaders says their ranks are growing to challenge President Trump’s agenda and hopefully restore crucial public policies that he and his administration have destroyed.
“We had more than 1700 events across the country Thursday night, and it was beautiful,” said Barbara Arnwine, president/CEO of the Transformative Justice Coalition, and a co-leader of Good Trouble Lives On.
The flagship event for Good Trouble Lives On was held in Chicago with other rallies in major cities like Atlanta, St. Louis and Washington, DC, but also in many smaller venues like Annapolis, Md.; Portland, Ore.; and San Diego, Calif.
“People said that it couldn’t be done because they are too angry and were skeptical,” Arnwine said. “But we started to organize and people, Black and White, took to the streets.”
“This is what Democracy looks like,” said Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, during the Chicago rally. “Congressman John Lewis, a man who put his body on the line for Justice. There are times when we must defy the status quo and push back against unjust laws and that time is now.”
One of the common themes about the Good Trouble Lives On events is that they are positive, diverse, and upbeat. In Washington, DC Rep. Al Green said in a TV interview that the march that Rep. Lewis led across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in 1965 was the “crown jewel of the City Rights Movement.”
In New York City, protesters marched and chanted, “We want justice, we want peace, we want ICE off our streets!”
In Deland, Fla., protesters yelled “This is what Democracy looks like!” and in St. Louis, Denise Lieberman, director of the Missouri Voter Protection Coalition, said, “We are standing up for the freedom of all people.”
While many events are held in Washington DC, Arnwine said she planned for a “flagship,” event to be held in Chicago because she had strong support from city officials as well as labor and Civil Rights leaders.
The Mayor of Chicago spoke and even the Rev. Jackson came in his wheelchair alongside labor and civil rights leaders,” said Arnwine, noting that there were major turnouts in other cities.
“Chicago as chosen as the national flagship because of its bold and defiant Mayor Brandon Johnson, because it is the headquarters of Rev. Jesse Jackson’s Rainbow/PUSH Coalition and it’s a union town,” Arnwine said. “It also has great voting rights organizations and a wonderful chapter of Indivisible,” a progressive movement and organization that has vowed to fight against infringements upon civil rights gains.
In Alabama, there were rallies in the cities of Dothan, Mobile, Tuscaloosa, Montgomery, Birmingham and Huntsville. In Selma, there was a rally at the National Voting Rights Museum on Highway 80, near the spot where John Lewis was beaten on Bloody Sunday in 1965. This was a prelude to a larger statewide demonstration on August 6, 2025 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the signing of the 1965 Voting Rights Acts and to continue the struggle to update and extend the provisions of the VRA which have been invalidated in recent years by Supreme Court decisions and state legislative acts.
Arnwine says she is expecting the events to continue and grow, including additional rallies later this summer. In August a rally for voting rights, a labor rally in September as well as a rally in support of the Constitution.
“Transformative Justice Coalition is pleased that more than 1,700 activations took place on July 17th through rallies, teach-ins and marches now planned across America’s communities and neighborhoods in the spirit of getting in ‘good trouble’. This has been created in honor of the late Congressman John Lewis, who coined the phrase ‘Good Trouble.’” Arnwine said. “John Lewis once famously quipped, ‘If not now, when. If not us, then who?’”
We are determined to reach and activate every American impacted by the poorly thought-out, poorly calculated, and callous budget bill passed on our country’s 249th birthday.
While the majority of people impacted by these cuts are White, it will also have a significant impact on Black, Brown, and other communities of color.
“The nature of the struggle has changed. It’s a different era that requires a different response ,” Arnwine said. “The beautiful thing is that we are under attack, but we have each other’s backs and there is more good trouble to come.”
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Newswire : Rep. Figures leads bipartisan effort to introduce NIL bill to establish national framework
Rep. Shomari Figures
By Staff, Alabama Political Reporter
On Thursday, Representative Shomari C. Figures, D-Alabama, led a bipartisan effort with the Republican chairmen of the Committees on Energy and Commerce; Education and the Workforce; and the Judiciary to introduce the Student Compensation and Opportunity through Rights and Endorsements (SCORE) Act to establish a national framework that stabilizes the use of student-athletes’ name, image, and likeness.
“The current college sports environment has drastically changed in the NIL era, and this bill provides a framework to where students can not only be compensated but also have access to resources like health care and financial literacy courses, to ensure they have a solid foundation for their lives after college and we can get back to just playing ball,” Figures said. “I look forward to continuing the bipartisan work to make this the strongest bill possible and protect student-athletes, schools, and our athletic conferences.”
The SCORE Act includes the following provisions:
Sets a national framework for student-athletes’ rights and responsibilities related to name, image, and likeness (NIL) compensation, support services, and institutional accountability.
Guarantees a range of student-athlete benefits, including academic and career support, health and medical services, injury-related protections, and grant-in-aid guarantees both during and after enrollment for Division I schools.
Allows student-athletes to receive NIL payments except when the payment is from a booster without a valid business purpose, from a school in excess of a set pool limit, or in violation of the school’s code of conduct or contractual obligations.
Authorizes athletic associations to set rules on NIL transparency, booster payments, recruitment, transfers, and eligibility, among other matters.
Establishes federal preemption over related state laws to ensure uniformity across the country.“NIL offers an endless array of opportunities for student-athletes to make the most of their college experience, but the lack of clear guardrails has left athletes and universities on unstable ground.
The SCORE Act creates a national framework that supports student-athletes and recenters the educational mission of college athletics,” said Chairmen Brett Guthrie, R- Kentucky; Tim Walberg, R-Michigan; and Jim Jordan, R-Ohio. “We are proud of this landmark legislation, and we look forward to working with our colleagues to strengthen this American institution.”
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Newswire : Black Lives Matter marks 12 years with global expansion and renewed calls for accountability
Black Lives Matter has reached its 12th anniversary, and the organization’s co-founder and prominent scholar-activist, Dr. Melina Abdullah, says the movement is not only growing internationally but also confronting what she described as an unprecedented wave of “fascism and unmasked racism.”
By Stacy M. Brown Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent
During an appearance on Black Press USA’s Let It Be Known News, Dr. Abdullah detailed the recent summit in Los Angeles, where organizers from 51 chapters—including the newly established Black Lives Matter Stockholm—gathered for workshops, tours, an action, and a celebration at the Center for Black Power on Crenshaw Boulevard. “This is the largest that Black Lives Matter has ever been,” Abdullah said. “We are now 51 chapters in 2025 and thousands of boots-on-the-ground organizers.”
The summit, which lasted several days, included discussions on the group’s principles and strategy. Abdullah noted that the movement’s work has taken on new urgency as attacks on Black communities intensify. “I think the world hasn’t seen this level of fascism and unmasked racism,” she said. “I haven’t witnessed a world where African American men from Texas, born and raised, the child descendants of enslaved people, can be deported.” Abdullah also described personal moments of fear, including seeing an unknown truck parked in front of her home after delivering groceries to elders in the community. “I was going, should I get out my car? Because I don’t know who these two men sitting in this truck are,” she recalled. “And will somebody see me if they snatch me up?”
The BLM Grassroots leader announced the release of the organization’s annual action report, detailing initiatives ranging from mutual aid to political advocacy. Among the work highlighted was the successful campaign to free Brittany Martin, who was sentenced to prison for remarks made to police during a 2020 protest in South Carolina. “This pregnant mother of six, now of seven, was arrested for simply speaking words,” Abdullah said. “She wound up being ripped away from her family, forced to have her seventh child inside the prison. But we kept fighting, and at the end of 2024, we were able to free Brittany Martin.” In addition to campaigns for policy reforms like Wakiesha’s Law—requiring 24-hour family notification when a loved one dies in custody—the report describes BLM Grassroots’ youth scholarship programs, food distributions, and international solidarity work.
Dr. Abdullah also addressed internal conflict over financial stewardship within the broader BLM network. She said that while BLM Los Angeles purchased a community building used for mutual aid and youth programs, the Global Network Foundation bought what she called a “$6 million mansion” in Studio City. “Families of those who have been killed by police and white supremacy have been blocked from being able to ever use or set foot inside that house,” she said, adding that BLM Grassroots leaders recently visited the property to demand accountability and the return of resources. “We stood outside with at least six or seven family members and said, return the money, return the resources to the movement so that we can use it for the good of Black liberation.”
Abdullah said that repeated attempts to speak directly with foundation leaders—including letters, calls, and legal filings—have been met with silence or legal counteractions. “They’ve never spoken with us,” she said. “We would love to speak with them and ask them why they feel entitled to travel in private jets with makeup teams and stand on red carpets wearing couture.” She described BLM Grassroots’ philosophy of abolition and the need to dismantle systems that profit from Black suffering. “We have to transform a state that allows for and enables and really sometimes benefits and profits from the murders of Black people,” Abdullah said.
The full action report is available at blmgrassroots.org. -
Newswire : Obama’s blunt message for Democrats: ‘Toughen up’
Former President Barack Obama addresses the Obama Foundation’s Democracy Forum on December 5, 2024, in Chicago. – Scott Olson/Getty Images
By Arlette Sanz, CNN
Former President Barack Obama issued a call to action for Democrats at a private fundraiser in New Jersey on Friday evening, urging those frustrated by the state of the country under President Donald Trump to “stand up for the things that you think are right.”
“I think it’s going to require a little bit less navel-gazing and a little less whining and being in fetal positions. And it’s going to require Democrats to just toughen up,” Obama said at the fundraiser, according to excerpts of his remarks exclusively obtained by CNN.
“You know, don’t tell me you’re a Democrat, but you’re kind of disappointed right now, so you’re not doing anything. No, now is exactly the time that you get in there and do something,” he said. “Don’t say that you care deeply about free speech and then you’re quiet. No, you stand up for free speech when it’s hard. When somebody says something that you don’t like, but you still say, ‘You know what, that person has the right to speak.’ … What’s needed now is courage.”
Obama’s comments come as the Democratic Party searches for its path forward in the second Trump term and beyond. Many in the party’s base have called for a more forceful response from Democratic leaders at a time when the party is locked out of power.
As Democrats debate who should lead the party, Obama encouraged them to channel their energy into the governor’s races in New Jersey and Virginia, saying the off-year elections could be “a big jumpstart for where we need to go.”
“Stop looking for the quick fix. Stop looking for the messiah. You have great candidates running races right now. Support those candidates,” Obama said, calling out the New Jersey and Virginia elections, according to the excerpts of his remarks.
“Make sure that the DNC has what it needs to compete in what will be a more data-driven, more social media-driven cycle, which will cost some money and expertise and time,” he continued.
Obama spoke at a private fundraiser hosted by New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy and his wife, Tammy Murphy, at their home in Red Bank, New Jersey. The intimate dinner drew in $2.5 million through in-person and online donations for the Democratic National Committee, a source familiar with the event said.
A portion of the haul will be allocated to Democratic efforts in the governor’s race in New Jersey. The Democratic nominee, Rep. Mikie Sherrill, and and DNC Chair Ken Martin were on hand for the event.
Obama described Sherrill and former Rep. Abigail Spanberger, the Democratic nominee for governor in Virginia, as “powerful spokespersons for a pragmatic, commonsense desire to help people and who both have remarkable track records of service.”
“The most important thing you can do right now is to help the team, our candidate to win,” he said. “And we’ve got to start building up our coffers in the DNC.”
Obama also argued that Democrats need to focus on how to “deliver for people,” acknowledging the different views within the party about how best to do that.
“There’s been, I gather, some argument between the left of the party and people who are promoting the quote-unquote abundance agenda. Listen, those things are not contradictory. You want to deliver for people and make their lives better? You got to figure out how to do it,” he said.
“I don’t care how much you love working people. They can’t afford a house because all the rules in your state make it prohibitive to build. And zoning prevents multifamily structures because of NIMBY,” he said, referring to “not in my backyard” views. “I don’t want to know your ideology, because you can’t build anything. It does not matter.”
Obama has spoken selectively since Trump’s return to power in January. He has criticized the president’s tariff policy and warned the White House was infringing on Americans’ rights. Last month, Obama warned the country was “dangerously close” to a more autocratic government.
At the closed-press fundraiser on Friday, the former president said he has not been “surprised by what Trump’s done” or that “there are no more guardrails within the Republican Party.” He repeated his calls for institutions, including law firms and universities, to push back on intimidation efforts by the Trump administration.
“What’s being asked of us is make some effort to stand up for the things that you think are right. And be willing to be a little bit uncomfortable in defense of your values. And in defense of the country. And in defense of the world that you want to leave to your children and your grandchildren,” he said. “And if we all do that, if we do our jobs over the next year and a half, then I think we will rebuild momentum and we will position ourselves to get this country moving in the direction it should.”