The Greene County Democrat

Category: Newswire

  • Newswire : Clyburn, Pressley, Scanlon, colleagues urge Biden to use clemency power to address Mass Incarceration before leaving office

     

    Congresspersons Clyburn, Pressley and Scanlon address a press conference in Washington D. C.

    By NNPA Newswire

    WASHINGTON, DC – On November 21, 2024, Congressman James E. Clyburn (SC-06), Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), and Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05) led 60 of their colleagues in sending a letter to President Biden urging him to use his executive clemency power in the final months of his presidency to reunite families, address longstanding injustices in our legal system, and set our nation on the path toward ending mass incarceration. The lawmakers hosted a press conference earlier today to discuss the letter.

    “Now is the time to use your clemency authority to rectify unjust and unnecessary criminal laws passed by Congress and draconian sentences given by judges,” the lawmakers wrote in their letter. “The grant of pardons and commutations and the restoration of rights will undoubtedly send a powerful message across the country in support of fundamental fairness and furthering meaningful criminal justice reform.”

    Mass incarceration remains a persistent, systemic injustice that erodes the soul of America. Our nation has the highest incarceration rate in the world, with nearly two million people locked in jails and prisons throughout the country. The extreme use of incarceration has resulted in one in two adults having had an incarcerated family member. People of color are disproportionately put behind bars, along with individuals from low-income communities, LGBTQIA+ folks, and those with disabilities. The bloated prison system reflects and emboldens biases that undermine the ideals of our nation and diminish trust in the rule of law. Mass incarceration attacks the most vulnerable Americans, thereby destabilizing families and inflicting intergenerational trauma.

    In their letter to President Biden, the lawmakers praised the President’s efforts to create a fair and just criminal legal system by pardoning people convicted of simple marijuana possession and LGBTQ+ former servicemembers and urged the President to use his clemency powers to help broad classes of people and cases, including the elderly and chronically ill, those on death row, people with unjustified sentencing disparities, and women who were punished for defending themselves against their abusers. The lawmakers also outlined the fiscal toll of the growing mass incarceration crisis.

    “You have the support of millions of people across the country who have felt the harms of mass incarceration: young children longing to hug their grandparents, people who have taken responsibility for their mistakes, and those who simply were never given a fair chance,” the lawmakers wrote. “These are the people seeking help that only you can provide through the use of your presidential clemency power.”

    Joining Representatives Clyburn, Pressley, and Scanlon in sending the letter are Representatives Joyce Beatty, Sanford Bishop, Shontel Brown, Cori Bush, André Carson, Troy Carter, Yvette Clarke, Jasmine Crockett, Valerie Foushee, Al Green, Jahana Hayes, Steven Horsford, Jonathan Jackson, Pramila Jayapal, Henry Johnson, Sydney Kamlager-Dove, Robin Kelly, Summer Lee, Jennifer McClellan, Gregory Meeks, Delia Ramirez, Jan Schakowsky, Robert Scott, Terri Sewell, Marilyn Strickland, Bennie Thompson, Rashida Tlaib, and Bonnie Watson Coleman.

    The lawmakers’ letter is supported by the American Civil Liberties Union; Center for Popular Democracy; Last Prisoner Project; Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law; Death Penalty Action; The National Council for Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls; The Faith Leaders of Color Coalition; Second Chance Justice of MCAN; JustLeadershipUSA; FAMM; The Episcopal Church; The Bambi Fund; Free Billie Allen Campaign; People’s Coalition for Safety and Freedom; Prophetic Resistance Boston; and Families Against Mandatory Minimums.

  • Newswire : VP Kamala Harris honors Shirley Chisholm with historic Congressional Gold Medal bill signing

    Vice President Kamala Harris, joined by U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee (CA-12) and U.S. Senator Laphonza Butler (D-CA), signs the Shirley Chisholm Congressional Gold Medal Act at the U.S. Capitol, Monday, December 9, 2024, in Washington, D.C. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson) and photo of Shirley Chisholm in 1972, announcing her candidacy for the Presidency.

    By Gerren Kieth Gaynor, The Grio

    Vice President Kamala Harris signed a bill bestowing the late Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm with a Congressional Gold Medal, a symbolic and historic moment in Washington for America’s first Black female vice president. 

    Harris’ signature instructed the United States Congress to posthumously award Chisholm, the first Black woman elected to Congress and first African American to run for president in a major party, with Congress’s highest civilian honor.

    Vice President Harris said she “proudly” and “humbly” signed the Shirley Chisholm Congressional Gold Medal Act on Monday while on Capitol Hill, where she also swore in Senators-designate Andy Kim, D-N.J., and Adam Schiff, D-Calif., and Senator-elect Pete Ricketts, R-Neb. The bill will now go to President Joe Biden’s desk to be signed into law.

    As vice president, Harris serves as president of the U.S. Senate, which grants her the authority to sign bills before they go to the president’s desk for final signature. Typically, the president pro tempore of the Senate — currently U.S. Senator Patty Murray — signs such bills. However, the vice president felt it necessary and meaningful to personally sign the Shirley Chisholm Congressional Gold Medal Act, theGrio learned from a source with knowledge of the vice president’s decision.

    The bill, introduced by U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., is years in the making. Congresswoman Lee and Senator Laphonza Butler, D-Calif., stood beside Vice President Harris as she signed the legislation. Lee, a mentee of Chisholm, told theGrio in a recent interview, “This Congressional Gold Medal is part of not only her legacy but part of reminding people who she was and the contributions that she made to this country and to the world.”

    Throughout her 20 years in Congress, Lee also worked to have a portrait of Chisholm commissioned and hung in the hall of Congress, create a U.S. postal stamp in tribute to her, and a resolution honoring her contributions to American politics.

    Chisholm, who died in 2005 at 80, made history in 1968 as the first African-American woman to be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, representing New York’s 12th Congressional District. After only two terms in Congress, she made history again as the first Democratic woman, first African American and first Black woman to seek a major party’s nomination to run for president in 1972. 

    During her political career, Chisholm championed racial and gender equality, early education, and child welfare. She is also a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus and, at its founding, was the caucus’ only female member. 

    Vice President Harris has long acknowledged how Chisholm inspired her political career. As Lee pointed out to theGrio, Harris used the colors of Chisholm’s presidential campaign in her 2019 presidential campaign. During that presidential run, during an interview with theGrio, Harris said, “I stand, as so many of us do, on her shoulders.” She added, “Her strength as an individual, as a woman, as a Black woman, was so powerful and resonated in such an incredible way … even today.”

    While campaigning for president in October, the vice president named Chisholm as one of five people, dead or alive, she would have dinner with on the “All The Smoke” podcast. “I would love to sit with her. I feel that I know her because I have studied her life,” Harris said. The Vice President also emphasized that her own historic run for president was “a path that she created.”

    Though Harris was unsuccessful in her 2024 presidential bid, Lee told theGrio Shirley Chisholm would be “applauding” the vice president. “Kamala picked up that baton, and she’s still running. I think Shirley is pleased and happy and smiling and saying, keep at it because sooner or later we’ll have a woman of color, a Black woman specifically, as our president,” said Congresswoman Lee.

  • Newswire : Congressional Black Caucus reaches historic 62 members while preparing to challenge Trump policies

    Congressional Black Caucus members, Gregory Meeks (NY) Joyce Beatty (OH) Troy Carter (LA) and James Clyburn (SC) speak in 2024

    By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

     

    The Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) will enter the 119th session of Congress with a historic 62 members, marking the largest number of Black federal lawmakers in U.S. history. In total, 67 Black lawmakers will serve, with five Republican members declining to join the caucus. However, this historic milestone comes against the backdrop of a new Trump administration that has signaled sharp policy shifts, including an almost entirely white Cabinet and the implementation of the anti-minority Project 2025.

    The CBC, established in 1971 to advocate for Black and marginalized communities, now represents 120 million Americans, including 41% of Black Americans. Yet its leaders face a steep challenge under a Trump administration openly pursuing policies that could roll back decades of progress in civil rights, healthcare access, and economic equity.

    “We’ve always been the conscience of Congress, no matter who’s in charge,” said Rep. Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y., a senior CBC member and ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. “But now we have a larger choir of leaders ready to call truth to power, ensuring the voices of the voiceless are heard. This administration poses a danger, and we’re here to counter that.”

    Project 2025 and the Challenge Ahead

    President-elect Donald Trump’s administration is advancing Project 2025, a policy blueprint critics say is designed to dismantle protections for marginalized communities while consolidating power among white conservatives. The plan includes eliminating the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, granting police broad immunity in cases involving unarmed citizens, and reversing diversity and inclusion initiatives across federal agencies.
    In addition to these policy threats, Trump’s Cabinet appointments include figures like Dr. Mehmet Oz, tapped to oversee Medicaid and Medicare, and Linda McMahon, his pick for Secretary of Education, raising alarms about the administration’s priorities. The nearly all-white leadership team underscores a stark contrast to the growing diversity in Congress.
    “It will be interesting to see how this administration interacts with a record number of Black lawmakers,” said Niccara Campbell Wallace, executive director of the Rolling Sea Action Fund. “The CBC’s growth means there are more voices to push back, to advocate for policies that reflect the reality of a diverse America.”

    Historic Firsts in Representation

    While the Trump administration doubles down on policies many see as anti-minority, the new Congress will also usher in a wave of historic firsts. Two Black women will serve simultaneously in the U.S. Senate for the first time. Delaware’s Lisa Blunt Rochester and Maryland’s Angela Alsobrooks join a small but growing list of Black women elected to the Senate, doubling the total from two to four.

    Blunt Rochester, the first woman and Black person to represent Delaware in the Senate, reflected on her groundbreaking victory. “This is a historic step forward for our state and our nation,” she said.

    Alsobrooks, a former Prince George’s County executive, highlighted the broader significance of her win. “In over 2,000 people who have served in the U.S. Senate, only three have looked like me,” she said. “I stand here because of the sacrifices of those who came before me.”

    Oregon’s Janelle Bynum also made history, flipping the state’s 5th Congressional District to become its first Black member of Congress. Bynum, who unseated a Republican incumbent, noted, “It’s not lost on me that I’m one generation removed from segregation. We believed in a vision and didn’t stop until we accomplished our goals.”

    Delaware voters made further history by electing Sarah McBride, the first openly transgender person to serve in Congress. These victories occurred even as the country faced deep divisions over affirmative action, LGBTQ rights, and racial equity.

    The Role of the CBC

    The CBC’s role as the conscience of Congress will be tested as it confronts an administration bent on undoing civil rights gains. Meeks emphasized that the caucus would oppose policies that disproportionately harm Black and marginalized communities, from healthcare access to police reform.

    “Instead of just a quartet, we now have a full choir,” Meeks said. “And we will be loud, clear, and consistent.”
    With Republicans maintaining control of both chambers of Congress, the CBC’s ability to influence legislation will likely depend on its capacity to build coalitions and galvanize public support. Wallace noted that the CBC’s growth, even in a Republican-controlled Congress, is a testament to Black voters and communities’ enduring belief in American ideals.

    “Black Americans have always believed in the promise of what America can be,” Wallace said. “Even when the odds are stacked against us, we continue to fight for a seat at the table.”

    As the CBC prepares for its largest-ever session, its leaders are already looking to the future. Meeks said the caucus is planning to spend the next two years opposing harmful policies and laying the groundwork for the 2026 midterm elections.

    “Two years go by fast,” he said. “We’ll be working every day to reverse the tragedies this administration will bring to our communities and the country as a whole.”
    Blunt Rochester added, “We’ve come a long way, but our work is far from over. Together, we will continue to fight for the future America deserves.”

  • Newswire : Trump’s narrow popular vote victory fuels questions of mandate, rising emigration interest

    By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

    Donald Trump’s return to the presidency has ignited debates about his legitimacy and a surge of interest in emigration. While Trump won all seven swing states and secured the presidency, his share of the popular vote—49.83%—places him among the least popular modern American presidents. His 1.55% margin over Vice President Kamala Harris falls far short of historical landslides like Lyndon B. Johnson’s 1964 triumph, where Johnson won 61.1% of the popular vote.

    And with a growing number of Trump voters expressing buyer’s remorse, many political analysts have questioned whether the election victory reflects broad public support for his policies. “If there ever was a mandate, this isn’t it,” Georgetown University political scientist Hans Noel told MSN News. Earlier projections showing Trump winning as much as 53% of the popular vote have proven inaccurate and have added further scrutiny to claims of a sweeping mandate.
    Cornell University professor Peter Enns, whose model accurately predicted Trump’s swing state victories, said economic dissatisfaction during Joe Biden’s presidency played a key role in voter decisions. “If this election can be explained by what voters thought of Biden and Harris and economic conditions, it really goes against the notion of a mandate for major change from Trump,” Enns told the Guardian newspaper.

    Americans Explore Emigration in Droves

    In the wake of Trump’s win, many Americans have begun looking for opportunities abroad. Google reported a 1,270% spike in searches for “move to Canada” as polls closed on the East Coast. Queries about moving to New Zealand climbed nearly 2,000%, while those for Australia rose 820%. According to Google data, searches for emigration had reached historic levels.

    Immigration lawyers across North America have been inundated with inquiries. “Every half hour, there’s a new email enquiry,” said Evan Green, managing partner at Green and Spiegel, Canada’s oldest immigration law firm. Green noted that clients’ concerns extend beyond Trump himself to broader societal divisions. “The majority of Americans voted for him, and some people don’t feel comfortable living in that kind of society anymore. People are afraid they are going to lose freedoms.”

    Several celebrities have also signaled plans to leave the United States. Sharon Stone intends to move her family to Canada, while America Ferrera is reportedly eyeing the U.K. as a new home base. Minnie Driver has announced plans to leave Los Angeles for the U.K., citing discomfort with the country’s political direction. Whoopi Goldberg, Cardi B, and Elon Musk’s daughter Vivian Wilson are among others expressing interest in relocating.

    For those seeking guidance, destinations such as Panama City, Budapest, Belize, and Phuket, Thailand, are being recommended for American expats. The locations reportedly offer affordable living and pathways to residency.

    Diaspora Citizenship in Ghana

    In Ghana, the African diaspora is reconnecting with its roots. On November 19, 524 diaspora members received Ghanaian citizenship during a landmark Accra International Conference Centre ceremony. The event, part of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s ongoing efforts to strengthen ties with the diaspora, builds on the success of the 2019 “Year of Return” campaign.

    “Your ancestors left these shores under tragic and inhumane circumstances,” Akufo-Addo exclaimed. “Today, we reclaim that connection by welcoming you as part of our Ghanaian family.” He reminded attendees that the initiative goes beyond symbolism, providing tangible opportunities for the diaspora to shape Africa’s future.
    “Being Ghanaian is about embracing values such as respect, equity, and peace,” Akufo-Addo said. “These principles are at the heart of our identity, and we invite you to embody them as you integrate into our society.”

  • Newswire: As part of Angola visit, Biden announces $1 Billion in humanitarian aid and $600 Million for African infrastructure investments

    President Biden welcomed at airport in Angola

    By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

    During his visit to Angola, President Joe Biden announced more than $1 billion in humanitarian aid to assist Africans displaced by severe droughts and food insecurity, alongside $600 million in new U.S. investments in infrastructure projects under the Lobito Trans-Africa Corridor initiative. Biden hopes that these measures will serve as a reminder of the U.S. commitment to fostering long-term African partnerships, emphasizing trade, investment, and sustainable development.

    “The United States continues to be the world’s largest provider of humanitarian aid and development assistance. That’s going to increase, you know, that’s the right thing for the wealthiest nation in the world to do,” Biden said.

    Hosted by the United States and Angola, the Lobito Trans-Africa Corridor Summit brought together leaders from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Tanzania, and Zambia to accelerate infrastructure projects to connect the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. Central to these efforts is the Zambia-Lobito rail project, a transformative 800-kilometer line linking Angola and Zambia, with groundbreaking targeted for 2026.

    Driving Regional Economic Growth

    The Lobito Trans-Africa Corridor is part of the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGI), a U.S.-led initiative focused on infrastructure projects that promote inclusive economic growth. Total U.S. investments in the Corridor now exceed $4 billion, with international commitments surpassing $6 billion.

    Agriculture and food security remain key components of the initiative. Biden celebrated the first shipment of goods from Angola’s Carrinho Group along the Corridor to the DRC, marking a milestone in regional trade. Biden said the U.S. is also investing in sustainable farming practices and infrastructure, enabling smallholder farmers to access markets and enhance production.

    “These investments aren’t just about aid; they’re about creating opportunities, building infrastructure, and unlocking the potential of this region,” Biden said during his remarks.

    Energy and Digital Connectivity

    Clean energy projects are also at the forefront. U.S. company Sun Africa is leading efforts to expand renewable electricity to underserved communities in Angola, supported by significant U.S. financing. Additionally, officials said investments in digital connectivity should foster technological innovation and expand access to high-speed internet across the region.
    “The United States is expanding our relationship all across Africa from assistance to aid, investment to trade, moving from patrons to partners to help bridge the infrastructure gap,” Biden added.
    Angolan President João Lourenço called Biden’s visit a “key turning point” in U.S.-Angola relations. Biden agreed.
    “The United States is all in on Africa,” Biden asserted.

  • More than half of Alabama’s 52 rural hospitals are at risk of closure,New billboard urges Medicaid expansion to save Alabama hospitals

    A billboard supporting Medicaid expansion. 

    By Alabama Political Reporters Staff

    Cover Alabama and the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) unveiled a striking new billboard near Jackson Hospital recently, spotlighting the urgent need for Medicaid expansion to safeguard healthcare access and protect Alabama’s hospitals. Featuring the message, *“Save Jackson Hospital. Expand Medicaid now.”* alongside an image of an ambulance, the billboard underscores the critical need to address Alabama’s healthcare coverage gap.

    According to a report from the Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform, more than half of Alabama’s 52 rural hospitals are at risk of closure, with 23 facing an immediate threat. This crisis has already hit close to home, with Thomasville Regional Medical Center closing in recent weeks and other hospitals across the state reducing services.

    “For too long, Alabama’s hospitals have struggled under the weight of a broken healthcare system,” said Debbie Smith, Cover Alabama campaign director. “This billboard is a stark reminder that without action, more hospitals will be forced to close, impacting families and economies across our state.”

    John Zippert, Chair of the Board of the Greene County Health System said, “Our hospital, nursing home and physician’s clinic face a serious financial challenge. How can we continue to operate with a monthly deficit of $50,000 to $100,000, caused by providing uncompensated care. If the Governor and the Legislature expanded Medicaid, it would mean that 40% of the people who use our facilities and services would have some form of heath insurance. These people would become healthier, and our hospital would move to a heathier financial position.”

    Jane Adams, Government Relations Director for ACS CAN in Alabama, echoed the call for urgent action. “This is no longer just a rural problem. Hospitals in urban and suburban areas are also at risk. We need Governor Ivey to act now before it’s too late.”

    The challenges facing Alabama hospitals have far-reaching implications, particularly for rural communities. Retired Brig. Gen. Edward Crowell, board chair of Jackson Hospital, highlighted the impact Medicaid expansion could have: “Jackson Hospital plays a vital role in ensuring that community members have access to essential health services,” Crowell said. “Medicaid expansion would be a game-changer, strengthening hospitals across the state and enabling us to continue serving those in need.”

    The billboard, located on I-85 westbound near Jackson Hospital, will remain visible for several weeks as part of a broader campaign by Cover Alabama and ACS CAN to raise awareness and inspire Alabamians to advocate for change. Organizers hope the campaign will encourage residents to contact their legislators and urge them to take action on Medicaid expansion.

    Cover Alabama is a nonpartisan alliance of over 100 community partners, businesses, healthcare providers, and faith groups advocating for quality, affordable health coverage for Alabama residents.

    ACS CAN is the nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society. Since 2001, it has championed evidence-based public policies to reduce the burden of cancer, expanding access to healthcare and securing funding for cancer research.

     

  • Alabama Republican Party considers renewing redistricting battle after Figures win

    Shomari Figures and Caroleene Dobson 

    By Alex Jobin

    Last year, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Alabama state legislature’s congressional map was gerrymandered, violating the Voting Rights Act by disadvantaging Black Alabamians. Despite making up 27 percent of the state’s population, the candidates preferred by Black voters only saw consistent success in one of the state’s seven congressional district since 2011.

    Despite repeated attempts to avoid redistricting, Alabama’s GOP leadership was ultimately forced to redraw the congressional map — twice — after SCOTUS sided with a panel of three federal judges who called for a second majority-Black district or “something quite close to it.” That redrawn map resulted in a new 2nd Congressional District that empowered Black voters in the state.

    On November 5th, Shomari Figures, D-Mobile, beat out his Republican opponent Caroleene Dobson to win that seat. Figures — the son of civil rights leader Michael Figures and Alabama State Senator Vivian Figures — will now be the state’s second Black member set to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2025. This will mark the first time in the state’s history that it will have two Black members of Congress serving simultaneously.

    However, some leaders in the state Republican Party are already looking to reconfigure the 2nd Congressional District yet again in response to Dobson’s loss.  “I can tell you that there is talk and it’s not going to go away,” said Terry Lathan, former chair of the Alabama Republican Party. “An election might be two years from now, but that does not mean our legislature might not take another look at it. It does not mean that we have to not file court cases and go to court over it.”

    Although the new district was drawn specifically with the intent to increase political equity in the state, Lathan claimed that the district lines, drawn by an independent court-appointed official, were “odd.”

    “I don’t know that it went wrong as much as the lines, the way the courts drew the lines,” Lathan said Tuesday, appearing to blame Dobson’s loss on the way the district was redrawn. “I don’t think we’re finished with this. But you have to accept the outcome of the race. It was very oddly drawn lines for CD-2.”

    U.S. Rep. Jerry Carl, R-Mobile, has also criticized the new district lines as being impractical.
    “It’s just about impossible for anyone in District 1 and District 2, both, to do the district justice,” Carl said after a speaking event Thursday. “You can’t serve two masters.”
    “Dothan is so much different than Mobile, and vice versa. It will be hard for anyone in this (1st congressional) district to serve two masters,” Carl continued. “Shomari will have the same problem (in congressional District 2) serving between Montgomery and Mobile. Looking at projects in Montgomery, Mobile will feel left out and vice versa. It’s the nature of the beast.”

    State Sen. Steve Livingston, R-Scottsboro, a sponsor of the failed map which the legislature proposed following the 2023 SCOTUS ruling, hesitated to echo his colleagues concerns. “Let’s let it run its course of action in the courts, and then we’ll see where we are,” Livingston said.

    Jeannie Negrón Burniston, the Communications Director for the Alabama Republican Party, told AL.com that the party had “not heard anything concerning redistricting in the legislature.”

    Questions remain about the future of Alabama’s congressional map. The 2023 SCOTUS ruling was only a preliminary injunction, allowing for the court-drawn map drawn to be used in this year’s elections. Moving forward, it is possible that federal judges in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama will decide to redraw the district lines once more.
    The relevant legal case — Milligan v. Allen — is ongoing and will likely go to trial in 2025. Former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder compared Alabama’s fight against redistricting to voting rights backlash during the Civil Rights era.

    “State officials here in Alabama fought all along the way to not put into effect that which the very conservative Supreme Court interpreted of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, which is the crown jewel of the Civil Rights movement,” Holder said while he campaigned with Figures ahead of Election Day. “(Alabama officials tried to) push back against the very conservative Supreme Court in a way that echoed which occurred from Alabama back in the 60s. It’s almost a resistance … that is what gives me concern.”

  • Newswire : Momentum builds for Shirley Chisholm Congressional Gold Medal ahead of centennial

    Shirley Chisholm 1972 campaign poster


     

    By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent


    As the 100th anniversary of Shirley Chisholm’s birth approaches on November 30, a growing effort to honor her legacy is taking shape. Chisholm, the first African American woman elected to Congress in 1968 and a trailblazer for equality and justice, remains a powerful symbol of courage and leadership. The Shirley Chisholm Congressional Gold Medal Act, spearheaded by Democratic Sen. Laphonza Butler of California, is moving closer to passage with bipartisan support.

    Butler, the bill’s primary sponsor, has garnered backing from key lawmakers, including Democratic Sens. Cory Booker of New Jersey and Kirsten Gillibrand of New York. The legislation seeks to award Chisholm one of the nation’s highest civilian honors, cementing her place as one of the most transformative figures in American history.

    Carlo Jerome Juntilla, Education and Labor Policy Advisor for Butler, acknowledged the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) for its critical role in advancing the bill.
    The NNPA is the trade association of the more than 200 African American-owned newspapers and media companies that comprise the 197-year-old Black Press of America.

    “Thanks to your efforts, we have secured the necessary number of co-sponsors to move the bill forward, and we are now in a strong position to pass it,” Juntilla wrote in an email to the NNPA. “With the late Shirley Chisholm’s 100th birthday approaching on November 30, we are looking for ways to collaborate further in order to elevate her legacy.”

    Juntilla also emphasized the importance of continuing to amplify Chisholm’s story through additional collaborations, including op-eds and media campaigns. Juntilla even noted the value of highlighting Butler and Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), who is leading the effort in the House.

    NNPA President & CEO Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. and members of the NNPA’s main office had organized a meeting with Butler where they discussed the honor for Chisholm. “The legacy of the Honorable Shirley Chisholm lives radiantly today and for generations to come,” Chavis remarked.  “The NNPA stands resolutely in support of the leadership of The Honorable Laphonsa Butler to bestow to Chisholm with the Congressional honors that she deserves.”

    Bobby Henry, Chairman of the NNPA, also expressed the organization’s unwavering support for the bill and its significance.“As Chairman of the NNPA, I am honored to stand in support of the Shirley Chisholm Congressional Gold Medal Act, a vital recognition of one of the most transformative figures in American history,” said Henry, who also publishes the Westside Gazette Newspaper in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. “Shirley Chisholm’s legacy as the first African American woman elected to Congress and a fearless advocate for equality and justice continues to inspire generations.

    “We commend Senator Laphonza Butler and Representative Barbara Lee for championing this historic legislation and for their commitment to ensuring Chisholm’s contributions are celebrated and remembered. As we approach the centennial of her birth, the NNPA is proud to collaborate in elevating her enduring impact on our nation and the world.”
    Chisholm’s groundbreaking career includes her historic 1972 presidential campaign, during which she became the first Black woman to seek the nomination of a major political party. Her slogan, “Unbought and Unbossed,” embodied her commitment to justice and refusal to conform to traditional political norms.

    Butler, who made history herself as the first Black lesbian to serve in the U.S. Senate, has made the bill a top priority. With growing bipartisan support and co-sponsors from across the political spectrum, the legislation represents a unifying effort to honor Chisholm’s legacy.

    “Shirley Chisholm’s legacy continues to inspire generations,” Henry said. “As we approach the centennial of her birth, we must ensure her enduring impact is celebrated, remembered, and elevated for the nation and the world to see.”
     

  • Newswire :Rep. Jasmine Crockett teaches white people the definition of ‘oppression’ at anti-DEI bill meeting

    Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Texas

    By Zack Linly, NewsOne

     


    On Wednesday, the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability held a meeting on the House floor to debate the GOP’s Dismantle DEI Act of 2024, which, of course, is essentially a “White People Want To Be Oppressed So Bad” bill aimed at ending any and all diversity, equity and inclusion practices throughout the federal government.

    As we previously reported, the bill was introduced by Rep. Michael Cloud (R-Texas), and an identical bill was introduced earlier this year by Vice President-elect and passionate Haitian hater JD Vance, both of whom have convinced themselves and the rest of MAGA America that “the DEI agenda is a destructive ideology that breeds hatred and racial division.”

    Well, there was one congresswoman who we could all count on to keep it real while ruffling delicate Caucasian feathers, and it was none other than Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas), who gave GOP lawmakers a “vocabulary lesson,” because if they truly believe DEI “oppresses white men,” then they simply misunderstand the definition of oppression.

    “Let me tell you that the reason that my colleagues wanted to make sure you understood the same Black history that your side of the aisle wants to delete out of classrooms is because you can then misuse words like ‘oppression’ — there has been no oppression for the white man in this country,” Crockett began.

    “You tell me which white men were dragged out of their homes. You tell me which one of them got dragged all the way across an ocean and told that ‘you are going to go and work. We are going to steal your wives, we are going to rape your wives’ — that didn’t happen [to white people]. That is oppression,” she continued. “We didn’t ask to be here. We [are] not the same migrants that y’all constantly come up against. We didn’t run away from home, we were stolen.”

    If you listen closely, you can hear the faint sounds of white conservatives rolling their eyes into the back of their heads because whenever they have to hear references to Black history that they didn’t have a chance to run through their whitewashing fragility filter first, their one and only instinct is to get their Confederate-clad drawers all in a bunch. Crockett likely knew that Republicans only want to hear about slavery when it’s time for them to remind America that Democrats were largely responsible for it — as if they’re not the ones currently the Confederacy, its leaders, its monuments and its flag as a legacy that should be celebrated.

    But Crockett was far from done.
    “So yeah, we are going to sit here and be offended when you want to sit here and act like — and don’t let it escape you that it is white men on this side of the aisle telling us, people of color on this side of the aisle that y’all are the ones being oppressed — that y’all are the ones being harmed,” she said. “That’s not the definition of oppression. You tell me the prolonged, cruel or unjust treatment that you’ve had, and we can have a conversation.”

    “The final thing that I will say: diversity works, and until you can show me data that says otherwise, I think that we need to go back to being a country that listens to experts and gets out of our feelings and recognizes again that racism is real in this country. And until we stop pretending that it’s not, we will not solve the problems that we are consistently facing. And that will bring real unity we seek when we’re looking for a more perfect union.”

    Now, we all know that when it comes to the MAGA world, everything Crockett said, no matter how truthful, fell on deaf ears. These are, after all, the same people who went to war against critical race theory without ever being able to demonstrate that they had a clue what CRT is. They also went to war against “wokeness,” a term they have all struggled to define. Conservatives don’t really want to get into the nitty-gritty of DEI and why the practice ever became necessary, because they can’t rely on hollow, self-serving platitudes during an in-depth discussion on diversity, equity and inclusion. They would have to show substantial evidence — not anecdotal nonsense and absurd white grievance pontificating — that DEI actively hurts white people, and, as Crockett indicated, that data simply doesn’t exist while statistical evidence of systemic racism exists in abundance.

    As I’ve written plenty of times in the past, white men only dominate every major industry and entity in America, including the federal government, because they are the only demographic that has not been excluded from full access to the “American dream” for the overwhelming majority of American history. That’s why DEI exists, and it’s also why the only discussion white-and-fragile America wants to have about diversity is a discussion about dismantling it.

    White supremacy is America’s default, and the current GOP, especially under Donald Trump’s chokehold, is dedicated to making that aspect of America great again

  • Newswire : Columbus Black leaders organize counter protest after neo-Nazi march in their city

    Columbus, Ohio’s 100 Black Men and others march to protest Nazi march and  Nazi marchers with flags

    By Char Adams, NBC News

    A group of Black leaders and locals marched through Columbus, Ohio, in a unity rally Sunday, one day after neo-Nazis walked through the same streets carrying Nazi flags and chanting racial slurs and white nationalist slogans.

    The Rev. Derrick Holmes, senior pastor at Columbus’ Union Grove Baptist Church, said he received frantic calls from members of his congregation as people walked along North High Street dressed in all black with red masks, carrying black flags with swastikas on them. They yelled, “Bow down, [N-word]!” and other racist chants as they made their way through the state capital’s Short North Arts District.

    “Two members were actually in the Short North area while that was happening and their prevailing feeling was fear,” Holmes said. “There was a feeling of sadness. They’re older … so it really harkened them back to a time they thought that the country had graduated from.”

    President Joe Biden condemned the march, and White House spokesperson Andrew Bates said Nazism is “hostile to everything the United States stands for.” Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther and other city leaders condemned the neo-Nazis in statements and on social media. 
    But Black locals like Holmes wanted to do more and send a message of solidarity, they said. The 100 Black Men of Central Ohio, a service organization that mentors young Black men, along with attorney Sean Walton Jr., Holmes and other locals, joined for the counter-rally Sunday afternoon. 

    Dozens of men walked, many side by side, down North High Street, many dressed in all black. They were largely silent, sharing handshakes and smiles among one another. Brian Winston, president of 100 Black Men of Central Ohio, and Walton led the group, and they all posed together for photos with raised fists at the end of the march.

    “It was basically just bringing Black men together, to be able to allow our Black women, children and anyone else who were fearful or scared of what they saw … just to be able to redirect them with unity and love,” Winston said, noting that he called on Walton to help organize the event. 

    Walton said he was in Houston over the weekend and rushed home to check on his wife and children when he learned of the neo-Nazi march. He said the atmosphere among Black Columbus residents was one of fear and anxiety, with many wondering if they were safe in the city. But Sunday’s march helped ease some of the despair, he said.

    “I think there was a lot of focus on the fear,” Walton said. “What we did Sunday changed the tone of the entire weekend. If anything, this has made us stronger. I think it was a test, in a sense, when it comes to whether we can come together in the face of threats to our civil rights, our human rights and our way of life.

    In a statement posted Monday on social media, Columbus police said officers responded to calls about the neo-Nazi demonstration, but the “available evidence did not support the filing of criminal charges.” They said evidence showed pepper spray being deployed, but “probable cause has not been established to make any arrests.” The incident is still under investigation, they said.

    The Columbus Division of Police did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Chief Elaine R. Bryant said in the statement that law enforcement was bound to protect constitutionally protected actions, “no matter how hateful.” She added: “No one in our community should experience intimidation or harassment. We will continue to strive to make Columbus a city where all residents feel welcome and safe.”

    Holmes, Winston and Walton said the outcome of the presidential election and Donald Trump’s rhetoric have encouraged neo-Nazi behavior. Earlier this month
     outside a community production of “The Diary of Anne Frank” in Michigan, to the shock of performers and theatergoers. 

    Far-right groups have made headlines in Ohio in recent months. A white nationalist activist in Springfield took credit for the false story that Haitian immigrants in the city were stealing and eating pets, which Trump repeated during the presidential debate and campaign rallies. Police said there was no evidence for the claim.

    Right-wing extremism has increased dramatically since 2016, according to research that has linked Trump’s rhetoric about racial and ethnic minorities to vigilantism, hate crimes, and more. After the election, white nationalists, Proud Boys, Christian supremacists, and right-wing conspiracy theorists praised Trump’s win and said they saw it as a victory for their far-right visions of America, according to the Washington Post. In 2017, Trump said there were “very fine people on both sides” after a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, which led to the death of a counter protester. 

    Trump has dismissed accusations that he has encouraged extremism or that his supporters include Nazi and fascists. “President Trump is backed by Latinos, Black voters, union workers, angel moms, law enforcement officers, border patrol agents, and Americans of all faiths,” his campaign press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, said in a statement last month.

    Oren Segal, vice president of the Anti-Defamation League Center on Extremism, told The New York Times that a St. Louis-based group called Hate Club took credit for the Columbus march.

    Jon Lewis, a research fellow at George Washington University’s Program on Extremism, said in an interview that these groups may have different names, but share white nationalist ideologies.

    “I think ‘emboldening’ is the perfect way to describe it,” Lewis said. “Neo-Nazis and white supremacists increasingly feel as though they can act with impunity, that they can mobilize to the streets of towns and cities across the country to incite hatred, to spread fear among primarily nonwhite communities.

    “At the end of the day, this is about fearmongering and hate-mongering. These groups are designed to make the average nonwhite American feel unsafe in their everyday live