Vice President Kamala Harris, next to House Speaker Mike Johnson, announces that the votes are certified in the House chamber at the U.S. Capitol on Monday, Jan. 6, 2025 Saul Loeb / AFP – Getty Images
By Natasha Korecki and Brennan Leach, NBC News
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Upon entering the Senate chamber on Monday, Vice President Kamala Harris issued a simple declaration when NBC News asked her about presiding over the certification of the 2024 election: âDemocracy prevails. â Minutes later, Harris carried through, steering Congressâ collective endorsement of the electoral vote that she lost and affirming Donald Trump’s return to the White House.
Hands clasped before her, Harris looked ahead plainly and intently as four senators took turns reading off the electoral totals from each state. She broke into a wide smile both when the vote total reached a threshold to declare Trump the next president and when she got a standing ovation from her party when her vote total was read.Â
Harrisâ message of this Jan. 6 Â was one that both she and her predecessor on the campaign trail, President Joe Biden, conveyed time and again to voters. They advocated for âfreedomâ and democracy and shunned the events of the violent riot by Trump supporters on Jan. 6, 2021, which led to an unprecedented attack on the nationâs Capitol.Â
Missing on this day compared to four years earlier were gallows and a noose constructed outside the Capitol grounds. Or chants in support of hanging the vice president for failing to reject the will of the people and the true outcome of the election. Instead, the event transpired in the way it was meant to unfold, pro forma, taking only 30 minutes.
Ultimately, the American electorate rejected Harris, ushering in Trump and his vows to blow up the status quo. Trump claimed 312 electoral votes to Harris’ 226, won the popular vote and swept across battleground states, including toppling Democrats’ so-called blue wall of states typically necessary for their party’s victory.Â
Unlike Trumpâs refusal to accept the outcome of the 2020 vote, Harris conceded her loss and tried to offer her supporters comforting words a day after the election. âThe outcome of this election is not what we wanted, not what we fought for, not what we voted for, but hear me when I say … the light of Americaâs promise will always burn bright,â she said.
Traffic stops remain the most common reason for police-initiated contact across all racial groups, according to a new report from the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS). The report, part of a series examining police interactions with U.S. residents since 1996, reveals that racial disparities in these encounters persist. The Prison Policy Initiative responded to the report by noting a need to address inequities and rethink public safety strategies.
The BJS data show that Black drivers are more than twice as likely as drivers of other racial groups to be searched or arrested during a traffic stop. Black individuals are also over three times as likely as White individuals to experience the use of force in their most recent encounter with law enforcement. Although Black people accounted for only 12% of those whose most recent contact was initiated by police or related to a traffic accident, they represented one-third of those who reported being threatened or experiencing nonfatal use of force.
Alarming Trends for Older Adults and Women
The report also laid bare troubling trends regarding the use of force against older adults and women. In 2022, people aged 65 or older made up 5% of those who experienced the threat or use of force. While the figure may seem small, it represents a more than tenfold increase since 2015. The rise suggests that even older populations are not spared from escalating police aggression.
Women also face an increasing risk of police force. In 1999, women comprised only 13% of those subjected to police force. By 2022, that figure had doubled to 28%. Among those who experienced force, women were more likely than men to perceive it as excessive, with 51% of women reporting excessive force compared to 44% of men.
Persistent Disparities Across Age Groups
Young adults aged 18-24 were the most likely age group to experience police contact, with 25% reporting interactions in 2022. They were also the most likely to experience police-initiated contact (15%) and traffic accident-related contact (4%). Alarmingly, more than 1 in 5 individuals who reported the threat or use of force in their most recent police encounter were between 16 and 24 years old. The Prison Policy Initiative noted that these kinds of interactions can have life-threatening consequences, as over 70% of police killings in 2023 began with non-violent incidents or situations where no crime had been reported.
Systemic Issues and Data Gaps
Officials at the Prison Policy Initiative published a âwish listâ of 22 critical gaps in criminal legal system data. The list includes data on arrests for technical violations, the quality of healthcare in correctional facilities, and the outcomes of pretrial supervision. Officials said the absence of such data hampers efforts to understand and address the criminal legal systemâs impact fully.
The Case for Alternatives to Policing
Further, the available data suggest that many police encounters could be handled more effectively by alternative community resources. In 2022, nearly 30 million people initiated contact with police, but only half of those interactions involved reporting possible crimes. Many sought help for non-crime emergencies, such as medical issues, car accidents, or quality-of-life concerns. A 2022 analysis of 911 calls in major cities found that only 4% involved violent crimes. Officials said this indicates a need for investments in community-based services to reduce the risks associated with police intervention.
The Path Forward
Some officials noted that the decline in police contact does reduce opportunities for abuse. However, they said, the deep-seated racial disparities in policing remain unresolved.
âJust because the sheer number of police interactions was lower than it has been in decades does not mean the problems with our nationâs fraught system of policing are solved,â the Prison Policy Initiative stated in its release. âRacial disparities in police interactions, misconduct, and use of force remain pervasive and demand immediate attention.â Â
President Biden with Associate Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson
By Char Adams, NBC News
President Joe Biden has appointed more federal judges of color than any president before him, and overtaking Donald Trump’s record for overall federal judge appointments in the process.
On Friday the Senate confirmed Biden’s judicial nominee for the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California Benjamin Cheeks. With Cheeksâ confirmation, Biden has appointed 63 Black federal judges, the most of a presidency of any length, according to the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights.Â
Earlier this month, the Senate confirmed Tiffany Johnson, Bidenâs judicial nominee for the Northern District of Georgia, making her the 40th Black woman he has appointed to lifetime federal judgeships â more than any president in a single term. Overall, about 60% of Bidenâs 235 appointees are people of color, according to figures the White House shared with NBC News. The Senate confirmed Cheeks and Serena Raquel Murillo last week.Â
Trump appointed 234 federal judges during his first term. White House communications director Ben LaBolt said in an emailed statement that Biden is âproud to have strengthened the judiciary by making it more representative of the country as a whole and that legacy will have an impact for decades to come.â
âEven before taking office, President Biden signaled to the Senate that he wanted to make sure that people who had been historically excluded from our judiciaryâ are included, said Lena Zwarensteyn, senior director of the fair courts program and an adviser at the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights.Â
âThe research shows that when you have more judges that have different perspectives because theyâve worked on different types of issues or they come from different communities, it improves the decision-making and it certainly improves the trust that communities might have in these institutions. So making sure we have fair-minded judges at all levels is really important.â
Barack Obama appointed 26 Black women lifetime judges during his two terms, and Trump appointed two Black women judges to the federal bench in his first term. Jimmy Carter appointed 37 Black lifetime judges in his one term. Both Obama and Bill Clinton each appointed 62 Black judges over the course of their two terms. Biden has beaten their record by one, according to the Leadership Conference. These numbers include multiracial judges and account for those appointed to multiple courts under the same president.Â
Senate Democrats vowed to confirm as many Biden nominees as possible before Trump takes office in January and Republicans take control of the Senate. Theyâve confirmed dozens since Election Day, but these circuit nominees are in limbo amid some opposition from Democrats as well as GOP senators.
In November, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., wrote in a post on X that, âThis Senate will keep working to confirm more of President Bidenâs excellent judicial nominees.âÂ
In an interview, Marge Baker, executive vice president at People For the American Way, a national progressive organization focused on combating far-right extremism, said it was crucial that the remaining nominees be confirmed.Â
âAs pleased as we are with the quality and quantity of nominees that have been confirmed so far, these circuit court nominees are also really, really important,â Baker said. The four circuit judges in limbo are Adeel Abdullah Mangi of New Jersey, nominated for the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals; Julia M. Lipez of Maine, 1st Circuit; Karla M. Campbell of Tennessee, 6th Circuit; and Ryan Young Park of North Carolina, 4th Circuit.
âThese courts make decisions that affect the lives of hundreds of millions of people,â Baker added. âThey decide questions about voting rights, about consumer rights, about workersâ rights, about antitrust laws, about climate change, about abortion. Thereâs just a whole range of issues where these courts of appeals are often the final deciders on.â
Biden has long made it his goal while in office to reshape the overwhelmingly white and male federal judiciary by appointing judges from various professional and demographic backgrounds. Heâs managed to do that, confirming record numbers of former public defenders, civil rights lawyers or lawyers representing workers. More than half his appointees have been women, according to the White House, and his appointments include several LGBTQ judges and judges from several racial and ethnic minority groups.
Biden made history by appointing Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman on the U.S. Supreme Court. Dozens of his appointments account for various âfirsts.â âBiden has been a leader in terms of appointing Black judges,â said Dedrick Asante-Muhammad, president of the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, a Washington-based think tank. âThe great thing about this is that these appointments will have long-term impacts, at least in terms of representation. This is showing the public that the inclusion of Black judges should be natural, regular.â
Now, experts say the stakes are high as these appointments can affect court decisions during Trumpâs second term. Elliot Mincberg, a Supreme Court expert and counsel for the People For the American Way, said Biden-appointed judges have âhad an enormous impact on improving justice for Americans all across the country.â
Zwarensteyn called it âa tremendous and often not-discussed partâ of Bidenâs legacy. âHeâs really taken it to what I would say is the next level in terms of administrations who have done this.â
Congressional authorization that allowed Alabama to replace SNAP benefits lost to theft or fraud expired on Saturday, meaning the state can no longer process affidavits involving theft unless congress acts.
Under federal legislation, states have been allowed to use federal money to replace residentsâ EBT funds lost to card skimming, card cloning and other fraud since Dec. 21, 2022, but the legislation set Dec. 20, 2024 as the end date of the provision.
âTherefore, the Alabama Department of Human Resources (DHR) cannot process affidavits with thefts occurring on or after Saturday, December 21. Alabama DHR will continue to process affidavits of theft for incidents that occurred on or prior to December 20, 2024 from households impacted by EBT card skimming, cloning, and similar fraud,â the agency said Monday.
Scammers have stolen nearly $5 million in recent months from Alabama families who receive food stamps, according to DHR. In November alone, DHR received nearly 14,000 requests from families seeking reimbursement for funds stolen by scammers.
Reports of theft prior to Dec. 21 have to be submitted to county DHR offices within 30 dates of a resident having discovered the fraud.
Locations and contact information for all 67 county DHR offices are available at dhr.alabama.gov/county-office-contact. The site also has more information on how to report fraud, ways to prevent benefit theft, and other tips.
All reports of skimming, cloning, or similar fraud will require confirmation verifying that all information reported in the request is true and correct, the agency noted. EBT cardholders may be contacted about their claim, and those who purposefully give false information may be prosecuted, according to DHR.
 Alabama’s lethal injection chamber at Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore, Ala., is pictured in this Oct. 7, 2002 file photo.Â
By Ivana Hrynkiw, AL.com The nationâs death penalty watchdog group released its annual report Thursday, showing Alabama led the country in executions in 2024. Itâs the first time Alabama has executed more people than any other state.
The Death Penalty Information Center, a national nonprofit who provides data and analysis on capital punishment, released its year-end report and showed that while nine states carried out executions in 2024, just four states made up three-fourths of the total 25 executions.
Those four states included Alabama. The Yellowhammer state executed six people in 2024: Kenneth Smith, Jamie Mills, Keith Gavin, Alan Miller, Derrick Dearman, and Carey Grayson. Smith, Miller, and Grayson were put to death using nitrogen gas.Â
The other three leaders were Missouri (4), Oklahoma (4), and Texas (5). The others were South Carolina two executions with one each in Georgia, Utah, Florida and Indiana. Smith was the first inmate to be executed using the new method in the United States. The method was approved by the Alabama Legislature years ago, and inmates had a chance to request to change their method of execution to gas in June 2018 instead of the default method of lethal injection. Smith elected to make that change.
That execution, which happened on the evening of Jan. 25, set off calls from around the world to discontinue use of nitrogen executions after the 58-year-old writhed and thrashed on the gurney for several minutes.
In her dissent in the Smith case, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote, âHaving failed to kill Smith on its first attempt, Alabama has selected him as its âguinea pigâ to test a method of execution never attempted before. The world is watching⌠With deep sadness, but commitment to the Eighth Amendmentâs protection against cruel and unusual punishment, I respectfully dissent.â
But the calls didnât help. In September, Miller, who killed three men in a string of workplace shootings in 1999, was executed with nitrogen pumped through a gas mask, just like Smith. Miller had no pending appeals at the time of his death and had entered into a confidential settlement with the state weeks prior.
Miller struggled against his restraints for about two minutes, shaking and trembling. The shaking was similar to what was seen at Smithâs execution but was not as long nor violent. Alabama Department of Corrections Commissioner John Hamm said after Miller died that those movements werenât surprising.Â
âThereâs going to be involuntary body movements as the body is depleted of oxygen, so that was nothing we did not expect,â Hamm said.
Officials from the Alabama Attorney Generalâs Office have argued that Smithâs execution was prolonged because he held his breath, delaying the nitrogen entering his body.
According to the Death Penalty Information Centerâs report, public support for the death penalty remains at 53%, a 50-year low. This year was the 10th consecutive year with fewer than 30 executions, according to the report.
The report also notes lawmakers and elected prosecutors from both sides of the aisle who publicly supported prisoners with innocence claims, including Richard Glossip in Oklahoma, Marcellus Williams in Missouri, and Robert Roberson in Texas.Â
âIn 2024, we saw people with credible evidence of innocence set for execution, followed by extraordinary levels of public frustration and outrage,â said Robin Maher, Executive Director of the Death Penalty Information Center.Â
âSeveral high-profile cases fueled new concerns about whether the death penalty can be used fairly and accurately. A new poll also predicts a steady decline of support in the future, showing for the first time that a majority of adults aged 18 to 43 now oppose the death penalty.â
The report shows 26 people were sentenced to death in America this year, including four in Alabama. Three of the four were imposed by non-unanimous juries. Alabama and Florida are the only two states where non-unanimous juries can impose a death sentence: eight out of 12 are needed in Florida, while 10 out of 12 are needed in Alabama.
Six of those 26 death sentences in 2024 were imposed in Florida. Yet, the courts are not taking up more death-penalty cases. The U.S. Supreme Court declined to review 114 of 117, or 97%, of appeals from death-sentenced prisoners in 2024, according to the nonprofit report.Â
On Saturday, December 21st, the Blackbelt Small Farmers Ruminate Improvement Association Conference honored James Childs, a renowned farmer from Boligee, Alabama, as the Outstanding Male Farmer in the Blackbelt. At 84 years young, Mr. Childs boasts an impressive 70-year farming career.
Born and raised in a farming family in Sumter County, Alabama, Mr. Childs relocated to Greene County at 31. For him, farming is not just a profession, but a way of life and a means of survival.
Reflecting on the industry’s evolution, Mr. Childs noted, “Farming has changed significantly since I started.” Despite these changes, he remains dedicated to traditional practices, earning recognition as one of Alabama’s finest farmers. Many admirers, including myself, affectionately regard him as the “Greatest Of All Time” (GOAT) in farming.
Mr. Childs’ farm is a family endeavor, with his son James Jr. and grandson Keith actively contributing. James Jr. balances his full-time job with farm work, demonstrating the family’s unwavering commitment.
What sets Mr. Childs apart is his willingness to share expertise and give back to the community. In September, he hosted a community workshop on farming and gardening, teaching participants to grow their own food and establish community gardens. The event featured a complimentary lunch, showcasing Mr. Childs’ generosity.
More recently, Mr. Childs opened his farm to a group from Texas who had heard about his remarkable story and wanted to meet him. For Thanksgiving, he welcomed these visitors and also invited the local community to join in the celebration. During the gathering, he took the opportunity to recognize and honor some of the senior citizens from Mt. Hebron and Boligee, demonstrating his appreciation for his community’s elders.
Police Officer Tyler Johnson named ‘Officer of the Year” . L to R. are Councilwoman Tracey Hunter, Police Chief Tommy Johnson, Councilwoman Valerie Watkins, Officer Tyler Johnson, Mayor Latasha Johnson, Councilwoman Suzette Powell, and Councilman Jonathan Woodruff.
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By John Zippert, Co-Publisher
In response to financial and budgetary pressures, the Eutaw City Council met on December 10, Dec. 17 and in a working session on December 12, to deal with several issues related to the projected deficit in the current Fiscal Year (2024-25) finances. Mayor Latasha Johnson and the Eutaw City Council differ on the best approaches to the financial problems.
Councilmembers led by Jonathan Woodruff and Tracey Hunter feel the city must curb expenses, layoff workers and sell properties that are not financially sustainable, to avoid deficits. The Mayor argues that she has faith the city will grow and provide new revenues to sustain the workforce, make necessary improvements and hold on to properties like the R. H. Young Community Center. Mayor Johnson also argues that the mayor oversees âday-to-day operationsâ, which includes hiring and firing of employees to accomplish the on-going tasks of city administration.
The Council voted unanimously at its December 17 meeting to declare the Robert H. Young Community Center as surplus property, so it can be sold. The City of Eutaw purchased the school from the Greene County Board of Education for $200,000 in the prior city administration of Raymond Steele. The Councilâs intention was to develop the former Carver School as a community center, with spaces rented to community organizations and small businesses. While the school, especially the gymnasium has been used for meetings and funerals, the facility has not generated enough income to pay utility, maintenance and repair costs.
The Mayor stated the city needs a community center and the Greene County Commission may be interested in buying the facility or working together with the city in its development as a community center for all county residents. Councilman Woodruff says, âThere is a lack of trust between the city and county because the county did not honor its commitment to put up $70,000 for the matching funds for the Street Scape Project to remodel the sidewalks around the old Courthouse Square in downtown Eutaw.â
Woodruff continued, âWe are willing to sell the property to the County at its current appraised value, but I do not think we can work together with them since we have financial problems and no funds for a community center.â Many community residents feel the best way to proceed would be a joint effort of the city and the county seeking public and private grant funds to develop a comprehensive community center out of the old Carver school.
The City of Eutaw was able to borrow funds from Merchants and Farmers Bank to cover the shortfalls in matching funds for the Street Scape and West End Avenue repaving projects. The City committed funds from its State of Alabama 4-cent and 7-cent roadway repair funds to repay the loan.
The Mayor presented a revised fiscal year 2024-25 fiscal budget, where she moved expenses around from some funding to repair the old E-911 building and a fund to purchase or repair police vehicles to be able to retain all current staff. The Council voted not to accept the Mayorâs budget revisions and approved the original budget which requires layoff or not replacing vacancies in the street, water, sewer and administrative departments.
The Mayor voted against this resolution and said the budget was a plan that could be revised based on needs. She asserted that she oversaw day-to-day operations and as long as her spending was within the budget requirements, she could keep staff needed to operate the city. Councilmembers Woodruff and Hunter said they would continue to monitor and evaluate the budget, expenses and the staffing of city departments. This remains as an area of disagreement between the mayor and the council.
The Mayor said that the city attorney was working on negotiating an agreement with Alabama Fiber Network to sell them a 50 by 50-foot space to place their âmiddle mile broadband equipmentâ to facilitate expansion of fiber Internet access in the city and county. The legal paperwork for this sale will be provided by the attorney, for approval by the council, at a future meeting.
A payment of budgeted support funding to E-911 was tabled until after the city receives its allocation of property taxes in January. E-911 provides dispatch services for city agencies like the police and ambulance services.
In other business, the Eutaw City Council:
⢠Approved travel for Police Chief Tommy Johnson to attend the AACOP Winter Conference in Montgomery on February 9-13, 2025. ⢠Approved $150 membership dues for City Attorney, Zane Willingham, for the Alabama Association of Municipal Attorneys.
⢠Tabled repairs to a manhole behind Ms. Suzzette Quinnieâs property until the ownership of the sewer line can be documented between the City and the Greene County Housing Authority.
⢠Heard a presentation from Lamar Martin, of the Secure Wellness Group on a Self-Insured Medical Reimbursement Plan for city employees. The Council voted to provide information for a payroll census, without personal information, so he could develop a plan for the City of Eutaw and present it at a future meeting.
Mayor Johnson indicated that City Hall would be closed on December 24 and 25, 2024, December 31, 2024 at 12:00 Noon and January 1, 2025, for the holidays.
EUTAW, AL â The Greene County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated has consistently served Greene and Hale Counties since 1978. Our legacy of service has operated in this community for over 46 years.
The Greene County Alumnae Chapter, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated kicked off its 45th Annual Christmas Adopt-a-Family Project 2024 in early November. Members were encouraged to take advantage of Black Friday and other seasonal sales.
âDuring this most wonderful time of the year, we show our love for others by giving from the joy of our heart to help those in needâ said Phillis Belcher, Chapter President. The chapter has adopted children through Department of Human Resources of Greene and Hale Counties to provide a little bit of Christmas Cheer. Families are recommended by the Department of Human Resources for each county. The chapter requested at least five children per family. Gifts were presented in festive holiday wrappings no later than the middle of December. Committee Chairperson, Jacqueline Allen stated, âWe want to make this holiday season as memorable as in previous years for the adopted children.â This year a special treat was provided to each child that was adopted, a $25 gift card. This empowered each child to make a purchase of their own choosing for either themselves or someone else. The Adopt-a-Family Committee is chaired by Jacqueline Allen and Marva Smith serves as Co-Chair.
HBCUs have long been pillars of educational excellence and economic engines, driving prosperity in their communities and across the nation. Despite these contributions, chronic underfunding threatens their ability to sustain this impact. Transforming Futures: The Economic Engines of HBCUs, underscores the urgent need for equitable and sustainable funding to ensure HBCUs can continue their vital role in promoting social mobility and economic growth and calls on the public to advocate for these essential institutions.
âAs UNCFÂ observes its 80th anniversary, one of the highlights of our yearlong celebration is the release of the sequel to our groundbreaking 2017 report. This report reaffirms what we have always known about the resilience of HBCUs: despite a deadly pandemic, social unrest caused by the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, and the economic uncertainties of the past seven years, HBCUs continue to do more with lessânot only in preparing the next generation of leaders but also in contributing to our nationâs economic impact,â said Dr. Michael L. Lomax, president and CEO, UNCF.
âAt this critical moment, with a crucial election on the horizon, we all must immediately actualize our commitment to these cornerstone institutions.â
Key findings in the 2024 HBCU Economic Impact Report include: HBCUs generate $16.5 billion in direct economic impact nationally. If they were a company, the nationâs HBCUs would place in the top 50 of the nationâs Fortune500 companies in job creation. Collectively, 136,048 jobs exist because of HBCUs. On average, for each job created on campus, 1.5 off-campus jobs exist because of spending related to the institution. HBCUs are far more accessible to students and more successful at moving students from the bottom 40% of a countryâs income distribution to the top 60%, signaling social mobility. The 51,269 HBCU graduates in the class of 2021 can expect work-life earnings of $146 billion, 57% ($53 billion) more than the $93 billion they could expect without their degrees or certificates.
The 2024 HBCU Economic Impact Report is a continuation of the landmark 2017 study,â HBCUs Make America Strong: The Positive Economic Impact of Historically Black Colleges and Universitiesâ, which showed that HBCUsâ economic benefits extend beyond the students they educate. In addition to the comprehensive report, a website has been launched where users can explore state-specific data and insights for individual HCBUs. This resource allows users to explore the localized impact, emphasizing the critical role HBCUs play in communities across the nation. âTransforming Futures: The Economic Engines of HBCUs represents the latest chapter in a longitudinal research initiative by UNCFâs Frederick D. Patterson Research Institute. By leveraging robust methodology and extensive data, we highlight how HBCUs continue to be critical drivers of economic growth and social mobility,â said Dr. Nadrea R. Njoku, assistant vice president, of Frederick D. Patterson Research Institute, UNCF.
âThis report not only underscores the substantial economic benefits generated by HBCUs but also contextualizes the broader challenges they have faced over the past three years, including the far-reaching impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the threats of violence that have been levied against many of these institutions.â
âNow more than ever, we must recognize the indispensable role HBCUs play in shaping not just the future of their students but the future of our nation. This report is not just a call to awareness but a call to action,â said Lodriguez Murray, senior vice president, of public policy and government affairs, at UNCF. âAs we move forward, it is imperative that we leverage this data to galvanize our communities and demand the necessary support from our policymakers by voting for HBCUs. We urge every supporter to make their voices heard, to advocate for the equitable funding our HBCUs deserve, and to ensure that these institutions can continue to thrive and contribute to Americaâs future.â
To view the brief and full report for Transforming Futures: The Economic Engines of HBCUs, visit: UNCF.org/HBCUImpactReport. For more information on how to actualize a commitment and be a voice for HBCUs, visit:Â UNCF.org/EquityPledge.
One of the nationâs most prominent ministers and social justice activists has announced a federal lawsuit against a national movie theater chain following last yearâs accusations of disability discrimination stemming from a viral incident while attempting to view a film in North Carolina.
The Rev. William Barber II on Thursday unveiled the lawsuit against AMC Theatres, a company that is no stranger to discrimination claims. Barber was joined by civil rights attorney Harry Daniels during a press conference in Raleigh, North Carolina.
âThis isnât about me,â Barber said Thursday in a statement sent to NewsOne. âThis is about corporations like AMC who think they can treat people any way they want and get away with it. Itâs about every man, woman and child who faces pain and physical obstacles every single day and the CEOs who couldnât care less.â
Barber added: âOne voice alone may just be shouting to the wind. But weâre not alone and, together, we can tear down the walls of Jericho.â
Daniels said AMC acted illegally in its actions against Barber. âAMC Theaters didnât treat Bishop Barber like a man in pain or even like an honest American. They treated him like a criminal and used local law enforcement like paid thugs even though they were the ones breaking the law,â Daniels said. âWeâre not here for coffee and conversation. We want action, not empty apologies.â
What happened ?
Barber, who is also the co-chair of the Poor Peoples Campaign and the founding director and a professor at Yale Universityâs Center for Public Theology and Public Policy, has maintained that he was told to leave an AMC Theatre location in North Carolina on Dec. 19, 2023, after it refused to allow him to use a special chair he brought in the theaterâs section for patrons with wheelchairs. The special seat is one he uses to accommodate an arthritic condition that prevents him from using seats typically found in movie theaters.
Barber was in the theater viewing The Color Purple along with his elderly mother. After the confrontation, AMC ended up calling the cops on Barber, who requires two canes to walk. He was accused of being argumentative.
Video footage from the incident was shared on social media and showed Barber talking to, not arguing with, the responding police officers.
âThey called an officer of the law, the AMC theater in Greenville, North Carolina,â Barber says while looking into the camera. âThey would not make amends to simply do the right thing. But weâll deal with it.â
Barber repeats that heâs ânot resistingâ as police tell him to exit the theater and threatened trespassing charges.
Although no charges were ever actually brought, Barber said he âfelt like I wasnât being heard. It felt as though they werenât even trying to consider making accommodations for my disability.â
Barber cited the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 as giving him the provisional Barber said he was told that because he didnât have a wheelchair he couldnât use his special seat.
âEverything I know about ADA law says youâre supposed to make adjustments,â Barber said before adding later: âThis is just about how we treat, how we say to disabled folk, âThereâs no room at the innâ if you donât come a certain way.ââ
AMC Theatres later apologized to Barber, CNN reported. âAMCâs Chairman and CEO Adam Aron has already telephoned him, and plans to meet with him in person in Greenville, NC, next week to discuss both this situation and the good works Bishop Barber is engaged in throughout the years,â
AMC Theatres said in a statement. âWe are also reviewing our policies with our theater teams to help ensure that situations like this do not occur again.â
