Ferguson city attorney resigns

Ferguson's city attorney has resigned from her post.

Stephanie Karr sent her letter of resignation to the city on Monday. She had served as Ferguson's city attorney since 2004 — and until recently was also the city's prosecutor.

Karr faced criticism for how she prosecuted people who were arrested during protests over Michael Brown's shooting death. Since Brown's death, Ferguson's city manager, police chief and municipal judge have all resigned — and been replaced.

A 2015 U.S. Department of Justice report highlighted issues around Karr's employment, finding that her additional work as a city prosecutor was a conflict.

[SOURCE]

Kentucky judge rules Louisville can remove Confederate monument

The city of Louisville, Kentucky can remove a 121-year-old monument to Confederate soldiers that critics have objected to as an emblem of slavery, a state judge ruled on Wednesday.

In a ruling from the bench, Jefferson Circuit Judge Judith McDonald-Burkman dissolved her temporary order from three weeks ago that had blocked the city and a local university from taking down the monument.

Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer said he would work on relocating the 70-foot-high monument after getting the judge's written order, according to a statement from his office.

Some local residents and descendants of Confederate soldiers sued to keep the monument at its location near the University of Louisville, calling it a symbol of the South's history and culture.

Mayor Fischer and University of Louisville President James Ramsey said in April they would move the monument commemorating Kentuckians who died serving the Confederacy, the slave states that declared their secession from the United States, leading to the American Civil War in the 1860s.

[SOURCE]

Police Officers Sue Marilyn Mosby For Defamation

Two of the Baltimore police officers charged in the death of Freddie Gray are suing State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby.

Sgt. Alicia White and Officer William Porter filed a lawsuit against Mosby, Baltimore Sheriff’s Office Maj. Sam Cogen and the state of Maryland in Baltimore circuit court for defamation and invasion of privacy, according to a report by the Baltimore Sun.

The suit goes back to statements made by Mosby at a May 1, 2015 news conference, which White and Porter claim that the city’s top prosecutor knew “were false,” according to the Sun.

“These among other statements were made not for the purpose of prosecuting crimes that had allegedly been committed by White and Porter, but rather for purposes of quelling the riots in Baltimore,” the suit asserts.

Read more: Police Officers Sue Baltimore’s Top Prosecutor for Defamation Over Freddie Gray Statements

Federal judge rules Ohio early voting cuts unconstitutional

A judge for the US District Court for the Southern District of Ohio on Tuesday ruled that the 2014 elimination of the state's early in-person (EIP) voting was unconstitutional and in violation of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.

Judge Michael Watson stated in his decision:

The elimination of the extra days for EIP voting provided by Golden Week will disproportionately burden African Americans, as expert and anecdotal evidence reflects that African Americans vote EIP, and specifically EIP during Golden Week, at a significantly higher rate than other voters. ... [Additionally,] it may be more difficult for voters with time, resource, transportation, and childcare restraints to make two separate trips to register and vote, and Golden Week allowed individuals to do both at once. ... The elimination of [same-day registration] means that voters must now register and vote at separate times, which increases the "cost of voting," especially for socioeconomically disadvantaged groups.

Statistical and anecdotal evidence cited by Watson showed support for the claims that African Americans utilized this procedure greater than other groups, and that the elimination of this inevitably places a disproportionate burden on them to the point of violating constitutional rights and the VRA.

Read more: Federal judge rules Ohio early voting cuts unconstitutional

Dylan Roof: Justice Dept. will seek death penalty

Attorney General Loretta Lynch has released a statement that the Justice Department will be seeking the death penalty in the Dylan Roof case. Roof killed nine people inside a Charleston South Carolina church last year.

Department of Justice

Office of Public Affairs

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch Statement on the Case of Dylann Roof

Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch today released the following statement regarding the United States v. Dylann Roof:

“Following the department’s rigorous review process to thoroughly consider all relevant factual and legal issues, I have determined that the Justice Department will seek the death penalty.  The nature of the alleged crime and the resulting harm compelled this decision.”

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Office of the Attorney General

Updated May 24, 2016

Elijah Cummings Statement on State of Maryland v. Edward Nero Verdict

May 23, 2016 Press Release

Washington, D.C. (May 23, 2016) — Today, Congressman Elijah E. Cummings (D-MD) issued the following statement on the verdict in State of Maryland v. Edward Nero:

“Every American has the right to a trial decided by a jury of their peers or a trial decided by a judge. Mr. Edward Nero chose to forgo a jury and exercised his right to have Judge Barry G. Williams decide his case. Today, Judge Williams—after hearing the evidence presented by the prosecution and Mr. Nero’s defense attorneys—issued a not guilty verdict in this trial; I thank him for his service.

“Like many Baltimore residents, I was personally struck by Mr. Freddie Gray’s death, and I know that we will all continue to struggle with the strong emotions it invokes in us.

“Following Mr. Gray’s death, the citizens of Baltimore demanded justice, and it is clear that the wheels of justice are turning. I commend the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office for its efforts to pursue justice, and I thank everyone who has worked on Mr. Nero’s trial.

“Justice has always relied on trust in the judicial process, and that is what I call on all of Baltimore’s residents to do because there will be more trials in the death of Mr. Freddie Gray. We cannot control the outcome of any of these trials, but what we can control is our work to continue healing our community.

“With eyes toward the future, we must continue working to reform our criminal justice system—in Maryland and nationwide—and we must continue to invest in our young people. Baltimore is a city on the rise, but the question is: will we all rise together?

“I believe that we are on the road to creating a city that uplifts all of its residents. Today’s verdict should not take us off course, instead, it should remind us of the importance of the road ahead.”

Who is on the Democratic National Committee Platform Drafting Committee

Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz announced the appointment of the 15-person Platform Drafting Committee. The Drafting Committee is responsible for developing and managing the process through which the Democratic Party's National Platform is established.

The roster of the drafting committee reflects the party's agreement that Sanders would have five supporters on the committee, compared to six for Hillary Clinton. The remainng four appointments were made by Debbie Wasserman Shultz.

Maryland Rep. Elijah Cummings, who has endorsed Clinton, will lead the committee.

Sanders supporter on Committee:

Minnesota Rep. Keith Ellison

Cornel West.

Author Bill McKibben

Arab American Institute head James Zogby

Native American activist Deborah Parker.

Clinton supporters on the committee:

Ambassador Wendy Sherman

Center for American Progress head Neera Tanden

Ohio Rep. Alicia Reece

Environmentalist Carol Browner

Illinois Rep. Luis Gutiérrez

Union head Paul Booth.

Debbie Wasserman-Schultz Appointments.

Maryland Rep. Elijah Cummings, Committee Chair

California Rep. Barbara Lee

Former Rep. Howard Berman

Philanthropist Bonnie Schaefer

Is NJ Assemblywoman Shavonda Sumter planning a run for governor?

While the names of mostly white male Democrats (Fulop, Sweeney, Lesniak, Murphy) have been tossed around during speculation about who will run for Governor of New Jersey in 2017, it seems that there may someone else looking to run. According to NJ.Com that someone might be African American Democrat Assemblywoman Shavonda Sumter.

From NJ.Com:

Certainty about whether Assemblywoman Shavonda Sumter, D-Passaic, will be running for governor dramatically grew today -- though not exactly as she planned it.

At an event in Jersey City this morning where Sumter was scheduled to speak, state Sen. Sandra B. Cunningham, D-Jersey City, mistakenly introduced the assemblywoman as having already thrown her hat in the ring.

"If you've been watching the news, and you've heard about who's running for governor, you may not have heard her, but she announced that she is running for governor," Cunningham said.

Sumter, who was running late to the event and arrived shortly after Cunningham's introduction, quickly responded to the senator's gaffe with a sense of humor.

"Senator Cunningham just shared with me that she shared the good news prior to my announcement," the 35th District assemblywoman said to laughs from dozens of people in the audience.

Shortly after her remarks at today's event, Sumter declined to confirm with The Jersey Journal that she is running for governor, only going so far as to say the possibility is under "serious consideration."

Hillary Clinton speech at Trayvon Martin Foundation 05/22/2016

Here is Hillary Clinton's Circle of Mothers speech given at a Trayvon Martin Foundation event (5-22-16). She discussed the NRA and "Donald Trump's America". All proceeds raised went to supporting the Trayvon Martin Foundation/Circle of Mothers. Check out here entire speech below.

The Trayvon Martin Foundation is a social justice organization committed to ending senseless gun violence, strengthening families through holistic support, S.T.E.A.M. education for women and minorities and mentoring. Learn more here: http://trayvonmartinfoundation.org/

Tessa Thompson to portray Valkyrie in Thor Ragnarok

Marvel has revealed Tessa Thompson's role in the upcoming “Thor: Ragnarok.”

The studio released the full cast list on Friday, announcing that the “Creed” star will play the sword-wielding warrior goddess, Valkyrie, a character previously depicted in the comics as white. While I'm sure Thompson will do a great job and make the role her own, I'm also sure that wont stop the fanboy outrage. LOL.

Obama signs measure striking 'oriental' and 'negro' from federal law

President Obama has signed legislation striking outdated racial terms such as “Oriental” and “Negro” from federal laws.

Two sections in the U.S. Code written in the 1970s governing public health and civil rights attempted to define minority groups by using the outdated terms.

Thanks to the new law, references to the term “Oriental” will be replaced with “Asian American” and the word “Negro” will be changed to “African American.”

[SOURCE]

Bernie Sanders Supporters Democratic National Convention Survival Kit

Yeah I'm a Hillary Clinton supporter and since I'm a nice guy and I do feel for Bernie Sanders supporters, I have decided to introduce the Bernie Sanders Supporters Democratic Convention Survival Kit. Check out the video below:

Dem. Congressman Donald Payne: Bernie Sanders wants to destroy Democratic Party

During an interview with the political site PolitikerNJ, NJ Congressman Donald Payne (A Hillary Clinton supporter) voiced his displeasure with democratic candidate Bernie Sanders. Payne went so far as to say that "Sanders Is Trying to ‘Damage and Destroy’ Democratic Party."

Other comments he made:

On Bernie running as a democrat: “We need to remember that Bernie Sanders is not a Democrat,” Payne told PolitickerNJ. “Everyone has a right to run for president in this country but he should have run as an independent as he has been for the past 30 years rather than using the Democratic Party in order to gain traction in his campaign.”

On Sanders supporting Hillary Clinton if she wins the primary: “It is incumbent upon him, if he is going to do this properly, that once the decision is made by the voters in the Democratic primaries that he comes together and says he is supporting the nominee so lets see what happens,” Payne said. “If he doesn’t do that then the whole thing was a sham. I feel very strongly about it. It is really beginning to annoy me that he has turned out the be this divisive and it is not right.”

On Hillary Clinton winning the general election: “Last time I checked, she is leading in the popular vote. I believe and I am confident that she will win the Electoral College and she will have the popular vote. She is heads above either candidate,” said Payne, referring to both Sanders and presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump.

NAACP FILES LAWSUIT OVER FLINT WATER CRISIS

State Officials, Companies Named in Class Action Civil Suit

BALTIMORE — Attorneys with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People have filed a federal class action lawsuit on behalf of people and businesses affected by the failure to provide safe drinking water to the city of Flint, Michigan.

The civil suit filed in U.S. District Court alleges that the state of Michigan, many city and state officials and two engineering firms hired to evaluate water quality in Flint failed to detect problems and properly treat water that caused extensive lead contamination in the city while Flint was under supervision of state-appointed emergency managers.

The plaintiffs in the class action lawsuit include Flint residents and members of the local branch of the NAACP, whose national attorneys are working with the firms of Cohen Milstein Sellers and Toll of Washington, D.C. and the Houston-based firm of Susman Godfrey.

The complaint seeks property damages, pain and suffering damages, emotional distress damages, medical monitoring, and other injunctive relief for affected city residents and businesses to be determined by the court.  

“The people of Flint have been harmed through the failure of state officials to provide professional and accountable basic services mandated by federal law and expected by any person living in a major city,” said Cornell William Brooks, the national president and CEO of the NAACP. “Our organization stands with the citizens of Flint to demand a clear timeline, deadline and price tag for fixing this crisis as well as effective remedies for the harms that have already occurred and complete compensation for each and every victim of this unimaginable tragedy.” 

Governor Rick Snyder is named as an individual defendant in the suit, along with six former high-ranking officials with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, and three men who were emergency managers during the prolonged exposure period. Two engineering firms hired to analyze water in the city, Lockwood, Andrews and Newnam Inc. and Veolia North America, also failed to satisfy their professional duties and affirmatively worsened the extent of the lead exposure, according to the complaint.

The 103-page complaint alleges that the officials and companies supervising the water system failed to properly treat the water supply for salt and other chemicals, which caused lead to leech from corroded pipes into the drinking water for years. Officials repeatedly denied and dismissed reports of poor water quality and pipe corrosion before acknowledging widespread failures to act.  

The NAACP’s Flint Branch and Michigan State Conference have diligently worked over the last two years to inform the public about the poisoned water and its potential effects on city children and residents, and called for federal and state action to provide relief.

The NAACP and attorneys in the case are planning to host Town Hall meetings with residents in the near future in Flint to discuss further action.

Visit here to read the full court complaint.

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Hank Aaron wants to see more African Americans in baseball

While attending the SportsBusiness Daily/Global/Journal 2016 Sports Business Awards, baseball legend Hank Aaron made the following comment about the lack of African Americans in baseball.

“I think from the commissioner’s office to every major-league team in baseball should look at it because it is an American sport,” Aaron said. “Jackie Robinson held his head up high, Willie Mays, myself and Frank Robinson, all of us. And now it’s a dying sport as far as African-Americans. It’s got to be turned around.”

22-Year-Old Symone Marshall Dies in Texas Jail

After being involved in a car accident in which her car flipped over several times, 22 year old African American mother Symone Marshall was not taken to a hospital but to a Texas jail. While in jail she reportedly received no medical care for her injuries although she asked for medical attention. Two weeks later she would die while in jail.

Many questions remain:

Why was she jailed instead of being taken to a hospital first?

Was she every charged with anything?

Why aren't the police talking about either the accident or Marshall's death?

Watch more on this story below.

National Urban League' Releases 2016 State of Black America Report

The National Urban League has released the 2016 State of Black America Report, Locked Out, Education, Jobs, and Justice.

Here are ten facts from the 2016 findings

Since 1976, Black unemployment has consistently remained about twice that of the white rate across time, regardless of education.

Black Americans are only slightly less likely today to live in poverty than they were in 1976.

Highest median household income for Blacks ($66,151) & whites ($109,460) was in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV area.

Toledo, OH had lowest median Black household income ($22,386). White household income low but still more than double Black income.

Foreclosure crisis has left Black homeownership rates the same as in 1976, while white homeownership went up 5 percentage points.

For Latinos, median household incomes were closest to white household income in Urban Honolulu, HI, at 80 cents for every dollar.

The metropolitan area with the lowest Hispanic unemployment rate, at 4.6%, was Tulsa, OK,

There has been some progress: slow, ongoing reduction in poverty. Black poverty rate is 2.4 percentage points lower than in 1976.

Despite progress for Black America, there's been much less progress towards economic equality w/whites, especially in education.

Gap in civic participation between Blacks and whites has narrowed 7 percentage points since 1976.

Read the entire report here: 2016 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

BET to air documentary on Black Lives Matter Movement

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dubbed the new “civil rights movement”, #BlackLivesMatter launched a transformative grassroots movement that moved from social media to the streets across America. As news and images of the senseless deaths of Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner, Michael Brown, Freddie Grey and others spread online, a new generation of civil rights activists came together demanding institutional change. From scheduled marches, to assembled sit-ins and to heated rallies across the country, protesters and communities pushed the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter into a worldwide rallying cry. This is the real story of brave young people who have found their voice to lead a powerful social movement. Now these activists face the daunting challenge of turning protest - into lasting change. Directed and produced by Laurens Grant (Black Panthers - Vanguard of the Revolution) and executive produced by actor/activist Jesse Williams (Grey’s Anatomy) the BET original documentary STAY WOKE: THE BLACK LIVES MATTER MOVEMENT,” will have its broadcast premiere on Thursday, May 26 at 9 PM ET/PT.

“The moment was electric. Black Lives Matter was a brilliantly framed set of marching orders-slash-slogan-slash-plea. Young black people, they are plugged in and they’re moving.”

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“I'm personally inspired by the people that construct today's movement and we so easily forget that movements are not magic, they are led by people, often making great sacrifice. I wanted to lift up not only their voices but their experiences, and catalog this place and time. The movement for Black lives is claiming its place in history by building the future it knows we damn well deserve.” said Executive Producer Jesse Williams, “We can make progress with gratitude, all the while demanding more of ourselves and humanity.”

“While there is no easy answer on how to address or solve the systemic issues of race and justice across our nation, we have a commitment to bringing these conversations and stories of social change to light through platforms like our ‘Truth Series’. BET is determined to encourage meaningful dialogue that galvanizes change.” said Stephen Hill, President of Programming, BET Networks.

Directed by Peabody and three time Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Laurens Grant, “STAY WOKE: THE BLACK LIVES MATTER MOVEMENT,” chronicles the evolution of the Black Lives Matter movement through the first person accounts of local activists, protesters, scholars, journalists and celebrities including Jesse Williams, Nelly, Deray McKesson, Michaela Angela Davis, Wesley Lowery, Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor, Johnetta Elzie, Brittany Packnett and others.

KEEANGA-YAMAHTTA TAYLOR on the Black Lives Matter movement:

“The Black Lives Matter movement is the most important development in black life in the last 40 years and the most important aspect of it is that it’s ordinary people fighting this fight. It is something that we have been responsible for getting out onto the streets and I think the movement is here to stay.”

ALICIA GARZA on where the inspiration to #BlackLivesMatter came from:

“Many people were trying to make sense of what happened, but I felt like the ways that people were trying to make sense of what happened and what we needed to be doing about it were actually destructive… and so I wrote a letter to black people on Facebook saying that there was nothing wrong with us and we deserved dignity and respect.”

MICHAELA ANGELA DAVIS on the death of Trayvon Martin:

“Trayvon Martin was that tragedy that broke us open. He was our Emmett Till but there was no one around with a Twitter account around Emmett Till to tell what really happened, right, but there is now.”

JESSE WILLIAMS on the creation of #BlackLivesMatter:

“The moment was electric. Black Lives Matter was a brilliantly framed set of marching orders-slash-slogan-slash-plea. Young black people, they are plugged in and they’re moving.”

DERAY MCKESSON on running for Mayor of Baltimore:

“So I am running for Mayor in Baltimore because we need to implement changes on the inside. It’s about concrete things that can happen at the policy level to structurally end police violence.”

“STAY WOKE: THE MOVEMENT FOR BLACK LIVES,” is executive produced by Jesse Williams and produced & directed by Laurens Grant.

Launched in July 2015, BET’s The Truth Series features original documentary films, directed by award-winning filmmakers that showcase stories about the African-American experience. The 2015 BET Truth Series documentary film ALI: The People’s Champwas recently honored with the 2015 NAACP Image Award for best documentary and Katrina 10 Years Later: Through Hell and High Water was awarded the 2016 NAMIC Vision Award for best documentary film.

Log on to the New BET.com for exclusive digital video content and join the conversation on social media by logging on to BET’s multiple social media platforms by using hashtag: #StayWokeBET; and following us @BETNews.

About BET Networks

BET Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIA.B), is the nation's leading provider of quality entertainment, music, news and public affairs television programming for the African-American audience. The primary BET channel reaches more than 90 million households and can be seen in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom and sub-Saharan Africa. BET is the dominant African-American consumer brand with a diverse group of business extensions: BET.com, a leading Internet destination for Black entertainment, music, culture, and news; CENTRIC, a 24-hour entertainment network targeting the African-American Woman; BET Music Networks - BET Jams, BET Soul and BET Gospel; BET Home Entertainment; BET Live, BET’s growing festival business; BET Mobile, which provides ringtones, games and video content for wireless devices; and BET International, which operates BET around the globe.

Contacts

BET Networks
Luis Defrank, 212-205-3156
luis.defrank@bet.net

African American WWII Veteran Receives Congressional Medal

A World War II veteran from Michigan has been honored for his service, 70 years after he enlisted. 92-year-old John Willie Jordan was among the first African Americans to serve in the U.S. Marine Corps. His son, Tracey, watched on as his dad was given a Congressional Gold Medal Monday.

U.S. Senator Gary Peters presented Jordan with his medal at a ceremony Monday morning in Farmington. Corporal Jordan trained at Camp Montford Point in North Carolina.

Wendell Pierce withdraws as Rutgers-Newark graduation speaker

Rutgers-Newark is switching commencement speakers after its original honoree was arrested over the weekend, campus officials said Monday.

Wendell Pierce, star of HBO's "The Wire," was arrested Saturday and charged with battery after a fight at an Atlanta hotel just days before he was scheduled to pick up an honorary degree and serve as Rutgers-Newark's commencement speaker.

"This morning Rutgers University- Newark was informed by actor and humanitarian Wendell Pierce that in order to assure that commencement 2016 will be a celebration of the accomplishments of our students free of distractions, he is declining to join us and consequently must decline the conferral of an honorary degree," Rutgers officials said in a statement.

Pierce will be replaced by journalist Soledad O'Brien, Rutgers officials said. O'Brien will deliver the commencement address to Rutgers-Newark students at Wednesday's ceremony at the Prudential Center in Newark.

[SOURCE]