Jacob Blake is handcuffed to his hospital bed, family says

Jacob Blake, who remains hospitalized after sustaining multiple injuries, is now handcuffed to his bed, his family said.

Blake's uncle told CNN on Thursday that Blake's father visited the Wauwatosa, Wisconsin hospital where his son is recovering from at least one surgery. He was "heartbroken" to see that his son was handcuffed.

"This is an insult to injury," Justin Blake, the uncle of the victim, said. "He is paralyzed and can't walk and they have him cuffed to the bed. Why?"

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers said in a news conference that he "couldn't imagine" why Blake was handcuffed.

"I would have no personal understanding why that would be necessary," Evers said, answering a reporter's question.

"I would hope that we would be able to find a more, a better way to help him ... in recovering. That seems counterintuitive. It seems to be bad medicine."

[SOURCES:CNN]

Barack Obama statement on NBA & WNBA players boycotting games

Barack Obama released the following statement via Twitter after the Milwaukee Bucks and other NBA and WNBA teams decided not to play games yesterday to protest the shooting of Jacob Blake:

I commend the players on the @Bucks for standing up for what they believe in, coaches like @DocRivers, and the @NBA and @WNBA for setting an example. It’s going to take all our institutions to stand up for our values.

STATEMENT FROM NBPA ON PLAYER PROTEST AND POSTPONEMENT OF GAMES

The NBA Players Association’s executive director Michelle Roberts releases the following statement after NBA players boycotted playoff games on August 26th:
ORLANDO, FL, August 26, 2020 – "Throughout the season restart, our players have been unwavering in their demands for systemic justice. This week we witnessed another horrific, shocking and all too familiar act of brutality in the shooting of 29 year-old Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The Players have, once again, made it clear - they will not be silent on this issue. We stand with the decision of the players of the Milwaukee Bucks to protest this injustice and support the collective decision to postpone all of today's games."

Two Black Banks Merge to Form Largest Black Owned Bank

A merger announced Wednesday will create the nation’s largest Black-controlled bank and the first with assets of more than $1 billion.

Broadway Federal Bank, a Los Angeles-based commercial lender founded in 1946, will combine with City First Bank in Washington, which opened in 1998.

Brian E. Argrett, chief executive of City First, will be chief executive of the combined company, which will use City First as its banking brand but keep the publicly traded Broadway Financial Corporation as its bank holding company. Wayne-Kent A. Bradshaw, Broadway’s chief executive, will be the chairman of the combined company.

The enlarged bank will specialize in three areas of financing: multifamily affordable housing, small businesses and nonprofit development, Mr. Argrett said in an interview.

Broadway and City First are Community Development Financial Institutions, which are lenders that focus on low- and moderate-income areas and typically serve minority borrowers and entrepreneurs who lack the assets to get traditional loans. The new company will preserve Broadway’s designation as a Minority Depository Institution, a federally insured institution that is mostly owned by minority shareholders or led by a minority-controlled board.

Read more: Two Black-Led Banks Merge to Form a $1 Billion Lender

LeBron James launching multimillion-dollar effort to recruit poll workers

NBA superstar LeBron James is wading further into the fight over voter suppression, with his voting rights organization, More Than A Vote, launching a multimillion-dollar campaign to fortify the number of poll workers in vulnerable Black communities.

The group, which bands together James, other star athletes, state election officials and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, is partnering to draft young activists to work at polling locations for November's general election across the southern and battleground states of Georgia, Michigan, Wisconsin, Florida, Ohio, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, South Carolina, and Texas.

The new initiative seeks to confront the shortage of election volunteers, particularly in communities of color. Atlanta is majority Black, according to U.S. Census data, and Milwaukee County is home to 69.4% of Wisconsin's African American population, according to the most recent data cited by state's Department of Health Services.

More than a Vote is also working to transform sports arenas left vacant by the pandemic into massive polling locations -- a model that was used in Kentucky's primary elections in June with relative success. So far they've joined forces with sports teams in Atlanta, Cleveland, Charlotte, Detroit, Los Angeles, and Sacramento.

[SOURCE: YAHOO]

LeBron James speaks on Jacob Blake shooting

LeBron James sternly conveys his feelings about the fear that is lingering in the Black community and tells the media why he has nothing nice to say about the police who shot Jacob Blake.

Biden says he regrets 'you ain't Black' comment

During his first sit-down interview since officially becoming the Democratic presidential nominee, Joe Biden addressed a controversial comment he made in the spring regarding the Black community.

The former vice president came under fire in May when he told “Breakfast Club” radio host Charlamagne tha God that African American voters aren’t Black if they support President Donald Trump over him in November.

Sunday, ABC’s Robin Roberts asked Biden and his running mate, Kamala Harris, about the comments made in May.

“I shouldn’t have said that,” Biden said. “But I was trying to make the point that this is a man who spent his entire career denigrating African Americans.”

Biden went on to argue that he would be a much better ally to the Black community than Trump.

“The truth is there’s a fundamental difference between Donald Trump and me on the issue of race across the board,” Biden said. “I’m not going to try and divide people. It’s all about bringing people together.”

Biden has relied heavily on the African American vote to secure his party’s nomination, which he officially accepted during last week’s virtual convention.

“I wouldn't be here without the African American community,” Biden added when speaking about his support within the Black community in his home state of Delaware.

[SOURCE: THE DENVER CHANNEL]

Former RNC chair Michael Steele joins anti-Trump group, The Lincoln Project

WASHINGTON, DC US, August 24, 2020 - Today, The Lincoln Project announced, former RNC Chairman Michael Steele has joined its ranks as a Senior Advisor.

“The chair behind the Resolute Desk has always been bigger than any political party,” said Steele. “Sadly, we have witnessed its occupant devolve into preying upon fears and resentments with narcissism that nurtures only chaos and confusion. Leadership is needed now more than ever and I am proudly committed to resetting the course of our nation, standing once again for the future of my Party; and working with The Lincoln Project to help restore the purpose for sitting in that chair. I believe, like the majority of patriots, the office of the Presidency embodies who we are as Americans,” Steele continued. “It represents the heart of our compassion, the dreams of those who built this country both freed and enslaved, the eyes of those today that see both hope and despair, and the wisdom of each of us to make a meaningful difference.” ‘Michael Steele is a singularly insightful and effective political leader,” said Rick Wilson, co-founder of The Lincoln Project. “Many principled Republicans have rejected Trump and Trumpism, but few with such a remarkable track record of electoral success; Michael is the man largely responsible for engineering the Republican victories of 2010, and ushering the party into the digital age. It is our privilege to have him join The Lincoln Project as a Senior Advisor.”

Lincoln Project co-founder, Mike Madrid stated, “diverse voices are central to The Lincoln Project movement. There is no future for Conservatism if we do not elevate them. Michael Steele has been doing that his entire life and we’re excited to have him doing it with The Lincoln Project.”

Steele made history as the first African-American to be elected to statewide office in Maryland, where he served as Lieutenant Governor from 2003 to 2007, and as the first African-American Chairman of the Republican National Committee (RNC) from 2009 to 2011. During his tenure as RNC Chair, the party experienced enormous electoral success by winning 63 House seats to regain control, six Senate seats, seven governorships and the greatest share of state legislative victories since 1928. Steele has continued his work as a political strategist, a nationally recognized author and media personality.

Police in Wisconsin shoot Black man in back multiple times

A man is fighting for his life after he was shot by an officer with the Kenosha Police Department in Wisconsin Sunday afternoon.

A graphic video purported to be of the shooting and posted on Facebook, shows at least two police officers following the man with guns drawn as he walks from the passenger side of a gray vehicle to the driver's side. When the man opens the door of the vehicle and tries to get in, one of the officers is seen grabbing him by the T-shirt. The officer points his gun at the man as he holds on to the man's T-shirt. At least seven gunshots are heard, and the man appears to go limp in the vehicle, the car horn blaring.

Police said they were called to the address to deal with a domestic disturbance, but it is unclear who called or what happened before the video recording began.

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers identified the victim as Jacob Blake in a statement released shortly after the incident occurred. Evers said Blake was critically injured when he was shot multiple times.

"Tonight, Jacob Blake was shot in the back multiple times, in broad daylight, in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Kathy and I join his family, friends, and neighbors in hoping earnestly that he will not succumb to his injuries. While we do not have all of the details yet, what we know for certain is that he is not the first Black man or person to have been shot or injured or mercilessly killed at the hands of individuals in law enforcement in our state or our country," Evers said in his statement.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/24/us/kenosha-police-shooting-jacob-blake/index.html

Michigan to pay $600M in Flint water crisis settlement

Flint residents — especially younger ones — would be eligible for payments from a victim compensation fund under a $600 million preliminary settlement announced Thursday of civil lawsuits arising from the contamination of their drinking water with toxic lead.

Under the proposed settlement, which would involve $600 million in payments from the state:

• Flint residents would be eligible for hundreds of millions of dollars in payments from a court-monitored victim compensation fund, with nearly 80% of payments going to those who were under 18 at the time of the crisis, which began in April 2014. Children are particularly vulnerable to the toxic effects of lead, which can impact brain development.
• 
  
• Attorney fees and costs would be deducted from the $600 million, leaving a lesser amount for distribution. Attorneys expect to be fairly compensated, but it is too soon to say what those fees and costs will be, Pitt said. Attorney contingency fees vary, depending on the case, but it is not unusual for them to amount to one-third of a settlement amount.
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• Parties to the settlement would include "multiple governmental defendants," including the state of Michigan, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, and all individual state defendants, including former Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder, who left office at the end of 2018.
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• The state would create a dedicated $12-million fund to provide special education and other services for students who suffer long-term health and behavioral impacts from lead poisoning.
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• Litigation would continue against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and private firms that were involved in the tragic switch of Flint's drinking water source from Lake Huron to the Flint River. Those firms include environmental consultant Veolia North America, which advised the city of Flint on water quality issues, and engineering firm Lockwood, Andrews & Newman, involved in preparing the Flint Water Treatment Plant to treat water from the Flint River.
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• About 65% of the money would go to Flint residents who were 6 and under when first exposed to lead in Flint water, with 10% going to those who were between the ages of 7 and 11 and 5% to those who were 12 to 17. About 15% would go to adults, 3% for property damage, and 0.5% to cover business losses.
• 
  
• About $35 million would be placed in trust for "forgotten children" who do not file claims within the required time frame, so they are able to file claims once they become adults.
• 
  
• Flint residents and businesses who wish to make claims for personal injuries should go to www.flintwaterjustice.com or call 866-536-0717, according to attorneys involved in the case.

To learn more about the settlement click here: https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/flint-water-crisis/2020/08/20/flint-water-crisis-lawsuit-settlement/5614724002/

Baseball announcer fired for referring to Kamala Harris as colored

Cleveland radio anchor Kyle Cornell has been fired after saying “The U.S. officially has its first colored vice presidential candidate. More coming up after the game on Newsradio WTAM 1100 Cleveland.” He made his comment during a Cleveland Indians Wednesday night broadcast.

Watch more on this story below:

Tuskegee Airman James A. Cotten dead at 93

James Alonzo Cotten was born on June 4, 1927, in Chapel Hill, NC. At his request, he was cared for at home by his family, and transitioned on August 14, 2020. James was married for 73 years to his high school sweetheart, Oteria. They met at a dance, and continued to dance throughout his life.

Chief Master Sergeant (Ret) James A. Cotten was drafted into the U.S. Military Service from his hometown of Pittsburgh, Pa., and was inducted into the U.S. Army at Indiantown Gap, Pa. on August 14, 1945. Upon completion of Basic Training in January 1946, he was selected for assignment to the famed Tuskegee Airman, 332nd Fighter Group, the all Afro-American Army Air Corps Unit at Lockbourne Army Air Base, Columbus, Ohio.

During his military career, Cotten was assigned to many other military installations and after more than 21 years of active military service in the U.S. Air Force, he retired at McGuire AFB, Lakehurst, New Jersey on December 31, 1965.

In 1966, he entered into U.S. Civil Service for another 45 years with the Department of Defense at Joint Base McGuire-Dix. In December 2012, he retired as the Supervisory Contract Administrator for U.S. Transportation Command Contract Airlift Program.

On May 3, 2012, James A. Cotten was presented the Congressional Gold Medal for his military service with the Tuskegee Airmen. A Congressional Gold Medal is an award bestowed by the United States Congress and is the highest civilian honor in the United States. It is awarded to persons "who have performed an achievement that has an impact on American history and culture that is likely to be recognized as a major achievement in the recipient's field long after the achievement."

Mr. Cotten was an active member of the Twenty Plus Retirement Club. He served the ABCO community in the capacity of Board Member and was on the Supervisory Committee for more than 9 years. Also, he served on the New Jersey Credit Union League Board of Directors for over 20 years.

Mr. Cotten affectionately known as "Dad or Granddad", was the patriarch of the Cotten family, and he leaves behind to cherish his loving memory, wife, Oteria; brother, Ralph (Sandra); sister, Lorraine (Roland); sisters-in-law, Charolette (Russell-predeceased), Gwendolyn, and Antoinette (Ben); brother-in-law, MSgt (Ret) William Smith (Debra); ten children, Charen; LtCol (Ret) James M. (Berthel); Marlane (Tyrone); Wannetta (Cmdr (Ret) Ernest L. Jolly); Christina; Terie; Arlene (Mark); SMSgt (Ret) Dale A. (Zina); Kevin; Lauren (Aundrey); 16 Grandchildren; 21 Great-Grandchildren; two Great-Great-Grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, and friends.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his memory to the Twenty Plus Retirement Club Scholarship Fund, PO Box 46, Mt. Holly, NJ 08060.

His life Celebration Services will be held private to the family Friday, August 21, 2020. Family and friends may participate in a walk through viewing Thursday, August 20, 2020 5pm until 8 a.m. at the TL Hutton Family & Friends Funeral Services, 869 Beverly Road, Burlington, N.J. All attendees must wear a mask to enter walk through. Friends may also view by Live Stream 11 a.m. Friday at the website below.

TL Hutton Family & Friends Funeral Services

www.tlhuttonfuneralservices.com

To Plant Memorial Trees in memory, please visit our Sympathy Store.

‘Static Shock’ Movie in Development

A new “Static Shock” movie may be on the way.

At a DC FanDome panel on Saturday, filmmaker Reginald Hudlin said there’s been “serious conversations” about bringing the electric-powered teen hero to the big screen.

Virgil Hawkins, a.k.a. Static Shock, was created by Milestone Media and DC Comics in the 1990s and starred in a Kids’ WB animated series in the early 2000s. The series received multiple Daytime Emmy award nominations and is still highly regarded by fans for being one of the few superhero series starring a Black character.

“One of the things we’re really excited about, we really want to live up to the name of the company, Milestone Media,” said Hudlin. “When we spoke to Jim [Lee] about reviving the Milestone line, we said ‘Look, we all know this has been a hit comic book and hit animated series. It’s time to expand back into all those areas and then some.’ So we’re in serious conversations about, as we’re launching the comic book series, developing the ‘Static Shock’ movie. That will be a theatrical feature film.”

There were no other details given on “Static Shock’s” move to the big screen, but he will star in a digital comic book series in February 2021.

[SOURCE: VARIETY]

Union County Freeholders Celebrate New Statewide “County Commissioner” Name

Union County Freeholders Rebecca Williams, Angela Garretson, and Andrea Staten (l-r) joined New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy in a bill signing ceremony in Trenton on Friday for a new state law that changes the title of freeholder to commissioner.

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders welcomes a new state law that changes the name “board of chosen freeholders” to “board of county commissioners,” and “chosen freeholder” to “county commissioner” for all 21 counties in New Jersey. Governor Phil Murphy signed legislation earlier today, and the changeover will take place beginning in 2021.

The title “freeholder” dates back to the 1700’s. It refers to white male property owners who had clear title to their land, reflecting laws that effectively prevented most women, and practically all Black Americans, from holding public office in New Jersey.

“This Freeholder Board strongly supports the Black Lives Matter movement, and we support efforts to break down the barrier of structural racism in all its forms,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “This change in title will finally put to rest a centuries-old concept of civic participation that is out of step with the diversity of our population and inconsistent with the principles of equality.”

“County Commissioner’ is an inclusive title that celebrates and respects all citizens who seek to participate in the civic fabric of our community,” said Freeholder Angela Garretson, who sponsored a Freeholder resolution in support of the name change and worked with colleagues at all levels of government throughout New Jersey to advocate for the change.

“As one of five women on our nine-member Freeholder Board, I understand the historical significance, and need for change. I am especially proud of the transition to a title that fully embraces the contributions of all women, minorities, and/or non-privileged members into the democratic process in New Jersey,” Freeholder Garretson added.

“We continue to strive to represent our ever diversifying constituency,” said Freeholder Andrea Staten.  “As an African American member of a majority female board, this new title is a positive and significant change for County Freeholders throughout the State of New Jersey.”

“As the late, great Toni Morrison noted, language is something that we ‘do,’ it is the action verb that we perform daily. With the change to County Commissioner, the State of New Jersey acknowledges that the path toward an equitable and inclusive society requires that we pay attention to how we use language to represent both ourselves and the people—as commissioners, we are entrusted to serve the people with all the meaning with which that word is invested,” said Freeholder Rebecca Williams.

Collective efforts to modernize the title have been undertaken periodically in recent years. These efforts gained momentum in recent months, following the murder of Minneapolis, Minnesota resident George Floyd. The widespread actions, including many in New Jersey and Union County, challenged the persistence of institutional and structural racism in America and raised awareness of the Black Lives Matter movement and racial inequities, at a time when the COVID-19 crisis has underscored disproportionate impacts on health and food security.

Rep. Payne, Jr. Pushes Party Leadership to “Stand Firm” on Postal Service Funding

Congressman Donald M. Payne, Jr. sent a letter today to urge House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to “stand firm” in their support of funding for the United States Postal Service.  The U.S. House of Representatives will vote on a bill tomorrow to provide $25 billion to the Postal Service to improve mail delivery and service before the 2020 election.  Rep. Payne, Jr. was a co-leader on the letter with Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) and it was co-signed by 101 House members of Congress.

“We need the Post Office to guarantee that everything from ballots to Census forms arrive on time,” said Congressman Donald M. Payne, Jr.  “Usually, support for this critical American institution is not a political issue.  Unfortunately, President Trump has decided to try and limit service to improve his re-election chances in November.  Now, the Post Office needs every dime of this money to thrive.  I wanted to write this letter to encourage House and Senate leadership not to negotiate on the final funding figures when it comes to something as important to Americans as mail delivery.”

The letter comes before a crucial vote on the Delivering for America Act.  Along with the funding, the bill (H.R. 8015) would halt post office closures or consolidations, stop the reduction of hours at postal locations, ensure that employees receive overtime pay for overtime hours, and return postal service to the level Americans experienced on January 1, 2020, before the coronavirus public health crisis crippled the nation. 

“The United States Postal Service provides essential jobs and services to our communities and is critical to our democracy and our economy,” said Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley. “As the Trump administration and their handpicked Republican accomplices work to undermine and sabotage the USPS, it’s critical that we stand firm in our demand to provide the Postal Service with the resources and support it needs to remain the strong, secure, and reliable public service agency that it is.”

It is the latest action in Rep. Payne, Jr.’s battle to save the Post Office from President Trump’s attempts to defund it.  In the last two weeks, Rep. Payne, Jr. has written or co-signed five letters to House leadership, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, and others to provide funds for the Postal Service in the next coronavirus bill and improve service to all Americans during this global pandemic.  In addition, he toured three local Post Offices in Newark, Orange and Union to discuss postal issues with local managers and carriers.

The full text of the letter is below.

August 21, 2020

Dear Speaker Pelosi and Leader Schumer,

We write to you with extreme concern regarding the massive delays of mail delivery being reported across the country. If left unabated, this has the potential to negatively impact two cornerstones of our democracy: the decennial Census and the 2020 general election. As you continue to engage in COVID-19 negotiations with the administration, we urge you to stand firm in support of the United States Postal Service and support at least $25 billion in emergency funds to meet the increased demand brought on by this pandemic.  The Postal Service is set to lose over $54 billion over the next 10 years.  These funds would offset the cost-cutting measures that have led to uncertainty in mail delivery. The universal right to the ballot box has been affirmed through a long struggle in courthouses, legislatures, and in communities across the nation. We cannot allow any unravelling, reduction, or suppression of this fundamental right of democracy.

From the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States Postal Service has been the primary method for Americans to complete their Census forms, register to vote and cast their ballots in primary elections. This is why we are so concerned by attempts from Postmaster General Louis DeJoy to weaken the USPS. Since Postmaster General DeJoy took office in June 2020, his changes have required mail to be left in distribution centers if it delays routes and eliminated overtime to complete all mail deliveries. This has directly hampered the ability of citizens to receive the level of service that they have come to expect and deserve from this constitutionally mandated service.

With the general election taking place in just a few months and primary elections underway, it is imperative that millions of Americans can safely rely on the critical infrastructure provided by seamless and timely mail delivery. What is particularly troubling is that there appears to be a deliberate slowdown of mail delivery that has an enormous potential to impact the general election and congressional reapportionment. Any attempt to subvert the right to vote or undercount the Census must be met with swift and decisive resistance.

We respectfully urge you to continue efforts to push for much needed emergency aid and fight back against efforts to undermine the United States Postal Service so the American people can have faith that they will be counted in the Census and their ballots honored in the election.

Atlanta's John Marshall Law School announces Jace C. Gatewood as new dean

Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School (AJMLS) is pleased to announce the permanent appointment of its 10th Dean, Jace C. Gatewood. Dean Gatewood succeeded Dean Malcolm L. Morris on January 1, 2020 as Interim Dean and CEO, and has now been affirmed by the Board as the permanent Dean. Dean Gatewood became the first African American to serve in the role since the school’s founding in 1933.

Dean Gatewood, who has been a senior member of the faculty since 2008, said “I am deeply honored and humbled to be appointed the new permanent Dean of Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School. I am thrilled to be able to continue the rich legacy of the Law School as a school that provides opportunity for legal training to those who might not otherwise be able to earn a law degree. For much of its history, women and African-Americans were more welcome at Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School than at many law schools, and I look forward to continuing this tradition of diversity.”

Since assuming his interim role in early 2020, the world experienced record events and the Law School required unparalleled leadership to maintain its stability. Chairman of the Board, Dr. Michael C. Markovitz noted “Dean Gatewood has come through brilliantly [the past six months]. The Law School is the better for it and is making plans for this coming year that include, among other things, an improved online learning platform.” AJMLS has continued its J.D. programs remotely and enrolled a strong Fall 2020 class amid the global pandemic.

Dean Gatewood has served in roles such as Associate Professor, Associate Dean of Graduate Programs, and Associate Dean of Academic Programs. In addition to teaching, he has chaired the curriculum committee, and been a member of the admissions committee and faculty recruitment committee. Dean Gatewood has taught a range of courses including Property, Business Organizations, Sales and Secured Transactions, Wills, Trusts and Estates, and Agency and Negotiations. As a faculty member at Atlanta’s John Marshall, Dean Gatewood has authored numerous scholarly publications, with his chief research topic being the fourth amendment and an individual’s right to privacy in an increasingly technological world.

Dean Gatewood attended Georgetown University where he was a full scholarship track and field athlete. Becoming the first African American Dean of AJMLS was not his first historic moment, he was also a world and American record-holder for the Distance Medley Relay in 1980. Dean Gatewood went on to earn his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center.

Prior to entering academia, Dean Gatewood practiced for nearly two decades in New York and Atlanta at Weil Gotshal LLP, Troutman Sanders LLP, Powell Goldstein LLP, Atlanta Housing Authority, and the Law Offices of Jace C. Gatewood. He specialized in a wide range of commercial lending and corporate and real estate finance transactions. His expertise includes the representation of lenders and foreign and domestic commercial banks in the establishment and administration of single lender and syndicated loan facilities of all kinds

.

“While I understand the symbolism of my being the first African American appointed Dean of Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School, especially during a period of social unrest in the wake of a national antiracism movement and a global pandemic, my focus as Dean will be to move the school to be a more progressive institution by incorporating emerging technologies into the classroom to enable more innovative and engaging teaching methods and learning experiences,” said Dean Gatewood. “All while continuing the efforts of the Law School to promote diversity and inclusiveness in the legal field.”

Despite the events and challenges of 2020, Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School has evolved and maintained a rigorous course of study under Dean Gatewood’s leadership. The Law School continues to finalize its new status as a not-for-profit law school and looks forward to a successful academic year.

A Massive Ida B. Wells Mosaic Is Coming to Union Station

A thousand portraits of suffragists make up the massive mosaic of Ida B. Wells that will call Union Station home next week, a nod to the 100-year anniversary of the right-to-vote movement and the role the D.C. landmark played.

From Aug. 24-28, the 1,000-square-foot mosaic, titled “Our Story: Portraits of Change,” will be displayed on the marble floor, assembled from thousands of historical photos of suffragists, with each image telling its own story about the fight for women’s right to vote.

“We’ve gathered together over 1,000 portraits of suffragists, and when you put those photographs together in a certain way and zoom out, those 1,000 portraits then become one very large portrait of suffragist and anti-lynching activist Ida B. Wells,” Anna Laymon, director of the Women’s Suffrage Centennial Commission.

Wells, a journalist, activist and educator, “traveled internationally, shedding light on lynching to foreign audiences. Abroad, she openly confronted white women in the suffrage movement who ignored lynching. Because of her stance, she was often ridiculed and ostracized by women’s suffrage organizations in the United States,” according to the National Women’s History Museum.

The mosaic portrait installation made of smaller images speaks to the power of the many it takes to form a social movement, Laymon said.

Visual artists Helen Marshall, of The People’s Picture, and Cristina Korp, of Purpose Entertainment, brought the vision of the Women’s Suffrage Centennial Commission to reality.

Marshall, who has worked on similar projects, including one marking the centenary of the women’s vote in U.K. in 2018, said, “I am beyond grateful to have enjoyed so many of the choices brought to me by the generations of women before me.”

[SOURCE: WTOP]

WATCH: Kamala Harris’ full speech at the 2020 Democratic National Convention

Watch Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris address Democrats on Aug. 19 during the third night of the Democratic National Convention.

Watch Barack Obama’s Full Speech At The 2020 DN

Former President Barack Obama gave his DNC speech from the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia. Obama stressed Joe Biden’s qualifications and called out President Trump for “treating the presidency” like “one more reality show.”

Watch his full speech below:

UNCF to Host new National Virtual Walk for Education, supporting both HBCUs and Students

Online fundraising event will provide fun interactive activities for the public during mandatory social distancing

Washington, D.C., Aug. 19, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- How do you stay safe during a pandemic, raise money for a great cause and get some exercise in on the side? Through the UNCF (United Negro College Fund) Virtual Walk for Education®, of course! The new digital fundraiser replaces the annual in-person walk events that many of the UNCF local offices conduct each spring, summer and fall, taking what’s typically been a market-by-market approach on to a fully nationwide event. 

The revamped, highly anticipated UNCF National Virtual Walk for Education® aims to raise funds to support historically Black colleges and universities and the students they serve through the help of individuals, corporations and other group donors. While the country is practicing social distancing, the event will engage participants in activities to walk, run, cycle and dance safely—all the while having fun and still raising money for UNCF. The Walk is set for 2 p.m. EDT/11 a.m. PDT on Saturday, Sept. 19. 

 “For more than 76 years, UNCF has fueled HBCUs with vital resources to educate generations of African American and other minority students,” said Dr. Michael L. Lomax, president and CEO, UNCF. “During an unprecedented time in our history compounded by COVID-19 and racial disparities, our students and institutions are faced with enormous challenges now more than ever. We are at risk of washing away a generation of talented and deserving African American and minority students. We need as many donations as possible right now because the students we help now will be our next generation of doctors, nurses, biologists, virologists, epidemiologists—the pandemic frontliners of the future. We invite everyone to join our new National Virtual Walk for Education to help ensure better futures for us all.”

 A UNCF survey of more than 5,000 students across 17 HBCUs found that many are dealing with difficulties such as sick family members, trouble paying bills and general stress from the ongoing pandemic and recent protests against police brutality. Support is needed now more than ever as students and institutions are faced with challenges including COVID-19 and racial disparities.

Current national sponsors of the UNCF National Virtual Walk for Education® are National Doctorate Sponsor, Colgate-Palmolive Company and the National Master’s Sponsors, Essentia Water and Arch Capital Group, LTD.

The digital fundraiser will also honor local supporters, highlight UNCF HBCU presidents and include a celebrity DJ spinning live. Participants will be able to engage in a celebrity fitness warm-up including up-beat music to dance to all in honor of supporting HBCUs and their students.

To register for the event and find the local office that supports your area, please go to: https://uncf.org/event/2020-national-virtual-walk-for-education

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About UNCF

UNCF (the United Negro College Fund) is the nation’s largest and most effective minority education organization. To serve youth, the community and the nation, UNCF supports students’ education and development through scholarships and other programs, supports and strengthens its 37 member colleges and universities, and advocates for the importance of minority education and college readiness. UNCF institutions and other historically black colleges and universities are highly effective, awarding 21 percent of African American baccalaureate degrees. UNCF administers more than 400 programs, including scholarship, internship and fellowship, mentoring, summer enrichment, and curriculum and faculty development programs. Today, UNCF supports more than 60,000 students at over 1,100 colleges and universities across the country. Its logo features the UNCF torch of leadership in education and its widely recognized trademark, ‟A mind is a terrible thing to waste.”® Learn more at UNCF.org or for continuous updates and news, follow UNCF on Twitter at @UNCF.