PLAINFIELD NJ-Authorities are asking the public for help to find a Union County woman who has been missing for almost 3 weeks.
Nickell Robinson, 44, of Plainfield, was last seen on March 25 wearing a long black sweater, black pants, and black shoes. She has brown hair and brown eyes, according to the Union County Prosecutor's Office.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the Plainfield Police Division at 908-753-3360.
FLORIDA-The Gadsden County Sheriff’s Office says it is looking for a woman who has been missing since April 14. Deputies say Deborah Reed Trotter has not been seen or heard from since April 14, and there is a concern for her welfare.
The sheriff’s office says Trotter is a 5 foot 3 inch tall Black woman who weighs about 300 pounds. She wears glasses and has shoulder-length hair, the press release says.
Trotter drives a 2020 silver Chevrolet Silverado, with a possible Florida license plate tag number of NTVY54.
If you have any information on Trotter’s location, reach out to GCSO at 850-627-9233.
ALABAMA-Decatur Police are searching for a woman last seen a week ago.
Police said Tracey Michelle Clemons Lanier, 51, was last seen around 8 a.m. Monday, April 19 in the area of Elm Court in Decatur.
Lanier is 5′ 9″ tall, weighs 160 pounds, and was last seen wearing a white top and white pants.
She was driving a silver 2007 Honda Accord with Alabama license plate 1030BF6 and police stated she may be suffering a condition that may impair her judgment.
Anyone with information on her location is asked to contact Decatur Police at (256) 341-4644.
A Virginia high school was rededicated in honor of the late Rep. John Lewis, replacing the name of a Confederate general to celebrate a civil rights icon.
The Fairfax County Public Schools campus in Springfield is now John R. Lewis High School after a ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday.
At this Fairfax County school, the name change has been months in the making. The school was renamed in July 2020 and got national attention, including a mention in a “Jeopardy!” question.
Lewis High School is one of 20 public schools across the U.S. named for Confederate figures that have been renamed in the past year. Research by Education Week magazine found there are still about 200 schools in the U.S. named for confederate figures.
Three Georgia men were indicted today by a federal grand jury in the Southern District of Georgia and charged with hate crimes and the attempted kidnapping of Ahmaud Arbery. The indictment also charges two of the men with separate counts of using firearms during that crime of violence.
Travis McMichael, 35; Travis’s father, Gregory McMichael, 65; and William “Roddie” Bryan, 51, were each charged with one count of interference with rights and with one count of attempted kidnapping. Travis and Gregory McMichael were also charged with one count each of using, carrying, and brandishing—and in Travis’s case, discharging—a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
Counts One and Two of the indictment allege that the defendants used force and threats of force to intimidate and interfere with Arbery’s right to use a public street because of his race. Specifically, Count One of the indictment alleges that as Arbery was running on a public street in the Satilla Shores neighborhood of Brunswick, Georgia, Travis and Gregory McMichael armed themselves with firearms, got into a truck, and chased Arbery through the public streets of the neighborhood while yelling at him, using their truck to cut off his route, and threatening him with firearms. Count One also alleges that the offense resulted in Arbery’s death. Count Two alleges that William “Roddie” Bryan joined the chase and used his truck to cut off Arbery’s route.
In addition to the hate-crime charges, Count Three alleges that all three defendants attempted to unlawfully seize and confine Arbery by chasing after him in their trucks in an attempt to restrain him, restrict his free movement, corral and detain him against his will, and prevent his escape. Counts Four and Five allege that during the course of the crime of violence charged in Count One, Travis used, carried, brandished, and discharged a Remington shotgun, and Gregory used, carried, and brandished a .357 Magnum revolver.
All three defendants have also been charged in a separate state proceeding with malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, false imprisonment, and criminal attempt to commit a felony. No trial date has been set for the state case.
The announcement was made by Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Pamela S. Karlan of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division, Acting U.S. Attorney David Estes of the Southern District of Georgia, and Special Agent in Charge J.C. Hacker of the FBI.
This case was investigated by both the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tara Lyons of the Southern District of Georgia, and Deputy Chief Bobbi Bernstein and Special Litigation Counsel Christopher J. Perras of the Civil Rights Division.
An indictment is a formal accusation of conduct, not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
A bill is making its way through the South Carolina Legislature to bring further focus to particular African American historic documents.
The House cleared the measure Tuesday to require students at public colleges and universities to complete the coursework before graduating and it now heads to Gov. McMaster’s desk, where it’s expected to be signed.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation confirmed Tuesday that it will investigate the killing of Andrew Brown Jr., a Black man who died after police shot him during an arrest in North Carolina last week.
The announcement comes a day after attorneys for Brown's family, allowed to watch a 20-second video of his arrest, said the 42-year-old was shot in the back of the head while he had his hands on his steering wheel.
Brown was shot five times in all, including four times in his right arm, according to an autopsy conducted at the request of his family.
Brown was killed by sheriff's deputies in Elizabeth City during an attempt to serve drug-related search and arrest warrants. Seven of the deputies involved in the arrest were placed on paid leave, the Pasquotank County Sheriff's Office said.
"The FBI Charlotte Field Office has opened a federal civil rights investigation into the police-involved shooting death of Andrew Brown Jr.," an FBI spokesman said. "Agents will work closely with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina and the Civil Rights Division at the Department of Justice to determine whether federal laws were violated."
Louisiana State Senator Troy Carter, a Democrat, will win the special election runoff for Louisiana's 2nd congressional district, The Associated Press projects. He will succeed former Democratic Congressman Cedric Richmond, who left the seat to take a role as a White House senior adviser.
"I want to be clear — I welcome everyone to our tent because the election is over and I represent everyone," Carter said during his victory remarks. "Now I want to go to Washington to be your voice."
Carter's victory now fills a seat that has been left vacant since mid-January, but it does not change the makeup of the House.
Carter was backed by Richmond and House Democratic Whip Jim Clyburn. He beat Democratic state Senator Karen Carter Peterson in Saturday's runoff after winning 36% in the March 20 primary while Peterson received 23% of the vote.
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland announced today that the Department of Justice has opened a pattern or practice investigation into the Louisville/Jefferson County Metro Government (Louisville Metro) and the Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD). The investigation will assess all types of force used by LMPD officers, including use of force on individuals with behavioral health disabilities or individuals engaged in activities protected by the First Amendment. The investigation will assess whether LMPD engages in discriminatory policing, and also whether it conducts unreasonable stops, searches, seizures, and arrests, both during patrol activities and in obtaining and executing search warrants for private homes. The investigation will include a comprehensive review of LMPD policies, training, and supervision, as well as LMPD’s systems of accountability, including misconduct complaint intake, investigation, review, disposition, and discipline.
“There are approximately 18,000 federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies in this country. In each one, dedicated officers put themselves in harm’s way to protect others,” said Attorney General Garland. “Promoting public trust between communities and law enforcement is essential to making both communities and policing safer. Our enforcement efforts, as well as our grant-making and other support, will contribute to achieving that end and to protecting the civil rights of everyone in our country.”
Department of Justice officials informed Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer, LMPD Chief Erika Shields, County Attorney Mike O’Connell, and Louisville Metro Council President David James of the investigation. As part of this investigation, the Department of Justice will reach out to community groups and members of the public to learn about their experiences with LMPD.
“The Constitution and federal law require law enforcement officers to treat all people fairly and equitably, regardless of race, disability, or participation in protected First Amendment activities,” said Pamela S. Karlan, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. “The investigation we are announcing today will examine whether these laws are being violated, while also analyzing the root causes of any violations we may find.”
The investigation is being conducted pursuant to the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 which prohibits state and local governments from engaging in a pattern or practice of conduct by law enforcement officers that deprives individuals of rights protected by the Constitution or federal law. The Act allows the Department of Justice to remedy such misconduct through civil litigation. The department will be assessing law enforcement practices under the First, Fourth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution, as well as under the Safe Streets Act of 1968 Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The investigation will be led by the department’s Civil Rights Division and conducted by career attorneys and staff in the Civil Rights Division and in the Civil Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Kentucky. Individuals with relevant information are encouraged to contact the Department of Justice via email at Community.Louisville@usdoj.gov or by phone at 1-844-920-1460. Individuals can also report civil rights violations regarding this or other matters using the Civil Rights Division’s reporting portal, available at www.civilrights.justice.gov.
Lincoln University became the first historically Black college and university to create its own police academy that focuses on community-based policing. Lincoln University Police Chief Gary Hill, who created the academy, and Joseph Foster, a student in this year’s inaugural class, join Lawrence O’Donnell to discuss how the training seeks to shape a different approach to policing that they hope can inspire new recruits of color.
On March 19, 2021 U.S. Representative Gregory W. Meeks, introduced H.R. 2078, the Social and Economic Equity Promotion Act, a bill to require analyses from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) on how legislative proposals would impact historically underserved communities, including communities of color and others that have experienced longstanding social and economic inequality.
The bill largely tracks the White House’s definitions of “equity” and “underserved communities” within President Biden’s January 20, 2021 Executive Order on Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities through the Federal Government.
The bill’s proposed Division of Social and Economic Equity within CBO would serve as an important resource to Members of Congress as they think through how proposed federal policies impact often marginalized communities.
Rep. Meeks stated, “First, I applaud the Biden-Harris Administration for taking tangible steps towards promoting the welfare of often overlooked communities through the federal policymaking process. In that vein, Congress should also take steps to ensure there are nonpartisan congressional personnel dedicated to examining the impact of policies on the often underserved and overlooked. This bill will give the People’s House the tools to best serve all the People.”
The bill has received the endorsement of the National Action Network and Common Cause.
“For far too long, certain bills have created unintended consequences for traditionally underserved communities. In other instances, legislation has had an outright discriminatory effect, often targeted at Black and Brown voters,” said Keshia Morris Desir, Census & Mass Incarceration Project Manager for Common Cause. “We commend Congressman Meeks for introducing the Social and Economic Equity Promotion Act to help ensure that Members of Congress can understand how bills they vote on will impact communities that have traditionally been marginalized.”
Rep. Meeks’ bill comes on the heels of research from Andre Perry, Senior Fellow in the Metropolitan Policy Program at the Brookings Institution, that argued for a scoring system that holds federal policy makers “accountable to basic democratic principles such as racial inclusion.” Writing in response to the January 6th insurrection, Perry recommended that “just as we score policies’ impact on the budget, we need to account for their potential impacts on racial equity.”
During an appearance on ABC’s “This Week,” Bass told host George Stephanopoulos, Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.) said that the "maximum" sentence is "absolutely needed" after a jury convicted former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin of two counts of murder and one count of manslaugher in George Floyd's death.
On the significance of the Derek Chauvin verdict, Rep. Karen Bass tells @gstephanopoulos "I was definitely relieved," adding: "We need the verdict to be at the maximum level." https://t.co/UpcGAa1Mv3 pic.twitter.com/siZLrQgnyP
— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) April 25, 2021
The Anchorage Police Department will have its first ever Black chief of police when Kenneth McCoy starts next Monday.
McCoy, currently the deputy chief of police, replaces Justin Doll, who will be on leave until he officially retires over the summer.
“For an announcement like this to be made during our 100th year, that our first African American chief is going to be at the helm, is very humbling and meaningful to me, and to my family, to this community,” McCoy said. “And I think it serves as a sign of hope that, you know, we can come together and we can heal and we can make positive change.”
McCoy has served in the city’s police department for almost 30 years. He has worked in the patrol division, detective division and internal affairs division and has been the deputy chief for past four years.
“Over the course of his 27 years at APD, Ken has shown calm, steady and collaborative leadership that welcomes diverse perspectives and experiences,” Acting Mayor Austin Quinn-Davidson said in a statement. “This is an historic moment for our community; we are so fortunate to have Ken at the helm.”
McCoy said his top priorities as acting police chief will be to increase trust and transparency within the community.
“I think that’s our biggest challenge because a large portion of the community and, particularly communities of colour, have lost confidence in law enforcement, nationwide, and you know, it’s my goal on a daily basis to work to build that trust with our communities so they can feel good about what their police departments are doing,” McCoy said.
Before joining the Anchorage Police Department, McCoy served 10 years with the Alaska Army National Guard. He earned a bachelor’s degree in justice from the University of Alaska Anchorage and a criminal justice certificate from the University of Virginia.
“I am grateful for the support from the Mayor’s office, the Assembly and, most importantly, our community,” McCoy said. “Anchorage is a great community! It is my hope that we can come together, heal, and work toward positive change.”
The Smithsonian Institution announced Friday that about half of its museums, along with the National Zoo, will reopen in May after shuttering in November because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The National Museum of African American History and Culture is slated to re-open on May 14, 2021. Passes will be available starting May 7th.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) recently announced that the city will ease some of its COVID-19 restrictions on May 1. At that time, museums will be allowed to operate at 50 percent capacity.
Rita Ali is officially Peoria's Mayor-elect, weeks after Election night came and passed.
The Peoria County Election Commission certified the results of the tight contest on Wednesday. Ali finished just 43 votes ahead of her opponent, Jim Montelongo.
Ali is the first woman and first African American to become Peoria's mayor in the city's history. Ali and other newly elected or re-elected officials will be sworn in on May 4.
The city of Canton, Ohio will make history on Monday April 26, 2021 when the first African American Fire Chief, Akbar Bennet is officially sworn into office.
Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) celebrated House passage today of her District of Columbia statehood bill (H.R. 51). The bill passed by a vote of 216-208. The bill had 216 cosponsors, virtually guaranteeing passage. This was only the second time a chamber of Congress had ever passed the D.C. statehood bill. The first was when the House passed the bill last June.
“Today’s victory was historic, both for D.C. residents and for the cause of D.C. statehood,” Norton said. “For only the second time in history, the House passed the D.C. statehood bill. With Democrats in control of the Senate and White House, and with 54% of Americans supporting the bill, we have never been in a better position to achieve D.C. statehood.”
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison delivered a statement after fired Minneapolis officer Derek Chauvin was convicted of murder in the death of George Floyd.
Congresswoman Maxine Waters joined Joy Reid on her MSNBC show, The ReidOut to talk about the Chauvin guilty verdict and the censure vote against her being tabled.
Following the verdict in Minneapolis, I had the pleasure of being interviewed by @JoyAnnReid on @MSNBC. I'm feeling great and I'm sharing it with you. pic.twitter.com/EJVIoBoocw
— Maxine Waters (@RepMaxineWaters) April 21, 2021
The King Center released the following statement on the guilty verdict in the Derek Chauvin trial:
Today, a jury of 12 found Derek Chauvin guilty of Second-Degree Murder, Third-Degree Murder and Second-Degree Manslaughter in the death of George Floyd. Only in America can a Black person be callously murdered on video for the world to see, then be vilified, dehumanized, and faulted for his own murder. Although Chauvin was found guilty, this nation still faces an arduous journey toward implementing the demands of justice. Our hearts go out to George Floyd’s family and to the families and communities across this nation who have been violated by an institution designated by badges to “protect and serve.” As with other institutions and systems in this nation, law enforcement’s practices and policies so often dehumanize and perpetuate destruction of Black and brown lives. We recognize that there are many facets to ending systemic and overt racism, including in the criminal justice system. “Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream,” we will immerse ourselves in the work of love-centered, strategic, nonviolent deconstruction of injustice and construction of public safety that engages all human beings with dignity, equity and compassion. We still believe this is not only possible, but that we can, as Dr. King said, “organize our strength into compelling power so that the government [and other power constructs] cannot elude our demands.”
