CINCINNATI-Police are searching for a missing woman who was last seen on Sunday, Sept. 19 in Over-the-Rhine.
Police said Ameka Thompson, 42, left to go smoke a cigarette outside of her apartment on Logan Street around 10:30 p.m. and has not been seen since.
They said her mental health may not be good, but she is in good physical health.
She is described as 5′5″, 130 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes.
If you see her you’re asked to contact Det. Nikki Oliver at 513-352-4567.
A group of 10 Black women filed a class action lawsuit against the Metropolitan Police Department Wednesday claiming they experienced racial discrimination and sexual harassment while working for the department and the division in charge of stopping or punishing those behaviors instead enabled a "culture of intimidation" and colluded with management to discredit the women.
Melvin Van Peebles, an actor, writer, director, producer and icon of Black cinema whose films include Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song and Watermelon Man, died Tuesday night at his home. He was 89.
His death was confirmed by his son, Mario Van Peebles, who said in a statement: “Dad knew that Black images matter. If a picture is worth a thousand words, what was a movie worth? We want to be the success we see, thus we need to see ourselves being free. True liberation did not mean imitating the colonizer’s mentality. It meant appreciating the power, beauty and interconnectivity of all people.”
Van Peebles probably is best known for writing, directing, producing and starring in Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song, the landmark 1971 blaxploitation pic that was selected for the Library of Congress’ National Film Registry last year.
Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) issued the following statement after bipartisan congressional talks between he, Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), and Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif) on overhauling policing practices have ended without an agreement:
“America has a serious problem when it comes to discriminatory policing and excessive and deadly force used against communities of color. We can’t properly honor the lives of the victims of this violence if we don’t take meaningful steps to prevent future violence and deaths from occurring and make our communities safer.
“We made it clear from the beginning of our negotiations that a bill must ensure true accountability, transparency, and the policing standards necessary to bring an end to horrific incidents of violence Americans are routinely seeing -- like the murder of George Floyd. After months of exhausting every possible pathway to a bipartisan deal, it remains out of reach right now, even after working collaboratively with and securing the support of policing groups like the Fraternal Order of Police and International Association of Chiefs of Police for our proposals.
“Unfortunately, even with this law enforcement support and further compromises we offered, there was still too wide a gulf with our negotiating partners and we faced significant obstacles to securing a bipartisan deal.
“The time has come to explore all other options to achieve meaningful and common sense policing reform. I will not stop fighting until we achieve change that keeps our communities and police officers safe.”
Congressional Black Caucus Chairwoman Joyce Beatty (OH-03) issued the following statement on the treatment of Haitian migrants at the U.S. Border:
“The images that we’ve seen over the last 24 hours are horrific and I share the outrage being expressed by Americans across the country. This sort of mistreatment is an affront to the very conscience of this nation, and it is absolutely unacceptable.
Beatty continued, “The Congressional Black Caucus has a long history of supporting our brothers and sisters across the Diaspora and we have pledged our support for the people of Haiti. To that end, I have called for an investigation into the actions of CBP and call on DHS Secretary Mayorkas to ensure that mistreatment and violence like this never happen again. The Congressional Black Caucus is actively monitoring developments and we are prepared to travel to the border to observe this situation ourselves. Treatment like this cannot be tolerated. ”
NAACP President and CEO, Derrick Johnson, released the following statement regarding the images and videos of U.S. border patrol attacking Haitian refugees with whips:
This cruelty is utterly sickening. The events that took place today are all too familiar to those that are aware of America's ugly history. The actions we witnessed today were inhumane under the last administration, and that sentiment remains. No person fleeing poverty and hunger should be treated in this egregious manner. For far too long, the Haitian community has endured mistreatment at the hands of our nation. The administration has got to grant temporary protected status (TPS) to those seeking refuge. The actions of the U.S. border patrol are deplorable and should be investigated and reprimanded. Our country claims to be better than this — we must show it.
Rep. Maxine Waters released the following statement on the cruel treatment of Haitian refugess at the Texas border:
Haitians fleeing violence & the lack of a credible government in Haiti are being treated like animals. U.S. government cowboys on horses used whips on Haitians as they sought refuge. Why are we following the Trump policies? This horrendous treatment of Haitians must STOP NOW.
Congressman Bennie Thompson, the Democratic chair of the House Homeland Security committee, said the mistreatment of Haitian migrants was "disturbing" and contrary to U.S. values.
"I call on Secretary Mayorkas to take immediate action to hold those responsible accountable and ensure that all migrants are treated in accordance with the law and basic decency, as this Administration has promised to do since day one," Thompson said.
Columbus GA-The Columbus Police Department is searching for a missing woman. Police are asking for the public’s helping in locating Kendra Mesteth, age 44.
According to police, Mesteth was last seen on Sept. 3, 2021, in the area of the 4000 block of Connor Road.
When Mesteth was last seen , she was wearing a Blue T-Shirt and Blue Jeans. She also has black, shoulder length hair.
Anyone with information about Kendra Mesteth should contact 911 or the Columbus Police Department Special Unit at 706-225-4343 or 653-3400.
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Police are looking for a 56-year-old woman who went missing from north Columbus last week.
Patricia G. Foxx-Hawkins was last seen on Aug. 24 leaving her home on Clinton Street and Dresden Street.
Hawkins is described as a black female with black hair, brown eyes, standing 5 foot 2 inches tall, weighing 145 pounds.
She was last seen wearing a long sundress with blue, yellow, and pink vertical stripes with flip flops. She may also have small black dog with her.
If you know her whereabouts, please call Columbus Police at 614-645-4545.
ABERDEEN, MD—The Aberdeen Police Department is asking for the public’s help in finding 25-year-old Diamond Brown.
Brown’s family told police they had not seen her since last year, the department said on Facebook.
Brown may be either in the Baltimore or Philadelphia areas.
She is about 5 feet, 5 inches tall and weighs about 135 pounds.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Sgt. Shannon Persuhn at 410-272-2121, ext. 177 or spersuhn@aberdeenmd.gov.
Former Georgia legislator and gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams has made the list of TIME's 'The Most Influential People of 2021' list.
Abrams is listed among the 'Leaders.'
Musical legend Harry Belafonte praises Abrams in the piece, pointing to her "years working to transform and empower the Georgia electorate. That work resulted in record voter turnout in recent elections. Thank you, Stacey, for all that you have done."
Vice President Kamala Harris made a special appearance at a football game between her alma mater, Howard University, and Hampton University to do the coin toss.
The match-up between the two historically Black universities, the Truth and Service Classic, was held at noon on Saturday at Audi Field in Washington, D.C. Before the start of the game, Harris did a coin toss to determine which team would start off first.
Howard won the toss after the coin landed on heads, and the Howard Bison decided to defer to Hampton to start the game.
Unfortunately for VP Harris and Howard University, The Hampton University Pirates won the game 48 - 32.
.@VP starting her Saturday morning off right - flipping coin at the @HowardU and @_HamptonU football game!!
— SDS (@SymoneSanders46) September 18, 2021
It was heads! pic.twitter.com/PboWSGvHBU
A North Carolina state court panel on Friday blocked a voter identification law, citing discrimination against Black voters.
The law, known as SB 824, was passed in 2018 after Republicans lost their supermajority in the legislature but before the new legislature took over. It was already on hold under a preliminary injunction, after North Carolina’s Court of Appeals said voter ID provisions could negatively impact Black voters. But now the state court has permanently blocked the law, which required photo identification to vote.
The majority of the three-judge panel said Friday that the law “was motivated at least in part by an unconstitutional intent to target African American voters.”
“Other, less restrictive voter ID laws would have sufficed to achieve the legitimate nonracial purposes of implementing the constitutional amendment requiring voter ID, deterring fraud, or enhancing voter confidence,” Superior Court Judges Michael O’Foghludha and Vince Rozier wrote in their ruling Friday.
In a statement, Southern Coalition for Social Justice co-executive director and chief counsel for voting rights Allison Riggs and pro bono counsel Andrew Ehrlich — attorneys who served on behalf of a group of North Carolina voters — said they “hope” the ruling sent “a strong message that racial discrimination will not be tolerated.”
The statement continued: “Today’s ruling striking down North Carolina’s latest unconstitutional photo voter ID law is a testament to the overwhelming evidence, including compelling stories of disenfranchisement from voters themselves, which highlighted how the state’s Republican-controlled legislature undeniably implemented this legislation to maintain its power by targeting voters of color."
Marc H. Morial
President and CEO
National Urban League
“Too many people struggled, suffered and died to make it possible for every American to exercise their right to vote. And we have come too far together to ever turn back. So we must not be silent. We must stand up, speak up and speak out. We must march to the polls like never before. We must come together and exercise our sacred right.” – Congressman John Lewis
In April of 2019, the Associated Press released an analysis of census data and exit polling that reached a remarkable conclusion: the Black voter turnout rate in the 2012 presidential election exceeded the white rate for the first time in history. A census report in May confirmed the AP’s findings.
Some researchers disputed the findings, contending that the milestone actually had occurred in 2008.
The Supreme Court’s 2013 decision in Shelby v Holder slammed the brakes on nearly five decades of progress on narrowing the gap between white and Black voter participation rates. By eliminating a requirement that the federal government approve election law changes in jurisdictions with a history of racial discrimination, Shelby unleashed a deluge of restricting voting laws throughout the United States.
National Black Voter Day is our answer to voter suppression. It’s our answer to misinformation campaigns. It’s our answer to efforts to stoke racial division and diminish the voices of Black and brown Americans.
The National Urban League, in partnership with BET and other advocacy groups, designated September 18 National Black Voter day as part of our voter engagement and education campaign, #ReclaimYourVote.
We chose September 18 was because it is the first day for early in-person voting in the country. Although “Election Day” is more than six weeks away, voting has already begun. Thousands of North Carolinians have already returned their absentee ballots.
We’re asking Black Americans to make a plan. Will you vote in person, or by mail? If your state allows early in-person voting, what day will you vote? Where is your polling place? If you plan to vote by mail, what are the rules in your state? Do you need a witness when you sign your ballot, like the voters in North Carolina, opportunity to get voters registered, demystify the voting process, provide guidance on voting rights restoration for eligible voters, and help voters create their voting plan to plot a clear path to the ballot box.
We’ve broken the process down into five steps:
Between the time of the Shelby v. Holder decision and the 2016 presidential election, 9 out of the 15 jurisdictions previously covered by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act had new restrictions in place. Texas announced within 24 hours of the decision that it would implement a strict photo ID law, and Mississippi and Alabama, began to enforce photo ID laws that had previously been barred because of federal preclearance.
Black voter turnout fell from more than 67% in 2012 – more than 5 points above the white rate -- to just over 51% in 2016 – almost 4 points below the white rate.
We will not be defeated. The National Urban League continues to advocate for the restoration of the Voting Rights Act, and is committed to safeguarding the right of every American to fully participate in our democracy and civic processes.
Commenting on efforts to suppress the Black vote, the late Congressman John Lewis said, “I've seen this before. I've lived this before.” Prior to the Voting Rights Act, he said, “People stood in unmovable lines. They had to pass a so-called literacy test, pay a poll tax. On one occasion, a man was asked to count the number of bubbles in a bar of soap. On another occasion, one was asked to count the jelly beans in a jar—all to keep them from casting their ballots.
“Brothers and sisters, do you want to go back? Or do you want to keep America moving forward?”
PAGELAND, S.C.- Officers are asking the public’s help in finding a woman missing from Pageland, S.C.
Deidre Annette Reid was last seen off East Turner Street in Pageland on Sept. 3. Reid is a 41-year-old Black woman last seen wearing gray sweatpants, a light pink and white shirt, white Air Force One shoes, and she had her hair in a ponytail.
Her family last heard from her Sept. 3 and she was headed to the Greyhound station in Charlotte, N.C.
Reid was driving a gray, 2004 Chevy Tahoe with the South Carolina license plate number FXU718. The car had a New York Giants tag on the front.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Pageland Police Department at 843-672-6437.
DOUGLAS COUNTY, Ga. - Deputies need your help finding a Douglas County woman who has been missing for days.
Officials say Zhaavier Reeves was last seen by her family on Sept. 6 in Douglas County.
Reeves is described as being 5-feet-4-inches tall with a weight of around 130 lbs. She has brown eyes and red dreadlocks.
The missing woman was last seen wearing a white shirt and black pants.
If you have any information that could help find Reeves, please call the Douglas County Sheriffs Office at 678-486-1307.
BET, a unit of ViacomCBS (NASDAQ: VIAC; VIACA), today launched BET Studios, an unprecedented studio venture that offers equity ownership for Black content creators. Propelled by the infrastructure and financing of BET and ViacomCBS, BET Studios will create premium television series and films for an array of internal buyers, including Paramount+, SHOWTIME, CBS, Nickelodeon, BET+ and BET, in addition to select third-party platforms that seek best-in-class content from both leading and rising Black creatives. BET Studios will launch with principal partners Kenya Barris, Rashida Jones and Aaron Rahsaan Thomas.
“The demand for premium content from Black creators has accelerated dramatically as a result of both the rapidly changing media and social landscapes. BET, with our 40-year legacy of celebrating Black culture, and the full power of the ViacomCBS ecosystem—is uniquely positioned to service this demand,” said BET President Scott Mills. “As a company with its origin in Black entrepreneurship, we are incredibly excited to create the first major studio to provide Black creators with ownership, creative freedom and the unparalleled partnership and support of BET. I am thrilled to have Aisha at the helm of this venture, and I look forward to our collaboration with our amazing creative partners in BET Studios.”
“BET Studios is an exciting and novel extension of the storied BET brand, and we have a structure well-suited to our times to bring top talent into this production company with real ownership,” said David Nevins, Chief Content Officer, Scripted Originals, Paramount+ & Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Showtime Networks Inc. “Scott Mills deserves tremendous credit for driving this innovative new business from idea to reality – and Kenya, Rashida and Aaron, could not be a more talented or in-demand group to lead this venture along with Aisha Summers.”
“The investment being made by Scott, David Nevins, Bob Bakish and the ViacomCBS team into BET Studios is not only an investment in Black storytelling, it is also an investment in the culture,” said Barris. “And while individual success is great, being able to amplify and champion underrepresented storytellers has been equally exciting and this venture allows that to continue to be a key focus in this next chapter of my career.”
“There is such power in the creative talent that the principal partners bring to the table and BET Studios’ unique ability to tell Black stories at scale,” said Jones. “This joining of forces is super exciting for me in the multitude of ways that people of color see themselves represented on screen.”
“As a new venture, BET Studios offers an opportunity to expand the brand’s legacy of delivering Black stories,” said Thomas. “This is a chance to bring nuanced, layered narratives to life, partnering with a forward-thinking team, interested in surprising and engaging the audience.”
BET Studios will be headed by Aisha Summers Burke, who was recently appointed Executive Vice-President and General Manager of the new venture. In this role, Burke will be responsible for working collaboratively with the Studio’s formidable creative partners and key internal constituencies. Along with overseeing the day-to-day creative affairs for the company, she will also be responsible for the BET Studios content slate and focusing on growing the Studio’s production output across both internal and external platforms. Burke will report to BET President Scott Mills.
“BET has long been celebrated for excellence in producing quality programming that authentically depicts experiences lived within the Black community,” said Summers Burke.
“With the launch of BET Studios, we are excited to introduce a new model that opens the aperture to a broad array of platforms and supports the full range of content from Black creators.’ This entrepreneurial environment offers creatives the opportunity to produce diverse high-end content reflecting all aspects of entertainment.”
Prior to joining BET, Burke spent thirteen years at Warner Bros. Television, most recently serving as Vice-President of scripted television for the cable and streaming division of Warner Horizon before it merged with Warner Bros. TV in 2020.
For his tireless work for the citizens of Georgia and all Americans, Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock has been selected to receive the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) 2021 National Leadership Award, saluting excellence and innovative leadership in Black America.
The NNPA is a trade association of the more than 200 African American-owned community newspapers from around the United States.
“Thank you to the Black Press of America and the National Newspaper Publishers Association for this gracious award,” said Sen. Rev. Warnock.
“To my brother, Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr., Chair Karen Carter Richards, National Correspondent Stacy Brown, and the countless others who do the important work to keep our communities informed, engaged, and motivated through these unprecedented times.
“This award is not about me, but the millions of Black Americans in Georgia and across the country who continuously display their courage, perseverance, and fortitude as we navigate increasingly challenging times in our communities and throughout our world. Know that I will continue to do my part in the United States Senate to uplift Georgia voices in the continual march toward what Dr. King called the beloved community.”
Congresswoman Cori Bush (MO-01), has introduced legislation to improve and expand access to emergency rental assistance by allowing individuals to apply for funds at public schools, libraries, transit systems, housing authorities, the United States Postal Service, and other public entities. The Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) Improvement Act of 2021 would direct the Department of Treasury to provide guidance and funding to the state and local agencies responsible for distributing funds so they may set up these access points. Earlier this year, the Congresswoman helped secure $21.6 billion in emergency rental assistance funding through the American Rescue Plan — bringing the total ERAP funds to $46.5 billion. So far, only 11 percent of funds or $5.1 billion, has been distributed to those facing eviction.
“It is our duty as lawmakers to ensure the 11 million households currently at risk of eviction can safely remain in their homes for the duration of this deadly global pandemic,” said Congresswoman Cori Bush. “The Supreme Court’s failure to protect these individuals and families has only increased the urgency with which Congress must act to get emergency rental assistance to those who need it most. The Emergency Rental Assistance Program Improvement Act will help make these funds more accessible by allowing individuals and families to apply for assistance at places that are central to their communities — schools, libraries, the post office, among others. As someone who has been evicted and unhoused, I know the trauma these families are facing. This crisis demands compassionate solutions and I urge my colleagues to consider the humanity of our neighbors who could soon find themselves without a home unless drastic action is taken.”
The ERAP Improvement Act of 2021 will:
As someone who was previously unhoused, Congresswoman Bush has fought tirelessly to keep people in their homes for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic:
For full text of the bill, click here.
For a one pager on the bill, click here.
