American Bar Association Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary rates Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson “Well Qualified”

The American Bar Association’s Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary has completed its evaluation of the professional qualifications of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, President Biden’s nominee to the United States Supreme Court, and has given her a unanimous rating of “Well Qualified.”

The Standing Committee confines its evaluation to the qualities of integrity, professional competence and judicial temperament. The Honorable Ann Claire Williams (Ret.), chair of the ABA’s Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary, is scheduled to testify about the rating before the Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday, March 24.

The ABA’s letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee on the rating can be read here.

The ABA is the largest voluntary association of lawyers in the world. As the national voice of the legal profession, the ABA works to improve the administration of justice, promotes programs that assist lawyers and judges in their work, accredits law schools, provides continuing legal education, and works to build public understanding around the world of the importance of the rule of law. 

House Passes CROWN Act, Banning Discrimination Against Natural Black Hairstyles

The US House on Friday passed legislation that would ban race-based hair discrimination in employment and against those participating in federally assisted programs, housing programs, and public accommodations.

The Democratic-led House voted 235-189 to pass the CROWN Act, which stands for "Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair." The bill seeks to protect against bias based on hair texture and protective styles, including locs, cornrows, twists, braids, Bantu knots, and Afros.

"Natural Black hair is often deemed 'unprofessional' simply because it does not conform to White beauty standards," Democratic Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman of New Jersey, the bill's sponsor, said in a statement. "Discrimination against Black hair is discrimination against Black people."

The bill now heads to the Senate, where Democratic Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey has sponsored the chamber's version of the bill.

[SOURCE: CNN]

U.S, Consulate in Russia yet to see Brittney Griner

U.S. State Department spokesperson, Ned Price says the U.S. Consulate in Russia has not seen Brittney Griner to check on her since she was arrested in Moscow on Feb. 17 on drug charges.

Biden-⁠Harris Administration Announces Grants for HBCUs that Have Experienced Bomb Threats

Vice President Kamala Harris announced Wednesday new initiatives that will help historically Black colleges and universities that have received anonymous bomb threats in recent months.

Watch that announcement below.

The help will come in the form of grants that could range from $50,000-$150,000 per school to be used to support emergency planning, campus security and mental health services. HBCUs that have recently experienced a bomb threat resulting in a disruption to the campus learning environment will be eligible for grant funds.

These grant funds are from the Project School Emergency Response to Violence (Project SERV) program at the U.S. Dept. of Education.

In addition to the short-term funds provided through Project SERV, the Biden-Harris Administration is providing HBCUs a compendium of resources that are available across the federal government – from ED, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Homeland Security, and Department of Justice – to help with long-term improvements to campus mental health programs, campus safety, and emergency management planning and response. The resource guide offers a centralized source of information on grant programs and technical assistance activities across federal agencies.

Brittney Griner detention in Russia extended to May 19

Russian media reported that the detention of WNBA star Brittney Griner was extended until May 19, a development that could see the two-time Olympic champion being held for at least three months before her case is resolved.

Griner was detained at a Moscow airport, reportedly in mid-February, after Russian authorities said a search of her luggage revealed vape cartridges allegedly containing oil derived from cannabis, which could carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

“The court granted the request of the investigation and extended the period of detention of the U.S. citizen Griner until May 19,” the court said, according to the state news agency Tass.

Ekaterina Kalugina, a member of Public Monitoring Commission, told TASS that Griner is sharing a cell with two inmates who "had no previous convictions and are charged with drug-related articles.">/p>

“The only objective problem has turned out to be the basketball player’s height,” Tass quoted Kalugina as saying of the 6-foot-9 Griner. “The beds in the cell are clearly intended for a person of lesser height.”

9/11 Museum Now Has Photos of Every Victim Who Died in Attack — Except One

For decades, the 9/11 Memorial and Museum has been tracking down photos of every person who died in the attacks, and had a photo for all but two of the victims.

Until now, that is, with the next-to-last photo added to the museum's "In Memoriam" exhibit on Tuesday. More than 2,900 images hang in the special gallery, haunting reminders of the human cost of that terrible day. Now Albert Ogletree is part of the display.

Rep. Pressley & Rep. Jones Demand Biden Administration End Title 42, Cease Deportations to Haiti

Today, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) and Congressman Mondaire Jones (NY-17) sent a letter calling on Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Rochelle Walensky to fully end Title 42, cease deportations of people to Haiti and affirm their legal and fundamental human right to seek asylum.

Their letter follows the Biden Administration’s recent suspension of deportation flights to Ukraine in recognition of the humanitarian crisis there and as the Administration hits a grim milestone of expelling over 20,000 Haitians– two-thirds of whom were forcibly removed under the Title 42 policy – despite the danger, instability and political violence on the island.

Read their letter below:

2022-03-15 Pressley Jones H... by George L. Cook III

Shalanda Young becomes first Black woman to lead White House budget office

Shalanda Young on Tuesday became the first Black woman to lead the White House budget office after the Senate confirmed her to the Cabinet-level position with bipartisan support. The vote was 61-36.

Young has served as acting director of the Office of Management and Budget for the past year. She was confirmed last March by the Senate to serve as the deputy director and ascended to the top role after Neera Tanden's nomination was withdrawn because Tanden didn't have enough support in the Senate. Nearly nine months after Tanden's nomination was withdrawn, Biden officially nominated Young as director.

Young was the first Black woman to serve as the staff director of the House Appropriations Committee and won bipartisan praise for her work in that role. She worked on the committee for more than 14 years and took over as staff director in 2017.

The key office, which oversees all budget development and execution and has significant influence over the President's agenda, has been without a Senate-confirmed leader since the President took office last January. It was the last Cabinet-level position that remained unfilled.

International Association of Chiefs of Police endorses Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson for the Supreme Court

In a letter sent to the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday, the International Association of Chiefs of Police urged senators to confirm U.S. Circuit Court Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court.

“Judge Jackson has several family members in law enforcement, and we believe this has given her a deep understanding of, and appreciation for, the challenges and complexities confronting the policing profession,” Chief Dwight E. Henninger, IACP president, wrote in the letter.

The endorsement comes a week before Jackson’s hearings are set to begin in the committee.

The IACP is the largest professional association for police leaders and includes 31,000 members in more than 165 countries. Jackson has also been endorsed by the Fraternal Order of Police, dozens of police chiefs and sheriffs, and 83 Republican and Democratic former attorneys general.

Radio Active: A Memoir of Advocacy in Action, on the Air and in the Streets by Joe "The Black Eagle" Madison

Radio legend, Joe "The Black Eagle" Madison has released a new memoir written by himself and Dave Canton titled Radio Active: A Memoir of Advocacy in Action, on the Air and in the Streets.

Radio Active tells the story of Joe Madison's decades of activism, from his childhood in a segregated neighborhood in Dayton, Ohio, to interviewing Barack Obama in the Oval Office. It’s a delightful tale, a call to action and an eye-opening commentary on the racial divide that persists in America today.

BUY THE BOOK

Dr. La Jerne Terry Cornish Named 10th President of Ithaca College

The Ithaca College Board of Trustees has voted unanimously to name Dr. La Jerne Terry Cornish as the 10th president of Ithaca College. Cornish, who had been serving as interim president since August 30, 2021, begins her new status as president immediately.

In an announcement to the campus community, Ithaca College Board of Trustees Chair David H. Lissy ’87 said that Cornish has the character, the fortitude, and the passion to lead the institution at this important, transformational moment.

“Her appointment ensures a seamless transition and unimpeded progress in advancing the college’s vision, mission, and values,” said Lissy. “Building on the foundation and the momentum of the Ithaca Forever strategic plan, Dr. Cornish represents a new era of leadership for the college. She has a thorough grasp of the challenges before us and is ready to work collaboratively with the members of the IC community on campus and around the world to ensure that we lean into the significant opportunities that we have to secure a bright future for Ithaca College. The board has the utmost confidence in her ability to unite the college community and in her desire to lead in the pursuit of excellence.”

Cornish was named interim president following the departure last summer of Shirley M. Collado. She joined Ithaca College as provost and senior vice president for academic affairs in July of 2018 and was later named provost and executive vice president.

“I feel honored and blessed to have been chosen as the 10th president of Ithaca College, and I wish to thank the Board of Trustees, the Presidential Search Committee, and our Ithaca College community for your trust in my leadership,” Cornish said. “This is a time of challenge but also of opportunity for the college. Together—with our commitment to the IC student experience firmly centered as our guide—we will move our college ever forward as we work to realize our vision to become a global destination for bold thinkers seeking to build thriving communities.”

Lissy thanked the Presidential Search Committee for its diligence in conducting a thorough and comprehensive five-month national search. The committee membership included the elected leaders of the college’s Faculty, Staff, and Student Governance Councils and Alumni Association Board of Directors, as well as two additional faculty members and eight trustees. Ten of the committee’s 15 members are alumni of Ithaca College.

“Their collective work produced a deep and diverse pool of viable candidates,” said Lissy. “Through this highly competitive process, performed with the utmost attention to the current and future needs of the campus, the search committee unanimously recommended to the board that Dr. Cornish be named IC’s next president.”

Board of Trustees member and search committee chair David Fleisher ’91 said that, in the final analysis, Cornish rose to the top of the list.

“Her professional experience, leadership skills, personal qualities, and demonstrated track record of persevering through difficult times elevated her above the other very accomplished candidates,” said Fleisher.

Cornish holds a doctorate in language, literacy, and culture from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County; a master of education degree with a concentration in urban and diverse learners from Goucher College; and a bachelor’s degree in English, also from Goucher.

Prior to joining Ithaca College, Cornish taught at Goucher and served from 2014-18 as associate provost for undergraduate studies. She was Goucher’s first African American alumna to be awarded tenure and the first African American to serve as both chair of the faculty and associate provost for undergraduate studies. For those achievements, among others, she was honored with the Goucher Distinguished Alumnae/i Award in 2016.

Cornish had previously held various teaching and administrative positions for 15 years in the Baltimore City Public School System, piloting the Maryland’s Tomorrow Middle School Program.

She has been a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, the first intercollegiate historically African American sorority, since 1984.

WWE superstar Big E gives hopeful update on the status of his broken neck

WWE superstar Big E broke his neck during Friday night’s episode of “Smackdown” in Birmingham, Alabama.

Big E, whose real name is Ettore Ewen, has been positive throughout his ordeal and shared some great news on the extent of his injury.

pic.twitter.com/CuNU7xwD6a

— Ettore “Big E” Ewen (@WWEBigE) March 12, 2022

Norfolk State wins MEAC Tournament and earns automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament

Conference player of the year, Joe Bryant Jr. scored 23 points and top-seeded Norfolk State used 9-4 run to finish off Coppin State 72-57 on Saturday to win the Mid-East Athletic Conference tournament championship and an automatic bid in the NCAA Tournament.

Bryant was 5 of 9 from beyond the 3 point arc and Norfolk State (23-6) was 11 of 23 from long range.

Head coach Robert Jones has now lead the Spartans to two consecutive NCAA Tournaments and an NCAA Tournament First Four win over Appalachian State in 2021.

The conference champions went 12-2 to claim the top tournament seed, and have won at least a share of the regular season title in three of the last four seasons.

NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE: DRASTIC 2020 UNDERCOUNT OF BLACK AMERICANS DEMANDS URGENT REFORM TO CENSUS OPERATIONS

National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial

 National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial today called the 2020 Census undercount of Black, Latino, and American Indian residents “outrageous” and urged the Census Bureau to address the crisis with all due urgency.

“These numbers are devastating.” Morial said of the 3.3% undercount of the Black population. “Compounded by yet another overcount of the white population, this will have devastating consequences for communities of color.”

Not only was the 2020 Black undercount alarmingly worse than the 2010 undercount of 2%, Morial said, the percent of the Black population omitted in 2020 -- that is, completely missed -- grew from 9.3% in 2010 (4 million) to 10.2% of the Black population omitted or missed.  

“The Census Bureau must rethink and explore more accurate measures of the undercount and develop new data collection methodologies and operations for diverse populations,” Morial said.  “Racial inequities are baked into the history of the Census process and the institution of the Census Bureau as an agency.  To uphold the Constitutional promise and protection of equal representation for all,  the Census Bureau must immediately take steps to rethink and detoxify its operations relative to racial inequities, and Congress must fund research into new operations and sources of data starting next year.  

The National Urban League shared its concerns about Census operations earlier this month with Census Bureau Director Robert Santos, the Congressional Black Caucus and President Biden. Morial said he would reiterate the warnings considering the data released today.

“More granular data reflecting 2020 Census undercount measurement and coverage are needed beyond today’s report and upcoming state level data planned for release this summer,” Morial said. “Local and state leaders need more detailed information to understand where the gaps are and how to re-allocate federal funding to where the needs exist.”  

• Among the National Urban League’s recommendations are:
  Broadened opportunities for cities, counties, tribes to challenge their census counts using additional data sets at the local level, such as school enrollment numbers, along with technical assistance to help localities through the challenge process.
• An end to the use of overcounted non-Hispanic Whites to determine the undercount for Black and other populations of color, which obscures the actual number of historically undercounted populations omitted in the Census. 
• More "equity-based" research and design of census surveys that address the essential causes of the differential undercount, while using applications and scientific techniques that are sensitive to the methodological needs of an increasingly diverse society.
• Congressional Hearings on the 2020 Census to identify the magnitude of operational and methodological shortcomings regarding populations of color.

Morial added, “The Census Bureau must prioritize President Biden's executive order on racial inclusion to correct the enduring legacy of employment discrimination and underrepesentation in the federal workforce--not only in senior level positions for African Americans, but in mission critical positions responsible for census research and design.”

 

SYMONE D. SANDERS’ SHOW WILL AIR ON MSNBC AND PEACOCK

March 11, 2022 – Today at SXSW, MSNBC President Rashida Jones and Symone D. Sanders announced the premiere of “Symone” on Saturday, May 7 at 4pm ET on MSNBC. 

Hosted by Symone D. Sanders, the namesake show will air live Saturdays and Sundays on MSNBC at 4pm ET and stream Mondays and Tuesdays on the MSNBC hub on Peacock.

“I’m all about reaching the ‘nonpolitical group chats.’ They exist. I have lots of friends that the only thing they know about politics is what I put on my Instagram every day,” Sanders said during the panel on the audience of her upcoming show. “When the news reaches those folks – the nonpolitical group chats – that’s when we’ve broken through.”

In addition, Sanders announced that veteran news leader Catherine Snyder will serve as executive producer of the program. Based in Washington, D.C., Snyder is currently the Managing Editor of NBC Owned & Operated Station NBC 4/WRC-TV. Snyder’s career spans both local and cable news and her work has been recognized with five Emmy Awards. 

“I am beyond thrilled to be joining Symone Sanders and MSNBC as we prepare to launch this new show. Symone’s knowledge, insight, experience and, above all, authenticity will offer viewers a fresh perspective not just on politics but on the cultural issues affecting all of us at a pivotal time in our history,” said Snyder. “For me personally, it’s an opportunity to go home again to MSNBC and work with an amazing team on both the cable channel and on Peacock.”

“Symone” will span cable and streaming and will leverage Sanders’ political expertise and Snyder’s trusted news leadership to bring audiences an inside look at Washington politics as Americans begin to look ahead for the 2022 midterm elections. Sanders, an Omaha native, will bring her unique perspectives and real life experience to MSNBC elevating voices from the beltway to the Midwest. 

“Symone” will explore issues at the intersection of politics, culture and race and feature interviews with the nation’s top government officials, scholars, and thought leaders.

The news was shared during SXSW’s Featured Session: “The Future of News is NOW” where Sanders was joined onstage by MSNBC President Rashida Jones, NBC News President Noah Oppenheim, NBC News NOW Anchor Hallie Jackson, and TODAY All Day Host Al Roker as the group discussed how NBCU News Group’s three distinct streaming networks have found early success connecting with viewers in the rapidly growing digital space, while continuing to provide compelling content for traditional television services. 

Sanders’ announcement comes as MSNBC continues to bolster its multi-channel platforms with new original programming both on cable and streaming. Sanders’ show will be featured alongside exclusive streaming programs hosted by Zerlina Maxwell, Mehdi Hasan, Ayman Mohyeldin and soon Katie Phang, on Peacock. On MSNBC weekends, Sanders joins and expanding lineup of live breaking news and analysis including perspective hosts Ali Velshi, Tiffany Cross, Rev. Al Sharpton, Alicia Menendez, Ayman Mohyeldin and Jonathan Capehart.

New superseding indictment filed against Marilyn Mosby

A new superseding indictment was filed Thursday against Baltimore City State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby.

The charges are the same; however, prosecutors added new evidence to the charge regarding mortgage fraud that prosecutors say strengthens their case against Mosby.

VP Kamala Harris: 'Any intentional attack or targeting of civilians is a war crime'

Vice President Harris on Friday said that intentional attacks against civilians are considered a war crime during a trip to Romania amid Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine.

Black women rally at the Supreme Court for Ketanji Brown Jackson

Women from the Black Women's Roundtable converged on Capitol Hill to urge lawmakers to support Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson and voting rights legislation that has stalled in the Senate.

U.S. ambassador to the United Nations: Russia has committed war crimes

Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations said in an interview with James Menendez of BBC Newshour on Thursday that Russia has committed "war crimes" and that civilian attacks "cannot be justified."

Linda Thomas-Greenfield: You know, this is the question that we’re being asked every day, and we’re working with others in the international community to document the crimes that Russia is committing against the Ukrainian people. They constitute war crimes; there are attacks on civilians that cannot be justified by any – in any way whatsoever. I still see images of a women being rolled out of a hospital, pregnant, bleeding, people screaming, children crying. It is just unconscionable. And we call on Russia to change course. They have to end this conflict, and they have to stop the fighting, and they have to return to diplomacy. And we have made clear our strong support for Ukrainians’ call for this to stop.

20,000 pieces of African American history to go up for auction

For the past 60 years, Elizabeth Meaders has been assembling artifacts that document the entirety of the African American experience. Meaders' "African American History Trust Collection" features over 20,000 individual items. The collection is set to go up for auction in March and is expected to go for millions.

The auction will be held online at liveauctioneers.com and invaluable.com/ and conducted with Guernsey’s directly via the telephone at 212-794-2280 or written bids.