Talladega College marching band will perform at Trump inauguration

The Talladega Marching Tornadoes will participate in the 58th Presidential Inaugural Parade, Talladega College President Billy Hawkins announced Thursday. The decision follows several days of controversy after the historically black college initially accepted an invitation to perform, with critics saying the move amounts to support for President-elect Donald Trump -- who made some comments during the presidential campaign that were widely viewed as disparaging to people of color and immigrants.[SOURCE: CNN]

Read the letter Deval Patrick wrote opposing Trump attorney general nominee Jeff Sessions

In a letter Tuesday to the Senate Judiciary Committee, former Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick recalled a 1985 voting rights case in which he defended three Alabama residents against what he called “an act of extraordinary quasi-judicial activisim” by Sessions, then the U.S. attorney for the state’s southern district. Patrick’s team won the case, but, in his letter Tuesday, Patrick called it “a cautionary tale.” [SOURCE]

Read that letter below:

Deval L Patrick Letter Re Sessions AG Nom 1-3-17 by George L. Cook III on Scribd

There is no defense for the 4 black teens that tortured a disabled white man in Chicago

By George L. Cook III African American Reports.

What happened in Chicago to a mentally disabled white man at the hands of 4 black teens was reprehensible. At the same time this attack is not a political or ideological football to be kicked around to attack Black Lives Matter or black liberals in general. Listen to more of my thoughts on this below.

California Democrats hire Eric Holder to battle Trump in court

Democratic leaders of the California state legislature have hired Eric Holder, the former attorney general during the Obama administration, to serve as outside legal counsel as they prepare for a series of court battles with President-elect Donald Trump's White House.

In a statement released Wednesday, California Senate President Kevin de Leon and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon -- both Democrats -- announced they had "hired outside legal counsel to advise on potential legal challenges with the incoming Trump administration."

"With the upcoming change in administrations, we expect that there will be extraordinary challenges for California in the uncertain times ahead," the state leaders said. They vowed to protect "California's economy and our sensible policies on climate change, health care, civil rights, and immigration."

To accomplish that goal, the legislature said it retained the Covington & Burling law firm, led by Holder.

Read more: California Dems tap Eric Holder to fight Trump in court

Talladega College: We’ve not Committed to Trump Inauguration

Talladega College ignited controversy on Friday afternoon when its marching band was included on a list of 40 organizations purportedly slated to perform in President-elect’s Donald Trump’s Inaugural Parade on January 20. The list was released by Trump’s Presidential Inaugural Committee (PIC).

As of early Tuesday afternoon, however, Talladega officials said there has not been an official decision from the president’s office on whether Talladega’s Marching Tornadoes will be performing at the inauguration, contradicting the PIC’s assertions.

“From Trump’s inaugural committee, via their press release, we are listed as one of the schools in attendance, but the official word that I’m receiving from the president is that a decision has not been made as to whether we would attend or not,” a Talladega representative said. An email to the PIC was not returned.

Read more: Talladega College: We’ve not Committed to Trump Inauguration