Rep. Payne Jr’s statement on shootings in Jersey City

Washington, D.C. — Congressman Donald M. Payne, Jr. issued the following statement regarding the gun violence on December 11, 2019, in Jersey City, NJ.

“My condolences and prayers go out to the families and friends of the victims of the horrific mass shooting in Jersey City yesterday. But I want to thank and commend the brave men and women of the Jersey City Police Department and all the law enforcement agencies who came together to protect the city from further violence.

This is a very personal tragedy for me. Not only are these my constituents, but our Jersey City office is located on the same block where this violence occurred. It is difficult to express my anger and upset when I hear about another senseless tragedy. In the House, we have passed bills to keep guns out of the hands of hateful people, such as the two murderers who targeted the owners and customers of the Jewish delicatessen in Jersey City. House-passed bills have been sent to the Senate, but Republicans have refused to even consider them.

There have been almost 400 mass shootings and 31 mass murders this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive. It’s disgraceful that the inaction of President Trump and his Senate allies continues to allow attacks on American citizens.

That won’t stop me from working to keep Americans safe from gun violence. I will continue to encourage my House colleagues to support my Safer Neighborhoods Gun Buyback Act (H.R. 1279) to help me get guns off the streets. We have to stop this senseless violence and put an end to these preventable deaths.”

Sen. Cory Booker statement on Jersey City shootings

U.S. Senator Cory A. Booker (D-NJ) released the following statement on the killings in Jersey City in which six people died, inclusive Jersey City Police Officer:

“Once again, our nation is faced with scenes of carnage, fear, hopelessness, and loss. There should be no place in America where residents are gunned down while shopping for groceries, officers are slain while protecting our communities, and children are sheltering in place at school. These tragedies cannot become our new normal.

“I am thankful to the Jersey City Police Department, first responders and law enforcement officers from across New Jersey and neighboring areas that bravely ran toward danger to steer their neighbors to safety. My prayers and deepest sympathies are with the victims of today’s horrific and senseless tragedy in Jersey City. Our focus now should be continuing the investigation, honoring the sacrifice of Detective Seals and our other fallen New Jerseyans, praying for the full recovery of the injured officers, and doing everything we can to protect our communities from gun violence.”

2019 Winners The African-American Film Critics Association Awards

The African-American Film Critics Association (AAFCA), the world's largest group of black film critics, announced their film award winners on Tuesday, December 10, 2019.

Jordan Peele's 'US' and the Eddie Murphy film 'Dolemite is My name' were honored with multiple awards while several other notable black actors and movies won awards.

The AAFCA Awards takes place on Wednesday, January 22, 2019, at the Taglyan Complex.

The AAFCA Awards celebrates achievements in film and television as selected by members of our organization. Going into its 8th year, the annual star-studded event attracts some of the biggest names in Hollywood as it recognizes the best performances of the year. In keeping with AAFCA's mission to support and promote the achievement of minorities in the arts and entertainment industry, several special achievement awards are given for extraordinary distinction in lifetime achievement, exceptional contributions to the film and television community.

Full list of winners of AAFCA 2019 awards

Best Film: Us (Universal)

Best Director: Jordan Peele (Us, Universal)

Best Actor: Eddie Murphy (Dolemite Is My Name, Netflix)

Best Actress: Lupita Nyong’o (Us, Universal)

Best Supporting Actor: Jamie Foxx (Just Mercy, Warner Bros.)

Best Supporting Actress: Da'Vine Joy Randolph (Dolemite Is My Name, Netflix)

Best Breakout Performance: Kelvin Harrison, Jr. (Waves, A24)

Best Animated Film: Abominable (Universal)

Best Documentary: The Black Godfather (Netflix)

Best Foreign Film: Parasite (Neon)

Best Independent Film: The Last Black Man in San Francisco (A24)

Best Screenplay Presented with The Black List: Bong Joon-ho, Parasite (Neon)

Impact Award: Queen & Slim (Universal)

We See You Award: Taylor Russell (Waves, A24)

Cynthia Erivo nominated twice for the movie ‘Harriet’

Cynthia Erivo received two Golden Globe nominations for her work in ‘Harriet’. She was nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama & Best Original Song “Stand Up,”

Erivo had the following response when told of her nominations:

“Bringing Harriet Tubman to life for the first time on the big screen has meant the world to me, and to do so with an incredibly talented and diverse group of filmmakers has been an absolute honor. To be nominated for both my performance and the song I had the privilege to co-write for the film is a testament to Harriet’s enduring legacy and a celebration of her incredible story, which is long overdue. I am grateful to the HFPA for this recognition and feel truly blessed and humbled to be included on a list of such incredible artists. To say that this is overwhelming and a dream come true is putting it lightly. I’m excited to attend my first Golden Globe awards, and to share the night with friends and people I love is icing on the cake. This is beyond my wildest dreams.”

Sulwe a children's book by by Lupita Nyong'o

From Academy Award–winning actress Lupita Nyong’o comes a powerful, moving picture book about colorism, self-esteem, and learning that true beauty comes from within.

Sulwe has skin the color of midnight. She is darker than everyone in her family. She is darker than anyone in her school. Sulwe just wants to be beautiful and bright, like her mother and sister. Then a magical journey in the night sky opens her eyes and changes everything.

In this stunning debut picture book, actress Lupita Nyong’o creates a whimsical and heartwarming story to inspire children to see their own unique beauty.

------

Check out the book on amazon

Hardcover-------Kindle Edition