First African American appointed to New Mexico Court of Appeals

New Mexico has made history. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has appointed Shammara Henderson as the states first African American judge to the Court of Appeals.

"I've always wanted to be a judge," said newly appointed New Mexico Court of Appeals Judge Shammara Henderson.

The 37-year-old has packed a lot of experience into a short amount of time. She is a former state and federal prosecutor, assistant district attorney in Albuquerque, an assistant U.S. attorney and owns her own private practice.

"I have that experience that would bring value to the bench in multiple different ways and I think it's important for people to be able to see that," Henderson said.

"I think having a diverse bench is very important in interpreting the law to ensure that it is being applied appropriately," Henderson said.

It's diversity that she and many others hope will not take another 100 years to continue.

"Black lawyers, black law students, women lawyers, women law students and anybody really, if they put their mind out there and say that they can accomplish these things, they can do it," Henderson said.

Henderson said in the next 10 years she hopes to still be a judge in this very position. She plans to start her new job in March, but to remain on the court, she must be elected in the next general election.

[SOURCE: KOAT]

NEWARK MAYOR BARAKA DEFENDS SANCTUARY CITIES

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka released the following statement defending the city’s sanctuary policies for undocumented immigrants, one day after the Trump administration announced federal agents who patrol the U.S. border will be deployed to cities across the country where local jurisdictions are hindering stepped up immigration enforcement.

Statement by Mayor Ras J. Baraka:

“Nearly three years ago, I signed a 10-page executive order to protect undocumented people from aggressive government intervention in their lives.

“I knew then that the fight to protect these people’s basic human rights was not over. Now, U.S. Attorney General William Barr has promised a ‘significant escalation’ in the Trump Administration’s crack down on sanctuary cities.

“The language used by the Attorney General is divisive. It provokes fear and incites hatred, the very two destructive emotions we want to negate in our approach to ‘A Fair and Welcoming City,” the name of my executive order.

“In announcing the lawsuit against New Jersey, Attorney General Barr accused us of ‘jeopardizing the public’s safety by putting the interest of criminal aliens before those of law-abiding citizens.’

“This is simply not true. There is absolutely no sanctuary in this city for dangerous criminals, for that would be a betrayal of my personal values and the promise I made to all residents to keep Newark a safer city by building trust in our police.

“We vigorously prosecute those undocumented people arrested for a multitude of violent, assaultive and exploitive crimes, including domestic violence, and notify federal immigration officials.

“When Attorney General Barr says sanctuary is ‘misguided ideology triumphing over common sense law enforcement,’ he undermines the common decency aspects of our policy.

“First, in terms of law enforcement, our policy protects undocumented victims. This population is prey for criminals and we want them to feel safe and comfortable in the care of our police. Our efforts to have good community relations and build trust with all our residents, must include the undocumented population, otherwise it is incomplete.

“The Trump Administration plan to bolster ICE enforcement forces with tactical units will undermine our efforts to build community trust. It will recall painful images of the last time federal troops patrolled our town.

“Equally, every other aspect of our policy gives undocumented people the dignity of recognition. We give them ID cards so they can work, open bank accounts, obtain building permits or start businesses and build their community, all hallmarks of the immigrant American Dream.

“We offer them City services to ensure their health and welfare, or that their homes are up to code. The executive order protects them from any City government or police discrimination or profiling.

“We have pulled together a conglomerate of government officials, public and charter school educators, clergy, and business and university leaders to embrace the undocumented population and integrate them in our community.

“This is nothing new for Newark. Being ‘A Fair and Welcoming City’ is an intrinsic part of our history, from the earliest German and Irish immigrants, to the Italians and Jewish people, and the largest group of all, the African-American migrants from the South.

“A ‘Fair and Welcoming City’ is what we are and have always been. And we will fight to keep it that way.”

First Black owned bank: Capital Savings Bank

The first bank organized and operated by African Americans was Capital Savings Bank in Washington, D.C. which opened in 1888. Just four years after it opened, its deposits had grown to over $300,000.

Capital Savings Bank provided the capital essential to the growth of black businesses, capital that white-owned banks were unwilling to lend. The community proudly deposited its money in Capital Savings Bank. The public's confidence in Capital was rock solid in the early days, enabling the bank to exert a strong, positive economic impact on the community it served. During the Panic of 1893, the bank rode out the tide and was able to honor every obligation on demand. Capital Savings Bank helped many African-American businesses and property owners until it closed in 1902.

*NOTE: Although the Capital Savings Bank was the first black-owned bank to open in the United States, The Savings Bank of the Grand Fountain United Order of True Reformers was the first bank to be chartered in the United States. That bank opened in 1889.

Stacey Abrams on being VP pick: Of course I want it

During an appearance on ABC's The View Georgia Democrat Stacey Abrams said that "of course" she would be honored to be the vice presidential pick of whoever secures the 2020 nomination. She also stated that she plans to run for president in the next two decades. Watch the entire segment below:

California school renamed Michelle Obama Elementary

The Woodrow Wilson Elementary School in Northern California will close for extensive renovations and open next year as Michelle Obama Elementary.

“We have the opportunity to have a beautiful new school named after a person who really represents our diversity and values," Claudia Velez, the school's principal, told CNN on Thursday.

The proposal was approved in a unanimous vote by the West Contra Costa Unified School District Board.

Officials at the California elementary school to be named after Obama said the first African American first lady has been a role model for students.

"Our school is diverse, modern and innovative, and the things that the kids will be doing will prepare them for a very strong and successful future in whatever career they choose," Velez said.

This isn’t the first school to be named after the former first lady. There’s already a Michelle Obama Elementary School in Panorama City, Calif., as well as a Michelle Obama School of Technology and the Arts in Park Forest, Ill.

[SOURCE: CHANGING AMERICA]