LeBron James sternly conveys his feelings about the fear that is lingering in the Black community and tells the media why he has nothing nice to say about the police who shot Jacob Blake.
Tuesday, August 25, 2020
Biden says he regrets 'you ain't Black' comment
During his first sit-down interview since officially becoming the Democratic presidential nominee, Joe Biden addressed a controversial comment he made in the spring regarding the Black community.
The former vice president came under fire in May when he told “Breakfast Club” radio host Charlamagne tha God that African American voters aren’t Black if they support President Donald Trump over him in November.
Sunday, ABC’s Robin Roberts asked Biden and his running mate, Kamala Harris, about the comments made in May.
“I shouldn’t have said that,” Biden said. “But I was trying to make the point that this is a man who spent his entire career denigrating African Americans.”
Biden went on to argue that he would be a much better ally to the Black community than Trump.
“The truth is there’s a fundamental difference between Donald Trump and me on the issue of race across the board,” Biden said. “I’m not going to try and divide people. It’s all about bringing people together.”
Biden has relied heavily on the African American vote to secure his party’s nomination, which he officially accepted during last week’s virtual convention.
“I wouldn't be here without the African American community,” Biden added when speaking about his support within the Black community in his home state of Delaware.
Monday, August 24, 2020
Former RNC chair Michael Steele joins anti-Trump group, The Lincoln Project
WASHINGTON, DC US, August 24, 2020 - Today, The Lincoln Project announced, former RNC Chairman Michael Steele has joined its ranks as a Senior Advisor.
“The chair behind the Resolute Desk has always been bigger than any political party,” said Steele. “Sadly, we have witnessed its occupant devolve into preying upon fears and resentments with narcissism that nurtures only chaos and confusion. Leadership is needed now more than ever and I am proudly committed to resetting the course of our nation, standing once again for the future of my Party; and working with The Lincoln Project to help restore the purpose for sitting in that chair. I believe, like the majority of patriots, the office of the Presidency embodies who we are as Americans,” Steele continued. “It represents the heart of our compassion, the dreams of those who built this country both freed and enslaved, the eyes of those today that see both hope and despair, and the wisdom of each of us to make a meaningful difference.” ‘Michael Steele is a singularly insightful and effective political leader,” said Rick Wilson, co-founder of The Lincoln Project. “Many principled Republicans have rejected Trump and Trumpism, but few with such a remarkable track record of electoral success; Michael is the man largely responsible for engineering the Republican victories of 2010, and ushering the party into the digital age. It is our privilege to have him join The Lincoln Project as a Senior Advisor.”
Lincoln Project co-founder, Mike Madrid stated, “diverse voices are central to The Lincoln Project movement. There is no future for Conservatism if we do not elevate them. Michael Steele has been doing that his entire life and we’re excited to have him doing it with The Lincoln Project.”
Steele made history as the first African-American to be elected to statewide office in Maryland, where he served as Lieutenant Governor from 2003 to 2007, and as the first African-American Chairman of the Republican National Committee (RNC) from 2009 to 2011. During his tenure as RNC Chair, the party experienced enormous electoral success by winning 63 House seats to regain control, six Senate seats, seven governorships and the greatest share of state legislative victories since 1928. Steele has continued his work as a political strategist, a nationally recognized author and media personality.
Police in Wisconsin shoot Black man in back multiple times
A man is fighting for his life after he was shot by an officer with the Kenosha Police Department in Wisconsin Sunday afternoon.
A graphic video purported to be of the shooting and posted on Facebook, shows at least two police officers following the man with guns drawn as he walks from the passenger side of a gray vehicle to the driver's side. When the man opens the door of the vehicle and tries to get in, one of the officers is seen grabbing him by the T-shirt. The officer points his gun at the man as he holds on to the man's T-shirt. At least seven gunshots are heard, and the man appears to go limp in the vehicle, the car horn blaring.
Police said they were called to the address to deal with a domestic disturbance, but it is unclear who called or what happened before the video recording began.
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers identified the victim as Jacob Blake in a statement released shortly after the incident occurred. Evers said Blake was critically injured when he was shot multiple times.
"Tonight, Jacob Blake was shot in the back multiple times, in broad daylight, in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Kathy and I join his family, friends, and neighbors in hoping earnestly that he will not succumb to his injuries. While we do not have all of the details yet, what we know for certain is that he is not the first Black man or person to have been shot or injured or mercilessly killed at the hands of individuals in law enforcement in our state or our country," Evers said in his statement.
Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/24/us/kenosha-police-shooting-jacob-blake/index.html
Sunday, August 23, 2020
Michigan to pay $600M in Flint water crisis settlement
Flint residents — especially younger ones — would be eligible for payments from a victim compensation fund under a $600 million preliminary settlement announced Thursday of civil lawsuits arising from the contamination of their drinking water with toxic lead.
Under the proposed settlement, which would involve $600 million in payments from the state:
- Flint residents would be eligible for hundreds of millions of dollars in payments from a court-monitored victim compensation fund, with nearly 80% of payments going to those who were under 18 at the time of the crisis, which began in April 2014. Children are particularly vulnerable to the toxic effects of lead, which can impact brain development.
- Attorney fees and costs would be deducted from the $600 million, leaving a lesser amount for distribution. Attorneys expect to be fairly compensated, but it is too soon to say what those fees and costs will be, Pitt said. Attorney contingency fees vary, depending on the case, but it is not unusual for them to amount to one-third of a settlement amount.
- Parties to the settlement would include "multiple governmental defendants," including the state of Michigan, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, and all individual state defendants, including former Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder, who left office at the end of 2018.
- The state would create a dedicated $12-million fund to provide special education and other services for students who suffer long-term health and behavioral impacts from lead poisoning.
- Litigation would continue against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and private firms that were involved in the tragic switch of Flint's drinking water source from Lake Huron to the Flint River. Those firms include environmental consultant Veolia North America, which advised the city of Flint on water quality issues, and engineering firm Lockwood, Andrews & Newman, involved in preparing the Flint Water Treatment Plant to treat water from the Flint River.
- About 65% of the money would go to Flint residents who were 6 and under when first exposed to lead in Flint water, with 10% going to those who were between the ages of 7 and 11 and 5% to those who were 12 to 17. About 15% would go to adults, 3% for property damage, and 0.5% to cover business losses.
- About $35 million would be placed in trust for "forgotten children" who do not file claims within the required time frame, so they are able to file claims once they become adults.
- Flint residents and businesses who wish to make claims for personal injuries should go to www.flintwaterjustice.com or call 866-536-0717, according to attorneys involved in the case.
To learn more about the settlement click here: https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/flint-water-crisis/2020/08/20/flint-water-crisis-lawsuit-settlement/5614724002/
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