Michael Jordan and Jordan Brand opens up million dollar grants program for Black Americans

As part of its 10-year, $100 million commitment to the Black Community to fight systemic racism through a focus on social justice, education and awareness and economic justice, Michael Jordan and Jordan Brand announce the opening of their first cycle of Community Grants, providing $1 million to local, grassroots organizations that are creating more equitable futures for Black Americans.

Facilitated by Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, the first Community Grants Program cycle will open for 30 day beginning March 31, 2021 and will end on April 30, 2021. All completed applications submitted by organizations with a mission or programs that align with one of the focus areas will be reviewed by an advisory committee comprised of members from the Jordan Brand and Michael Jordan Family Office teams. All U.S.-based 501(c)(3) organizations working to improve outcomes for the Black community, with an annual budget of $3 million per year or less, are encouraged to apply.

“Since announcing our commitment to the Black community in June of 2020, we’ve been focused on two things — action and impact,” explains Craig Williams, President of Jordan Brand. “I’m excited about the impact these grants will have in local communities. We know that when we create positive change for the Black community, it benefits everyone.”

The Community Grants Program continues the long-term vision set by Michael Jordan and Jordan Brand beginning in summer of 2020. Last year, donations between $500,000 and $1 million each were given to the commitment’s first national partners: the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF), the Formerly Incarcerated Convicted People & Families Movement (FICPFM) and Black Voters Matter. All share a history of driving transformative change at the national level.

Click here to access the application portal and read instructions on how to complete your submission.

NY Yankees star Aaron Hicks to sit out baseball game due to the shooting of Daunte Wright

Aaron Hicks approached manager Aaron Boone on Monday afternoon, and told him that he didn’t want to play on Monday night in the New York Yankees’ game against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Hicks, who was set to bat sixth in the lineup in Florida, made the decision to sit out in the wake of the fatal police shooting of Daunte Wright in Minnesota on Sunday.

“I would say that Aaron is hurting in a huge way,” Boone said via SNY. “I think in a way felt like it was probably the responsible thing to take himself out and knowing that it was going to be hard for him to be all in mentally in what’s a high stake, difficult job to go out there and perform for the New York Yankees.”

Though the Yankees may miss him Monday night, Boone said he wasn’t bothered by Hicks’ decision.

“I don’t really even give two thoughts to that,” Boone said, via SNY. “My consideration is with Aaron and his well being and making sure as best we can we support him and try to be there as best we can for him right now. This is something in the immediate that’s real emotion that he’s feeling, and right now I’m going to support that.”

NBA postpones Nets-Timberwolves game due to the shooting of Daunte Wright

The NBA released the following statement on the postponement of the Nets-Timberwolves game due to the shooting of Daunte Wright:

The National Basketball Association announced today that in light of the tragic events in the Minneapolis area yesterday, tonight’s game between the Brooklyn Nets and the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center has been postponed. The decision to postpone was made by the NBA after consultation with the Timberwolves organization and local and state officials.

Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of Daunte Wright during this difficult time.

The Timberwolves and the minnesota Lynx also released a statement on the shooting of Daunte Wright:

pic.twitter.com/zJMX8kh9rt

— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) April 12, 2021

Virginia police officer who pepper-sprayed Afro-Latino Army officer fired

Joe Gutierrez, a Windsor, Va., police officer who pepper-sprayed an Afro-Latino Army officer during a traffic stop last year has been fired according to a statement released by the Windsor Police Department.

Read the full statement below:

The Town of Windsor, Virginia, acknowledges the unfortunate events that transpired on December 5, 2020 involving Lt. Caron Nazario and officers of the Windsor Police Department, Joe Gutierrez and Daniel Crocker.

The pursuit and ultimate stop resulted in the use of pepper spray against Lt. Nazario by Officer Gutierrez. As a result of this use of force, Department policy requires an internal investigation to determine the appropriateness of such actions. The investigation of this event began immediately. At the conclusion of this investigation, it was determined that Windsor Police Department policy was not followed. This resulted in disciplinary action, and department-wide requirements for additional training were implemented beginning in January and continue up to the present. Since that time, Officer Gutierrez was also terminated from his employment.

The Town of Windsor has remained transparent about this event since the initial stop, and has openly provided documents and related video to attorneys for Lt. Nazario. The Town will continue to provide information related to this event in its commitment to openness. The Town has also requested an investigation of this event by the Virginia State Police, and joins with elected officials who have called for a full and complete review of the actions of these officers.

The Town of Windsor prides itself in its small-town charm and the community-wide respect of its Police Department. Due to this, we are saddened for events like this to cast our community in a negative light. Rather than deflect criticism, we have addressed these matters with our personnel administratively, we are reaching out to community stakeholders to engage in dialogue, and commit ourselves to additional discussions in the future.

Kentucky partailly bans no-knock warrants

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear signed a partial ban on no-knock warrants Friday after months of demonstrations set off by the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor in her home during a botched police raid last year.

The law signed by the Democratic governor is not the total ban many protesters and some Democratic lawmakers had sought -- a proposal that had been introduced as "Breonna's Law" -- but it also doesn't prevent individual cities and towns from banning the warrants completely.

The measure drew bipartisan support in the Legislature, where Republicans hold veto-proof supermajorities in the House and Senate. The law permits no-knock warrants only if there is "clear and convincing evidence" that the crime being investigated "would qualify a person, if convicted, as a violent offender."

Under the law that was passed, no-knock warrants must be executed between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. and officers are required to take additional steps to obtain warrants. Judges are also required to sign legibly when approving them and an EMT must be nearby during execution of the warrant.

Members of the Taylor family stood behind the governor during the bill signing at Louisville's Kentucky Center for African American Heritage. Taylor's mother, Tamika Palmer, shed tears as she accepted the pen the governor used to sign the measure.

"While it's not the full legislation that they wanted in terms of a complete ban on no-knock warrants, they are satisfied that this is a start and a win in a deeply divided General Assembly," said the family's attorney, Lonita Baker.

Baker added that the family looks forward to working with lawmakers on future legislation to further restrict the warrants and increase police accountability.