Canton, Ohio to swear in first African American fire chief

The city of Canton, Ohio will make history on Monday April 26, 2021 when the first African American Fire Chief, Akbar Bennet is officially sworn into office.

Washington D.C. Congresswoman Eleanor Norton Releases Statement on Historic House Vote on D.C. Statehood

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) celebrated House passage today of her District of Columbia statehood bill (H.R. 51). The bill passed by a vote of 216-208. The bill had 216 cosponsors, virtually guaranteeing passage. This was only the second time a chamber of Congress had ever passed the D.C. statehood bill. The first was when the House passed the bill last June.

“Today’s victory was historic, both for D.C. residents and for the cause of D.C. statehood,” Norton said. “For only the second time in history, the House passed the D.C. statehood bill. With Democrats in control of the Senate and White House, and with 54% of Americans supporting the bill, we have never been in a better position to achieve D.C. statehood.”

Full Video: AG Keith Ellison Speaks After Derek Chauvin Found Guilty

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison delivered a statement after fired Minneapolis officer Derek Chauvin was convicted of murder in the death of George Floyd.

Rep. Maxine Waters discusses the Derek Chauvin guilty verdict

Congresswoman Maxine Waters joined Joy Reid on her MSNBC show, The ReidOut to talk about the Chauvin guilty verdict and the censure vote against her being tabled.

Following the verdict in Minneapolis, I had the pleasure of being interviewed by @JoyAnnReid on @MSNBC. I'm feeling great and I'm sharing it with you. pic.twitter.com/EJVIoBoocw

— Maxine Waters (@RepMaxineWaters) April 21, 2021

STATEMENT FROM THE KING CENTER ON THE DEREK CHAUVIN VERDICT

The King Center released the following statement on the guilty verdict in the Derek Chauvin trial:

Today, a jury of 12 found Derek Chauvin guilty of Second-Degree Murder, Third-Degree Murder and Second-Degree Manslaughter in the death of George Floyd. Only in America can a Black person be callously murdered on video for the world to see, then be vilified, dehumanized, and faulted for his own murder. Although Chauvin was found guilty, this nation still faces an arduous journey toward implementing the demands of justice. Our hearts go out to George Floyd’s family and to the families and communities across this nation who have been violated by an institution designated by badges to “protect and serve.” As with other institutions and systems in this nation, law enforcement’s practices and policies so often dehumanize and perpetuate destruction of Black and brown lives. We recognize that there are many facets to ending systemic and overt racism, including in the criminal justice system. “Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream,” we will immerse ourselves in the work of love-centered, strategic, nonviolent deconstruction of injustice and construction of public safety that engages all human beings with dignity, equity and compassion. We still believe this is not only possible, but that we can, as Dr. King said, “organize our strength into compelling power so that the government [and other power constructs] cannot elude our demands.”