Washington D.C. mayor admitted to Democratic Governors Association In Push For D.C. Statehood

Today, the Democratic Governors Association is announcing that Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser is joining the organization as its newest member.

The District of Columbia, home to 700,000 residents, a majority of whom are people of color, has long lacked equal representation at the federal level. Its citizens pay taxes, serve in the military, but still lack the full rights and privileges of citizenship.

By joining the DGA, Mayor Bowser will have the opportunity to interact with other state and territory executives on policy best practices, furthering cooperation and innovation both in the District and in other states. It is also a recognition by the DGA on the positive impact D.C.’s citizens and leaders make on the country.

“Democratic governors are national leaders in expanding voting rights and on the frontlines of stopping Republican voter suppression, and we are honored to fight for D.C. statehood by welcoming Mayor Muriel Bowser to the Democratic Governors Association,” said DGA Chair Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham. “With more than 700,000 residents, making D.C. a state is a voting rights and civil rights issue to help ensure every American has the representation they deserve. We must especially take this important stand, as Republicans across the country continue their ongoing efforts to restrict our freedom to vote and suppress the voices of people of color at the ballot box. There’s no better way for a state to protect voting rights than to elect a Democratic governor – and that’s exactly what the people of D.C. deserve.”

Mayor Bowser said, “In Washington, DC, we are proud to fulfill all the same responsibilities of citizenship as our fellow Americans in the other 50 states. The fight for DC statehood is about demanding what is owed to us—the rights guaranteed to us by the U.S. Constitution. Like millions of Americans nationwide, Washingtonians are focused on building a fairer, more just, and more resilient nation. We know that ending taxation without representation is not only the right thing to do, it is the best way to build a stronger, more inclusive democracy.”

Georgia coalition of African-American pastors continue boycott of Home Depot

A coalition of African-American faith leaders joined AME Bishop Reginald Jackson on May 3rd to hold a prayer rally and in the rain at The Home Depot on Snapfinger Woods Drive in Decatur.

The demonstration was part of a national boycott against The Home Depot by faith leaders from across Georgia in response to voter legislation signed into law earlier this year by Gov. Brian Kemp.

The faith leaders say the legislation significantly diminishes the ability to request and submit absentee ballots, minimalizes voting opportunities across the state, makes it a crime to offer food or water to people waiting in long lines to vote, and places the Republican-controlled legislature in control of the State Election Board.

“In states like Georgia, Blacks and people of color voted in huge numbers and were a big part of turning the state from Red to Blue,” stated Bishop Jackson. “Out of desperation and fear, we have since seen hundreds of Republican legislators across the country put their blind loyalty for Trump over their own constituents, the rule of law, and Democracy. While the racists supporting this agenda seem intent on saying and doing anything to stay in power, they remain on the wrong side of history.”

Late last month, faith leaders from across Georgia called on a national boycott of The Home Depot after being one of the only Georgia-based corporations to repeatedly rebuff the state’s faith community efforts to discuss the racist legislation, the alliance of pastors stated.

In the two weeks that have followed since The Home Depot boycott was announced, the number of states that have either passed or are considering voter suppression bills have risen to 47.

The boycott included AME Bishop Reginald Jackson; the Rev. Timothy McDonald, III, Senior Pastor of the First Iconium Baptist Church, founder of the African American Ministers Leadership Council, and President of the African American Ministers In Action of People for the American Way; Dr. Jamal Bryant, Senior Pastor of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church; Reverend Lee May, Lead Pastor at Transforming Faith Church; and other faith-based leaders.

Dem Cori Bush praises 'historic' vote to defund St. Louis police

The city of St. Louis is moving toward axing nearly 100 police officer positions and cutting millions from the police department's budget.

A proposal to eliminate 98 vacant officer positions and reallocate $4 million of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department's $171 million budget passed a vote last week. The proposition was passed by the Board of Estimate and Apportionment by a 2-1 vote, with St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones (D) and Comptroller Darlene Green supporting the plan and Board of Aldermen President Lewis Reed opposing the proposal.

The movement to defund the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department was lauded by Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.), who releaes the following statement

“For decades, our city funneled more and more money into our police department under the guise of public safety, while massively underinvesting in the resources that will truly keep our communities safe,” said Congresswoman Cori Bush. “Previous administrations spent more per capita on policing than all comparable cities, building a police force that is larger than that of any city comparable to St. Louis. But even as more and more money has gone into policing, the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department continues to be the deadliest police force in the nation, year after year — all while violence in our communities continues to skyrocket.

“The people have demanded a new approach to community safety — and from the Mayor’s office to the Halls of Congress, we were elected to deliver one. We have a mandate to fully fund our social services. To invest in our communities, not criminalize them. To end police violence. To provide alternatives to police like unarmed mental health professionals or social workers to respond to crisis calls. That is what organizers in our communities have fought for, that is what St. Louis has demanded, and that is what we, as elected officials, promised St. Louis. I’m incredibly proud to see Mayor Tishaura Jones deliver on this promise from City Hall — and know that she has my full support as I continue to work towards this goal from the U.S. Capitol.

“Today’s decision to defund the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department is historic. It marks a new future for our city. We are building a St. Louis where elected officials lead in partnership with activists, organizers, and our communities. We are building a St. Louis where our schools are funded, and our unhoused neighbors can be sheltered. We are building a St. Louis where our streets are safe and our youth can grow and prosper — where we can not just survive St. Louis, but thrive. I look forward to continuing to work in partnership with Mayor Tishaura Jones — and I commend her for her incredible leadership with today’s decision.”

Morehouse College debate team pulls out of tournament after racist actions from opposing team

The Morehouse College debate team pulled out of the national tournament after a white college team was caught on camera making racist gestures and comments while Morehouse debaters were speaking.

Horse named for Breonna Taylor wins Kentucky Derby week race

A horse named after Breonna Taylor and owned by the lawyer who represented her family against the Louisville Metro Police Department, won the fourth race Thursday at Churchill Downs during Kentucky Derby week.

Breonna, trained by Steve Margolis, rode to victory in the six-furlong race under jockey Corey Lanerie on a muddy track as rain pelted Louisville.

Breonna is owned by JS Stables, LLC, a thoroughbred horse racing operation owned and operated by lawyer Sam Aguiar and his wife, Janelle. The Aguiars weren't at the track Thursday for the race.

But Sam Aguiar said he watched the race in his office with his law partner Lonita Baker and Taylor's mother, Tamika Palmer.

The Aguiars own about 20 horses and told The Courier Journal they are donating the race's $10,000 purse to the Breonna Taylor Foundation, a nonprofit the Taylor family formed in 2020.

"My wife named the filly Breonna because she was beautiful, strong and resilient," Sam Aguiar said. "She's tough and has swagger. But to those closest to her, she's also loving and kind. That was Breonna Taylor as well."

[SOURCE: COURIER JOURNAL]