Congressman Donald McEachin statement on wanting Fort Lee named after African American general

Congressman A. Donald McEachin (VA-04) issued the following statement after the U.S. Naming Commission released a narrowed list of options, including African American Lt. General Arthur Gregg, to rename Fort Lee and eight other U.S. military bases across the nation:

“The U.S. Naming Commission has been tasked with the critical responsibility of renaming military installations honoring individuals who took up arms against the United States to preserve the institution of slavery. Fort Lee in Central Virginia was shortlisted as one of the first nine to be renamed. Since that time, I have advocated for Fort Lee to be rededicated in honor of Lt. General Arthur J. Gregg, a thirty-five year veteran of the U.S. Army and a celebrated military logistician who broke barriers to rise through the ranks from private to three-star general.

“Since the inception of this process, the U.S. Naming Commission has received more than 34,000 recommendations. I am thrilled that Arthur Gregg remains on the shortened list of 87 names, and I reiterate my call to rededicate Fort Lee as Fort Arthur Gregg. He is one of the most highly decorated Black military officers in U.S. history and represents the very best of the American Armed Forces.

“For far too long, the heroism, bravery, and sacrifices of Black servicemembers has been inadequately recognized and revered. We must rectify that injustice and honor the brave African Americans who defended our nation and its ideals. Renaming Fort Lee as Fort Gregg would be an incredible acknowledgment, not only of Lt. General Gregg’s contributions, but of the innumerable sacrifices men and women of color have made for generations in service to our nation.

“I will continue to advocate for Fort Gregg and engage with Admiral Michelle Howard, Chair of the Naming Commission, throughout this process.”

Background: Rep. McEachin has consistently advocated for Fort Lee to be renamed in honor of Lt. General Arthur J. Gregg. Following an independent commission organized by Rep. McEachin which agreed that the military base should be rededicated in honor of Lt. General Gregg, Rep. McEachin and Majority Whip James E. Clyburn sent a letter to Admiral Michelle Howard. Rep. McEachin then led a cohort of state and local leaders in reiterating that call. Finally, Rep. McEachin, once again joined by Majority Whip James E. Clyburn, led a letter with Members of the Congressional Black Caucus supporting the rededication of Fort Lee as Fort Gregg.

The Women’s March calls for impeachment of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas

The Women's March is calling for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas to be impeached after the release of text messages showing his wife, Ginni Thomas, pushed for then-White House chief of staff Mark Meadows to keep up the efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.

Black News Channel to Shut Down

Black News Channel has ceased operations two years after its initial launch, network president Princell Hair announced in an internal memo to staffers Friday.

BNC, which launched in February 2020 right before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, will no longer deliver live programming as it plans to file for bankruptcy, according to Hair. The network will air previously recorded segments at least through the end of the month, said network officials.

“Unfortunately, due to challenging market conditions and global financial pressures, we have been unable to meet our financial goals, and the timeline afforded to us has run out,” Hair said in the memo. Hair also said the network was forced to endure “painful workforce reductions at all levels of the network” in an effort to achieve the goal of a “break-even” business.

“Please know that I am very thankful for all of your hard work and deep commitment to our mission. We have differentiated ourselves, and your achievements over these last two years should be an immense source of pride that you will carry throughout the rest of your careers," Hair said.

The network, co-founded by J.C. Watts, Jr., positioned itself as the only 24-hour news service targeted to African-American viewers when it launched with more than 50 million viewers in February 2020. BNC’s accessibility had grown to reach more than 250 million touchpoints, with carriage deals with such distributors as DirecTV, Comcast, Spectrum, Dish Network and Verizon Fios, according to the network.

SEN. JOE MANCHIN INTENDS TO SUPPORT SUPREME COURT NOMINEE KETANJI BROWN JACKSON

Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) released the following statement on his intent to support Supreme Court of the United States Nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson.

“Senators have a constitutional obligation to advise and consent on a nominee to fill a Supreme Court vacancy and this is a responsibility I take very seriously. Just as I have with previous Supreme Court nominees, I met with Judge Jackson and evaluated her qualifications to be a Supreme Court Justice. After meeting with her, considering her record, and closely monitoring her testimony and questioning before the Senate Judiciary Committee this week, I have determined I intend to vote for her nomination to serve on the Supreme Court.

“Judge Jackson’s record and career are exemplary. Judge Jackson was educated in our public school system and, through her hard work, graduated with academic honors from Harvard University and Harvard Law School. She went on to clerk for three federal judges of varying political ideologies at every level of our federal judiciary, including the Supreme Court. She spent time practicing at private law firms and served on the U.S. Sentencing Commission. She also served as an Assistant Federal Public Defender – defending those who cannot afford legal representation which is a pillar of our judicial system. She served as a U.S. District Court Judge for the District of Columbia and as a D.C. Circuit Judge for the U.S. Court of Appeals before being nominated to serve on the Supreme Court.

“Her wide array of experiences in varying sectors of our judicial system have provided Judge Jackson a unique perspective that will serve her well on our nation’s highest court. During our meeting, she was warm and gracious. On top of her impressive resume, she has the temperament to make an exceptional jurist. Notably, Judge Jackson and her family spend a great deal of time in West Virginia and her deep love of our state and commitment to public service were abundantly clear. I am confident Judge Jackson is supremely qualified and has the disposition necessary to serve as our nation’s next Supreme Court Justice.”

Sen. Cory Booker to Judge Jackson: You earned your Supreme Court nomination

On day three of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackon's confirmation hearings for Supreme Court, Sen. Cory Booker said what many of us would love to say to Judge Brown Jackson.

He brought her to tears when he let her now that she is brilliant and earned the right to this nomination

.Watch this uplifting moment below.