Horsford declares candidacy for Congressional Black Caucus Chair

Rep. Steven Horsford (D-NV) announced that he would throw his name into the ring to lead the politically influential Congressional Black Caucus, announcing his candidacy to succeed current chair Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-OH).

In a letter to Beatty outlining the move, Horsford cited the diversity of his congressional district — which encompasses parts of Las Vegas, North Las Vegas and much of Nevada’s rural center — and what he described as a record of bipartisanship, both as a state legislator in Nevada and in Congress, including work with Republican governors during his time as the state Senate’s majority leader.

Horsford currently serves as the caucus’ first vice chair, and briefly served as the CBC’s liaison with the Biden White House transition team in late 2020 and early 2021.

Created in 1971, the CBC had 58 members during the current Congress. Largely composed of Democrats, the group has grown over recent elections to include not only veteran politicians of the Civil Rights era, but also newer members of the Democratic Party’s progressive wing.

[SOURCE: NEVADA INDEPENDENT]

Father, son charged with attempted murder of Black FedEx driver

A father and son are facing attempted murder charges for allegedly chasing and shooting at a Black FedEx driver in Lincoln County (Mississipi) earlier this year.

The Daily Leader reported FedEx driver, D’Monterrio Gibson, 24, was leaving the driveway of Gregory and Brandon Case’s home around 7:30 p.m. on January 24 when the incident happened.

Initially, Brandon was charged with shooting into a motor vehicle, and Gregory was charged with conspiracy. However, a Lincoln County grand jury indicted both men on charges of attempted murder, conspiracy and shooting into a motor vehicle.

Their bonds were set at $500,000 each, and they have since bonded out. A trial date has not been set as of November 2022.

[SOURCE: WREG]

HBCU files complaint seeking review of bus search

Shaw University, a historically Black university in North Carolina announced Monday that it has filed a complaint with the Department of Justice seeking a review of a search of a bus carrying students during a traffic stop in South Carolina last month.

The university’s complaint states that a lane violation would be insufficient justification for a drug search and students’ right to privacy was violated because while the driver consented to a luggage compartment search, passengers didn’t consent to a search of their individual luggage. It also alleges that Operation Rolling Thunder disproportionately targeted Black drivers.

Shaw University President Paulette Dillard has accused law enforcement officers in Spartanburg County of racially profiling the 18 students traveling on a contract bus from Raleigh, North Carolina, to a conference in Atlanta on Oct. 5.

Two South Carolina sheriffs have denied that racial profiling played a part in the traffic stop and said the bus was pulled over because it had been swerving.

At a news conference Monday, Dillard said the issue is how the alleged minor violation turned into a drug search, whether every stop prompts such a search and, if not, what does trigger a search.

“The harmful effects of eroding individual rights under the pretext of law and order are real – and they are rampant all over the country,” she said. “Let’s be clear… racism is about power and systems; and just because there isn’t a knee on someone’s neck doesn’t mean that no harm is being done.”

[SOURCE: WHEC]

CBS to Air ‘Byron Allen Presents theGrio Awards’

CBS will broadcast the inaugural “Byron Allen Presents theGrio Awards,” a two-hour event honoring “icons, leaders and legends” including Patti LaBelle, Jennifer Hudson and Queen Latifah, who also took the stage for a special performance with Fantasia and Yolanda Adams.

The star-studded black-tie event — a first for the African American-focused news, lifestyle, sports and entertainment platform theGrio — was co-hosted by Sheryl Underwood and Taye Diggs. Allen Media Group founder, chairman and CEO Byron Allen serves as an executive producer of the special, which will be broadcast Saturday Nov. 26 on CBS from 8-10 p.m. ET/PT, and will be available to stream live on Paramount+.

Honorees include Dave Chappelle (Cultural Icon Award), Ben Crump (Justice Icon Award), Allyson Felix (Sports Icon Award), Hudson (Trailblazer Icon Award), LaBelle (Music Icon Award), Latifah (Television Icon Award), Norman Lear (Champion Award), Alena Analeigh McQuarter (Young Icon Award), Don Peebles (Business Icon Award), Tyler Perry (ICON Award), Robert F. Smith (Philanthropy Award) and Kenan Thompson (Comedy Icon Award).

[SOURCE: VARIETY]

Michigan House elects Rep. Joe Tate as first Black House speaker

Democratic state Rep. Joe Tate made history Thursday after he was selected to lead the Michigan House of Representatives in the upcoming 102nd Legislature as the first Black person ever to do so.

Tate, D-Detroit, is additionally not only the first Black lawmaker to become speaker of the House but the first Black lawmaker to ever oversee either of Michigan’s legislative chambers.

Following the vote, Tate told reporters that Michiganders could expect forward motion on issues like health care, gun safety regulations, transparency in the legislature, education and worker’s right’s.

“First and foremost, we’re going to get started immediately,” he said. “I think you saw the message that we talked about, our values, over the campaign trail for most of the year. ... So, there won’t be any surprises, because we’ve been talking about Democratic values for years.”

Tate was first elected to state office in 2018 after garnering 73% percent of the vote in the 2nd House district. He was overwhelmingly reelected under new maps to Michigan’s 10th House district with 68.4% of the vote to his Republican opponent’s 31.6%.

Tate previously was an offensive lineman in the NFL, splitting time between the Jacksonville Jaguars, the St. Louis Rams and the Atlanta Falcons over his two years in the league. Following his pro football career, Tate enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Navy.

He also possesses a Master’s in Business Administration and a Master of Science in Environmental Policy and Planning from the University of Michigan, as well as a Master of Science in Kinesiology from Michigan State University. Tate first graduated from MSU in 2003 with a Bachelor of Arts in Public Policy.

[SOURCE: MSN]