Georgia city changes street named for Confederate general to Barack Obama Boulevard

A street believed to be named for Nathan Bedford Forrest, a Confederate general and Ku Klux Klan founder will be changed to Barack Obama Boulevard in Valdosta Georgia.

D.J. Davis, fellow members of Action Sociology Anthropology Club, and the majority of people present Thursday evening rejoiced as Valdosta City Council approved the request to change Forrest Street’s name.

The City Council voted 6-1 to change the name from Forrest Street to Barack Obama Boulevard.

Davis and the Action Sociology Anthropology Club set a goal to gather at least 187 signatures of parcel owners on Forrest Street and Forrest Street Extension to meet a city mandate of needing 60% of owners' signatures to consider changing a street name.

”The meaning of names is powerful. It shows how much the community cared about changing his name and these are people on the streets, so the credit doesn’t come to me. The credit goes to the residents of Forrest Street that wanted this name change and they allowed it to happen by signing the signature,” said Davis.

The group raised $3,000, a reimbursement fee that needed to be paid before the verification process for the signatures was completed June 22.

This reimbursement fee, the actual costs of renaming the street, had the potential to contain costs for advertising, new signs and/or installation of new signs.

Now that it has been approved, a 90-day period will be given for emergency officials to update dispatch records and people living on that street to update financial statements.

Rep. Hank Johnson arrested at voting rights demonstration

Rep. Hank Johnson, D-Ga., was among 10 demonstrators arrested by U.S. Capitol Police on Thursday in an orchestrated act of civil disobedience outside the Hart Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill.

Johnson and voting rights advocates participating in Black Voters Matter Fund's "Brothers Day of Action," a protest led by Black men to advocate for voting rights, called on Congress to end the filibuster and pass the For the People Act.

After his arrest Rep. Johnson tweeted:

.@BlackCaucus I was arrested today protesting against Senate inaction on voting rights legislation & filibuster reform. In the spirit of my dear friend and mentor – the late Congressman John Lewis – I was getting in #goodtrouble pic.twitter.com/JjN51mRpaC

— Rep. Hank Johnson (@RepHankJohnson) July 22, 2021

Documentary Feature “Blood Brothers: Malcolm X & Muhammad Ali” Coming To Netflix

Blood Brothers: Malcolm X & Muhammad Ali is the definitive documentary about legendary icons Malcom X and Muhammad Ali featuring never before seen archival footage. The documentary feature is inspired by the book “Blood Brothers: The Fatal Friendship Between Muhammad Ali and Malcolm X” written by Randy Roberts and Johnny Smith. The film will debut on Netflix on September 9.

Synopsis: Blood Brothers: Malcolm X & Muhammad Ali tells the extraordinary story behind the friendship of two of the most iconic figures of the 20th century: Muhammad Ali and Malcolm X. Few people understand the bond these men shared. The charismatic and outspoken Olympic champion who charmed the nation, and the excon-turned intellectual revolutionary who railed against the evils of white oppression by speaking truth to power. The message they carry, still as potent and relevant today as ever before. Their bond was undoubtedly deep, their friendship real and their legacies inextricably bound.

The documentary is ditby Marcus A. Clarke (Unsolved Mysteries, Rapture).

Clarke says that, “Malcolm X and Muhammad Ali are two of the most iconic and revered African Americans of the twentieth century, and yet the depths of their friendship and the influence they had on each other is largely unknown. Blood Brothers provides a deeper understanding into what made these two men tick, the intense role faith played in their bond and ultimately how their budding friendship came to an abrupt end.”

Producers are Kenya Barris for Khalabo Ink Society; Jason Perez.

The executive producers are Erynn Sampson for Khalabo Ink Society; Jonathan Chinn and Simon Chinn for Lightbox; and Simon George.

Maxine Waters Demands Federal Investigation into Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department

Congresswoman Maxine Waters (CA-43), Chairwoman of the House Committee on Financial Services, sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland requesting the U.S. Department of Justice take immediate action to address the reported existence of a rogue, violent gang of law enforcement officers, who call themselves the “Executioners,” operating within the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department (LASD).

“I write to ask that the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) take immediate action to address the reported existence of a rogue, violent gang of law enforcement officials, who call themselves the “Executioners,” operating within the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department (LASD), specifically the LASD Compton station,” wrote Congresswoman Maxine Waters. “…an LASD deputy provided sworn testimony identifying more than a dozen deputies with matching tattoos symbolizing their association with the Executioners gang… Deputies at the LASD Compton Station reportedly “chase ink”, a slang term for a deputy who attempts to win favor with the Executioners by committing violent acts in hopes of receiving the group tattoo denoting gang membership.”

“The gang allegedly sets illegal arrest quotas, threatens and harasses fellow deputies, and holds parties after shootings, called ‘998 parties,’ which are in part a celebration that a new deputy will be inked by the gang,” continued Congresswoman Maxine Waters. “The tattoos worn by the police gang reportedly feature Nazi imagery… In disturbing evidence of the violence perpetrated against the Los Angeles community by the LASD gang, the whistleblower identified the two deputies responsible for the death of Andres Guardado, a Gardena, California teenager killed by police on June 18, 2020, as members of the Executioners…The killing of Andres Guardado is not the only example of the LASD’s excessive and brutal tactics in the Los Angeles community. On August 31, 2020, LASD deputies fatally shot Dijon Kizzee in South Los Angeles.”

Congresswoman Waters requested the U.S. Department of Justice:

Launch an independent investigation into the existence of the “Executioners”, both at the LASD Compton station and within the greater LASD community; and Launch a pattern or practice investigation into the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department for potential civil rights and constitutional violations.

Statements from Maria Taylor and Maria ESPN on Taylor leaving the network

ESPN and Maria Taylor jointly announced today that after much discussion, an agreement on a contract extension could not be reached. As a result, Maria’s last assignment for ESPN was last night’s NBA Finals telecast. Comments from Jimmy Pitaro and Maria Taylor:

Comment from Jimmy Pitaro, Chairman, ESPN and Sports Content
“Maria’s remarkable success speaks directly to her abilities and work ethic. There is no doubt we will miss Maria, but we remain determined to continue to build a deep and skilled talent roster that thoroughly reflects the athletes we cover and the fans we serve. While she chose to pursue a new opportunity, we are proud of the work we’ve done together.”

Comment from Maria Taylor:
“So thankful to Jimmy and all of my great teammates and friends at the SEC Network, College GameDay, Women’s and Men’s college basketball, and the NBA Countdown family — the people who believed in me, encouraged me, pushed me, and lifted me up.  Words are inadequate to express my boundless appreciation, and I hope to make them proud.”