The Hoax is Real-Trump has COVID-19 by Larry Montgomery

DIGITAL Version 2020

Vol: 2 No: 19

OCTOBER 2, 2020

THE HOAX is now REAL TRUMP has COVID-19 Page 2

EDITORIAL Page 47

SAVE OUR VILLAGE page 83 Don Durant Published by The Village Press, Inc.

HOW CAN WE STAND BY AND ACCEPT THE CRIMINALITY OF A COMMANDER IN CHIEF/ PRESIDENT OF THE USA, WHO PROVES TO BE AS CROOKED AS WILLIE SUTTON. Page 6 10/2/2020

President Donald Trump announced early Friday he and first lady Melania Trump tested positive for COVID-19.

morning. Vice President Mike Pence and second lady Karen Pence both tested negative. Outpourings of support and wellwishes for the president have flooded in for the president, 74. In addition to the concerns about the Trumps' health, the positive test results raise many questions about the impact the development could have on the presidential election, President Trump, first lady test positive for coronavirus days after which is just 32 days away. Donald Trump wearing a suit and first debate tie standing next to a woman: White House officials said Trump President Donald Trump and first was "feeling mild symptoms" on Friday, hours after the announce- lady Melania Trump are pictured outside the White House.ÂŠ ANment. DREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS, AFP The announcement came hours via Getty Images President Donald after it was reported that adviser Hope Hicks, with whom he had re- Trump and first lady Melania cently traveled, had been infected. Trump are pictured outside the White House. Follow here for the latest updates Start the day smarter. Get all the news you need in your inbox each on the first couple's infection and Published by The Village Press, Inc.

its potential ramifications. The world reacts: The world expressed sympathy as well as a bit of schadenfreude, at the news Trump tested positive for coronavirus. Where Trump has been: Trump has been traveling and meeting with people a lot over the past few days, including trips to Minnesota, New Jersey, Ohio, plus a White House ceremony to nominate Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court. Hope Hicks: White House adviser Hope Hicks also tested positive for COVID-19, it was announced Thursday. What people said: Rachel Maddow offered sympathy, Julian Castro said "I hope this a wake-up call that this virus is not a hoax or something cured by injecting bleach." (Continued on page 5)

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Witness Who Backed Louisville Police's Testimony First Had a Different Story, and More Troubling Aspects of the Breonna Taylor Investigation Daniel Cameron Didn't Mention

earthed more than a few troubling inconsistencies in the police’s investigation of the shooting, inconsistencies which Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron notably omitted from his recent announcement that LMPD officers were legally justified in fatally firing on 26year-old Taylor after entering her home on a ‘no-knock warrant’ in March. There’s the question of whether the cops identified themselves before ramming the door open on the night Taylor was killed. Only one independent witness has affirmed the police’s claim that they did. Meanwhile, Taylor’s boyfriend Kenneth Walker has mainThe defensive posturing and show tained that he opened fire because of force that the Louisville Metro he believed intruders were trying Police Department came out with to enter their apartment, and oththis week in anticipation of the er residents in the complex have grand jury verdict regarding the said police didn’t say who they culpability of its police in the killing were. of Breonna Taylor, may have indi- Now it turns out that the single cated a recognition in them that witness who corroborated the pothe officially reported investigation lice’s story had initially told investiinto the incident is shady and its gators the police didn’t announce findings paper-thin. themselves. New reporting from Vice has unFrom VICE: Published by The Village Press, Inc.

The witness is Aarin Sarpee, who was picking up his daughter from his brother’s apartment above Taylor’s at the time of the raid. According to officers’ interviews with investigators, Sarpee got into an argument with Detective Brett Hankison as the officers were banging on Taylor’s door. The interviews were conducted by LMPD’s Public Integrity Unit (PIU), which investigates officer-involved shootings. According to the Public Integrity Unit’s investigative file, LMPD investigators spoke to Sarpee on the phone twice in the ensuing months. On March 21, a week after the shooting, Sgt. Jason Vance asked Sarpee directly if he heard anyone identify themselves as police. Sarpee responded, “No, nobody identified themselves.” Another PIU investigator, Sgt. Amanda Seeyle, called Sarpee back two months later, on May 15, the file shows. At that point, Sarpee said he did hear police say, “This is the cops.” Mighty suspicious, is it not? Cam(Continued on page 12)

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Playing it safe

per 100,000 residents, compared to a national average of 231 per 100,000 residents. They are heady numbers, and it’s not surprising Nassau earned them. Long Island has consistently been rated the safest metropolitan statistical area in the nation, and the top list is full of similar counties: Daily Point Rockland is second-safest in the Community safety ratings practically nation, while Westchester is fifth; criminal Bergen County, New Jersey, is With the release of U.S. News & sixth; Richmond County (Staten World Report’s "Healthiest Communities" rankings this week, Nas- Island) is ninth; Putnam is 17th; sau County has found some statis- and Hudson is 18th. So what about Suffolk? tics to crow about … and Suffolk It got an overall score of 41 County has a bone to pick. The publication has ranked Nassau (compared to Nassau’s 100) and the top county in the nation when it’s hard to make sense of it at first. It lists annual per capita spending it comes to public safety, with a perfect 100 score. The ranking re- on public safety at $822, more than double the national average, and flects the county’s per capita the percentage of residents workspending of $1,148 annually on ing in public safety, 1.26%, is also public safety, compared to a naexemplary. tional average of $358; the fact that 1.26% of its population works But the website lists Suffolk's vioin public safety, compared to a na- lent crime rate as 2035.5 per tional average of .70%; and, most 100,000 residents, a number that, important, its 133.8 violent crimes were it correct (it isn’t), would Published by The Village Press, Inc.

make it the nation’s most crimeridden community. By comparison, Illinois’ Cook County, which includes Chicago, has a rate of 627.5 per 100,000, while Bronx County is listed at 567.1 per 100,000, and New Orleans (Orleans Parish) is 1050.3 per 100,000. The Suffolk violent crime number almost certainly derived from a keystroke error that added a digit and multiplied the crimes by a factor of 10. A rate of 203.5 would be right in line with past statistics, while 2035.5 would dwarf them. Informed of the good news Friday, Nassau County Executive Laura Curran told The Point, "Our community policing program in Nassau County really does pay off, and this great news makes that clear. It’s the folks who are out on the street doing the work every day, the cops on the street, who deserve so much credit, as does the leadership of the department." Curran also stressed the responsi(Continued on page 8)

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Markets headed for a drop: Dow futures – which predict how the Dow Jones Industrial Average will move when the market opens for trading in the morning – fell Friday on news of Trump's diagnosis. Similarly, futures connected to the Nasdaq and S&P 500 signaled sharp drops. What's Trump's risk?: Because of his age and obesity, Trump is in two very high-risk groups for developing severe COVID-19 disease, hospitalization and death. 32 days until Election Day, five days until the vice presidential debate, 110 days until Inauguration Day, 91 days left in 2020. Voting: See USA TODAY's Voter Guide for information on registering to vote, when your state begins voting and what the candidates think about the issues. We will update this article throughout the day. You can follow all of USA TODAY's politics reporters on Twitter or subscribe to our daily On Politics newsletter. Judiciary Committee says 'full steam ahead' on Barrett nomination The Senate Judiciary Committee has no plans to push back the confirmation hearings for President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett despite Trump's positive COVID-19 test, according to committee spokesperson Kevin Bishop, who said they were moving "full steam ahead." Judge Barrett tested negative for COVID-19, according to White House spokesperson Judd Deere. She is tested daily and was last with Trump on Saturday, he said. - Nicholas Wu Barron Trump tests negative for COVID-19 Barron Trump, the 14-year-old son of President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump, has tested negative for the coronavirus following his parents' positive diagnosis. “Barron has tested negative and all precautions are being taken to ensure he’s kept safe and healthy.” spokesperson Stephanie Grisham told USA TODAY. Published by The Village Press, Inc.

- Leora Arnowitz and Sara M. Moniuszko Trump 'feeling mild symptoms' White House officials said Trump is "feeling mild symptoms," but would not elaborate more Friday after Trump tested positive for COVID-19. Debate moderator Chris Wallace to get tested Fox News anchor Chris Wallace, who moderated the first presidential debate Tuesday, said he plans to get a coronavirus test after President Donald Trump and his wife Melania Trump tested positive for the virus. Wallace told Fox his wife and four children, who were at the debate, would likely also be tested. Wallace noted in an interview on FOX news this morning that the Trump family and supporters in the debate took off their masks in violation of the debate protocol. The rule was that "everybody except for the President, the Vice President and I, were supposed to wear masks. We were the only ones told that we were not to wear masks. And actually a safety personnel person from the Cleveland Clinic came up to the first family when they were seated and offered them masks in case they didn't have them and they were waved away. And people in the hall noticed that they weren't wearing masks and everybody else in the hall was wearing a mask. When the debate ended, Mrs. Trump came over, walked past me, she was not wearing a mask. Mrs. Biden walked past me to her husband and she was wearing a mask. So there was a difference in the way the two families and their camps treated the health safety regulations inside the hall." - Ledyard King Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner test negative for COVID-19 The White House said President Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka Trump and son-in-law Jared Kushner, both advisors to the president, tested negative for the coronavirus Friday. ".@IvankaTrump and Jared Kushner were tested again today for COVID-19 and both are negative," tweeted Carolina Hurley, special assistant to the president. 5

Trump and first lady Melania Trump announced early Friday they tested positive for COVID-19. - Sean Rossman Pelosi says she's praying for Trumps House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she is praying for President Donald Trump and his family after the president and first lady Melania Trump announced they tested positive for COVID-19. “I know that he’ll have the best of care and that’s what we want for everyone in our country," Pelosi said on MSNBC Friday morning. She said it highlighted the urgent need for Congress to provide more resources for COVID-19 testing, contact tracing and other measures to respond to the outbreak. “We must have testing, tracing, treatment. We must have spatial distance and we must be wearing our masks,” she said. She said she hopes this marks a turning point and a “learning experience” in the country to take the virus seriously if even the president, with all the precautions, can become infected. She said she’d been tested Friday morning “out of an abundance of caution” because she met with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on Monday. She noted that Mnuchin tested negative on Friday morning. She said she has some concerns about the test and the tests being used at the White House “are not as accurate as they should be.” - Deirdre Shesgreen Sen. Kamala Harris says she wishes for 'speedy recovery' Biden's running mate, Sen. Kamala Harris of California, and her husband Doug Emhoff also offered the president and first lady wishes for a speedy recovery. "Doug and I join Joe Biden and Dr. Biden in wishing President Trump and the First Lady a full and speedy recovery," Harris said in a tweet. "We’re keeping them and the entire Trump family in our thoughts." - Bart Jansen Biden: 'We will continue to pray' for Trump and family Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden said he and his wife Jill (Continued on page 15)

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THE BLACK PERSPECTIVE Don Durant wants to know the an- bate with Joe Biden. swers to questions Trump refuses Trump has received much funding to acknowledge... from overseas operations. He continued to receive more than $73 HOW CAN WE STAND BY AND ACCEPT THE CRIMINALITY OF A million dollars from several countries, such as Turkey, India, and COMMANDER IN CHIEF/ others. PRESIDENT OF THE USA, WHO PROVES TO BE AS CROOKED AS Do we really want to re-elect a man with such criminal leanings, WILLIE SUTTON. Trump's Tax records show chronic and lack of concern for others, losses with more than ten years of through COVID19, or government not paying his taxes out of the past financial support. He has called this New York Times fifteen years. Trump denies the Times report of his Tax avoidance. revelation "Totally Fake!" He says that he is especially quali- Trump is a Racist and a Con Man according to his Former Personal fied as a successful businessman. Attorney, Michael Cohen. He statHe paid ONLY $750.00 in taxes in his first and second years as Presi- ed that if he went to jail for a year or more, then Trump should be dent. As a so-called Manhattan Million- doing 360 years. aire, Trump has failed to show in- Cohen feels that this incident expocome gained from his various prop- sure is covered by a certain base erties, such as the Doral, and other that allows him to get away with locations including property in In- many crimes. He named Allen Weiselberg, Jared and Ivanka as ternational locations. His years on the television program potential cohorts, likely to The Apprentice, brought him over also wind up in prison. He challenged Trumps $456 Million dollars. The White House knew in advance costing his haircuts at a price that this revealing story was com- of $70,000 dollars and his ing out, and now it is only two days daughter Ivanka, as a Consultant...in mysterious conbefore a scheduled television de-

Don Durant

sultation. Attorney Cohen stated that his truth telling is to preserve his wife and children who have suffered greatly with what Trump has put him through with criminal trials and prison. In comparison, it was clarified by a reporter that if we individually compared ourselves to the Trump operation we would quickly realize that we can't deduct cost of our haircuts and cost of our clothing as tax deductions as Trump defied and did without being held responsible. He refused for four years to even allow visibility on his tax reports and returns, as he continued to receive wealth and income from many sources. The Biden/Trump debate will surely expose much of this potential deceit by our president running for office. It is impossible to believe that his followers would stand 100 % in support of his failings.

Nassau County Executive Laura Curran Congratulations to Chief Keechant Sewell, who has just become the first Black woman to serve as Nassau County Police Department Chief of Detectives Published by The Village Press, Inc.

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Tuskegee Airman who flew in 3 wars dies at 95 Tuskegee Airman and retired Air Force Maj. George W. Biggs salutes the flag Sept. 26, 2013, at the Capitol in Phoenix. Biggs died Sept. 19, 2020, at the age of 95. (Matt York/ AP) NOGALES, Ariz. — A member of the famed all-Black Tuskegee Airmen who died in Arizona will be remembered this week. Martinez Funeral Chapels in Nogales confirmed a funeral for George Washington Biggs is scheduled for Thursday. Biggs died Saturday at age 95. His daughter, Rose BiggsDickerson, told The Arizona Republic that her father had been living in a senior-care facility in Tucson. Red Tails reunited: Pioneering Tuskegee Airmen proudly look back Col. Charles McGee — an original Tuskegee Airman, veteran of three wars, and aviation legend — still clearly remembers the day he shot down a German Luftwaffe fighter. A native of Nogales, Biggs enlisted in 1943 at age 18 with the U.S. Army Air Corps — which later bePublished by The Village Press, Inc.

came the U.S. Air Force. He was placed in an elite group of fighter pilots trained at Alabama’s Tuskegee Institute. The program was created after the NAACP began challenging policies barring Black people from flying military aircraft. In the mid-1950s, Biggs was stationed at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson. He was one of the base’s first African-American officers and helped incorporate minority soldiers, his daughter told the newspaper. He flew B-47 and B-52 bombers in the Korean and Vietnam wars while earning numerous military honors. Despite his accomplishments, he spoke often of the discrimination he faced in the military. Tuskegee Airman Charles McGee, 100, and his great grandson Iain Lanphier react as President Donald Trump delivers his State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2020. (Patrick Semansky/AP) At State of the Union, a general’s star for a Tuskegee Airman — and a glimpse at the future Newly-promoted Brig. Gen. Charles McGee, and his great7

grandson who dreams of joining the Space Force, were saluted by President Trump at the State of the Union. Biggs-Dickerson said her father retired in the 1970s and became an agent for the U.S. Customs Service in Nogales. According to the funeral home’s online obituary, Biggs is survived by his wife, 10 children, 22 grandchildren and 24 greatgrandchildren.

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ble nature of her residents, pointing out "People in Nassau want to live safely, get to work and get the kids to school and follow the law, and I’m very proud of that, too." For his part, Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone said the report was definitely inaccurate, pointing out that he just did a news conference to announce Suffolk’s crime rate continues to be at a historic low and has dropped even further during the pandemic. Talking Point Fining the rulebreakers Since Sept. 14, when the Metropolitan Transportation Authority instituted a $50 fine for those who refuse to wear a mask while in the station or on the trains and buses, only five summonses have been

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issued. Four of the five were for Long Island Rail Road customers. All four received the summonses while in Penn Station, and none had yet to board a train. MTA officials said there’ve been nearly 2,000 conversations with customers, asking them to wear or adjust a mask, in the 11 days since the mask rule went into effect. The MTA also has handed out nearly 2,200 masks in the same period. Besides the four LIRR summonses, one additional summons was issued on a Metro-North Railroad train. LIRR President Phillip Eng told The Point Friday that he rides the train daily, and sees nearly every fellow rider wearing a mask, but will often hand out extra masks to customers who may have left theirs at home. Most, he said, welcome the effort. "We do know there are still some riders that either don’t believe in it

or want to flout the system but we are seeing much stronger compliance," Eng said. A summons, Eng said, is a "last resort" only given when a customer refuses to comply. The "vast majority" of Long Islanders are complying, or are at least putting a mask on once asked, he added. "I think sometimes folks don’t take all of the rules seriously," Eng said. "That’s been one of the challenges. People push the envelope… and it forces us to consider additional action if necessary." All four LIRR customers who received summonses had been drinking, Eng said, and pushed back against attempts to get them to either wear a mask, or leave the station. "All we’re asking is for them to show courtesy when they’re in public with other people," Eng said. "That’s just, I think, the right thing (Continued on page 17)

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United States House Of Representatives Passes The CROWN Act

DISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF HAIR IS ONE STEP CLOSER TO BEING ERADICATED ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL. On Tuesday, Dove and the CROWN Coalition celebrated a new milestone in the fight against hair discrimination when the United States House of Representatives passed the CROWN Act. The federal bill is now one step closer to becoming a law — it’s now advancing to the Senate. The legislation was introduced to Congress nine months ago, and Congressman Cedric Richmond of Louisiana has led the charge on pushing the bill through. The inaugural CROWN Act penned by Senator Holly J. Mitchell was first signed by California Governor Gavin Newsom back in 2019. Since then, only a handful of states had passed the law, including New York, New Jersey and Virginia. But by the end of 2019, then presidential hopeful, Cory Booker had been pushing to have the bill taken to the federal level. “As a co-founder of the CROWN Coalition, Dove is proud of the proPublished by The Village Press, Inc.

gress we’ve made to make racebased hair discrimination illegal to ensure Black children and adults are free to wear our natural hair styles in every school and work place in America,” said Esi Eggleston Bracey, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Beauty and Personal Care at Unilever North America. “We’re celebrating its passing in the House of Representatives and the seven states that have enacted the CROWN Act since we started this journey in 2018. We applaud Congressman Cedric Richmond and the U.S. House of Representatives for taking this action.” This fall, as parents across the country worried about whether or not their children would be going back to in-school learning for safety reasons, several Black parents were concerned with whether or not their children would be allowed back in school because of their hair. Just this past June, Texas teen K.J. Hooper joined the many Black graduates who were told they had to cover or cut their textured or natural hair in order to participate in their graduation ceremony. This is why passing the CROWN Act in the Senate is crucial. The fight against hair discrimination is an important part of the fight for racial equality. And as it continues, the CROWN coalition will also continue its work and asks 9

the community to sign the petition to put pressure on the Senate to act. “Racial discrimination in the form of hair discrimination has directly and negatively impacted Black people in the workplace and schools for far too long,” said Congressman Richmond in a statement. “Now that the House has acted, it is time for the Senate to demonstrate leadership and swiftly pass this critical legislation. Our nation must right this wrong and ensure that no Black child or adult ever lives in fear of discrimination simply because of their hair texture or style.”

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DIGITAL Version 2020

Attica Scott, the Only Black Woman in Kentucky's State Legislature, Arrested for Felony Rioting During Breonna Taylor Protest People continued marching through the streets of Louisville Thursday night to protest the meager charges brought against the Louisville Metro Police department in the killing of Breonna Taylor. Among them was one Rep. Attica Scott (D), the only Black female representative in Kentucky’s state legislature and the lawmaker who has proposed the state’s most substantive police reform since Taylor’s death. On Thursday night, Scott, along with a handful of other protesters, was arrested and charged with firstdegree rioting, a felony, and two misdemeanors for failure to disperse and unlawful assembly, reports the Louisville Courier-Journal. According to the Washington Post, which cited reports from WAVE, Scott and the other protesters were arrested near the First Unitarian Church and the Louisville Free Public Library, which a police report Published by The Village Press, Inc.

alleged had been set on fire. Louisville-based reporter Ryan Van Velzer captured Scott’s arrest on video. In the background, voices can be heard shouting Scott’s name and occupation to police, while another person yelled to the lawmaker, “We love you!” Also arrested were Scott’s daughter, Ashanti Scott, and prominent local activist Shameka Parrish-Wright, who leads the Louisville chapter of the Bail Project, an organization that has helped detained protesters post bond. Shortly after Scott and Parrish-Wright’s arrest on Thursday night, State Rep. Josie Raymond called for them to be released. “If you arrest the loudest voices fighting racial injustice in Louisville, we have to believe you want to silence the fight against racial injustice,” Raymond wrote on Twitter. Online court records show Scott and Parrish-Wright were released from Louisville Metro Corrections on Friday on personal recognizance bonds, which do not require a cash payment. They are both scheduled to be arraigned on Oct. 6. According to police, 24 protesters were arrested on Thursday night. In the wake of Taylor’s killing, Scott has called for increased police accountability at the state level. In Au-

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gust, she sought to expand Louisville’s “Breonna’s law,” which bans “no-knock warrants,” to apply throughout the state. The legislation she proposed would also mandate that a judge approve the use of forced entry when serving a warrant, and that in those instances, officers must have their body cameras on. In addition, Scott’s version of “Breonna’s Law” would require police be screened for drug and alcohol after any deadly incident or use of their firearm on duty. Scott was among many who expressed anger at the grand jury’s decision to charge one former Louisville officer who fatally shot Taylor, Brett Hankison, with three counts of wanton endangerment. Those charges were not related to Taylor’s killing, but the danger Hankison posed to Taylor’s neighPublished by The Village Press, Inc.

bors, none of whom were actually shot on the night LMPD raided Taylor’s apartment. “Justice also is hardly ever served when it’s police officers murdering Black people,” Scott told NPR after the charges were announced Wednesday. “And so we are clear that our call to action is to continue to make sure that the city of Louisville understands that we will not go away, that we will continue to demand the defunding of police and the dismantling of this police department because it’s corrupt from the inside out, from the bottom to the top. And it cannot continue to function in the way that it does.” An increasing number of people have called for Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron, who led the investigation into Taylor’s killing, to release the evidence presented to the grand jury, reports HuffPost. This includes Kentucky 11

Gov. Andy Beshear and Senate candidate Amy McGrath, who is running against Sen. Mitch McConnell in the November election. “Breonna’s family and Kentucky deserve to know what happened the night she was killed,” McGrath tweeted Thursday afternoon. “The fact that the grand jury did not even consider charges in the events that led to her death created confusion and anger.”

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eron apparently doesn’t seem to think so. Instead he was privy to this evidence and chose to deliver the message that the investigation carried out by Louisville police into Louisville police is at this point a conclusive, unimpeachable account of what actually happened. But body cam footage from Louisville officers who were on the scene of the incident shows that from the very beginning, the LMPD’s investigation of the shooting was anything but unimpeachable. Before the department’s investigative team arrived to the scene of the deadly shooting, the cops who were involved in the incident— Brett Hankinson, Myles Cosgrove, and Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly—were still walking around the active crime scene and even interviewing witnesses, violating department policy for officer-involved shootings. From VICE again:

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After SWAT team members clear the apartment and pronounce Taylor dead on scene, now-former LMPD detective Hankison, who fired 10 shots that night according to the department, approaches the front door to ask if someone is dead inside. Minutes later, Hankison returns and even steps inside the apartment, an active crime scene. He asks SWAT officers if they found a long gun, and whether the casings on the ground are “theirs.” Multiple SWAT team members on the body camera footage seem to be made visibly uncomfortable by Hankison’s presence. One of them tells other officers sternly to clear him out. Shortly thereafter, Hankison walks up to a SWAT team member standing on the sidewalk and asks if his body camera is on before the video cuts out. The work to maintain the ‘peace’ in the face of their flimsy justification for taking a young Black woman’s life pushed the LMPD defensive

into overtime this weekend. According to ABC News, 28 people were arrested in Louisville on Saturday night alone, as protests continue to blaze in the city in response to the Attorney General’s announcement that no police officers will be charged in Taylor’s killing. Trump tests positive for COVID-19: Trump 'feeling mild symptoms,' White House officials say - live updates Sean Rossman, William Cummings, John Fritze and David Jackson, USA TODAY 21 mins ago Masks do not restrict oxygen flow or cause CO2 buildup, study finds 'Saturday Night Live' Sneak Peek: Jim Carrey, Maya Rudolph Transform into… USA TODAY logoTrump tests positive for COVID-19: Trump 'feeling mild symptoms,' White House officials say - live updates

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The pandemic has brought unprecedented hardship for small businesses, and it has disproportionately impacted the Black small business community. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why we are working with American Express to launch the Coalition to Back Black Businessesâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;a multi-year initiative to support Black small business owners in their recovery.

Coalition to Back Black Businesses and we hope these grants can help the Black business community begin to emerge from this crisis stronger than ever. APPLY BY 9/21/2020. Learn more at webackblackbusinesses.com.

Over the next four years, the initiative will provide $10 million in grants, leadership development and business mentoring and other development opportunities to empower Black-owned small businesses in U.S. communities that have long been struggling with economic growth. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re proud to be a part of the Published by The Village Press, Inc.

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Black man’s body found burned in Iowa ditch, four white suspects arrested The body of Michael Williams was discovered after the fire was put out. Four white suspects are in custody after a Black man’s body was found set ablaze in Iowa. The body of Michael Williams, 44, of Grinnell, Iowa was found on Wednesday near Kellogg after a witness called about a fire, according to The Daily Beast. After authorities put out the fire, they discovered Williams’ body and The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation ruled the death a homicide. Read More: Woman arrested for allegedly hitting Black jogger with glass bottle in racist attack Four white suspects were arrested in connection to the murder. Cody Johnson, 29, Roy Garner, 57, and Julia Cox, 55, have all been taken into custody for abuse of a corpse. Steven Vogel, 31, a well-known acquaintance of the victim is charged with firstdegree murder and abuse of a corpse. Williams, a grandfather of one, is originally from Syracuse, New York. He leaves behind five children, five siblings, and his parents. “All we wanted was for him to come home. Now we have to bring him home in the worst possible state,” his aunt, Paula Terrell told the Des Moines Register. Published by The Village Press, Inc.

“We will fight for justice. This is our family’s mission, no matter what—we will fight for his legacy to be remembered as who he was: A loving, kind, gentle giant who loved his family, who loved his children.” Some have speculated this is an obvious hate crime but Betty Andrews, president of the Iowa-Nebraska NAACP State Area Conference of Branches, says she isn’t so sure. As reported by The Daily Beast, Andrews said, “It is understandable that having the body of an African American found burning in a small town in Iowa would raise several red flags and concerns,” she said. But so far, the organization “sees no indication that Mr. Williams was targeted because of his race. Given the current climate where racial justice is on the front burner for so many….we understand the fear this kind of incident evokes.” “Michael was killed in Grinnell on or about on Sept. 12, 2020,” said Iowa DCI Special Agent Adam DeCamp at a press conference on Tuesday. “Michael’s body was then wrapped in cloth, plastic, and carpet, which was secured to him by rope and duct tape. He was then taken to rural Kellogg on the afternoon of Sept. 16, where he was set ablaze…no evidence has been found to show the acts against Michael Williams were motivated by his race.” At the press conference, DeCamp confirmed Williams was held for days at a home on Spring Street before he was murdered and according to a criminal complaint, a witness confirms he saw the victim’s body in the basement. Authorities searched the home at 1203 Spring Street and say Vogel admitted to driving a vehicle to a rural area and dumping something in a ditch. The complaint says that Garner, Cox, and Johnson were with him and the witness identified Vogel as the person who strangled Williams. The motive for the brutal killing is still unclear.

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Biden will "continue to pray" for President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump after the tested positive for COVID-19. "Jill and I send our thoughts to President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump for a swift recovery. We will continue to pray for the health and safety of the president and his family," the former vice president tweeted Friday morning. - Sean Rossman 'We continue to pray': Joe Biden offers thoughts, prayers to President Trump after coronavirus test Mike Pence, Karen Pence test negative Vice President Mike Pence and his wife tested negative for COVID-19 Friday morning, his office announced hours after the president tested positive. "As has been routine for months, Vice President Pence is tested for COVID-19 every day," spokesman Devin O'Malley tweeted. "This morning, Vice President Pence and the Second Lady tested negative for COVID-19. Vice President Pence remains in good health and wishes the Trumps well in their recovery." - Maureen Groppe Pences test negative: Vice President Mike Pence, wife, test negative for COVID-19 after president tests positive Steven Mnuchin tests negative Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin tested negative for COVID-19 Friday morning. "As part of regular protocols, Secretary @stevenmnuchin1 has been tested daily for COVID-19. He tested negative for COVID-19 this morning and will continue to be tested daily," tweeted Monica Crowley, assistant secretary for public affairs at the Department of Treasury. - Sean Rossman Mike Pompeo and wife test negative Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said he and his wife both tested negative for COVID-19 on Friday. Pompeo is currently traveling abroad and has not been in recent contact with President Donald Trump. “I am feeling fantastic. I was tested Published by The Village Press, Inc.

about 30 minutes ago,” Pompeo told reporters Friday en route to Croatia. He said he has not been with Trump since Sept. 15. “We’re praying for the President and the First Lady, that they’ll have a speedy recovery,” he said. “I spoke with the vice president’s office this morning as well. We’re taking this, obviously, very seriously, and we’ll do everything we can to keep everyone safe.” Pompeo said he is reevaluating future travel, including a scheduled trip this weekend to Florida followed by a visit to Asia starting Sunday. He said his own doctor and the State Department’s medical team has told him it would be “perfectly fine to make both of those trips, but we’re going to continue to look at it.” Pompeo said he had been cleared to go ahead with meetings in Croatia on Friday. "We’ve had contact with the Croatians; they seem to understand what we’re doing, and everything seems good," he said. "But we’re obviously going to make sure that they’re comfortable with what we’re doing as well." - Deirdre Shesgreen Melania Trump: 'We are feeling good' First lady Melania Trump said she and President Donald Trump are "feeling good" after the president said the couple tested positive for COVID-19. "As too many Americans have done this year, @potus & I are quarantining at home after testing positive for COVID-19. We are feeling good & I have postponed all upcoming engagements. Please be sure you are staying safe & we will all get through this together," the first lady tweeted Friday morning. - Sean Rossman How people are reacting: Twitter reacts after President Donald Trump announces he and Melania are positive for COVI Is Trump symptomatic? Former White House doctor Ronny Jackson told Fox News the president is asymptomatic, but that does not ensure Trump will not develop symptoms in the coming days. About 40% who contract the virus never develop symptoms. 15

For the 60% of people infected who do develop symptoms, they can experience fever, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, body aches, headache, loss of taste or smell, sore throat, runny nose, nausea or vomiting and diarrhea. Because of his age and obesity, Trump is in two very high-risk groups for developing severe symptoms, hospitalization and death. At 74, the president is five times more likely to be hospitalized and 90 times more likely to die of COVID-19 than someone between the ages of 18 and 29, according to the CDC. – Elizabeth Weise COVID-19's course: President Trump has tested positive for COVID-19. What's the typical course of the illness? Impact on the presidential race Even if Trump is one of the lucky ones, he is expected to have to remain in quarantine until he is no longer contagious, which could take him off the campaign between now and Election Day. Trump had already canceled a rally in Florida on Friday, and the revelation of his positive result raised questions about his ability to hold rallies, fundraisers and participate in presidential debates scheduled later this month. The president has tried to keep voters' attention away from the COVID-19 pandemic, which has killed more than 200,000 people in the U.S. Polls consistently show voters think Biden is better equipped to handle the outbreak. The looming fight over the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court offered a perfect opportunity for Trump to fire up his supporters and donors over something that had nothing to do with the virus and its economic fallout. But Trump's test result is likely to rob him of the ability to focus the nation's attention on that fight.

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Diocese of RVC files for bankruptcy protection NEW YORK - A Roman Catholic diocese in New York City's suburbs has become the largest in the U.S. to declare bankruptcy to protect itself from a wave of lawsuits filed over past sexual abuse by clergy members. The Diocese of Rockville Centre filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Thursday. It is the eighth largest diocese or archdiocese in the U.S., serving more than 1.4 million Catholics on Long Island.

“What became clear was that the diocese was not going to be able to carry out its spiritual, charitable and educational missions if it were to continue to shoulder the increasingly heavy burden of litigation expenses associated with these cases,” Barres said.

DIOCESE OF BUFFALO FILES FOR BANKRUPTCY PROTECTION The diocese started an independent compensation “The financial burden of the litigation has been severe program in 2017 to provide settlements for victims of past sexual abuse and has so far paid more than $62 and only compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic,” Bishop John Barres, the spiritual leader of the diocese million to about 350 survivors under the program, officials said. Settlements may be higher for some acthat serves 1.4 million Catholics on Long Island, said in a video posted on the diocese's website. “Our goal cusers who did not participate in the program but is to make sure that all clergy sexual abuse survivors chose instead to file lawsuits under the Child Victims Act. and not just a few who were first to file lawsuits are afforded just and equitable compensation.” DRVC Special Announcement from Catholic Faith Network on Vimeo. Barres said more than 200 lawsuits alleging sexual abuse by clergy members have been filed against the diocese since the 2019 passage of New York's Child Victims Act, which suspended the statute of limitations to allow sex abuse victims to pursue decadesold allegations of abuse against clergy members, teachers and other adults.

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The Rockville Centre diocese is the latest of more than 20 Catholic dioceses in the nation to file for bankruptcy in the face of lawsuits over sexual abuse. Barres said most of the diocese's operations would continue despite the bankruptcy filing. He said employees and vendors would be paid.

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to do." Final Point Cuomo and the anti-vax movement Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s announcement that New York will conduct its own review of any coronavirus vaccine approved by the federal government took at least some people by surprise, as at least some anti-vax advocates suddenly wondered whether they had found common ground with the governor. "Cuomo has Gone Anti-Vax," advocate John Gilmore, with the New York Alliance for Vaccine Rights, wrote on Facebook. As evidence, Gilmore quoted Cuomo’s own comments from Thursday: "Is the vaccine safe? Frankly, I am not going to trust the federal government’s opinion. And I wouldn’t recommend it to New Yorkers based on the federal government’s opinion." Cuomo’s remarks stirred a lot of interest on social media, as those

who oppose vaccination, or refuse to give vaccines to their children, gathered virtually to parse the governor’s comments, and wonder about what will come next. Some wondered about who would make up the task force that would make the decisions on the safety of a vaccine. "So is he going to appoint the same people who evaluated the repeal of the religious exemption?" wrote activist Rita Palma, a Blue Point resident, who had fought against last year’s decision to ban religious exemptions for vaccines children must take before entering school. Palma added in a separate comment: "This will shine the light. It already is. COVID was God’s gift to vaccine choice. More than 50% of the country do not want to take the vaccine. We are expanding. Right now. Every day. Have hope, there’s damn good reason for it." Cuomo spokesman Rich Azzopardi, however, took a different tact.. "The anti-science crowd should knock it off and stop twisting our

words," Azzopardi said in a statement to The Point. "What we don’t trust is a federal government that has been caught red handed multiple times circumventing the health experts and making political decisions seemingly to boost the president’s re-election chances, which is why the Governor is assembling a panel of professionals to scientifically assess the safety and effectiveness of a vaccine." Then there were those anti-vax commenters who interpreted Cuomo’s remarks very differently, saying the governor is as paving the way for a vaccine mandate. "We all know he wants to be the big savior who mandates the vaccine for the whole state," said one commenter. "We will be forced to get it if we want to buy groceries, much like wearing a mask. Then he will write another book about how great he is for saving the state. My body, the governors (sic) choice."

Trump Reveals Pandering 'Platinum Plan' to Black MAGA Supporters, and CeCe Winans Appears to Count in That Number

According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, polls in Georgia show the race between Trump and Biden running essentially neck-to-neck. This tight face-off is likely what inspired the orange incumbent to gather a crowd of Black Republicans in Georgia this weekend and tell them, “Racial justice begins with Joe Biden’s retirement from public life,” and that Democrats, “only care about themselves, whatever that means.” Within the so-called “Platinum Plan” for African President Trump took to Atlanta, Ga. on Friday to un- Americans that Trump announced on Friday to woo veil his plan for pandering to Black Americans in the (Continued on page 20) 11th hour of the 2020 Elections. Published by The Village Press, Inc.

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Tax bombshell reveals Trump's image is a sham NYT: WH pressured CDC to downplay risks of reopening schools (CNN)It was the moment when Donald Trump's "Art of the Deal" fabulism, billionaire tycoon bluster and populist standardbearing for forgotten Americans was revealed to be what it always looked like: a sham. A stunning New York Times exposĂŠ of the President's tax returns Sunday revealed a pitifully inept businessman and a serial tax avoider crushed by massive debts that could expose him to conflicts of interest given his position as President and power to help undisclosed lenders. New York Times: Trump paid no income taxes in 10 out of 15 years beginning in 2000 Trump refused to talk about his tax returns and blasted the Times report as "totally fake news" on Sunday. But the article portrays the anti-elite crusader who rails against a corrupt system as actually using its loopholes to avoid paying any federal taxes at all in 10 of 15 years beginning in 2000 by writing off his own staggering losses. In 2016 and 2017 each, Trump paid just $750 in federal income taxes -far less than many Americans who are working hard amid a deep recession to stay afloat. Trump took huge deductions -- including $70,000 to take care of his hair -and also appeared to write off hundreds of thousands of dollars paying his daughter Ivanka as a consultant to the Trump Organization, according to the Times report. The story also reveals the extent to which Trump's status as President is being used to shore up his losing ventures â&#x20AC;&#x201D; for example his hotel in Washington, DC, and his golf resorts.

to release his tax records to the public while running for office. Tony Schwartz, who penned Trump's book "The Art of the Deal," said even he was surprised by the "sheer brazenness" of Trump's behavior, remarking to CNN's Anderson Cooper that it revealed the "kind of mind that would think 'I can get away with paying no taxes on hundreds of millions of dollars in income.'" The publication of the deeply reported article, based on more than two decades of his tax information obtained by The Times, comes just two days before the first presidential debate and 37 days before an election in which he is trailing Democrat Joe Biden. It poses a grave challenge to a presidency that we now know Trump may need to preserve to outrun creditors with hundreds of millions of dollars in loans soon coming due. It leaves the President facing multiple questions about his morals, behavior â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and patriotism since he appears to be paying more in taxes to several foreign nations than he is to Uncle Sam. The reporting also raises the possibility that Trump's deceptive accounting, already the View Trump and Biden focus of several investigations in York, could open him up to head-to-head polling New serious legal issues when he leaves "This is a con man in the White office. House," presidential historian The Times report, for instance, says Douglas Brinkley told CNN Sunday, that the President has been referring to a President who battling the Internal Revenue Sershattered convention by refusing Published by The Village Press, Inc.

vice for years over whether losses he claimed should have resulted in a staggering tax refund of $73 million. A debate opening for Biden In the short-term, the New York Times report gives Biden a golden opportunity to put Trump on the defensive during their first debate in Cleveland, Ohio, on Tuesday evening. In recent days, Biden has sought to undermine Trump's good approval ratings on the economy by billing the election as a contest between Scranton, Pennsylvania -- where he was born -- and Park Avenue. Trump's complicated and selfserving tax arrangements play directly into this construct. While the President's most loyal devotees may not be shifted by such an attack, it is hard to see how it does not damage him among wavering blue-collar voters in the postindustrial heartland in states like Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, which are crucial to Trump's narrow pathway to 270 electoral votes. The Great Debate is here! Biden campaign communications director Kate Bedingfield told CNN on Sunday that the report clarified the contrast between the President and the Democratic nominee. "You have in Donald Trump a President who spends his time thinking about how he can work his way out of paying taxes of meeting the obligation that every other working person in this country meets every year ... with Joe Biden you have somebody who has a completely different perspective on what it means to be a working family in (Continued on page 21)

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before now, as CNN reports. The President spoke about the pilpeople away from a potential lars of the plan in broad terms, Biden administration, there are saying, that among other proproposals to make Juneteenth a posals, he would be building up federal holiday and to designate “peaceful” urban neighborhoods lynching as a national hate crime— with the “highest standards” of neither of which are ideas that policing, bringing fairness to the originated with the Trump or have justice system, expanding school even garnered much of his support choice, increasing Black home (Continued from page 17)

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ownership and creating a “national clemency project to right wrongful prosecutions and to pardon individuals who have reformed their (lives).” The proposal borrows efforts from proposals by other Republicans, such as South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, who played a vital role in (Continued on page 40)

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this country," Bedingfield said. The key figure -- that Trump paid just $750 in taxes in two straight years -- might be the most damning, since it is so identifiable and strikes such a clear comparison to the larger figure almost all Americans pay. If a man with his own airliner, gold-leafed homes and string of golf resorts can get away with that, who is to argue that system is not irretrievably biased against regular people? "I'm telling you there are people out there, and I know, I come from blue collar, hard-working, these folks are scraping to make a living and they're going to wake up and find this incredible mogul paid $750," said former Ohio Republican Gov. John Kasich, who is now a CNN political commentator. "I don't care what his excuses are. It doesn't pass the smell test. It's not going to disrupt those people who were for him totally. It's those people on the fence," Kasich said. Within hours of the report's publication, the Biden campaign had already put vinyl stickers up for sale on its website â&#x20AC;&#x201D; reading, "I paid more income taxes than Donald Trump." The report also sheds some light on the President's clear desperation to cling to power. He, for example, intensified his false claims on Sunday that Democrats were trying to steal the election, making a new and factually empty assault Published by The Village Press, Inc.

on mail-in ballots that he claims are plagued by massive fraud. The Times reports that within the next four years, more than $300 million in loans -- for which Trump is personally responsible -- will come due. That opens the extraordinary possibility that the lenders could be called upon to decide whether to foreclose on businesses owned by the US President while he is in office if he is unable to pay the money back. Trump is therefore in danger of becoming deeply compromised. His personal debts also underscore a long-time fear about his administration -- that he is managing US diplomacy in order to prioritize his own personal and financial goals rather than the wider national interests. Trump, for instance, derives millions of dollars in income from countries like Turkey and the Philippines that are led by autocrats whom he has praised but who infringe traditional US values like human rights. And while he has paid little federal tax to the Treasury, the President or his companies have paid more in taxes to foreign powers, including $145,400 to India and $156,824 to the Philippines in 2017. Trump's supporters likely to be unmoved With the election so close, the President needs to spend every day trying to destroy the Demo21

cratic nominee's credibility â&#x20AC;&#x201D; even as he tries to escape the consequences of his disastrous management of a pandemic that has killed more than 200,000 Americans and is again gathering strength. But the story of his taxes may defy even a distraction artist as proficient as the President. Trying to deflect from the New York Times report, Trump at a Sunday news conference touted his new Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett and issued another demand for Biden to submit to a test for performance enhancing drugs before they clash in the debate.

How Trump's base appeals have backfired Yet given Trump's strong emotional and tribal connection to his followers, his success in constructing alternative political realities while discrediting journalists, and the propaganda from conservative (Continued on page 25)

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Free KIERIN DENNIS Renee Moore started this petition to local authorities and judicial system and 3 others Via EMILY EDWARDS â&#x20AC;&#x153;I wanna take a moment to remind those who know Kierin Dennis and those who do not that he was convicted of murder for defending himself against a group of football players when his car was surrounded in the cookout parking lot and he was dragged out of his car. He used his buck knife to defend himself and in the process he fatally stabbed one of his attackers. Apparently it's only okay to defend yourself if you are white. The justice system failed him. I went to school with Kierin. I had classes with him. He was a friend. And one of the smartest kids in our classes. He was always respectful, presented himself with integrity and outstanding mannerism, he excelled in his welding career, had never been in trouble and was a star on our football team. He will spend the next 30 years in prison for fighting for his

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life. PLEASE DON'T FORGET ABOUT HIM. My heart breaks for him everyday. #BLM #FuckTheSystem #DefendingYourselfWhileBlack #share #kimkardashianprisonreform #theinnocenceproject #IStandForYou UPDATE: I am brought to tears by the amount of support for Kierin I've seen through shares. My hope is that this will blow up so big that it cannot be ignored and that someone who obtains the knowledge and connection needed to help Kierin will see this and WILL infact help him. We love you Kierin. Hang in there.â&#x20AC;?

10/2/2020

Trump refuses to condemn white supremacy, tells Proud Boys to ‘stand by’ A social media account for the Proud Boys made the Trump phrase 'Stand back. Stand by' part of its new logo. The first presidential debate of the 2020 election has been described as “chaotic,” a generous characterization. President Donald Trump was loud and belligerent, while former vice president Joe Biden responded by mocking the president, calling him a “clown.” One of the most stunning moments of the night was when Trump refused to condemn white supremacy and white supremacists. Americans Across The Nation Watch First Presidential Debate People sit and watch a broadcast of the first debate between President Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden at The Abbey, with socially distanced outdoor seating, in West Hollywood. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images) Moderator Chris Wallace asked Trump if he was willing to condemn white supremacists and say that they need to stand down amid ongoing protests against police violence in the country. Wallace specifically pointed to Kenosha and Portland, where people have been killed during protests. “Sure, I’m willing to (tell them to

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stand down), but I would say almost everything I see is from the left-wing, not from the right-wing. I’m willing to do anything. I want to see peace,” Trump said. “Say it. Do it. Say it,” Biden retorted. Trump then asked Wallace for a specific group to condemn. Biden twice said, “Proud Boys.” “Proud Boys — stand back and stand by,” Trump said. “But I’ll tell you what. I’ll tell you what. Somebody’s got to do something about Antifa and the left because this is not a rightwing problem.” The Proud Boys is a far-right group the Southern Poverty Law Center has designated as a hate group. On their website, they describe themselves as “Western chauvinists who refuse to apologize for creating the modern world.” The group was founded in 2016 in

New York by Gavin McInnes, the cofounder of Vice Media, and has since spread across the U.S., as well as to countries like Australia and Japan. It has been banned on Facebook and Instagram, and Twitter has suspended several Proud Boys-related accounts. However, after last night’s debate, one known social media account for the group made the phrase “Stand back. Stand by” part of its new logo. Joe Biden tweeted screenshots of members of the organization celebrating after the president’s remarks, saying, “This. This is Donald Trump’s America.” Other Twitter responses were just as expressive.

10/2/2020

In Partnership with

Wish & LIAACC: The Wish Local Empowerment Program Wish and LIAACC are partnering to bring you the Wish Local Empowerment Program! Wish Local is a series of programs that allows small businesses to partner with Wish, one of the largest eCommerce marketplaces in the world. As part of the Wish Local program, businesses select which programs to participate in and can sell their inventory on Wish, act as neighborhood Wish pickup locations, source wholesale items, and more. The Wish Local Empowerment Program is a $2M fund Wish has dedicated to give roughly 4,000 Black-owned businesses financial support. Businesses choose how to best utilize the funding, but suggestions include keeping your workforce employed, paying rent, or connecting with new customers. Wish recognizes that as a large e-commerce company, we have an opportunity and responsibility to help uplift others and we can't think of a better way than by helping people build their businesses. Learn more about the program and apply today!

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10/2/2020

Throughout a tumultuous political career, Trump has rarely paid a media, the October-surprise style price for scandals, outrages and bombshell may have less immedi- insults â&#x20AC;&#x201D; any one of which would ate political impact than might be have doomed a normal politician. expected. His brand is well known; he is a Stories about Trump's refusal to rule breaker. And in the past, he pay his creditors, casino bankrupt- has explained that avoiding taxes cies and morally questionable shows he is a smart businessman business practices have been cir- and is an approach anyone would culating for years and did not stop take if they could. On Sunday, him from winning in 2016 or tarTrump quickly adopted his characnish his self-created mystique as teristic tactics to try and pass off the hard-driving real estate shark the hugely serious revelations as that he portrayed on NBC's "The nothing to concern voters. Apprentice." "It's fake news. It's totally fake (Continued from page 21)

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news. Made-up, fake. We went through the same stories, you could've asked me the same questions four years ago," the President said, again inaccurately saying he couldn't release his tax returns because he was under audit. "I mean the stories that I read are so fake. They're so phony," he said, claiming to pay a lot in taxes. The Trump Organization's lawyer, Alan Garten, told the Times that "most, if not all, of the facts appear to be inaccurate" and requested the documents.

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10/2/2020

Trump Dismisses 'New York Times' Report That He Paid Little In Federal Income Taxes

Garten, a lawyer for the Trump Organization, told the publication that "most, if not all, of the facts appear to be inaccurate." A New York The Times says it obTimes investigation published on Sunday said that President Trump tained over 20 years of tax return data for paid just $750 in federal income taxes each year in 2016 and 2017, Trump and the myriad companies that make up which the president denied at a his organization. news conference using a familiar Here are other key retort: "fake news." points from The New The Times cites Trump's longYork Times: sought-after tax returns, further the Philippines, India and Turkey. Some reductions in the president's reporting that he paid no income Trump and his companies paid taxtaxes at all in 10 of the previous 15 tax liability came from unexplained es of $15,598 in Panama, $145,400 consulting fees. The Times cites eviyears as Trump reported massive in India and $156,824 in the Philiplosses to his businesses. pines in 2017, one of the years the Among its other findings, the invesreport says Trump paid just $750 in tigation determined that Trump income taxes to the U.S. governhas hundreds of millions of dollars ment. in loans that are set to come due Supreme Court Says Trump Not within the next four years â&#x20AC;&#x201D; po'Immune' From Records Release, tentially his second term in office But Hedges On House Case â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and that he's battling the InterThe Times report was explicit that it nal Revenue Service over a nearly did not find any previously un$73 million tax refund he claimed a known connections to Russia, decade ago. The Times said an something that critics of the presi"adverse ruling [in that audit case] dent have speculated would be recould cost him more than $100 milvealed in his tax returns. lion." Trump's political opponents for All told, the investigation provides dence that some of the fees may years have sought his personal fithe most detailed accounting yet of have been paid to his daughter, nancial records, after he broke decthe finances of a president with Ivanka Trump, though she was not ades of presidential precedent by massive business interests who has an outside figure, given her role as not voluntarily releasing his tax resought to shield the details of those a top official in the Trump Organi- turns during the 2016 campaign or finances from the American public. zation. If that were true, it could since. Article continues after sponsor create further legal peril. Trump has also not divested from message Trump's long-running IRS audit his family business, creating layers NPR has not confirmed any of the stems from a refund he claimed in of financial entanglements and podetails from the filings; 2010 totaling $72.9 million, which tential conflicts of interest, includthe Times didn't post any of its appears to be based on a question- ing business deals that could be source documents to protect able move by the president to subject to decisions by foreign sources, according to the story. claim he was walking away from his leaders. When asked about the report dur- Atlantic City casino business. Last year, House Ways and Means ing a Sunday evening news confer- More than $70,000 paid to style Committee Chair Richard Neal, Dence, Trump refused to detail what Trump's hair for his former reality Mass., sued federal officials to try he's paid in federal income taxes, show The Apprentice was written to obtain six years of Trump's tax saying simply: "I've paid a lot." off on his taxes as a business exreturns. In July of this year, the SuHe said "it'll all be revealed" when pense. He has also written off costs preme Court sent the case back to his tax returns can be released related to residences and aircraft a lower court. after audit â&#x20AC;&#x201D; something he's said that many would consider personal "It appears that the President has for years. (In fact, an audit would expenses. gamed the tax code to his adnot prevent the president from re- The president's businesses have vantage and used legal fights to leasing his records.) brought in lots of money from delay or avoid paying what he Trump has previously bragged overseas, detailed precisely for the owes," Neal said in a statement about not paying taxes. first time in this report, according Sunday evening. He added: "Our "That makes me smart," he said in to the Times. In his first two years case is very strong, and we will ultia 2016 debate against Hillary Clin- in the White House, Trump earned mately prevail." ton, when she accused him of not $73 million from overseas, mostly paying federal income taxes. from his golf courses in the British Responding to the Times, Alan Isles. He also earned millions from Published by The Village Press, Inc.

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10/2/2020

DIGITAL Version 2020

Chamber Executives States “Chamber Development and Leadership Development Vital To Black Business Growth Across America”

together to foster business growth in the Black Community in a sustainable manner many years into the future. Corporate support of diversity initiatives in the Black Community will continue to play a vital role in leveling the playing field in America. “As President of the Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce, Inc. we have seen the direct correlation between chamber National, News – Chamber Execu- development and leadership develtives States “chamber developopment in the business sector as ment and leadership development an opportunity to not only return is vital to black business growth businesses to prior levels, but help Across America” during COVID-19 them to fuel their growth to the Crisis, and Post COVID-19. It is no next level.” Phil Andrews, Presisecret that Black Businesses in dent – Long Island African AmeriAmerica have suffered a tremencan Chamber of Commerce, Inc. – dous loss during this recent panNew York State’s largest African demic. Chamber development and American Chamber of Commerce leadership development plans and and the New York District Office of strategies must work in parallel the United States Small Business Published by The Village Press, Inc.

Administration. Coincidentally, our chamber launched our campaign to Retool, Refocus and Rebuild Black Business in New York State in November of 2019 prior to the Covid-19 crises. At that time we decided to raise the bar for what it means to be a black chamber in New York State. As chambers of commerce such as ours continue to evolve we believe that it will result in significant growth of Black Businesses across a variety of industries. Since our chamber was founded we have actively provided a wide variety of programs and activities geared towards increasing our member’s capacity to grow their respective business enterprises to the next level. The Long Island African American Chamber of Com(Continued on page 30)

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merce, Inc. stands firm on our chamber’s ability to impact the scope, size, and growth of small business owners in our region for many years into the future. See information about: Wish & LIAACC: The Wish Local Empowerment Program below! About: Wish Local is a series of programs that allows small businesses to partner with Wish, one of the largest eCommerce marketplaces in the world. As part of the Wish Local program, businesses select which programs to participate in and can sell their inventory on Wish, act as neighborhood Wish pickup locations, source wholesale items, and more. The Wish Local Empowerment Program is a $2M fund Wish has dedicated to give roughly 4,000 Blackowned businesses financial support. Businesses choose how to best utilize the funding, but sug-

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gestions include keeping your workforce employed, paying rent, or connecting with new customers. Wish recognizes that as a large ecommerce company, we have an opportunity and responsibility to help uplift others and we can’t think of a better way than by helping people build their businesses. Wish Local Empowerment Program Apply here: https:// www.wish.com/local/ empowerment? utm_source=LIAACC As part of the initiative, Wish has partnered with Official Black Wall Street and Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce (LIAACC) to help promote the program amongst their networks. To apply, business owners must tell Wish about their store and why they qualify for the program. Our committee will then review all applications to select which stores will receive funds and allocate funds accordingly. All successful

applicants join the Wish Local program – a global network of 40,000 partner stores around the world. Through the program they can sign up as a Wish Pickup point or take advantage of our Sell on Wish feature which gives small retailers an immediate digital presence by allowing them to trade their own inventory online. Sign up is free and Wish takes no cut of any product upload, sale or delivery fee. The news further enhances Wish’s ongoing drive to expand its merchant footprint in North America and Europe and, in doing so, revitalize local communities who are amongst the hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. To view recent spotlight on the Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce, Inc. on the International Grapevine Television Show click here: https:// www.youtube.com/watch? v=oCsa3efFue8

10/2/2020

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10/2/2020

African American Gun Manufacturer “Civilian Force Arms” Yonas Hagos of Civilian Force Arms National African American Gun Association

USA –-(Ammoland.com)- I ran across a Company called “Civilian Force Arms” they are an African American owned “Gun Manufacturer” in the United States. Yes right here in the USA and they are thriving. The company was founded by Yonas Hagos who is a USA Army Veteran and Purple Heart recipient. The company is delivering a World Class AR-15 platform that is dependable and performs at a quite a high level. Yonas Hagos, a child refugee from Sudan, has always dedicated his life to serving his country and others. After being wounded by a rocket propelled grenade in Iraq during the height of the war in 2004, Yonas became an avid community volunteer and entrepreneur. Volunteering as a Mission Continues Fellow, he along with other post 9/11 Veterans dedicated their time and energy to rebuilding communities across the nation. Soon he turned his drive to serve into business, launching three successful businesses helping to employ fellow Americans.

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Now he is focusing on what he does best, designing and building custom AR-15s. Yonas prides himself on producing weapons that are American Made, Built To Survive.™ This is a solid Veteran owned organization that the NAAG community needs to support “Nationwide” and buy products from. They are based in Illinois. Company Website: https://www.civilianforcearms.com/about Location: Civilian Force Arms 1208B Badger St. Yorkville, IL. 60560 Telephone: 630-882-3498 / Phone: 815-341-9165 Email; levon@civilianforcearms.com About National African American Gun Association (NAAGA): The goal of the National African American Gun Association is to have every african american introduced to firearm use for home protection, competitive shooting, and outdoor recreational activities. We are a civil rights organization focused on self preservation of our community through armed protection and community building. The National African American Gun Association provides a network for all african american firearm owners, gun clubs and outdoor enthusiasts. We welcome people of all religious, social, and racial perspectives. We especially welcome african american members of law enforcement and active/ retired military.

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MARKET ABOUT OUR PUBLICATIONS OUR African-Americans represent a substantial growth In the Bible it is said, “...My people perish for lack of knowledge…” Hosea 4:6 KJV. This statement is not only true for the Saints but for the African American community’s of Nassau County. Over the years I have personally seen the deterioration of the fabric of the Black community first hand and it began in the schools. Now this is not a bad thing but it is an important thing that needs to be addressed before it is too late. While living on Long Island places a lot of pressure on many residents. Long Island is among the top 25 markets in the country. Anything and everything is available to the residents living on Long Island except a professional, stable and strong community news source. If we are not informed how can we make informed decisions? This is why the VILLAGE PRESS was birth and will launch this coming September. An informed community is the worlds best customer as well as best neighbor. We are committed to making that happen. The marketing and sales teams here at the VILLAGE PRESS have a very simple customer marketing strategy. We believe that it is our obligation to meet the client where they are most comfortable, like at Home on a Saturday morning with our Home Delivery Workforce. Or as with this digital publications. Or at their quiet get-a-away; Like their personal SPA, the Gym, or HAIR SALON or even their BARBER SHOP with our Live Streaming Internet Radio Network. Or even at WORK during a break with our Internet Television Podcast. There is no magic to this marketing thing we just want to comfortably meet our clients where it is convenient for them. Published by The Village Press, Inc.

segment of the American consumer market for companies and organizations. As a young population with growing economic power and influence it is an important market for those organizations looking for future domestic growth. When looking toward the future prospects of the African-American demographic some key factors indicate a fertile economic opportunity for corporations. The buying power of African-Americans is $I trillion and expected to grow to $I.3 trillion in the next few years. A younger, growing population and higher educational achievement are the engines behind gains in economic power and show no signs of slowing down or plateauing. Overall growth in the number of households with incomes higher than $50,000, $75,000, and $I00,000 indicates the overall buying power increases are broad-based and not concentrated at the top, allowing for increased branding and sales opportunities for companies. Along with exercising more purchase power, African-Americans have started adopting behavioral changes in their lifestyles. These lifestyle changes and consumer behaviors are concentrated in a majority that is in a prime age demographic, have more durable household income levels, and are driven by cultural and ethnic awareness. Cultural identity and ethnicity are key drivers for consumption for African-Americans. African-Americans are very receptive to advertising and programming that include positive cultural themes and include people of color. Black consumers are more likely to support or purchase products and services that are represented or owned by people of the same ethnicity. Not only are African-American consumers culturally aware they are early adopters of new technology and are heavy users of digital media. Blacks are more likely to positively receive advertising and content via mobile phones and use applications to recommend products to others or rate their experiences. African-Americans consume television and video at higher rates than the general population. Black adults are adopting healthier habits including greater participation in exercise and athletics, eating healthier organic foods, cutting back on riskier habits like smoking and drinking alcohol. Healthier living also includes financial awareness, literacy, and preparedness activities like managing debt, saving, investing, and retirement planning. 10/2/2020

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ANDREAUS GUILTY

AFRICAN AMERICAN MEDIA NETWORK

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the establishment of opportunity zones and remains the sole Black Republican in the Senate. For example, Trump’s plan proposes making lynching a national hate crime. In 2019, Scott co-sponsored legislation to make lynching a hate crime alongside none other than California Democratic Sen. Kamala Harris, who is now the Democratic vice presidential nominee. It’s pretty transparent and flimsy pandering, given that the President memorably chose Juneteenth weekend to host a rally in Tulsa for his band of white supremacists this summer, and has spent 2020 ratcheting up anti-Black racism on Twitter and with White House directives to silence any attempts to expand the narrative of America by recognizing the systematic oppression of Black Americans. But Trump’s vague plans to supposedly pump $500 billion into Black businesses and communities if he is returned to the presidency were enough to excite the crowd of Black Republicans in Atlanta who gathered to show support for him in on Friday, and even started chanting for him to have 12 more years in office (after laughing with Trump at the idea that he will actually do the things he says he will). Speaking of the willful idiocy of Black Republicans, it appears that gospel singer CeCe Winans may be one of the small percentage of melanated people aboard the MAGA boat. News broke on Friday that Winans is participating in an upcoming taxpayer funded $300 million dollar campaign from the White House that will laud the Trump Administration’s response to COVID-19 and seek to combat “defeat despair” about the pandemic which has killed over 200,000 Americans. The ad blitz, described in some budget documents as the “Covid19 immediate surge public advertising and awareness campaign,” is expected to lean heavily on video interviews between administration officials and celebrities, who will discuss aspects of the coronavirus outbreak and address the Trump administration’s response to the crisis, according to six individuals Published by The Village Press, Inc.

with knowledge of the campaign who described its workings to POLITICO. Senior administration officials have already recorded interviews with celebrities like actor Dennis Quaid and singer CeCe Winans, and the Health and Human Services Department also has pursued television host Dr. Mehmet Oz and musician Garth Brooks for roles in the campaign. I’m hop-skipping across that sad list of ‘celebrity’ spokespersons to wonder at the wisdom, not to mention the Christian decency, in throwing your name behind an administration that has proven over and over again that it doesn’t care about people’s lives—especially Black ones—and only cares about appearances. Winans herself hopped on Twitter to answer (AKA side-step) the growing questions about why she was being a party to Trump’s mendacity, by saying she was asked to do an interview about COVID-19 by Black Trump lackey, Surgeon General Jerome Adams, and that in it she had just stressed “how important it is for everyone to wear a mask.” Though the president has consistently played politics with the idea that masks matter in the first place, the hatchet job the White House is doing with the coronavirus continues to rack up more lost lives, and we are weeks out from one of the most critical elections of our lifetime, Winans added that her participation in the ad was “not political at all.” Sure girl, whatever. Trump tries to win over Black voters with $500B ‘platinum plan’ The president calls for Congress to make 'Juneteenth' a holiday, and prioritize criminal justice reform. President Donald Trump rolled out his “Platinum Plan” for Black Americans during a summit in Atlanta, Georgia on Friday. The plan aims to invest $500 billion in Black communities. Trump did not disclose how the plan will be funded but he vows to create 500,000 new Black-owned businesses, 3 million new jobs for the Black community, and designate 40

the KKK and Antifa as terrorist organizations, NPR reports. The “Platinum Plan” states that it will “prosecute the KKK and ANTIFA as terrorist organizations and make lynching a national hate crime.” The plan also calls for Congress to make “Juneteenth” a holiday, and prioritize criminal justice reform. Read More: Trump to choose Amy Coney Barrett for SCOTUS, sources say In a statement released to theGrio, the Biden campaign’s Director of Strategic Communications Kamau Marshall said: “In 2016, President Trump asked Black Americans “What the hell do you have to lose?” The answer was everything. President Trump has been in office for nearly 4 years and the results have been devastating for Black Americans. Trump lied about the danger of COVID-19 and failed to contain the virus and tens of thousands of Black Americans have lost their lives. More than 1.5 million additional Black Americans are unemployed than at the same time last year and 400,000 small businesses have closed because of the economic fallout from the crisis. Now with 39 days to the election, Trump is making more empty promises. Black voters won’t fall for it. They know that Vice President Biden and Senator Harris are the candidates in the race with a real plan to create jobs, address racial equity, close the racial wealth and income gaps, and lower health care costs. And, while President Trump fans the flames of race and division, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will bring Americans together to advance racial equity and root out systemic racism.” Critics have noted that lawmakers have already introduced much of Trump’s plan or it has been opposed by his own officials. Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif. introduced legislation over the summer to make Juneteenth a national holiday, theGRIO previously reported. “Together with my colleagues Cory Booker, Tina Smith, and Ed Market, we are proposing that Juneteenth be a national holiday,” Harris said in June. “And we are dropping that (Continued on page 44)

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Making Business Sense Talking Business with Phil Andrews Chamber Executives States “Chamber Development and Leadership Development Vital To Black Business Growth Across America”

Phil Andrews At Large

what it means to be a black chamber in New York State. As chambers of commerce such as ours continue to evolve we believe that it will result in significant growth of Black Businesses across a variety of industries. Since our chamber was founded we have actively provided a wide variety of programs and activities geared towards increasing our member's capacity to grow their respective business enterprises to the next level. The Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce, Inc. stands firm on our chamber’s ability to impact the scope, size, and growth of small business owners in our region for many years into the future. LI African American Chamber of Commerce New York District Office of the United States Small Business Administration 2019 Small Business Champion: One of our goals at the chamber is to do outreach to the communities in our region to provide them compelling information why small business owners should join the chamber. To view recent spotlight on the Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce, Inc. on the International Grapevine Television Show click here: https:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCsa3efFue8 For more information on sponsorship opportunities, partnership opportunities, upcoming programs or membership inquiries visit www.liaacc.org and contact us. Media Contact: WA Public Relations Company 1-347-727-9015 wapublicrelationsco@gmail.com https://wa-public-relations-company.business.site/

National, News - Chamber Executives States “chamber development and leadership development is vital to black business growth Across America” during Covid-19 Crisis, and Post Covid-19. It is no secret that Black Businesses in America have suffered a tremendous loss during this recent pandemic. Chamber development and leadership development plans and strategies must work in parallel together to foster business growth in the Black Community in a sustainable manner many years into the future. Corporate support of diversity initiatives in the Black Community will continue to play a vital role in leveling the playing field in America. “As President of the Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce, Inc. we have seen the direct correlation between chamber development and leadership development in the business sector as an opportunity to not only return businesses to prior levels, but help them to fuel their growth to the next level.” Phil Andrews, President – Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce, Inc. – New York State’s largest African American Chamber of Commerce and the New York District Office of the United States Small Business Administration. Coincidentally, our chamber launched our campaign Description: MainStreet ONLINE, a COOP program to Retool, Refocus and Rebuild Black Business in New powered by Google, provides small businesses and York State in November of 2019 prior to the Covid-19 (Continued on page 48) crises. At that time we decided to raise the bar for

Hey New York, Ready to Sell Online?

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Elaine Gross' Statement Denouncing HUD's New Rule Elaine Gross, President of ERASE Racism, today denounced a new rule issued yesterday by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that will make enforcing the Fair Housing Act of 1968 much more difficult. The Discriminatory Effects Standard (commonly known as Disparate Impact) of the Fair Housing Act prohibits unjustified policies or practices that have a disproportionate adverse effect (Disparate Impact) on protected class members, even if those policies or practices were not motivated by a discriminatory intent. HUD states that the new rule “…still recognizes disparate impact as a viable theory of discrimination…” But it carefully and thoroughly creates such a high bar for plaintiffs seeking to utilize a Disparate Impact claim that in reality, with this new rule, the Discriminatory Effects Standard is effectively neutered. Elaine Gross, President of ERASE Racism, which has been combating housing discrimination for two decades, issued the following statement about the new rule: “HUD has taken another disgraceful and meanspirted step to dismantle fair housing protections. When this new rule was first proposed last year, ERASE Racism and other civil rights advocates warned that it would likely sanction discrimination and perpetuate racial segregation. The final rule is even more damaging than we thought. The new rule dramatically shifts the burden of proof to the plaintiff in housing discrimination cases and makes it much harder to bring cases to court. It aids defendants by neither requiring nor encouraging data collection. How convenient. No data, no proof. Perpetuating segregation has been removed from the text as a component of the Discriminatory Effects definition. Long Island is still one of the most racially segregated metro regions in the county. That fact should not be a surprise to anyone. Just last week, real estate agents and brokers testified at a joint hearing of three State Senate Committees that they had not discriminated based on race against prospective homebuyers of colPublished by The Village Press, Inc.

or, despite undercover videotapes capturing the discriminatory actions against people of color. ERASE Racism’s own lawsuits captured similar behaviors, where white people were shown apartments and encouraged to apply and black people were not and, thereby, denied housing. Disparate impact is one of the very few tools available to combat systematic racism that is perpetuated by governments and businesses. HUD’s new rule on Disparate Impact is a major step backward in fighting housing discrimination. It removes an important standard that has been used in key cases on Long Island and across the nation to combat residential discrimination. In a famous housing discrimination case in Huntington, for instance, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals upheld use of the Disparate Impact standard. A recent federal District Court ruling in Garden City showed that the use of exclusionary zoning ordinances reinforced residential segregation. With this new rule, the Trump Administration is substantially undermining fair housing. It is depriving opponents of housing discrimination of an important and vital tool.” With the struggle for fair housing growing more dire everyday, your support of ERASE Racism's work is critical and appreciated. You can donate to our mission at eraseracismny.org/donate. Every contribution aids us in building a just Long Island. Thank you for your continued support of ERASE Racism and our work. For more information, visit our website or send us an email at info@eraseracismny.org. We look forward to our continued, joint action.

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bill saying that Juneteenth should be a national holiday.” Her announcement, delivered on MSNBC’s AM Joy, was made on the same day that Republican Senator John Cornyn released a statement also supporting the creation of a national holiday marking the end of the enslavement of Africans in America. Harris’ lynching legislation has been repeatedly stalled by Trump loyalist Sen. Rand Paul. Trump, who won 8% of the Black vote in 2016, aims to woo Black voters ahead of the election with his “Platinum Plan.” Read More: Trump questions ‘why the hell’ he passed reform after failing to energize Black voters “When I ran for president four years ago, I looked at the shameful record of the Democrat party, and asked black Americans, ‘What the

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hell do you have to lose?’” Trump told the crowd in Atlanta on Friday. “I want to share what you have to gain from voting Republican on November 3rd – the biggest election of our lives. For decades, Democrat politicians like Joe Biden have taken Black voters for granted.” Meanwhile, news of Trump’s “Platinum Plan” is being met with the side eye among activists and media influencers. Popular YouTuber Professor Black Truth noted, “Trump’s “Plan” for Black America is mostly hot air,” he wrote on Twitter. “The KKK is largely a relic, with the WS having moved onto other groups, whom Trump makes no promises to prosecute! But it’s worth mentioning that someone is now mentioning black people specifically. A shame he’s not serious,” he added. Filmmaker Tariq Nasheed also pointed out that the “Trump Plati-

num Plan for Black America, where he wants to designate the “KKK and Antifa” as “terrorist groups”, is filled with bait & switch trick bag language. It starts off using the word Black…And when you get to the fine print, it switches to “minority” (ie white women),” he wrote on Twitter. In a separate tweet he wrote, “Unfortunately Trump’s Platinum Plan for Black people has the same trick bag “minority” language when you start reading the fine print. So this is yet another nothing burger.”

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EMPIRE STATE DEVELOPMENT EXPANDS NEW YORK FORWARD LOAN FUND TO INCLUDE PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM RECIPIENTS

vide more small businesses with working capital to cover expenses associated with reopening. ESD Acting Commissioner, and President and CEO-delegate Eric Gertler said, "The coronavirus pandemic was an unprecedented challenge to the state’s business community, of which ninety-eight percent are small businesses. Providing assistance and opportunity – particularly to our state’s minorityand women-owned businesses – to help them reopen is essential toward revitalizing our economy and Previously Ineligible New York building New York back better." State Small Businesses Can ReWhen the NYFLF launched in May, ceive Low-Interest Working Capithe federal Small Business Admintal Loans istration had just issued rules reAvailable to Small Businesses That garding companies’ eligibility for Received PPP Assistance of federal assistance. The goal of the $50,000 or Less NYFLF was to help New York-based Empire State Development (ESD) small businesses that did not retoday announced that Paycheck ceive PPP funding with flexible Protection Program (PPP) recipiworking capital to reopen and ents are now eligible to receive low adapt to post-COVID needs. Com-interest loans from the New York panies with 20 employees or less Forward Loan Fund (NYFLF). This make up 90% of New York’s busiconditional change will provide the ness community, and it was critical Fund's network of lenders and fito provide a funding lifeline to nancial institutions with greater those businesses shut out of federflexibility and enable them to proal assistance. However, some NYFLF applicants who needed assistance A new training program available to Minority and were deemed Women Business Enterprises (M/WBEs). ineligible beFrom October to November, National Grid is offering cause they had a webinar series specifically developed for Minority already received Business Enterprises and Women’s Business EnterPPP funds. prises (W/MBEs). The virtual program, composed of 7 Through discuswebinars, will educate participants on various aspects sions with lendof energy efficiency and business developers and appliment. Participants must be considered an M/WBE as cants, it became defined by New York State and operate within Nationapparent that al Grid's New York City and Long Island territory. PPP loans did Those interested in learning more or signing up can not go far go to https://my.demio.com/ref/3UHq4Ya9VK0colYK. enough to supAny questions related to this program can be diport New Yorkrected to Lyle.Sclair@nationalgrid.com. based small businesses. Leg-

From the Office of Senator Kevin Thomas

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islative criteria restricted how the government assistance could be spent, and oftentimes PPP amounts were a fraction of what was needed and requested. Starting today, NYFLF Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) will contact previously ineligible applicants to determine if they are still interested in funding and begin the underwriting process. This is limited to small businesses who received $50,000 or less in PPP assistance. The fund is prepared to process the new applications from this change while also working with existing applicants. Small business who did not receive any federal assistance are still eligible and encouraged to apply. Additionally, the program goal of providing at least 60% of loans to Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (MWBEs) remains, and that goal will not change due to the newly-expanded eligibility. Eligible small businesses and small residential landlords can apply for a 60-month, no-fee loan with a 3% fixed interest rate; while eligible non-profits can apply for a 60month, no-fee loan at 2% fixed interest. The maximum loan amount is $100,000. Loan funds can be used for working capital including payroll, operating and emergency maintenance, property taxes, utilities and costs associated with refitting physical space to follow social distancing guidelines. More information is available online at nyloanfund.com. The five CDFIs processing applications are Accion East, Community Preservation Corporation, National Development Council, Pursuit and TruFund Financial Services. Seven banks have pledged support for the New York Forward Loan Fund: (Continued on page 60)

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The Fight for Long Beach – Long Beach MLK Center Anissa D. Moore As a significant population of AfricanAmericans in the City of Long Beach were terminated by the City during the national pandemic of COVID-19, and low and middle-income residents are struggling to find housing options, the City of Long Beach is now considering other options for the historic MLK Center. Interestingly, this week marks the 39th Anniversary celebration of the historic organization, The Long Beach Martin Luther King Center, Inc. of its residence at 615 Riverside Boulevard (MLK Way). The celebration theme, “39 at Riverside”, recognizes the African American leaders and allies who advocated for constructing the building before its full erection in 1981. The four-day virtual event (September 30th through October 3rd) will also serve as a fundraiser for the Center and its programs. The Long Beach Martin Luther King Inc. traces its historic beginning to 1967 when local African American community organizers united to create the concept of the MLK Center. The original lease for the facility was signed on September 25, 1981 and commenced on October 1st of the same year. The MLK Center building has long served as a testament to black struggles for equity and justice in Long Beach. In 1981, the MLK Center was completed simultaneously with the development of MLK programs. The City of Long Beach currently argues that they are still carrying the financial responsibility for the building as it relates to building maintenance. Furthermore, the building maintenance is not a Published by The Village Press, Inc.

part of the legal agreement and that the current contract must be renegotiated.

most recent email dated September 30 stated that Councilwoman the “MLK Inc. no longer has access to theAnissa Long Beach Martin Luther Moore During the City Council Work session held King Center. The MLK Inc. confirmed that on July 16, City Attorney, Simone Freethe organization has retained the services man informed the City Council that the of Civil Rights attorney Fred Brewington. “City of Long Beach has been approached by other not-for -profits of their interest As the community seeks answers, four in providing services for the community new housing developments have been and that the current lease with the MLK built on the same block as the Center. Inc. expired some time ago.” Consequent- The fight for Long Beach continues in the ly, Councilwoman Karen McInnis encour- hopes of lessening the blow of gentrificaaged the City Administration to move tion and maintaining the history of the forward with “the appraisal of all City community. owned buildings.” However, CounAnissa Moore serves as a Full Professor at cilmembers Treston and DeLury suggestNassau Community College, State Univered that the City find out what the comsity of New York. She became the first munity needs. City Manager Donna GayAfrican American woman to serve on the den stated the City of Long Beach has not Long Beach City Council from 2015- 2019. collected rent from the MLK Inc.in recent She is a poet, and co-author of the play: years. “The MLK Inc. could still apply for Sistas on Fire which examines the life of the request for proposal and more than Black Women in America. Anissadone agency could provide services for the moore@gmail.com. community.” The City Council left the most recent work session stating the City is in “information phase” However, a

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EDITORIAL THE DEBUCKLE 2020

in the alphabet to relate our comLarry Montgomery, Sr. ments on that so Publisher and Chairman called debate for View it if you dare. Sorry there are not either candidate so enough characters we made a video.

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Sr. Pastor Arthur L. Mackey , Jr.

Chef Arrette Harvey

LISA-ANNE BYERS

Don Durant

Shuray Bethea 47

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artists in the State of New York with free, handson support to start selling online just in time for the holiday season. CTA: https://coopcareers.org/mainstreet-online Subject: Hey New York, Ready to Sell Online? Digital tools provide a safety net for small businesses, highlighting the importance of having an online store. Small businesses using e-commerce estimate their revenue and sales for 2020 to be 2X better than those that do not. Google is partnering with COOP to launch MainStreet ONLINE, a program providing small businesses and artists in the State of New York with free, hands-on support to start selling online just in time for the holiday season. How does it work? MainStreet ONLINE is a program that pairs small business owners with COOP students, who are trained in ecommerce and supervised by an experienced strategist, to build an optimized Shopify online store for businesses for free and help them reach new customers with Google tools. What will small businesses get? Small businesses will get hands-on assistance setting up a Shopify website and free product listings on the Google shopping tab, an optimized free Business Profile on Google Search and Maps, and support building effective Smart Shopping campaigns on Google. Who is eligible? MainStreet ONLINE is currently open to independent small businesses who are registered in the State of New York and have fewer than twenty employees.

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How to apply? Small businesses looking to jumpstart their online sales can visit MainStreet ONLINE to learn more and apply! Applications will be accepted through Oct 30th.

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Roy C. Hammond, Soul Singer Best Known for Often-Sampled 'Impeach the President', Dead at 81 Roy C. Hammond (August 3, 1939 – September 16, 2020) Roy “Roy C” Hammond, the soul singer best known for writing and producing the Honey Drippers’ song “Impeach the President” has died at the age of 81. The New York Times confirmed Hammond died in his home on Sept. 16 in Allendale, S.C. due to liver cancer. La La Anthony: 'Proud to Be Black. Proud to Be Puerto Rican' Born Roy Charles Hammond on August 3, 1939, in Newington, Ga., Hammond once dreamed of becoming a professional boxer but eventually pivoted to music in the late 1950s, beginning with writing and producing hits for The Genies. Taking the professional name of “Roy C,” in 1965 Hammond released the single “Shotgun Wedding”; his debut solo album titled That Shotgun Wedding Man was released the following year. In the ‘70s, Hammond’s songs were colored with political and social agitation such as the Vietnam War protest song “Open Letter to the President” and “Great, Great Grandson of a Slave.” Then, came his most impactful hit. Released in 1973, “Impeach the President” was the Honey Drippers’ artistic way of advocating for the impeachment of then-president Richard Nixon during the infamous Watergate scandal (which led to his impeachment process). In addition to the song being especially timely these days, it has had quite the longlasting impact on the music industry. Even if you haven’t heard the original, you most likely Published by The Village Press, Inc.

know those drums if you’re a hiphop head on any level. The song’s biggest impact, though, is in the booming drums cooked up by Hammond on the track, which have reportedly been sampled more than 600 times on hiphop tracks, including on MC Shan’s “The Bridge,” Eric B and Rakim’s “Eric B. is President” Kris Kross’ “Jump,” Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg’s “The Chronic (Intro),” LL Cool J’s “Around the Way Girl,” Tupac Shakur’s “I Get Around,” The Notorious B.I.G.’s “Unbelievable” and J. Cole’s “Wet Dreamz,” as well as songs by Nas, Flo Rida, Digable Planets, Janet Jackson, N.W.A, Big Daddy Kane, Aaliyah, Run-DMC and the Jungle Brothers. Hammond’s daughter, Sabrina Hammond-Williams recently confirmed with NewsChannel 6 WJBF that funeral arrangements have been set and a public service will be held Saturday, September 26 at 11 a.m. on the Allen49

dale-Fairfax football field at 3305 Allendale-Fairfax Hwy. in S.C. There is currently a memorial fund set in Hammond’s name; all details (including information to send flowers) are on the late singer’s Facebook page. Rest in power, Roy C. 10/2/2020

President Trump nominates Amy Coney Barrett to Supreme Court to replace Ruth Bader Ginsburg President Donald Trump nominated Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court on Saturday, capping a dramatic reshaping of the federal judiciary that will resonate for a generation and that he hopes will provide a needed boost to his reelection effort. Republican senators are already lining up for a swift confirmation of Barrett ahead of the Nov. 3 election, as they aim to lock in conservative gains in the federal judiciary before a potential transition of power. Trump, meanwhile, is hoping the nomination will serve to galvanize his supporters as he looks to fend off Democrat Joe Biden. Trump hailed Barrett as “a woman of remarkable intellect and character,” saying he had studied her record closely before making the pick. “I looked and I studied, and you are very eminently qualified,” he said as Barrett stood next to him in the Rose Garden. An ideological heir to the late conservative Justice Published by The Village Press, Inc.

Antonin Scalia, Barrett would fill the seat vacated after the Sept. 18 death of liberal icon Ruth Bader Ginsberg, in what would be the sharpest ideological swing since Clarence Thomas replaced Justice Thurgood Marshall nearly three decades ago. She would be the sixth justice on the nine-member court to be appointed by a Republican president, and the third of Trump’s first term in office. For Trump, whose 2016 victory hinged in large part on reluctant support from conservative and white evangelicals on the promise of filling Scalia's seat with a conservative, the latest nomination in some ways brings his first term full circle. Even before Ginsburg’s death, Trump was running on having confirmed in excess of 200 federal judges, fulfilling a generational aim of conservative legal activists. “This is my third such nomination after Justice Gorsuch and Justice Kavanaugh, and it is a very proud

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NOW ON YOUTUBE AFRICAN AMERICAN SHOPPING NETWORK

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moment indeed," Trump said in the Rose Garden. He encouraged Democrats to take up her nomination swiftly and to “refrain from personal and partisan attacks.” The set design, with large American flags hung between the Rose Garden colonnades, appeared to be modeled on the way the White House was decorated when President Bill Clinton named Ginsburg as his nominee in 1993. The announcement came before Ginsburg was buried beside her husband next week at Arlington National Cemetery. On Friday, she was the first woman to lie in state at the Capitol, and mourners flocked to the Supreme Court for two days before that to pay respects. Barrett said she was “truly humbled” by the nomination, adding that she would be “mindful of who came before me." She praised Ginsburg upon accepting the nomination, saying, “She has won the admiration of women across the country and indeed all across the world." Within hours of Ginsburg’s death, Trump made clear he would nominate a woman for the seat, and later volunteered he was considering five candidates. But Barrett was the early favorite, and the only one to meet with Trump. Barrett has been a judge since 2017, when Trump nominated her to the Chicago-based 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. But as a longtime University of Notre Dame law professor, she had already established herself as a reliable conservative in the mold of Scalia, for whom she clerked in the late 1990s. She would be the only justice on the current court not to have received her law degree from an Ivy League school. The eight current justices all attended either Harvard or Yale. The staunch conservative had become known to Trump in large part after her bitter 2017 appeals court confirmation included allegations that Democrats were attacking her Catholic faith. The president also interviewed her in 2018 for the vacancy created by Published by The Village Press, Inc.

the retirement of Justice Anthony Kennedy, but Trump ultimately chose Brett Kavanaugh. Trump and his political allies are itching for another fight over Barrett’s faith, seeing it as a political windfall that would backfire on Democrats. Catholic voters in Pennsylvania, in particular, are viewed as a pivotal demographic in the swing state that Biden, also Catholic, is trying to recapture. While Democrats appear powerless to stop Barrett’s confirmation in the GOP-controlled Senate, they are seeking to use the process to weaken Trump’s reelection chances. Barrett's nomination could become a reckoning over abortion, an issue that has divided many Americans so bitterly for almost half a century. The idea of overturning or gutting Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 decision that legalized abortion, has animated activists in both parties for decades. Now, with the seemingly decisive shift in the court’s ideological makeup, Democrats hope their voters will turn out in droves because of their frustration with the Barrett pick. Trump has also increasingly embraced the high court which he will have had an outsized hand in reshaping -– as an insurance policy in a close election. Increases in mail, absentee and early voting brought about by the coronavirus pandemic have already led to a flurry of election litigation, and both Trump and Biden have assembled armies of lawyers to continue the fight once vote-counting begins. Trump has been open about tying his push to name a third justice to the court to a potentially drawn-out court fight to determine who will be sworn in on Jan. 20, 2021. “I think this will end up in the Supreme Court,” Trump said Wednesday of the election, adding, “And I think it’s very important that we have nine justices.” Meanwhile, outside conservative groups are planning to spend more than $25 million to support Trump and his nominee. The Judicial Crisis Network has organized a coalition that includes American First Policies, the Susan B. Anthony List, the Club for Growth and the group Catholic Vote to help confirm Barrett, and (Continued on page 56)

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Trump’s campaign is expected to include the nomination in upcoming advertising. “In nominating Amy Barrett to the Supreme Court, President Trump has again fulfilled his promise to appoint justices who are not only exceptionally qualified, but willing to bravely stand up for the Constitution as it’s written and not bend to political pressures or personal preferences," said the conservative Federalist Society's Leonard Leo, who has advised Trump on judicial appointments. At just 48, Barrett would be the youngest justice, and her tenure could last for decades.

Trump Selects Amy Coney Barrett to Fill Ginsburg’s Seat on the Supreme Court The president’s nomination of Judge Barrett, a favorite of conservatives, to replace Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, will kick off a furious and unprecedented scramble to confirm her in the Senate before Election Day. President Trump plans to announce on Saturday that Judge Amy Coney Barrett is his choice for the Supreme Court. WASHINGTON — President Trump has selected Judge Amy Coney Barrett, the favorite candidate of conservatives, to succeed Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and will try to force Senate confirmation before Election Day in a move that would significantly alter the ideological makeup of the Supreme Court for years. Mr. Trump plans to announce on Saturday that she is his choice, according to six people close to the process who asked not to be identified disclosing the decision in advance. As they often do, aides cautioned that Mr. Trump sometimes upends his own plans. But he is not known to have interviewed any other Published by The Village Press, Inc.

candidates and came away from two days of meetings with Judge Barrett this week impressed with a jurist he was told would be a female Antonin Scalia, referring to the justice she once clerked for. On Friday night, Judge Barrett was photographed getting out of her car outside her home in South Bend, Ind. “I haven’t said it was her, but she is outstanding,” Mr. Trump told reporters who asked about Judge Barrett’s imminent nomination at Joint Base Andrews outside Washington after CNN and other news outlets reported on his choice. The president’s political advisers hope the selection will energize his conservative political base in the thick of an election campaign in which he has for months been trailing former Vice President Joseph R.

Biden Jr., his Democratic challenger. But it could also rouse liberal voters afraid that her confirmation could spell the end of Roe v. Wade, the decision legalizing abortion, as well as other rulings popular with the political left and center. The nomination will kick off an extraordinary scramble by Senate Republicans to confirm her for the court in the 38 days before the election on Nov. 3, a scenario unlike any in American history. While other justices have been approved in presidential election years, none has been voted on after July. Four years ago, Senate Republicans refused to even consider President Barack Obama’s nomination to replace Justice Scalia with Judge Merrick B. Garland, announced 237 days before Election Day, on the grounds that it should be left to whoever was chosen as the next president. In picking Judge Barrett, a conservative and a hero to the anti-abortion movement, Mr. Trump could hardly have found a more polar opposite to Justice Ginsburg, a pioneering champion of women’s rights and leader of the liberal wing of the court. The appointment would shift the center of gravity on the bench considerably to the right, giving conservatives six of the nine seats and potentially insulating them even against (Continued on page 63)

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AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM NOTE: A face mask must be worn, and non-contact thermometers will be used to measure temperature. A reading of 99.5 = Entry Denied.

Joysetta Pearse

Social distancing will be observed so seats are limited. Reservations are required. Call the museum Wed-Sat 10 am – 5 pm to make reservations

516-572-0730 or email: taags.aam@gmail.com *Some of Ms. Baker’s costumes are for mature audiences.

Film Festivals Queens Underground NY International Arts Festival October 15. - 17, 2020 TV Commercial (OWN, BET, NY1, VH1) https://youtu.be/O1-lfx0JYbo Submissions Open / Media Promo's https://youtu.be/eQMJNeiyWE0 October Films Published by The Village Press, Inc.

https://youtu.be/dUyRAdhjYho Think Of You https://youtu.be/d7oz13ItIpo Guest Screening Passes: QueensCenterArts.eventbrite.com Submit Your Projects For October, February & April http://FilmFreeway.com/ QueensUndergroundInternationalFilmFestival http://FilmFreeway.com/ NYInternationalArtsFestival

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Whoever Owns Trump’s Enormous Debts Could Be Running the Country At long last, the New York Times has the president’s tax records. At long last, the New York Times has Donald Trump’s tax returns. The picture they paint, put shortly, is one of epic financial malfeasance, likely criminal tax avoidance on a massive scale, probable bank fraud, opulent living at taxpayer expense, unethical self-dealing and wild recklessness more becoming a buffoonish French aristocrat or drunken sailor than a prudent businessman. Donald Trump’s approach to business and tax compliance appears to have been the same as his approach to politics: tell outrageous lies, play the government and creditors for fools, steal everything not nailed down today, figure out how to solve tomorrow’s consequences tomorrow, and already be onto the next con before anyone can catch him on the last one. But despite its potential to land the entire Trump family in penury and jail, what is far more terrifying for the country isn’t what lies in his past of tax avoidance. It’s the time bomb of debt that lies in Trump’s very near future. It’s about the mystery of who owns Trump’s outlandish debts, and the degree of secret power they may be wielding over the country. The particulars of the Trump grift are sickening in both the details and grand scope. It’s not just an issue of his class: the scale of his tax avoidance far dwarfs that of most others in his income bracket. Despite posturing as a billionaire, Trump paid only $750 in taxes for the years 2016 and 2017. He tried to use the same trick to offload tens of millions in tax burdens by claiming business losses twice in as many decades, except that the second time he actually still retained partial ownership of the underlying business, and has Published by The Village Press, Inc.

been in a $72 million battle with the IRS for a decade ever since–a battle he should lose by all rights. His daughter Ivanka was hired as a consultant for the same work she was doing in her main job–an obvious and incredibly stupid tax-avoidance grift that could easily land her jail. He (likely illegally) deducted $70,000 in hair care for his TV show. And so on. Keep in mind, though, that this is just what we know of from his own personal reporting to the IRS. It’s not a forensic accounting document. These financial statements are Trump’s best foot forward to the government, with no knowing what criminal rot lies in the details. Many rich tax cheats will tell the IRS they are broke while hiding their true wealth elsewhere. But Donald Trump isn’t just a tax cheat pretending to be broke for the feds. He appears to actually be broke. He inherited money from his father, squandered it on failed casino investments, offloaded the losses onto creditors, and then remade himself as a personal brand machine selling the rights to his name. He played a fake billionaire on TV and made significant money from doing that. Remarkably, adopting a fake reality TV show persona for public entertainment value may be the closest thing to honest work Trump has ever done. But rather than being content to invest those proceeds wisely, he went on another foolish real estate spending spree. His properties old and new are losing ridiculous amounts of money–he has lost a shocking $315 million dollars in the last 20 years at his golf courses alone. One fact stands out far above all the others in its staggering implications: Donald Trump is personally responsible for $421 million worth of loans coming due in the next few years. Not his business. Him. Personally. He has no means of repaying them. He

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portunities, increase revenues to the State and its municipalities, and achieve stable and diversified loApple Bank, BNB Bank, Evans Bank, HSBC, M&T Bank, cal economies. Through the use of loans, grants, tax Morgan Stanley and Wells Fargo. Additionally, the credits and other forms of financial assistance, ESD fund has received philanthropic commitments from strives to enhance private business investment and the BlackRock Charitable Fund, Citi Foundation, Ford growth to spur job creation and support prosperous Foundation, and the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation. communities across New York State. ESD is also the The New York Forward Loan Fund was established primary administrative agency overseeing Governor with support from Calvert Impact Capital. The Local Cuomo’s Regional Economic Development Councils Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) is administering and the marketing of "I LOVE NY," the State’s iconic the fund, and Connect2Capital is hosting applicatourism brand. For more information on Regional tions. Councils and Empire State Development, please visAbout Empire State Development it www.regionalcouncils.ny.gov and www.esd.ny.gov. Empire State Development (ESD) is New York’s chief economic development agency. The mission of ESD is to promote a vigorous and growing economy, encourage the creation of new job and economic op(Continued from page 45)

Black Entrepreneur Gets Saucy, Signs Deals With 30 Grocery Stores Reggie D. Smith, founder of one of the fastestgrowing Black-owned line of gourmet sauces called STL Pure Heat, started out creating delicious meals for just his friends and family. Now, however, he is the owner and CEO of one of the hottest food products in the country. Based in St. Louis, Missouri, STL Pure Heat is a perfect mix of flavor and heat that flawlessly blends peppers, spices, and locally sourced vegetables into one sweet and tangy marinade. His sauces can be used to transform meats and seafood dishes into authentic, athome culinary delights for dipping as a marinade or as a meal topper. Made locally in small batches with all-natural ingrediPublished by The Village Press, Inc.

ents, the sauces have only 40 calories per serving and are available in three different flavors – Sweet & Spicy, Sweet & Mild, and Garlic Heat. Each bottle has a unique blend of sweetness with a nice kick of your desired heat. Reggie makes it extremely easy for foodies to go beyond the ordinary hot sauce and jazz up their next dish with creativity. Especially during grilling season, professional and family chefs can show off their talents at the grill and embellish their perfectly seared steaks and burgers with flavorful sauces that reflect the taste of true southern roots. Reggie says that it was during one of his other business ventures when he discovered that he had created an amazing sauce that everyone enjoyed. He takes pride in using local small businesses to manufacture and package his products and says that it is important for him to see his community flourish. His sauces can be purchased at more than 30 grocery stores across the nation or online at STLPureHeat.com.

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Trump's attempts to discredit Biden could come back to haunt him in first debate (CNN)For months on the campaign trail, President Donald Trump has questioned Joe Biden's mental acuity and used his branding skills to cast his opponent as someone who isn't up for the job. The wisdom of that strategy will be tested as the two men enter the debate arena Tuesday night. Trump will meet the former vice president for their first one-on-one matchup in Cleveland, Ohio, in a precarious position five weeks before the election. He faces an imperative to rattle his opponent or force him into a mistake that shakes up the race at a time when he is trailing Biden by nine points in an average of national polls -- with ballots already being cast -- and newly on the defensive after a New York Times exposĂŠ showing he only paid $750 in federal income taxes the last time he ran for president and his first year in office. In the lead up to the debate, Trump -- who has never proved to be a particularly agile debater -has shown few signs of a coherent strategy to dramatically alter the course of the race. But these three consequential debates present his last chance to do so. To the chagrin of some of his advisers, Trump has managed to set perilously low expectations for Biden as travels around the country telling voters the former vice president has no idea "what's going on." Tax bombshell reveals Trump's image is a sham "He's a dumb guy, a dumb guy, always known as a dumb guy," Trump said during a Middletown, Pennsylvania, rally Saturday. The President also does not seem to have changed many minds as he continues to tout his "perfect" handling of the coronavirus pandemic, which has killed more than 200,000 Americans -- even though a majority of voters give him poor marks on that score. And Trump is all but Published by The Village Press, Inc.

certain to squander precious minutes during the debate relitigating debunked conspiracy theories about Ukraine, Russia, Hillary Clinton, Hunter Biden and his own impeachment that resonate with few voters beyond those who already support him. He previewed one of those theories at his White House press conference Sunday evening when he baselessly charged that Biden is on drugs, repeating claims from a tweet earlier that day. "I'm not joking. I'm willing to take a drug test and I think he should too," Trump said from the White House podium, as two of his debate coaches, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, looked on. "Check out the Internet. Plenty of people say it," Trump said. Biden has generally ignored those kinds of wild accusations, and when asked Sunday in Wilmington what he needs to accomplish in the debate, he replied: "Just tell the truth." Biden's deputy campaign manager Kate Bedingfield responded to Trump's drug test taunts late on Sunday: "Vice President Biden intends to deliver his debate answers in words. If the president thinks his best case is made in urine he can have at it. We'd expect nothing less from Donald Trump, who pissed away the chance to protect the lives of 200K Americans when he didn't make a plan to stop COVID19," she said in a statement. Passing the commander-in-chief test With the debate looming large as one of their last chances to persuade voters, it's an open question whether both men can keep the debate substantive Tuesday night 61

and avoid the swift descent into the gutter politics that Trump seems to relish. Republican and Democratic strategists pointed out in interviews this week that the debates are unique this year because Trump is such a polarizing figure and many voters will tune in with their opinions already hardened and unlikely to change. Still, both men need to reach those pockets of voters they have battled over throughout the election: suburban moderates, soft Republicans and center-right independents, particularly those within blue-collar families in the Midwest, who gave Trump a chance in 2016 and are now skeptical that he deserves another four years. With Biden expected to drill Trump for his cavalier and often heartless response to the pandemic, several GOP strategists said Trump's best chance of winning back those voters is to avoid being drawn into a defensive posture on his handling of the coronavirus -- and instead focus on the economy. That is one key area where Trump has maintained voter trust, while portraying Biden as an empty vessel for socialist-leaning forces in the Democratic Party who want to raise taxes and increase regulations that the President says would cripple small businesses. "If you are Trump, part of your mission here is making sure that any center-right voter who voted for you in 2016, and mostly votes Republican, has a reason to stay with you. The best policy ground for him to fight upon is the economy," said Scott Jennings, former special assistant to President George W. Bush and a CNN contributor. (Continued on page 62)

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Jennings added that as Biden tries to dwell on Trump's missteps in his handling of the pandemic, the President "can't get bogged down re-litigating the past" and must "constantly try to move the conversation to more fertile ground -and that's the future, the recovery." Jennings acknowledged that while some of those center-right voters don't approve of Trump when it comes to the coronavirus, "it is entirely possible, maybe even likely, that group would be willing to concede they trust Trump more on the economic recovery from coronavirus than they would trust Biden." Biden has an opportunity to persuade anxious voters that he would be the steady, competent and experienced commander-inchief who could lead the nation out of its three-pronged crisis of the pandemic, the recession and the roiling debate over systematic racism and police brutality. The New York Times reporting about Trump paying no federal income taxes in 10 out of 15 years, beginning in 2000, could help Biden drive home the contrast between Scranton, Pennsylvania, and Park Avenue that has become a key part of his messaging. The former vice president's challenge Tuesday night will be to "defend his record without being defensive" as Trump tries to "rattle his cage" with offensive taunts and personal attacks about his family, said Dan Pfeiffer, who was former President Barack Obama's senior adviser for strategy and communications at the White House. (Trump telegraphed that part of his strategy with his references to Hunter Biden at his Sunday news conference). "What has put Biden in this position (as the leader in the race) is that he seems like someone who could be president," Pfeiffer said. "There's a stature gap between Biden and Trump, and Biden has to be careful not to narrow that gap by getting pulled down in the mud with Trump." Another key test for Trump is whether he can resist his worst instincts in the form of gross exaggerations, factual inaccuracies Published by The Village Press, Inc.

and fringe conspiracy theories that have eroded voters' confidence in his leadership. While Trump's speeches and interviews are often rife with inaccuracies, Frank Fahrenkopf, the cochair of The Commission on Presidential Debates, told CNN's Brian Stelter Sunday that it won't be the debate moderator's role to fact check the candidates in real time Tuesday night. Fox News' Chris Wallace will moderate the first debate, which is expected to focus on six topics: "The Trump and Biden Records," "The Supreme Court," "Covid-19," "The Economy," "Race and Violence in our Cities" and "The Integrity of the Election." "The moderator is a facilitator," Fahrenkopf said on CNN's "Reliable Sources." "We don't expect Chris or our other moderators to be fact -checkers. The minute the TV is off, there are going to be plenty of fact -checkers in every newspaper and every television station in the world. That's not the role, the main role of our moderators." Trump has to remain on the offensive, said Brett O'Donnell, a veteran debate coach who prepared GOP presidential candidates including George W. Bush, John McCain and Mitt Romney for some of their presidential debates. "I've described this as the ultimate disrupter versus the consummate career politician," O'Donnell said. Facing Biden -- whom O'Donnell describes as "the most conventional politician in a long time to be a party's nominee" -- Trump has a chance to use "Biden's record from 47 years in politics to flesh out where he would take the country" and should also try "to push him as far left as possible," O'Donnell said, to blunt Biden's appeals to moderate voters. "What makes the President difficult to debate is that he does stuff through branding. He doesn't make these long-drawn out substantive arguments. ... He just sort of brands you to make a point and then hopes it will be filled in after the fact," O'Donnell said. Biden's ability to rebut those labels -- whether about his mental acuity or the notion that he would lead the country toward socialism â&#x20AC;&#x201D; will be one of his central chal62

lenges. Polling gaps for both Trump and Biden The President will also be looking for ways to address his enormous gender gap with Biden, who is leading him among female voters by some 30 points. (Biden is trailing Trump with men). Trump may have taken a step in that direction with his Supreme Court nomination of Amy Coney Barrett, a mother of seven, to the Supreme Court in a wellchoreographed ceremony Saturday night in which the federal appellate judge skillfully conveyed the attributes of her judicial philosophy while looking like a relatable figure to the key voting bloc of suburban independent and Republican-leaning women. Amy Coney Barrett's debut shows she will be a tough adversary for Democrats Trump has alienated many female voters with his style, his tweets and his callous comments about coronavirus deaths -- like his recent statement at an Ohio rally that the coronavirus "affects virtually nobody" just as the US was crossing 200,000 deaths. The ability of both Trump and Biden to try to make the debate a direct conversation with the average voter in the midst of their heated exchanges will shape the extent to which they are able to persuade. One aspect of that is showing Americans they understand the pain and anxiety the pandemic has wrought â&#x20AC;&#x201D; though empathy has never been an area of strength for Trump. "Both of these guys forget their audiences, and it will be interesting to see if they're just debating each other all night long," O'Donnell said. "The President has a great opportunity to speak to some of those suburban security moms through what's happening in the cities; and he has an opportunity to speak to them through the Supreme Court pick." Whether he seizes that opportunity is another question. Because while message discipline and restraint may be the best tools he has to turn around his flagging campaign, Trump has often failed to use them. 10/2/2020

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defections by Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., who on a handful of occasions has sided with liberal justices. Mr. Trump made clear this week that he wanted to rush his nominee through the Senate by Election Day to ensure that he would have a decisive fifth justice on his side in case any disputes from the vote reached the high court, as he expected to happen. The president has repeatedly made baseless claims that the Democrats are trying to steal the election and appears poised to challenge any result of the balloting that does not declare him the winner. Senator Mitch McConnell, Republican of Kentucky and the majority leader, has enough votes to push through Judge Barrett’s nomination if he can make the tight time frame work. Republicans are looking at holding hearings before the Senate Judiciary Committee the week of Oct. 16 and a floor vote by late October. The War Crime No One Wants to Talk About Democrats have expressed outrage at the rush and accused Republicans of rank hypocrisy given their treatment of Judge Garland, but they have few options for slowing the nomination, much less stopping it. Instead, they have focused on making Republicans pay at the ballot box and debated ways to counteract Mr. Trump’s influence on the court if they win the election. Mr. Trump met with Judge Barrett at the White House on Monday and Tuesday and was said to like her personally. While he said he had a list of five finalists, he never interviewed anyone else for the job and passed over Judge Barbara Lagoa of the United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit, who appealed to campaign advisers in particular because of her Cuban-American heritage and roots in Florida, a critical battleground state in the presidential contest. Despite Mr. Trump’s penchant for drama and the intrigue that surrounded his first two picks for seats on the Supreme Court, the selection process since Justice Ginsburg died last Friday has been fairly low-key and surprisingly predictable. The president has long signaled that he Published by The Village Press, Inc.

expected to put Judge Barrett on the court and has been quoted telling confidants in 2018 that he was “saving her for Ginsburg.” If confirmed, Judge Barrett would become the 115th justice in the nation’s history and the fifth woman ever to serve on the Supreme Court. At 48, she would be the youngest member of the current court as well its sixth Catholic. And she would become Mr. Trump’s third appointee on the court, more than any other president has installed in a first term since Richard M. Nixon had four, joining Justices Neil M. Gorsuch and Brett M. Kavanaugh. Judge Barrett graduated from Notre Dame Law School and later joined the faculty. She clerked for Justice Scalia and shares his constitutional views. She is described as a textualist who interprets the law based on its plain words rather than seeking to understand the legislative purpose and an originalist who applies the Constitution as it was understood by those who drafted and ratified it. She has been a judge for only three years, appointed by Mr. Trump to the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in 2017. Her confirmation hearing produced fireworks when Democratic senators questioned her public statements and Catholicism. That made her an instant celebrity among religious conservatives, who saw her as a victim of bias on the basis of her faith. Judge Barrett and her husband, Jesse Barrett, a former federal prosecutor, are reported to be members of a small and relatively obscure Christian group called the People of Praise. The group grew out of the Catholic charismatic renewal movement that began in the late 1960s and adopted Pentecostal practices like speaking in tongues, belief in prophecy and divine healing. The couple have seven children, all under 20, including two adopted from Haiti and a young son with Down syndrome. In a 2006 speech to Notre Dame graduates, she spoke of the law as a higher calling. “If you can keep in mind that your fundamental purpose in life is not to be a lawyer, but to know, love and serve God, you truly will be a different kind of lawyer,” she said. But during her 2017 confirmation hearing, she affirmed that she would keep her personal views separate from her duties as a judge. “If you’re asking whether I take my faith seri63

ously and I’m a faithful Catholic, I am,” she told senators. “Although I would stress that my personal church affiliation or my religious belief would not bear in the discharge of my duties as a judge.” She was confirmed on a 55-to-43 vote, largely along party lines. As a law professor, Judge Barrett was a member of Faculty for Life, an antiabortion group, and wrote skeptically about precedent in Supreme Court rulings, which both sides in the abortion debate took to mean she would be open to revisiting Roe v. Wade. “I tend to agree with those who say that a justice’s duty is to the Constitution and that it is thus more legitimate for her to enforce her best understanding of the Constitution rather than a precedent she thinks clearly in conflict with it,” she wrote in a Texas Law Review article in 2013. She later criticized Chief Justice Roberts for his opinion preserving Mr. Obama’s Affordable Care Act, saying he went beyond the plausible meaning of the law. As an appellate judge, she joined an opinion arguing on behalf of an Indiana law banning abortions sought solely because of the sex or disability of a fetus, disagreeing with fellow judges who struck it down as unconstitutional. Conservative and liberal interest groups did not wait for Mr. Trump’s announcement to open the battle over Judge Barrett’s confirmation. Each side prepared multimilliondollar campaigns to introduce her to the public and frame the debate to come in the Senate, with an eye on the November contest. Several polls over the past week have shown that most Americans, including many Republicans, believe the next justice should be selected by the winner of the November election, not by Mr. Trump in the meantime. A survey released Friday by The Washington Post and ABC News suggested the fight may drive Democrats even more than Republicans to the polls. About 64 percent of Mr. Biden’s supporters told pollsters that the vacancy made it “more important” that the Democrat win the election, while just 37 percent of Mr. Trump’s supporters said the same for him.

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already refinanced his few profitable properties, and sold off most of his stocks to stay afloat. He appears short on liquidity. And we still don’t know to whom he owes the money. This fact has frightening implications for public policy and national security. Even minor debts are a frequent reason for the government to deny a security clearance, for the obvious reason that indebted and financially desperate public servants make easy marks for bribery, blackmail and potential treason. The potentially destructive power of that sort of hold on a President of the United States is beyond comprehension. It is the stuff of nightmares, bad spy movie plots and otherwise outlandish conspiracy theory. Imagine if a president owed millions to the mob or to those with close ties to a foreign government, and those individuals both controlled the president’s financial future and knew of corrupt criminal activity. The president might act with otherwise strange deference to said mobsters and those connected to them, and bend public policy on their behalf. If they were tied to fossil fuel interests, the president might set the globe on fire rather than cross them. If his creditors were simply a wealthy set of Wall Street tycoons, he might rig all financial policy on their direct behalf. Published by The Village Press, Inc.

What we do know is that beginning in the late 2000s, no one would lend to Donald Trump. His history of bankruptcies, combined with whatever horrors were on his personal and organizational financial statements, clearly made every bank run the other direction. Every bank but one, that is: Deutsche Bank. Donald Trump’s history with Deutsche Bank has always merited special scrutiny, but never more than now. The head honchos at Deutsche would have known just how desperate Trump’s financial position was. But they lent to him anyway. Why? It certainly looks even more ominous that Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy’s son was managing the real estate division at Deutsche that lent to Trump, and that Justice Kennedy unexpectedly retired to ensure Trump could seat his replacement. And it looks triply suspicious that Deutsche Bank has been fined and sanctioned over multiple money laundering scandals, including $20 billion from Russian kleptocrats. It could all be a coincidence. But it probably isn’t. Still, even if the darkest fears turn out to be unfounded, some group of individuals still owns Trump’s nearly half-billion dollar debts. They likely also know where many of his financial and legal skeletons are buried. Whoever they are, they have the capacity to be directly dictating to Donald Trump and he would be in no po65

sition to say no. That is an untenable place for the country to be in. The New York Attorney General has even more dirt on the finances of the Trump Organization, and the New York Times will be releasing even more information on Trump’s taxes in the coming days. But even with just what we know now, the country faces an unprecedented policy and national security crisis. The situation is untenable. A man in Trump’s position simply cannot be allowed to continue as president. Trump has already proven himself temperamentally and morally unfit for the job. But now, whether he wins or loses re -election, no responsible member of Congress should allow him to be reinaugurated. The Republican Party could easily put Vice President Pence in his place and achieve the same policy goals. Trump must be impeached and removed, because the country faces grave risks every day he remains in power.

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Rev. Joseph Jenkins Since 1985 the Eta Theta Lambda Education Foundation (ETL) of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. has championed the cause of higher education opportunities and access for traditionally underserved and underperforming student populations. Today the foundation accomplishes its goals primarily through its College Readiness Program which includes the Success Workshop series, the Virtual University Initiative, and our flagship program; the College Tour. Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the 2020 College Tour is a VIRTUAL EVENT. The virtual College Tour will visit the following Historically Black Colleges and Universities: Alabama A&M, Claflin, Clark Atlanta, Florida A&M, Johnson C. Smith, Hampton, Howard, Morehouse, Morgan State, North Carolina A&T, North Carolina Central, Spelman, Tennessee State, Tuskegee, Virginia State and Xavier. The Virtual College Tour will also visit the United States Naval Academy. Attached is the 2020 Virtual College Tour announcement and the 2020 Virtual College Tour calendar Please share the announcement with family and friends. High School students and parents/guardians interested in participating in the Virtual College Tour should go to www.etleducationfoundation.or g and complete the online application. The cost for the 2020 Virtual College Tour is $50 and includes souvenir College Tour Polo, ETL College Tour commemorative pin, and Certificate of Completion. ETL provides an invoice when the application is completed. The 2020 College Tour experience begins on Tuesday, September 29 as ETL conducts its Parent/Student Orientation workshop. Students and parents are encouraged to participate. Thank you in advance for your support of the 2020 College Tour. Please contact William Mills at (631) 835-2743 willmills06@hotmail.com or Dr. Steven Skinner (917) 862-4008/ professorsteve@prodigy.net if you have questions.

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SPORTS Russell Wilson Performing with MVP Aspirations

gence of Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, Patrick Mahomes and the stellar play of Hall of Fame bound, Brady, Brees and Rogers; appears to have gathered most of the focus Hello sports fans, the NFL has started with some exciting quarter- on this distinguished group, back matchups, that has certainly leaving out Wilson whose first three games are historic. The reminded fans of the terrific skill set associated with American foot- word from the cheap seats says that Wilson has always beball. The Seattle Seahawks are sporting an impressive 3 wins and longed with the group men0 loses thus far in this unpredicta- tioned and appears to challenge ble year of 2020, which has little to his team to join him in his winning campaign by tossing at no fan support in person at most games. Russell Wilson has shown least 4 touchdowns in the first

thrilling moments along with historical achievements surpassing Kansas City Chief’s Patrick Mahomes’ record passing touchdowns (13) while Russell tossed 14 touchdowns, passing Mahomes record in the first three games. The emerPublished by The Village Press, Inc.

three games of the season. The game of the week featured the Dallas Cowboys against Wilson and the Seahawks and this was Wilson’s finest display this season. Dallas competed with a since of urgency and zeal that reminded NFL fans that the (Boyz) were still 69

SHURAY BETHEA AT LARGE

the team to beat in the NFC East. However, Wilson responded with a 5-touchdown passing performance that was simply brilliant, along with nifty running maneuvers to continuously move the first-down (Continued on page 70)

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sticks. This season the Seahawks have handed the ball to Wilson and allowed him to put the ball in the air whenever possible. This is big news because since Wilson’s arrival 9 years ago the Seahawks have had an offense that offered a run first and second option that was extremely successful. Russell Wilson was the 75th pick in the 2012 draft and earned the starting quarterback position over Matt Flynn to begin his unpredictable crusade for greatness at 5”11’ in a league surrounded by taller field lineman. Wilson’s canny ability to escape the clutches of defenders was on full display in 2012 during his skillful and crafty scheme

that secured his selection for the Pepsi Rookie of the Year Award. He was also selected to the Pro-Bowl 7Xs, as well as NFL Passing Rating Leader in 2015, and NFL Passing touchdown Leader in 2017. Wilson lead the Seahawks in Super-Bowl XLVIII and won the Championship against Hall of Famer Peyton Manning (Denver Broncos). Seahawks head-coach Pete Carroll has always been a defensive minded coach, but this season hasn’t shown the reliable shut-down defensive attack NFL fans have witnessed in past years. Typically, when a team exhibits poor defensive habits such as poor tackling skills or an inability to cover on pass routes, the offense is forced to score efficiently and often to compete in games. Wilson’s arm exploits have been a true pleasure to watch as his favorite target down field is Tyler Lockett, and he appears to always get open for large yardage gains often this season. Wilson has proven to be an amazing athlete that earned the option of playing professional baseball as well as football, but its obvious the talented quarterback has chosen the correct sport.

Kayla Mitchell Staff Sergeant Naomi Graham has been named a USA Boxing Team Captain for the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo. Already a two time National Champion, SSG Graham will now have an opportunity to bring home Olympic gold Published by The Village Press, Inc.

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Scripture Matthew 21: 23-32

The Crisis Of Authority Reverend Joseph D. Jenkins, Jr., M.Div. Retired Minister African Methodist Episcopal Church The word “authority” has many applications. A person who is an expert in a particular subject area is called an “authority.” Another word for government at various levels is “authorities.” Others are authorities in religion. Others are “moral authorities” who act out a sense of violations of their moral views. One could see Jesus acting in such a matter when in the preceding passage, he drives the merchants and moneychangers out of the Temple. He acted out of a sense of moral outrage. This is true as far as it goes, but we shall see that there is more to the authority of Jesus than being a religious leader a moral philosopher or being a social justice warrior. The cleansing of the Temple followed by Jesus’ teaching on the Temple grounds outraged the priests and the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem. The Priests considered themselves to be the gatekeepers of the Temple. They claimed this authority from the Torah itself. So when Jesus cleansed the Temple, they felt that He had scorned them. It is also true that the Priests had a nice racket going. They were not particularly religious themselves, but it paid well. They had become a Published by The Village Press, Inc.

sort of Deep State in Israel. The other religious leaders also profited from the Temple cult. This was the time of Passover. A lot of money was to be made. The priests understood that their authority was not recognized by many in Israel. The Essenes were outraged that during the previous short-lived independence when they were ruled by Jewish kings that the King had arrogated the right to be High Priest as well, something which was forbidden by the Torah. The Pharisees also were outraged by the corruption of Judaism by the Sadducees and priests in Jerusalem. They exercised their authority in the villages and the synagogues. There was also a challenge to the priest’s authority by the Roman government who ruled over the area. They had to be sure not to offend them. The authority of the Priests was in crisis. What Jesus had done in cleansing the Temple would have been wildly popular among 75

various factions of the Jews. The Sadducees needed to confront the authority of Jesus. So the priests and leaders of Israel came to Him and asked who had given Jesus the authority to cleanse the Temple and then to teach the people. Did Jesus have a PhD in theology. Had He been approved by and accrediting agency to cleanse the Temple and to teach. They considered Jesus to be no more than a country bumpkin. Perhaps they were trying to intimidate Jesus to shut Him up. If they could not do this, they needed to separate Jesus from the people who considered Jesus to be a prophet. Jesus was far too smart than to be trapped. He answered the question with a question. “If you can tell me who gave the authority to John the Baptist to baptize, I will tell (Continued on page 76)

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you who gave me the authority. Little did they know or appreciate that they were talking to the Son of God, the Lord of the Covenant, the same covenant which the Sadducees had claimed their authority from. This led to another crisis. They believed that John the Baptist was even more a country bumkin than Jesus. John the Baptist was wildly popular, and many of the people resented the establishment in Jerusalem which was in league with Herod who had had him executed. They could not answer that John’s authority came from men because they feared a revolt from the people. This shows how hollow the authority of the priestly caste was. Just a few days later, it would be boldly demonstrated when upon Jesus’ death, the curtain protecting the Holy of Holies was torn in two. When the Temple was rebuilt under Zerubbabel after the exile, there was no Ark of the Covenant to put in the Holy of Holies. It was an empty and dark room. The Ark which represented the presence of the LORD was not there. All the splendor of the renovations that Herod the Great had made to this temple could not conceal how hollow the reality was. The Sadducees really had no legitimate authority at all. They were subject to both Rome and the Jewish People. They could not answer that John was a prophet either. They had publicly disavowed him. To say that God had given John the authority to baptize, someone who called them vipers, would only proven just how right Jesus was to cleanse the Temple. To affirm the baptism of John as coming from God would have made them have to confess that they had not believed him, which means that they did not believe the God who had sent them either. Rather than dealing with the crisis by repenting, they decided it was better to give no answer at all.

the son who had initially refused. They decided that it was better to give no answer at all.

Jesus explains this parable by saying that the first son who flagrantly disobeyed and then repented was a representative of tax collectors and harlots who had disoJesus answered them by saying that He would not tell beyed the teaching of Scripture. Their conduct was sinful them by what authority He had done these things. He and an outrage to God. They were in dire need of rewould not cast pearls before swine. Matthew records a pentance. And God is gracious to grant them repentance little more of the dialogue than Mark or Luke who go because this is the nature of God Himself. But there is no directly to the Parable of the Wicked Tennants. He tells cure for the second son who represented the Sadducees another parable of two sons. He bid them both to go out and the other religious authorities in Israel. They were and work in the vineyard. The father had absolute aualso in desperate need of repentance but were either too thority over his children and household. Obedience was proud or too self-righteous to repent. Therefore, the desexpected, even demanded. Parables are illustrations pised tax-collectors and harlots who repented would get that often have outrageous ideas in them. The hearers into the Kingdom first. Unless the religious authorities would have heard that a son refused to work. This was repented they would not enter at all. shocking. It was resolved to a point when this son repented and went out. The second son said he would go. So, we too are confronted by the crisis of authority. I This was expected. But he did not go. In many ways this chose the word “crisis” because it comes from the Greek is similar to the Parable of the Prodigal Son. The first word for “judgment.” Jesus is not only Savior. He is also son acted outrageously and repented. The second son given the authority to judge all people and nations. thought he was obedient by staying home. But he There are many religious and other “authorities” who showed his disobedience by refusing to come to the par- can not or will not tell where ty. The sinner son should have been forced to grovel and Jesus got the authority to do accept harsh punishment from the father. The Father the things He did. They showed his absolute authority to be gracious to his pre- might grant some sense of viously lost son. So the second son’s conduct in light of authority. Some say that he this was even more outrageous than the disobedience of had the authority of a teach(Continued on page 80)

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"Do the ends justify the means?" Answer: The answer to this question depends on what the ends or goals are and what means are being used to achieve them. If the goals are good and noble, and the means we use to achieve them are also good and noble, then yes, the ends do justify the means. But that’s not what most people mean when they use the expression. Most use it as an excuse to achieve their goals through any means necessary, no matter how immoral, illegal, or unpleasant the means may be. What the expression usually means is something like: “It doesn’t matter how you get what you want as long as you get it.” The “ends justifying the means” usually involves doing something wrong to achieve a positive end and justifying the wrongdoing by pointing to a good outcome. An example would be lying on a resume to get a good job and justifying the lie by saying the larger income will enable the liar to provide more adequately for his family. Another might be justifying the abortion of a baby to save the life of the mother. Lying and taking an innocent life are both morally wrong, but providing for one’s family and saving the life of a woman are morally right. Where, then, does one draw the line? The ends/means dilemma is a popular scenario in ethics discussions. Usually, the question goes something like this: “If you could save the world by killing someone, would you do it?” If the answer is “yes,” then a morally right outcome justifies the use of immoral means to achieve it. But there are three different things to consider in such a situation: the morality of the action, the morality Published by The Village Press, Inc.

of the outcome, and the morality of the person performing the action. In this situation, the action (murder) is clearly immoral and so is the murderer. But saving the world is a good and moral outcome. Or is it? What kind of world is being saved if murderers are allowed to decide when and if murder is justified and then go free? Or does the murderer face punishment for his crime in the world that he has saved? And would the world that was saved be justified in taking the life of the one who had just saved them? From a biblical standpoint, of course, what is missing from this discussion is the character of God, God’s law, and the providence of God. Because we know that God is good, holy, just, merciful and righteous, those who bear His name are to reflect His character (1 Peter 1:15-16). Murder, lying, theft, and all manner of sinful behaviors are the expression of man’s sin nature, not the nature of God. For the Christian whose nature has been transformed by Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17), there is no justifying immoral behavior, no matter the motivation for it or the outcome of it. From this holy and perfect God, we get a law that reflects His attributes (Psalm 19:7; Romans 7:12). The Ten Commandments make it clear that murder, adultery, stealing, lying and greed are unacceptable in God’s eyes and He makes no "escape clause" for motivation or rationalization. Notice that He doesn’t say, “Don’t murder unless by doing so you will save a life.” This is called "situational ethics," and there is no room for it in God’s law. So, clearly, from God’s perspective there are no ends that justify the means of breaking His law. Also missing in the ends/means ethics discussion is an understanding of 78

the providence of God. God did not simply create the world, populate it with people, and then leave them to muddle through on their own with no oversight from Him. Rather, God has a plan and purpose for mankind which He has been bringing to pass through the centuries. Every decision made by every person in history has been supernaturally applied to that plan. He states this truth unequivocally: “I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please. From the east I summon a bird of prey; from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose. What I have said, that will I bring about; what I have planned, that will I do” (Isaiah 46:10-11). God is intimately involved in and in control over His creation. Furthermore, He states that He works all things together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). A Christian who lies on a resume or aborts a baby would be violating God’s law and denying His ability to provide for a family and preserve a mother’s life if He purposes to do so. Those who do not know God may be forced to justify their means to an end, but those who claim to be children of God have no reason whatsoever to break one of God’s commandments, deny His sovereign purpose, or bring reproach to His Name. Recommended Resource: Philosophical Foundations for a Christian Worldview by William Lane Craig & J.P. Moreland

More insights from your Bible study Get Started with Logos Bible Software for Free! 10/2/2020

FEDIE REDD

Rance Allen was born in Monroe Michigan on November 20, 1948., He is one of 12 children born to Thomas and Emma Pearl Allen. At age seven Rance Allen began playing the piano. When he was nine years old, he learned to play the guitar. He is a Bishop and Jurisdictional Prelate within the Church of God in Christ Inc. Bishop Allen also adds to his credit songwriter, vocalist, guitarist, and pianist. Rance Allen is known for his exceptionally wide vocal range, deep growls, and rhythmic scats. Bishop Allen is the lead singer of the Rance Allen Group formed in 1969, in Detroit Michigan; and is now based in Toledo Ohio. Members of the group include brothers Tom (drums), Steve (bass guitar), and Esau (percussionist), who joins the group occasionally. It was at a gospel talent contest in Detroit Michigan, that the group came to the attention of one of the judges; Stax Records promoter, Dave Clark. The Rance Allen group was the first gospel act, signed to Stax Records religious label, “The Gospel Truth.” They recorded for Stax Records throughout the 1970s. R.A.G. set the music world on fire between 1971 and 1974, with their electrifying recorded hits. Some of those hits include songs like "Just My Salvation," "There's Gonna Be a Showdown," and "Ain't No Need of Crying."

Inc Toledo, Ohio, where Rance Allen was installed and remains Pastor. In September 2011 Allen, was elevated to the office of Jurisdictional Prelate Michigan Northwestern Harvest. He was officially consecrated to Bishop within the Church of God in Christ Inc, November 7, 2011. Bishop Rance Allen has served many years on the board of the Neighborhood Improvement Foundation of Toledo Inc, (NIFTI) a community organization whose mission is dedicated to improving inner city environments. In 1995 the Urban Bible Institute of Detroit bestowed upon Rance Allen an Honorary Doctor of Divinity in recognition of his dedicated years in ministry.

These gospel songs broke down musical barriers between gospel, rock, and soul. In 1972, the group appeared in the documentary film Wattstax. Following that appearance, the group was named "Best Religious Group" by the National Association of Television and Radio Announcers (NATRA). Songwriters Hall of Fame, Stax Records producer David Porter; co-produced the group’s 1975 album, “A Soulful Experience.” The single from that album “Just Found Me.” written by Porter, became one of the groups greatest hits. In 1978, the group had a Top 30 R&B hit, "I Belong to You.” They released “Miracle Worker” (2000). “Something About The Name Jesus” (2004), and “Blessing Me Again featuring Snoop Dogg” (2018). There are too many memorable gospel selections by the group, to name them all here. At age five, Bishop Allen began his preaching ministry. By age 9 he was preaching throughout Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. He was known as the little boy preacher. Allen was licensed to preach at age 12. In 1978 he was ordained an Elder by the late Bishop John Seth Bailey. After his ordination, he served for 6 1/2 years as associate pastor of Holiness Temple Church of God in Christ Inc (COGIC) Monroe, Mi. In 1985 the late Bishop Gilbert Patterson founded New Bethel Church of God in Christ Published by The Village Press, Inc.

Rance Allen’s incomparable vocals are much sought after by the music industry. He can be heard on the projects of various gospel greats. In 2009 he was celebrated as one of the great men of gospel, by the Black Academy of Arts and Letters. He has also made appearances acting in several gospel music stage and on-screen productions. Now into his sixth decade of life, he continues to exhibit his versatility while functioning as pastor, singer, and jurisdictional prelate. Anyone who has had the pleasure to witness Bishop Allen minister in music, appreciates that he brings the audience to their feet in total exhilaration, and praises with his exceptionally anointed wide vocal range, deep growls, and rhythmic scats. His performance can only be described as awe inspiring, and breathtaking. Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rance_Allen https://www.last.fm/music/Rance+Allen/+wiki http://theranceallengroup.com/index.php whur.comhurhome/rance

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ly way out of the final crisis. We must believe that He is who He says He is and will do as He says He will do.

(Continued from page 76)

er or religious philosopher. Some would give him the authority to act out of a sense of moral outrage. There are people who grant Jesus some limited authority as a means to buttress their own authority. They pick and choose Scriptures to make their care. Someone has Jesus the great pacifist who advocated non-violent means of overcoming evil. Another makes Jesus to be a revolutionary to advocate for violent overthrow. Others give Jesus a hearing on theology and philosophy because it is mentally stimulating. We now even have a transgender Jesus. We have churches who use the authority of Jesus to rule roughshod over congregations. There are so many who abuse the authority of Jesus.

In the work of fulfilling the Great Commission, we must present this true and absolute authority of Jesus Christ over time, space, matter and eternity. We are more motivated to evangelize those tax collectors and harlots out there in society. We are right to see them as having rejected the authority of Jesus. Some of these have not accepted because of ignorance. They have not heard or heard correctly of the authority of Jesus. There is more hope for them than those who know who Jesus is and still reject Him. One thinks that there were many who saw Jesus’s work and listened to His words that knew in their hearts that Jesus is the Son of God. The Holy Spirit tugs at these hearts and confirms the truth of Jesus. Yet So the real crisis of authority is centered in the person of they sill reject. What horrendous danger they are in. Jesus Himself. Jesus told the disciples in Matthew 28 that some of these attend church regularly. We need to de“all authority in heaven and earth” had been given to mand the repentance of such anyway, even though we Him. Whether the “authorities” know it or not, they know that there is little hope on the surface. So let us have no authority which does not derive from Him. This prayerfully approach the task of pulling such people means He is to be obeyed. This is especially true within from the fire if we can. the church who claims to be His disciples. He calls all to repentance and acceptance of His authority. Thankfully, the One who has authority over all is merciful and will receive all who will come to Him in faith. This is the on-

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TO ORDER A COPY Pastor Arthur L. Mackey Jr. Senior Pastor Mount Sinai Baptist Church Cathedral 243 Rev. Dr. A. L. Mackey Sr. Avenue, Roosevelt, New York, 11575 artbren12@aol.com

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ca to accept God's clarion call for substantive change, as effectively expressed through the Black Lives Matter, Me Too, March for Our Lives, and Women's Movements, all respectively. America's reckoning with the evil, real life, jagged edged trinity of racism, classism, and sexism. Is the clarion call to national repentance and real revival that can conditionally bring drastically needed inner healing and essential wholeness in the America over a period and process of time. A TIME OF PRAYER AND PROTEST: It Is offiThis is a time of prayer, and simultaneously a time of protest. God bless America, and more imcially confirmed that President Donald John Trump, the leader of the free world, and First La- portantly America bless God. dy Melania Trump, have both contracted the Coronavirus. After traveling with Hope Hicks who Pastor Arthur L. Mackey Jr. Senior Pastor also contracted COVID-19. From wearing no Mount Sinai Baptist Church Cathedral mask at President Trump's major mass political 243 Rev. Dr. A. L. Mackey St. Avenue rallies, to Trump making light of over 200,000 Americans dying of Coronavirus, to Trump absolutely refusing to denounce White supremacy on Roosevelt, New York, 11575 the presidential debate stage with the whole world watching. This is a major historical defining moment beyond compare. Clearly, I protest daily the racism, classism, and sexism of the Trump administration's toxic plots, politics, and policies. Clearly, I also pray daily for the President and First Ladyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s total recovery. Protest and prayer are the two key essential biblical mandates that must never be compromised throughout the entire landscape of America. Now is the time for Ameri-

MACK REPORT

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The Incorporated Village of Hempstead is located in the Town of Hempstead, Nassau County, New York, United States. The population was 53,891 at the 2010 census,[5] but by 2019 had reached 55,113 according to the U.S. Census Bureau estimate.[6] It is the most densely populated village in New York. Hempstead Village is the site of the seventeenth-century "town spot" from which English and Dutch settlers developed the Town of Hempstead, the Town of North Hempstead, and ultimately Nassau County. Several of Nassau County's most historically valuable buildings are in the Village of Hempstead, including Town of Hempstead Town Hall (built in 1918), Carman-Irish Hall at 160 Marvin Avenue (built about 1700), St. George's Episcopal Church (319 Front Street, erected 1822), St. George's Rectory (217 Peninsula Boulevard, built 1793), and the United Methodist Church at 40 Washington Street (erected 1855).[7] The Carman-Irish Hall is occupied by American Legion Post 390. The church structures have been in continuous use by their congregations since they were built. Christ's First Presbyterian Church at 353 Fulton Avenue is Nassau County's oldest Presbyterian congregation, and one of the earliest in the United States, having been founded in 1644 by Richard Denton. Jackson Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church, housed at 60 Peninsula Boulevard since the mid-1950s, was established between 1825 and 1840.[7] It is one of the county's oldest African American congregations. Diversity has long been a characteristic of Hempstead. While it was majority white until the mid-twentieth century, Hempstead had a significant black population from about 1651 onward, in addition to the native peoples still living on Long Island. Starting in the nineteenth century, Hempstead's diversity increased. Irish, Polish, and German immigrants arrived during the second half of the nineteenth century to join the descendants of the original English and Dutch settlers. Military personnel were trained at Camp Mills during 1918 and at Mitchel Field during World War II, and some stayed to raise families, adding other European-descent groups and African Americans. During the first half of the twentieth century, African Americans from the South who sought opportunities in the North established homes and businesses in Hempstead. Nassau County's first chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) was established in Hempstead in 1932. A major case against de facto segregation in Hempstead was taken to the New York State Supreme Court in 1949 by Thurgood Marshall. From the 1950s forward, the village's African American population has increased, and so have Mexican, Central American, and South American groups, as well as Caribbean immigrants, Middle Easterners, and Asians, especially Indians and South Asians

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The Village of Hempstead is a great place to live and raise a family except for these 15 fixable issues. For each of the next 17 weekâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s we will offer fixes for each of the below quality of life issues listed below. Follow us and join the diaolog by emailing us at: thevillagepress7@gmail.com.

ISSUES of concern: 1. High Residential Property Taxes 2. Pockets of High Crime 3. Lack Affordable Housing 4. Village Gas and Electric Plant 5. Disproportionate number of Non-taxable properties 6. Under performing School District 7. Poorly designed business district 8. No brand or reason to stop and shop in the Village 9. Poor traffic management 10. Lack of quality medical services-Emergency Triage 11. High Unemployment 12. Failed redevelopment plan 13. Pointless fiscal management plan 14. To many residential properties in disrepair 15. Inability to keep residents informed 16. No plan for the future-No Vision-expansion ideas 17. Poor Voter turn outs 10/2/2020

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