CITIZEN SUBURBAN TIMES WEEKLY 8-26-2020

Y O U R S O U R C E F O R C O R O N AV I R U S N E W S

Citizen The Citizen: Serving The Black Community For 55 Years Week of Aug. 26, 2020

| Vol. 4 | No. 3 | www.citizennewspapergroup.com

SUBURBAN TIMES WEEKLY

Nearly ThreeFourths of K-12 Educators Consider Their Jobs Risky in Terms of Potential Exposure to COVID-19 Page 3

New Airline Industry Analysis Shows States With Air Service and Travel Hardest Hit by COVID-19 Pandemic Page 4

Krystal Taylor’s virtual trainings are 30-minute exercises that can be viewed on fitnessisnotagame.com. Photo courtesy of Krystal Taylor

Working Virtually: Avoid phishing scams Page 6

FITNESS TRAINER OFFERS VIRTUAL TRAINING People who still want to maintain their health and wellness by engaging in physical exercise and activity, but are not comfortable going to gyms and fitness centers, are turning to virtual training programs. PAGE 2

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2 | CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of Aug. 26, 2020

POLITISCOPE

Hit ’em where it hurts – how economic threats are a potent tool for changing people’s minds about the Confederate flag

BY JORDAN CARR PETERSON AND CHRISTIAN GROSE

Activists nationwide have resumed demanding the removal of statues and symbols that are considered racially offensive – such as of slave owners, Confederate leaders and the Confederate flag.

The requests – and related boycotts and threats of other economic protests – have been part of the national controversy about racism in American life and have sparked questions about how to recognize traumatic elements of U.S. history.

Typically, the debate about the role of Confederate imagery in public life is seen as a political, social or racial issue. But in recent research, we discovered that economic concerns could be effective in shifting Southerners’ attitudes about Confederate symbols.

Public officials and individual citizens alike are more likely to oppose the presence of Confederate symbols when they learn it may be bad for local business.

Longstanding support Decisions to build Confederate monuments or display the Confederate battle flag were not, of

course, controversial among white Southerners. Even recently, it wasn’t common for many white Americans – either in public service or as private citizens – to actively support removing Confederate imagery.

Yet some organizations have long opposed Confederate symbols. For instance, the NAACP called an economic boycott of South Carolina from 2000 to 2015 because the Confederate battle flag flew over the State House in Columbia, alongside the state and U.S. flags.

As recently as 2011 a plurality of white Southerners saw the Confederate flag as more positive than negative.

Political elites were not much different: In 2000, when South Carolina hosted a debate during the Republican presidential primaries, both George W. Bush and John McCain initially supported leaving decisions up to state officials about whether to keep the Confederate flag flying, though McCain equivocated on the issue throughout the campaign.

A rapid change Opposition to public display of Confederate symbols has shifted in more recent years.

In some cases, public officials

have encountered changing political circumstances. In 2015, for instance, South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley supported a bipartisan call to remove the flag from the State House in the wake of a racially motivated mass shooting of African Americans at a Charleston church.

Our research found that presenting divisive social and political issues in terms of their potential economic consequences can change the views of both political elites and the public at large.

This came up, for instance, during a legislative debate in Mississippi in June 2020. Some of the people arguing that the Confederate flag should not be part of the state flag said that keeping it might impede job creation and economic development in their state.

Those tactics are similar to economic arguments from other groups seeking social change, such as LGBTrights advocates explaining how the business community would be hurt by continued discrimination.

What’s the effect?

In our research, we surveyed voters as well as elected officials at both city and county levels. We

wanted to measure whether, and how much, economic interests might affect Southerners’ attitudes toward the presence of Confederate symbols. We randomly assigned the participants into one of three equalsized groups.

The first group read a vignette asking them to imagine that a Confederate flag was displayed on local government property in their county, and then asked them, on a scale from 1 to 7, how likely they were to support removal of the flag.

The second group was given the same basic information as the first group, but with additional language indicating that the continued presence of Confederate flag on public property in their county would mean a major multinational company would not want to relocate to the community.

[Get the best of The Conversation, every weekend. Sign up for our weekly newsletter.]

The last group was given the same information as the second group, but with an additional assertion that the continued presence of the flag would have an effect large enough to affect the stock market in a way that would hurt the respondents’

personal economic bottom line.

We found that Southerners were far more likely to support removal of Confederate symbols from public property when told there would be economic harm if they stayed up.

Both voters and elected officials became about a half-point more likely on our seven-point scale to support removal after receiving information about the economic threats associated with the continued presence of the Confederate flag.

Controversies around socially and racially divisive monuments and symbols are likely to continue in the U.S. Our findings indicate that social movements might change more people’s minds by emphasizing not only the history of Southern racial injustice, but also by using the potent threats of boycotts and other forms of economic pressure.

Jordan Carr Peterson is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at North Carolina State University. Christian Grose is an Associate Professor of Political Science and Public Policy at the University of Southern California – Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences.

NEWS

Fitness trainer offers virtual training Continued from page 1

BY TIA CAROL JONES

People who still want to maintain their health and wellness by engaging in physical exercise and activity, but are not comfortable going to gyms and fitness centers, are turning to virtual training programs.

Krystal Taylor is offering free daily virtual trainings on her website, fitnessisnotagame.com. Taylor is a certified personal trainer and fitness nutritional specialist, who said her journey is different than most people in fitness.

“I didn’t know that I wanted to get into it until I started challenging myself after I had my younger son,” Taylor said. “Fast forward, I decided to do the ultimate challenge for myself and I did a figure competition in 2014.”

Taylor soaked up the information during the entire process and started providing free workouts and meal plans to people.

“My husband, who is a serial entrepreneur said, ‘I think you found your passion,’” she said. “When I started helping people and seeing the changes, I was like ‘OK, this is what I need to do.’”

Taylor said even before COVID-19 caused gyms and fitness centers to close, she had been advocating for people to exercise outside the gym and fitness center setting.

She said she was not comfortable with the cleanliness of gyms and fitness centers and wanted to offer people an alternative.

“A lot of people stay away from exercising because they don’t have a lot of time, they don’t have equipment. So, my goal was to give them quick, 30-minute workouts they could do in their living room, with no shoes on and still burn calories,” she said.

Taylor also has a FitnessIsNotAGame deck of playing cards. On each card, there is a different exercise, with text and a graphic to tell you how to do the exercise, as well as how many reps of the exercise to do. She said when she told people about the cards and the name, people really responded to it. She added she likes to have fun with her workouts and hopes people feel the same.

“If you’re not going to enjoy it, you shouldn’t do it,” she said. “You don’t have to do traditional workouts in a gym lifting weights, make it fun, so you’ll stick with it.”

Taylor started doing the virtual trainings via Facebook during the first months of

the COVID-19 stay-at-home orders. Her training videos could be found on the Black and Married with Kids Facebook page. The original recording got 22,400 views and the replay got another 15,000 views a few days later.

After that, she moved the trainings to her own site, as well as to her YouTube page.

There is also an option to work with Taylor one-on-one virtually via the website. The Workout Revolution with Krystal (WORK) four-week fitness program costs $247 and includes an exercise and meal plan, a weekly group Q&A session, as well as a PDF of the plan.

“People need to move away from thinking they have to be in the gym for hours at a time and that they can do it at home, quickly with no equipment at all and just not to make excuses. It’s just about moving your body and being active and do something you enjoy,” she said. “Whether its skating, skipping, running, jogging, dancing, I just want people to get moving so they can be healthier. It’s not about weight loss, it’s about health and living longer.”

For more information about the virtual trainings, visit fitnessisnotagame.com.

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Krystal Taylor created a virtual training program as a way to give people an alternative to going to gyms and fitness centers during COVID-19. Photo courtesy of Krystal Taylor

CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of Aug. 26, 2020

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NEWS

State’s child support division teams with Feeding America® to direct donations to local food banks In honor of National Child Support Awareness month in August, the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) has teamed up with Feeding America® to help support local families amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

“Every year, our team has generously donated school supplies, books, time and money, and this year, the need to help children throughout Illinois is deeper than ever,” said Theresa Eagleson, director of HFS. “I’m sure we will step up to this new challenge. Families are struggling like they never have in our lifetimes, and we are here to offer our support.”

The department is calling on staff to donate to food banks in their communities.

Feeding America, which has a nationwide network of 200 food banks, has created a special online donation tool for the department, which will direct staff contributions to their local food banks.

The donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law. More information can be found online at: www.feedingamerica.org/ csaware.

This August marks the 45th anniversary of the Child Support Enforcement Program, established in 1975 with Section IV-D of the Social Security Act. In years past, the HFS’s Division of Child Support Services has marked National Child Support Awareness Month with service projects that connect staff to their communities.

“EVERY YEAR, OUR TEAM HAS GENEROUSLY DONATED SCHOOL SUPPLIES, BOOKS, TIME AND MONEY, AND THIS YEAR, THE NEED TO HELP CHILDREN THROUGHOUT ILLINOIS IS DEEPER THAN EVER,” SAID THERESA EAGLESON, DIRECTOR OF HFS. “I’M SURE WE WILL STEP UP TO THIS NEW CHALLENGE. FAMILIES ARE STRUGGLING LIKE THEY NEVER HAVE IN OUR LIFETIMES, AND WE ARE HERE TO OFFER OUR SUPPORT.” The pandemic has also exacerbated racial inequities in food insecurity. Black and Hispanic households are now about twice as likely as white households to be struggling with food, and nearly four out of ten Black households with children are experiencing difficulties.

Last year, employees voluntarily donated more than 9,000 books and $4500 to focus positive attention on the importance of families.

The Division this year is focusing on the reality that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused for families across the country and the

Nearly Three-Fourths of K-12 Educators Consider Their Jobs Risky in Terms of Potential Exposure to COVID-19 As teachers across the nation begin a new school year, a national poll reveals that K-12 educators are deeply concerned about their personal safety and family finances during the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet despite their worries, the research finds that these public employees value serving their communities during this difficult time and feel that the pandemic has made the public more aware of the importance of their work.

These findings are contained in a new infographic from the Center for State and Local Government Excellence (SLGE) and ICMARC. The K-12 public school employee research is a supplement to a wide-ranging analysis of state and local employees’ views detailed in the recent report, Public Sector Employee Views on Finances and Employment Outlook Due to COVID-19.

Register at no charge at https://register. gotowebinar.com/register for a webinar on Wednesday, August 26, 2020, at 1:00 PM ET to review the findings, as well as additional SLGE and ICMA-RC research, Survey Findings: K-12 Public School Employee Views on Job and Benefits.

increased difficulty in accessing affordable and healthy food.

Experts have called the level of need unprecedented, with long lines occurring at food banks. As of June 2020, 1 out of 5 households in the U.S. report not having enough money to purchase food to meet the needs of their families.

The pandemic has also exacerbated racial inequities in food insecurity. Black and Hispanic households are now about twice as likely as white households to be struggling with food, and nearly four out of ten Black

households with children are experiencing difficulties.

Throughout the pandemic, the department has continued to oversee payments of child support, with staff and online resources remaining available to answer questions.

Child support has been shown in studies to reduce poverty and supports family self-sufficiency, reduces public spending and increases the involvement of non-custodial parents in children’s lives. It helps lift children out of poverty and contributes to improvements in all aspects of their lives.

Research shows that child support has positive benefits on the cognitive and educational outcomes of children. It accounts for about 16% of the family income. For families whose income is below the poverty level, child support represents about 50% of the family income.

In Illinois, HFS provides child support services to more than 440,000 families. These services range from helping parents establish paternity to establishing a fair child support order and enforcing them when necessary.

The services are available to anyone needing them, regardless of economic status.

In the state 2020 fiscal year, more than $1.3 billion in child support was collected and disbursed.

Illinois encourages parents to apply for the free services offered by HFS. They can be explored at: www.childsupport.illinois.gov.

Storm Survivors Put On Alert For Potential for Scams Disasters like the severe weather that struck several Illinois communities recently often brings out the best in people, but unfortunately, disasters can also bring out the worst in others who use the opportunity to prey on storm survivors.

The Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) is warning people affected by recent storms to be alert for such scams, which can take a variety of forms.

“It’s appalling that anyone would see this situation as an opportunity to scam others, but unfortunately this is something often seen after disasters,” said IEMA Director Alicia Tate-Nadeau. “Everyone affected by these storms should be aware of this potential threat and take steps to protect their personal information.”

The state is working with local authorities to collect damage information that will help guide the next steps in the recovery process.

Local emergency managers will always carry official identification, and proper PPE, when visiting a home that sustained storm damage. Residents should always ask to see ID if they have any questions about the legitimacy of anyone who may approach them.

Other post-disaster scams include fraudulent housing inspectors, building contractors and donation solicitors. IEMA is working with the Attorney General’s office to warn residents in impacted areas to be on alert for scammers looking to exploit homeowners and business owners who may be in need of repairs from storm-related damage. Also, never pre-pay for repair services, and remember -- if it’s too good to be true, it probably is.

It is also important to note that general contractors are not required by state law to be licensed, but municipalities may require permits.

Additionally, insurance adjusters must be licensed by the Illinois Department of Insurance, and roofers must be licensed by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

Home and business owners should check with their local governments for more information about permits or other local requirements.

If you are contacted and suspect fraud, report the incident to your local law enforcement, or contact the Consumer Fraud Hotline at 1-800-243-0618.

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4 | CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of Aug. 26, 2020

ART SCENE

Chicago Announces Project To Assess Memorials And Monuments In The City’s Public Art Collection The City of Chicago, in partnership with the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE), Chicago Park District (Parks) and Chicago Public Schools (CPS), recently announced a racial healing and historical reckoning project to assess the memorials, monuments and other art across Chicago.

The project will grapple with the often unacknowledged – or forgotten – history associated with the city’s various municipal art collections, and will provide a vehicle to address the hard truths of Chicago’s racial history, confront the ways in which that history has and has not been memorialized, and develop a framework for marking public space that elevates new ways to memorialize Chicago’s true and complete history. The project will have four main objectives, including: Cataloguing monuments and public art on city or sister agency property; Appointing an advisory committee to determine which pieces warrant attention or action; Making recommendations on any new monuments or public art that could be commissioned; and Creating a platform for the public to engage in a civic dialogue about Chicago’s history.

“This project represents the first step in a deliberative and long-needed process by which we as a city can assess the many monuments and memorials across our neighborhoods and communities,” said Mayor Lori Lightfoot. “This effort is not just about a single

statue or mural, but how we create a platform to channel our city’s dynamic civic energy to purposefully reflect our values as Chicagoans and uplift the stories of our city’s residents, particularly when it comes to the permanent memorialization of our history and shared heritage.”

This project is a first-of-its-kind effort in Chicago to take stock of its public art collection and channel the powerful civic energy that has organized around these issues. The project will begin with the assembly of an advisory committee in August, which will be co-chaired by Mark Kelly, commissioner of DCASE, Bonnie McDonald, President & CEO of Landmarks Illinois and Jennifer Scott, director/chief curator of Jane Addams HullHouse Museum.

In addition to the co-chairs, the committee will be comprised of artists, historians, and elected officials from all over Chicago. The advisory committee will review the city’s current public art inventory and identify and prioritize artworks that may be problematic.

The advisory committee will produce a report that recommends next steps for the existing collection as well as processes for the city’s commission of monuments moving forward, which will include speculative proposals by committee artists.

“We appreciate the opportunity to move forward with this critically important process, to revisit and evaluate the city’s public art collection – a defining characteristic of Chicago – and to commission new monuments

that equitably acknowledge Chicago’s shared history,” said DCASE Commissioner Kelly.

The work of the advisory committee will be largely informed by an artist-led community engagement process, which will create opportunities for public engagement and dialogue around the future of the city’s memorials and monuments. The community engagement process, which will begin this summer and last through the fall, will take a variety of creative forms and expressions that use the unique talents of artists to capture public input through storytelling, oral history, archiving and other educational programs.

“Monuments and memorials have served as overt or subliminal symbols of power crafted through a particular narrative lens. The committee’s imperative work is to listen to Chicagoans through a broad and accessible public engagement process to reckon with public art considered antagonistic to our shared history,” said Landmarks Illinois President & CEO Bonnie McDonald.

“This city-wide collaboration is necessary to reckon with the injustices of false histories and incomplete narratives, locally, nationally and internationally. It is a chance to engage in sustained public dialogue and work with Chicago’s brilliant creative communities —not to just re-imagine new ways to memorialize the ‘dead’ mythical past— but also to embrace the living present as we chart our collective future,” said Jane Addams Hull-House Museum Director Jennifer Scott.

The city will also commission a series of

temporary public artworks that focus on a broader range of topics around COVID-19, inequality, and racial reconciliation. Artwork development will begin this summer and will be informed by ongoing conversations with stakeholders and members of the community.

“The Chicago Park District embraces the opportunity that the Project will present to help examine public art and statues in our city’s parks” said Michael Kelly, General Superintendent and CEO, Chicago Park District.

“As we move forward together as a city, it is important to have open, honest and, at times, spirited debates about our history – the type that offer Chicagoans a chance to share their perspectives in a safe and welcomed manner.”

Using feedback collected through the upcoming public art and engagement efforts, the city, along with various stakeholder groups, will create a plan to erect a series of new monuments that equitably acknowledge Chicago’s shared history. The project aims to have a final set of recommendations for addressing existing and new memorials and monuments by the end of 2020.

“Diversity is one of our district’s greatest strengths, and we are committed to continued engagement to ensure the artwork inside and outside of our buildings represents the values and diversity of Chicago Public Schools,” said CPS Chief Education Officer LaTanya D. McDade. “We are pleased to join this citywide effort to create a more welcoming Chicago that celebrates our identity as one of the most diverse cities in the nation.”

TRAVEL

New Airline Industry Analysis Shows States With Air Service and Travel Hardest Hit by COVID-19 Pandemic A new analysis by Airlines for America (A4A) – the industry trade group representing major U.S. carriers – shows which states are experiencing the greatest impact on air service and air-travel demand amid the COVID-19 health crisis.

According A4A analysis of published schedules, New York has been the hardest hit state in the country, having experienced the largest decrease in scheduled departures

from July 2019 to July 2020. New York experienced a 70% decline in scheduled passenger flights. New Jersey is the second-most impacted state, experiencing a 67% decline in scheduled passenger flights.

Montana has been impacted the least, with 25% fewer flights offered in July 2020 compared to July 2019.

The national average is 50%.

As part of the analysis, A4A also pointed out that the number of

air travelers being screened by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has plummeted nationally. The 10 states and jurisdictions with the largest year-overyear declines in TSA checkpoint volume were: New York (-86%) Hawaii (-85%) Washington, D.C. (-83%) Vermont (-83%) Massachusetts (-82%)

New Jersey (-81%) Rhode Island (-79%) California (-79%) New Mexico (-78%) Connecticut (-75%) Prior to the ongoing global health crisis, U.S. airlines were transporting a record 2.5 million passengers and 58,000 tons of cargo each day. As travel restrictions and stay-at-home orders were implemented, demand for

air travel declined sharply. The lowest point was reported in April when passenger volumes were down 96% to a level not seen since before the dawn of the jet age (in the 1950s).

A4A further noted that the industry has a long recovery ahead. Air travel took three years to recover from 9/11 and more than seven years to recover from the Global Financial Crisis in 2008.

NEWS Advocate Children’s Hospital Ranks in U.S. News & World Report 2019-20 Best Children’s Hospitals Advocate Children’s Hospital was recently ranked 13th in the nation for pediatric cardiology and cardiovascular surgery in U.S. News & World Report 2019-2020 Best Children’s Hospitals rankings. U.S. News & World Report is the global

authority in hospital rankings and consumer advice.

The rankings are the most comprehensive source of qualityrelated information on U.S. pediatric hospitals. The rankings methodology factors in patient outcomes, such as mortality www.citizennewspapergroup.com

and infection rates, as well as available clinical resources and compliance with best practices. U.S. News introduced the rankings in 2007 to help families of children with rare or lifethreatening illnesses find the best medical care available.

CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of Aug. 26, 2020

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6 | CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of Aug. 26, 2020

NEWS

Working Virtually: Avoid phishing scams The Internal Revenue Service and the Security Summit partners are warning tax professionals to be alert to new phishing scams that try to take advantage of COVID-19, Economic Impact Payments and increased teleworking by practitioners.

The IRS, state tax agencies and the nation’s tax industry urged tax firms to review and heighten their data protection plans this summer as cybercriminals step up efforts to steal client tax information. Crooks are targeting tax professionals as well as taxpayers.

Avoiding phishing emails is the fourth in a five-part Security Summit series called Working Virtually: Protecting Tax Data at Home and at Work. The Security Summit initiative by the IRS, state tax agencies and private-sector tax industry spotlights basic security steps for all practitioners, but especially those working remotely in response to COVID-19.

“The coronavirus has created new opportunities for cybercriminals to use email to try stealing sensitive information,” said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. “The vast majority of

data thefts start with a phishing email trick.

Identity thieves pose as trusted sources – a client, your software provider or even the IRS – to lure you into clicking on a link or attachment. Remember, don’t take the bait. Learn to recognize and avoid phishing scams.”

Phishing emails generally have an urgent message, such as your account password expired. They direct you to an official-looking link or attachment. The link may take you to a fake site made to appear like a trusted source and request your username and password. Or, the attachment may contain malware, which secretly downloads malware that tracks keystrokes and allows thieves to eventually steal all the tax pro’s passwords.

This year, IRS identified a highly sophisticated attack against tax firms where thieves gained remote access either through phishing or malware and were able to enter the cloud storage accounts that held client files. In one case, thieves spent 18 months quietly downloading and accessing taxpayer information before they were discovered.

Because phishing emails are so common and successful, Summit partners urge tax professionals to educate all office personnel about the dangers and risks of opening suspicious emails – especially during the COVID-19 period.

The Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) recently issued a warning to all organizations to educate employees, especially those teleworking, about increased activity related to phishing scams.

These scams focused on COVID-19 fears by presenting themselves as providers of face masks or personally protective equipment in short supply. Thieves also used other tactics against taxpayers, impersonating the IRS and calling or emailing requests for bank account information to send the Economic Impact Payments.

Tax professionals should beware of emails from criminals posing as potential clients. As

people practice social distancing these days, criminals may exploit this process to try to trick tax practitioners into opening links or attachments. The Security Summit continues to urge tax professionals to create “trusted customer” policies, and contact potential clients by phone or video conference.

Taxpayers and tax preparers can forward suspicious emails posing as the IRS to phishing@irs.gov.

Because phishing emails are so common and successful, Summit partners urge tax professionals to educate all office personnel about the dangers and risks of opening suspicious emails – especially during the COVID-19 period.

COMMENTARY

LAWS ARE WEAPONS OF THE UNJUST

BY OSCAR H. BLAYTON

Xxxx We read in disbelief that a Black man who has already spent almost 23 years in a Louisiana prison for stealing a pair of garden clippers has now been denied any measure of mercy and must spend the rest of his life behind bars for his minor crime.

Fair Wayne Bryant, 62, was convicted of stealing the clippers in 1997 when he was 38. And five white men who sit on the Louisiana Supreme Court decided that it served justice to destroy a life for such a minor crime.

The only dissent came from the court’s sole Black, and only female, Chief Justice Bernette Johnson. Chief Justice Johnson wrote a blistering dissent that shines a spotlight on how law is used as a weapon by oppressors against the oppressed.

Bryant had been convicted of three previous crimes and all four of his convictions resulted from his attempts to steal something.

Chief Justice Johnson argued from the bench: “Such petty theft is frequently driven by the ravages of poverty or addiction, and often both. It is cruel and unusual to impose a sentence of life in prison at

Oscar H. Blayton

hard labor for the criminal behavior which is most often caused by poverty or addiction.”

Bryant’s infractions over the years were the acts of a desperate man, a man forced into poverty by a system designed to keep him in a state of poverty so that others could live more affluently. But the Louisiana courts used the pattern of his behavior as evidence of the need to keep him separated from society. And while the white men in black robes would never admit it, the courts in the state of Louisiana were not seeking to punish Fair Wayne Bryant as much as they were sending a message to the oppressed

Black people of that state.

Reading between the lines, we can see the dehumanizing process used by the courts to inflict pain upon Black people in order to ensure their compliant and subservient behavior. The language used by a lower court in Bryant’s case tortures logic while denying Bryant’s appeal of his cruel and unusual punishment.

The Louisiana 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals issued an opinion that stated in part that the “litany of convictions and the brevity of the periods during which the defendant was not in custody for a new offense is ample support for the [life] sentence imposed in this case.” In short, this statement argues that Bryant should stay in jail for life because he has spent time in jail before.

The three-word opinion of the five white justices – “Writ application denied” – was as chilling and final as a death sentence. They gave no explanation for their decision because they did not believe they had to. But Chief Justice Johnson was not having it and wrote a dissent that pointed to the historical underpinnings of such an unjust and oppressive use of the law.

In her dissent, Chief Justice Johnson pointed to the “Pig Laws” www.citizennewspapergroup.com

that had been enforced in Louisiana in years past. These laws were designed to trap impoverished African Americans in a legal web designed to keep them poor and “in line.”

When slavery was abolished by the 13th Amendment in 1865, Southern plantation owners in states like Louisiana found themselves without enough manpower to keep their fields operational. But they soon found a loophole. The 13th Amendment stated: “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime … shall exist within the United States.”

Pig Laws were passed to unfairly target and entrap poor former slaves and force them into a penal system that provided free labor for plantation-owning whites. They were dubbed “Pig Laws” because many of them made it a crime to steal farm animals. And newly freed slaves without the means of acquiring food legitimately often were reduced to theft. This was forced criminality by design and the Pig Laws and other Black Codes provided a steady supply of free Black labor to replace the emancipated slaves.

Poverty has ravaged Blacks since emancipation, and poverty’s frequent

companion, addiction, has followed in its wake as the oppressed attempt to self-medicate in order to ease their pain and suffering.

Laws are tools for social design.

They are passed to make people behave in a particular way. In the hands of an oppressor, laws are tools to extract subservient behavior from the oppressed. And when used for that purpose, these laws are no more just than midnight lynchings or other barbaric assaults to enforce subservient behavior. Like lynchings and beatings, these laws are the oppressive weapons of the unjust.

Most of the laws used to police black and brown bodies today are pig laws that have evolved to adjust to the modern realities of our time. This is why excessive force is constantly applied to people of color and local, state and federal institutions contort logic to defend it.

Too many laws as they are applied to people of color are unjust and we must fight our way to the polls to root out the people who design them and utilize them.

Oscar H. Blayton is a former Marine Corps combat pilot and human rights activist who practices law in Virginia.

CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of Aug. 26, 2020

CST Weekly

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Classifieds REAL ESTATES AC 8-12-2020 19 CH 6922 IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT CHANCERY DIVISION BAYVIEW LOAN SERVICING LLC A DELAWARE LIMITED) LIABILITY COMPANY; Plaintiff,) vs. ) CITIZENS BANK NA FKA RBS CITIZENS NA; UNKNOWN) SUCCESSOR TRUSTEE UNDER THE CONSTANCE COOK ) TRUST DATED MARCH 12, 2010, UNKNOWN OWNERS ) AND NONRECORD CLAIMANTS; Defendants,) 19 CH 6922 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above entitled cause Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on Tuesday, September 15, 2020 at the hour of 11 a.m. in their office at 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, Illinois, sell at public auction to the highest bidder for cash, as set forth below, the following described mortgaged real estate: P.I.N. 31-35-418-015-0000.

Commonly known as 452 SAUGATUCK STREET, PARK FOREST, IL 60466. The mortgaged real estate is improved with a single family residence. If the subject mortgaged real estate is a unit of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by subsection (g-1) of Section 18.5 of the Condominium Property Act. Sale terms: 10% down by certified funds, balance, by certified funds, within 24 hours. No refunds. The property will NOT be open for inspection. For information call Mr. Ira T. Nevel at Plaintiff's Attorney, Law Offices of Ira T. Nevel, 175 North Franklin Street, Chicago, Illinois 60606. (312) 3571125. 19-02467 INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION intercountyjudicialsales.com I3153815 ____________________________ IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION US BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR VRMTG ASSET TRUST; Plaintiff, vs. MICA WALLACE AKA MICA BURTON; Defendants, 17 CH 4228 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above entitled cause Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on Wednesday, September 16, 2020 at the hour of 11 a.m. in their office at 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, Illinois, sell at public auction to the highest bidder for cash, as set forth below, the following described mortgaged real estate: P.I.N. 30-29-113-046.

Commonly known as 17319 COMMUNITY STREET, LANSING, IL 60438. The mortgaged real estate is improved with a single family residence. If the subject mortgaged real estate is a unit of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by subsection (g-1) of Section 18.5 of the Condominium Property Act. Sale terms: 10% down by certified funds, balance, by certified funds, within 24 hours. No refunds. The property will NOT be open for inspection. For information call Mr. Ira T. Nevel at Plaintiff's Attorney, Law Offices of Ira T. Nevel, 175 North Franklin Street, Chicago, Illinois 60606. (312) 357-1125. 1804597 INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION intercountyjudicialsales.com I3153819 ____________________________ AC 8-19-2020 IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION AS TRUSTEE FOR WELLS FARGO ASSET SECURITIES CORPORATION, MORTGAGE PASSTHROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007-11 Plaintiff, -v.- GREGORY SMITH A/K/A GREGORY M SMITH, ZENA SMITH A/K/A ZENA R SMITH, WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A.; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Defendants 11 CH 9811 843 PARK DRIVE FLOSSMOOR, IL 60422 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on July 30, 2019, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on September 18, 2020, at The

Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker Drive, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 843 PARK DRIVE, FLOSSMOOR, IL 60422 Property Index No. 31-01-412-0030000 The real estate is improved with a stucco, single family house with an attached two car garage.

Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, including the Judicial Sale fee for the Abandoned Residential Property Municipality Relief Fund, which is calculated on residential real estate at the rate of $1 for each $1,000 or fraction thereof of the amount paid by the purchaser not to exceed $300, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twentyfour (24) hours. No fee shall be paid by the mortgagee acquiring the residential real estate pursuant to its credit bid at the sale or by any mortgagee, judgment creditor, or other lienor acquiring the residential real estate whose rights in and to the residential real estate arose prior to the sale. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in "AS IS" condition.

The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court. Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale. Where a sale of real estate is made to satisfy a lien prior to that of the United States, the United States shall have one year from the date of sale within which to redeem, except that with respect to a lien arising under the internal revenue laws the period shall be 120 days or the period allowable for redemption under State law, whichever is longer, and in any case in which, under the provisions of section 505 of the Housing Act of 1950, as amended (12 U.S.C. 1701k), and subsection (d) of section 3720 of title 38 of the United States Code, the right to redeem does not arise, there shall be no right of redemption. The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information. If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1). IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver's license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales. MCCALLA RAYMER LEIBERT PIERCE, LLC Plaintiff's Attorneys, One North Dearborn Street, Suite 1200, Chicago, IL, 60602. Tel No. (312) 346-9088.

THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236-SALE You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales. MCCALLA RAYMER LEIBERT PIERCE, LLC One North Dearborn Street, Suite 1200 Chicago IL, 60602 312-3469088 E-Mail: pleadings@mccalla.com Attorney File No. 11885 Attorney ARDC No. 61256 Attorney Code. 61256 Case Number: 11 CH 9811 TJSC#: 401473 NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff's attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose. Case # 11 CH 9811 I3152169 ____________________________ IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUN-

TY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, D/B/A CHRISTIANA TRUST, NOT INDIVIDUALLY BUT AS TRUSTEE FOR PRETIUM MORTGAGE ACQUISITION TRUST Plaintiff, -v.- DIANE F DANIELS A/K/A DIANE FRANCES DANIELS, ILLINOIS HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, TD BANK USA, N.A. Defendants 2018 CH 14417 19822 PARK AVENUE LYNWOOD, IL 60411 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on February 27, 2020, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on September 22, 2020, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker Drive, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 19822 PARK AVENUE, LYNWOOD, IL 60411 Property Index No. 33-07-325-005-0000 The real estate is improved with a single family home with an attached two car garage. Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted.

The balance, including the Judicial Sale fee for the Abandoned Residential Property Municipality Relief Fund, which is calculated on residential real estate at the rate of $1 for each $1,000 or fraction thereof of the amount paid by the purchaser not to exceed $300, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. No fee shall be paid by the mortgagee acquiring the residential real estate pursuant to its credit bid at the sale or by any mortgagee, judgment creditor, or other lienor acquiring the residential real estate whose rights in and to the residential real estate arose prior to the sale. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in "AS IS" condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court. Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale. The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property.

Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information. If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required

by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1). IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver's license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales. MCCALLA RAYMER LEIBERT PIERCE, LLC Plaintiff's Attorneys, One North Dearborn Street, Suite 1200, Chicago, IL, 60602. Tel No. (312) 346-9088.

THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236-SALE You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales. MCCALLA RAYMER LEIBERT PIERCE, LLC One North Dearborn Street, Suite 1200 Chicago IL, 60602 312-3469088 E-Mail: pleadings@mccalla.com Attorney File No. 267781 Attorney ARDC No. 61256 Attorney Code. 61256 Case Number: 2018 CH 14417 TJSC#: 40-1468 NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff's attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose. Case # 2018 CH 14417 I3153661 ____________________________

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION WELLS FARGO USA HOLDINGS INC.; Plaintiff, vs.

UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NONRECORD CLAIMANTS; SHARON WILLIS-MITCHELL; UNKNOWN HEIRS AND LEGATEES OF MAIZELLE C. ARCHIE AKA MAIZELLE ARCHIE AKA MAIZELLE CUMMINGS, DECEASED; JACK LYDON AS SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE OF MAIZELLE C ARCHIE AKA MAIZELLE ARCHIE AKA MAIZELLE CUMMINGS, DECEASED; Defendants, 17 CH 9497 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above entitled cause Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on Monday, September 21, 2020 at the hour of 11 a.m. in their office at 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, Illinois, sell at public auction to the highest bidder for cash, as set forth below, the following described mortgaged real estate: P.I.N. 31-12-405-017-0000.

Commonly known as 2811 Vollmer Road, Flossmoor, IL 60422. The mortgaged real estate is improved with a single family residence. If the subject mortgaged real estate is a unit of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by subsection (g-1) of Section 18.5 of the Condominium Property Act. Sale terms: 10% down by certified funds, balance, by certified funds, within 24 hours. No refunds. The property will NOT be open for inspection. For information call Sales Department at Plaintiff's Attorney, Manley Deas Kochalski, LLC, One East Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60601. (614) 220-5611. 20-003690 F2 INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION intercountyjudicialsales.com I3154216 ____________________________

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION; Plaintiff, vs. DON ROSE AKA DON M. ROSE; LINDA ROSE AKA LINDA J. ROSE; VILLAGE OF SAUK VILLAGE, AN ILLINOIS MUNICIPAL CORPORATION; THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, OFFICE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY; Defendants, 19 CH 5189 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above entitled cause Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on Monday, September 21, 2020 at the hour of 11 a.m. in their office at 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, Illinois, sell at public auction to the highest bidder for cash, as set forth below, the following described mortgaged real estate: P.I.N. 32-25-107-030-0000.

Commonly known as 21601 Jeffery Avenue, Sauk Village, IL 60411.

The mortgaged real estate is improved with a single family residence. If the subject mortgaged real estate is a unit of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by subsection (g-1) of Section 18.5 of the Condominium Property Act. Sale terms: 10% down by certified funds, balance, by certified funds, within 24 hours. No refunds. The property will NOT be open for inspection. For information call Sales Department at Plaintiff's Attorney, Manley Deas Kochalski, LLC, One East Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60601. (614) 2205611. 19-014250 F2 INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION intercountyjudicialsales.com I3154223 ____________________________ IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF

COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION WELLS FARGO BANK NA; Plaintiff, vs. LYDIA OSEI ACQUAH; WELLS FARGO BANK NA SBM WORLD SAVINGS BANK FSB; UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NONRECORD CLAIMANTS; LYNWOOD TERRACE RECREATIONAL ASSOCIATION; UNKNOWN HEIRS AND LEGATEES OF ERIC ACQUAH AKA ERIC OSEI ACQUAH AKA ERIC OSEIACQUAH, DECEASED; CARY ROSENTHAL, AS SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR ERIC ACQUAH AKA ERIC OSEI ACQUAH AKA ERIC OSEIACQUAH, DECEASED; Defendants, 19 CH 10468 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above entitled cause Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on Monday, September 21, 2020 at the hour of 11 a.m. in their office at 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, Illinois, sell at public auction to the highest bidder for cash, as set forth below, the following described mortgaged real estate: P.I.N. 33-07-414-012-0000.

Commonly known as 20145 Cypress Avenue, Lynwood, IL 60411. The mortgaged real estate is improved with a single family residence. If the subject mortgaged real estate is a unit of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by subsection (g-1) of Section 18.5 of the Condominium Property Act. Sale terms: 10% down by certified funds, balance, by certified funds, within 24 hours. No refunds. The property will NOT be open for inspection. For information call Sales Department at Plaintiff's Attorney, Manley Deas Kochalski, LLC, One East Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60601. (614) 2205611. 20-005822 F2 INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORA-

TION intercountyjudicialsales.com I3154229 ____________________________

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