Trump orders purge of Black History from Smithsonian, targets African American Museum
By Stacy M Brown
BlackPressUSA com Senior National Correspondent
National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington D C
Since Donald Trump returned to the White House in January the dog whistle has become a bullhorn The whitewashing of American history is no longer implied it’s spelled out in ink, signed into law, and backed by a government that is now openly in the grip of white supremacist power In his latest executive order, President Trump has targeted the Smithsonian Institution and the National Museum of African American History and Culture, calling for the erasure of what he deems “divisive race-centered ideology ”
See Purging Black History, p 6
Nationwide protests against Tesla successful – reflect popular dissatisfaction with Trump, Vance, and Musk
By Pat Bryant
Nearly every Tesla dealership in the United States and the world had 100 to 500 peaceful protestors out front Saturday March 29 Elon Musk s electric car company earned rebuke, a 6-week sales slump continued stock values dropped by half and large stockholders sold out Telsa’s destruction is Elon Musk’s payback for his role in firing hundreds of thousands of federal workers and crippling and destroying federal agencies and programs illegally without Congressional approval
See Nationwide Protest, p 6
Congressional Black Caucus sounds alarm to protect SNAP benefits
By Lauren Burke, NNPA Newswire
CBC members hold press conference on Capitol steps to counter SNAP cuts
During a press conference outside the U S Capitol on March 25 members of the Congressional Black Caucus spoke out with concern about budgetary threats to the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
See SNAP, p 4
Federal judge: Alabama can’t prosecute citizens who help women get out-of-state abortions
Political Reporters
Alabama
By Jacob Holmes,
U S District Judge Myron Thompson ruled Monday evening that the State of Alabama cannot prosecute groups or individuals who help Alabama women travel to get a legal abortion out of state
Attorney General Steve Marshall had threatened to prosecute such groups on the grounds that abortion is outlawed in the state and that groups helping women to get abortions out of state were therefore complicit in a crime
See Abortions, p 6
AARP pushes back as Social Security Administration slashes services and staff
By Stacy M Brown BlackPressUSA com Senior National Correspondent
The Social Security Administration (SSA) is moving forward with a sweeping overhaul of its operations, including plans to slash its workforce by 12 percent shut down six regional field offices, and eliminate key phone services changes that have sparked fierce opposition from AARP and alarmed millions of older Americans
See AARP, p. 6
Picket Line and Rall y a gainst Tr ump Administr ation to be held Satur day, A pril 5th at Eutaw Post Of fice, 10:00 AM to Noon
You are invited to a Picket Line and Rally this Saturday, April 5, 2025, at the Eutaw Post Office, 227 Prairie Avenue This is a protest against the polices and actions of the Trump Administration, during its first 75 days in office
This public witness of dissatisfaction with TrumpVance-Musk, at a Federal building in Eutaw, Alabama, is open to anyone who is angry frustrated and feels betrayed by our national government
This Greene County demonstration is part of a larger national and international Hands Off Our Democracy” protest going on in hundreds of places across America and the world this Saturday April 5, 2025 This is a grassroots response to the
power-grab by millionaires and billionaires, like Trump, Vance, Musk and their MAGA supporters of our Constitutional rights benefit programs and ultimately of our democracy In recent weeks, the T r u m p - V a n c e - M u s k regime has unfairly fired thousands of needed Federal workers; unlawfully
closed whole agencies and departments, USAID, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Department of Education and others; suspended and questioned contracts with CBO’s because they are implementing policies of diversity equity and inclusion (DEI) Trump and his associates are also trying to cut Federal programs – Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid National Parks Smithsonian Museums SNAP (food stamps), WIC, Food Banks, school lunches and post offices serving working and poor people
See Picket Line, p 2
‘An impor tant step towar ds r econciliation’ Car encr o, Louisiana historical mar ker acknowledges histor y of l ynchings, r acial injustice
Editors Note: The Greene County Democrat is reprinting this story from the Acadiana Advocate Lafayette Louisiana because it is about the work of the Move the Mindset organization to recognize the Black people who were victims of lynching in the Jim Crow South This work is being done in cooperation with the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) of Montgomery, Alabama Ola Prejean, President of Move the Mindset is the widow of Fredrick Prejean brother
of Carol Prejean Zippert, Co-Publisher By Angeline Matthews, Contributing Writer Acadiana Advocate March 30, 2025
On Saturday, Move the Mindset a civil rights organization dedicated to promoting racial and social justice, held a ceremony for the installation of a historical marker honoring the lives of two Black men who died by lynching in 1896 and 1906 The marker recognizes the un-
just destiny faced by Antoine Domingue and Louis Senegal and offers details about the history of lynching in America Domingue, described as peaceable, was attacked and killed on Nov 24, 1906 by “whitecappers ” bands of poor White farmers who saw Black farmers as economic competition According to historical accounts they monitored Carencro roads, waiting for Black travelers to fall into their traps Local law enforcement was aware of the
crimes they committed but never intervened, according to accounts Domingue and two other Black men were making their way home when they were attacked The two other men escaped, but Domingue was beaten repeatedly Knocked off his buggy, he fled to his home to retrieve a gun He returned to the scene and was shot and hanged
See Lynching, p 7
Law Enfor cement r epor ts five ar r ests and multiple incidents
The Eutaw Police Department reported the following arrests
3/17 - Jacob Reeves of Demopolis, was arrested for driving under the influence of controlled substances
3 / 2 3 - K e n d r i c k Desroches, of Eutaw, was arrested for attempting to elude, disorderly conduct and two counts of enticing a child
The Greene County Sheriff Department reported the following arrests
3/18 - Angela Rowser, 51, of Forkland, AL, was arrested for failure to appear on criminal mischief 2nd degree
03/25 - Latoya Moore, 44 of Moundville, AL, was arrested for negotiating a worthless instrument She was released on a bond of $3,000
03/27 - Deborah Morrow 68 of Eutaw was arrested for negotiating a worthless instrument She
was released on a bond of $500
The Eutaw Police Department reported the following incidents
3/18 - Wayne Harrell reported theft of property 2nd degree taken was a firearm 22 Ruger Mark 4 Stainless steel
3/18 - Naja Morrow reported fraudulent use of a credit/debit card
3/20 - Keisha Hill reported harassment
3/20 - Lauren Stewart of Georgia reported harassment
3/21 - Jimirriam Roscoe w reported menacing
3/22 - Joe Hutton Jr reported theft of property 2nd degree
3/22 - Richard Gray reported burglary 3rd degree
3/23 - Geneva and Lorenzo French reported an incident (vehicle fire)
3/24 - Spiver Gordon reported an incident
3/24 -Terrence Kimbrough reported an incident
3/26 - Assistant manager of Dollar General reported theft of property 4th degree
3/28 - Lucretia Clay reported an assault
3/30 - Keyontae Clay reported an incident
3/29 - Piggly Wiggly manager of Eutaw reported theft of property 3rd
3/30 - Frank Morrow reported criminal mischief 3rd degree on 03/30/2025
3/30 - Debra Blackmon reported an incident The Greene County Sheriff Department reported the following incidents
3/17 - Micheal Cockran reported aggravated theft by deception
3/18 - Brenda Goree reported theft of property 4th degree Items stolen included a Nylon Rope valued at $250; Porta Potty valued at $250
3/20 - Daesa Goree reported harassment
3/24 - Capstone Contractors LLC, reported theft of
Ola Prejean, right, president of Move the Mindset, unveils a historical marker memorializing lynching victims Louis Senegal and Antoine Domingue on Saturday at the Carencro Welcome Center during a dedication ceremony Staff Photo by Brad Kemp
One side of the historical marker is seen Saturday during the historical marker dedication ceremony memorializing lynching victims Louis Senegal and Antoine Domingue at the Carencro Welcome Center Staff Photo by Brad Kemp
April comes to everyone
Bringing clear air for clear thinking
Lending mild days for mild dreaming
Settling in cool nights for cool rest
April belongs to everyone
Calling out colors and freshness
Raising energy, creativity and hope Nourishing seeds for every cause.
April stays for everyone
Through showers and cold snaps
Through pollen-filled breezes and ravaging allergies
Through gardening, mowing and close trimming
April continues for everyone
Brewing batches of poetry in flowery rhyme and rhythmic verse
Conveying the free spirits of worlds only dreamed
April is for everyone
Carol Prejean Zippert
The Greene County Board Of Education WORK SESSION Monday, April 21, 2025 at 2:00 p m REGULAR SESSION Monday, April 21, 2025 at 4:30 p.m. in the central office auditorium
Picket Line
Many of these actions have been taken to provide funding for tax cuts to the top 1% of wealthy people in our country, who do not need tax cuts and should be paying their fair share
Trump is also working to take your voting rights; women’s reproductive rights; deporting hundreds of immigrants, who are our neighbors; changing foreign policy to abandon Canada Mexico and Europe for an alliance with Putin the Russian dictator; abandoning climate change and environmental justice; and trying to eliminate our Constitution and end our Democracy
If you are affected and displeased with any of these policies and unlawful actions come and join us on Saturday morning at the Eutaw Post Office and let people see that we are resisting and protesting the Trump-Vance-Musk Administration This is your chance to show your opposition to the things Trump and his MAGA supporters are doing to America This is your chance to show that small rural communities, as well as big cities, do not support and want to reverse the policies, cutbacks and unjustifiable and unlawful policies of the Trump Administration
This protest is open to all that oppose and want to resist Trump-Vance-Musk Bring your own handmade sign, protesting the parts of the Trump agenda you most disagree with Sign up for future actions and protests
For more information, contact the Publishers of the Greene County Democrat at 205-372-3373 or 205-657-0273
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GCHS Debate Team competes at Mississippi State Univer sity
By Larry E Burnette
The Greene County High School Debate Team traveled to Mississippi State University on March 26th to compete in the 46th annual Mississippi State Model Security Council, a two-day Model United Nations debate competition Before being accepted to compete students must research and write foreign policy proposed resolution papers from the perspectives of their assigned countries The papers require students to research the background of their chosen issues and create step-bystep proposals to address the problems and write in the formal legalese of the UN, as well as attaching an MLA formatted work cited page The completed papers are college-level work
Six GCHS students (Arriuna Taylor Brianna Jackson Mekhi Braggs Breana Lavender, Jasmine Simpson and Nyla Brooks) competed with around 100 students from public and private schools from across Mississippi The students work in pairs and are assigned to committees of approximately 20 students each for the debates and judging of the papers As Ms Mitchell and I circulated to observe we were most impressed with the lively, professional debate of the committee which included Arriuna and Brianna Every student in the room appeared knowledgeable and engaged The level of discourse and observance of decorum exceeded anything that we see in Congress these days! Although Arriuna and Brianna did not receive an award for this debate I was truly proud of their performance
Concerning the writing competition, Jasmine Simpson and Nyla Brooks (sister of GCHS alumna Jaila Brooks, who received more awards than anyone in the history of our team), because they were debate partners competed against each other In their division of 18 students, Jasmine and Nyla tied for first place! I have long asserted that Model UN debate prepares students for writing at a college level Last year, both Jasmine Simpson and Brianna Jackson benchmarked on ACT Writing, which all students now take during their junior year Nyla Br-
roks and Arriuna Taylor arrived home from our competition to find that they had also benchmarked on the ACT writing test
This was my final debate trip as I am retiring at the end of the school year I was honored to have my former student, Olivera Hutton, now a probation officer join us for lunch Thursday Olivera competed at Mississippi State on my first debate trip there in 2016 It was Olivera’s first trip to MS State and she told me before we left that 2016 debate that it would be her college She graduated from MS State 4 years later As this was my final competition, the program’s director, Political Science Professor Brian Shoup honored me by presenting me with a MS State cow bell during the awards banquet It felt surreal as I, a triple-graduate of UA stood in front of a cheering crowd of students and rang a Mississippi State cowbell! I truly appreciate MS State for always providing our students with a well-organized, engaging, competitive and demanding, but friendly college experience Ms Torethia Mitchell joined us for this debate and will be taking over in the fall She will be assisted by team captain Arriuna Taylor who now has three years of debate experience I wish to thank Ms Mitchell for chaperoning the students on the bus so that I could drive my Buick I ve developed arthritis in my spine from old fire service injuries Commuting over the roads of Greene County has become a painful experience I have a challenge for all of our politicians responsible for road maintenance: Ask Dr Corey Jones to send one of the small buses to pick you up at the courthouse and drive you around to our various schools and back as you imagine what our students and drivers endure on a daily basis!
I would like to thank a few of the many who have supported us over the years Thank you to Chuck Jackson Felecia Davis Gerald Holloway Marcus Steele Ayuana Crawford, Jaida Goree and all the other bus drivers who not only always got there and back safely but actively engaged with and encouraged our debaters Thank you Dr Carol
Zippert and Ms B Amerson for always publicizing our students’ efforts and accomplishments Thank you to Principal Gary Rice, who helped me launch the team and former Assistant Principal Toice Goodson as well as Principal Andrea Perry, Assistant Principal Janice Jeames-Askew and Superintendent Corey Jones who all helped me keep it going through the years Thank you to the GCHS faculty and staff who have always been so supportive Thank you to Coach Corey Cockrell and Next Level Leaders as they have been major contributors for several years Thank you to Jeremy Allen, Eutaw High School Class of ’97, whose generous donation made our trip to the Close Up program in Washington D C last summer possible Thank you to my colleague, the late Ms Ruby Bell who often served as a chaperone Thank you to Sheriff s Office Lieutenant Steve Davis who has frequently donated to the team and encouraged the debaters Thank you to insurance agent Mark Brown for his contributions over the years Thank you to Dr James Carter the former superintendent of Greene County Schools During his tenure, Dr Carter empowered me to expand the team and travel to more competitions saying, Mr Burnette, you find the opportunities and competitions for our students and I’ll find the money As I reflect on my years as the GCHS Debate sponsor a few events really stand out I recall the group of students back in 2011 who came to me asking for a debate team, which we struggled to get off the ground Ms Tamika Thompson connected me with someone at The University of Alabama who set us up with a two-year grant covering training and competitions 2012-2014 In 2014, after two of our students Baronnica Perkins and Philip Harmon placed in debate and Jazmine Consentine placed with her paper, Philip declared, “There they were from their fancy schools wearing their fancy suits and socks that matched and we were as good as they were!” For me convincing our students of that simple fact is what this journey was all about
Submitted by Rev Larry Williams
On Saturday, March 30, 2025, the members of Pleasant Valley Baptist Church made a meaningful trip to the Legacy Museum in Montgomery, Alabama As there are ongoing attempts to erase parts of our history it is even more crucial that we teach our children about the truth of the past Every Jewish child learns about the Holocaust to ensure the atrocities of history are never forgotten Similarly, our children must be taught about the Black Holocaust the brutal system of slavery, oppression,
and economic exploitation that laid the foundation of this nation
Our ancestors built this country with their blood, sweat, and labor, yet their contributions have often been overlooked or minimized Banks and industries accumulated vast wealth by financing the transatlantic slave trade while our ancestors were taken from their homeland, stripped of their identity, and forced to work without pay
We also took a boat ride to Freedom Sculpture Park, which honors the lives and memories of the 10 million Black people who were enslaved in America The Legacy Museum itself sits
on a site where enslaved Black people were forced to labor in bondage The museum tells the story of slavery in America and contains 800 Mason jars filled with soil collected from lynching sites each jar representing a life lost in the tragic history of racial violence
Even today, systemic injustices persist and efforts are made to suppress our progress and rights But let it be clear: we are not going back We will continue to educate uplift and empower future generations to understand their worth, their history, and their strength
Photo caption; In front of an audience of more than 100, Jasmine Simpson and Nyla Brooks step on stage to receive their awards, as Professor Brian Shoup (far right, seated) looks on
Photo #2: Nyla Brooks, Mr L E Burnette, Mekhi Braggs, Brianna Jackson, Arriuna Taylor, Breana Lavender, Jasmine Simpson, Ms Torethia Mitchell
Tr ump loves the poor l y educated
Geor ge For eman was the last man standing fr om Boxing's Heavyweight Golden Er a
Marc H Morial, President and CEO, National Urban League
"Athletes are artists whose artistry dies with their youth For fighters it tends to be worse as the youth is literally beaten out of them But George Foreman -- erstwhile bully, seller of grill gadgets and mufflers -- did the greatest thing any athlete can do He beat time " -- Mark Kriegel
When former world heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali tried to intimidate reigning champ George Foreman at the start of their famous Rumble in the Jungle" in 1974, Foreman almost fell down laughing
"Someone must have told him 'Tell him this to psych him out '" Foreman said years later "He opened his eyes just a little bit and said, You were just a kid in high school when I fought Sonny Liston You don't deserve to be here '" Foreman had never spent a day in high school
When Liston lost the title to Ali in 1964, Foreman was a 15-year-old dropout, living in poverty, headed for a life of crime While Ali was making a stand against racism eventually losing his title and his boxing license in 1967 for refusing the draft "politics didn’t even exist" for Foreman
"I was so ignorant I thought Lyndon Johnson was President of Texas because every time I saw him he was wearing a cowboy hat " Foreman said That all changed for Foreman when he joined the Job Corps, which not only led him to a career in boxing, but a lifelong love for reading and learning The first book he read the whole way through was The Autobiography of Malcolm X Foreman's decision to
By Julianne Malveaux (TriceEdneyWire com) -
After he won the Nevada Republican caucuses in 2016 the current President crowed his victory “We won with young We won with old We won with highly educated We won with poorly educated I love the poorly educated Congressman Bobby Scott (D-VA) reflected on this comment as he asked Republicans to join Democrats in preserving the Department of Education
The 47th President loves the poorly educated because he knows how to manipulate them, and because the less you know the more you can be persuaded by false rhetoric
The cuts in education including cuts in educational services for the differently abled, both physically and intellectual will likely have a long-term deleterious effect on the condition of education in our country
The President’s reason
wave a tiny American flag after his Olympic gold medal win in 1968 was seen by some as a response to the Black power salute track and field champions
Tommie Smith and John Carlos had given days earlier But it was about gratitude for the chance in life that Great Society programs had given him, he said He was just saying what Smith and Carlos were saying in a different way
"They were trying to say ‘We are Americans!’" Foreman said He held a similar view of the controversial decision by Colin Kaepernick and other NFL players to kneel during the national anthem: "If we are the country we say we are we can handle it "
The 1970s were regarded as a golden age of boxing, and the greatest era for heavyweights Foreman was the last of the three who, along with Ali and Joe Frazier dominated the era It was a decade that included the most famous fights in history beginning with 1971's "Fight of the Century" when undefeated reigning champion Frazier defended the title from the undefeated former champion Ali Foreman too was undefeated by the time he faced Frazier in the "Sunshine Showdown" in Kingston Jamaica, in 1973 But Frazier was so heavily favored that announcer Howard Cosell was genuinely shocked by Foreman's dominance of the tworound fight Cosell's repeated cry "Down goes Frazier!" remains iconic to this day
Even more surprising was the 45-year-old Foreman s 1994 victory over 26-year-old Michael Moorer With one knockout punch Foreman set three boxing records: the oldest ever to win the heavyweight title, with the longest interval between championships, and the largest age gap between fighters
But for Foreman, nothing ever topped winning the Olympic gold medal
"That was the most impossible thing that could ever happen to anyone," he said "I had never had a dream come true "'
for cutting the Department of Education is poor test scores, but the first phase of cuts, separating at least 1300 workers from their jobs will also likely reduce the amount of educational data that is available So we may not learn, from the Survey if Doctorate Recipients (SDR), which academic areas we need to boost We are not able to follow graduates over time to analyze career trends Fewer employees collecting data may impact data accuracy
Given this President’s anti-DEI stance, we may not measure achievement gaps appropriately Many of my researcher colleagues are concerned that this anti-detail-oriented President and his motley crew of incompetents prefer aggregate numbers to disaggregated ones That means they may continue to report an overall unemployment rate but fail to report changes in Black, Latino and Asian unemployment Data collection costs money and the President’s aim is to cut budgets That includes more than $600 million in grants many which go to benefit the “least and the left out
Further many are concerned that the Office of Civil Rights has reduced effectiveness because of staff cuts The Office of Civil Rights lost at least
240 employees including 180 staff attorneys Regional offices have been closed, making it more difficult for people to file civil rights complaints
People aren t taking this action lying down The National Education Association (NEA) the NAACP and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) are all suing the Department of Education to prevent its closure According to the NEA If the Education Department is broken apart the rights of students, particularly our most vulnerable – to an education that imparts academic lessons civil rights protections, and prepares them for their future, will be undercut”
In addition with fewer worker protections, and an indifference to safety net supports, people will be forced into low wage work instead of workforce development activities that will better prepare them for good jobs in the future
This president loves the poorly educated because they are most easily exploited We are headed into a dystopian nightmare unless Democrats are willing to take some action
This President and his allies, assisted by a woman who used to lead Worldwide Wrestling (great preparation to lead the Department of Education) will reorganize or eliminate many critical func-
tions of the Department of Education Our young people will be the ones to pay This year 3 9 million young people are slated to graduate from high school
About 62 percent of them will enroll in either two- or four-year colleges What will be the atmosphere on campuses this fall? Unless some of the lawsuits are successful lower-income students, differently abled students, and those in need of extra services will be sidelined DEI programs that offered counseling and solace to some students are likely to be dismantled Tens of thousands of students if not millions will be disadvantaged by the way the Department of Education is being transformed to the Department of Miseducation
This is the era of the Miseducation of the Marginalized Scrubbing our history books of reference to Black, Brown, and other patriots is just a first step top dismantling any notion of critical thinking This current President and his minions are dedicated to ignorance, and indeed they love the poorly educated” What does this mean for our nation s future?
Dr Julianne Malveaux is an economist and author based in Washington DC Juliannemalveaux com
Pr eser ving our natur al wonder s is a patriotic cause wor th fighting for
By Ben Jealous
Gibbs
Dorothy
chanted “save our parks” from her wheelchair while holding a sign that read “97 years old, still fighting for public lands!
She was among an estimated 900 protesters who turned out at Rocky Mountain National Park on March 1 to protest the Trump administration’s mass firings of National Park Service staff last month, conducted through the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) headed by Elon Musk Those 900 were among thousands of Americans who joined protests across the country that day at hundreds of national parks and monuments that day
Gibbs, perhaps the oldest protester out that day said for her it s personal She has volunteered with the National Park Service for 22 years and says her grandfather Charles F Scott built Rocket Mountain National Park’s oldest remaining cabin And she –like millions of others across the country – is concerned about the public s ability to access our na-
SNAP
tional parks
That access is every American’s birthright
These sanctuaries offer more than breathtaking landscapes; they provide a refuge for the soul, a place where individuals from all walks of life can find solace, inspiration, and a connection to something greater than themselves in nature
However the recent mass firings within the National Park Service (NPS) and the U S Forest Service (USFS) have cast a shadow over these treasured lands
One of the opening salvos of the DOGE-led assault on our public lands was to terminate approximately 1,000 NPS employees and 3,400 Forest Service workers This decision threatens not only the livelihoods of dedicated public servants but also the very essence of our national parks
The importance of our national parks cannot be overstated They serve as living classrooms, offering educational programs that enlighten visitors about ecology history and conservation They are economic engines, attracting millions of tourists annually and supporting local communities – not to mention providing a vital revenue source for the government Most importantly they are democratic spaces where every American, regardless of background, can experience the healing power of nature
In fact diversity in our national parks is a tradition as old as the parks them-
selves It was the famed African American Buffalo Soldiers who served as the first rangers for America’s early national parks like Yosemite and Sequoia
The writer and historian Wallace Stegner said “The national parks are the best idea we ever had Absolutely American, absolutely democratic, they reflect us at our best rather than our worst
Our national parks stand as a testament to America's commitment to preserving the natural splendor and cultural heritage that define our nation
The rangers and staff who steward these lands are the backbone of the park experience Their knowledge, passion, and commitment ensure that visitors can safely and meaningfully engage with these natural wonders The recent layoffs have led to concerns about maintenance operating hours and public safety within the parks Reduced staffing means fewer educational programs delayed maintenance and diminished visitor services, all of which undermine the foundational purpose of the NPS In response to these alarming developments a National Day of Action on March 1 saw protests at hundreds of national park sites At Yosemite National Park, demonstrators expressed their dismay over the staff reductions, emphasizing the critical role rangers play in preserving the park s integrity Similarly, at Cuyahoga Valley
National Park in Ohio, hundreds braved harsh weather to support NPS and Forest Service employees highlighting the deep connection communities have with these public lands
Troy Riling-Anderson is an ecologist whose job offer at North Cascades National Park in Washington State was rescinded before the mass firings in February, two days after President Trump's inauguration He expressed concern that this is about a land grab by corporations The public lands are an American value, and they’re trying to get rid of that value by getting rid of the offices and the people, said Riling-Anderson “If that value doesn’t exist, there’s not really any way to stop them from selling off land The Sierra Club and other groups are suing DOGE over these illegal mass firings, in an effort to protect not only our treasured public lands and the stewards of those lands but Americans access to the great outdoors
Let us remember that the preservation of our natural and cultural heritage is not a partisan issue but a patriotic one It is our collective responsibility to ensure our national parks and forests endure for generations to come
Ben Jealous is the Executive Director of the Sierra Club and a Professor of Practice at the University of Pennsylvania
CBC Chair Yvette Clarke spoke of grave concerns about the Republican scheme to cut billions of dollars to cut SNAP benefits that help millions of American families ”
“Twenty percent of Black households have faced food insecurity compared to 7 percent of their white counterparts Forty-two percent of all SNAP recipients are children In fact 4 in 5 SNAP households include a child an elder or an individual with a disability, the CBC Chair added The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program formerly known as the Food Stamp Program began during the Great Depression but has changed significantly over time In 2008, the Food Stamp Program was renamed SNAP The 1980s saw budget cuts and stricter eligibility requirements under President Ronald Reagan In the 1990s a welfare reform push under President Bill Clinton led to the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) of 1996 That legislation mandated work requirements and restrictions on certain groups such as non-citizens
Today with a push towards billions in cuts by President Trump and continuous talk of cuts to social programs by Elon Musk Republicans in the U S House have been positioning to cut programs to free the budget up for a tax cut focused on the top 1 percent in the U S “It is outrageous that Republicans have spent all their time working to dismantle the social safety net including SNAP, Rep Clarke said outside of the Capitol today SNAP is not a handout, it is a lifeline, she added
One of the lead members of the Appropriations Committee, Rep Sanford Bishop (D-GA) “SNAP’s effects go beyond just the people in need it’s also the farmers and the businesses that provide the food ” Rep Bishop said standing in front of ten of his colleagues as tourists and school groups listened nearby If there are big cuts to SNAP over 285,000 jobs would be at risk Rep Bishop pointed out Real people are going to be hurt if the $230 billion in SNAP cuts are forced upon the American people,”
Rep Bishop added In 2023 approximately 36 8 million people in the U S were living in poverty representing an official poverty rate of 11 1% This figure reflects a slight decrease from the previous year ’s rate of 11 5% equating to about 37 9 million individuals in poverty in 2022
Revisiting an American Pr ayer
By Marian Wright Edelman
As Women s History Month draws to a close, there’s been one more broad attack on methods of sharing our nation s history: on March 27, President Donald Trump issued a new executive order affecting the 21 museums and 14 education and research centers that are part of the Smithsonian Institution including the American Women s History Museum, which is still years away from breaking ground on its official site the National Museum of African American History and Culture, and the National Zoo According to the order the Smithsonian Institution is under the influence of a divisive, race-centered ideology ” which falls under a larger concerted and widespread effort to rewrite our Nation’s history, replacing objective facts with a distorted narrative driven by ideology rather than truth Under this historical revision, our Nation’s unparalleled legacy of advancing liberty individual rights, and human happiness is reconstructed as inherently racist sexist oppressive or otherwise irredeemably flawed
The order says, “Museums in our Nation’s capital should be places where individuals go to learn not to be subjected to ideological indoctrination or divisive narratives that distort our shared history, and assigns Vice President JD Vance to work with Congress to deny funding for exhibitions or programs that “degrade shared American values” and “divide Americans based on race
Another piece of the order seeks to “determine whether since January 1 2020 public monuments memorials, statues, markers, or similar properties within the Department of the Interior ’s jurisdiction have been removed or changed to perpetuate a false reconstruction of American history, inappropriately minimize the value of certain historical events or figures, or include any other improper partisan ideology” and “take action to reinstate them, allowing tributes to White supremacist Confederate generals and others that were removed in the last five years to be brought back to former positions of glory
Five years ago on the same date March 27 our nation lost the Dean of the Civil Rights Movement,” Rev Joseph Lowery When Joe was about 11 years old in 1930s Alabama, a policeman hit him in the stomach with a bully stick for being in a White man’s way He responded by trying to run home to get his father s gun His father stopped him from retaliating that day but Joe made it his mission to fight back against injustice when he grew up, and he remained a courageous warrior for justice all of his life Rev Lowery was a constant companion to Dr Martin Luther King Jr who led the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the march from Selma to Mont-
gomery, and a cofounder and later long-term president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference He fought against apartheid in South Africa and for LGBTQ rights and marriage equality at home And many Americans remember his moving benediction at the end of President Barack Obama’s first inauguration, and his prayer for our nation that day Rev Lowery began by quoting from the final verse of “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing”: “God of our weary years God of our silent tears, Thou who has brought us thus far on the way, Thou who has by thy might led us into the light keep us forever in the path we pray He continued by acknowledging a moment of national and global financial uncertainty: Because we know You ve got the whole world in Your hand, we pray for not only our nation but for the community of nations Our faith does not shrink, though pressed by the flood of mortal ills For we know that Lord You are able and You re willing to work through faithful leadership to restore stability mend our brokenness, heal our wounds, and deliver us from the exploitation of the poor, of the least of these and from favoritism toward the rich, the elite of these ”
He asked forgiveness for sowing “seeds of greed and corruption that led to reaping the whirlwind of social and economic disruption ” and prayed that Americans would be willing to make sacrifices, to respect Your creation, to turn to each other and not on each other And he prayed: Help us to make choices on the side of love not hate; on the side of inclusion not exclusion; tolerance, not intolerance And as we leave this mountaintop, help us to hold on to the spirit of fellowship and the oneness of our family Let us take that power back to our homes our workplaces our churches our temples, our mosques, or wherever we seek Your will We go now to walk together children pledging that we won t get weary in the difficult days ahead We know You will not leave us alone With Your hands of power and Your heart of love help us then now, Lord, to work for that day when nations shall not lift up sword against nations; when tanks will be beaten into tractors; when every man and every woman shall sit under his or her own vine and fig tree and none shall be afraid; when justice will roll down like waters and righteousness as a mighty stream
Some Americans might see that prayer today as degrading or divisive yet many others might still say: amen
Marian Wright Edelman is Founder and President Emerita of the Children's Defense Fund whose Leave No Child Behind® mission is to ensure every child a Healthy Start a Head Start a Fair Start a Safe Start and a Moral Start in life and successful passage to adulthood with the help of caring families and communities For more information go to childrensdefense org
Senate Sketches #1971.....by Hank Sander s Diversity, equity and inclusion are powerful and good.
Diversity, equity and inclusion Those who do not want inclusion have coined a letters term: DEI Those who do not want equity have coined a letter term: DEI Those who do not want diversity have coined a letters term: DEI The letters roll off some tongues with a sinister snarl I do not use this letter term except in explanation Diversity, equity and inclusion are powerful and good Let’s take each of these three words: Diversity equity and inclusion Diversity is the presence of variety and differences among people or things encompassing characteristics such as race, ethnicity, gender, age, activities, experiences and perspectives Equity means fairness and justice It also means “ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to succeed and have their basic needs met appropriately Inclusion is “The quality of including many different types of people while treating them all fairly Diversity, equity and inclusion are powerful and good Diversity equity and inclusion are bed rock Christian principles In fact, they are basic principles of most religions If you don’t believe me just examine each religion Religions may not practice what they preach but if you examine their basic principles you will find that diversity equity and inclusion are highly valued Jesus was a strong proponent of diversity equity and inclusion Diversity equity and inclusion are powerful and good I am a Sunday School teacher I have taught Sunday School for more than 40 years I subscribe to principles of diversity, equity and inclusion I believe strongly that God created diversity I see diversity in all of God’s creations When I look around the world I see that God made everything diverse because no two things are exactly alike, not even twins; no two grains of sand are alike; no two leaves on a tree are exactly alike; no two snowflakes are exactly alike; and etc Everything is diverse and diversity continues to expand Diversity, equity and inclusion are powerful and good
I believe that God created equity In all the diversity that God created, there is value in each and every thing no matter how different in size shape color and complexity All that God created works together for the good of all who follow God’s way Equity does not mean equal; it means valuing all within the context of their differences Diversity, equity and inclusion are powerful and good
I believe that God created inclusion All that God made is included in God’s
world, in God’s plan, in God’s spirit in God’s way There is a time and place for everything Diversity, equity and inclusion are powerful and good
The absence of diversity, equity and inclusion is segregation I know segregation firsthand I was born in the realm of segregation raised in the inequity of segregation and pressed down by the exclusions in segregation Segregation is not just separation it is separation with one group in control of members of another group Nearly everything in my life and my family’s life was determined by members of another group: where we could not eat; where we could not sleep; where we could not go to school; where we could not obtain health care; where we could not work; where we could not play; with whom we could not play; where we could not be buried; everything! I fought hard to get myself and others out of segregation based on supremacy of one group over another: mostly white male supremacy I definitely do not want to go back Diversity equity and inclusion are powerful and good
The United States of America is one of the most diverse countries in the world There are substantial populations of White Americans Black Americans Hispanic Americans Asians Americans, Native Americans and more The United States became the greatest country in the world in large part because of diversity, not in spite of diversity Diversity, equity and inclusion are powerful and good
The usual measuring criteria for the greatness of a country includes the following: Economic indicators such as Gross Domestic Product (GDP), GDP per capita, employment rates inflation and trade balance; legal indicators such as rule of law, justice; and due process; social performance such as basic human needs of health education and wellbeing; human rights for all its citizens; political stability; equality and inclusion of its people; military power; and cultural power Diversity, equity and inclusion are powerful and good
The United States of America certainly falls short of perfection in each of the criteria for greatness However no other country during the last 100 years has had such a confluence of these criteria The United States was certainly the most powerful economically and militarily It had the most stable political system It had such a powerful cultural impact that people from all over the world wanted to come to this country In sports, as reflected by the Olympics,
JOB OPENING THE GREENE COUNTY WATER AND SEWER AUTHORITY
Part-time Chief Financial Officer
•Preparing general ledgers, trail balances and other financial statements Preparing accounting statistical and financial reports
•Create and maintain filing systems, both electronic and physical
Apply at Greene County Water and Sewer Authority: 253 Harris Avenue Eutaw, Al 35462 Phone: 205-372-1661 or 205-372-1662
*Greene County Water and Sewer Authority is an Equal Opportunity Employer
no country is even close Diversity equity and inclusion are powerful and good
The United States has slowly expanded its political and cultural inclusion over nearly 250 years In all these years, certain White men of status and power have been in the leadership and control But slowly women were included more Slowly, Asians Americans and Hispanics Americans and African Americans have been included more and that good and powerful Diversity equity and inclusion are powerful and good
However, it is amazing how effective certain people have been in convincing a large part of this country that the United States is not great not to speak of the greatest country in the world I believe that such people believe that greatness is being over others I believe that is why diversity equity and inclusion are being attacked so viciously They define greatest” as supremacy over others Diversity equity and inclusion are powerful and good
We must stand up and speak out for diversity We must stand up and speak out for equity We must stand up and speak out for inclusion When we do, we become more powerful and we do more good for ourselves and our communities Diversity, equity and inclusion are powerful and good
Now on to the Daily Diary
Saturday, March 22, 2025 – I handled many matters and worked into the night I communicate with various persons including Faya Rose Toure
Sunday – I hosted the Sunday School Lesson with Dr Margaret Hardy on Facebook Live and Z105 3 FM Radio Station Among others, I communicated with the following: Sharon Wheeler of Montgomery; Cynthia Ross of Detroit; Askhari Little of Washington, D C and Marion Mayor Dexter Hinton
Monday – I handled various matters, traveled to Greene County handled certain matters returned to Selma and worked into the night Among others, I communicated with the following: Greene County Democrat Co-Publisher Dr Carol P Zippert; Latia Parker of the Bridge Crossing Jubilee; Mudano Mitchell of Jefferson County; Ayyanna Fortier of Selma on her 14th birthday; and Mayor of Gordonville Orbitz Ozier
Tuesday – I was in my office by 6:00 a m where I handled various matters
and made it to Greene County by 9:30 a m where I handled certain other matters I returned to Selma to handle additional matters participated in a Zoom meeting and worked into the night Among others, I communicated with the following; Lowndes County School Superintendent Samita Jeter; KC Bailey, Khadijah Ishaq and Tasha Dangerfield of Selma; and Reverend Gary Crum of the Ellwood Christian Academy
Wednesday – I was at my office early where I handled many matters participated in a Zoom meeting and worked into the night Among others, I communicated with the following: Ainka Sanders Jackson of the Selma Center for Nonviolence and the Bridge Crossing Jubilee; Gloria Pompey Josephine Curtis, Marilyn Cosby, Geraldine Wofford; Charlene Williams and Junior Oliver of Selma; and Richard Graham of Jefferson County
Thursday – I traveled to Greene County handled many matters returned to Selma and worked into the night Among others, I communicated with the following: Greene County Commissioner Tennyson Smith; Montgomery City Council President C C Calhoun; Mandy Young of Montgomery; and Frank Blocton of Selma
Friday – I traveled to Greene County handled various matters, returned to Selma; and worked into the night Among others, I communicated with the following: Wallace Community College Selma President Dr James Mitchell; Former Alabama State Senator Malika Sanders Fortier; Charles Sanders of Baldwin County; Jeannie Frazier of Philadelphia Pennsylvania; Steve Thompson of Montgomery; and Law Professor Emerita Matha Morgan
EPILOGUE – Diversity, equity and inclusion are powerful because they unleash the potential of all They are good because they make the world a better place Diversity, equity and inclusion are powerful and good
JOB OPENING FOR AN ATTORNEY THE GREENE COUNTY WATER AND SEWER AUTHORITY
Representing the Water Authority in legal proceedings
Attending the Authority’s Board Meetings and Call Meetings
Prepare drafting legal documents and reviewing and negotiation contracts
Advising the Authority on legal rights and responsibilities
•Providing legal support and guidance
Preparing and filing legal documents
Working closely with the Water Authority
Apply at Greene County Water and Sewer Authority: 253 Harris Avenue Eutaw, Al 35462 Phone: 205-372-1661 or 205-372-1662
Greene County Water and Sewer Authority is an Equal Opportunity Employer
EarthTalk®
From the Editors of EThe Environmental Magazine
Dear EarthTalk: Are the Chinese actually way ahead of U S , European and Japanese automakers regarding EVs? And are we ever going to see Chinese cars on American roads? – P L , via email
China has quickly become a dominant force in the global electric vehicle (EV) market, surpassing car makers in the U S , Europe and Japan Western car companies used to be the leaders in innovation, but Chinese car makers have
Abor tions
surged ahead recently, producing affordable hightech EVs at record speed
This has raised concerns in the U S about whether Chinese automakers will soon enter the American market and how that could affect domestic car companies With growing competition and trade tensions the question remains: Are Chinese EVs really ahead? And will they ever make it onto American roads?
One of the main factors that brings China s EV suc-
cess is robust government support For years China has offered substantial subsidies, tax incentives and infrastructure investments to enhance EV sales and manufacturing China also has control over a large part of the worldwide battery supply chain, which provides its car makers an edge regard to cost and access to crucial components Firms such as BYD, Nio and XPeng have emerged as global leaders providing EVs that are not only less
In a declaration of summary judgment on behalf of the plaintiffs Thompson said applying that same argument to other circumstances reveals its flaws For example the Alabama Attorney General would have within his reach the authority to prosecute Alabamians planning a Las Vegas bachelor party, complete with casino-style gambling, since casino-style gambling is outlawed in Alabama,” Thompson wrote Yellowhammer Fund an Alabama abortion fund alleged that the Attorney General’s threats of prosecution were preventing it from providing support to pregnant Alabamians who seek legal care across state lines and therefore sued the Attorney General in July
He has directed Vice President JD Vance to eliminate these so-called “divisive” elements from the Smithsonian’s 21 museums educational and research centers and even the National Zoo The executive order is chillingly titled “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History It declares that the Smithsonian, once a symbol of American excellence, has become tainted by narratives that portray American and Western values as inherently harmful and oppressive ” “Museums in our Nation’s capital should be places where individuals go to learn not to be subjected to ideological indoctrination or divisive narratives that distort our shared history the order states The directive goes further, instructing Vance, along with Vince Haley, Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy, and Lindsey Halligan, Special Assistant to the President, to work with Congress to block all federal appropriations for Smithsonian exhibitions or programs that “degrade shared American values divide Americans based on race or promote programs or ideologies inconsistent with Federal law and policy The order also aims at the American Women s History Museum, demanding that no future appropriations “recognize men as women in any respect,” and calls for new citizen members to be appointed to the Smithsonian Board of Regents individuals committed to enforcing the president s vision
This is not an isolated move Since returning to office, Trump has issued a barrage of executive orders aimed at dismantling every vestige of diversity, equity, and inclusion across the federal government He terminated all DEI programs, calling them “illegal and immoral discrimination ” The National Endowment for the Arts Challenge America initiative long dedicated to uplifting historically underserved communities has been gutted The Pentagon s website erased the stories of Navajo Code Talkers A Black Lives Matter” mural in the heart of Washington, D C , was demolished Perhaps most brazenly, the Department of Defense Education Activity banned Black History Month observances
AARP
Beginning March 31, the SSA will require that individuals applying for or managing their Social Security benefits confirm their identity online or in person at a local office, effectively ending the ability to complete specific critical tasks by phone The new rule impacts retirement disability and other benefit applications and alters how individuals change their direct deposit information Acting SSA Commissioner Lee Dudek said the move is designed to combat a surge in fraud, stating, Social Security is losing over $100 million a year to direct-deposit fraud ”
However, the shift has drawn sharp criticism from AARP, which represents more than 100 million Americans over age 50 In a March 19 letter to Dudek AARP Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond wrote that requiring in-person verification or internet access will create undue hardship for millions, particularly those in rural areas, without reliable transportation, or who lack internet access
She called on the SSA to immediately reverse a “rash decision ” “It is outrageous that under this new policy older Americans will have to call wait on hold for possibly hours make an appointment, or even take a day off work to claim the benefits they have earned, LeaMond wrote There is nothing efficient about creating more confusion and disrupting the lives of millions of hardworking American taxpayers with such short notice and no input from the public”
LeaMond and AARP argue that this change announced only two weeks before implementation compounds an existing customer service crisis SSA is already plagued by long phone wait times, with more than half of callers reportedly hanging up before reaching a representative Those who do get through often face callback delays of two hours or more The SSA’s restructuring plan includes cutting its workforce from 57 000 to 50 000 and reducing its number of field offices from 10 to just four AARP says these actions will worsen already deteriorating services Older Americans have paid into and earned their Social Security after a lifetime of hard work not just their checks, but top-notch customer service as well ” LeaMond wrote
The organization has sent letters to both chambers of Congress urging immediate oversight In letters dated March 24 to the House Ways and Means Committee and Senate Finance Committee, LeaMond asked lawmakers to hold hearings and intervene to stop the changes before they cause what she termed “serious harm” “These abrupt changes, made with no public input or adequate notice will force many Americans especially those in rural areas or without internet access to wait on hold for hours make appointments or take time off work simply to access their earned benefits, she wrote This is unacceptable ” AARP has mobilized its vast membership in response with over a million emails and calls to Congress in the past few weeks The group has adopted what it describes as an all-hands-on-deck strategy, engaging directly with SSA leadership, educating lawmakers, and urging the public to act John Hishta, AARP s senior vice president of campaigns, said the organization is determined to protect Social Security for current and future generations “We remain steadfast in our commitment to ensuring that older Americans continue to see no disruption in their payments and receive the information they need to stay informed and take action on changes at SSA, he said AARP warned that the SSA’s abrupt changes could also heighten the risk of fraud “While this was announced to combat fraud, we are concerned this will have the opposite effect ” LeaMond wrote in her letter to Dudek Without a proper education campaign scammers may exploit the confusion, using fake verification processes to steal personal data and drain bank accounts The SSA has not publicly detailed how it plans to mitigate the risk of fraud or assist those unable to verify their identity online or reach a field office AARP is calling on Congress to act before the March 31 implementation date urging lawmakers to ensure that changes to Social Security service delivery come with transparency sufficient notice, and public engagement We urge the agency to reverse this decision, or for Congress to step in and stand up for older Americans everywhere,” LeaMond said
expensive than Western options but also equipped with advanced technology
These elements enable China to sell its EVs globally, surpassing American and European car makers in both production scale and cost-effectiveness Although they’ve achieved global success Chinese EVs still face hurdles to enter the U S market High tariffs increase the cost of export, and persistent geopolitical tensions between the U S and China further complicates trade Concerns also exist about cybersecurity and intellectual property As some lawmakers suggest, vehicles made in China may pose a security threat due to their sophisticated data collection and connectivity capabilities Additionally, American car makers and lawmakers have opposed permitting Chinese competition worrying it might undermine local EV manufacturing and lead to job reductions
Because of these barriers, some Chinese carmakers are looking at different ways to enter the market One possible strategy is making EVs in Mexico, whereby they’d benefit from the USMCA trade agreement and potentially avoid some tariffs Others might partner with Western brands to supply batteries or technology, which would let them compete in a more indirect way Many American EVs already have Chinese components so even without full vehicle imports, China still plays a big role in the U S industry Competition between China and Western automakers is likely to get more intense U S and European governments are giving more subsidies for domestic EV production, trying to close the gap But if China keeps expanding fast it may be really hard for Western automakers to catch up Whether or not Chinese EVs show up in
2023 Today is a good day for pregnant Alabamians who need lawful out-of-state abortion care, said Jenice Fountain, Executive Director of Yellowhammer Fund The efforts of Alabama’s attorney general to isolate pregnant people from their communities and support systems has failed ” Marshall had publicly considered the possibility of prosecuting individuals who provide assistance to women seeking abortions but the state has not charged anybody with such a crime
at military base schools and ordered the removal of any book or material that mentions slavery the civil rights movement or the treatment of Native Americans
Now the National Museum of African American History and Culture which opened to national fanfare in 2016 is in the crosshairs In an almost surprising fashion, the Smithsonian has been outside of the bounds of political wrangling, said Samuel Redman, a history professor and director of the public history program at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst “It’s not as though there hasn’t been political influence but just in terms of overall funding and support for the Smithsonian it s been remarkably consistent That consistency has now been shattered Trump s executive order doesn t just attack the museum it hints at restoring what many hoped America had buried: Confederate monuments, white supremacist names on federal buildings, and the reinstallation of statues that were taken down during the country’s reckoning after the murder of George Floyd
What the president calls shared American values is beginning to resemble a national doctrine rooted in erasure and oppression The Smithsonian Institution, the world s largest museum, education, and research complex was founded on increasing and diffusing knowledge Established by Congress with funds left by James Smithson a British scientist the institution spans 21 museums and the National Zoo with 11 of the museums located along the National Mall in Washington, D C Now, it faces its greatest threat yet not from budget cuts or neglect, but from a government determined to rewrite history at the expense of truth The stakes have never been clearer as the country watches these moves unfold The battle over American history isn’t theoretical It’s happening now in plain sight with executive orders political enforcers and the full weight of the federal government behind it This is about power, said a Smithsonian staffer who asked not to be named out of fear of retribution “They’re not hiding it anymore ”
Nationwide Pr otest
Federal judges ordered Musk and the Trump administration to stop wreckage of America’s institutions But Trump and Musk continue A constitutional crisis looms where Trump may be able to rewrite the U S Constitution with the help of six republican members of the U S Supreme Court Trump s control of the three branches of government would create a one-man rule a dictatorship
Meanwhile Republicans in Congress are taking no action Republican lawmakers are refusing to come to town hall gatherings to talk about Trump Vance and Musk’s institutional carnage In many towns, Jacksonville included, citizens have organized empty chair town halls that Republican Congress persons refused to show
At Tesla in Jacksonville, Florida, this reporter talked with several protestors who are resolute to destroy Tesla and Musk to save American democracy A few of their concerns are below:
Cathy, a middle-aged woman, army retired, holding a homemade sign Musk UnAmerican NAZI” The retiree warned “our democracy is at risk in so many ways What they have done to our top military brass to everything that is truly American They are going after our museums What they are doing is terribly insane”
Colonel Lynnette Kennison U S Army retired called President Trump a bully He is allowing Musk to destroy our institutions They are going to be terribly hard to rebuild We are imploding from the inside I am worried about losing Social Security and so many things”
Julie Spellman carried a sign that read “Tax the Rich Musk and Trump = Putin’s Puppets
Follow the $$$ Julie Of Trump she said he wants to destroy our country so his oligarch friends can keep their tax relief and takeover our country as a corporatocracy” Spellman is related to the benefactors that founded Spellman College in Atlanta, an HBCU serving Black women
A retired nurse carried a sign Deport Musk DeThrone Trump She said they have done more to destroy our country than anyone I can think of Friends are no longer friends
We can’t talk Senior citizens depend on social security This is crazy They are short staffed at Social Security ”
As this reporter was talking to a Musk/Tesla protestor and thirtyish man rode by angrily and close to demonstrators and yelled curse words Cheryl an elderly woman remarked he is an idiot None of them have an idea of what s going on They have not talked to anyone who has lost a job or anything else They are coming for my Social Security and I am not happy about that ” Tesla peaceful protests continue world-wide Saturday April 5th noon to 2 pm
*Pat Bryant is a long-time
Pur ging Black Histor y
Tesla protestor in Jacksonville, Florida
There s no thrill in easy
In the Probate Court of Greene County, Alabama State of Alabama County of Greene Case N In the Matter of the Administration of The Estate of Edgar Williams, deceased Notice
To : Monica Letterwood and any and all unknown heirs at law and next of kin of Edgar Williams
You are hereby notified that the Probate Court of Greene County Alabama based on the Petition of Edgar B Williams, filed for the Adminstration of the Estate of Edgar Williams Deceased with Will Annexed It appears from the Petition that the heirs at law and next to kin of Edgar Williams where abouts are unknown Therefore service of process and notice of the hearing of the Petition in the Matter of the Administration of the Estate of Edgar Williams Deceased must be obtained on them
sailing when the skies are clear and blue; there s no joy in merely doing things which any one can do But there is some satisfaction that is mighty sweet to take when you reach a destination that you thought you’d never make ”
Happy Anniversary to Jarred & Shaunte Twitty and Mr and Mrs Luther & Gertrude White Carolyn’s Tid Bits...by Carolyn Young
“Every job is a self portrait of the person who did it ” Happy birthday to
e i a s Williams Marilyn Sanford, Jaden Davis, KC Morgan Sullivan Twana Ivory, Myles Gandy, Dexter Deloach Demarreo Mathis, Yolanda Corner, Andre Wilkins Ainslie Croft, Wilfred Michael Thomas Destin White Rontrell Noland, Luther Soup Winn, Luther
---Le gal Notices---
by publication You are hereby notified that the Petition in the Matter of the Administration of the Estate of Edgar Williams Deceased is set for hearing before the Probate Court of Greene County, Alabama in Eutaw, Alabama, 35462 on the 12th day of May 2025 at 11:00 o clock, and be governed accordingly
Rolonda M Wedgeworth Judge of Probate 4tcg 3/19,4/2,,9
Legal Notice Case No 2024009 Notice to Creditors The State of Alabama, Greene County Probate Court Estate of Debbie Ann Taylor, Deceased Letters of Administration having been granted to the undersigned on the 15th day of April 2024 by the Honorable Rolonda M Wedgeworth, Judge of Probate Court of Greene County, Alabama, notice is
Six White men were arrested and charged causing other Whites to protest the arrests After each man was released on $300 bond, the case dissipated
On March 24, 1896, Louis Senegal, also referred to as Louis Sinclair in some records was accused of assaulting Louise Martin a White woman While awaiting trial in jail, a mob of 500 masked White men overpowered the guard watching Senegal and the prisoner was no doubt lynched, but no trace of him can be found anywhere,” according to an archive of The Times-Democrat a New Orleans-based newspaper Neither Domingue not Senegal s murderers faced prison time or other legal repercussions for their actions
This is why almost 130 years after the murders Ola Prejean president of Move the Mindset believes a marker honoring the two men is long overdue An installation ceremony took place in the Carencro Welcome Center, a quaint building already filled with rich history that now holds two jars of soil honoring Domingue and Senegal Carencro is a small rural town five miles west of Lafayette, Louisiana
With a much larger audience than expected on Saturday, people poured outside the doors of the welcome center onto the lawn and into the street As the lyrics of “Lift Every Voice and Sing played the sun shone and the rain was delayed
“For the marker to be officially unveiled, I don’t have words ” Prejean said “My late husband started this organization and even though he’s not physically here to see it, I know he s here
This historical marker installation is part of an ongoing effort to commemorate victims of racial violence and encourage conversations about justice and racial reconciliation led by the Equal Justice Initiative
Based in Montgomery, Alabama EJI has a memorial in Montgomery to the more than 4,000 Black people lynched in the South during the Jim Crow period They are also promoting memorials in the places where the lynchings occurred
It s necessary to acknowledge history to move forward,” said Stepanie Wylie, an EJI staff attorney “Facing what happened openly and honestly is an important step towards reconciliation because we can t move forward without this history It also represents a commitment that this kind of violence is not forgotten and to ensure it never happens again ”
A part of the ceremony was recognizing submissions to the Reflections on What the History of Racial Injustice in Lafayette Parish and America Means to Me literary contest, encouraging Carencro students to express their feelings on the past and future of equality
In third place was Israel Rhodes a 10th grade student who wrote an essay titled, Understanding Racial Injustice His essay tackled religion s role in permitting slavery, with Bible passages being misunderstood to condone the mistreatment of Africans He noted how discrimination shows itself in resources education and opportunities
TyRiana Williams, second-place winner and a senior at Carencro High, wrote a poem about being from Lafayette but knowing its dark history with racial injustice She ends her poem with for justice must rise like the morning sun until every name is remembered as one, a reminder to listeners that the effort to honor those who died unjustly is never over Alexandra Alfred a Carencro High senior won first place with her powerful piece highlighting Black stereotypes and how they morph one’s sense of self-worth She mentions cornrows, a popular hairstyle once used to help slaves escape plantations and streets named after slave masters that never wanted to see Black people prosper
My mom encouraged me to do the competition, and at the same time in U S history class we talked about lynching ” Williams said “I wanted people to know that it isn’t all about us getting discriminated against; we’re more than that
hereby given that all perons having claims against said Estate are required to file an itemized and verified statement of such claim in the office of the said Judge of Probate within six months from above date, or said claim will be barred and payment prohibited
Deandre Derrell Taylor Administrator 15 day of April 2024
Attorney
C Burton Dunn Dunn & Associates, LLC P O Box 13081 Birmingham, AL
35202
Phone: 205-352-4455 3tcg 4/2,9,16
Legal Notice In the Matter of the Estate of Sinnie Neal Richardson, Deceased Notice of Service by Publication To: Syni Jean Champion, Inaam Kenyatta, Aisha
‘Luke’ Winn, Mark Hodges, Su Kova Hicks, Meka Young Tiffany Hardy, Rylee Ava Jones, Diane Smith Elizabeth Smith, Welsey M Moore
Richardson and Demetrius Richardson You will hereby take notice that on the 19th March, 2025 Dwayne Walton as Personal Representative of the Estate of Sinnie Neal Richardson, filed in this Court an Amended Petition for Sale of Real Estate Your are hereby notified to be and appear before me at the Probate Office of Greene County Alabama on the 29th day of April, 2025 at 11 0’clock a m when the petition will be considered and show cause, if any, your have allege, as to why said Petition and Motion should not be approved by this Court Done this the 19th day of March, 2025
Rolonda M Wedgeworth, Probate Judge
Richard G Cross P O Box 1528
Livingston Alabama 35470
3tcg 4/2 9 16
After students read their pieces Prejean removed the cloth covering the marker revealing a bright blue monument with distinct gold lettering
“I think it’s important for the community to be able to say ‘It’s OK for us to learn about our past ’ We don’t need to keep it buried ” Prejean said “It heals people when we bring these topics to light
Eutaw Annual Chamber Meeting
The event has been postponed until Thursday April 24th at 6:00 pm at the Greene County Historical Courthouse Tennyson Smith, Jr will be our guest speaker
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Eliminate gutter cleaning forever! LeafFilter the most advanced debrisblocking gutter protection Schedule a FREE LeafFilter estimate today 20% off Entire Purchase Plus 10% Senior & Military Discounts Call 1-833-6832005
Prepare for power outages today with a Generac Home Standby Generator Act now to receive a FREE 7-Year warranty with qualifying purchase* Call 1877-323-5516 today to schedule a free quote It’s not just a generator It s a power move
Safe Step North Americas #1 Walk-In Tub Comprehensive lifetime warranty Top-of-the-line installation and service Now featuring our FREE shower package and $1600 Off for a limited time! Call today! Financing available Call Safe Step 1-844-8716175
Call LeafGuard and say goodbye to gutter cleaning for good No cleaning No leaking No water damage No more ladder accidents Get LeafGuard today and be protected for life FREE estimate Financing available 20% off total purchase (Restrictions may apply ) Call 1-844-6792490
DENTAL INSURANCE
from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company Coverage for 400 plus procedures Real dental insurance - NOT just a discount plan Do not wait! Call now! Get your FREE Dental Information Kit with all the details! 1-8778 1 7 - 4 6 9 7 www dental50plus com/alabama #6258
Donate your car truck boat, RV and more to support our veterans! Schedule a FAST, FREE vehicle pickup and receive a top tax deduction! Call Veteran Car Donations at 1-833426-0193 today!
Jacuzzi Bath Remodel can install a new custom bath or shower in as little as one day For a limited time waiving ALL installation costs! (Additional terms apply Subject to change and vary by dealer (Offer ends 6/30/25 ) Call 1-877-205-0836
Replace your roof with the best looking and longest lasting material steel from Erie Metal Roofs! Three styles and multiple colors available Guaranteed to last a lifetime! Limited Time Offer up to 50% off installation + Additional 10% off install (for military health workers & 1st responders ) Call Erie Metal Roofs: 1-833955-3163
ATTENTION HOMEOWNERS Needing Siding Window or Roofs We are opening a branch office and will be using these homes for advertising SAVE HUNDREDS 100% Financing* SR/Military discounts $1000 OFF with this ad ENDS SOON *wac 800-350-0591
AUTOMOTIVE
GOT AN UNWANTED CAR??? DONATE IT TO PATRIOTIC HEARTS Fast free pick up All 50 States Patriotic Hearts programs help veterans find work or start their own business Call 24/7: 1-855405-8927
AUTO INSURANCE from $29 month Free 2minute Quote! We Compare all Insurance providers offers for you! Lowest Rates! Call Now 1 833-399-6566
STOP OVERPAYING FOR AUTO INSURANCE! A recent survey says that most Americans are overpaying for their car insurance Let us show you how much you can save Call Now for a noobligation quote: 1-877551-4740
JOSHUA J SWORDS
ACCIDENTS, WRONGFUL DEATH, SLIP & FALL Office-205-933-7533 Cell – 205-901-6129 “I like Big Bucks and I cannot lie” 24 HOUR SERVICE –FREE CONSULTATION OVER 100 YEARS COMBINED EXPERIENCE FRANK S BUCK P C ATTORNEY 2160 14TH Ave South BIRMINGHAM, AL 35255
ANNOUNCEMENT
Zion Hill Missionary Baptist Pleasant Ridge is in search of a MUSICIAN 1st and 3rd Sunday. Contact Dec. Floyzelle at 205-496-2910 or 205-372-5821.
BOLIGEE ELECTRICAL
Huge sale on light bulbs! Lights bulbs 50 Appliances: Washers, Dryers, Refrigerators, Stoves..etc
