August 1, 2024

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VOL. 39, No. 31

Your Community Connection Since 1994

Project 2025: The Blueprint for America’s Democratic Demise

By Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson

Trump is “America’s Hitler.”

Those aren’t my words. They’re the words of Donald Trump’s running mate, Sen. J.D. Vance.

That’s what he and many others used to say about Trump before they succumbed to his influence.

Now, they’re proclaiming their loyalty by bowing down and kissing the ring of an insurrection inciter, a racist, a sex predator, a twice-impeached, four-time indicted, now convicted felon, and former disgrace of a President.

Recently, the Republicans held their national convention.

Despite the delusional and deranged policies Trump has been shoving down our throats, he was met with thunderous applause.

Let me paint a picture of a second Trump term, according to MAGA Republicans and Trump’s closest cronies.

Journalist and historian Anne Applebaum aptly noted, “Often, for

autocrats, the second time in power is worst.” That’s a chillingly accurate description of what we’d face with Trump, especially with the tyrannical policies in Project 2025.

If you haven’t heard, Project 2025 is a 920-page blueprint for a second Trump term, straight out of a dystopian

Trump wants to fire up to 1 million people in the federal government and replace them with a bunch of extreme MAGA Republicans who would do Trump’s bidding instead of the American people and the Constitution.

And let’s talk about your wallet because you can forget about that with

novel. It’s packed with the horrifying policies MAGA Republicans dream of imposing.

It’s the MAGA Republicans’ plan to take control of this country and our lives.

It demolishes checks and balances, tramples personal liberties, and outlines a Trump power grab ripped from a dictator’s playbook.

Project 2025.

MAGA Republicans want to increase taxes on the middle class, gut social security for young Americans, slash Medicare, let employers stop paying overtime, and more.

They also aim to obliterate the Department of Education and eliminate the Head Start program.

As a former Head Start educator and

school principal, I find this vile and inexcusable.

Project 2025 also wants students in public high schools to take a military entrance exam in an effort to draft them into the military. However, it leaves private school kids untouched.

The cherry on top? They’re hellbent on banning abortion and restricting access to birth control and Plan B. As someone who knew life before Roe v. Wade and almost died from a stillbirth, we simply cannot go back.

Now, Trump knows this plan is insane and unpopular, and has recently tried to distance himself from Project 2025, claiming he knows nothing about it. But Project 2025 is crawling with former Trump officials and cabinet members.

All MAGA Republicans are trying to do now is lie about Project 2025 so they can win the election and begin to implement this draconian plan—just like authoritarians in other countries did when trying to grab onto power.

Continued on page 8

Parity and Equity: Olympic Ideals

By Maya Mackey

The Paris Olympic Games have put a dent in history by hosting the first ever equally balanced number of competitors. That’s right, 50% of athletes are women and 50% are men.

Flavor Flav, an American rapper, also contributed to gender parity by sponsoring the U.S. Women’s Water Polo team. Once he caught wind about the financial struggle of being a woman athlete (most female athletes, regardless of sport, have to work a side job or multiple jobs to support their athletic careers), Flav simply wouldn’t stand for it. He cut a check

and covered all the necessities for the women’s water polo Olympic team.

The return on his investment? The ladies won their prequalifying match against Greece and will advance to the semi-finals.

When asked about his support for the team, Flavor Flav had this response for ABC correspondents: “Everybody wants to feel like they’ve got their back covered, like somebody has their back, you know what I’m saying? And when they feel that, it makes them feel more powerful... It Continued on page 7

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August 1-7, 2024

Publisher’s Message

Remembering Sheila Jackson Lee

By Willie Brown

On July 19, social justice advocates lost a powerful warrior, with the passing of Sheila Jackson Lee. The Congresswoman from Houston, and member of the Congressional Black Caucus died from pancreatic cancer at age 74.

A native of Queens, New York, Jackson Lee graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Yale in 1972. She went on to receive a Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1975. By 1987 she became a Houston municipal judge and was elected to the Houston City Council in 1989. She was sworn in as an elected U.S. Congresswoman in 1995, where she served 15 terms.

Throughout her impactful career, Congresswoman Jackson Lee blazed

PRESIDENT/ EXECUTIVE PUBLISHER Willie Brown PUBLISHER Willie Brown VICE PRESIDENT Gloria Kennedy

new trails, making history as a member of the House Democratic Leadership. She was the highest-ranking Black woman appointed to House Leadership and one of the longest-serving members of the Texas delegation. She served as a member of the House Appropriations Committee and ranking member of the Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations, and as CoChair of the Steering and Policy Committee.

Her commitment to women and Black Americans was evidenced by her affiliations as well as the many legislative initiatives she authored and supported.

Notably, she served as Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, Chair Emeritus of the Progressive Caucus, CoChair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Health Task Force, and Co-Chair of the ProChoice Caucus, as well as Chair of the Task Force on Poverty and Opportunity.

When you think of Juneteenth becoming a federal holiday, when you think of efforts to bring justice for the death of George Floyd, think of Jackson Lee, who fought long and hard for Black Americans, women, firearm safety, police reform, children and overall democracy.

“Her legislative victories impacted

millions, from establishing the Juneteenth Federal Holiday to reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act,” her family said in a published statement.

Shortly before her passing, Lee wrote on her social media post that she was “laser-focused on beating Donald

Trump.” Let’s stay vigilant to this important goal so that the hard work of Lee and other warriors for equal rights and justice will continue, and all our lives will be better. Congresswoman Jackson Lee, we thank you and salute you. May you rest in power.

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Inglewood Today (https://inglewoodtoday.com) has announced immediate internship opportunities for aspiring journalists and data/research assistants.

The 31-year old media company is considering college and high school students for 3-6 month internships working hybrid 4-8 hours per week.

Journalist interns will have an opportunity to build their writing portfolios while interviewing celebrities, elected officials and other community leaders.

They will also cover issues related to Inglewood and surrounding areas.

Data/research assistants will work behind the scenes maintaining databases and helping to organize and launch a new blog.

Interested candidates may apply by submitting resumes to veronica@ inglewoodtoday.com. If applying for the journalist internship, candidates must also submit their best 2-3 writing samples.

August 1-7, 2024

Kamala Harris Working to Recapture Young Latino Voters

By Veronica Mackey

With barely 3 months until the November Presidential Election, Vice-President and presumptive Democratic nominee Kamala Harris finds herself in a whirlwind race to win the hearts and votes of Americans, and that includes young

Latinos.

With hundreds of thousands of Latino citizens turning 18 by Election Day, this is a demographic Harris cannot afford to lose.

She is seeking to capture this group of voters through an aggressive campaign aided by three Democratic-leaning national Latino groups: Voto Latino, UnidosUS and Mi Familia Vota. Together, the groups are expanding efforts toward mobilization and registration of Latino voters.

Abortion rights is a hot button issue that seems to be resonating with Latinos. And one that Harris is relentlessly promising to restore if she is elected. According to the Pew

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Research Center, the majority of Latinos say abortions should be legal in all or most states.

NBC reported on a 29 year-old woman, Gabriela Torres, who stood outside the U.S. Supreme Court with her mom and sister when Roe vs. Wade (the 1973 decision giving

rights measures on November ballots.

A May survey of over 2,000 voters under 40, including Latinos, found only one-third would vote for President Joe Biden.

Since Biden dropped out of the race on July 21, recent polls indicate an upward swing in Harris’ popularity

they did not want to see a Biden/ Trump rematch.

According to Meidas Touch, a channel on YouTube, tens of thousands of former Trump supporters are changing sides. Many are regretting voting for Trump in 2016 and 2020.

women the right to have an abortion) was overturned. Her mother was in tears. “You could feel the world shift,” she said.

Torres, who caucused for Hillary Clinton in 2016, said she is hoping that “maybe with a female in power” those rights can be returned.

With a $50 million ad campaign released this week, Harris is focusing on battleground states such as Pennsylvania, Ohio, Arizona, Nevada, and Georgia, as well as Texas and Florida, where more Latinas live, and states with serious restriction and bans on abortion.

Harris’ outspokenness on abortion could be helped by campaigns in Arizona and Nevada to get abortion

She is energizing not only the base but voters who were previously on the fence.

Democratic polling firms like Equis Research and Barreto Segura Partners are reporting numbers which were previously declining under the Biden-Harris ticket are now doing better with voters under 40.

Democratic pollsters Matt Barreto and Angie Guiterrez posted a July 14 memo online indicated Harris had a 46-point advantage over Biden and Donald Trump.

Carlos Odio, co-founder of Equis Research said data from a July 11-15 poll of Nevada Latinos shows Harris winning back some Latinos who had slipped away from Biden because

“I live in a very (MAGA) Trump area and I have seen the Trump flags go down on trucks and stickers go down and I just hope everybody realizes how dangerous he really is.

I will vote for Kamala Harris,” one user commented.

Another wrote, “I’m a pro-choice, pro LGBT republican that did vote for Trump in 2016. I’m sorry!!! It won’t happen again.”

According to data by the Pew Research Center in 2022, most Latinos say Democrats care more about them and work hard for their vote. With Harris re-energizing the Democrats in general and young voters specifically, it appears that her hard work is paying off.

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August 1-7, 2024

Area Communities S e r v i n g L a d e r a , H a w t h o r n e , W e s t c h e s t e r, L a w n d a l e , G a r d e n a , C a r s o n

BUBBA Community Awards Uplifts Boys Inglewood Today News

In a heartwarming display of elegance and empowerment, nearly 100 African American boys from Icon Preparatory School recently attended the annual 2024 Brothers United Building Brothers Alliance’s

color, took on added significance as the students of Icon Prep stepped onto the stage exuding regal confidence. Donning majestic attire reminiscent of historical monarchs, they embodied a sense of pride, sophistication, and excellence that transcended mere fashion.

is deserving of respect, honor, and recognition.

As the ceremony drew to a close, the image of these young kings, standing tall and proud in their royal attire, served as a powerful reminder of the transformative impact that positive reinforcement and representation can

founded in 2018 by mostly HBCU graduates. The non-profit has three schools for both boys and girls in Tampa, Florida, Jacksonville, Florida and Cleveland, Ohio. Learn more at IconPrep.org. You can watch the video at https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=OEw7mkR-8lg.

(B.U.B.B.A.) Sons in Suits Community Awards held in Tampa, Florida. Dressed as kings, these young gentlemen proudly accepted their accolades, symbolizing not just their achievements, but also the dignity and potential within every young man.

The event, which aims to celebrate and uplift young boys and men of

B.U.B.B.A.’s Sons in Suits Community Awards seeks to inspire young boys and men to aspire to greatness while honoring those who have already made significant strides in their personal and academic endeavors. By showcasing the Icon Prep boys as royalty, the private school’s leaders hope to underscore the message that every young man

have on the lives of young people. In a world often fraught with challenges and obstacles, events like these serve as beacons of hope and inspiration, illuminating the path toward a brighter and more inclusive future for all.

About Icon Preparatory School Icon Preparatory School is a Black-owned non-profit corporation

About B.U.B.B.A. Brothers United Building Brothers Alliance (B.U.B.B.A.) improves the lives of men and boys through effective and consistent mentorship, rigorous academic support, and programs/ services centered around engaging and empowering the community.

Learn more at BubbaofTampa.org.

Opinion - Kamala Harris: The Down-Ticket Savior California Needed Jasmyne Cannick | Special to California Black Media Partners

President Joe Biden not seeking reelection isn’t just good for Democrats looking to stave off a second Donald Trump presidency, but it’s good news for all the other candidates (and propositions) on the ballot.

Before Biden’s announcement, it was reported that millions of

Democratic voters were planning to sit out the November election altogether.

This unexpected, but much needed, turn of events has generated a wave of reactions across the nation, but one thing is clear: Vice-President Kamala Harris’s entry into the presidential race is going to provide a significant boost to down-ticket races for the

Democratic Party.

Before Biden’s delayed departure from the election, the Democratic Party was doing an excellent job at ignoring the increasing number of voters of all ages who were not willing to compromise their morals or values in November and vote for Biden – “the lesser of two evils” from their perspective.

From the administration’s handling of the Israel-Hamas War, immigration, the economy, and more -- these Democrats were okay with dealing with the consequences of Biden losing, understanding that their voices would still go unheard, and they would struggle whether Continued on page 7

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August 1-7, 2024

Sports & Entertainment

From the Podium: OC Mike LaFleur and DC Chris Shula share takeaways from first two days of padded practices

By Stu Jackson therams.com

LOS ANGELES – Offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur and defensive coordinator Chris Shula each held press conferences with local media following Wednesday’s practice at 2024 Rams Training Camp presented by UNIFY Financial Credit

Union, discussing their takeaways from each unit’s first two camp practices in pads, standout players so far and more.

Here are some of the highlights and key takeaways from those conversations, which you can watch below:

“We get to run some different schemes that we don’t normally do without our pads on some of our gap schemes and stuff like that. There’s been some good, there’s been some bad. That’s how it’s going to be.” – LaFleur LaFleur felt the second day in

those edges. I think he’s going to be a big asset for us.” – LaFleur LaFleur likes what he’s seen so far from new Rams tight end Colby Parkinson.

LaFleur said Parkinson has had his best two days of practice, in terms of the first two days of practices with

“You see a guy that’s really grown he’s kind of playing a lot more outside now, where his first year, I was actually the DBs coach, and he was playing more inside all the time.”

– Shula Shula has been impressed with defensive back Cobie Durant’s

pads went better than the first, and that both sessions were competitive overall.

“You don’t want one side dominating the other,” LaFleur said.

“He’s a long, strong, sturdy individual. I mean, you guys see him, he’s, he’s a good sized dude, and he’s got great athleticism. He can handle

the pads being on.

“You see a toughness, and you see they’re really taking on Giff Smith’s mentality.” – Shula For Shula, that’s what he’s seen so far from the Rams’ defensive line through the first two padded practices.

“He loves those guys, but he’s tough on them, too,” Shula said.

growth, noting that veteran Tre’Davious White took Durant under his wing during the offseason.

“He’s really understanding route combinations, splits, exactly what he’s going to get, and (he’s) a guy that’s just been playing consistent, and he really has all offseason,” Shula said.

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August 1-7, 2024

Olympic Fashionistas

By Stephanie Vargas

With the rising popularity of social media influencers, aesthetics suddenly appear in the public eye and then leave just as quickly with most targeting female audiences. In a culture so convoluted with the latest trends and the newest, hottest thing, how does someone not lose their identity succumbing to the sea of popular culture?

Two Olympians, Sha’Carri Richardson and Ilona Maher, offer insight on the matter.

Track and Field athlete Sha’Carri Richardson is the sixth-fastest woman in recorded history after running the 100m in 10.72 seconds in 2021. She then went on to beat this record in 2023 during preparations for the Paris 2024 Olympics, running the 100m in 10.57 seconds. Just as incredible is rugby player Ilona Maher, a two-time Olympian who helped Team USA secure its first-ever medal in the sport just this Tuesday at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Athletes are expected to look the part, to present themselves only as

athletes and not stand out. In spite of this, Richardson sports long, vibrant nails and beautiful hairstyles. She lets her nails express the vibe she brings to the track on any given day and her long hair or intricate braided styles never get in the way of her stellar performance. In fact, Richardson’s style only adds to her excellence, which is then exuded and felt through photos of her crossing the finish line first.

Similarly, Maher does not

sacrifice self-expression for the sake of expectation. She is a big proponent of being who you are on and off the field. For Maher, this includes wearing bright lipstick to highlight part of her identity–her femininity. When she is off the rugby field, Maher can still be seen showing off her femininity in her behavior and fashion.

One might think, what is the point of wearing makeup in such a rough, high-contact sport? It will just get messed up. Or why wear extra-long fake nails? They will just get in the

way. Richardson and Maher are prime examples that these comments are not concerning to the athletes at all. Their self-expression makes them feel good about themselves, which only helps in their performance as Olympic athletes.

These women have a strong idea of who they are, so in an era of fastpaced consumerism, they do not lose themselves to the trends. It is exciting and inspiring to see them being who they are in spite of who they are expected to be.

Page 7

August 1-7, 2024 Continued from page 1: Parity...

makes them feel better, you know, it gives them energy to go out and win that fourth gold medal.”

It’s truly an inspiring story to hear and witness men with money and power back the other half of the population. But for all the attempts to level the playing field this Olympic Games, there is still a lot of room for improvement in the equity department.

Team USA pulled up, in a yacht to the Eiffel Tower with 594 athletes, marginally outnumbering the Games’ host (France has a whopping 574 athletes competing). Compare that to countries like Rwanda and Palestine, both with a total of 8 athletes. Granted, we do have to take population size into account. After all, France is five times the population of Rwanda and the United States could fit twenty-one Frances inside of it.

Nonetheless, the Olympics represent the best of the best in athletics and skill. It’s not like we’re sending our Jacks and Jills from accounting. Only 1% make the NBA. The International Society of Olympic Historians reports only 1 out of every 500,000 humans will make it to the Olympics. When you start doing the math and recognize how many countries have multiples of

500,000 to begin with, the odds look even slimmer.

Something that has always baffled me is how NBA players even get to compete at the Olympics. There is no one, NO ONE who can truly compete with Americans, (Black Americans, to be clear) at this sport. The playing field isn’t even remotely level.

Vladimir Lucic might be the most phenomenal player in Serbia but is he really touching Lebron James? Let’s be real for a second. You have Lebron James and Stephen Curry, the creme de la creme of basketball, competing with players from countries who don’t even have a national league/ city arena to play for. That’s not only unfair, it’s unjust.

I had a similar thought as I watched the Team USA Women’s Gymnastics team clutch another gold medal.

Surely our girls are phenomenal, make no mistake. But they also come from the world’s largest economy!

For example, Rebeca Andrade hails from the Favelas (inner cities) of Brazil and doesn’t have nearly the same infrastructure to train and develop her talent as American girls do. However, she notably had her two brothers walk with her to the gym—

two hours away from her home, one way—just to practice.

Of course, I’m not saying there isn’t poverty and struggle in our own backyard. Lebron, Simone Biles and Sha’Carri Richardson, the best of Team USA, haven’t had easy lives either. Lebron grew up in poverty in a single-parent home. Simone and Sha’Carri are both adopted by their grandparents due to their mothers’ inability to parent responsibly.

But hard in the world’s largest economy and arguably most powerful nation (for better or worse) is not the same as hard in the slums of India or war-torn Palestine. Our athletes are great, make no mistake. But I want to play the best to be the best and when other nations don’t have access to similar quality resources for developing talent, we’re not really beating the best.

The next Summer Olympics will come home to L.A. in 2028. I think we have an opportunity to do something, we’re not so great at doing as Americans. We have a chance to uplift and support other nations by investing in their greatness. We’re great at trying to play hero and “rescue” other nations in conflict but

Proposition 47 (Prop 47) and increase drug crime and theft penalties and allow a new class of crime to be called treatment-mandated felonies,

could work in favor of this conservative-backed proposition.

Harris’s historic candidacy as the first Black and South Asian woman on a major party’s presidential ticket holds immense symbolic value.

Her presence has already mobilized minority voters who feel underrepresented in the political arena.

Increased turnout among these demographics can significantly impact races at all levels which is going to be especially key for progressive candidates like L.A. County District Attorney George Gascón and criminal justice reform measures on the November ballot whom these voters are more likely favor.

Facts. Harris’s candidacy has energized the base, already mobilized key voter demographics, and strengthened the party’s overall electoral chances.

As we move towards the election, Harris is going to be a powerful catalyst for important down-ticket races. She was just the lifesaving move that had to happen in order to bring the Democratic Party back to life because all races on the ballot with Democrats were going to suffer had Biden stayed on the ticket.

Now, on to November.

About the Author Jasmyne Cannick is a Democratic strategist and was elected delegate to the LA County Democratic Party.

Continued from page 4: Opinion - Harris...

Republicans or Democrats win the White House.

And that was before Biden’s Weekend at Bernie’s debate performance.

Biden staying on the ticket wasn’t just going to hurt our chances to keep The White House and democracy alive in the US, but it was going to hurt all the local and state candidates and propositions on the November ballot had Democratic voters sat this one out.

I haven’t seen this much excitement for a candidate since then Senator Barack Obama earned the nomination of the Democratic Party back in 2008.

Whether you like her not, for millions of Democrats, Kamala Harris represents a new era of leadership, one that is more inclusive and reflective of America’s diverse population. Within hours, her candidacy galvanized a broad coalition of voters, including women, People of Color, and young people. This renewed enthusiasm at the top of the ticket is going to have a ripple effect, energizing the base and increasing voter turnout, which is crucial for down-ticket candidates.

For states like California and counties like Los Angeles, the largest in the US, this is a game changer.

Californians have 10 ballot propositions on their November ballot. Among them, a controversial ballot proposition to repeal parts of

which would require offenders to either participate in drug or mental health treatment or both.

Prop 47 was a ballot measure passed by California voters in 2014 that made some non-violent property crimes, where the value does not exceed $950, into misdemeanors. It also made some simple drug possession offenses into misdemeanors and provided for past convictions for these charges to be reduced to a misdemeanor by a court.

Low Democratic voter turnout

rarely do we become heroes and create equity with our robust economy. The US Olympic Committee could budget to pay for state-of-the-art equipment for the poorest nations we compete against.

Can you imagine if Lebron played Michael Jordan at his prime? That’s the type of competition I’m interested in seeing. The absolute best play against the absolute best. No sweeps.

I want us to sweat for it. Afterall, the Olympics is the only time we (somewhat) achieve world peace.

Every 2-4 years, we allow ourselves to believe world peace is possible when the Olympics come around. So, the first step to making that a reality is to create equity in the world--in sports and beyond.

LEGAL NOTICE

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August 1-7, 2024

Navy Exonerates 256 Black Sailors Accused of Revolt In 1944 Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media

Three days after U.S. Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro posthumously exonerated the remaining 256 African American Port Chicago defendants who were court-martialed for mutiny in 1944, he visited the historical site to participate in the 80th-year commemoration of the worst homefront disaster in the U.S. history.

Del Toro said the occasion at the Port Chicago Naval Magazine Memorial on the Suisun Bay, 35 miles north of San Francisco in Contra Costa County, was two-fold. According to him, the 90-minute ceremony was organized to honor all who died in the blasts and officially announce the absolving of Black men who were unjustly court-martialed for refusing to load bombs on naval cargo ships during World War II due to safety concerns.

“This event marks a turning point in our nation’s history, a moment when we confront the ghosts of the past and embrace the promise of more justice,” Del Toro said. “For eight decades, the story of Port Chicago has been a stark reminder of a grave injustice. We as a nation will never be able to express our full gratitude to all deceased and their families for their dedication, service, and sacrifice.”

On July 20, a diverse group of 500 people were shuttled from the Military Ocean Terminal Concord (MOTCO) to the Port Chicago Naval Magazine Memorial where two deadly explosions occurred on the night of July 17, 1944.

The ceremony was hosted in partnership with the National Park Service (NPS), Friends of Port Chicago National Memorial, and the U.S. Army’s 834th Transportation Battalion.

The event also marked the 30th year the site was erected as a memorial.

Along with Del Toro, dignitaries and elected officials in attendance were U.S. Congressmen John Garamendi (D-CA-08) and Thurgood Marshall Jr., whose father, Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, sought justice for the Port Chicago 50, the Black men who were wrongfully convicted in the fall of 1944 of insubordination during World War II. Kelli English, the NPS’s service-wide Program Manager for Cooperating Associations and Partnerships, said

father who later became a US Supreme Court Justice. “They contacted them for guidance, and he was able to come out here to California to do what he did so well.”

Carol Cherry traveled from Chicago to attend the 80th ceremony. Her father Cyril Oscar Sheppard Jr. is now officially one of the 50 former mutineers. Cherry was presented with the ceremonial U.S. flag by the English.

Rev. Diana McDaniel, President of the Friends of Port Chicago National Memorial was one the guest speakers.

Her uncle Irvine Lowery was one of the surviving Black sailors who was ordered to collect the remains of the deceased after the explosion. McDaniel told CBM that Lowery was injured in the blast when he was in the barracks but was not aware of it.

Other speakers at the event included English, NPS Superintendent K. Lynn Berry, Supervisory Park Ranger, Hilary Grabowska, and Lt. Col. Lauren Cabral, MOTCO Commander of the 834th Transportation Battalion “I ask that all of you amplify the message so that we can get to many family members that we have not been able to reach to let them know what has occurred,” Del Toro told reporters.

tears from colleagues were flowing the day they heard about the exoneration of the men. English is part of the NPS crew that conducts tours of the National Memorial and shares the history of the tragedy.

“They never should have been courtmartialed in some cases and convicted of other cases, but it does provide some closures for the families and descendants of those men,” English told California Black Media. “It’s so important to us. It’s the only amount of justice delivered years after the fact.”

The blasts resulted in the death of 320 sailors, 202 of them Black American sailors who were loading nearly 5,000 tons of munitions from a train into the naval cargo ships. About 400 more people were injured and the cargo train and both ships – SS Quinault Victory and SS EA Bryan – were destroyed.

The explosion shook the San Francisco Bay and could be felt as far away as Nevada. The blasts damaged many surrounding structures and buildings in the nearby town of Port Chicago. In the mid-1960s, the United States government bought 5,000 acres of land in the Port Chicago area and the town ceased to exist by 1969.

The White officers in command were given hardship leaves while the surviving Black sailors were ordered

to clear debris from the blasts and painfully retrieve the appendages of their fellow servicemen. The treatment of the Black sailors exemplified the racial policies manifested by the Navy.

After threats of disciplinary action, 208 of the Sailors resumed work but it did not stop the Navy from convicting the men at a summary court-martial for rebellion. Over the years, two sailors had the charges expunged from their records, which left 256 convicted Black men.

Fifty of the Black sailors stood their ground and in September 1944 were found liable for mutiny, a serious offense that tarnished their military record. The 50 sailors were represented

by Thurgood Marshall, who was the chief counsel for the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, the disaster and racism in the Navy led to President Harry Truman desegregating all four branches of the military.

Ten years later, Marshall was able to win the monumental Brown v.

Board of Education case that ruled separate but equal public schools were unconstitutional.

“It’s deeply moving to me that his work and the work of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund caught the attention of the sailors, and the family involved in Port Chicago,” Marshall Jr. said of his

truth seem like “fake news.”

So, while our democracy survived a first Trump term, it won’t survive a second one.

Don’t take my word for it. Trump said he will become “a dictator on day

one.” This isn’t just a scare tactic by focus on anything other than the choice Democrats; it’s simply what Trump we have in this election: democracy or has already told us will happen if he dictatorship. wins. So, believe him when he says I’m choosing democracy every day. he’ll be a dictator.

There is simply too much at stake to

Continued from page 1: Project 2025...

But we cannot ignore their true vile intentions.

So, what’s next?

Trump used his first term to destroy the guardrails of democracy, stack the courts with loyalists, and make the