Pres. Biden celebrates robust job market See page 2
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Successful Black men and White women See page 4
Ruth E. Carter makes history at the Oscars See page 7 © 2023 Multicultural Media Group
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Volume XXXVii, Number 11
People Are Talking Federal investigators find Louisville police routinely call Blacks derogatory names
“Some officers have videotaped themselves throwing drinks at pedestrians from their cars; insulted people with disabilities; and called Black people ‘monkeys,’ ‘animal,’ and ‘boy,’” the DOJ investigation revealed. by Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire senior national correspondent A review of the Louisville police department by the U.S. Department of Justice found that officers conducted searches based on invalid warrants and illegally carried out raids without knocking and making an announcement. In a lengthy report, which the DOJ issued on March 8, noted that for years, the Louisville police department “has practiced an aggressive style of policing that it deploys selectively, especially against Black people, but also against vulnerable people throughout the city.” “Some officers have videotaped themselves throwing drinks at pedestrians from their cars; insulted people with disabilities; and called Black people ‘monkeys,’ ‘animal,’ and ‘boy,’” the DOJ investigation revealed. Further, federal investigators discovered that police officers routinely and illegally stopped and arrested suspects while primarily discriminating against African Americans. The department also showed little kindness to those with behavioral health disabilities, notably when dealing with a crisis. “This conduct erodes community trust, and the unlawful practices of LMPD and Louisville Metro undermine public safety,” DOJ investigators wrote. The review comes after two years of a DOJ investigation sparked by the shooting death of Breonna Taylor, an unarmed Black woman police shot and killed in 2020 after entering her apartment in a botched and unannounced raid. Last year, the DOJ charged four officers with federal civil rights violations and perjury. Former detective Kelly Goodlett pleaded guilty to federal conspiracy charges, while the Louisville department fired Sgt. Kyle Meany. A jury acquitted officer Brett Hankinson, the only cop who discharged his weapon, on state charges, but he’s still facing a federal case. Former detective Joshua Jaynes also faces charges of conspiring to deprive Taylor of her civil rights. The DOJ found that one highranking department official lamented that Taylor’s killing Continued on page 5 The Nashville PRIDE Newspaper is on Facebook and follow us on Twitter: @pridenews
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Learn about the Jeanes Teachers and Rosenwald Schools
(l-r) Maury County historian Jo Ann Williams McClellan and Tranae Chatman, Tennessee State Museum Curator of Social History. by Cass Teague wald Fund was established to assist Founded in 1907, the Jeanes rural communities in the construction Foundation was created to help and improvements of rural school improve education in southern Black buildings for Black Southerners. rural schools. The foundation would After the fund’s establishment, Jeanes fund Black supervising educators, Teachers became directly involved in liaisons between the Black schools the construction of Rosenwald and county school administrators. Schools in their communities. Their These supervisors, known as Jeanes dedication and organization helped Teachers, were to adapt their efforts uplift education in Black rural comto the needs of the communities they munities across the South. served. They encouraged different Tennessee State Museum (TSM) classes and clubs, and also promoted Curator of Social History Tranae health care and high standards of liv- Chatman will host Maury County hising in their mostly segregated com- torian Jo Ann Williams McClellan to munities. discuss the lesser known history of Ten years later, the Julius RosenContinued on page 5
Nashville files lawsuit over law to reduce council size Metropolitan Nashville Law Director Wally Dietz, filed a lawsuit on behalf of the city in response to legislation to cut the city’s city council in half on March 13. “The Metropolitan Government filed a lawsuit seeking to enjoin the enforcement of the Metropolitan Council reduction act that was passed by the legislature last week,” said Deitz. “We are seeking an injunction and asking the court to move expeditiously.” Deitz called the action the “most important lawsuit in the history of the Metropolitan Government.” According to Deitz, the legislation comes at a time when it is too late to change the rules for an election season that has already begun. It also violates that Tennessee Constitution. “House Bill 48 and Senate Bill 87, as passed, contain several serious legal defects which will make them impossible to legally implement,” said Deitz in a released statement.
Nashville Law Director Wally Dietz announcing the lawsuit filed against legislation to reduce the city council by half. “First, there is simply not enough time to change the law this late in the election cycle. Over 40 candidates have already appointed treasurers and are actively raising money for Council Continued on page 5
Nat. Bankers Assoc. release statement on Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank
Nicole Elam and Robert James II The National Bankers Association (NBA) President/CEO Nicole Elam and Chairman Robert James II released the following statement regarding Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and Signature Bank. “In light of recent industry events, the National Bankers Association wants to assure consumers that your money is safe with minority banks. Minority depository institutions are very different from both SVB and Signature Bank which had high concentrations in crypto deposits and volatile venture capital. Minority banks are not exposed to riskier asset classes and have the capital and strong liquidity to best serve consumers and small businesses. If you’re looking for a place to bring your deposits and have greater impact, bring your deposits to minority banks” said Elam. “The Biden-Harris Administration, FDIC, and Federal Reserve worked hard this weekend to make sure that these bank failures are the exception, not the rule, and that all Americans can continue to have confidence in our banking system. I also applaud bipartisan leaders in Congress for keeping stakeholders informed about how hard-earned deposits are being kept safe.” said Robert James II, chairman of the National Bankers Association, president/CEO, Carver Financial Corporation. The National Bankers Association is the nation’s leading trade association for the country’s minority depository institutions (MDIs). MDIs have always focused on safety and soundness as a part of our conservative, relationship-based business model. We continue to monitor SVB’s impact on large corporate deposit concentrations, fintech, tech companies, and larger financial institutions that have partnerships with MDIs or who have made investments in MDIs. MDIs are in the strongest position ever to support their customers and here’s why: Continued on page 5
White House says President Biden’s budget advances equity
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. by Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire senior national correspondent President Joe Biden unveiled a $6.8 trillion budget plan that includes aiding several social programs, raising taxes on the wealthy, and decreasing the country’s debt by $3 trillion over
the next decade. While the plan has little chance of passing through the GOP-led House, the president doubled-down on a previous executive order that directs the federal government to advance an ambitious equity and racial justice agenda. Biden reminded lawmakers that his administration has made significant progress advancing equity across the federal government, including by releasing a second executive order last month that strengthens the government’s ability to create opportunities for communities and populations that have been historically underserved, and one that “continues to build an America in which all can participate, prosper, and reach their full potential.” Among other things, President Biden’s budget seeks the following:
Advance maternal health and health equity – The budget includes $471 million to support implementation of the ‘White House Blueprint for Addressing the Maternal Health Crisis’ to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity rates and address persistent disparities; expand maternal health initiatives in rural communities; implement implicit bias training for healthcare providers; create pregnancy medical home demonstration projects; and address the highest rates of perinatal health disparities, including by supporting the perinatal health workforce. In addition, the budget requires all states to provide continuous Medicaid coverage for 12 months postpartum, eliminating gaps in health insurance at Continued on page 5
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