Bakersfield News Observer 7.26.23

Tony Bennett’s Life Wasn’t Just Singing; He Marched Along with King, Belafonte for Civil Rights

Investigation into Tupac Shakur’s Unsolved Killing Resurrected

News Observer

HBCUs Revamping Admissions Policies Amid Affirmative Action Decision

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

In the wake of the Supreme Court’s recent decision to end affirmative action in college admissions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have taken steps to adapt their admissions policies.

With the expected increase in applicants, HBCUs reportedly are gearing up to become more selective, aiming to maintain the quality of education they provide.

Last month’s ruling by the high court, which prohibits colleges from considering race during the admissions process, has sent ripples through the academic landscape.

For many universities, affirmative action has been crucial for fostering diversity and inclusion.

While not entirely unexpected, the decision poses a significant challenge to HBCUs, which have historically played a pivotal role in educating Black graduates and promoting racial diversity.

The Root reported that HBCU leaders anticipate a surge in applications from students seeking environments that encourage open discussions about race during the admissions process.

The schools have long served as bastions of support for Black students, especially in the face of systemic challenges like underfunding, housing shortages, and aging infrastructure.

Compared to predominantly white institutions, The Root noted that HBCUs have also struggled with subpar cybersecurity measures and limited WiFi access, further adding to their uphill battle.

“If our applicant pool doubles, we could not double our student body without seriously compromising the quality of our education,” David A. Thomas, the President of Atlanta’s prestigious Morehouse College, told the outlet.

With Morehouse College expecting a significant surge in applications over the next three years, maintaining its commitment to providing an economically diverse student body is at the forefront of its agenda, Thomas asserted.

To combat some aspects of the Supreme Court’s ruling,

University,

Shocking Revelations” in Malcolm X Assassination

By Stacy M. Brown

NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

Celebrated civil rights attorney Ben Crump, alongside co-counsel Ray Hamlin, have announced that they will unveil bombshell developments in the alleged assassination conspiracy of Malcolm X. A media alert said the event, planned for Tuesday, July 25, promises to shed new light on the tragic event that shook the nation more than half a century ago. The attorneys filed a notice of claim earlier this year, signaling their intent to sue various government agencies, including the NYPD, for their alleged involvement in the assassination and subsequent fraudulent concealment of evidence related to Malcolm X’s murder. They are expected to reveal that they’ve successfully uncovered a conspiracy to kill the legendary leader. Malcolm X was assassinated on February 21, 1965, at the Audubon Ballroom in New York City, at

Jamie Foxx Tells Fans That He is Recovering From an Illness

By KEN MILLERAssociated

Press

Academy Award winning actor, singer and comedian Jamie Foxx said in an Instagram video that he is recovering from an undisclosed medical condition.

“I went to hell and back, and my road to recovery has some potholes as well, but I`m coming back,” Foxx, appearing thin and wearing a dark pullover shirt, said in the three minute, 15 second video. “I`m able to work.”

Foxx, 55, was hospitalized in April with what his daughter, Corinne Fox, described at the time as a “medical complication” and Foxx did not disclose the nature of his condition in his first public comments since being hospitalized.

“I just didn`t want you to see me like that ... I didn`t want you to see me with tubes running out of me and trying to figure out if I was going to make it through,” Foxx said, thanking his daughter, sister, God and medical professionals for saving his life.

“I went through something that I thought I would never, ever go through,” Foxx said.

“Every once in a while I just burst into tears ... because it`s been tough, man, I was sick ... but now I`ve got my legs under me so you`re going to see me,” Foxx said.

Castmates of Foxx`s recent movie “They Cloned Tyrone” __ David Alan Grier, Teyonah Parris and Tamberla Perry __ told The Associated Press at the Los Angeles premiere of the movie on June 28 that they miss the star.

“Just praying that he gets better and takes whatever time he needs to heal,” Perry said.

Foxx, born Eric Marlon Bishop in 1967 in Terrell, Texas, was a stand-up comedian before breaking into television with various roles on Fox TV`s musicalcomedy “In Living Color” in 1990.

Foxx won the Academy Award for best actor for his portrayal of Ray Charles in the 2004 biographical film “Ray” and a Grammy in 2010 for the song “Blame It.” His other credit’s include “The Jamie Foxx Show,” “Collateral,” and “Django Unchained.”

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Sean `Diddy` Combs Aspires to Create New Black Wall Street

By JONATHAN LANDRUM Jr.

Writer

Entertainment

AP

the age of 39. The circumstances surrounding his death have long been disputed, with allegations of connections to federal and New York government agencies, including the FBI and CIA, generating widespread controversy. A turning point came in 2021, when two men previously convicted of Malcolm’s assassination had their convictions overturned. The Manhattan district attorney and lawyers for the men revealed that a meticulous 22-month investigation found evidence of prosecutorial misconduct where prosecutors withheld key evidence that might have led to their acquittal. Norman 3X Butler and Thomas 15X Johnson, both members of the Nation of Islam at the time of the killing, spent decades behind bars for the murder. Malcolm’s daughters had formally requested authorities reopen the murder investigation based on new evidence. Ilyasah Shabazz, one of the icon’s

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Doubts and Fallout Continue in the Carlee Russell Case

CrimeStoppers has reversed its decision to return over $63,000 in donations intended to help find Carlee Russell after her kidnapping story came under scrutiny, the latest fallout from what many now believe was a hoax.

The 25-year-old Alabama woman claimed she was kidnapped after stopping to assist a toddler wandering alone on Interstate 459 on July 13.

However, she reappeared at her home two days later.

Initially, the organization that offers anonymous tips about criminal activity pledged to return the funds raised during the two-day search for Russell.

CrimeStoppers has now said they’ve decided against it because of the suspicions surrounding her story.

Alabama police have also expressed reservations about the alleged abduction, revealing that Russell had conducted suspicious internet searches about kidnappings before the incident occurred.

Those findings have added to the uncertainty surrounding the case.

Still, Russell’s boyfriend, Thomar Latrell Simmons, has pleaded with the public to stop cyberbullying Russell.

Simmons emphasized the importance of considering her mental health and urged people to avoid targeting her online.

Russell went missing shortly after contacting 911 to report a toddler in a diaper walking along the highway. Her mysterious return home on foot further deepened the mystery. While her mother, Talitha Robinson-Russell, remains firm in her belief that Carlee was abducted and subsequently returned, law enforcement continues investigating the circumstances surrounding her disappearance.

The case has brought attention to the struggles faced by Black families when dealing with missing person cases.

African Americans often encounter delays in police investigations and are sometimes labeled “runaways” immediately.

In contrast, cases involving missing white women and children are urgently treated and receive national attention. According to 2021 FBI data, Black people account for 31% of missing person reports despite making up only 14% of the US population.

White people represent 54% of such reports and 76% of the population.

Derrica Wilson, co-founder of the Black & Missing Foundation, underscored the significance of not losing sight of the broader picture.

Wilson told CNN that she currently has nearly 6,000 cases of missing Black people in her database, many of which remain unsolved.

She asserted that Russell’s case is an anomaly and that the focus should remain on helping the countless missing individuals of color who need assistance.

Wilson highlighted that disappearances in the Black community often stem from issues such as human trafficking, domestic violence, and mental health incidents.

Wilson stated that amplifying the cases of missing Black people remains an uphill battle, urging the public to continue raising awareness.

“For our community, we can’t lose sight of the bigger picture,” Wilson said. “We are disappointed that there are inconsistencies with her (Russell) story, especially when there are a staggering number of people of color who are still missing, and they need our help.”

LOS ANGELES (AP) –– Sean “Diddy” Combs wants to strengthen the Black dollar: The music mogul is spearheading a new online marketplace called Empower Global that will specifically feature Black- owned businesses.

“I want to create our own Black Wall Street,” Combs told The Associated Press about his e-commerce platform, which launched last week. He feels passionate about building substantial wealth in his community similar to the Greenwood community, the thriving Black-owned business district in Tulsa, Oklahoma, that was decimated in a two-day attack by a white mob in Oklahoma in 1921.

Combs said he’s not looking for financial benefit after he invested $20 million into Empower Global, which allows consumers to purchase products exclusively created and sold by Black entrepreneurs. The curated marketplace featuring Black-owned brands will allow consumers to purchase clothing, shoes, beauty accessories including skin care and fragrances, and even wall art. The platform was designed and created by two Black-owned companies, TechSparq and ChatDesk.

The platform launched with 70 brands with plans to introduce new Black businesses monthly. He hopes to showcase more than 200 brands by the end of the year.

“This is about building our own infrastructure and ecosystem,” Combs said. “I’m not doing this for profit. This is about us.”Combs said he feels more excited about launching into Empower Global than before the start of his widely-popular label Bad Boy Records. “I’m going into these areas to diversify things and fight for our inclusion. This is a platform about sharing power and empowering each other,`` he said. ``This is something that is for my people. It’s a tipping point for us to wake up start paying attention and supporting each other while taking responsibility and accountability.”

Combs, who`s worked on the platform for years, said it’s important for Black people to circulate money in their own community. “It benefits the community to empower and take care of itself,” he said. “Right now, our dollar in the Black community doesn’t even last an hour. Most other communities and ethnic groups, they understand the power of unity. Their dollars stay in their communities for days and get passed on to other people that are like them and from their same community.”

Combs said he’s accomplished his dreams of building one of hip-hop’s biggest empires, blazing a trail with several entities. He’s the founder of Bad Boy Records and a three-time Grammy winner who has worked with top-tier artists including Notorious B.I.G., Mary J. Blige, Usher, Lil Kim, Faith Evans and 112. He created the Sean John fashion clothing line, launched the Revolt TV with a focus on music and has his own vodka. He’ also produced the reality show “Making the Band” on MTV.

“My dreams have always been to be successful in music, being obsessed with fashion and the greatest Black serial entrepreneur to ever live,” said Combs, who along with Tyler Perry and Byron Allen is interested in purchasing the network BET. He’s also in a dispute with spirits giant Diageo after he sued the company over allegations of racism over how they handled his liquor brands. Diageo has denied Combs` racism allegations, saying the issue is a “business dispute.”

“I’ve graduated from me to we. I’m able to use my God-given intelligence to create,`` he said. ``I’m passionate about the possibility of showing Black economic unity. I’m not going to stop until I’m working with the best brands, the best Black-owned digital mainstream, so we can start fueling our own economic system.”

The 25-year-old Alabama woman claimed she was kidnapped after stopping to assist a toddler wandering alone on Interstate 459 on July 13.

Last month’s ruling by the high court, which prohibits colleges from considering race during the admissions process, has sent ripples through the academic landscape.

Aminta Hawkins Breaux, President of Bowie State

suggested the inclusion of an essay component

Malcolm X

National Monument Honoring Emmett Till

By Stacy M. Brown

NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

President Joe Biden plans to sign a proclamation on Tuesday, July 25, establishing a national monument honoring Emmett Till, the 14-year-old Black teenager whose tragic lynching in 1955 ignited a nationwide outcry against racial injustice and discrimination.

Named the “Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument,” the historic memorial will span three sites in Illinois and Mississippi, symbolizing locations that played a central role in Till’s heartbreaking story.

“The new monument will protect places that tell the story of Emmett Till’s too-short life and racially motivated murder, the unjust acquittal of his murderers, and the activism of his mother, Mamie Till-Mobley, who courageously brought the world’s attention to the brutal injustices and racism of the time, catalyzing the civil rights movement,” White House officials explained.

The three sites that will be part of the monument are the Roberts Temple Church of God in Christ in Chicago, where Till’s mother held an open-casket funeral to display her son’s brutalized body; Graball Landing in Tallahatchie

County, Mississippi, believed to be the location where Till’s body was retrieved from the Tallahatchie River; and the Tallahatchie County Second District Courthouse in Sumner, Mississippi, where Till’s murderers were acquitted.

Till’s tragic story unfolded in August 1955 while visiting relatives in Mississippi.

Roy Bryant and J.W. Milam, two white men, allegedly kidnapped, brutally beat, and lynched him for allegedly whistling at a white woman. The men’s trial, which occurred before an all-white jury, ended in their acquittal, sparking outrage and disbelief nationwide.

However, in a later interview with Look Magazine, Bryant and Milam admitted their responsibility for Till’s heinous murder, revealing the justice system’s deeply flawed and biased nature during that era.

As Till’s story continued to gain national attention, the brave actions of his mother, Mamie Till-Mobley, became a driving force behind the Civil Rights Movement.

She insisted that her son’s casket remain open during the funeral, allowing the world to witness the brutality of racial violence and the stark realities of America’s rampant racism.

Named the “Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument,” the historic memorial will span three sites in Illinois and Mississippi, symbolizing locations that played a central role in Till’s heartbreaking story.

Photographs of Till’s battered and mutilated body were published in Jet Magazine, impacting the collective consciousness, and mobilizing people across the nation to

fight against racial injustice.

Earlier this year, Carolyn Bryant Donham, the white woman whose false accusation against Till triggered the events leading to his lynching, died at the age of 88. Donham passed away in Westlake, Louisiana, while receiving hospice care, according to a death record from the Calcasieu Parish Coroner’s Office.

President Biden’s decision to establish the national monument is seen as crucial to acknowledging and preserving the painful history of racial violence in the United States.

By commemorating Emmett Till’s life and the legacy of his courageous mother, the monument will serve as a reminder of the immense sacrifices made by those who fought for civil rights, and it will stand as a beacon of hope and a call to action against ongoing injustices. Administration officials said the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument would symbolize resilience, progress, and the enduring fight for a more equitable society.

Florida Board of Education Approves Anti-Black History Curriculum

By Stacy M. Brown

NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

Florida’s Board of Education voted to approve several new rules this week, including teaching that African Americans benefited from their enslavement.

The new curriculum has sparked outrage and accusations of racism, setting up a new school year unlike any other because of these changes and other laws passed by state lawmakers and signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis.

One of the most controversial rules drawing significant pushback is the alteration of the standards of instruction for African American history.

Critics argue that the new standards attempt to rewrite Black history in a deeply concerning manner.

Democratic state lawmakers made their objections known at the board’s meeting on July 19, expressing particular concern over one instructional change implying enslaved individuals benefited from their enslavement.

“Any kind of standards that indicate that slavery benefited Black people is such an insult,” said State Rep.

Rita Harris.

Added Rep. Anna Eskamani, “The notion that enslaved people benefited from being enslaved is inaccurate and a scary standard for us to establish in our education system.”

The new rule faced additional opposition from a coalition of Black leaders and community groups, who wrote a letter to the school board asserting that the standards intentionally omitted or distorted crucial historical facts about the Black experience.

Despite the widespread criticism, the board plans to implement the new rule on African American history instruction, along with several others, in classrooms across the state during the upcoming school year.

The move adds to the state’s ongoing debate over African American history in education, further exacerbated by the education department’s rejection of a preliminary pilot version of an Advanced Placement African American Studies course for high school students, citing an alleged lack of educational value.

Under the new standards imposed by the board and

DeSantis, teachers will instruct middle school students about how enslaved people developed skills they could use to benefit themselves.

The curriculum omits the brutal horrors of slavery, the inhumane treatment of African Americans, including the rape and torture of enslaved people, selling and separating families, and even the brutal mistreatment of children and babies.

The new curriculum will teach high school students about events like the 1920 Ocoee massacre, the deadliest Election Day violence in US history that began when white poll workers prevented Moses Norman, a Black landowner, from voting.

The rule stipulates that instructions also must include details about the Atlanta race massacre, the Tulsa race massacre, and the Rosewood race massacre.

“Our children deserve nothing less than truth, justice, and the equity our ancestors shed blood, sweat, and tears for,” NAACP President Derrick Johnson stated.

One of the most controversial rules drawing significant pushback is the alteration of the standards of instruction for African American history.

“It is imperative that we understand that the horrors of slavery and Jim Crow were a violation of human rights and represent the darkest period in American history.”

Outrage Sparks Investigation as Police Dog Attacks Compliant Black Truck Driver in Ohio

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National

Correspondent

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An incident involving a police dog attacking a compliant semi-truck driver has ignited public outrage, drawing comparisons to the dark era of pre-civil rights when police routinely unleashed dogs on Black Americans.

The incident, which occurred on July 4 on U.S. Route 23 near Circleville, Ohio, came to light when body-camera footage of the arrest was released on July 21 by the Ohio State Highway Police.

The harrowing video shows 23-year-old Jadarrius Rose obeying orders from troopers to get on his knees and keep his hands in the air.

Despite complying with the commands, Rose became the victim of a police dog attack, further fueling concerns about law enforcement’s excessive use of force.

“There is a very particular and sordid history of training dogs on Black people as a form of police terror in the U.S. that is both dehumanizing to victims and underscores the barbarism of law enforcement,” Janai Nelson, president and director-counsel for the NAACP Legal Defense & Education Fund, Inc., wrote on Twitter.

The chain of events leading to the incident began at approximately 9:30 a.m. on July 4 when troopers from the state Highway Police Department’s Motor Carrier Enforcement Inspector unit attempted to stop Rose on westbound U.S. Route 35 for an alleged traffic defect violation, according to an initial incident report.

The harrowing video shows 23-year-old Jadarrius Rose obeying orders from troopers to get on his knees and keep his hands in the air. Despite complying with the commands, Rose became the victim of a police dog attack, further fueling concerns about law enforcement’s excessive use of force.

Allegedly refusing to pull over, Rose led the troopers on a chase spanning two counties. Eventually, troopers deployed spike strips, causing Rose to surrender on Route 23 in Pickaway County.

In the released footage, a German Shepherd K-9, a member of the Circleville, Ohio, Police Department, is seen arriving at the scene, initially held back by its handler as troopers order Rose to comply.

Despite pleas from other officers not to release the dog while Rose had his hands up, the K-9 is let loose, attacking Rose, and gripping his arm as he cries out in pain.

Fellow officers, including the dog’s handler, intervened to remove the animal from Rose.

In a statement, the Ohio State Highway Police asserted that they were attempting to gain compliance through verbal commands when the Circleville Police Department deployed the canine, resulting in Rose being bitten.

After receiving medical attention at a hospital, Rose was taken into custody and booked at the Ross County Jail for failure to comply, classified as a fourth-degree felony.

It’s still unclear why Rose didn’t stop right away when the troopers ordered him to.

The Circleville Police Department’s Use of Force Review Board is investigating the incident.

The K-9 Officer involved in the arrest has been identified as Circleville Police Officer R. Speakman, but it is unknown whether he will be placed on leave during the investigation.

Nana Watson, president of the NAACP Columbus Chapter, expressed deep concern after watching the bodycamera video.

“I was afraid for him. I was fearful for him,” she said.

“It saddens me that in 2023 we have officers who are unleashing dogs on a person who clearly had his hands in the air. That did not matter to the Circleville Police Department.”

HBCUs Revamping Admissions Policies Amid Affirmative Action Decision

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She said that approach would allow students to reflect on their experiences and articulate the importance of race in their lives and aspirations.

Meanwhile, Morgan State University’s Admissions officials reportedly are contemplating using essay prompts or letters of recommendation to encourage applicants to engage in meaningful discussions about race.

As the spotlight shines brightly on HBCUs after the affirmative action verdict, officials at those schools maintain that they are determined to rise to the challenge and continue their commitment to fostering diverse, inclusive, and intellectually stimulating environments.

“Historically Black colleges and universities are carrying an outsized burden to diversify so many industries

in America,” Howard University President Wayne A.I. Frederick, said in a nationally televised interview.

“We represent only 3% of the higher [education] institutions, but we are responsible for 25% of the bachelor’s degrees,” he said.

Frederick called the court’s decision, “unfortunate.”

He added that, “By not allowing race to be considered in admissions elsewhere, you can put an even more outsized burden on historically Black colleges and universities who don’t have the capacity to carry that type of a burden.”

Frederick further acknowledged that HBCUs admissions decisions now will become more complicated.

“Obviously, we all are going to be kind of avoiding lawsuits, and so trying to have a very sterile process,” he

asserted.

“It is going to be almost impossible, and trying to create one is going to be far more difficult today given this ruling. So I think that we are all going to have to look at the rules very carefully.”

Finally, Fredrick told CNN that the ruling could put an additional burden on HBCUs to produce more graduates to work in various industries and set up institutions to worry about legal challenges that could be presented over admissions.

“So, it is going to be a road that is going to require a lot more resources. I think that for institutions that don’t have as many resources could be blindsided by lawsuits about this,” Frederick said.

Shocking Revelations in Malcolm X Assassination Conspiracy

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Investigation into Tupac Shakur’s Unsolved Killing Resurrected

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior

National Correspondent

Authorities in Nevada have rekindled the investigation into the unsolved murder of rap legend Tupac Shakur, nearly three decades after his tragic death.

Law enforcement officials disclosed that they executed a search warrant earlier this week, breathing new life into the quest for justice surrounding the rap star’s shooting.

The resurgence of the case follows the June announcement by federal prosecutors in the Eastern District of New York, revealing charges against a third individual in the 2002 shooting death of Run-DMC star Jam Master Jay.

Authorities in New York said the indictment of Jay Bryant, 49, marked a significant breakthrough in the case involving the late Jason Mizell, professionally known as Jam Master Jay.

Bryant’s indictment builds upon the prior charges against Ronald Washington and Karl Jordan Jr. in August

2020, as authorities said they have tirelessly pursued leads to unravel the mystery behind the murder of the influential hip-hop icon.

Tragically, Jay was shot in the head in his recording studio in Jamaica, New York, on October 30, 2002. His death, occurring several years after the murders of Shakur and the Notorious B.I.G., also sent shockwaves through the music industry.

Meanwhile, in connection with the murder of Shakur, fatally shot on September 7, 1996, Las Vegas police confirmed they executed a search warrant on July 17.

Executed in the nearby city of Henderson, the new warrant has left the public curious about the nature of the search and the specific locations involved.

A police spokesperson refrained from providing additional details regarding the recent progress in the case, including the potential identification of a suspect.

The 25-year-old rapper was traveling in a black BMW driven by Marion “Suge” Knight, the founder of Death Row

Records, as part of a convoy of about ten cars, supposedly en route to a nightclub following the Mike Tyson versus Bruce Seldon championship fight at the MGM Grand.

The police confirmed that no other occupants were in the car at the time.

At an intersection near the Las Vegas Strip, while the BMW sat at a red light, a white Cadillac carrying four individuals pulled up alongside it.

That’s when one of the occupants opened fire, unleashing a barrage of bullets into the passenger side of Knight’s car.

Sitting in the passenger seat, Shakur sustained four gunshot wounds, at least two of which hit his chest.

A bullet fragment grazed Knight himself or shrapnel from the vehicle.

Following the attack, Shakur was rushed to a hospital, where he battled for six days before succumbing to his injuries.

Law enforcement officials disclosed that they executed a search warrant earlier this week, breathing new life into the quest for justice surrounding the rap star’s shooting.

Tony Bennett’s Life Wasn’t Just Singing; He Marched Along with King, Belafonte for Civil Rights

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

Tony Bennett, the legendary singer whose smooth vocals and timeless classics captured the hearts of millions, died at 96 in his hometown of New York. Although renowned for his musical achievements, his tireless work in civil rights advocacy has left an indelible mark on history. Bennett’s journey into activism began early in his life. Drafted into the Army as a teen in 1944 during World War II, he served on the front lines in Europe, witnessing the horrors of war and its devastating impact on human lives. “The first time I saw a dead German, that’s when I became a pacifist,” Bennett revealed in an earlier interview with Howard Stern. “Every war is insane, no matter where it is or what it’s about. Fighting is the lowest form of human behavior. No human being should have to go to war, especially an eighteen-year-old boy.” His time in the military exposed him to the grim reality of racial segregation within the U.S. Armed Forces. After being caught consorting with a Black soldier, Bennett was spat upon by a higher-ranking Army official, who assigned him the unenviable task of digging up the corpses of dead military members. He said the encounter motivated him to speak out for civil rights. In 1965, Bennett took part in the historic 50-mile Selma to Montgomery marches, standing alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to demand equality and justice for all. “The mood was anger,” singer and activist Harry Belafonte said in an interview he and Bennett did in 2013. “The mood was rebellious on the part of the movement, on the part of the civil rights crowd, and

the question is: What do we do in the face of this kind of rage and this kind of mayhem? And there was just… the bottom line was that we will go back as often as necessary.”

To rally the crowd during the march, Bennett performed “Just In Time” on a makeshift stage constructed from dozens of empty coffins, a powerful symbol of the lives lost in the struggle for civil rights. “I didn’t want to do it, but then Harry Belafonte told me what went down,” Bennett recalled. “How some blacks were burned, had gasoline thrown on them. When I heard that, I said, ‘I’ll go with you,’” he said. Bennett remained dedicated to championing humanitarian causes and advocating for equality throughout his life. He was an outspoken ally of various social issues, using his platform to bring attention to pressing global challenges, including the plight of refugees. Bennett also refused to perform in South Africa during the Apartheid era, and later received the United Nations Higher Commissioner for Refugees Humanitarian Award for his unwavering commitment to humanitarian work. Additionally, his contributions to civil rights earned him a place of honor as an inductee into the International Civil Rights Walk of Fame. Beyond his activism, Bennett was a prolific musician with an impressive discography that spanned over 70 albums, earning him 19 performance Grammy awards. His rendition of “I Left My Heart In San Francisco” became a timeless classic, earning him a legion of devoted fans, including fellow artists like Frank Sinatra and Lady Gaga. A Kennedy Center Honoree and a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master, Bennett is survived by his wife Susan, daughters Johanna and Antonia, sons Danny and Dae. He also had nine grandchildren.

After being caught consorting with a Black soldier, Bennett was spat upon by a higher-ranking Army official, who assigned him the unenviable task of digging up the corpses of dead military members. He said the encounter motivated him to speak out for civil rights.

Tony Bennett (Photo: wikimedia commons)

Federal Judge Sets Trial Date for Former President Trump’s Classified Documents Case

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

Judge Aileen M. Cannon has rejected former President Donald Trump’s request to delay his confidential documents trial until after the 2024 election.

Instead, Cannon announced on Friday that the trial date for the charges of illegally retaining dozens of classified documents will begin on May 20, 2024.

The decision arrived following what’s been described as a contentious hearing at the federal courthouse in Fort Pierce, Fla., where prosecutors from the special counsel’s team and lawyers representing Trump clashed over the trial’s timing.

The judge took a middle position, pushing the start date past the Justice Department’s request for a trial in December but refusing to postpone it after the 2024 election, as Trump had hoped.

Trump is the front-runner for the GOP presidential nomination.

Cannon clarified that the trial would not be moved to another location.

Her scheduling order includes a series of hearings throughout the remainder of this year and into next year, with a particular focus on handling the classified material

central to the case.

Trump’s legal obligations to attend court likely intersect with his campaign schedule, making the case highly consequential.

Trump made his initial court appearance on Tuesday, June 13, where he pleaded not guilty to 37 charges related to the alleged mishandling of classified documents.

The charges brought against Trump involve the illegal retention of national defense information and the concealment of documents, with potential violations of witness-tampering laws during the ongoing investigation.

Trump’s close aide, Walt Nauta, also faces charges related to a conspiracy to obstruct the federal investigation.

Nauta has also pleaded not guilty.

The former president is also facing more than 30 felony charges related to alleged financial crimes in New York, and prosecutors in Georgia have seated a grand jury to determine whether to indict Trump on charges related to obstructing the 2020 presidential election.

Jack Smith, the special counsel, has also empaneled a federal grand jury in Washington where Trump acknowledged receipt this week of a target letter implying that he could be indicted on charges related to the January 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol.

The decision arrived following what’s been described as a contentious hearing at the federal courthouse in Fort Pierce, Fla., where prosecutors from the special counsel’s team and lawyers representing Trump clashed over the trial’s timing.

California Needs Information and Infrastructure Upgrades to Connect Millions More to Broadband

A report the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) released in June found that access to fast and reliable home internet continues to increase in the Golden State, but many households eligible for broadband access assistance are still without service.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) estimates that at least 3.7 million California households are eligible for digital-access funding, but as of March 2022, only 1.2 million households were participating in programs created to offset high access costs for low-income households. Therefore, the FCC says it is seeking communitybased organizations connected to local communities to engage in outreach and education.

“We have issues nationwide with access, availability and affordability,” Sanford Williams, Special Advisor to the Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel and Deputy Managing Director of the Federal Communications Commission, said at a PPIC virtual conference on July 18.

“The one thing we’ve found on the government level is that folks listen to us, but they trust people they know. So, the biggest thing for us, from my perspective and the FCC, we get community organizations involved to get the message out,” he added.

Williams was one of the panelists at a three-day virtual conference the PPIC hosted from July 18-20 to discuss internet access, California’s unprecedented investments in broadband, and barriers to digital access across California’s diverse communities. The conference looked at how deficits in both infrastructure and information keep Californians disconnected from the internet.

According to PPIC, the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS), found that 85% of California households had high-speed internet at home in 2021-- a slight improvement from 84% in 2019, before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since 2019, access to broadband at home has become more common for most demographic groups. But racial and ethnic gaps persist: 81% of Latino, 83% of Black, 87% of White, and 88% of Asian households reported having broadband access at home in 2021, the PPIC shared.

PPIC explains that in 2021, slightly fewer California households (10%) did not have access to a desktop, laptop, or other computing devices at home than in 2019, when 11% lacked access.

Nationally, approximately 40% of Black American households— as opposed to 28 % of White American households—don’t have high-speed, fixed broadband, according to the Mckinsey & Company article, “Closing the Digital Divide in Black America,” published on Jan. 18, 2023. One of the first federally funded initiatives, the FCC’s Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) program, launched in 2021, offered a discount of up to $50 per month for broadband services to eligible households.

The EBB expired on Dec. 31, 2021, and was replaced by the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which offers long-term support for households. The maximum monthly ACP benefit is $30, and eligibility criteria expanded to include a household income at or below 200%

of the federal poverty line.

Dr. Nicol Turner-Lee, another panelist that participated in the “Bridging California’s Digital Divide,” virtual conference, warned that the ACP funding will eventually run out and could present more access problems for low-income and rural households.

“The ACP came out of the emergency broadband program, a pandemic-relief program that has had exponential growth,” Tuner-Lee continued. “I think 19 million have subscribed across the U.S., but there are challenges. When it expires in 2024 or when it runs out of money, the same 19 million people that subscribed will have these same challenges.”

Turner-Lee’s portfolio includes leading research and policy work at the Brookings Institution. Her book on the digital divide titled “Digitally Invisible: How the Internet is Creating the New Underclass” is scheduled to be published in 2024.

“We have to keep talking about affordability, but we need to talk about it in a more permanent way,” TurnerLee said. “It’s not necessary to give people access to shiny objects and devices but to connect them to a world of opportunities. That should justify and validate why this has

to be a long-term program.”

PPIC is a nonprofit organization that provides objective and nonpartisan research to guide California’s public policy. Its aim is to produce high-quality analysis that promotes dialogue and inspires sustainable policy solutions.

“We looked at the research on what’s barring folks from enrolling in the ACP and one of those barriers is just simply being aware that the ACP exists,” Ji Soo Song, Digital Equity Advisor for the US Department of Education’s Office of Educational Technology said during a session at the PPIC conference.

“It seems like in low-income households, less than 50% knew that it existed. That’s why we’ve been working with the FCC to launch a national campaign online to make sure that folks take advantage of it,” Song told the panelists.

On the final day of the virtual conference, panelists discussed the importance of digital equity in enhancing access outcomes across various sectors, including education, healthcare, and the economy.

The panelists agreed that building a digital infrastructure based on equity is crucial for an inclusive recovery from the pandemic. But Mei Wa Kwong, the Executive Director of the Center for Connected Health Policy (CCHP), the federally designated National Telehealth Policy Resource Center, said equity won’t be a “one-size-fits-all” solution.

“It’s going to take us a while to get there because when you are talking about digital equity, there’s a lot of infrastructure involved,” Kwong said. “Infrastructure does not move that quickly. It takes a while to build up things.”

Only a third of eligible California households receive federally subsidized internet. Most eligible households have not received the ACP internet subsidy, PPIC reports. Only 36% of over eight million eligible households had enrolled by April 2023, according to the California Department of Technology.

“Part of this conversation around affordability is not about whether people can get access to competitive providers but more so whether or not people understand the relevance of broadband in their lives,” Turner-Lee said.

“It’s important that we connect the dots to improve the outcomes for people,” she added.

Dr. Nicol Turner Lee, Brookings

Antonio Ray Harvey California Black Media

Sanford Williams, Federal Commission of Communications (PPIC Courtesy Photo)

Features

New York City Settles Civil Rights Lawsuit for $13 Million Stemming from 2020 BLM Protests

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

New York City has agreed to pay over $13 million to resolve a civil rights lawsuit filed on behalf of approximately 1,300 individuals who endured arrests or violence at the hands of the police during the racial injustice demonstrations that gripped the city in the summer of 2020. The settlement, submitted to the Manhattan federal court on Wednesday, July 19, could potentially become one of the largest payouts in history for a lawsuit involving mass arrests, according to legal experts closely monitoring the case. The lawsuit focused on 18 specific protests that erupted in the city during the week following the tragic killing of George Floyd by a police officer in Minneapolis. According to the plaintiffs’ attorneys, everyone who encountered arrests or police force during those demonstrations can receive compensation totaling $9,950. The agreement, one of several that emerged from the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020, enables the city to avert a costly and politically sensitive trial. Cities across the United States reportedly are currently negotiating settlements for similar claims brought by protesters who took to the streets to denounce racist police brutality following Floyd’s death, during which police arrested about 10,000 people across just a few days. The National Lawyers Guild, representing the plaintiffs in New York, accused the leadership of the New York Police Department of violating the protesters’ First Amendment rights through a systematic and indiscriminate campaign of brutality and unlawful arrests. Throughout more than two years of legal proceedings, the city’s attorneys maintained that the police responded to an unprecedented and chaotic situation, highlighting unruly protests where police vehicles were set on fire and officers were pelted with rocks and plastic bottles.

The settlement, submitted to the Manhattan federal court on Wednesday, July 19, could potentially become one of the largest payouts in history for a lawsuit involving mass arrests, according to legal experts closely monitoring the case.

Home Depot Faces a Lawsuit Alleging Discrimination Against Disabled African American Veterans

The Boggs also claim that Home Depot employees informed them that work on their home would be delayed due to the return of Hasidic Jewish residents for the summer.

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent Home improvement retailer Home Depot is facing a civil rights lawsuit filed by Larry and Denise Boggs, disabled African American veterans, who claim the company purposefully discriminated against them and denied them services based on their race and disabilities. The lawsuit, filed in the Southern District of New York, accuses Home Depot of violating various laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the New York State Human Rights Law, and federal civil rights statutes. According to the complaint, the Boggs sought assistance from Home Depot to make their home more accessible for Denise, who uses a wheelchair due to a below-the-knee amputation. The Home Depot Foundation, a nonprofit organization affiliated with Home Depot, had entered into a contract in October 2017 to perform construction improvements on the Boggs’ home, ensuring ADA compliance and meeting Denise’s needs.

However, the Boggs allege that Home Depot and its affiliates breached the contract and discriminated against them based on their race and disabilities. The lawsuit claims that the company failed to complete the agreed-upon improvements, withheld necessary building supplies, and performed faulty work that violated local building codes. Additionally, Home Depot allegedly misused grant funds for building materials to purchase unrelated tools. The Boggs also claim that Home Depot employees informed them that work on their home would be delayed due to the return of Hasidic Jewish residents for the summer. When the couple contacted Home Depot to address the ongoing issues, they said company officials told them to complete the work themselves, with Home Depot employees providing only minimal assistance. The lawsuit

asserts violations of the ADA, breach of contract, violations of the New York State Human Rights Law, and federal civil rights statutes. The couple seeks compensatory and punitive damages, declaratory relief, attorney’s fees, and other appropriate relief. Home Depot, which operates over 2,200 stores across the United States, including numerous locations in New York State, has yet to issue a public statement regarding the lawsuit. Earlier this year, U.S. District Judge Philip M. Halpern rejected Home Depot’s motion to dismiss the race and disability discrimination suit filed by the Boggs. Judge Halpern ruled that the couple sufficiently proved that Home Depot employees had prioritized work for white, Hasidic Jewish residents, causing the abandonment of the Boggs’ home renovation. Halpern dismissed Home Depot’s argument that the Boggs’ did not have the right to enforce the renovation grant provided by the nonprofit Action Towards Independence Inc. The judge also found that the Boggs’ had a recognizable property interest in using their own home and that Home Depot’s alleged racial discrimination impacted their ability to utilize their property. Halpern further ruled that Home Depot must face the couple’s breach of contract claim due to the terms of the grant contract and the Boggs being third-party beneficiaries. Additionally, Halpern rejected Home Depot’s argument that the disability discrimination claim under the New York Human Rights Law should be dismissed, stating that the law applies when a place of public accommodation discriminates at a private residence. “This is an elderly Black family in a predominately white and Hasidic Jewish neighborhood,” said the couple’s attorney, Onyuwoma W. Igbokwe. “They obviously didn’t have the financial capability to take care of their home. Home Depot was supposed to step in there and help them out.”

Biden Administration Takes Action to Increase Transparency and Eliminate Hidden Rental Fees

As part of the latest measures announced on Wednesday, July 19, prospective renters can now expect a more straightforward rental process on three major platforms – Zillow, Apartments.com, and AffordableHousing.com.

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

Seeking to promote transparency and fairness for renters, major online real-estate marketplaces have joined the Biden administration’s initiative to crack down on hidden apartment rental fees. Companies such as Zillow, Apartments.com, and AffordableHousing. com have pledged to incorporate previously hidden costs, like application and convenience fees, into their upfront advertised pricing. Acknowledging the need for clarity on additional charges that renters often face when securing an apartment, the administration’s call for transparency has garnered support from prominent rental

platforms. Administration officials noted in a Fact Sheet that they know that many tenants have been surprised when encountering hidden fees amounting to hundreds of dollars during the application and finalization of rental agreements. The White House further highlighted potential surprise fees that renters might encounter after securing their apartments, including convenience fees for online rent payment, fees for mail sorting, and unexplained “January fees” added at the start of a new year. In response to these concerns, the administration has focused on tackling these so-called “junk fees.” As part of the latest measures announced on Wednesday, July 19, prospective renters can now expect a more straightforward rental

process on three major platforms – Zillow, Apartments. com, and AffordableHousing.com. These marketplaces will display the total cost of apartments, encompassing all associated fees, unlike the previous practice of revealing only the base rent. The White House said the change should offer a more accurate representation of the financial commitment of renting, providing renters with better tools to make informed decisions. “At the front end of the apartment search, people often pay application fees of $50, $60, $100 or more per apartment, and have to do it many times over,” a White House official stated. “If they’re applying to multiple units, this can add up to hundreds of dollars.” By exposing hidden fees and encouraging

transparency, the administration hopes to empower renters to make more informed choices and foster a fairer rental market. “Reducing housing costs is central to Bidenomics, and recent data show that inflation in rental housing is abating,” White House officials stated. “Moreover, experts predict that roughly 1 million new apartments will be built this year, increasing supply that will further increase affordability. “The actions announced today will help renters understand these fees and the full price they can expect to pay, and create additional competition housing providers to reduce reliance on hidden fees.”

NHL Player’s Arrest Underscores League’s Persistent Problems in Attracting Black Players, Viewers

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior

National Correspondent

The NHL’s ongoing struggle to attract Black players and fans has faced another setback with a recent incident involving Phoenix Coyotes forward Alex Galchenyuk. According to a Scottsdale police report, Galchenyuk, who signed a $775,000 contract earlier this month with the Coyotes, was involved in a hitand-run accident and subsequently confronted a Black police officer using racial slurs and making graphic threats. During the incident, Galchenyuk reportedly exhibited erratic behavior and aggression toward the officers who responded to the scene. Various reports said he made disturbing statements, including threatening the officer’s family and using racial slurs multiple times. “One phone call and you’re all dead, your whole family, your whole blood line is dead,” Galchenyuk allegedly told the officers, before using a derogatory term

toward African Americans. “I’m gonna chop you, your wife, your daughter,” he continued, the police report noted. The report also mentioned that Galchenyuk was slurring his words and smelled of alcohol, indicating possible intoxication. The Coyotes swiftly terminated Galchenyuk’s contract, citing a material breach of terms. “We are aware of the incident involving Alex Galchenyuk and strongly condemn this type of behavior,” the Coyotes said in a statement. “Once the club was made aware of the allegations, we immediately began the process of terminating his standard player’s contract through the proper channels in conjunction with the National Hockey League.” Officers arrested Galchenyuk, who faces charges of private property hit-and-run, disorderly conduct, failure to obey, resisting arrest, and threatening or intimidating. This incident comes as the NHL is already grappling with diversifying its player base and fan demographic. Recent surveys indicate that only 10

percent of Black Americans consider themselves avid fans of the NHL. The league predominantly consists of white players, with 97 percent being Caucasians. The remaining 3 percent represent players from various backgrounds, including 34 active Black players. Throughout its 102year history, the NHL has only had one Black head coach among its 377 coaches. The NHL’s ongoing efforts to foster inclusivity and diversity have been hindered by incidents like this, reinforcing the perception that the league may not be welcoming or supportive of Black players and fans. Also, the NHL and the NHL Players Association have repeatedly ignored requests from the National Newspaper Publishers Association, the trade group representing the more than 230 African Americanowned newspapers and media companies comprising the Black Press of America.

New Super PAC Aims to Empower Black Voters and Secure House Leadership

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

According to a Scottsdale police report, Galchenyuk, who signed a $775,000 contract earlier this month with the Coyotes, was involved in a hit-and-run accident and subsequently confronted a Black police officer using racial slurs and making graphic threats.

To bolster Black voter participation and secure a groundbreaking achievement in House leadership, a prominent ally of the Congressional Black Caucus is launching a super PAC with ambitious plans to spend tens of millions of dollars. The newly formed organization, called the Rolling Sea Action Fund, will focus on mobilizing Black voters and aiding Democrats in flipping the House majority. The ultimate goal is to elect the first Black speaker of the House. Niccara Campbell-Wallace, former political director of the Congressional Black Caucus PAC, is heading the initiative. While the Rolling Sea Action Fund will be aligned with the all-Democratic Congressional Black Caucus, it will operate as a “hybrid PAC.” This designation permits the group to raise candidates’ funds while maintaining a separate account to spend unlimited sums on advertisements and other election-related expenses. To seize the House majority, Democrats must flip five seats during next year’s congressional elections. If achieved, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries could become the nation’s first Black speaker of the House. In an

NBC interview before the launch of the Rolling Sea Action Fund, Campbell-Wallace expressed confidence in the group’s ability to execute a multipronged strategy in 2024 with an expenditure exceeding $10 million. This strategy includes advertising campaigns, in-person organizing, and engagement in crucial communities. The PAC will concentrate its efforts on districts with more than 8% Black voting age population, mainly focusing on the most competitive House seats. Campbell-Wallace also indicated the possibility of the group’s involvement in primary races. “We know that Black voters are the cornerstone of the Democratic Party and of protecting American democracy,” Campbell-Wallace told NBC. She further stressed that the initiative would consistently empower and mobilize Black voters, ensuring representation and inclusivity in American politics. The Congressional Black Caucus comprises several newer members who recently won tightly contested races. The members include Emilia Sykes of Ohio, Don Davis of North Carolina, Lauren Underwood of Illinois, Jahana Hayes of Connecticut, Lucy McBath of Georgia, Colin Allred of Texas, and Steven Horsford of Nevada. Meanwhile, Republicans have also

tried to diversify their roster of House candidates, with candidates of color and women contributing to their success in the 2020 House races. NBC News noted that, despite Black voters’ overwhelming support for Democrats, recent polling indicates a slight decline in the party’s image among this demographic. Campbell-Wallace believes the Rolling Sea Action Fund’s “always-on” approach will help maintain Black voter engagement. She pointed to President Joe Biden’s and Vice President Kamala Harris’ initiatives on unemployment, infrastructure, and student loans, as well as their significance as representatives for their communities. While the group’s primary focus is reclaiming the House majority and electing Hakeem Jeffries as speaker, Campbell-Wallace acknowledged the underrepresentation of Black women in the Senate. She further highlighted the pursuits of Congressional Black Caucus members running for higher offices, such as California Rep. Barbara Lee’s bid for the Senate. Campbell-Wallace left the matter open when asked about potential involvement in primary races, stating, “We’ll see.”

Phoenix Coyotes forward Alex Galchenyuk.

California Black Media Political Playback: News You Might Have Missed

Joe W. Bowers Jr. and Edward Henderson

California Black Media

Your roundup of stories you might have missed last week.

State Superintendent Thurmond Forcibly Removed from School Board Meeting

Last week, State Superintendent of Public Instruction

Tony Thurmond was removed from a Chino Valley Unified School District board of education meeting after speaking out against a policy requiring school staff to notify parents if their child identifies as transgender.

Thurmond was invited to the meeting by students concerned about the policy.

After Thurmond spoke, he was verbally attacked by the board president, Sonja Shaw.

“You’re in Sacramento purposing things that pervert children,” she said.

Thurmond wrote in a series of tweets, “I don’t mind being thrown out of a board meeting by extremists. I can take the heat - it’s part of the job. What I can’t accept is the mistreatment of vulnerable students whose privacy is being taken away.”

Thurmond has been a vocal advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and has spoken out against book bans.

The Chino Valley school board voted to approve the policy, which is similar to Assembly Bill 1314, authored by Assemblymember Bill Essayli (R-Riverside) which failed to get a hearing in the state Assembly.

Essayli also spoke at the school board meeting and received mixed reactions from the attendees.

That evening, California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued a statement urging the school district to protect students’ privacy.

Rep. Barbara Lee PAC Launches “Rescue Mission”

After Falling Behind in Polls, Fundraising

A Super PAC supporting Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA-12) is making a push for her to secure a spot among the toptwo candidates in the close race to succeed Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-California) in the U.S. Senate.

The PAC’s organizers stated that they need to

start introducing Lee to a broader statewide audience immediately and outlined an ambitious goal for a TV advertising budget.

So far, Lee’s outside group ‘She Speaks for Me’ has raised more than $1.5 million in the second quarter, which surpasses the $1.4 million the campaign has in the bank so far. However, that amount is lower than the fundraising totals of her Democratic rivals, Reps. Adam Schiff (DCA-30) and Katie Porter (D-CA-47). Schiff’s campaign has raised nearly $30 million while Porter’s campaign has netted over $10 million. A recent poll placed Porter and Schiff ahead of Lee among likely voters.

Advocates to Gov. Newsom:  Ban Cannabis Products Targeting Children

Last week, a coalition of groups committed to

“Currently, the industry legally sells cannabis products that mimic well-known household brands and features bright colors, fonts and cartoon food images that are attractive to children,” said Youth Forward in a release. “The success of the cannabis industry should not cost the safety of California youth and children.”

The Cannabis Candy Child Safety Act, Assembly Bill (AB) 1207, authored by Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin (D-Thousand Oaks), passed the Assembly with a 61-0 vote in May. The bill aims to prevent children from consuming cannabis products by regulating packaging and advertising.

AB 1207 is currently under review in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

New California Law Eliminates Fees Domestic Violence Survivors Pay for Case Evidence Sen. Dave Min (D-Irvine) last week announced that Senate Bill (SB) 290, “Domestic Violence Documentation: Victim Access,” was signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom.

The new law modernizes the Access to Domestic Violence Reports Act of 1999 to make it easier for domestic violence survivors to access the evidence they need to try to obtain court-ordered legal protections. SB 290 eliminates the fees for digital records, including 911 recordings and photographs of injuries, property damage, or other abuse, that have been passed along to crime victims since 1999.

“Until now, DV survivors have had to pay for the evidence they need to seek legal protections from their abusers, often at exorbitant costs they cannot afford,” said Min. “SB 290 will allow more DV survivors to seek and receive the protection measures that will keep them safe.”

raising awareness about the cannabis industry’s practice of targeting children through marketing, called on Gov. Gavin Newsom to enact a “Cannabis Candy Ban.”

Youth Forward, an organization working to shape cannabis policy, is leading the charge with a petition to direct tax revenues from marijuana into youth and community reinvestment programs.

The new law applies to domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, stalking, and elder and dependent abuse survivors.

Justice-related costs are common for victims. Female victims pay over $1,000 after they petition courts for protection. The estimated lifetime costs of abuse— including the costs of court, health problems, and lost productivity—are $103,767 for women and $23,414 for men.

Black in School Coalition Expresses Appreciation to Newsom and Legislature for Adopting Updated Equity Multiplier

The Black in School Coalition (BISC), a statewide alliance of scholars, educators, and community leaders that advocates for more funding for Black students in California’s public schools based on performance, has expressed gratitude to Gov. Gavin Newsom and the California Legislature for adopting a revised version of the Equity Multiplier in the 2023-24 budget. The recently approved budget provides $300 million in new ongoing education funding as part of the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF).

In April, BISC organized a rally at the state Capitol, where more than 2,000 students gathered to oppose Newsom’s original Equity Multiplier plan. They were concerned it did not adequately address the unique challenges Black students face.

The newest iteration of the plan adds a stability indicator requirement to the formula and now accounts for additional factors, such as chronic absenteeism, which will result in more resources directed to California’s lowestperforming students, who are disproportionately Black.

(YouTube screenshot Chino Valley Unified School Board Meeting July 20, 2023)

The top five school districts benefiting from these new funds are: Los Angeles Unified: $42.3 Million, Fresno Unified: $16.6 Million, San Bernardino City Unified: $9.2 Million, Lancaster Elementary: $8.8 Million, and Twin Rivers Unified: $7.5 Million.

“Our coalition’s robust advocacy efforts have been a powerful catalyst in addressing the need for this Administration to support Black students. There is still a tremendous amount of work to be done, but we applaud our state leaders for taking this critical first step to provide better education supports,” said Dr. Margaret Fortune, speaking on behalf of the BISC.

Small Business Owners Applaud Superior Court for Extending Enforcement on “Rushed and Unfair” Privacy Rules

Last week, The Sacramento Superior Court delayed the California Privacy Protection Agency’s (CPPA) enforcement of new privacy regulations until March 29, 2024.

This provides a one-year compliance period as approved by voters in 2020’s Proposition 24 vote. The CPPA finalized the regulations on March 29, 2023, and had planned to begin enforcement on July 1, 2023.

Regulations include the right for consumers to correct inaccurate personal information business collect, the right to opt out of certain “sharing” of data rather than just the right to opt out of “sale” of data, and the right to limit the use and disclosure of sensitive personal information.

Many businesses across the state opposed the CCPA timetable for the regulations, arguing that they did not have enough time to comply before the levying of penalties began.

“The Sacramento Superior Court confirmed what we have been asking the California Privacy Protection Agency (CPPA) to consider for over a year: the agency’s regulation rollout has been rushed and unfair to California’s diverse small businesses,” Julian Cañete of the California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Pat Fong Kushida of the CalAsian Chamber of Commerce and Edwin Lombard of the small business consultancy ELM Strategies said in a joint statement. \

Back-to-School Events in Kern County

By Janell Gore South Kern Sol

The new school year is approaching, and it’s time to start preparing. Several organizations are taking a step to make this process easier for families.

Kern County Child Support Services has already hosted a few events but will host three more in Buttonwillow, Ridgecrest, and McFarland. Buttonwillow and McFarland’s giveaways are in partnership with the Kern County Libray.

Buttonwillow

Monday, July 24th, 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. at the Buttonwillow Branch Library.

Ridgecrest

This will be a drive-thru giveaway at Leroy Jackson Park Thursday, July 27th from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m.. The flyer states to enter from French Ave. at La Mirage Ln.  McFarland

Friday, July 28th, 12:45 – 1:45 p.m. at the McFarland Branch Libray.

Additional events from other organizations can be found below.

July 22nd

United against Covid Coaliton

There will be a vaccine clinic at McFarland Parks and Recreation from 10 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Community

members will be able to come out and get vaccinated against COIVD and school supplies. Along with vaccines and school supplies, the coalition will be giving a $100 gift card to anyone who gets vaccinated.

July 24th

Bakersfield Adult School, Telemundo, and Kern County Library

Starting at 11:00 a.m., community members can go to

the Kern County Library to get a free backpack. According to the flyer, you must be present to receive the backpack. The Kern County Libray Facebook states that over 200 backpacks will be given away on a first-come, first serve basis.

August 13th

NAACP and Wendale Davis Foundation

This back-to-school event offers a mixture of supplies, haircuts, and fun. The event will be held at Bakersfield High School at 3:00 p.m. Community members can pitch in by donating backpacks, notebooks, binders, new and gently used books, and any other school supplies. Donations can be taken to:

Nikki Beauty Supply

3767 Ming Ave. #B

Beauty Connections

324 Oak St. #E

Milian Institute

2822 F St.

CAPK, Community Interventions, and Vintage Cutz Free backpacks, school supplies, and haircuts will be available at the Friendship House Community Center from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. For those wanting to donate to the event, you can visit the CAPK website.

In Fight Against Substance Use Disorder,  Calif. Health Advocates Focus on Mental Health, Education

Theresa Hunter used drugs growing up in the Sacramento area. The 32-year-old smoked weed, snorted cocaine, and popped pills.

Then, as a young adult, the mother of three found a different high: crystal methamphetamine.

“To deal with the trauma and grief in my life at that time, I turned to using drugs,” Hunter recalled. “I was trying to escape from everything.”

For five years, Hunter smoked around two grams a day of the highly addictive stimulant.

Crystal meth causes intense euphoria and negative effects such has depression, psychosis and paranoia, seizures, and other problems that can be fatal. Hunter’s addiction led her to becoming homeless and leaving her daughters’ care to their father.

Hunter tried to quit crystal meth but became lethargic and slept for days when she didn’t smoke. Rehab centers only accept individuals with alcohol or opioid issues.

In 2021, while four months pregnant with her third daughter Kassiani Rich, Hunter told her prenatal doctor that she was an addict.

“This is my time to get clean and sober,” remembered Hunter. “I was scared, but I knew I needed to get clean. I didn’t want to have an abortion or give my daughter up.”

Hunter was admitted to a rehab center for 90 days but relapsed twice after release.

Kassiani was born healthy, but Hunter lost custody and underwent further rehab. Hunter has been clean since June 12, 2021, and now has custody of Kassiani, 2, and her other daughters, Eryneesa Bernard-Wainiwheh, 13, and Jasani Bernard-Wainiwheh, 10.

She credits her daughters and programs such as See Her Bloom, an online project that helps Black women with substance abuse disorders by sharing resources and allowing women to tell their stories, for paving her road to recovery.

“Knowing there is a platform to help women overcome their addiction, having a place women can go to is really helpful,” Hunter said.

See Her Bloom is one of the many organizations and campaigns in the Golden State focused on combatting substance use disorder (SUD).

According to a 2022 report by the California Health Care Foundation (CHCF), overdose deaths from opioids and psychostimulants, like crystal meth, are soaring, and 9% of Californians met the criteria for SUD — misuse or overuse of alcohol or other drugs, including illicit drugs that lead to health problems — the previous year. Only 10% of the people with SUD received treatment in 2021, despite SUDs being recognized as an illness.

Black Americans have higher rates of illicit drug use (24.3%) compared to non-Hispanic Whites (22.5%), according to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Data from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released in May, revealed that from December 2021 to December 2022 there were 107,573 drug overdose deaths — a decrease of 2% from the previous 12 months.

Elizabeth Keating, Clinical Program Director of CA Bridge, a Public Health Institute focused on expanding addiction medication for treatment in hospital emergency departments, said overdose rates in California increased by around 1% between 2021 and 2022.

“Up is not what we want,” she said. “If not for the COVID pandemic, I would say the opioid crisis is biggest health crisis of our time. Policy matters.”

Earlier this month, Gov. Gavin Newsom awarded $5.7 million for opioid and stimulant-use education and outreach in “Two-Spirit/LGBTQ” Communities as part of a $1 billion state initiative.

“Education and outreach are critical tools in our arsenal — to prevent tragedy, to connect people with treatment, and to fight the life-threatening stigma that stops too many people from getting help,” Newsom said.

There are also a host of bills introduced in the State Assembly and Senate aimed at addressing the state’s drug crisis.

However, more needs to be done, said Center for Collaborative Planning at the Public Health Institute Executive Director Connie Chan Robinson, who leads the See Her Bloom initiative. She said lack of research on substance issues among Black women enhances the view that there isn’t a problem in that group.

“There is a stereotype that continues to be perpetuated that strong Black girls and young women are impenetrable, they are not influenced by drugs,” Robinson said. “Their lack of engagement with families, the ability to take about issues, and the denial factor with the family contributes to the further isolation.”

Dr. Jenifer Zhan, an Implementation Leader with

CA Bridge, said numbers from her organization reveal that overdose deaths increased in ZIP codes with majority Black populations by 202% from 2018 to 2022. Zhan said prescriptions for buprenorphine, an FDA-approved drug used to treat substance misuse like opioids, are given at a much lower rate to Black patients.

Zhan noted that historically people of color are more likely to be arrested or incarcerated for substance use and that can lead many Black people with addiction problems to mistrust health care providers.

“We do make a policy stance on decriminalizing substance use and we advocate for treatment instead of incarceration,” she said. “We still advocate for treatment in jail, in hospitals. There is a shortage of Black doctors. Patients of color will seek care from doctors that look like them. We need policy changes in the education realm also to fix inequalities in health care.”

Robinson said more work needs to be done to discover the connection between mental health and drug use. She said the people at See Her Bloom say more peer-to-peer outreach is needed to combat illicit substance use.

“They need a space for them to share their stories,” Robinson said.

McKenzie Jackson California Black Media