Los Angeles News Observer 6.22.23

Growing Number of California Groups Express Support for Black Reparations

Antonio Ray Harvey California BlackMedia

In California, an increasing number of Japanese, Jewish and other non-Black groups are expressing their support for reparations to Black American residents of the state who are descendants of enslaved people.

Around 100 grassroot organizations, motivated in part by the efforts of the Japanese American Bar Association and John M. Langston Bar Association of Los Angeles, have endorsed the work of the task force, and are calling on California to compensate Black residents for historical wrongdoings.

Donald Tamaki, an attorney, and the only non-Black member of the nine-member state reparations task force panel, stated that the groups supporting the task force are mostly Asian, Latino and Jewish.

“They didn’t need whole lot of persuasion,” Tamaki said. “Why? Because they know the healing power of reparations. I think that, in itself, is a news story: that there’s a multi-racial group of both big and small organizations representing different constituencies.”

The United States government has previously approved reparations for other ethnic groups to address historical injustices.

For instance, Native Americans have been given billions of dollars in compensation for land that was unlawfully taken from them.

Japanese Americans received billions in compensation and some of their property was returned for being placed in internment camps during World War II.

Many of the injustices experienced by Japanese Americans occurred after President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s issued Executive Order 9066 on Feb. 19, 1942, responding to Japan’s aerial bombing of U.S. Military installations at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on Dec.7, 1941.

In the months following the bombing of Pearl Harbor,

Brittney Griner Misses Mercury’s Game at Mystics with Hip Injury

By STEPHEN WHYNO

AP Sports Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - Brittney Griner missed the Phoenix Mercury’s game at the Washington Mystics on Friday night because of a hip injury.

Shown left to right Ron Wakabayashi, Miya Iwataki, Mitch Maki, and attorney Donald Tamaki at the California Reparations Task Force’s meeting at the Wallis Annenberg Building at the California Science Center in Los Angeles. Wakabayashi, Iwataki, and Maki provided their insight into the Japanese American Redress Movement, showing reparations and support for descendants of chattel slavery. Sept.24, 2022. (CBM Photo Antonio Ray Harvey)

The San Francisco Black and Jewish Unity Coalition’s Reparations Teach-In in San Francisco is one of many educational and informational events that displayed a statewide range of interest among the Black, Jewish, and Japanese communities. The teachin was held on Sept. 18, 2022, at San Francisco’s Congregation Sherith Israel. (CBM Photo Antonio Ray Harvey)

Miya Iwataki – a special assistant to former California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) member and U.S. Congressmember Mervyn Dymally who represented the state’s 31st District in Congress during the 1980s – was a member of the National Coalition for Redress/Reparations for Japanese Americans Iwataki says she drew inspiration from the activism of Black leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Black Panther Party member Fred Hampton, the Tuskegee Airmen, the Brown Berets, among others. She explained that it was Black leaders such as Dymally and former Oakland mayor and U.S. Congress member Ron Dellums who supported the passage of the Civil Liberties Act. Maki, Iwataki, Wakabayashi and other Nisei (secondgenerations Japanese Americans) and Sansei (third generation) are urging the state to compensate Black descendants of chattel slavery and provide a formal apology for harms suffered in California.

“First, I want to acknowledge the difference in our fight for reparations for the injustice of the (incarceration) camps and the 400 years history of enslaved people,” Iwataki testified. “We’re not here to make recommendations or to prescribe lessons learned. I am here to share the experiences of NCRR and all volunteer grassroot organizations that fought for reparations and to express our continued solidarity for Black reparations.”

Griner was ruled out roughly 20 minutes before tipoff. It’s the first game she has missed this season since returning from her imprisonment in Russia.

Griner was nevertheless embraced by opponents in the nation’s capital down the road from many of the folks in the U.S. government who worked to get her home. She was freed in December as part of a high-profile prisoner exchange after spending eight months in jail on drug charges, when Russian authorities said Griner carried vape canisters with cannabis oil into the country.

Jayland Walker’s Family Sues Officers and City, Alleging Excessive Force

By SAMANTHA HENDRICKSON Associated Press/Report

For America

AKRON, Ohio (AP) - The eight police officers who shot Jayland Walker last summer used excessive force when they fired 94 bullets at him during a foot chase and participated in a “culture of violence and racism” within Akron’s police department, according to a lawsuit filed in Ohio federal court Friday.

approximately 122,000

men, women, and children of Japanese descent were forcibly relocated to “assembly centers.” Nearly 70,000 of these evacuees were American citizens. They were then evacuated to and confined in 75 isolated, fenced, and guarded “relocation centers,” known as “incarceration camps.”

According to the National Park Service (NPS), 92,785 Californians of Japanese descent were put in temporary detention camps called “Assembly Centers.” The cities of Sacramento, Los Angeles, Oakland, and San Francisco, metropolitans with the largest Japanese contingents, were incarcerated without legal recourse.

Japanese Americans were imprisoned based on ancestry alone. There was no evidence that they had committed any crimes against the U.S. or presented any danger, NPS explained in its “A History of Japanese Americans in California: Incarceration of Japanese Americans During World War II.”

Three Japanese Americans who were involved in and knowledgeable about the Japanese American Redress Movement (JARM) testified at the California reparations task force’s public meeting held in Los Angeles on Sept. 24, 2022. They educated attendees about efforts Japanese Americans made to obtain restitution for their forced removal and confinement during World War II.

Mitchell Maki (President and CEO of the Go for Broke National Education Center, a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the legacy and lessons of the Nisei World War II veterans) and Ron Wakabayashi (former Executive Director, Japanese American Citizens League) provided historical context on how Japanese Americans achieved a rare accomplishment in U.S. history by passing the Civil Liberties Act of 1988. They received an official apology letter from the President of the United States and 82,000 surviving Japanese Americans were compensated with $20,000 payments, which totaled to $1.6 billion. Executive Order 9066 was officially rescinded by U.S. President Gerald Ford on Feb. 16, 1976.

In September 2022, the San Francisco Black and Jewish Unity Coalition held reparations teach-ins at Congregation Sherith Israel in San Francisco. Secretary of State Shirley Weber, who authored the legislation, Assembly Bill 3121, that created the task force when she was an Assemblymember, was one of the speakers.

Congregation B’nai Israel hosted a 90-minute reparations information session in Sacramento on June 11. Presented by Sacramento Jewish opera singer Lynn Berkeley-Baskin, over 20 people – Jewish and Japanese — attended the event to hear Chris Lodgson from the Coalition for a Just and Equitable California share his experiences as one of the grassroots leaders driving California’s movement for reparations.

Germany has openly acknowledged past aggressions committed during the Holocaust. According to a June 202 report by Steven J. Ross in the Jewish publication the Forward, the German government has paid out $92 billion to Holocaust survivors over seven decades. In the United States, the country has “failed to reckon with the consequences of centuries of slavery,” Ross writes.

“As laws advancing revisionist history sweep our nation’s state legislatures, Americans who favor a national reckoning with our own complicated past would do well to take a lesson from Germany,” writes Steven J. Ross, a history professor at the University of Southern California (USC).

“If we want to truly heal as a nation, we must first acknowledge both the long history of slavery and the pain its legacy still causes – and take tangible steps to right our collective wrongs,” Ross stated. The task force will hold its final meeting and submit its final report to the California legislature on June 29.

The meeting will start at 9:00 a.m., in the First Floor Auditorium of the March Fong Eu Secretary of State Building, located at 1500 11th Street, downtown Sacramento.  \

“If there are helpful takeaways from our experience, I hope that they will contribute,” Wakabayashi said of Japanese Americans’ fight for reparations. “It would help repay a great debt. The Black civil rights movement generated the Japanese American Redress Campaign and led the struggle for human rights in this country.”

for Role in Botched

By Stacy

M. Brown

NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

Chicago, IL – The Chicago Police Board voted 5-3 on Thursday to terminate the employment of Sergeant Alex Wolinski due to his involvement in a botched raid in 2019.

The incident involved a raid on the home of Anjanette Young, a Black woman who was wrongfully handcuffed while naked after police officers were sent to the incorrect address.

According to a comprehensive 31-page written ruling, Wolinski was found to have committed multiple rules violations and displayed a “failure of leadership” during the ill-fated operation at Young’s apartment on Chicago’s Near West Side.

The Chicago Sun-Times reported that the ruling cited the sergeant’s actions as grounds for his dismissal.

Young, a social worker, was preparing for bed in February 2019 when several officers armed with a noknock warrant forcefully entered her residence to pursue a man believed to have an illegal firearm.

Police body-camera footage from the raid revealed that officers handcuffed Young, who was completely unclothed at the time, despite her repeated assertions that they had arrived at the wrong location.

The city’s law department acknowledged that Young remained naked for approximately 16 seconds as officers claimed they struggled to keep a covering on her before finally allowing her to dress several minutes later.

The mishandling of the raid and subsequent actions by the city administration triggered widespread outrage among the clergy, lawmakers, and civil rights activists, who vehemently condemned the incident as racially motivated and an affront to the dignity of a Black woman.

Months after a grand jury declined to indict the unnamed officers in the death of Walker, a 25-year-old Black man, his family is seeking at least $45 million in damages from the officers, the city of Akron and city officials, according to a press release.

“Jayland Walker’s death has been mischaracterized as his fault,’’ Bobby DiCello, an attorney for the Walker family, said in a press conference Friday. He called that mischaracterization “repugnant.”

During a routine traffic stop on June 27, 2022, police officers fatally shot Walker after he fired a single bullet from his vehicle, then ran from the officers, according to a state investigation. He left the gun in his still- moving car.

His death gained national attention and roiled yet another city amid heightened tensions with police over the killing of a Black man that started with a traffic stop.

The officers fired the nearly 100 bullets at Walker in less than 7 seconds when he refused to put up his hands and appeared to reach into his waistband, believing him to be armed and a “deadly threat,” the state investigation said.

Police officers violated Walker’s rights to freedom from excessive force under the fourth amendment when they shot him in a hail of gunfire even though Walker was unarmed, according to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit further alleges that for years, and without consequences, the city of Akron, Mayor Daniel Horrigan and Chief of Police Stephen Mylett have knowingly allowed Akron police officers to engage in “violent behavior” that “disproportionately involves African Americans.’’

The lawsuit goes on to list several alleged instances of Akron police officers using excessive force. It also includes a 1998 newsletter disseminated in the police department that repeatedly refers to Akron residents as animals, and states that a past internal investigation found that police officers currently employed by the department “read, received, circulated or found humorous” the newsletter.

“The story of how Jayland Walker died begins in that year, when this newsletter was circulated,” DiCello said, calling the content “hateful, violent porn.’’

The city of Akron and the mayor’s office declined to comment about pending litigation. The Akron Police Department did not immediately respond to request for comment.

New Hampshire Prosecutors Appeal Dismissal of Complaints Against White Nationalists

BRENTWOOD – The New Hampshire Department of Justice has asked a judge to reconsider the dismissal of trespassing complaints against white nationalists accused of displaying “Keep New England White” banners from a highway overpass.

2019 raid at the home of a Black woman who was handcuffed while naked after police officers were sent to the wrong address. The Chicago Police Board voted 5-3 Thursday, June 22, 2023, to fire Sgt. Alex Wolinski for multiple rules violations and “failure of leadership” in the raid at the apartment of Anjanette Young, according to a 31page written ruling, the Chicago Sun-Times reported. (Jose M. Osorio/Chicago Tribune via AP, File)

Consequently, Young filed a lawsuit against the city, ultimately leading to the Chicago City Council unanimously approving a $2.9 million settlement in December 2021.

In response to Wolinski’s termination, Young, through

The New Hampshire attorney general’s office had said the men were motivated by race and trespassed on public property when they displayed the banners in Portsmouth last July. They are members of a group known as NSC-131 or the Nationalist Social Club, which the Anti-Defamation League describes as a New England-based neo-Nazi group founded in 2019 that “espouses racism, antisemitism and intolerance.’’ Rockingham County Judge David Ruoff dismissed the state’s case earlier this month, ruling that the government was relying on an overly broad interpretation of the law and infringing on the group’s free speech rights.

In the appeal filed Friday, state prosecutors argued the judge misapplied the law. They said while there is general right to access public roads, parks and sidewalks, “there is no unfettered right to affix and display

on a highway overpass.”

signs

FILE - Anjanette Young and supporters gather at Daley Plaza in Chicago after marching from Federal Plaza to commemorate the National Day of Protests on Oct. 22, 2021. A Chicago police sergeant has been fired for his role in a botched

The Underdog Presidential Candidate, RFK Jr. and His Pledge to Black America

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a member of the illustrious Kennedy dynasty, is making an unlikely run for the Democratic presidential nomination and has declared that he is steadfastly committed to continuing his family’s enduring legacy.

In a one-on-one interview with the Black Press of America, Kennedy spoke about his relentless focus on combating environmental racism, ending qualified immunity for law enforcement officers, and addressing the alarming racial disparities within the American medical system.

The 69-year-old District of Columbia-born candidate said he’s championing causes that have plagued marginalized communities for far too long.

His mission, he insisted, extends beyond rhetoric, seeking to dismantle systemic barriers and usher in a brighter, more equitable future, particularly for African Americans who have borne the brunt of injustice, including the problematic issue of maternal mortality.

As he steps onto the political stage where his uncle, John F. Kennedy, counts as one of the most popular presidents in American history and where his father had all but sewn up the Democrat nomination before his assassination in 1968, Kennedy’s audacious bid could challenge the status quo and spark a transformative movement that reverberates through the nation.

“Black Americans are going to be a principal priority for me, particularly in ending that fear of dangerous interaction with law enforcement,” Kennedy asserted.

He also pledged a move to end qualified immunity, which protects police officers from personal liability in the event of a lawsuit.

“There is no incentive for individuals to change bad behavior,” Kennedy remarked.

“We need systemic changes. We need to remove qualified immunity, which would make it necessary for an individual to consider his liability with every interaction. Every good economic system [should] incentive good behavior and punish bad behavior. We need to have that.”

Kennedy added that there’s a need for a reorganization of police to understand the mission of protecting and serving “instead of being in combat mode when they come into the Black community.”

One of the children of the late Sen. Robert Kennedy, who was assassinated in 1968, Kennedy announced his presidential candidacy earlier this year. His father and uncle, John F. Kennedy, both demonstrated a desire for a united and strong America, which he said inspired him. Despite his anti-vaccine views that have caused controversy, some surveys have giving Kennedy as much as 20 percent support among Democrats.

His unlikely challenge to the incumbent President Joe Biden has gained steam. A poll by The Economist and YouGov showed that Kennedy was viewed favorably by 49% of respondents and unfavorably by just 30%, leaving him with a net rating of 19 points—higher than any other candidate in the poll, which surveyed 1,500 adult respondents from June 10 to 13.

Further, Biden had a negative 9-point net favorability

rating, with 52% of respondents viewing him somewhat or very unfavorably.

In comparison, 45% have very or somewhat favorable impressions, and Trump had a negative 10-point net rating, with 53% viewing him unfavorably and 43% favorably.

“Could Bobby Kennedy catch a spark? Maybe,” Michael Novogratz, a billionaire Democratic donor who supported Biden in 2020 but has pledged not to back any candidate older than 72, told the New York Times.

“He’s alienated himself because of some of the antivax positions, but he is a bright man, articulate, eloquent, connected, has the Kennedy name, and would pull a lot of the Trump voters.”

Meanwhile, Kennedy said he’d also work to end medical racism “entrenched in our medical system in this country.”

He noted a recent video he created about medical racism, where health experts have concluded that Black Americans are less likely to receive quality medical care than whites.

During the pandemic, Kennedy noted that African Americans were dying at 3.6 times the rate of whites.

Regardless of their income or social status, Black mothers suffered maternal mortality alarmingly higher than any other race.

“If you’re Black in this country, you’re getting thirdworld style medical care,” Kennedy insisted.

“The medical system is not attuned to taking care of Black patients. Being a Black patient in this country is almost as dangerous as being a Black prisoner. You won’t get good medical care, which will be one of my priorities.”

Kennedy also noted food deserts are plentiful and the quality of meals is “horrible” in most Black communities.

“Environmental issues plague Black America,” Kennedy stated. “Four out of every five toxic waste structures are in Black communities.

“The highest concentration of toxic waste is on the south side of Chicago and look at all the food deserts. And the food made available in many Black communities is highly processed and loaded with chemicals and hormones.

In a one-on-one interview with the Black Press of America, Kennedy spoke about his relentless focus on combating environmental racism, ending qualified immunity for law enforcement officers, and addressing the alarming racial disparities within the American medical system.

“It’s making African Americans sicker. We need children who have good health and healthy brains, and they need to be able to access the best medical care, but the system is predatory toward Black Americans.”

Chicago Police Sergeant Fired for Role in Botched Raid

Continued from page A1

a statement issued by her legal representatives, expressed that the decision was just a small step towards the justice she had been seeking.

She empathized with Wolinski’s family but voiced her wish that all eight members of the Chicago Police Board had recognized the urgency and necessity of his removal.

Former Police Superintendent David Brown initiated

administrative charges against Wolinski in November

2021, strongly recommending his dismissal.

The sergeant, who had been a member of the Chicago Police Department since 2002, was accused of violating eight departmental rules, including inattention to duty, disobedience of an order, and mistreatment of individuals.

In addition to the board’s ruling, the Civilian

Office of Police Accountability also called for Wolinski’s termination, and the suspension of several other officers involved in the raid.

However, no other officers have faced charges from the Police Board concerning the incident.

The raid occurred before former Mayor Lori Lightfoot assumed office in May 2019.

But her administration subsequently attempted to prevent the release of police video footage of the incident on television and rejected Young’s Freedom of Information request to obtain the footage.

Young eventually obtained the footage through her lawsuit.

NNPA Convention Set to Convene in Nashville

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By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior

National Correspondent

Tennessee Democratic State Reps. Justin Pearson and Justin Jones are set to receive the 2023 NNPA National Legacy Awards at the National Newspaper Publishers Association’s summer convention in Nashville.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, who successfully prosecuted all the officers involved in the murder of George Floyd and penned a new book about the experience, will serve as the keynote for the week’s proceedings.

With the theme, “The Black Press of America: Amplifying Progress, Excellence, and Voices of Black America,” the conference kicks off on Wednesday, June 28, at the sprawling JW Marriott hotel in downtown Nashville.

A Chairman’s Reception is planned Wednesday evening at the National Museum of African American Music.

The NNPA Fund will host its annual Messenger Awards on Thursday, June 29, recognizing the best of Black-owned media.

A Civil Rights tour and presentations by Chelsea Lenora White, Tina Xiao, and Keith Collins will serve as additional highlights of the conference.

Grammy winner Keith Washington will perform at the annual Legacy Awards dinner on Friday, June 30.

General Motors, The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Nissan, Reynolds, Pfizer Rare Disease, Google News Initiative, Wells Fargo, Diageo, Comcast-NBC Universal, and Intuit are among NNPA partners and sponsors.

In his new book, “Break the Wheel: Ending the Cycle of Police Violence,” Ellison recounts the arduous journey undertaken by his legal team to secure the conviction of the four police officers responsible for Floyd’s murder.

Despite the public availability of video evidence, Ellison sheds light on the challenges faced by prosecutors when seeking justice against law enforcement officers.

In the book, he emphasizes the difficult reality faced by prosecutors who often have personal relationships with police officers.

“These are people we work with. ‘This is the guy I met going to the picnic with. I’m playing golf with this guy.’ And so, it creates tension,” he said.

However, Ellison asserted that prosecutors must prioritize seeking justice impartially. If unable to do so, the case should be handed over to the attorney general rather than allowing justice to be compromised.

The book highlights the critical argument made by Ellison that police reform across the country can create less stressful working conditions for officers.

By recounting the gripping details of the Derek Chauvin trial, Ellison takes readers through the prosecution’s journey, unveiling breakthroughs and revelations during a defining moment of racial reckoning and social justice awareness.

Chauvin is serving a more than 20-year federal sentence, while his ex-colleagues Tou Thao, J. Alexander Kueng, and Thomas Lane serve at least three years for their roles in Floyd’s death, including violating his civil rights.

Ellison recently told NPR he kept a diary about the officers’ trials.

He described how he broke down in tears when he saw the video of Floyd’s murder for the first time.

“For me, it was a gut check moment, one of those moments where you ask yourself, ‘What am I about and what am I in this for?’” Ellison stated.

“And my answer had to be we’re going to do anything we can to try to make sure that the outcome is fair, just, and right.”

In “Break the Wheel,” each chapter examines the roles of various stakeholders within the justice system, including prosecutors, defendants, police union leaders, judges, activists, legislators, politicians, and media figures.

Ellison explores their contributions and attempts to break the cycle of violence, replacing it with empathy and shared understanding.

Ellison will speak to the more than 230 African Americanowned publishers and media company owners during a special address on Friday, June 30. “The National Newspaper Publishers Association

enthusiastically announces that Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison will address the NNPA 2023 Annual National Convention,” said NNPA President and CEO Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr.

“Keith Ellison has emerged as one of the most effective and courageous Attorney Generals in American history,” Chavis said.

“We look forward to his speech on ‘Ending Police Violence in America’ before the national assembly of our nation’s Black newspaper publishers, media industry executives, and community activists and leaders nationwide.”

For more information on NNPA’s convention, visit http:// www.nnpa-events.com.

Central Park Birder Christian Cooper is Turning His Viral Video Fame Into a Memoir and TV Show

By LEANNE ITALIE AP Entertainment Writer

NEW YORK (AP) - There's nothing that can keep Christian Cooper from enjoying his "happy place," the bird-friendly Ramble of Central Park - not even his tense, viral video encounter three years ago with a woman walking her dog off leash in his refuge.

Cooper is a lifelong birder, and Black, a relative rarity for the pastime. The dog owner is Amy Cooper, who is white and no relation. His video of her pleading with a 911 operator to "send the cops" because, she falsely claimed, an African American man was threatening her life has been viewed more than 45 million times on social media.

Much has happened to each Cooper since.

She was fired by an investment firm and a judge tossed her lawsuit challenging the dismissal. Later, a misdemeanor charge against her was dropped after she completed a program on racial bias.

He scored a memoir, out this week, and has his own series on Nat Geo Wild, traveling the U.S. doing what he loves most: birding. "Extraordinary Birder with Christian Cooper" premieres Saturday.

Something else happened the day the two Coopers clashed. Just hours later, George Floyd was killed under the knee of a white police officer more than 1,000 miles away in Minneapolis. They had no way of knowing that, of course, but Christian Cooper told The Associated Press in a recent interview he had another Black man, Philando Castile, on his mind when he flipped his phone camera to record.

Castile was fatally shot in the Minneapolis area in 2016 by an officer who wrongly thought the 32-year-old was reaching for a gun during a traffic stop. Castile's girlfriend, Diamond Reynolds, had the presence of mind to hit record on her phone, and her livestream on Facebook touched off protests around the country. (The officer who shot Castile was acquitted by a jury.)

Christian Cooper's decision to record was personal but routine for birders trying to convince park officials to do something about dogs off leashes where signs clearly prohibited it to protect plantings in The Ramble and leave the birds undisturbed. He was polite but firm as he spoke off-camera while Amy Cooper raged.

"I thought to myself, you know what? They're going to shoot us dead no matter what we do. And if that's the case, I'm going out with my dignity intact," he told the AP.

For a second, he added, "I was like, oh, yeah, when a white woman accuses a Black man, I know what that means. I know what trouble that can mean in my life. Maybe I should just stop recording and maybe this will all go away in a split second. Then I thought, nah, I'm not going to be complicit in my own dehumanization."

Amy Cooper never apologized directly to him, though she issued a statement of regret. And since then, Christian Cooper has done some soul-searching on what it must be like, at least sometimes, for women to feel unsafe in public outdoor spaces.

"I would hate to think that I would go through a situation like that and not learn something myself. And so I try to keep in mind now that, yes, I'm perfectly comfortable in The Ramble. It's my happy place. But that's not necessarily true of everyone," he said.

Amy Cooper demanded he stop recording, upset when he offered her cocker spaniel, Henry, a dog treat. It's a tactic controversial among birders frustrated by unleashed dogs in The Ram-

ble. "It's a very in-your-face move. You know, no bones about that. I haven't done it since," he said.

He declined to cooperate with prosecutors in the criminal case against Amy Cooper. It was an election cycle, he said, so it felt performative. But also, he felt, she had been punished enough through public disgrace.

"I decided I kind of have to err on the side of mercy, particularly weighing with that a sense of proportionality because I had not been harmed. I had not been thrown to the ground by the police or, God forbid, worse. I had never even had to interact with the police. I'm sure my opinion would be different if I had, " he said.

Now, Cooper is all about spreading the gospel of birding once again. His book, "Better Living through Birding: Notes from a Black Man in the Natural World," opens with the Central Park encounter, and then launches into his life:

How birding helped him connect to the world as a closeted gay child in his predominantly white Long Island hometown.

How all things Star Trek, science fiction and Marvel Comics have sustained him to this day, at age 60.

"The cure to my outsider status was to go outside, outside of myself, outside of my own head, outside into nature. Because you can't go looking for birds without really focusing on what you're doing, and focusing on the natural world around you," he said.

''And when you do that, you can't be preoccupied anymore about, 'Oh my God, I feel so horrible.'"

As a longtime board member of the New York City Audubon Society, Cooper has seen the ranks of Black birders increase, and he has participated in a movement among National Audubon Society chapters to cast off the name of John James Audubon. The 19th-century artist and naturalist known for his paintings of North American bird species was an anti-abolitionist who owned, purchased and sold enslaved people.

Cooper's chapter of the society is in the process of coming up with a new name, though the parent organization declined to do the same.

With his book, Cooper said, "I hope to reach a whole mass of people who have never really thought about birds or maybe haven't engaged with nature on that level. If I can communicate some of my passion for birding, for birds, and get them to sort of open their awareness just a little bit more to these creatures around them, because they are spectacular, then the book will have achieved its goal."

On Nat Geo (the series hits Disney+ on June 21), Cooper serves as host and was a consulting producer. He's a kid in a wonderful, winged candy shop.

The six episodes have him scaling a Manhattan bridge tagging peregrine falcon chicks, navigating volcanic terrain in Hawaii in search of elusive honeycreepers, and trekking rainforests in Puerto Rico to check on fertility issues among parrots. He also shot in Palm Springs, California, and Washington, D.C., as well as Selma, Alabama, where members of his father's family once lived.

Cooper has spent time in public schools teaching kids about birding. He wants to reach even more with the fame he earned the hard way.

"I'm hopeful that a lot of young Black kids will see maybe one of the first big birding shows on TV with a black host leading the show and think, 'Oh, maybe that's something I can do, too.' That would be awesome.''

E’maj Entertainment Television Network Unveiled:

A New Era of Media Empowerment for People of Color

NEW YORK, N.Y., June 16, 2023

(SEND2PRESS

NEWSWIRE) - E'maj Entertainment Television Network, a groundbreaking media platform dedicated to empowering people of color, is thrilled to announce its official launch on Juneteenth, June 19, 2023. The launch marks a significant milestone in media representation, coinciding with the commemoration of African Americans' emancipation.

E'maj is committed to revolutionizing the media landscape, providing an opportunity to shape narratives and access diverse educational, news, and media content. With programming across

up to 100 channels, from thought-provoking independent films to captivating TV series, E'maj promises an unparalleled viewing experience.

Collaborations with acclaimed organizations, influential TV channels, and prominent global figures ensure authentic, representative storytelling. Accessible worldwide on Apple and Android devices, Roku, smart TVs, web browsers, and soon on gaming systems, E'maj brings quality content to all, eliminating barriers to entry.

Fred Simmons, CEO of E'maj, shares his perspective on the network, stating, "Our mission is to amplify the voices

and stories of people of color, providing them with a platform to showcase their talents, share their perspectives, and reclaim their narratives. E'maj represents a powerful opportunity for selfexpression, empowerment, and cultural enrichment. We believe in the transformative power of media and its ability to shape perceptions, bridge divides, and foster unity in diversity." Beyond exceptional programming, E'maj values artist empowerment and ethical practices. To further its mission, Hip-Hop pioneer, Kurtis Blow, joins the Advisory Board, bringing his influential legacy and advocacy for underrepresented communities.

Book Review:

Esteemed individuals like Carvin Haggins and Kurtis Blow demonstrate the caliber of leaders supporting E'maj's mission. The network is grateful for their commitment to uplifting diverse voices and redefining media representation.

Anticipating the Juneteenth launch, E'maj is poised to provide a platform celebrating the richness and diversity of people of color. E'maj aims to empower individuals to control their narratives, showcase talents, and shape world- shaping stories. Visit https://www.emajentertainment.com/ for more about E'maj and updates on its Advisory Board.

Christine Pride and Jo Piazza Continue as Dynamic Duo with ‘You Were Always Mine’

By ALICIA RANCILIO Associated Press

"You Were Always Mine" by Christine Pride and Jo Piazza (Simon & Schuster)

I don't know who introduced writers Christine Pride and Jo Piazza but I'd like to thank their literary matchmaker. Each talented on their own, a special magic happens when they co-author a book together. Their first novel, the 2021 release, "We Are Not Like Them" tackled Black Lives Matter, race relations, police brutality, journalism ethics, forgiveness and friendship between two women, one Black and one white. Written in alternate voices, the book was at times tough to read but it felt important and necessary.

Their new book "You Were Always Mine" also doesn't shy away from hard topics. It follows a Black woman named Cinnamon and a white pregnant woman named Daisy, two strangers who form an unlikely friendship after meeting in a local park. One day Cinnamon returns to the park and finds Daisy has given birth and left her baby with

a note, asking Cinnamon to raise the child as her own.

Cinnamon's world is naturally turned upside down by this turn of events, but she is instantly protective of the baby, especially as the world around them reacts to the idea of a Black mother with a white child- including Cinnamon's husband and the baby's biological grandparents.

"You Were Always Mine" addresses motherhood, what defines a "good mother,'' plus unconscious bias and microaggressions. It also comes at a time when 14 states have banned abortions for almost any reason after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.

The authors also come at the topic differently in real life - Pride is not a mother by choice, Piazza has three children - which adds realism and representation to their storytelling.

"We Are Not Like Them" and now "You Were Always Mine" are no-brainer choices for book club reads and tee up the possibility for raw and thought-provoking discussions that go deep.

Justice Department Unveils Damning Report Exposing Racial Bias and Unconstitutional Practices in Minneapolis Police Department

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

In the aftermath of the tragic killing of George Floyd during a police arrest three years ago, the federal government launched an investigation into the Minneapolis Police Department.

On Friday, June 16, the Justice Department released a comprehensive report revealing systemic abuses and discriminatory actions within the department.

Floyd’s death sparked widespread protests and furthered calls for police reform.

The DOJ’s report concluded that there was “reasonable cause to believe” that police officers had engaged in a “pattern or practice of conduct that deprives people of their rights under the Constitution and federal law.” Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, Kristen Clarke, highlighted instances where Minneapolis officers had used excessive force against protesters without legal justification.

“We witnessed officers pushing and pepper-spraying demonstrators who posed no threat,” Clarke stated.

The investigation’s findings encompassed discrimination and violence against minorities, including Black and Native Americans, particularly in the third precinct of Minneapolis.

Aggressive officers who requested to work there enjoyed a reputation within the department as “cowboys.”

Attorney General Merrick Garland emphasized that Minneapolis police had repeatedly violated the free speech rights

On

of protesters and journalists.

He revealed that officers often resorted to saying, “You can breathe; you’re talking right now,” when placing individuals in chokeholds, indicating a callous disregard for their safety.

Garland further affirmed that federal investigators had uncovered evidence of excessive force and unconstitutional behavior by the Minneapolis police, including racially biased practices targeting Black and Native American communities.

He unequivocally stated, “The observed patterns and practices made what happened to George Floyd possible.”

Earlier in the day, Garland reached out to Floyd’s family, acknowledging his tragic death’s profound and lasting impact on Minneapolis and the nation.

“His loss continues to resonate deeply among those who knew and loved him, as well as many who did not,” he expressed.

Garland disclosed that the Justice Department and city officials had tentatively agreed to enter negotiations to reach a court-enforced consent decree.

The agreement would provide a framework for reform and involve input from residents and police officers.

Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta emphasized that the consent decree would pave the way for meaningful and lasting change in Minneapolis, offering a pathway toward rectifying the systemic issues within the police department.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey commended the DOJ.

“We understand that change is non-negotiable,” Frey stated. View the full report here.

Largest Federal Employee Union Backs Biden-Harris for Reelection

NNPA Newswire

Months ahead of the 2024 primaries, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris received a significant endorsement from the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the nation’s largest federal employee union,

representing 750,000 federal and DC government employees.

The decision to endorse Biden came after a nationwide telephone town hall that engaged over 20,000 AFGE members and two national membership polls that resoundingly showed Biden as the preferred choice among the union’s members. In a

unanimous vote, AFGE’s National Executive Council solidified their endorsement of Biden for the upcoming election.

Expressing the union’s support, AFGE National President Everett Kelley issued a statement highlighting President Biden’s labor-friendly track record and his dedication to public servants across the nation.

Kelley praised Biden’s efforts to restore an apolitical civil service after years of attacks, emphasizing the president’s achievements during his first term.

Kelley pointed out that Biden enacted the most substantial raise for federal employees in the past two decades and effectively rolled back previous administration policies that infringed upon government workers’ rights.

He specifically cited the rescission of an order that aimed to politicize civil service positions and strip workers of basic protections.

Also, the Biden-Harris administration implemented measures to support federal employees during the COVID-19 pandemic, including granting 15 weeks of emergency leave and easing access to worker’s compensation.

The president also established a task force to expand union representation within the federal government and nationwide.

The AFGE endorsement underscores Biden’s unwavering support for the working people serving the government with honor and distinction, the organization said.

Kelley highlighted Biden’s commitment to labor unions and praised his administration for standing by AFGE members and workers.

President Biden’s labor-friendly approach and proven record of supporting federal employees resonated strongly with AFGE members, solidifying his overwhelming endorsement.

“President Biden’s administration has been there for AFGE members and for all workers,” Kelley stated.

“He isn’t afraid to say he supports labor unions, and we’re not afraid to say we support Joe Biden. Next November, we are going show up and give President Biden and Vice President Harris another four years to finish the job by building on the tremendous progress they have achieved so far.”

In a unanimous vote, AFGE’s National Executive Council solidified their endorsement of Biden for the upcoming election.

Friday, June 16, the Justice Department released a comprehensive report revealing systemic abuses and discriminatory actions within the department.

I asked what kind of family Amina wanted. She said, ‘A family like yours.’ That’s when I knew I had to adopt her.

Denise, adopted 17-year-old Amina

Georgia Prosecutors Proceed with Criminal Investigation into Donald Trump and Allies Despite New Federal Indictments

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

In an ongoing criminal probe, Fulton County remains committed to investigating former President Donald Trump and his associates, undeterred by the recent slew of over three dozen criminal charges filed against Trump by the U.S. Department of Justice.

The federal indictments won’t impact the Fulton County election investigation, according to a statement from the district attorney’s office.

Concerns about the status of the long-running Georgia probe arose following comments made by New York Attorney General Letitia James on Monday.

James stated that state-led cases against Trump would have to be put on hold until the DOJ’s classified documents case concludes.

She further noted that her investigation into Trump’s alleged financial fraud could face delays and the indictment issued by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, accusing Trump of falsifying business records. James also mentioned the anticipated indictment by Fulton County

District Attorney Fani Willis.

During a live taping of the Pod Save America podcast, James expressed the likelihood of her case, along with Bragg’s and the Georgia case, being adjourned pending the outcome of the federal case, depending on its scheduling.

Fani Willis is expected to reveal indictments in August as part of her criminal inquiry into alleged interference in Georgia’s 2020 election.

Willis has strongly implied her intention to charge Trump with these allegations.

On Tuesday, Trump was arraigned in federal court in Miami on 37 criminal counts.

The charges include accusations that he unlawfully took classified documents from the White House upon leaving his presidency and obstructed authorities when they attempted to recover them.

Among the charges against Trump are violations of the Espionage Act and obstruction of justice. Despite the charges, the Republican, seeking a second term, pleaded not guilty to all counts.

Expelled Tennessee Democrats Secure Primary Victories, Signaling Strong Support in Districts

By Stacy M. Brown Senior Writer

The two Democratic state representatives in Tennessee, whom Republicans expelled following gun violence protests, emerged victorious in their primary races for their former seats on Thursday night. Democratic voters overwhelmingly chose Justin Jones, based in Nashville, and Justin J. Pearson, of Memphis, to retain their positions. While Jones faced no opposition, Pearson went head-to-head with Democratic challenger David Page. Observers said the resounding primary victories of Jones and Pearson serve as a resolute message to Republicans in the state House, highlighting the unwavering support these individuals enjoy within their districts. Further, both are expected to inject renewed momentum into the advocacy for comprehensive gun legislation, particularly ahead of an upcoming special session this summer. The chain of events leading to their expulsion began with a tragic mass shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville in March, resulting in the loss of six lives, including three 9-year-olds. Jones, Pearson, and another House legislator, Gloria Johnson, spearheaded a protest on the chamber floor, demanding stricter gun safety regulations. In an unprecedented move, Republican House legislators voted to expel both Jones and Pearson, who are Black,

for their roles in the protests. However, the expulsion vote fell short in the case of Johnson, who is white. The action sparked accusations of racism, drawing national attention to the racial dynamics within the Tennessee Legislature and garnering support from Democrats in Washington. Notably, Vice President Kamala Harris visited Nashville shortly after the expulsions to meet with the so-called “Tennessee Three,” commending them for amplifying their constituents’ voices in the fight against gun violence. President Joe Biden also extended his support, inviting them to the White House and condemning their expulsions as “shocking, undemocratic, and without precedent” in a public statement. The Shelby County Board of Commissioners held a special meeting in Memphis and unanimously decided to reinstate Pearson. Meanwhile, the Nashville Metropolitan Council unanimously voted to reinstate Jones to the legislature. State law required Jones and Pearson to run for their former seats in primary and general elections. The special general elections for both districts are slated for August 3. Pearson will face an independent challenger, Jeff Johnston, while Jones will contend against Laura Nelson, a Republican candidate. Given the heavily Democratic nature of both districts, many anticipate that Pearson and Jones will emerge victorious in the general elections.

Geographic Disparities Revealed in US Depression Rates, New Study Shows

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) conducted a thorough analysis that revealed significant variations in the prevalence of diagnosed depression among adults across various states.

The recently published report unveils intriguing findings, indicating that the proportion of US adults who have ever been diagnosed with depression varies considerably based on their geographical location.

According to the study, which analyzed data from the CDC’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System in 2020, approximately 18.4% of US adults reported having been diagnosed with depression at some point.

However, the percentage of adults reporting depression varied substantially from state to state, ranging from an estimated 12.7% in Hawaii to 27.5% in West Virginia.

Researchers from the CDC and the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education in Tennessee noted in the report that there was a considerable geographic disparity in depression prevalence, with the highest rates observed along the Appalachian and southern Mississippi Valley regions.

Medical experts said the findings shed light on the urgent need for targeted resource allocation to areas where the prevalence of depression is most significant.

The research team utilized survey responses from nearly 400,000 adults across all 50 states and Washington, DC, focusing on answers related to previous diagnoses of

depressive disorders received from healthcare professionals.

The data highlighted the ten states with the highest prevalence of adults reporting a depression diagnosis: West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Vermont, Alabama, Louisiana, Washington, Missouri, and Montana.

Further analysis at the county level revealed an even more comprehensive range of prevalence, with depression rates ranging from 10.7% in Alaska’s Aleutians East Borough County to 31.9% in Logan County, West Virginia.

In addition to geographical disparities, the study also found notable variations in depression prevalence based on gender and age.

The overall prevalence among women was 24%, compared to 13.3% among men. Younger adults aged 18 to 24 experienced a higher prevalence rate of 21.5%, while older adults aged 65 and above had a rate of 14.2%.

The study also highlighted higher depression rates among white adults and individuals with less than a high school education.

The most recent findings support a different Gallup report from May, which found a comparable national prevalence of depression among adults in the United States.

The Gallup report indicated that approximately 18% of adults reported being depressed or receiving treatment for depression, representing a significant increase of over seven percentage points since 2015.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental

health cannot be overlooked, as it has undeniably contributed to the rise in clinical depression rates, health officials said.

The federal indictments won’t impact the Fulton County election investigation, according to a statement from the district attorney’s office.

Democratic voters overwhelmingly chose Justin Jones, based in Nashville, and Justin J. Pearson, of Memphis, to retain their positions.

The recently published report unveils intriguing findings, indicating that the proportion of US adults who have ever been diagnosed with depression varies considerably based on their geographical location.

The Gallup data demonstrated a notable escalation in depression rates over recent years, aligning with the overall upward trend observed in the US., officials stated.

New Orleans to Los Angeles Corridor Naming Ceremony

By Ricky Richardson

Contributing Writer         Los Angeles, Ca.- Thousands of Angelenos and residents of New Orleans were in attendance for a Juneteenth Celebration, Ribbon-Cutting & Street Festival. This historic occasion was held on Saturday, June 17, 2023.

The Crescent City delegations led by New Orleans Mayor Latoya Cantrell were credited with sharing wonderful sunny weather from the Gulf Coast with residents on the West Coast. The weather was a welcomed respite from June Gloom Blume that has sprouted throughout the Greater Los Angeles region.         A stretch of Jefferson Boulevard was dedicated as the “New Orleans Corridor.” The Corridor began at Holy Name Catholic Church, 1977 West Jefferson Boulevard to Harold and Belles, 2920 West Jefferson Boulevard (Jefferson and 10th Avenue).

Opening remarks were delivered by Martin Ludlow, Founder and President of Los Angeles Jazz Festival Foundation, Los Angeles City Councilmember Heather Hutt, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and New Orleans Mayor Latoya Cantrell. The Freedom Choir performed several selections to the delight of the crowd.

The New Orleans Corridor honored the historical migration and legacy of men, women and families of Creole and African American descent who moved from Louisiana to their settling in Los Angeles during a violently tumultuous period in the South.

“As a native of Los Angeles and now 30- year resident and Mayor of New Orleans, it brings me great joy and pride to join my sister city Mayor Karen Bass of Los Angeles in celebrating the renaming of a stretch of Jefferson Boulevard to New Orleans Corridor,” as well as join in the cultural precursor of the 2024 launch of the Los Angeles Jazz Festival, “the mayor said. “The Second Great Migration that was born in the 1900’s where millions of New Orleanians and other Southerners migrated westward has evolved overtime into a shared language and cultural connection felt in every corner of the globe, including Los Angeles. I appreciate and welcome this cultural exchange of music, art, and ideas, while simultaneously sharing the richness and diversity of New Orleans. Like Los Angeles, the City of New Orleans is an extraordinary place and a city that has made a rich and unique contribution to American culture and history. It is my hope that this will be the start of a new tradition between our two cities and are looking forward to continuous to benefit each other through our cultural and tourism industries, stated New Orleans Mayor Latoya Cantrell, in a news release.

Los Angeles Karen Bass expressed appreciation of the special bond between Los Angeles and New Orleans.

NBA Lakers great Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Danny Bakewell Sr., and Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts Jr. were additional speakers offering remarks on this historic occasion. George McKenna, LAUSD Board Member, and Congresswomen Diane Watson

(Retired), and the festival sponsors were also in attendance and participated in the ribbon cutting.

Los Angeles City Councilmember Heather Hutt, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, New Orleans Mayor Latoya Cantrell and other dignitaries, community leaders from various organizations, lead a New Orleans style “Second Line’ featuring Peace on Earth Social Aid and Pleasure Club, New Orleans New Groove Brass Band, and a local brass band from the Fernando Pullum Youth Arts Center in South LA, down Jefferson Boulevard, along the “New Orleans Corridor.”

The Second Line was a great segue into the Street Festival. The Main Stage was located in front of Harold & Belles Restaurant, emceed by KBLA 1580’s “First Thing First” host Dominique DiPrima.

Live music was featured at the Street Festival featuring awardwinning artists from both New Orleans and Los Angeles.

DJ PZB played a thumping soundtrack of old school and new school tracks throughout the afternoon. Fernando Pullum Youth Arts Center Band entertained the crowd with an awesome arrangement of “Human Nature” by Michael Jackson.

Grammy-award winning trumpeter, Irvin Mayfield from New Orleans opened his crowd pleasing set with “Mo’ Betta Blues,” a tune from the soundtrack to the movie Mo’ Betta Blues

directed by Spike Lee. He continued with “We Gonna be Real Free,” which could serve as an anthem for Juneteenth. The band concluded their set with “It’s Not Logical.”

Los Angeles City Councilmember Marqueece HarrisDawson greeted the crowd and shared the wonderful news about the return of LALA Festival to the New Orleans Corridor. LALA stands for Louisiana to Los Angeles. This is a welcomed addition to the rich cultural celebrations/festivals happening year-round in the City of Angels. Councilmember Marqueece HarrisDawson introduced three-time Grammy nominated artist Terrace Martin who was raised in the Crenshaw District. He thrilled the crowd with selections from his catalog, stand out tunes featured “Freedom,” “Breathe,” and a rousing “Valdez Off Crenshaw” with outstanding solos by members of the Fernando Pullum Youth Arts Center Band.

New Orleans Corridor Naming Ceremony & Street Festival concluded with a spectacular performance by the legendary ensemble group “1500 or Nothin’ led by Grammy Award-winning Los Angeles natives Larrance Dopson & James Fauntleroy II. This popular group has collaborated with Bruno Mars, Jay-Z, Usher, Kendrick Lamar and many more.

New Orleans Corridor Dedication and Street Festival were produced by the Los Angeles Jazz Festival, led by Founder and President Martin Ludlow.

The Los Angeles Jazz Festival will debut on Dockweiler Beach in August 2024 as the first full-scale international jazz festival in the history of Los Angeles. The festival will offer 29 days of free music events throughout Southern California, including a ‘New Orleans Stage’ that will showcase the best of New Orleans’ jazz scene, further cementing the New Orleans-to-Los Angeles connection.

Los Angeles City Councilmember Heather Hutt and Peace on Earth Social Aid & Pleasure Club, (Photo by Ricky Richardson)

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and New Orleans Mayor Latoya Cantrell, (Photo by Ricky Richardson)

Irvin Mayfield, (Photo by Ricky Richardson)

Terrace Martin, (Photo by Ricky Richardson)

Chargers Have Good Minicamp

Dodgers Betts to Enter Derby

By Earl Heath

Contributing Sports Writer Los Angeles Dodgers star Mookie Betts has nearly done it all over the course of his career, winning an MVP award, two World Series Championships, and six Gold Glove awards.   This season Betts has shown his versatility by playing second base, shortstop and the outfield for the Dodgers.  However, one thing that has eluded him is a chance to compete in the MLB Home Run Derby. That may happen this

year if all goes right for Betts.

Betts discussed the possibility in an interview on MLB Network, revealing that he will participate in the 2023 Home Run Derby as long as he is named to the All-Star Game.  “I’m doing the Home Run Derby, do you have any advice for me?” Betts asked MLB Network personality and former MLB player Harold Reynolds. “I’m gonna do it. As long as I’m an AllStar. I gotta be an All-Star first and then I’m gonna do it.”

By Earl Heath  Contributing Sports Writer   The Chargers gave Justin Herbert a new offensive coordinator in Kellen Moore and things seemed to have gone

well in the recent minicamp.

“It went by really fast,” said Herbert, “I thought we had a lot of good work out there. We had a lot of guys come out this offseason. I thought that was huge for us to be able to work together and kind of grow together with this new offense. I was really pleased with the effort that everyone gave this year.”

Wide receiver Quentin Johnston is a new face that Herbert likes.

““He’s a playmaker. He’s going to make a lot of plays for us,”

Herbert told the media. “He showed up and we knew early that we got a special guy out there. He’s done a great job of picking up the offense so far. He’s young, but he’s going to be something special. It’s been fun to watch him so far.”

CHARGERS ANNOUNCE  CAMP SCHEDULE

The Los Angeles Chargers announced the team’s public practice schedule on June 20 for 2023 Training Camp, presented by UNIFY Financial Credit Union.

According to a press release from the Los Angeles Chargers, all public practices are once again free of charge and will be held at Jack Hammett Sports Complex in Costa Mesa, California. As in previous years, fans will need to pre-register for their free tickets. More information on availability and access can be found at chargers.com/camp.

All covered seating and observation space will be available on a first-come, first-served basis, per the press release.

Wednesday, July 26 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Thursday, July 27 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Saturday, July 29 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Reds earlier in the year.. (Jeff Dean / Associated Press)

Dodgers Stop Skid Against Angels

By Earl Heath

Contributing Sports Writer

Miguel Rojas ripped a double and scored on a tricky high hopper single by Michael Busch in the 8th inning  to  help lead the Dodgers to a 2-0 win over the Angels. The win helped stop a three-game losing streak.

It was the wily veteran Clayton Kershaw tossing 7 scoreless innings, scattering 5 hits walking just two while running his record to 9-4. Reid Detmers also pitched seven scoreless frames.

Will Smith added an RBI single plating Busch later in the inning.

Kershaw threw 103 pitches and fill a vital role for the Dodgers, who have one of the majors’ worst bullpens. In all of 2022 relivers gave up 183 runs- This year they have given up 268 and the All-Star break isn’t here yet. Injuries to key starters Walker

Buehler, Dustin May, Julio Urías and Noah Syndergaard has been a problem also.

“I just don’t see a better competitor out there than Clayton Kershaw,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “Right now, he’s the only one standing from (the rotation on) opening day. For him to realize that, but not put any added pressure on yourself, it’s a skill.”

The Dodgers struggling bullpen came through. Caleb Ferguson struck out Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout in the eighth, and Evan Phillips pitched the ninth for his eighth save.  Hunter Renfroe had two doubles for the Angels, who lost for only the fourth time in 15 games and were shut out for just the second time all season. The Halos have lost seven straight to the Dodgers in this rivalry series.

Sign Added to Trojan Uniforms

By

Rams Bring Back Sony Michel

“USC is now featuring the Big Ten patch on

jerseys during recruiting photo shoots,” they tweeted.  We’ll all have to get used to this, but it is pretty eye-popping. USC has been a traditional west coast power with ties only to the Pacific. In 2024 they will be leaving the Pac-12 along with UCLA to join the Big Ten Conference. College sports is constantly changing as Texas and Oklahoma’s are departing the BIG-12 heading to the SEC.

USC football has very high expectations again this season. Heisman Trophy and Walter Camp Player of the Year Caleb Williams will

Clayton Kershaw congratulated by teammates after tossing seven scoreless innings against Angels. (Courtesy Photo)

Earl Heath

Contributing Sports Writer USC is going to the Big Ten Conference. Everyone will eventually have to get used to that, and this week photo’s emerged of the future uniforms the Trojans will wear.  USC now has the Big Ten patch stitched on jerseys. Several recruits were on campus recently and one included Mike Matthews  a 5-star wide receiver who  was photographed in the jersey. On3 pointed out that the jersey features a Big Ten Conference patch on the left side. This was done in place of their previous home, the Pac-12.

Five Facts Los Angeles City Renters Should Know

Evictions Can Lead to Increased Housing Insecurity

LOS ANGELES, Calif.— The City of Los Angeles remains committed to providing tenant protections to help decrease the chances of residents being evicted from their homes, adding to housing insecurity and the City’s unhoused crisis. Tenants continue to have City protections for unpaid COVID-19 rental debt through extended eviction protections until August 1, 2023, specifically addressing rental debt incurred between March 2020 and January 31, 2023.

It is also important for tenants to know they are at risk of unfavorable consequences if they fail to respond to an unlawful detainer, including eviction and the impact of an eviction record on their credit report. Responding promptly to an unlawful detainer, also known as an eviction notice, is crucial to safeguard tenant rights. Failure to file an answer with the court could lead to a “default judgment” against the tenant, essentially meaning that the case has been lost and the tenant can be locked out of their home.

Ann Sewill, General Manager of the City of Los Angeles Housing Department stated, “The LA Housing Department joins the Mayor in her commitment to keeping Angelenos informed and housed. There are many protections that exist for tenants such as additional time to pay COVID related rental arrears and protection from eviction due to additional tenants or pets until February 1, 2024. Rent increases

for units covered by the Rent Stabilization Ordinance are also limited until February 1, 2024.” She continued, “It is important for L.A. City residents to inform themselves of the systems and guidelines in place to help them stay in their homes and avoid evictions. It is about being informed, being protected, and being at home,” she explained.

The City’s goal is to inform tenants of their residential rental rights and provide information to help them stay in their homes and avoid evictions. Here are five facts residents should always remember when it involves renter protections:

Tenants cannot be evicted without a reason or just cause.

Take immediate action if you receive an eviction notice or unlawful detainer from a landlord for unpaid rent.

Tenants have five days to respond to an unlawful detainer.

No-fault evictions have resumed as of February 1, 2023.

Rent increases for units covered by the Rent Stabilization Ordinance are limited until February 1, 2024.

Through the extension of eviction protections, encouragement of prompt response to unlawful detainers, and regulations on rent increases, the City aims to ensure housing stability for all residents.

To learn more about your rights, call (866) 557-RENT (7368) or visit http://www.housing.lacity.org.

2023 Leimert Park Juneteenth Festival: A Legacy of Freedom

By Ricky Richardson

Contributing Writer

(Los Angeles, CA)- Juneteenth was celebrated in a huge way in Leimert Park Village, Monday, June 19, 2023, from 10:00-9:00pm.

A large diverse crowd, thousands of people from all walks of life gathered in Leimert Park Village in a unified spirit of love, unity and positivity.

This vibrant, culturally enriching celebration continues to grow in popularity and size. Juneteenth celebration in Leimert Park engulfed several blocks, Vernon Avenue, Crenshaw Boulevard (south), to Stocker (north), between 43rd Place and 43rd Place, along Degnan Boulevard and parts of Leimert Park Boulevard. The African American community, in Leimert Park Village continuous to expand and evolve.

Multi-ethnic crowd of attendee strolled throughout the village, browsing and perusing the various creative arts and crafts, clothing, jewelry, body care products, activations on display as well the smorgasbord of food options at the festival. This day was an excellent showcase of Black culture and community. Everyone left knowing that the Leimert Park Juneteenth Festival provided an unforgettable day of music, art and unity.

The Leimert Park Juneteenth Festival has collaborated with Amazon Access for 2023. Amazon Access is a centralized hub that makes shopping in Amazon’s online store easier and more affordable, with programs and discounts like payment with SNAP, EBT, Amazon Layaway and Prime Access. This is Prime’s discounted membership for recipients of qualifying government assistance programs. Throughout the festival, attendees can learn more about Amazon Access programs and resources that are available to the community.

“The Amazon Access team is honored to be a part of this year’s Leimert Park Juneteenth Festival, as the start of many more collaborations in the Los Angeles area,” said Nancy Dalton, head of community engagement and customer marketing, Amazon Access. “We look forward to connecting with members of the Leimert Park and greater Los Angeles communities to share programs and resources that support food access, payment flexibility, and health and wellness.”

Leimert Park Juneteenth Festival was presented by Still Rising Corp. and Elevate Culture in collaboration with Amazon Music, the celebrations live performances were livestreamed on Prime Video and the Amazon Music channel of Twitch.

Tim Hinshaw, head of Hip-Hop and R&B for Amazon Music released a statement, “Leimert Park is the only place to be

in Los Angeles on Juneteenth. We are honored to be back here celebrating black culture with the music, art fashion, and food we all love. We strive to always create first-class experience for the community, and we believe this year will be one you don’t want to miss.”

“I’m excited to announce my support and partnership with the tremendously talented and diverse creatives, many of whom are proud Angelenos, as we bring all communities together to celebrate this year’s Leimert Park Juneteenth Festival,” stated Heather Hutt, Los Angeles Councilwomen for the Tenth District.

Alfred “DJ Qwess Coast” Torregano, Still Rising Corp. CEO added “we are honored to host the Leimert Park Juneteenth Festival again in the legendary and world-famous Leimert Park Village. Still Rising Corp. invites everyone to join us in celebrating the spirit of freedom and resilience.”

The big draw was the outstanding lineup of entertainment presented on the Main Stage on Leimert Park Boulevard and 43rd Street, near 11th Avenue. You are familiar with the phrase “come for the music, stay for the welcoming and contagious vibes.”

As part of “50 & Forever,” the tribute to hip-hop’s 50th Anniversary from Rotation, Amazon Music brought attendees

closer to their favorite hip-hop artists through interactive photo moments and consumer-facing photo gallery titled “From the West Coast with Love.”

The Main was rockin’, better yet, it was LIT! all afternoon and into the early evening. Amazon Music Rotation, “a new home for hip-hop and R&B,” collaborated with the event producer Still Rising Corp. to curate the lineup. Extraordinary performances provided by DJ Hed, Kalann.FrFr, Alex Vaughn, Too Short, Wale, along with Grammy-Award winning R&B icon Jazmine Sullivan as the headliner. Late breaking news, Jazmine Sullivan’s set was cancelled.

The collaboration is the latest effort of “Credit the Culture,” a celebration of black Music Month from Rotation & Amazon Music.

Ejonu, City James, AJ The One, Killam and Hugh Augustine performed high-octane sets original tracks in their respective time in the spotlight.

Fernando Pullum community Arts Center Youth Band was a standout highlight of the evening. This popular youth band

sounds like seasoned professionals as they performed “Naima,” by John Coltrane, “Human Nature,” by Michael Jackson and a funky arrangement of “Red Clay” by Freddie Hubbard.

In 2018, a few dedicated creatives came together as Still Rising Corp. to put on the Leimert Park Juneteenth Festival. True to the essence and legacy of Leimert Park, this event continuous to commemorate and celebrate Black freedom by honoring the ancestors and community through art, music, food, and education and has continued to be a cornerstone of the community.

The 5th Annual Leimert Park Juneteenth Festival, held during Black Music Month, celebrated and paid homage to those African Americans in the past and present that have left a lasting musical legacy on the global African diaspora.         For more information and to be the first in the know about future events, visit https://stillrising.us and Leimert Park Juneteenth Festival on Instagram, https:// leimertparkjuneteenthfestival.com for updates, photos and videos, etc.

Jasmine Waters and Fabiola Baptiste, (Photo by Ricky Richardson)

Amazon Access Team Members, (Photo by Ricky Richardson)

DJ Hed, (Photo by Ricky Richardson) Alex Vaughn, (Photo by Ricky Richardson)