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Over 10,000 Calif. Black Women Join Kamala Harris Support Effort
By Tanu Henry California Black Media
At a rally held in front of City Hall on July 22 in San Francisco -- where Kamala Harris served as D.A. from 2004 to 2001 before becoming Attorney General of the state -- Bay Area elected officials, advocates and other stakeholders gathered to show support for one their own.
“Right now. she needs us more than ever,” San Francisco Mayor London Breed told a cheering crowd of well-wishers.
“We as Democrats, we don’t have time to waste,” Breed leaned in. “We don’t have time to mess around and figure things out. Kamala Harris is the person.”
The event was held one day after President Joe Biden announced his decision to drop out of the 2024 race for President and endorse Harris.
In various cities across California and around the country, Black women are coming together and echoing a similar level of passion to Breed’s as they express their full-hearted support of Harris’ run for the White House.
California State Controller Malia Cohen -- a former San Francisco official herself – described the diverse makeup of the Democrats attending the San Francisco rally and called on them to commit to Harris’s winning Donald Trump in November.
“One thing we have on this stage is the united understanding about what we need to do, which is get Harris elected,” Cohen told the crowd.
On July 22, the California Black Women’s Collective PAC (CBWCPAC) wrote an open letter to Vice President Kamala Harris signed by more than 1300 Black women from around California.
“As the first woman, the first Black woman, and the first South Asian woman to hold the office of Vice President, you have not only broken historical barriers. You have also served as a beacon of hope and inspiration for countless individuals who see themselves reflected in your journey,” the CBWCPAC letter read.
“Madame Vice President, your steadfast dedication to addressing systemic inequities, championing comprehensive healthcare, and advocating for criminal justice reflect the values we need in a leader right now,” it went on.
On June 22, Kellie Todd Griffin, Convener of CBWCPAC, organized a call with over 10,000 Black women from across California. Another 9,932 registered for the call but could not log on because of capacity limits.
“We stand at a crossroads in our nation’s history, where the path we choose will shape the destiny of future generations,” said Todd Griffin.
Vice President Kamala Harris has the vision, the courage, and the unwavering commitment to lead us
towards a more equitable and just society that is inclusive of all voices and issues we face today.”
Todd Griffin added that California Black Women are rallying behind Harris “united in our shared vision for a brighter, more inclusive future.”
We know that our greatest strength is the way in which we use our collective power to transform the nation into the perfect union it proclaims to be. Vice President Harris is not just a candidate for the President of the United States; she is a catalyst for the change that is needed now,” Todd Griffin stated.
The night before, an estimated 90,000 Black women and their allies – about 44,000 of them on Zoom and tens of thousands more on other digital platforms – rallied to show their support for Harris.
The historic Zoom call, on which more than $1 million was raised for Harris’s campaign in three hours, was organized by #WinWithBlackWoman, a political advocacy organization that boasts of a diverse network of Black women.
Among the women on the call were U.S. Reps Maxine Waters (D-CA-43), Barbara Lee (D-CA-12), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA-37), Jasmine Crockett (D-TX-30) and Joyce Beatty (D-OH-3); former Democratic National Convention Chair Donna Brazile; the Rev. Berniece King, daughter of Martin Luther King, Jr; D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser; Maryland First Lady Dawn Moore, among others.
“President Biden’s endorsement of Vice President as the Democratic nominee for President of the United States is a pivotal moment for our country,” said Jotaka Eaddy, founder of #WinWithBlackWomen.
“As we gathered, we expressed our gratitude for the extraordinary work President Biden has done, while we affirmed our individual commitment to stand united in unwavering support of Vice President Kamala Harris as the leader of our nation needs.”
Eaddy says she is ready to confront the challenges ahead.
“The Journey to proclaim our democracy and advance our shared values begins now with unwavering determination and unified vision,” Eaddy continued. “Unity among not only Black women, but all Americans is not just vital to the state of our democracy but necessary to propel our nation forward.”
On July 21, California Gov. Gavin Newsom expressed support for Vice President Kamala Harris in her bid for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination at the Party’s convention this August Newsom posted on the social media platform X, praising Harris for being, “Tough. Fearless. Tenacious,” through her political career.
“With our democracy at stake and our future on the line, no one is better to prosecute the case against Donald Trump’s dark vision and guide our country in a healthier
direction than America’s Vice President, @KamalaHarris,” Newsom wrote.
Although some Democrats showed interest in an open convention that allows a competitive race between multiple candidates, most delegates have openly expressed support for Harris. Gov. Newsom defended his decision to back Harris and clarified that he has no intention of running for president at the DNC in Chicago. Despite being selected as one of President Joe Biden’s surrogates during the campaign trail, Newsom has shown unwavering support to both Biden and Harris.
California U.S. Rep. John Garamendi (D-CA-10) said that Biden’s endorsement “slammed the door” for other Democrats hoping to bid for a presidential candidacy.
“I think we’ve got a terrific opportunity with Harris,” he said.
Sign up To be an Election Volunteer With CBWCPAC. Support CBWCPAC: Make an online contribution.
The Obamas Formally Endorse Kamala Harris as Democratic 2024 Presidential Nominee
nominee for President of the United States.” Harris embraced the endorsement during a phone call with the Obamas, a moment her campaign shared via video on Friday morning. The pivotal endorsement coincides with Harris for President kicking off a weekend of action, marking 100 days until Election Day. With an army of 170,000 volunteers and 2,300 events planned across crucial battleground states, Team Harris is mounting an all-out effort to engage voters on their critical choices this November.
Barack Obama, who had previously withheld his endorsement, highlighted Harris’s exceptional qualifications and dedication to public service. “Choosing Kamala was one of President Biden’s best decisions,” he said. “Her track record is unparalleled: as a prosecutor, she defended the Constitution; as California’s Attorney General, she ensured fairness and justice; as a Senator, she was a formidable opponent to the Trump administration; and as Vice President, she has led the charge on healthcare expansion, climate change, and reproductive rights.”
The Obamas emphasized that Harris’s strengths go beyond her resume. “Kamala has the vision, character, and strength this critical moment demands. She gives us all reason to hope,” they noted.
The Obamas’ endorsement amplifies the momentum behind Harris’s campaign, which already enjoys broad support from labor unions, advocacy groups, and a multitude of Democratic officials.
In their concluding call to action, the Obamas declared, “We’re going to do everything we can to elect Kamala Harris the next President of the United States. And we hope you’ll join us.”
With the Obamas’ powerful endorsement and a robust grassroots movement, Harris stands poised to continue to climb in a race some polls currently have as a dead heat.
“Kamala Harris represents the best of America and will work tirelessly to create a brighter, fairer future for all,” Michelle Obama stated.
Rivera, Sunisa Lee and Jade Carey. It was her first competitive appearance in Paris, where she will try to add to her already impressive tally of seven Olympic medals. Despite discomfort in her left leg, the American gymnastics superstar posted an all-around total of 59.566 and the Americans scored a 172.296, well clear of the field Also in attendance were USA snowboarder Shaun White and his girlfriend Nina Dobrev. Athletes across the Olympic spectrum have said they want to make it a point to catch the most decorated gymnast of all time in what could be the final competition of her unparalleled career. Among them: LeBron James and the U.S. men’s basketball team, which was busy Sunday with Olympic qualifying.
Snoop Dogg Carries the Olympic Torch Before Opening Ceremony in Paris
SAINT-DENIS, France (AP) — Snoop Dogg is seemingly everywhere during the Paris Olympics, but on Friday morning you could catch him carrying the Olympic torch ahead of the opening ceremony. He was one of the final torch bearers of the Olympic flame, which was lit in April in Greece and slowly has journeyed toward Paris since. Snoop Dogg’s leg was in Saint-Denis, a suburb of Paris. In an interview earlier this week, the multihyphenate expressed gratitude toward the U.S. and France for the opportunity.
“I look at this as a prestigious honor and something I truly respect. I would have never dreamed of nothing like this,” he said. “I’m going to be on my best behavior. I’m going to be on my best athleticism. I’ll be able to breathe slow to walk fast and hold the torch with a smile on my face, because I realize how prestigious this event is.”
Snoop Dogg is in Paris to help cover the Games for NBC, part of the U.S. broadcaster’s bet to boost ratings by infusing coverage with pop culture.
Kellie Todd-Griffen, Convener of the Black Women’s Collective, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, U.S. Rep Maxine Waters, State Controller Malia Cohen, Yvonne Wheeler, President of the LA County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, Asm. Lori Wilson CLBC Chair.
Several Prominent Californians Appointed to Presidential Delegations to Paris Olympic Games
By Lila Brown California Black Media
As the world turns its eyes to Paris for the 2024 Olympic Games this week, four official delegations appointed by President Biden are representing the United States at opening and closing ceremonies.
Several prominent California officials and public figures are among the delegates.
On July 26, Jill Biden, First Lady of the United States, led a delegation to the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games.
Among presidential delegates to that event were California’s Democratic Senior Sen. Alex Padilla; Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass; Casey Wasserman, Chairperson, LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games; and Brian Boitano, three-time Olympian and Olympic gold medalist in figure skating. Boitano is from Sunnyvale in Santa Clara County.
“We must continue our urgent work ensuring that Angelenos benefit from the preparation for the Games, as well as in the decades following,” said Mayor Bass. “Together, we will showcase Los Angeles – not just the popular tourist
destinations, but each of our beautiful neighborhoods and communities. Together, we will leverage the Games to help local small businesses, create local jobs and create lasting environmental and transportation improvements throughout Los Angeles.”
The other two non-California appointees on that delegation were U.S. U.S. Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del) and Dawn Staley, three-time Olympic Gold Medalist and Head Women’s Coach, University of South Carolina.
“Mr. Douglas Emhoff, Second Gentleman of the United States, will lead the delegation to the Closing of the Olympic Games,” read a White House Press release dated July 22 announcing the delegations.
Emhoff was a Los Angeles entertainment attorney before moving to Washington when his wife became Vice President of the United States.
Californians appointed to delegation to the Closing Ceremony, which will take place Aug. 11, are Junior Sen. Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.); U.S. Rep. Robert Garcia (DCA-42); Denise Bauer, a former Los Angeles TV anchor who currently serves as United States Ambassador to Paris;
and Chaunté Lowe, a member of the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition, four-time Olympian and Olympic bronze medalist, Track and Field. Lowe is from Riverside.
The only non-Californian appointed to the Closing Ceremony delegation is two-time Olympic gold medalist and World Cup Champion in Women’s Soccer, Brianna Scurry.
“The Honorable Xavier Becerra, Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, will lead the delegation to the Closing of the Paralympic Games,” read the White House press release. The Closing Ceremony will take place on September 8, 2024.”
Becerra is a Sacramento native and former California Attorney General.
According to the White House, members of each Paralympic Presidential Delegations will be announced at a later date.
Illinois U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth will lead the delegation to the Opening Ceremony of the Paralympic Games on Aug. 28.
Project FREEDOM Unveiled to Combat Controversial Project 2025
have repeatedly warned in campaign speeches that if Donald Trump wins a second term, he plans to use the conservative blueprint to exert unprecedented presidential power, eliminate the Department of Education and federal housing assistance, and significantly cut or restrict food stamps and other social welfare programs.
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By Stacy M. Brown NNPA
Newswire Senior National
Correspondent
A group of well-known Black Democratic leaders unveiled Project FREEDOM, a fresh strategy to combat Project 2025, a contentious 922-page plan to reform the federal government put forth by a conservative Washington think tank and other political allies.
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have repeatedly warned in campaign speeches that if Donald Trump wins a second term, he plans to use the conservative blueprint to exert unprecedented presidential power, eliminate the Department of Education and federal housing assistance, and significantly cut or restrict food stamps and other social welfare programs.
Trump has tried to distance himself from Project 2025, calling some of the proposals “seriously extreme,” but its architects helped shape his Republican Party platform.
Project FREEDOM, the organizers said in a virtual news conference, is designed to engage Black voters in four key battleground areas.
In the plan, the group says it aims to mobilize voters of color through town halls, community events, digital campaigns, and phone banks in Michigan, North Carolina, Las Vegas, and the Pennsylvania/Tri-State area.
Project FREEDOM aims to provide voters with a substantial policy agenda for Democrats ahead of the November election, offering a clear and precise contrast to Project 2025. Organizers say Project FREEDOM is
based on four pillars: Freedom to Live, Freedom to Learn, Freedom to Vote, and Freedom to Thrive.
“When people show you who they really are, you have a responsibility to speak your Truth. Project FREEDOM is our opportunity to speak in one collective voice and say, ‘This will not stand,” said Rev. Michael McBride, cofounder of Black Church PAC and the National Black Brown Gun Violence Prevention Consortium, which work to center Black and brown gun violence prevention practitioners and scale up life-saving interventions related to urban and communal violence.
They said Freedom to Live is born from the idea that the Black community should be able to “live freely and without fear.” Organizers are calling for the passage of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which Republicans in the U.S. Senate have stalled. “The way to really engage voters to go to the polls is to make sure they know we’re not just going for a celebratory vote. Instead, we’re going to the polls with our bag of demands with us,” said Tamika Mallory, co-founder of Until Freedom, an intersectional social justice organization.
Mallory emphasized the need to address income inequality, educational challenges, and police violence. She referenced the case of Sonya Massey, an unarmed 36-yearold Black woman and mother of two, who was fatally shot by former deputy Sean Grayson in her Illinois home. Grayson’s troubled history in law enforcement, including prior disciplinary issues, highlights systemic problems in
policing that Project FREEDOM aims to address.
Meanwhile, Freedom to Thrive calls for expanding the Child Tax Credit, increasing the federal minimum wage to match inflation, and a pilot program for Universal Basic Income in low-income communities nationwide. Additionally, Freedom to Learn focuses on education, including canceling student debt and protecting Black American history in public schools. Freedom to Vote aims to strengthen voting rights, advocate for the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act’s passage, and reshape the U.S. Supreme Court. Michael Blake, founder of Project FREEDOM and CEO of KAIROS Democracy Project, emphasized the urgency of the initiative. “Our democracy is under siege by a man and political machine that put themselves above all those in whom they detect ‘otherness,’” said Blake a former vice chair of the Democratic Party.
“We cannot afford to forget the pain inflicted on our people throughout Donald Trump’s administration, and we certainly cannot afford the destructiveness a second term would normalize,” Blake stated.
Project FREEDOM officials said, “Make no mistake: Communities of color are the frontline communities targeted by the poison that is Project 2025’s Christian Nationalist vision for the future, and Project FREEDOM is the antidote.”
New Book by Dr. Benjamin F.
Chavis Jr. and Stacy M. Brown Explores 500-Year Legacy of Transatlantic Slave Trade
By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent New York, NY —Select Books Inc. is thrilled to announce the forthcoming release of a groundbreaking book, The Transatlantic Slave Trade: Overcoming the 500-Year Legacy, scheduled for publication on October 8, 2024. Co-authored by National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) President and CEO Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. and NNPA Senior National Correspondent and Let It Be Known News host Stacy M. Brown, this book provides a deep dive into the enduring impact of the transatlantic slave trade from 1500 to 2024.
The transatlantic slave trade represents one of history’s most horrific chapters, where millions of Africans were forcibly removed from their homeland, dehumanized, and exploited to build the so-called American dream. This book meticulously examines how the legacies of this era continue to influence American society, laying the foundation for the systemic racism that persists today.
In The Transatlantic Slave Trade: Overcoming the 500-Year Legacy, Dr. Chavis and Brown explore the ways systemic social demonization, racial enslavement, geopolitical imperialism, and ethnic cleansing were constructed and perpetuated over centuries. The book sheds light on how the ideology of white supremacy, rooted in the transatlantic slave trade, remains a pervasive force in contemporary racism and inequity.
Chuck D of Public Enemy, who wrote a powerful foreword for the book, underscored its relevance. “This book isn’t just about the past,” Chuck stated. “It’s about the living, breathing legacy of that past. The chains of slavery may have been broken, but the shackles of systemic racism are still very much intact. From police brutality and mass incarceration to economic disparity and educational inequality, the echoes of the slave trade reverberate through
every facet of American life. If you’re not angry, you’re not paying attention.”
Chavis, a stalwart in the civil rights movement and a member of the Wilmington Ten, draws on his extensive experience and insight for this book. His leadership in the NAACP and work in environmental justice and economic empowerment highlight his dedication to combating racial injustice. Chavis’s life’s work reflects the resilience and resistance that are central themes in the book.
Meanwhile, Brown brings his exceptional reporting skills and profound understanding to the collaboration, resulting in a comprehensive examination of the transatlantic slave trade as a shared history—a narrative woven with threads of sorrow, resistance, collaboration, and resilience.
The Transatlantic Slave Trade: Overcoming the 500Year Legacy offers a raw, unfiltered look at the atrocities of the slave trade and its enduring impact on Black America. The book serves as an urgent call to acknowledge the pain and suffering of the past and to continue the fight for justice and equality.
With endorsements from former African Union Ambassador Arikana Chihombori-Quao and NBA legend Isiah Thomas, the book arrives at a critical moment when understanding the historical roots of contemporary racial injustices is more important than ever. As Chuck D poignantly states, “Fight the Power.” The book equips readers with the knowledge and motivation to challenge the status quo and strive for true equality and justice.
The Transatlantic Slave Trade: Overcoming the 500Year Legacy is available for pre-order now at Amazon.com, and will be available for purchase on October 8, 2024, wherever books and e-books are sold.
For more information, contact Select Books publishers or visit www.SelectBooks.com. For review copies or to
First Lady Jill Biden stands with some members of the U.S. delegation to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris
The transatlantic slave trade represents one of history’s most horrific chapters, where millions of Africans were forcibly removed from their homeland, dehumanized, and exploited to build the so-called American dream. This book meticulously examines how the legacies of this era continue to influence American society, laying the foundation for the systemic racism that persists today.
schedule an interview with the authors, please contact Kenichi Sugihara at kenichi@selectbooks.com.
Simone Biles Dominates Olympic Qualifying Round Despite Injury
By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
With celebrities including Snoop Dogg, Flavor Flav, Lady Gaga, and John Legend watching, Simone Biles made a spectacularly successful return to the Olympics by dominating the qualifying round despite a calf injury that would have sidelined most athletes.
Team USA finished Sunday’s qualification session with an impressive score of 172.296, putting the group of athletes — including returning Olympians Jade Carey and Jordan Chiles — at the front of the pack heading into the all-around final on Thursday.
Biles, now 27, is the most decorated gymnast in history and considered the G.O.A.T of her sport — meaning Greatest of All Time. She debuted in this year’s competition in Paris after a widely publicized break, which began with her premature exit from the Tokyo Olympics to prioritize her mental health. The seven-time Olympic medalist has since spoken candidly about suffering from the “twisties,” a dangerous phenomenon where gymnasts lose their spatial awareness in the air.
Despite injuring her calf while warming up for the second round of qualifying events in the Bercy Arena, Biles delivered stunning and technically near-flawless performances on the balance beam, vault, floor, and uneven bars.
Video of the warm-ups showed Biles crawling back from the vault and then hopping on her right leg toward the edge of the mat. There, she told a teammate, “I’m gonna
need a wheelchair.” CBS News noted that the gymnast was later seen using a foam roller off the floor’s side. But the injury did not seem to limit Biles come game time. She performed an impressive vault routine that featured her trademark Yurchenko double pike, all with her ankle heavily taped. The routine earned her a spectacular score of 15.8.
Women’s gymnastics coach Cecille Landi, an Olympian who competed for France in 1996, told reporters that Biles had tweaked her calf several weeks ago and was on the mend during the training that led up to the games. “She felt a little something in her calf. That’s all,” Landi said after the qualifying session, according to the Olympics. The coach noted that Biles had no intention to leave the competition, saying, “Never in her mind.” Landi added that Biles’ calf had improved by the end of Sunday’s session. Heading into the final this week, Biles and Sunisa Lee will make history regardless of where they place in the event, as two former all-around champions competing in the same event for the same country. Landi acknowledged Biles’ stunning comeback and said that, knowing her track record, there could be even more room to grow.
“It was pretty amazing. 59.5, and four-for-four,” Landi said of Biles’ qualifying performance and score, which eclipsed that of Lee, the reigning champion, by a solid margin. “Not perfect. She still can improve … just really good.”
Flavor Flav is Soaking Up the Olympic Experience
Cheering
By JAY COHEN AP Sports Writer
On the US Water Polo Team
PARIS (AP) — Flavor Flav stopped for hugs, handshakes and high-fives as he made his way around the Team USA House at the Paris Games on Thursday.
He never stopped smiling.
“This is quite an experience for me right now, you know, because the only time I've ever seen the Olympics was on TV,” Flav said. “You know what I’m saying? But I always wanted to see what it felt like being there. So now I got the opportunity to be here. It's the best."
Flav, a founding member of the hip-hop group Public Enemy, is in Paris as part of his duties as the official hype man for USA Water Polo — a partnership that came together after he connected with U.S. captain Maggie Steffens on Instagram in May.
The 65-year-old Flav is embracing his new responsibilities with his usual brand of seemingly boundless enthusiasm.
“I’m so ready, man. ... I’m so hype right now about this sport," said Flav, wearing a custom USA Water Polo clock around his neck. “I wish I was playing it. I’m hyping myself up right now to ask them to let me on the team.”
The road to Flav's Olympic debut began when Steffens posted on Instagram about her experiences with the U.S. women's program, which has won an unprecedented three straight gold medals going into Paris.
While paying tribute to her teammates and expressing her love for her grueling sport, Steffens also highlighted the constant financial struggle for most Olympic athletes. Flav’s manager brought the issue to his attention, and he promised his assistance in a comment on Steffens' post.
“As a girl dad and supporter of all women’s sports - imma personally sponsor you my girl,,, whatever you need. And imma sponsor the whole team,” Flav wrote. That exchange turned into a unique sponsorship
deal between Flav — whose legal name is William Jonathan Drayton Jr. — and USA Water Polo. Flav made an undisclosed financial contribution to the women's program as part of the five-year agreement, and he also agreed to collaborate on social media to help bring attention to the small sport.
He is planning to attend the Olympic openers for the U.S. women and men. The women face Greece on Saturday, and the men play Italy on Sunday. Flav, who was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with Public Enemy in 2013, prepped for his Paris experience by attending two women's games, even joining the TV broadcast. He also jumped into the pool with the women's team.
“I tried it. I got to try it to see what it feels like,” Flav told the AP. “And boy, I was in the water with the girls for like seven minutes. And I was treading water for seven minutes. And I’m not going to lie. But that was like the hardest seven minutes in my life.”
Flav said he “got lucky” and connected on two goals against Ashleigh Johnson — widely considered the best goaltender in the world — though he felt as if she might have let him score.
The significance of the moment was not lost on Johnson, the first black woman to play water polo for the U.S. Olympic team.
“We saw the video come out (on social media). ... It was so cool to see it,” Johnson said. “But I read through the comments and I see people asking questions about water polo and people of color wanting to start playing. And that’s a different community than I’ve seen talk about our sport in the way they were talking about it than I have like this whole time I've been on this team.”
That is something Flav hopes to see more of as he continues to cheer on the U.S. teams.
“When it comes down to water polo ... it's not really about people of color. It's about people that love to play it,” he said. “Water polo is for all races, all colors of people.”
Pharrell Advocates for Reviving Arts Competitions for
Vuitton Event
By JONATHAN LANDRUM Jr.
AP Entertainment Writer
PARIS (AP) — If given the chance, Pharrell Williams would reintroduce arts competition into the Olympics, reviving a tradition that's been missing for nearly 80 years. Williams is aiming to reinstate arts competitions back on the world's biggest sports stage, starting with raising awareness through his star-studded Louis Vuitton event Thursday in Paris. He passionately shared his goal to see the tradition revived by the Olympics in 2028 the night before the Games’ opening ceremony.
“We get to remind people that at one point, the Olympics actually had the arts as a section that ran all these competitions,” Williams before the event. “Sculpture, architecture, visual arts. The idea we get to put the arts back in. ... Why not take this moment to bring awareness?” Art competitions first came into fruition at the 1912 Olympics in Stockholm with medals awarded in five categories: architecture, literature, music, painting and sculpture. However, the International Olympic Committee ended the competitions in the 1948 games. An attempt to bring it back was denied four years later. Williams, the musician-turned-designer, hosted the ritzy A-list event at the Louis Vuitton Foundation building. Attendees included popular figures such as LeBron James,
Queen
and Zac Efron. Williams called the inside of the event like an “indoor carnival.” He curated a select group of world-renowned artists including KAWS, Daniel Arsham and Derek Fordjour to design interactive art installations.
Some of the sports represented at the event included archery, tennis, basketball and equestrianism along with carnival games. “The game will begin on the inside tonight,” he said. Through donations, Williams said he wanted the event to support Olympic hopefuls as well as 36 athletes across 11 different countries who are competing on the Refugee Olympic Team this year.
“We get to raise money for the other athletes who don't have the means to get the gear or proper training equipment,” said Williams, who added that he spoke about creating music for the games with Thomas Bach, the president of the IOC.
The famed producer said he recorded a track called “Triumph is Cosmos.”
“This is like the victory lap around the solar system,” he said.,
Simone Biles made a spectacularly successful return to the Olympics by dominating the qualifying round despite a calf injury that would have sidelined most athletes.
Steven Spielberg, Mick Jagger, Zendaya, Anna Wintour, Charlize Theron, Serena Williams, Rosalía, Snoop Dogg,
Latifah
después de que le entreguen esta citación y papeles legales para presentar una respuesta por escrito en esta corte y hacer que se entregue una copia al demandante. Una carta o una llamada telefónica no lo protegen. Su respuesta por escrito tiene que estar en formato legal correcto si desea que procesen su caso en la corte. Es posible que haya un formulario que usted pueda usar para su respuesta. Puede encontrar estos formularios de la corte y más información en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California (www. sucorte.ca.gov), en la biblioteca de leyes de su condado o en la corte que le quede más cerca. Si no puede pagar la cuota de presentación, pida al secretario de la corte que le dé un formulario de exención de pago de cuotas. Si no presenta su respuesta a tiempo, puede perder el caso por incumplimiento y la corte le podrá quitar su sueldo, dinero y bienes sin más advertencia. Hay otros requisitos legales. Es recomendable que llame a un abogado inmediatamente. Si no conoce a un abogado, puede llamar a un servicio de remisión a abogados. Si no puede pagar a un abogado, es posible que cumpla con los requisitos para obtener servicios legales gratuitos de un programa de servicios legales sin fines de lucro. Puede encontrar estos grupos sin fines de lucro en el sitio web de California Legal Services, (www. lawhelpcalifornia.org), en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California, (www.sucorte.ca.gov o poniéndose en contacto con la corte o el colegio de abogados locales. AVISO: Por ley, la corte tiene derecho a reclamar las cuotas y los costos exentos por imponer un gravamen sobre cualquier recuperación de $10,000 ó más de valor recibida mediante un acuerdo o una concesión de arbitraje en un caso de derecho civil. Tiene que pagar el gravamen de la corte antes de que la corte pueda desechar el caso. The name and address of the court is: (El nombre y dirección de la corte es): BURBANK COURTHOUSE 300 East Olive Ave. Burbank, CA 91502 The name, address, and telephone number of plaintiff’s attorney, or plaintiff without an attorney, is (El nombre, la dirección y el número de teléfono del abogado del demandante, o del demandante que no tiene abogado, es): Rotenberg Law, APC; 5535 Balboa Blvd., #102, Encino, CA 91316 Telephone: (818) 208-9011 Date (Fecha): July 24, 2023 David W. Slayton, Executive Officer/ Clerk of Court (Secretario), by J. Calderon, Deputy (Adjunto) (SEAL) NOTICE TO THE PERSON SERVED
telefónica no lo protegen. Su respuesta por escrito tiene que estar en formato legal correcto si desea que procesen su caso en la corte. Es posible que haya un formulario que usted pueda usar para su respuesta. Puede encontrar estos formularios de la corte y más información en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California (www. sucorte.ca.gov), en la biblioteca de leyes de su condado o en la corte que le quede más cerca. Si no puede pagar la cuota de presentación, pida al secretario de la corte que le dé un formulario de exención de pago de cuotas. Si no presenta su respuesta a tiempo, puede perder el caso por incumplimiento y la corte le podrá quitar su sueldo, dinero y bienes sin más advertencia. Hay otros requisitos legales. Es recomendable que llame a un abogado inmediatamente. Si no
conoce a un abogado, puede
llamar a un servicio de remisión a abogados. Si no puede pagar a un abogado, es posible que cumpla con los requisitos para obtener servicios legales gratuitos de un programa de servicios legales sin fines de lucro. Puede encontrar estos grupos sin fines de lucro en el sitio web de California Legal Services, (www. lawhelpcalifornia.org), en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California, www.sucorte.ca.gov) o poniéndose en contacto con la corte o el colegio de abogados locales. AVISO: Por ley, la corte tiene derecho a reclamar las cuotas y los costos exentos por imponer un gravamen sobre cualquier recuperación de $10,000 ó más de valor recibida mediante un acuerdo o una concesión de arbitraje en un caso de derecho civil. Tiene que pagar el gravamen de la corte antes de que la corte pueda desechar el caso. The name and address of the court is: (El nombre y dirección de la corte es): SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES 111 North Hill Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012 The name, address, and telephone number of plaintiff’s attorney, or plaintiff without an attorney, is (El nombre, la dirección y el número de teléfono del abogado del demandante, o del demandante que no tiene abogado, es): Jay W. Smith, Esq., Law Offices of Jay W. Smith,
More Than 1,300 California Black Women Pen an Open Letter Supporting Kamala Harris for President
Dear Vice President Kamala Harris:
From Charlotta Bass to Rosa Parks to Shirley Chisolm, Black Women have never been afraid of a righteous fight. All three of these women have stood in the gap for Black Americans and in the process changed history. Today is no different. Our very own, California born and raised, Vice President Kamala Harris has taken the baton to be the first woman to be elected as President of the United States of America in the 2024 election.
As California Black women, we commit our unwavering support for your historic candidacy. Your leadership, vision, and commitment to justice and equity resonate across the golden state and beyond.
As the first woman, the first Black woman, and the first South Asian woman to hold the office of Vice President, you have not only broken historical barriers. You have also served as a beacon of hope and inspiration for countless individuals who see themselves reflected in your journey.
Madame Vice President, your steadfast dedication to addressing systemic inequities, championing comprehensive healthcare, and advocating for criminal justice reflect the values we need in a leader right now.
Throughout your tenure as Vice President, you have been relentless in your efforts to advance policies that directly impact our communities. From your advocacy for maternal health and reproductive rights to your focus
on economic empowerment and voting rights protection, you have consistently demonstrated a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by Black Women, Black Families and the Black Community, resulting in creating meaningful change.
Our endorsement is not merely inspired by your accomplishments, but it is also an acknowledgment of the potential we see in your continued leadership. We believe that your presidency will usher in an era of progress, unity, and opportunity for all Americans, with a special emphasis on those who have been historically marginalized.
In supporting your campaign, the California Black Women’s Collective PAC, made up of Black Women
throughout the state, pledges to mobilize our network, engage our communities, and amplify your vision for a more just and equitable nation, Madame Vice President.
We are confident that your leadership will inspire a new generation of activists, leaders, and changemakers who will carry forward the torch of progress. The signatures below demonstrate the solidarity of a community within California that is committed to putting the work in to take this historic campaign over the finish line.
Join us and be a part of the change we need now.
See the list of signatories.
We Need Black Teachers in More Ways Than You Think
By Aziah Siid Word In Black | Sacramento Observer
– For grade-school teachers, keeping up with student slang is a race as old as the teaching profession itself, and one they can never win. Changing as quickly as the weather, the hot slang word or phrase of the moment — the one that’s so lit everyone in the caf is using it — is usually hella dead by the time most adults they know catch up. When it shows up in the classroom in students’ oral answers and written exams, slang can leave teachers scratching their heads. That’s led some educators to take extreme measures: one teacher went viral for an outright ban on slang, while another pranks his own students with fake slang. But some Black K-12 educators have taken a different view. They have embraced slang as a valuable teaching tool for Black students, one that celebrates their identities, culture, lived experiences, and linguistic ingenuity.
Chris Emdin, an associate professor at Teachers College, proposes a new approach to teaching he calls Ratchetdemic. It centers the language and culture of Black students’ lived experiences in a way that may not align with traditional academia.
“We don’t need their permission to create language, especially as people who created hip hop. This can be a valuable teaching tool for our kids about linguistic ingenuity,” he says.
The Need for Black Teachers is Evident
Data underscores Emdin’s perspective. According to the language learning website Preply, about 3 in 10 parents said slang should be allowed in school, and 40% of teachers agreed that slang could help students express themselves. Thirty-six percent of teachers said accepting slang shows respect for students’ cultural identity.
At the same time, more than half of teachers surveyed worried that slang could lead to misunderstandings or miscommunications between teachers and students, and 50% believe it could disrupt the learning process. Earlier this year, a teacher went viral for posting a list of slang words she banned from her classroom.
But Emdin believes that’s the wrong approach. Students learn best, he says, when they feel comfortable bringing their whole selves to the classrooms. Acceptance of slang language on things like term peppers and in oral reports illustrates that.
“To be ratchetdemic is to have no part in starving the authentic self, while still maintaining high academic standards and high academic rigor,” Emdin, who wrote a book on the subject, said in a Harvard EdCast episode.
“I chose the word ‘ratchetdemic’ because it’s a merging of being ratchet and academic,” he said. “I was intentional about utilizing a colloquial slang word and merging that with being academic. I understand that for some folks to ratchet is to be loud or to be abrasive, but there are variations in ratchet.”
When it shows up in the classroom in students’ oral answers and written exams, slang can leave teachers scratching their heads. (Photo: iStockphoto / NNPA)
(WIB)
Checkmate! In High Stakes Political Game, Maxine Waters Is Master Queen
By Kenneth Miller Special to
California Black Media Partners
In a few weeks at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, the world will be watching history as Kamala Harris steps into her own as Standard Bearer of the Party.
Somewhere amid all of the blowing horns, balloons and wacky outfits will be California’s own political powerbroker and “Master Queen” Congresswoman Maxine Waters (DCA-43), arguably the most powerful Black elected official in America right now.
For more than 40 years -- 33 of them serving in the United States House of Representatives -- “Auntie Maxine” as she is affectionately called by her admirers, has proved her might and her mettle.
She has successfully advocated for $10 billion in funding for Section 8 housing and secured $50 million in funding for Youth Fair Chance, $400 million for Minority Aids Funding and $6 billion for Neighborhood Stabilization.
She is always there at the forefront fighting for what is best for the communities she serves.
In our divided political universe today, many of us are constantly presented with the argument in our content feeds across digital platforms that our system of governance is fixed and failing us, and our elected officials are out of touch and, therefore, there is no reason to vote. Buying into this notion plays into the hands of powerful political interests, some of whom are the philosophical heirs of those who denied Blacks voting rights to begin with.
That is why leadership is paramount – real leadership, trusted, courageous and reliable, that is demonstrated by the actions and deeds of those we elect to serve.
Such was the case when Waters learned California Gov. Gavin Newsom released his state budget without any funding for the Martin Luther King Community Hospital (MLKCH) in South Los Angeles which was on the brink
of closing yet again. Fumed, Waters encountered Newsom at an event and cornered him about the MLKCH dilemma. In a letter sent to Newsom, Waters appealed; “I call on you as the Governor of the Great State of California to reverse your decision of 2022 and immediately support legislation that will adjust MLKCH’s supplemental funding methodology to include outpatient services, including the approximately 125,000 ED services provided by the hospital every year.
This will cost an estimated $25 million per year. More importantly, it will save countless lives.”
Newsom had previously vetoed legislation authored by Assemblymember Mike Gipson (D-Carson), Assembly Bill (AB) 2426, which aimed to expand MLKCH’s supplemental funding in order to cover hospital-based outpatient services provided in the emergency department. The bill provided MLKCH approximately $25-$30 million in additional funds annually.
Not long after Waters sent a letter to Newsom on June 14, Newsom reversed course and signed off the legislation to fund MLKCH.
It was a gangsta move as we say in the hood, and copied on the letter was a list of critical community stakeholders which included pastors, elected officials and civil rights leaders.
“This unique hospital serves some of the poorest and sickest people in the State of California and perhaps the entire country. Our community depends on MLKCH, and we cannot allow it to close,” Waters wrote.
Waters was just warming up after the victory for MLKCH when she turned her attention to the City of Inglewood in her Congressional District.
According to an article in the Los Angeles Times -and confirmed by Waters in an interview with South Bay Black Journal – the Congresswoman is now objecting to Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts most prominent projects,
The People Mover (ITC), a $2-billion transportation line that would link SoFi Stadium to one of Los Angeles’ newest rail lines (K-Line).
“It will not provide convenient connectivity to employment or public services for local residents,” she said.
“The ITC is designed primarily to allow public transit users to connect the extra 1.6 miles from Metro’s K Line to sports and entertainment venues. Shuttle buses could most likely accomplish the same goal at a fraction of the cost, but have not been seriously considered as an alternative,” Waters told the Times.
Affirming her commitment to prevent the project from moving forward, Waters stated:
“To the degree that I can do anything to stop it, I will,” Waters said.
In addition, Waters believes the project will impact the state’s housing problem.
“The ITC threatens to exacerbate this crisis by displacing long-time Inglewood residents and small and minority-owned businesses and diverting resources away from some of the most urgent needs of the local communities in my district,” she wrote.
The four-term mayor has courted billionaires and inked deals to build SoFi Stadium and Intuit Dome that have transformed his community.
As one might expect, Butts was not happy about Waters' position.
“You can’t come in at the 11th hour with a little fairy tale story about how something is so terrible,” he said. The letter was “ill-conceived” and many of the points “fully invalid,” Butts told The Times, adding that Waters did not reach out to him to discuss the matter.
However, this is what leadership is all about, challenging the most powerful within your own party with conviction.
Waters’s outspokenness and tenacity sacrifices has
Kamala Harris: The Down-Ticket Savior California Needed
President Joe Biden not seeking re-election isn’t just good for Democrats looking to stave off a second Donald Trump presidency, but it’s good news for all the other candidates (and propositions) on the ballot.
Before Biden’s announcement, it was reported that millions of Democratic voters were planning to sit out the November election altogether.
This unexpected, but much needed, turn of events has generated a wave of reactions across the nation, but one thing is clear: Vice-President Kamala Harris’s entry into the presidential race is going to provide a significant boost to down-ticket races for the Democratic Party.
Before Biden’s delayed departure from the election, the Democratic Party was doing an excellent job at ignoring the increasing number of voters of all ages who were not willing to compromise their morals or values in November and vote for Biden – “the lesser of two evils” from their perspective.
From the administration’s handling of the IsraelHamas War, immigration, the economy, and more -- these Democrats were okay with dealing with the consequences of Biden losing, understanding that their voices would still go unheard, and they would struggle whether Republicans or Democrats win the White House.
And that was before Biden’s Weekend at Bernie’s debate performance.
Biden staying on the ticket wasn’t just going to hurt
By Antonio Ray Harvey California Black Media
Three days after U.S. Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro posthumously exonerated the remaining 256 African American Port Chicago defendants who were courtmartialed for mutiny in 1944, he visited the historical site to participate in the 80th-year commemoration of the worst homefront disaster in the U.S. history.
Del Toro said the occasion at the Port Chicago Naval Magazine Memorial on the Suisun Bay, 35 miles north of San Francisco in Contra Costa County, was two-fold. According to him, the 90-minute ceremony was organized to honor all who died in the blasts and officially announce the absolving of Black men who were unjustly courtmartialed for refusing to load bombs on naval cargo ships during World War II due to safety concerns.
“This event marks a turning point in our nation’s history, a moment when we confront the ghosts of the past and embrace the promise of more justice,” Del Toro said. “For eight decades, the story of Port Chicago has been a stark reminder of a grave injustice. We as a nation will never be able to express our full gratitude to all deceased and their families for their dedication, service, and sacrifice.”
On July 20, a diverse group of 500 people were shuttled from the Military Ocean Terminal Concord (MOTCO) to the Port Chicago Naval Magazine Memorial where two deadly explosions occurred on the night of July 17, 1944. The ceremony was hosted in partnership with the National Park Service (NPS), Friends of Port Chicago National Memorial, and the U.S. Army’s 834th Transportation Battalion.
The event also marked the 30th year the site was erected as a memorial.
Along with Del Toro, dignitaries and elected officials in attendance were U.S. Congressmen John Garamendi (DCA-08) and Thurgood Marshall Jr., whose father, Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, sought justice for the Port Chicago 50, the Black men who were wrongfully
our chances to keep The White House and democracy alive in the US, but it was going to hurt all the local and state candidates and propositions on the November ballot had Democratic voters sat this one out.
I haven’t seen this much excitement for a candidate since then Senator Barack Obama earned the nomination of the Democratic Party back in 2008.
Whether you like her not, for millions of Democrats, Kamala Harris represents a new era of leadership, one that is more inclusive and reflective of America’s diverse population. Within hours, her candidacy galvanized a broad coalition of voters, including women, People of Color, and young people. This renewed enthusiasm at the top of the ticket is going to have a ripple effect, energizing the base and increasing voter turnout, which is crucial for down-ticket candidates.
For states like California and counties like Los Angeles, the largest in the US, this is a game changer.
Californians have 10 ballot propositions on their November ballot. Among them, a controversial ballot proposition to repeal parts of Proposition 47 (Prop 47) and increase drug crime and theft penalties and allow a new class of crime to be called treatment-mandated felonies, which would require offenders to either participate in drug or mental health treatment or both.
Prop 47 was a ballot measure passed by California voters in 2014 that made some non-violent property crimes, where the value does not exceed $950,
into misdemeanors. It also made some simple drug possession offenses into misdemeanors and provided for past convictions for these charges to be reduced to a misdemeanor by a court.
Low Democratic voter turnout could work in favor of this conservative-backed proposition.
Harris’s historic candidacy as the first Black and South Asian woman on a major party’s presidential ticket holds immense symbolic value. Her presence has already mobilized minority voters who feel underrepresented in the political arena. Increased turnout among these demographics can significantly impact races at all levels which is going to be especially key for progressive candidates like L.A. County District Attorney George Gascón and criminal justice reform measures on the November ballot whom these voters are more likely favor.
Facts. Harris’s candidacy has energized the base, already mobilized key voter demographics, and strengthened the party’s overall electoral chances. As we move towards the election, Harris is going to be a powerful catalyst for important down-ticket races. She was just the lifesaving move that had to happen in order to bring the Democratic Party back to life because all races on the ballot with Democrats were going to suffer had Biden stayed on the ticket. Now, on to November.
convicted in the fall of 1944 of insubordination during World War II.
Kelli English, the NPS’s service-wide Program Manager for Cooperating Associations and Partnerships, said tears from colleagues were flowing the day they heard about the exoneration of the men. English is part of the NPS crew that conducts tours of the National Memorial and shares the history of the tragedy.
“They never should have been court-martialed in some cases and convicted of other cases, but it does provide some closures for the families and descendants of those men,” English told California Black Media. “It’s so important to us. It’s the only amount of justice delivered years after the fact.”
The blasts resulted in the death of 320 sailors, 202 of them Black American sailors who were loading nearly 5,000 tons of munitions from a train into the naval cargo ships. About 400 more people were injured and the cargo train and both ships – SS Quinault Victory and SS EA Bryan – were destroyed.
The explosion shook the San Francisco Bay and could be felt as far away as Nevada. The blasts damaged many surrounding structures and buildings in the nearby town of Port Chicago. In the mid-1960s, the United States government bought 5,000 acres of land in the Port Chicago area and the town ceased to exist by 1969.
The White officers in command were given hardship leaves while the surviving Black sailors were ordered to clear debris from the blasts and painfully retrieve the appendages of their fellow servicemen. The treatment of the Black sailors exemplified the racial policies manifested by the Navy.
After threats of disciplinary action, 208 of the Sailors resumed work but it did not stop the Navy from convicting the men at a summary court-martial for rebellion. Over the years, two sailors had the charges expunged from their records, which left 256 convicted Black men.
Fifty of the Black sailors stood their ground and in September 1944 were found liable for mutiny, a serious offense that tarnished their military record. The 50 sailors were represented by Thurgood Marshall, who was the chief counsel for the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, the disaster and racism in the Navy led to President Harry Truman desegregating all four branches of the military.
Ten years later, Marshall was able to win the monumental Brown v. Board of Education case that ruled separate but equal public schools were unconstitutional.
“It’s deeply moving to me that his work and the work of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund caught the attention of the sailors, and the family involved in Port Chicago,” Marshall Jr. said of his father who later became a US Supreme Court Justice. “They contacted them for guidance, and he was able to come out here to California to do what he did so well.”
Carol Cherry traveled from Chicago to attend the 80th ceremony. Her father Cyril Oscar Sheppard Jr. is now officially one of the 50 former mutineers. Cherry was presented with the ceremonial U.S. flag by the English.
Rev. Diana McDaniel, President of the Friends of Port Chicago National Memorial was one the guest speakers. Her uncle Irvine Lowery was one of the surviving Black sailors who was ordered to collect the remains of the deceased after the explosion. McDaniel told CBM that Lowery was injured in the blast when he was in the barracks but was not aware of it.
Other speakers at the event included English, NPS Superintendent K. Lynn Berry, Supervisory Park Ranger, Hilary Grabowska, and Lt. Col. Lauren Cabral, MOTCO Commander of the 834th Transportation Battalion
“I ask that all of you amplify the message so that we can get to many family members that we have not been able to reach to let them know what has occurred,” Del Toro told reporters.
Carol Cherry, left, was presented with the Stars and Stripes flag by Kelli English, right, from the National Park Service to conclude the ceremony. Her father Cyril Oscar Sheppard, Jr. was one of the 50 Black sailors convicted of mutiny after the explosions at Port Chicago killed 202 Black sailors. CBM photo by Antonio R. Harvey.
U.S. Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro was the keynote speaker. He exonerated 256 Black sailors accused of mutiny when they refused to load munitions on ships due to safety concerns. CBM photo by Antonio Ray Harvey.
Jasmyne Cannick
Jasmyne Cannick
Special to California Black Media Partners
Whether
forefront during civil unrest
Los Angeles
bearing the torch of justice after the brutal police killing of George Floyd in Minnesota, we can always count on “Auntie Maxine” to be in the middle of the fight.
a sense she’s like Mike Tyson in his heyday, always menacing and going towards the opponent with intentions of securing victory by any means necessary.
Maxine Waters (D-CA-43)
California Capitol News You Might Have Missed Political Playback:
Bo Tefu, Joe W. Bowers Jr. And Antonio Ray Harvey California Black Media Californians for Kamala: Rep. Maxine Waters Leads Coalition Rally to Support V.P. Harris
Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA-43) hosted a press conference on July 26 at the Proud Bird Event Center Tuskegee Room near LAX to rally behind Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign.
The event brought together election officials, community leaders, faith-based organizations, and notable figures from South Bay Los Angeles County cities.
“This is a pivotal moment in our nation’s history,” Waters declared. “I urge everyone to get involved and help us bring about the change we want to see by supporting a leader who truly represents our values. Kamala Harris is from California, and we need to stand behind her.” Key supporters spoke at the event:
The Rev. Robert Shaw II and Rev. Ann Champion Shaw from First AME Church Los Angeles (FAME) offered an invocation, praying for Harris’s protection and success. Antonio Villaraigosa, former Los Angeles Mayor, highlighted the importance of unity. “We need to stand up for women’s reproductive freedoms, immigration reform, and sensible gun control,” he said. “Kamala Harris can bring these changes.”
Sen. Steven Bradford (D-Inglewood) praised women’s leadership. “If you want something done, ask a woman to do it. Kamala Harris will get it done as our next President of the United States.”
Former State Senator Rod Wright emphasized the stakes. “If you read the platform of Donald Trump, some of y’all might have to learn how to pick cotton again. You might have to learn how to tap dance. We’re talking about the future of your existence in this country. Kamala will be the president. What she will do is protect the future of your children.”
Yvonne Wheeler, president of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, emphasized labor support. “We got to get our children registered to vote. They will move us ahead.”
Sweet Alice Harris, a longtime community activist, added her passionate support. “We got to be ready to work hard and make sure Kamala Harris gets to the White House. It’s time for a change, and she’s the one to make it happen.”
The rally showcased California’s unified effort to ensure a strong voter turnout for Kamala Harris, emphasizing the crucial role of voter participation in shaping the nation’s future.
Kamala Harris Has Already Locked Up Support She Needs to Win Dem Nomination
According to the Democratic National Convention (DNC), support from the California Delegation -- as well as preliminary counts from other states -- has likely already secured Kamala Harris’s nomination as the Party’s candidate for President.
Nancy Pelosi motioned to endorse Harris for president at a virtual meeting of the California DNC delegation this past week. With an endorsement from California’s delegation, Harris secured enough delegates to win the Democratic nomination. Pelosi’s announcement came after President Joe Biden withdrew his nomination as the presidential nominee for the Democratic Party.
Harris is set to visit the battleground state of Wisconsin, focusing on working-class voters who make up 63% of the state’s population, according to the United States Census Bureau.
Harris says she intends to earn the presidential nomination and gain the support of fellow Democrats.
“I am proud to have secured the broad support needed to become our party’s nominee, and as a daughter of California, I am proud that my home state’s delegation helped put our campaign over the top. I look forward to formally accepting the nomination soon,” said Harris.
Despite Harris gaining majority support, Democratic delegates are free to vote for a candidate of their choice until the deadline on Aug. 7. So far, Democrats have raised over $100 million for Harris.
Calif. Dept. of Finance July Report: Income Up; Inflation
Slowing
California’s personal income increased by 8.2% in the first quarter of 2024 due to higher wages, salaries, and property income, stated the July report released by the state Department of Finance last week.
The report indicated that California’s real gross domestic product grew by 1.2% in the first quarter of this year. In the past two years, national inflation rates decreased by 6.1%, slowing down inflation to 3% in June 2024. However, the report showed that the national unemployment rate gradually increased by 4.1%, a total of 162,000 individuals are without formal jobs. However,
California’s unemployment rate remained at 5.2% in June this year. The state’s labor force increased by 7,200 people and civilian household employment grew by 17,500 jobs.
A majority of the jobs created by the state were driven by trade, transportation, and utilities. Other sectors such as government, private education, health services, and hospitality and leisure added jobs in the past year. However, the manufacturing sector experienced the largest job loss, losing nearly 3,000 jobs in June. Other sectors that suffered great job losses included construction followed by mining and logging.
The state permitted a total of 106,000 housing units in May, a 5.1% increase from last year. The median sale of a single-family home now costs approximately $900,720 in June 2024.
California’s Preliminary General Fund agency cash receipts were $361 million, a little above the forecast for the 2023-2024 fiscal year.
“June is an important month for personal and corporate income tax receipts because it contains the due date for second quarter estimated payments,” the report stated.
According to the financial report, personal income tax cash receipts were $145 million in June, remaining slightly above the forecast for the current fiscal year. Annual withholdings, a percentage of an employee’s earnings paid directly to government-mandated collections, decreased by 9.9 %.
The report highlighted that single-month readings are often misleading and inaccurate due to calendar changes that affect the timing of payments and stock-based compensation.
Sen. Bradford Responds to Deputy-Involved Killing of Unarmed Black Woman
After seeing a video of a deputy-involved shooting death of an unarmed Black woman in Illinois last week, the vice chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) Sen. Steven Bradford (D-Inglewood) stated that he sees “no appropriate justification for this deputy’s actions.”
Sonya Massey, 37, was shot in the face by a Sangamon
County Sheriff’s deputy after she called 911 to report a prowler. The deputy who shot Massey reportedly worked for six different law enforcement agencies in four years and had two Drinking Under the Influence (DUI) charges.
“SB 2 created a process for peace officers who violate the public trust to be decertified. This law has already protected the public from at least 80 now-former officers who will never again wear a badge in California,” Bradford viewed the incident within the context of California law.
“Strong police accountability laws increase the public’s trust in our law enforcement by removing those individuals whose actions erode that trust,” he added.
Bradford said The Sangamon County, Illinois case is an “inexcusable tragedy.”
“After looking at the video of the shooting and reading about the case, I see no appropriate justification for this deputy’s actions,” Bradford said in a July 24 statement to California Black Media. “The death of Sonya Massey should never have happened.”
Bradford wrote Senate Bill (SB) 2, the Kenneth Ross Jr. Police Decertification Act of 2021. It created a statewide decertification process to revoke the certification of a peace officer following the conviction of serious crimes or termination from employment due to misconduct.
SB 2 was signed into law on Sept. 30, 2021, by Gov. Gavin Newsom.
The California bill has no bearing on the case in Illinois, but it puts the spotlight on how rogue cops can move from one jurisdiction to another and land a job. The deputy in Illinois was charged with first-degree murder.
Thus far, SB 2 is effective, Bradford stated.
Gov. Newsom Issues Executive Order to Remove Homeless Encampments
Last week, in an executive order, California Gov. Gavin Newsom gave s state agencies the green light to get rid of homeless encampments statewide.
This action is supported by a recent decision handed down by the United States Supreme Court in June permitting states to crack down on makeshift camps set up by homeless persons.
In the executive order issued July 25, Gov. Newsom authorizes state and local governments to clear camps and directs them to adopt policies and mobilize resources to do so in within an orderly and sustainable framework.
urgently to address dangerous encampments while supporting and assisting the individuals living in them -- and provides guidance for cities and counties to do the same,” said Newsom.
“The state has been hard at work to address this crisis on our streets. There are simply no more excuses. It’s time for everyone to do their part,” he said.
Several mayors initially expressed concerns about the executive order but are willing to work with Gov. Newsom and the state agencies to address homelessness in their cities.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said she looks forward to collaborating with the state.
“Strategies that just move people along from one neighborhood to the next or give citations instead of housing do not work,” said Bass.
Bass appreciated the governor’s effort but is hopeful that state officials can work on strategies that help improve people’s lives.
Republican Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones of San Diego praised the governor for his timely executive order.
Jim Wunderman, President and CEO of the Bay Area Council, a public policy group backed by business leaders, supported the directive.
“Getting our many thousands of unhoused residents indoors and out of unsafe, unhealthy and inhumane outdoor encampments is critical to ending California’s homelessness crisis,” said Wunderman.
Despite the pushback from local leaders, Newsom’s directive urges state agencies to partner with local organizations and request services for homeless people from camps. However, state agencies can offer resources and support but there is no obligation for agencies to help displaced people find homes.
Celebrating 40 Years, Bill Pickett Rodeo Partners with BeyGOOD Foundation
The Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo (BPIR) announced July 26 that it has teamed up with the BeyGOOD Foundation to support Black Equestrian programs.
BIPR says the collaboration honors the rich legacy of Black cowboys, cowgirls and ranchers, whose contributions have shaped American history.
“We are excited to partner with Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo Foundation to support Black Equestrian culture through our BeyGOOD grants program. We have committed $400K and will be providing grants to nonprofit equestrian organizations from Los Angeles, Georgia, South Carolina, Oklahoma, and Texas,” said BeyGood Foundation Executive Director Ivy McGregor in a statement.
“Saturday night (Aug. 20) was our first stop,” McGregor continued. “Next up Georgia and then Texas. We are excited about the impact and honored to get to share their impact stories.”
Margo Wade LaDrew, the National Development and Partnership Director at BIPR, said she is “proud of this historic partnership.”
“No one has ever invested in Black ranchers and equestrians to this magnitude,” LaDrew continued. “These partnerships signify more than just financial support. They represent a long-overdue recognition and validation of the contributions of Black ranchers and equestrians to the rich tapestry of American culture and history.”
During the BIPR event at the Industry Hills Expo in The City of Industry on Saturday July 20, BeyGOOD awarded two grants: one to Love This Horse Equine Rescue, and another to Urban Saddles.
Board member Allie Harvey from Love This Horse, Equine Rescue in the Mojave Desert accepted a $25,000 grant on behalf of Seventeen-year-old Erna Valdivia who made history as the first African American woman to compete in the Tevis Cup, widely regarded as the most prestigious and challenging endurance ride in the world.
At the event, the Tevis Cup witnessed a historic moment as Valdivia crossed the finish line of the grueling one-day, 100-mile race in the California Sierras. Riding her Arabian rescue horse named “Love Story,” Valdivia captivated hearts and inspired generations.
The grant to Urban Saddles was accepted by Ron Recasner. Urban Saddles provides a safe environment for young people to engage with the equestrian lifestyle,
Other Black equestrian organizations recipients will be surprised with grant awards at the BIPR in Atlanta on Aug. 3. For more information, visit www.billpickettrodeo. com.
California Civil Rights Council Push to Regulate AI in Job Recruitment
The California Civil Rights Council proposed rules that prohibit the use of artificial intelligence (AI) during the job recruitment process last week.
The amendments to FEHA were proposed early this year to regulate employment practices carried out by businesses, nonprofits, and government agencies. The council held a hearing during an official meeting last at the University of California, Berkeley School of Law.
The proposed amendments would make it a violation of state law to use automated systems to make hiring decisions in a discriminatory way.
Supporters say ules under the proposed Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) law would protect employees from experiencing harassment or discrimination from their employer using AI software.
In recent years, AI has been used in every stage of the hiring process, stated tech experts at a council hearing on algorithms and bias. The experts acknowledged that AI systems were used in recruitment, screening, analyzing, and making recommendations based on applicant interviews, even as far as during employment.
“The Council has determined that the proposed amendments are not inconsistent or incompatible with existing regulations,” the Council stated in defense of the proposed rules.
“Currently, there are no regulations expressly addressing the use of automated‐decision systems to make or assist in making hiring or other employment decisions,” the council added.
Under this proposal, employers are prohibited from using AI systems that screen out, rank, or prioritize applicants based on their religion, disability, and medical conditions. The law also prevents employers from using automated systems that make decisions based on voice, facial expressions, and other physical characteristics including gender, race, and nationality.
State legislators are still evaluating, Assembly Bill (AB) 2930, another law similar to FEHA that requires employers to notify applicants that automated systems are being used to make decisions in the recruitment process.
The use of AI systems can result in discrimination against minority groups and worsen systemic inequality in the job market, the council stated. With these new AI bills, civil rights groups are advocating for equal opportunity and fair employment practices in the workforce.
“This executive order directs state agencies to move
offering training in horse skills and life-skills.
FB screenshot of Sonya Massey
The Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo celebrated its 40th anniversary with a partnership with the BeyGOOD Foundation, donating a total of $50,000 in grants. Ron Recasner accepted $25,000 for Urban Saddles, and Allie Harvey accepted $25,000 for Love This Horse Equine Rescue. Seventeen-year-old Erna Valdivia made history as the first African American woman to compete in the prestigious Tevis Cup endurance ride.
Chargers Have Youngsters Making Strides
By Earl Heath Contributing Sports Writer
The Chargers have only had a few days of training camp in their new El Segundo, CA home. and there have been some standouts for Los Angeles in the early going.
Newcomer Ladd McConkey, the team’s second-round pick has been sharp with a wide receiver group that lacks top-end talent. So far he has flashed since coming aboard this summer. McConkey made impressive grabs throughout camp
including in the red zone. But what has stood out the most is his superb route running in the slot, showing the ability to beat both coverages and consistently make himself open.
“He’s been off to a really good start,” Jim Harbaugh said on McConkey. “Really, really excellent route runner. We knew that, and he’s been really good, really dialed in, right from the beginning.”
I’ve been saying this since he was drafted, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see McConkey lead the team in targets and receptions
RAMS Begin Camp with Stafford
17, and going 5-1 as the starter before sitting out the regularseason finale. Stafford commanded the No. 7 offense in the league in 2023 and earned his second career Pro Bowl selection.
In other news, Quentin Lake has been steady on the defensive side his ability to play several positions in the secondary. He seems destined for one of the starting safety spots but the Rams are also giving him opportunities to play nickel corner where he’ll cover the slot, just as he did last season.
this season.
Quentin Johnston has tried to turn things around and create a role for himself in the new system. While it’s still in the early stages, Johnston has looked like he’s improving as camp goes on.
One of his issues was creating separation, but Johnston has looked a lot sharper in his breaks to make himself an open target. Drops were an issue in previous years but Johnston has caught several consecutive passes thrown his way and has made the tough plays look routine.
million guaranteed March roster bonus according to NFL Media Essentially, Stafford signed off on a one-year, $40 million deal after he gave up his 2025 guarantees. By doing his deal this way, Stafford gives himself the ability to sign an entirely new contract next offseason. After being traded to the Rams from the Detroit Lions in 2021, Stafford won Super Bowl LVI after tying a career-high with 41 touchdowns thrown. That successful first season in L.A. Overall, Stafford is 24-17 as the starter for the Rams, and has thrown 75 touchdowns compared to 36 interceptions. In 2023, the Georgia product ended the regular season with a bang, throwing an NFL-high 15 touchdowns from Weeks 12-
Observers in attendance noted how well Lake performed on Tuesday, holding up even in one-on-one coverage against Cooper Kupp. Sean McVay liked what he saw from the third-year defender.
“He’s got great versatility. He’s so smart. He can do so many different things. He can play star. He can play safety,” McVay said of Lake. “He really understands the defense from an all-11 perspective. I can remember him as a rookie even when he wasn’t able to get out there yet because of some of the issues that he had just injury wise, taking notes late in the meeting room. This guy loves football. He loves elevating his teammates. He’s a great competitor. I think he can do a lot of different things in both the run phase and defending the pass. It was a great play that he made right there in man coverage.”
It is a lot ahead for the young group but they appear to be
get
Team USA Basketball Crushes Serbia to Begin Olympic Campaign
By Austin Gage
Contributing Sports Writer
Led by vintage performances from basketball greats Lebron James, Steph Curry and Kevin Durant, Team USA easily bests Serbia in Olympic opener.
The United States began their 2024 Paris Olympic journey Sunday with an exclamation point as they dominated Serbia in a 110-84 victory. Although Team USA escaped their five exhibition games before the beginning of these Olympic games without a loss, plenty of question marks surrounded a team that was heavily expected to dominate any competition thrown at them. Close calls against the likes of South Sudan and Germany caused many to question the validity of the star-studded team.
Stacked with all-NBA level talent at every position, the 2024 squad enters the tournament with perhaps the highest expectations for a United States basketball team since the famous 1992 “Dream Team” that was led by the likes of Michael Jordan, Larry Bird and Magic Johnson. The 2024 version of USA basketball is led by this generation’s version of NBA legends, headlined by arguably the greatest player of all time and current Los Angeles Laker Lebron James, the greatest shooter of all time and current Golden State Warrior Steph Curry and the greatest all-around offensive talent of all time and current Phoenix Sun Kevin Durant.
The United States, gold medalists in basketball in the past 4 Olympic games, composes a team mixed with veteran experience and young blood. 7 players have won at least one gold medal while another 5 are making their Olympic debuts. However, Serbia did not lay down, at least to start the game. Led by three-time NBA MVP center Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets, they raced to a 10-2 lead early in the first quarter. Jokic would end the game with 20 points, 5 rebounds and 8 assists to go along with 4 steals. Ignited by a tough three-pointer by Curry, the Stars and Stripes began to erase the early deficit. In his Olympic debut, Curry
Booker hit a threepointer of his own to push the USA lead to 17 with just over three minutes to go, all but ensuring an American victory. Booker, as he does so commonly in the NBA, finished with an efficient shooting night with a 4 for 5 outing from downtown; he finished with 12 points to go along with 5 assists. The 22-year-old Edwards did not shine away from the bright Olympic lights in his debut, totaling 11 points and 5 rebounds to go with his two three-pointers. As the youngest player on the team, Edwards will surely be the face of American basketball as older
Kevin Durant, right, passes the ball to a teammate in the USA’s Olympic opening basketball match on July 28th, 2024 in Villeneuve d’Ascq, France. Durant’s 23 points would pace the Americans in the victory over Serbia. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Quentin Lake (Courtesy Photo)
Brenden Rice, a seventh-rounder out of USC and son of Hall of Famer Jerry Rice. Rice has a legitimate shot to not only make the roster but also contribute as a rookie with his ability to win in the intermediate and deep parts of the field. He has shown that by grabbing a few catches on go routes, including a 35-yard touchdown from Easton Stick in one session.
headed in the right place to
the team off to a good start.
Breben Rice is a sharp newcomer (Courtesy Photo)
LA vs Hate Unveils Star-Studded Coalition to Tackle Rising Hate Crimes
By Kathleen Untalan Observer Group Newspapers
of Southern California, Inc.
In response to the alarming increase in hate crime incidents sweeping LA County, LA vs Hate has introduced the LA vs Hate Unity Coalition. This newly formed coalition brings together celebrities from the film industry stars, sports personalities, and artists who have come to unite against a common enemy known as “hate”, promoting unity culture across their region. Among the people on its launch lineup are TV star
Alyssa Milano, NBA star Paul George,
comedian Tig Notaro, actress Chelsea Rendon, artist Nathan Davis Jr., and music producer KC Porter. Their involvement will not only provide more fame to this project but also make it possible for a significant number of people in society to understand that message and thus extend it further Launched in 2019 by the LA County Commission on Human Relations, the LA vs Hate has been a lifesaver in facilitating community anti-hate campaigns and support for those who have been attacked. Given that attacks on
minorities in the county have increased by 18% from 790 to 929 in 2022, the highest rate in more than two decades, this initiative is more imperative than ever. That, added to the fact that hate crimes have risen by 143% since 2013, shows the need for this new coalition.
Currently, the LA vs Hate Unity Coalition is leading initiatives in United Against Hate Week, which will be from September 21 to September 28, 2024. This weeklong, statewide event aims to mobilize communities to unite against hate and prejudice experienced in our schools, neighborhoods, and cities. Robin Toma, Executive Director of the Los Angeles Commission on Human Relations, emphasized the coalition’s significance: “This coalition provides a unique space for individuals from diverse backgrounds to lend their unique lived experiences as experiences, as well as their power and privilege, to support the unity of all our communities against hate, hostility, and systemic discrimination. Together, we can make a significant difference in standing up to prejudice, bigotry, and inequity, and fulfilling our vision of a shared sense of belonging.” Coalition members were enthusiastic about their roles. Alyssa Milano shared, “I’m joining the LA vs Hate Unity Coalition because the rates of hate are rising to dangerous levels and I want to inspire positive change in LA where I and my family call home.”
Paul George added, “I am joining LA vs Hate’s Unity Coalition because as a Los Angeles resident and community advocate, I want to do my part to push back against the rise of hate,”
Tig Notaro offered a straightforward yet powerful endorsement: “I’m joining the LA vs Hate Unity Coalition because why on earth would anyone not?”
Nathan Davis Jr., a local artist, emphasized his commitment: “I love my hometown for its incredible diversity that is reflected in the artistic expressions of me and so many other artists - and I’m going to do my part to stand up and protect it. Hate has no place in LA.” Chelsea Rendon expressed her excitement saying, “I want to inspire positive
(Courtesy of Sarah Rudney_L.A. vs. Hate)
renowned