Oakland Post, week of June 12 - 18, 2024

Oakland to Sell Its Ownership of Coliseum Stadium in Landmark Deal to Black-Owned Development Group

By Magaly Muñoz

In a unanimous decision, the Oakland City Council voted to allow the city administrator to negotiate the sale of the city’s half-ownership of the Oakland Coliseum to the African American Sports and Entertainment Group (AASEG).

The agreement, announced by Oakland city officials in late May, is expected to bring about revitalization and further investment in East Oakland.

AASEG will buy the city’s half of the Coliseum for $105 million, with $60 million due by the end of the 2025 fiscal year. The purchase will help the city reduce the $177 million mid-year budget deficit and will prevent cuts from departments, such as Oakland police, in the meantime.

The other half of the Coliseum is currently being bought out by the Oakland A’s who are playing their last season at the stadium be-

fore temporarily relocating to Sacramento while their new ballpark starts construction in Las Vegas. The A’s have been paying Alameda County for their half of the stadium since 2019 for $85 million but it’s still unclear when they will finish paying it off.

The AASEG is an Oaklandbased development group, a feature that many residents and city leaders have said makes the deal

St. Andrew Missionary Baptist Church Calls for Donations to Rebuild, Expand

By Carla Thomas

On Friday, May 10, St. Andrew

Missionary Baptist Church Private School Theological Academy, parsonage, and an adjacent house in West Oakland were engulfed by flames.

The six-alarm fire gave firefighters a choice, save the parsonage or save the neighboring two-story sanctuary and K-12 academy. Once the fire was extinguished, the 150-year-old (Oakland Landmark #140) parsonage was gutted and the

church building withstood major fire damage but was still standing.

Today, the charred property on the corner of West and 27th is missing a rooftop, and all that remains are half of the stained-glass windows are broken and what’s left of a recently repaired Toyota also damaged by the fire.

Now resembling a junk yard, the entire lot, about 1.5 acres of land is filled with debris as the $10,000 excavation begins. Pastor Robert Lacy, Jr. vows to rebuild and says

the Lord told him, “Don’t let it sit too long.”

Lacy’s church, which serves the community not only spiritually, but with regular food services and clothing giveaways says the organization had been recently certified to add a university to the church campus.

While some projects are on pause, Lacy says he hosts Sunday service on the street in front of the church. “I set up one tent covering,

Rev. Amos Brown, Danny Glover Inducted into Regional NAACP Legacy Hall of Fame

By Alan Dones

Honorable Mayor, Members of the City Council, and my fellow Oaklanders:

Today, AASEG steps onto the field with a team of equity all-stars ready to score touchdowns and break records and barriers for economic empowerment in East Oakland and the entire East Bay region.

Our leader, Ray Bobbitt, has assembled a Dream Team by drafting a powerhouse lineup of businesses, experienced professionals, and community leaders who share a common goal: to transform the Coliseum complex into a beacon of opportunity and prosperity. We are a dream team united in our commitment to our community.

We Have Home Field Advantage:

Today, the Council will vote on the AASEG’s purchase of this land, but we understand the Coliseum will never be truly ours. This site will always belong to the people of Oakland, and it is our sacred duty to develop it in a way that serves their best interests.

Alameda County D.A. Pamela Price Meets with New Oakland Police Chief Floyd Mitchell

D.A. Price Shares Her Views on the History of Oakland

Special to The Post

On Friday, June 7, 2024, DA Pamela Price convened a historic meeting with Oakland Police Chief Floyd Mitchell. Mitchell recently took over the helm of the Oakland Police Department after serving as the head of the Police Department in Lubbock, Texas.

Chief Mitchell began his career as a patrol officer with the Kansas City Police Department in Missouri. He served 25 years in Kansas City, and then became the police chief for the City of Temple, Texas. In 2019, Mitchell was appointed police chief of Lubbock, Texas, where he served until September 2023.

structural relationship between the Oakland Police Department and the District Attorney’s office.

Price and Mitchell discussed some of the challenges OPD faces and has faced over the years, as well as the resilience of Oakland residents and the true “flavor” of Oakland as a community.

Price pledged her support to assist Mitchell in his transition and shared her hope for his success as the new chief. Mitchell shared his priorities and his interests as he moves forward.

By Carla Thomas

The 12th Annual NAACP California-Hawaii State Conference

Legacy Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony was held at the Sheraton Hotel on Monday in downtown Sacramento. The 2024 inductees are civil rights activist Rev. Dr. Amos C. Brown and actor/civil rights activist Danny Glover.

Rev. Amos C. Brown, Th.D., of San Francisco, a distinguished civil rights leader who studied under Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and participated in pivotal civil rights actions, serves as president of the San Francisco Branch of the NAACP.

Danny Glover, renowned actor, producer, and activist was celebrated for his impactful performances

in film and his commitment to civil rights and economic justice. Glover, born in San Francisco, has received numerous awards for his humanitarian efforts.

“We are proud to commemorate Rev. Brown’s civil rights activism and Danny Glover’s legacy as 2024 NAACP CA/HI State Conference

We see the Coliseum as our collective home field, and our game plan is to ensure that everyone in the community shares in the future victories.

We Have A Winning Playbook: Community Benefits and Economic Returns

AASEG understands that prioritizing community benefits is not a sacrifice play; it’s indeed a strategy for success. We understand

Mitchell is a veteran of the United States Air Force and earned both his BSA and MBA degree in Business Administration from Baker University in Kansas. He is also a graduate of the Certified Public Manager Program administered by Texas State University, the FBI National Academy, and the Police Executive Research Forum’s Senior Management Institute for Policing at Boston College.

As a longtime resident of Oakland, Price shared some of her knowledge of the history of Oakland with Mitchell as well as an overview of the longtime and

The senior members of DA Price’s leadership team who attended this historic meeting included Chief Assistant District Attorney Royl Roberts, Chief Assistant of Prosecutions Otis Bruce, Jr., Senior Assistant District Attorney Jimmie Wilson, Chief of Inspectors Eric Lewis. Deputy District Attorney Brian Owens who works most closely with OPD was also in attendance, along with the Interim Director of the DA’s Community Support Bureau, Deputy District Attorney Esther Lemus.

Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao and Oakland’s Chief of Education & Community Safety Brooklyn Williams also attended the meeting.

Alan Dones. Courtesy photo.

Dr. Robert Lacy, Jr., pastor of St. Andrew Missionary Baptist Church, private school, and theological academy vows to rebuild after the 6-alarm fire and wears the fundraising hoodie. Cash App: $satu2624 or GofundMe Page: Help Save West Oakland’s Historic Site

Pamela Price shared her views as a longtime Oakland resident with OPD Chief Flyd Mitchell and other members of her team on June 7.

Actor Danny Glover and Third Baptist Church pastor Rev. Dr. Amos Brown were inducted into the Legacy Hall of Fame ceremony at the 2024 NAACP California Hawaii State Conference with the state president Rick L. Callendar at the Sacramento Sheraton Hotel. Photo by Carla Thomas.

Honoree actor Danny Glover with Post News Group journalist Carla Thomas at the Legacy Hall of Fame ceremony at the 2024 NAACP California Hawaii State Conference at the Sacramento Sheraton Hotel. Courtesy photo.

The African American Sports and Entertainment Group (AAESG) and some of their supporters were honored and celebrated at the Coliseum site by Mayor Sheng Thao, Councilmembers Noel Gallo and Rebecca Kaplan during Black History Month. Pictured left to right are Richard Johnson, Beverly Greene, Noel Gallo,Ray Bobbitt, Rebecca Kaplan, Gay Plair Cobb, Mayor Sheng Thao, Dee Johnson. Photo by Paul Cobb.

Brown v. Board at 70: Top Calif. Educators, Counterparts, Measure Progress in Wash., D.C.

By Joe W. Bowers Jr. California Black Media

From May 22 to 24, delegates from the California Association of African American Superintendents & Administrators (CAAASA) and the National Coalition on Education Equity (NCOEE) convened in Washington, D.C. for a public education conference titled “Establishing a National Agenda for Meeting the Promise of Brown V. Board: 70 Years Later.”

The conference, whose theme was a tribute to the Brown v. Board of Education ruling, kicked off with a symbolic visit to the U.S. Supreme Court, where participants marked the anniversary of the historic decision.

The gathering brought together top educators, researchers, policymakers, and advocates from cities across the nation, including Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Chicago, and many more to evaluate the progress and chart the fu-

ture of Black education in America.

Dr. Adam Clark, CAAASA/ NCOEE president and superintendent of the Mt. Diablo Unified School District, began the conference by explaining why it was important to have the meeting in the nation’s capital.

“Our inaugural conference here marks a critical milestone in our shared pursuit of educational excellence and equity,” Clark said.

Clark outlined the urgent issues in Black education in his opening address, including the need to promote Black student achievement, prepare future educators, foster leaders within the Black community, enact supportive legislation, and partner with civil rights organizations to enhance educational outcomes.

The conference held seven plenary sessions and 13 workshops, reflecting on the seven decades since the Brown decision and in-

spiring future action.

Conference workshops tackled a range of critical topics, from post-Brown school segregation to the significance of Black educators, pathways to educational equity, and strategies for Black student success. Sessions also addressed the unique challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizing the need for innovative solutions to ensure equitable education for all students.

Dr. Linda Darling-Hammond, president of the California State Board of Education, and Dr. Na’ilah Nasir, president of the Spencer Foundation, spearheaded the commissioning of nine white papers authored by 12 renowned education and civil rights researchers.

The event also featured a number of influential speakers in the field of education, including Dr. Chase Moore, special assistant for the U.S. Department of Edu-

Continued on page 7

Calif. Dept of Finance Is Helping Borrowers Sort Out Their Student Loans

By California Black Media

On June 2, the California Department of Finance announced the launch of the Student Loan Empowerment Network, a program that connects student loan borrowers to various communitybased organizations offering free legal aid to help clear $148 billion in student loan debt that about 4 million borrowers in California owe.

Clothilde V. Hewlett, commissioner of the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI), said that the program aims to empower state residents to take control of their financial outlook through resources and education.

The program will help Cali-

fornians understand their student loan debt and, in some cases, break the cycle of debt that many borrowers are facing,” said Hewlett.

DFPI created the program to help student loan borrowers understand and pay off their debts.

The state awarded $7.25 million in grant funding to over a dozen community-based organizations to support student loan borrowers around the state. The organizations will offer general and specialized legal aid to help student loan borrowers clear their debts.

The state partnered with more than a dozen nonprofits including the Housing and Economic Rights Advocates (HERA), National Consumer Law Center, and

Public Counsel.

According to the Education Data Initiative, 10% of the state’s residents have student loan debt, and more than half are under 35 years old. The average student loan debt for state residents is over $36,000, compared to the national average of more than $37,000 per borrower.

State residents with any student loan debt can access resources through the program. Residents can find assistance on the SLE Network website and complete the required forms. Program coordinators will refer and connect residents to a relevant organization in the network based on the resident’s needs and location.

When you get a Flex Alert, reduce your power use to help ease the grid and avoid statewide outages. The more people that save their energy for later, the more likely we keep the lights on.

Members of the California Association of African American Superintendents & Administrators, the National Coalition on Education Equity, and conference attendees pose on the steps at the site of the Brown v. Board of Education ruling of 1954. Photo by Gregory Jones – Gremar Photography

iStock photo.

BOOK REVIEW: Two Authors Delve Into History of Juneteenth for Children and Adults

By Terri Schlichenmeyer

The Bookworm Sez

The park picnic area has been reserved.

You’ve told everyone where to be and what to bring (grandma’s favorite dessert!) and someone will set up games to occupy the kids. Your whole family celebrates Juneteenth, so maybe it’s time to bring these two great books to your Jubilee …

If you sometimes feel like you’re always the last to know, then read “Galveston’s Juneteenth Story: And Still We Rise” by Tommie Boudreaux, Alice Gatson, Jami Durham and W. Dwayne Jones (The History Press, $24.99). Because sometimes, you are the last.

Some 60 years before the end of the Civil War, Britain and the U.S. both “banned the international trade of enslaved people...”

Slavery still existed, of course, and “Galveston [Texas] was known as the largest slave market west of New Orleans...” Roughly 1.000 people were enslaved there, and “many more... passed through the

city’s slave trading houses.” It’s estimated that “thousands” also tried to escape slavery through Galveston and Brownsville, over the Rio Grande to Mexico.

Pres. Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation proclamation on January 1, 1863. The Civil War ended in April 1865. On June 19 of that same year – two months after wars’ end – enslaved Texans finally learned that they were free.

This essential look at the history of Juneteenth goes beyond that historic day to show more of what happened in the immediate aftermath of the posting of General Order No. 3. The authors don’t stop there, though: they take their narrative well into the early 20th century, through Jim Crow laws, and into modern times and today’s celebrations. Complete with lots of illustrations, “Galveston’s Juneteenth Story: And Still We Rise” is a great book to browse and to keep around for reference.

You know your child wants to understand the history of this holiday, too, so look for the new picture book, “Juneteenth Is” by Natasha Tripplett, illustrated by Dan-

iel J. O’Brien (Chronicle Books, $17.99).

The morning has just started. The sun is up and today is the day for Jubilee. Everyone’s heading for the park and a parade with drummers and steppers. They throw candy to everyone along the parade route. There are red, green, and black flags everywhere!

After the festivities at the park, it’s time to get together with family. Juneteenth is a time to “be thankful.” It’s “the ladies singing in the kitchen,” an uncle’s jokes (groan!), basketball in the front driveway, prayer around the table, and “generations of family recipes.” And, of course, Juneteenth is a solemn time to acknowledge “things not taught in school.” That’s the lesson to be learned, and children ages 3 to 8 will love learning it with this book.

If these Juneteenth books aren’t exactly what you’re looking for, be sure to ask your favorite bookseller or librarian. They can put lots of other Juneteenth books for anyone of any age directly in your hands. Ask for help or be sure to put these two great books on reserve soon.

Courtesy of The History Press and Chronicle Books.

Public Notices, Classifieds & Business

California Black Freedom Fund

Disappointed in Fearless Fund Court Ruling

By California Black Media

The United States Appeals Court June 3 ruling that halted the operation of the Fearless Fund, an organization that offers grants to businesses owned by women of color, raises concerns about the future of racial equity and civil rights in philanthropy, said Marc Philpart, executive director of the California Black Freedom Fund (CBFF).

“While this decision is disappointing, for me, it is also galvanizing,” said Philpart.

“In this crucial time in our nation’s history, it is essential for those of us in philanthropy to protect our partners and progress on racial justice,” he said.

The philanthropy leader anticipated the pretrial ruling and procedural issue regarding the Fearless Fund, he said in a statement following the court ruling. The grant program, cofounded by Arian Simone and Ayana Parsons, aims to empower Black women entrepreneurs with resources and economic opportunity.

Simone said that the court ruling sends a message that diversity should be excluded from corporate America and education.

“America is supposed to be a nation where one has the freedom to achieve, the freedom to earn, and the freedom to prosper,” said Simone.

“Yet, when we have attempted to level the playing field for underrepresented groups, our freedoms were stifled,” she said.

The judges ruled that the grant program is likely to violate provisions of Title 42 of the U.S. code that ensures equal rights under the law and prohibits the use of race as a requirement for receiving grant awards.

Edward Blum, leader and founder of the American Alliance for Equal Rights filed the lawsuit against the venture capital firm.

Last year, the Republican legal strategist spearheaded the Supreme Court case that dismantled affirmative action in college admissions.

Blum used the Civil Rights Act of 1866, a law intended to uplift Black people, to go against the Fearless Fund. The Reconstruction-era law was enacted to protect formerly enslaved people from economic exclusion. Blum argued that the grant program violated the civil rights law.

Eleventh Circuit Judge Robin Rosenbaum issued a dissenting opinion that Blum’s lawsuit is similar to an athlete falling on the field to draw a foul.

“Although three of American Alliance’s members pay lip service to the idea they are ‘ready and able’ to participate in Fearless’ Contest, their declarations show, in context, that none has a genuine interest in actually entering the Contest,” Rosenbaum stated in the opinion.

By California Black Media

By Emil Guillermo

Who is the “father of our country”? Some people say it’s George Washington, the first president.

As we approach Father’s Day this year, who among those running for the presidency is worthy of that standard?

President Joe Biden? Or the presumed Republican nominee, CFDT34, the convicted felon Donald Trump, the former president with 34 criminal guilty verdicts.

Incidentally, that’s more guilty verdicts than some people at San Quentin.

Early polls indicate that the convictions may not matter much because voters disapprove of both candidates.

Trump is disliked because he’s an untrustworthy and chronic liar.

Biden is disliked mostly because he’s older and seen as responsible for how people perceive the economy. By all statistics, the economy is actually doing better than people feel. But people aren’t economists, nor do they have corporate board room perspectives. They judge the economy by the price of gas and eggs, and the size of their wallet after a trip to the supermarket. The economy and inflation are more important than the Trump verdicts.

So, who would be the better father of our country—The liar? Or the guy unfairly blamed for the economy?

That’s our choice in November.

HUNTER BIDEN VERDICTS

Conservatives counter the Trump guilty verdicts with the guilty verdicts of Hunter Biden for failing to disclose his drug use and addiction on a federal form required to purchase a gun.

But Biden is a son of a president, not the president.

And here is where we can draw real insight on the difference between Trump and Biden.

Trump for his legal woes trashed the judiciary, insulting the judge, the prosecutors and called the trial a rigged witch hunt. Overall, CFDT34 has demeaned the system, contributing to the overall degradation of our democracy.

Compare that to Biden’s response.

At a gathering of gun safety advocates, Moms Demand Action and Everytown for Gun safety, Biden didn’t even mention his son’s case.

He showed care for everyone in attendance, including some proGaza protesters who interrupted his speech.

The crowd shouted down the protesters, but Biden put a stop to that and showed his empathy.

“Innocent children have been lost,” Biden said defending his disruptors. “They make a point.”

Biden found common ground and then gave his speech, pointing out when a school shooting happened in Iowa, his predecessor said, “You have to get over it.”

Biden told the crowd, “Hell no, we don’t have to get over it. You’ve got to stop it. And stop it now.”

It was the first of many cheers

from the gun safety crowd. And when he finished, his schedule put him back in Delaware to be with his son to heal after the verdicts.

That’s the role of a father.

The role of a president? Biden told ABC he’d abide by the system. And when asked if he’d pardon his own son, the answer was NO.

No pardon. Not even for his own son. Would CFDT34 be capable of failing to intervene if his family were convicted? He would never put country before self. In fact, he’s pardoned his cronies in the past.

Biden says no pardon.

It’s the response from someone who is worthy of the phrase, father of our country.

About the Author

Emil Guillermo is a journalist and commentator, and comic monologist. He’s covered race and politics from Honolulu to Washington, DC when he was host of NPR’s “All Things Considered.” Contact him at www.amok.com

Last week, the California Middle Eastern North African (MENA) Civil Rights Coalition expressed “profound disappointment” with the California Assembly Appropriations Committee’s decision to suspend a racial inclusion bill.

The MENA Inclusion Act, Assembly Bill 2763, requires state agencies to offer distinct MENA reporting options that reflect the identities of residents with MENA heritage. The bipartisan bill co-authored by Republican Assemblymember Bill Essayli and Democratic Assemblymember Laura Friedman aims to include categories that report demographic data for residents of MENA descent.

Currently, on official documents people of MENA descent are classified as white.

The Assembly Committee put the bill on hold due to budget concerns. But supporters of the bill argue that the decisions perpetuate the systemic erasure of the identities, experiences, and voices of the state’s MENA commu-

nity. California is home to more than 740,000 people with MENA heritage. Supporters of the bill argue that people in the Arab American community have the right to be “properly recognized.”

Musa Tariqm, policy coordinator for the San Francisco -Bay Area chapter of the Council for American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said that the lack of recognition and accurate data marginalizes Arab Americans, denying them the resources and representation they deserve.

“We must push forward and advocate for policies that acknowledge and address the unique challenges faced by the MENA community,” said Tariq.

“Our fight for equity and justice is far from over, and we call on our allies to stand with us in this vital cause.”

With this decision, AB 2763 can only proceed with an urgent push from the Assembly Committee. Prominent community organizations in the MENA community co-sponsored the bill including the California chapter of CAIR, the group that penned the open letter.

It’s not easy to accept that nearly two-thirds of people living with Alzheimer’s are women, including Black women.

But there are steps you can take to reduce your risk, like monitoring Type 2 diabetes and lowering blood pressure.

Because you have what it takes to take on Alzheimer’s. Talk to your health care provider about signs, screening and early detection.

Marc Philpart, executive director of the California Black Freedom Fund. Courtesy photo.

By Lauren Victoria Burke NNPA Newswire

One of the last living legends of the American Civil Rights Movement who fought against violence and injustice on behalf of Black Americans, Rev. James Lawson, Jr., has died in Los Angeles. The reported cause was cardiac arrest.

Lawson was a teacher, strategist, and associate alongside all the major figures of the American Civil Rights Movement: from Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to Ralph Abernathy and James L. Farmer Jr. to John Lewis, Roy Wilkins, and Bayard Rustin. Lawson would become an indispensable architect in the fight for justice for Black citizens in America.

Lawson’s path as a civil rights activist was notably shaped during his time as a missionary in India from 1953 to 1956. While in India, Lawson studied Mahatma Gandhi’s principles of nonviolence, which deeply resonated with his Christian beliefs.

After returning to the U.S., Lawson enrolled at the Oberlin School of Theology in Ohio and met King in 1957.

The rising community activist recognized Lawson’s potential and convinced him to move to the South to train activists in nonviolent activism. Before Oberlin, Lawson attended Baldwin Wallace College in Berea, Ohio, where he became active in the Fellowship of Reconciliation, an organization dedicated to nonviolent action.

“The world won’t get no better if we just let it be.”

Lawson embodied the lyrics expressed in the song ‘Wake Up, Everybody’ performed by Harold Melvin and the Bluenotes.

“He was a courageous nonviolent strategist who taught many to meet injustice with what my father called ‘soul force,’” wrote MLK’s daughter, Bernice King.

“My condolences to his family. May his legacy live on.”

“The King Center mourns Rev. James Lawson Jr., a leading nonviolent strategist whose insight was deeply valued by Dr. King. Rev. Lawson, who died at 95, profoundly impacted the Civil Rights

cation; Lezli Baskerville, commissioner of the White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity for Black Americans; Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT); and Dr. Tyrone Howard, professor of Education at UCLA and president of the American Educational Research Association (AERA). Their presentations underscored the enduring impact of the Brown decision and the urgent need for continued advocacy and action.

The participants analyzed the

Lawson.

“We just lost a moral giant and spiritual genius- Rev. James Lawson, one of the greatest freedom fighters of our time! His courage and compassion was incredible! His prophetic witness shall forever burn in my heart!” wrote Princeton Professor Cornel West.

Movement, training leaders like John Lewis and Diane Nash. Condolences to his family,” reads a note from the King Center read after news of Rev. Lawson’s death.

Lawson moved to Nashville, Tennessee, and enrolled at Vanderbilt University’s Divinity School. In Nashville, Lawson played a key role in organizing and leading workshops on nonviolent tactics. His efforts culminated in the Nashville sit-ins of 1960 and Lawson successfully desegregated lunch counters in the city. The sit-in strategy became a crucial part of the broader Civil Rights Movement in the years to come as the non-violent protest won the attention of the nation and the world as it shined a light on the absurdity of segregation laws in the South.

Lawson became a key figure in the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and continued to work closely with Dr. King, participating in several major campaigns during the Civil Rights Movement. They included the Freedom Rides and the March on Washington in 1963. Lawson’s commitment to nonviolence remained steadfast even in the frequent and brutal face of violence and arrest by law enforcement in the South that shared close ties with the Ku Klux Klan.

“The Southern Poverty Law Center joins the world in mourning the loss of the Rev. James Lawson Jr., a civil rights activist who led sit-ins, marches and Freedom Rides.

“Today we remember the Rev. James Lawson Jr. as we continue pushing for equality and justice. Rest in power. #TheMarchContinues,” a message on social media from the Southern Poverty Law Center read in tribute to Lawson.

“The world has lost a powerful life force and mentor to so many of us. Expelled, arrested, and repeatedly brutalized, Rev. James Lawson never stopped waging revolutionary nonviolence against racism, sexism, militarism, and plantation capitalism. Rise in power, ancestor,” wrote Tennessee legislator Rep. Justin Jones in honor of

from researchers, national leaders, legislators, educators, and community leaders to devise a collaborative way forward. The aim of the analysis is to execute a national action plan over the next five years, leading up to the 75th anniversary of the Brown decision.

When the NCOEE/CAAASA conference concluded, participants overwhelmingly recommended future conferences.

Organizers expressed their gratitude to the co-hosts and partners, including the Learning Policy Institute, Spencer Foundation, Education Trust, College Board, William T. Grant Foundation and National Urban League, who made the event possible.

For more information and access to the conference resources, visit www.ncoee.org

Reverend Lawson was born on Sept. 22, 1928, in Uniontown, Pennsylvania. He grew up in Massillon, Ohio, where his father was a coal miner and Methodist minister who instilled in him a strong sense of faith and justice.

After King was killed in 1968, Lawson continued his work as social justice advocate. He served as pastor of the Holman United Methodist Church in Los Angeles from 1974 to 1999, where he focused on issues such as worker and immigrant rights. Lawson continued to be an influential voice, advocating for nonviolent resistance and human rights.

Lauren Victoria Burke is an independent investigative journalist and the publisher of Black Virginia News. She is a political analyst who appears regularly on #RolandMartinUnfiltered and speaks on Crisis Comms on YouTube @LaurenVictoriaBurke. She can be contacted at LBurke007@ gmail.com and on twitter at @LVBurke

Hosts Symposium Connecting Small Businesses to Billions of Dollars in Contracts

By Antonio Ray Harvey California Black Media

Despite the state’s looming budget deficit, Toks Omishakin, California Secretary of Transportation, shared some upbeat news during the first-ever Small Business Symposium held virtually on June 5. “The state budget has challenges. Nevertheless, this is still the most fruitful period of transportation investments in California and America,” the Omishakin said. “It’s time for us to take advantage of the fact that we have the policies and the funding to help small businesses in the state.”

So far, the state has received over $42 billion in Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) funds from the Biden Administration in almost three years, including more than $29 billion for transportationrelated projects.

State officials, including Tara Lynn Gray, Director of the California Office of the Small Business Advocate, other stakeholders, and over 400 other participants attended the three-hour webinar.

Recent transportation-focused infusions of cash into the California economy include almost $430 million from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and an additional $740 million from Senate Bill (SB) 1, the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017 authored by retired Sen. Jim Beall (DSan Jose).

In the fiscal year 2022-2023, over $961 million was awarded to small businesses in California. The participation goal, as mandated by AB 2019, was 25% but the state surpassed that mark by 9.4%.

According to the Governor’s office, federal contracts awarded to Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE) in the state exceeded the targeted requirement as well. DBEs were awarded over $1 billion in federal contracts during the fiscal year 2022-2023.

AB 2019 was co-authored by Assemblymember Cottie PetrieNorris (D-Irvine) and Assemblymember Chris Holden (D-Pasadena). It codifies a 25% small business goal for state procurement and enhances the ability of state agencies

to include small and underserved businesses in state contracting. With the theme “Scaling to New Heights Through Contracting Opportunities,” the symposium was hosted by the California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (OBED), the California Government Operations Agency, and the California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA). Dee Dee Myers, the Director of California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (OBED), said the state has 4.1 million small businesses with a workforce of 7.1 employees.

“California is the largest, most diverse small business community in the country,” Myers said. “That’s a million more than the next state which happens to be Texas. “ The Chief of California High Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) Catrina Blair provided an overview of participation for 844 certified small businesses and 29 DBEs from out of the state working on a 171-mile project that expects to build out around

Left to right: Toks Omishakin, California Secretary of Transportation; Tara Lynn Gray, Director of the California Office of the Small Business Advocate; Catrina Blair, Chief of Process and Program Development, California High-Speed Rail. Courtesy photos.

James Lawson at a picket against Ralph’s supermarket in Los Angeles, 9 July 2019. Photo: @ufcw770 | flickr.com / Wikimedia Commons.

Alameda County D.A.

Price Addresses Recall

Campaign Letter and County Sheriff Dispute

By Magaly Muñoz

Alameda County District At-

torney Pamela Price called recall supporters “sore losers” at a press conference Tuesday afternoon while addressing a letter that recall group Save Alameda For Everyone (SAFE) sent to the DA’s office calling on her to fire one of her employees for his actions towards the group.

The incident leading up to the letter issued on June 10 started at the SAFE’s kickoff rally on Saturday, June 8 where members of Price’s “Protect the Win” team were protesting against the event.

The DA’s director of Recruitment and Retention, Desmond Jeffries, was in attendance at the rally and went on Facebook Live to discredit the recall supporters’ arguments.

In his video, Jeffries can be heard referring to SAFE’s principal officer Brenda Grisham as “Brenda Gruesome” and accusing the rest of the supporters of being violent toward those who are disagreeing with their campaign.

Jeffries also states in his video that the call for justice that victims have been using as their primary argument for recalling Price is “all a facade by a violent gang.”

The SAFE letter was addressed to the Board of Supervisors and the DA, saying that they expect nothing less than Jeffries’ termination based on his behavior at the rally.

“Such behavior is completely unacceptable and undermines the trust and confidence that the public places in the District Attorney’s office. The families of murder victims deserve our compassion and support, not ridicule and disparagement,” the letter reads.

Price called the situation a “double standard,” recalling a similar situation where an employee of Price’s supported the recall by attending a SAFE rally during work hours and there had been no similar demand to have that employee fired.

“It is not appropriate that [SAFE] would expect that they could have employees on the payroll during work hours participate in rallies and then ask me or the

Board of Supervisors to fire an employee who is acting on his or her own time exercising his or her first amendment rights,” Price said.

Although no action will be taken against Jeffries, the DA did state that she does not condone violence or targeting and taunting.

She added that the letter is a political stunt and that SAFE’s actions until this point have shown that they are weaponizing the victims families’ trauma for their own political gain.

Price also compared the recall group to the Make America Great Again (MAGA) supporters, saying that the group is disrupting government, destroying public trust in government institutions, and attacking elections and elected officials.

During the press conference, Price also addressed a dispute with the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) regarding the lack of criminal charges from the DA’s office against a suspect in a stabbing in late January.

The Sheriff’s Office took to Facebook to announce the DA’s decision and a description of suspect Robert Barroca’s criminal history that ACSO suggested was prosecution was warranted. The post quickly went viral as several people commented “Recall DA Price” and threw blame toward the administration for their lack of concern on public safety.

Price said her office received 535 reports from the sheriff’s office, 49% of which were rejected due to insufficient evidence or no sentencing advantage. The latter was the reasoning the D.A.’s declined to prosecute.

Price explained that the suspect, who is currently on federal probation, will face far greater consequences for violating the terms of that probation than he would for any charges the county could make against him.

She has arranged a meeting with ACSO’s Sheriff Yesenia Sanchez to further discuss the rate of charging patterns and other concerns the law enforcement agency has regarding the DA office.

ST. ANDREW MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH ...

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and people filled the covering. I set up a second one and peopled filled that one up as well.” Lacy, Jr. says he was humbled by the community attendance. With a ‘guesstimate’ of $500,000 to rebuild, repair, and expand, Lacy, Jr. regards the fire less as a set-back, but more as preparation for a comeback.

After his father’s passing in 2021, Lacy, Jr. became pastor, continuing his dad’s 49-year legacy.

Since the 1900s the church site provided relief for San Francisco earthquake victims, hosted the Black Panthers Breakfast Program, and currently serves the community by offering theological classes, GED programs, computer access, vocational training, and job placement programs.

“The ultimate goal is to con-

tinue the legacy with an expansion that includes a medical research laboratory, law library, STEAM and Green education, and a 24hour daycare will fulfill the requirements of the 24-hour services needed for the underserved West Oakland community. Architectural and structural engineering assistance is requested, in-kind and monetary donations, as well as volunteers will help us in completing this project.”

A sweatshirt bearing the CashApp address and GofundMe name are Lacy. Jr.’s jump start of an aggressive fundraising campaign.

Donations can be sent via: Cash App: $satu2624 or GofundMe Page: Help Save West Oakland’s Historic Site

Angela Davis, Chesa Boudin Speak Out Against Recall of D.A. Pamela Price

“The battle has come here now. We’re ready for them, and we’re going to fight back,” said Price

By Ken Epstein

Human Rights leader Angela Davis and former San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin spoke this week at a private home in Oakland to raise money to help launch a campaign to oppose the recall effort against Pamela Price, Alameda County’s first African American district attorney.

Well-funded by a handful of developers and hedge fund executives, the recall will be on the ballot this November. At stake in the vote, according to Alameda County Senior Assistant District Attorney Cynthia Chandler, who introduced speakers, are the democratic rights of everyone who voted for Price when she was elected in November 2022.

“We are fighting for democracy; we are fighting for this County like we’ve never had to do before,” she said.

In his remarks, Boudin strongly supported Pamela Price’s criminal justice reforms. Boudin was elected as San Francisco District Attorney in 2019, implementing some criminal justice reform polices to reduce mass incarceration, including bail reform and alternatives to prosecution, before he was removed from office in a recall election in June 2022.

Pointing out that the recall against DA Price began only about a month after she took office, Boudin said she is facing an unfair attack, but “every single person in Alameda County who votes and cares about safety and is committed to justice is also going through the same thing.”

“This is not just about DA Price. She is a representative of the people, chosen through a democratic process, (and) she is committed to making big changes — things like sentencing reform, police accountability, transparency in how charging decisions are made, and she is more accessible and open to the people of the county that elected her, which has never been done before,” Boudin said.

“People want to blame her for every single crime that has been committed in Oakland. as though there was never a crime committed before she was district attorney,” he said.

Under the old regime, the homicide rate skyrocketed, doubling in 2021 under former Alameda County D.A. Nancy O’Malley, but there was not a single word uttered

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so much better because the vision will remain with a group that knows the city best.

Plans for the development include affordable housing, retail, entertainment, sports and more.

Despite widespread support, a few nonprofits and residents shared their hesitancy with the project and how fast the city is moving the approval along. They fear that these developments will gentrify the area and displace long-time residents and business owners by driving up housing and business prices.

Councilmember Carroll Fife shared in the meeting that she had similar concerns before sitting down and talking with AASEG.

After meeting with the group, she realized they were the best organization to push this project forward. She added that this purchase could serve as a form of reparations for East Oakland residents and businesses.

“We cannot move fast enough to develop East Oakland with people that are consciously and intentionally investing in our Black and Brown futures in that part of the city,” Fife said.

approves the final development contract. Benefits would include labor agreements, local and small business contracting goals, public open space, and anti-displacement and housing preservation policies.

Ray Bobbitt, founder of AASEG, said at the meeting that the group is in negotiations with the A’s to buy their half of the Coliseum as well. The A’s previously rejected an offer from the group months back.

Bobbitt explained that when Oakland was at the table with the A’s to extend their lease of the stadium in the spring, negotiating with AASEG was a part of the plan, and although the extension fell through, the negotiations didn’t.

“We are in a healthy negotiation. The idea is to merge both sides,” Bobbitt said.

Had the council voted against the sale, the city would have had to pay up to $15 million a year for maintenance of the grounds once the A’s departed the Coliseum. This would’ve cut into the general budget and added millions more to the already large deficit.

calling for her recall.

“A less courageous person, a less tenacious person, a less principled person, than DA Price would have seen the powers that are lined up against her and would have seen the opportunity and privilege that awaited if she had started compromising on the promises that she had made to all of you,” he said. “But not Pamela Price: she has done everything in her power to follow through on her promises.”

The recall effort is part of “a playbook we’re seeing across the country,” he said. “The billionaires who are funding these recalls don’t care what the voters think, but we need to send them a message.”

Angela Davis said that we are still living in the historical moment that existed in 2020, when the country witnessed the largest protests in its history, promoting a vision of equal rights, and an end to racism and police brutality.

However, there are many people who are more comfortable with the status quo and are afraid to embrace change, she said.

“There are a significant number of people who are afraid to move toward the future. What has been developing over the last year (or so), in this country is a vision of the future that is anti-racist and anti hetero-patriarchal.”

Speaking to the crowd at the event, which responded to her with warmth and enthusiasm, DA Price said:

“I know you’re all worried about me,” she said. “I’m OK because I’ve been in the fight for a long, long time, (but) I pray for Alameda County. Because we are in a season of hate and distrust.”

“The MAGA (pro-Trump) people have come to Alameda County, and that means they are about destroying our democracy. They are about destroying trust in our public institutions, and they are about attacking elections and elected officials.

“That’s the season that we’re in, and it’s the whole County (that is affected) whether you live in Berkeley, Albany, Union City, Newark, Livermore, Dublin — everybody is under attack right now.

“I’m proud of what we’ve done and what we’re doing,” Price said. “The battle has come here now. We’re ready for them, and we’re going to fight back.”

Commenters and council members alike agreed that there needed to be a community benefits agreement included before the city

A second reading of the ordinance is required to officially approve moving forward with the negotiations and purchase, which will be scheduled in the coming weeks.

AASEG’S PLAYBOOK FOR VICTORY AT THE OAKLAND COLISEUM ...

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how investing in our community is the best way to ensure strong financial returns and attract top-tier investors. Therefore, our playbook involves creating a wealth of opportunities for local residents, including:

Well-paying jobs and career pathways for advancement:

• Creating thriving ecosystems for local small businesses to launch and grow,

• Creating Ownership opportunities: for Oakland residents (especially East Oaklanders) to own a piece of the action, building intergenerational wealth that can transform their lives.

By investing in our community, we will help the City address its short- and long-term budget challenges. In doing so we’ll also create a stronger, safer, more vibrant City that attracts new businesses, residents, and visitors.

And, yes, we fully intend to bring major league sports franchises back to Oakland — this development will be a magnet for top-tier teams and the return of our region’s historically proven loyal fan base.

For Oakland — We now have our two-minute warning; it’s the bottom of the ninth; and it’s a oneposition game.

The AASEG is not just aiming to win more championships. We’re playing for a higher purpose — our city’s economic survival,

Continued from page 1

Legacy Hall of Fame members,” said NAACP State President Rick L. Callendar.

The intimate event of about 150 guests was hosted in the hotel’s ground floor Magnolia Room and featured a life-sized multiple light bulb fixture spelling out NAACP.

With family members in attendance, Glover said he was grateful for the honor and shared life stories. Rev. Dr. Amos Brown spoke of his entre into the civil rights movement as a child and starting an NAACP chapter in his Mississippi hometown. Rayland and the Oakland Ensemble aka R.A.T.O.E. performed R & B and jazz. The Oakland School for the Arts student ensemble featured Asante on keys, drum-

revitalization, and the restoration of Oakland to our deserved status as a world-class major league city — and the economic engine of our region.

By prioritizing affordable housing, accessible green spaces, and thriving local businesses, we will create a city where everyone can afford to live and flourish.

In doing so we will show the world a shining example of responsible land use that achieves equity and inclusion.

In Closing: Past generations left us the Coliseum - and we have all enjoyed decades of rich sports and entertainment tradition. Now, this is our generations’ legacy opportunity — our contribution to the future of Oakland and the entire East Bay region.

We understand that this represents more than just a business deal. Today, you are voting to entrust a sacred responsibility to build a brighter future for Oakland. Today, we are asking you to officially give AASEG the ball. We are humbled by the opportunity — and we are ready to deliver a gamechanging development that will transform the Coliseum complex and uplift our entire community. We remain deeply grateful for the support of the Mayor, City Council, and most importantly, the people of Oakland. With your partnership and support, we will score big for Oakland. Thank you.

mer Kaleo Green, Rainn Berhe on bass and saxophonist Tommy. The group was founded by lead singer, Rayland Albert.

The NAACP strives to achieve equity, political rights, and social inclusion by advancing policies and practices that expand human and civil rights, eliminate discrimination, and accelerate the wellbeing, education, and economic security of Black people and all persons of color.

The organization is committed to a world without racism where Black people enjoy equitable opportunities in thriving communities protected by racial equity, civic engagement, and supportive policies and institutions for all marginalized people.

Alameda District Attorney Pamela Price held a press conference to publicly respond to a letter by Save Alameda For Everyone (SAFE) calling on the DA’s office to fire an employee for taunting families of murder victims and address a dispute with Alameda County Sheriff’s Office.

Photo by Magaly Muñoz.

Former San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin, Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price and activist Angela Davis at a fundraising event on June 12. Photo by Ken Epstein.