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Vol. 62 No. 3 | Thursday, January 20, 2022
www.sdvoice.info
Serving San Diego County’s African & African American Communities 62 Years
No Matter the Vote: We Can’t Wait SEE PAGE 3
PUBLIC HEALTH ORDER & Covid-19 Updates SEE PG. 19
Covid-19 cases in
southeast
SOURCE: County of San Diego a/o 1/12/22
8,437
13,266
12,817
13,993
10,751
6,827
92102
92105
92113
92114
92115
92139
Project New Village Goes Mobile
Austin Lucious: Celebration of Life
SEE PAGE 11
SEE PAGE 9
WEBER'S AB 1655 WOULD
Voting Rights Takes Center Stage Make Juneteenth a Paid at Black Caucus MLK Breakfast Holiday in California By Aldon Thomas Stiles California Black Media
Voting rights was the central theme at a virtual breakfast the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) held Jan. 12 to celebrate the sacrifices and impact of Martin Luther King Jr. on American life and politics.
Washington, D.C., U.S.A. - Aug 28, 2021: March On for Voting Rights "Protect Voting Rights” Photo: Johnny Silvercloud/Shutterstock
By Antonio R ay Harvey California Black Media Last week, Assemblymember Akilah Weber (D-La Mesa) an nounced the introduction of Assembly Bill (AB) 1655, legislation that would make Juneteenth a
paid holiday in California. AB 1655 is co-authored by Assemblymember Reginald Jones-Sawyer (D-South Los Angeles) and Mia Bonta (D-Oakland). Weber, Bonta and Jones-Sawyer are all members of the California Legislative Black Caucus. See JUNETEENTH page 2
“It is not enough to evoke Dr. King's name on his birthday, post on social media and then take the day off,” said Sen. Steve Bradford (D-Inglewood), CLBC chair, reminding the audience of King’s activism and how his efforts led to the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. See RIGHTS page 2
Photo: Courtesy of CBM
Vice President Kamala Harris Speaks Black Woman on U.S. Coin to the Black Press of America
Maya Angelou First
By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Famous author and noted civil rights leader Maya Angelou became the first African American woman featured on the 25-cent coin. The U.S. Mint began shipping the quarters on January 10. Reportedly, the Angelou coin is the first in a series designed to celebrate the accomplishments of American women.
rency, we have the chance to say something about our country — what we value, and how we’ve progressed as a society,” U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet L. Yellen said in a statement. “I’m very proud that these coins celebrate the contributions of some of America’s most remarkable women, including Maya Angelou.”
“Each time we redesign our cur-
See ANGELOU page 2
Vice President Kamala Harris provided a message of hope while striking an encouraging tone during an exclusive interview with the Black Press of America. The Vice President, who cut her teeth as a California prosecutor, State Attorney General, and later as an influential U.S. Senator, said that despite many setbacks to voting rights, she and the entire BidenHarris administration haven’t and won’t stop fighting. “I will tell you that I gave a speech with President Biden at Morehouse College, and afterward, I had a quiet visit with Ambassador Andrew Young because I was looking to him for inspiration,” Vice President Harris told the gathering of publishers and journalists from the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA).
Maya Angelou Coin/Courtesy Rep. Barbara Lee/Twitter
“Based on what history has taught us, Ambassador Young said in a nutshell that freedom is a constant struggle. But we don’t give up. That’s where I am. I’m not
giving up,” the Vice President asserted. She continued: “We are going to keep on. This is a movement for voting rights. Coretta Scott King said the fight must be fought and won with each generation. This is certainly a moment that we should not have to be in, which is fighting against blatant laws that are designed to target specific communities that obstruct access to the ballot box.” Vice President Harris offered that she’s leaned on “folks from every walk of life.” She declared that all must remain purposely intentional and optimistic. With Democrat Sens. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Krysten Sinema of Arizona dealing
death blows to any hopes of passing the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the Freedom to Vote measure, Vice President Harris declined to place blame alone on those renegade party members. “We have a fight in front of us. I will emphasize that there also are 50 Republicans who took an oath to support and defend the Constitution,” Vice President Harris remarked. See KAMALA page 2
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