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Vol. 55, No. 50 • October 1 - 7, 2020
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Transparency Demanded in Breonna Taylor Case By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer @StacyBrownMedia
5 Faith leaders gathered at the U.S. Supreme Court for a silent walk led by the Rev. Dr. William Barber, co-chair of the Poor People’s Campaign towards the Senate office buildings on Sept. 29. (Anthony Tilghman/The Washington Informer)
The failure to indict Louisville Metro Police Department officers who broke into the home of Breonna Taylor, 26, a Black emergency medical technician, and shot her to death has led to more outrage and disgust over how little Black lives matter in America, particularly under the racially insensitive administration of President Donald Trump. While the Sept. 23 decision by the grand jury in Louisville doesn’t directly fall under his administration’s jurisdiction, it’s clear that it at least had Trump’s imprint in the form of an attorney general who’s both a Republican and a devout
President Trump’s decision to tab 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Amy Coney Barrett to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has led political watchers and others to brace for a majority conservative bench.
Americans Emerge the Real Losers as Vital Policy Questions Went Unanswered
Most important, more than 20 million Americans could lose health insurance because a conservative majority, at the urging of the president and Republican attorneys general, is likely to strike down the Affordable Care Act [ACA] as early as November. Further, The American
GINSBURG Page 29
TAYLOR Page 17
Decorum, Decency Abandoned During First Presidential Debate
National Bar Association Declares Supreme Court Nominee a Pandemic for Black and Brown Americans By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer @StacyBrownMedia
supporter of the president. Like the president, who often plays fast and loose with the truth and has fought for four years to prevent the release of items like his personal tax returns and business dealings, Cameron has refused to provide the public with exactly what he presented to the grand jury. Despite Taylor’s attorneys, Kentucky’s governor and the at-large public calling for transparency, Cameron has steadfastly ignored such requests. Further upsetting to the masses, one of the six officers involved in Taylor’s killing has been indicted on three lesser charges of firing his weapon into an
By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer @StacyBrownMedia American politics nose-dived, spiraled, crashed and burned during what masqueraded as the first 2020 presidential debate. “You’re a clown!” “Would you shut up, man!” “Everything you say is a lie.” Those were just some of the barbs from Democratic Presi5 Tricia C.K. Hoffler. (Photo courtesy National Bar Association)
DEBATE Page 38
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Federal Extended to Oct. 5law enforcement. She saidMillion they threat,” she said. Grant to had come together to bring a Among the programs Improve Literacy forMarlow Students
By Tia Carol Jones WI Staff Writer
sense of uniformity in the way wants to see implemented are Bowser recently announced that When L.Y. Marlow's 23-year- domestic violence victims Mayor and Muriel stricter restraining order policies, the U.S. Department of Education has awarded old daughter told her the father survivors are treated. more rights for victim's families the District a $16 million grant to improve of her daughter threatened her “She's using her own personal to intervene on behalf of a vic- literacy. The to five-year Literacy life, and the life of their child, story, her own personal pain tim, Comprehensive a domestic violence assess-State Development grant will be used primarily to support she knew something had to be push forward,” Davis-Nickens ment unit coupled with further local education agencies in strengthening done. Out of her frustration said about Marlow. training for law enforcement literacy development and instruction fromProtecbirth through with law enforcement's handling Davis-Nickens said anyone agencies, a Child's Life grade The Act grant aims to address disadvantaged of the situation, she decided to who reads Marlow's book will12. tion and mandatory counselstart the Saving Promise cam- “get it.” She said she “puts children, children living in poverty, Enthe including ing for batterers. paign. glish learners“Ifand case in such a way, the average wechildren are ever with goingdisabilities. to eradi“It seems to be a vicious cycle person can get it.” She said at the cate domestic violence, we must that won't turn my family end of the day, the book “This will critical federal look at bothfunding sides ofwill thehelp coin.our efforts loose,” said. Marlow In a Marlow late and surprise announcement week, U.S.to havetoa diahelp this people begin addressstudents, both the regardless vicensure We thatneed all to District of shared her ofstory with the audi- Rosslogue Secretary Commerce Wilbur said aabout “target date” violence. domestic tim and are thegiven batterer,” their background, a startMarlow strong in literaence at 5the Heights Also present atthethe event was thesaid. of Oct. will District be issued for communities to complete cy and opportunity to reach their full potential Domestic Violence Mildred the exMarlow would also like tosaid. see 2020 Census count.Symposium The statement posted on Muhammad, social methroughout their education,” Bowser ondia May 7 at theSept. District Heights wife of U.S. JohnDistrict Allen Muhammad, programs designed to raise Monday, 28 came four days after Over the next five years, the Office of the State Municipal Center. sympowas sentenced awareness among children in leverage Court Judge Lucy The Koh in Northernwho California issued ato six consecSuperintendent of Education [OSSE] will sium was sponsored the utive life terms without grant parolefunds public and private preliminary injunction by to continue counting beyond to: support earlyschools. languageShe and literaFamily and Wednesday, Youth Services by a Maryland jury for hiscy roleskills in for feels childrenbirth needtotoage be educatthe previous Sept. 30 deadline. The Justice children 5 through famCenter of thefiled cityan of District Beltway in ed literacy about domestic violence. Department appeal to Koh’sthe ruling the nextSniper day. attacks ily-centered strategies; increase the numHeights and the National Hook2002. Mildred Muhammad is “We have to stop being The original day to end counting was Oct. 31. By law ber of children reading on grade levelpasin grade 3 Up Black Women. the and founder of After sive-aggressive with poor chil- on evitheofcensus count must be completed delivered to the Trauma, through high school by providing training Marlow has bywritten a With book,several an more organization that helps the dren about domestic violence,” the president Dec. 31. days left to dence-based strategies for educators, school leaders “Color Me Butterfly,” which is a survivors of domestic violence Marlow said. contact residents who remain uncounted, Prince George’s and literacy coaches; and improve literacy outcomes story about four generations of and their children. Marlow has worked to breakand tradiCounty Councilwoman Deni Taveras (D-District 2) of for approximately 25,000 disadvantaged domestic violence. The book is “I lived in fear for six years. Six the cycle of abuse in her family, Adelphi said she and other volunteers will call thousands tionally underserved children and students through inspired by her own experiences, years in fear is a long time. It is and is confident the policies she of people from a list of those who visited food the use of effective interventions for underserved and those complied of her grandmother, not an easy thing to come out is pushing for will start that distribution sites. groups. OSSE will work together with community her mother and her daughter. of,” she said. process. on deck phone banking,” she said. these goals. She “All saidhands everyaretime shewith reads Mildred Muhammadpartners said to reach “I plan to take these policies to excerpts from her book, she still people who want to help a Congress and implore them to can not believe the words came domestic violence victim must change our laws,” Marlow said. from her. “Color Me Butterfly” be careful of how they go into “I will not stop until these poliwon the 2007 National “Best the victim's life, and understand cies are passed.” Books” Award. that she may be in “survival Tia Carol Jones can be reached Comcast Business recently “I was just 16-years-old when unveiled mode”.new reat tiacaroljones@sbcglobal.net search thatblackened uncovers key almost 600 my eye first andstressors my for“Before you get to 'I'm going small- to mid-size business [SMB]toowners, howit started as a verbal lips bled,” Marlow said. kill you,' WI they have managed the presipandemic thus far and Elaine Davis-Nickens, optimistic theyHook-Up are in continuing to do so. denthow of the National of Black Women, said there is no Despite 86 percent of respondents experiencing consistency way domestic a declineininthe business revenue, the majority (78 violence issues dealt with by percent) feelareprepared for another COVID-19 spike after rethinking how they do business (46 percent), serve customers (50 percent) and collaborate and communicate (45 percent). “In a COVID-19 world, resilient small and medium businesses are embracing technology like never before, rapidly implementing key solutions to digitize the customer journey in an effort to improve sales in a difficult customer acquisition environment,” said Shari Lavin, research director, Small and Medium Business, IDC. “While the solutions they need vary by business, reliable connectivity and the ability to collaborate underpin any key digital initiative.” The survey also revealed that small and mid-size businesses are: fast-tracking new technologies; teaching themselves how to adapt; and feeling prepared for the future. “Over the past 6 months, small and mid-size businesses have shown tremendous resolve and agility. This survey offers encouraging insights into the current mindset of SMB owners as they adapt their businesses for the future and prepare for the potential of a second spike in COVID-19 activity,” said Eileen Diskin, chief marketing officer, Comcast Business. “The resiliency of SMB owners cannot be overstated. Comcast Business is committed to being a partner and resource to these businesses as they bounce forward from the pandemic.”
Survey: Almost 80 percent of Small, Medium Business Owners Feel Ready for COVID-19’s Second Wave
“
We have to stop being passive-aggressive with poor children about domestic violence. I plan to take these policies to Congress and implore them to change our laws. I will not stop until these policies are passed.
“
SOMETHING NEW EVERYDAY
Women the Cycle of wi hotBreak topics Domestic Violence Census Deadline Bowser Announces $16
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L.Y. Marlow
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A Look at the Ward 8 D.C. State Board Race By Sam P.K. Collins WI Contributing Writer @SamPKCollins This article is the second installment of a four-part series about the D.C. State Board of Education [DCSBOE] races, the winners of whom will develop and promote policies on behalf of students, parents and teachers in Wards 2, 7 and 8 and throughout the entire District. The winner of the Ward 8 DCSBOE seat will represent a jurisdiction in the District with the largest proportion of school-aged children and one where a significant number of schools, because of an enrollment-based funding formula, often lack the resources needed to serve a population which includes students with special needs. Over the years, the STAR rating system – described by some as similarly ineffective – has, in part, led to the shuttering of several charter schools in Ward 8. In the scramble for quality education, students have flocked to other parts of the District. Meanwhile, the ward’s only two high schools have made strides in their academic offerings, addressing matters of school and community safety and attracting students from their cluster schools and other parts of the city. With the shift to virtual learning occurring this fall, greater attention has been given to gaps in technology and Wi-Fi access that continue to elude education leaders, despite the influx of dollars dedicated to tackling these issues. As the following profiles show, these two Ward 8 DCSBOE candidates have varying perspectives on what it would take to achieve educational parity.
CARLENE D. REID: THE EXPERIENCED EDUCATOR
Carlene D. Reid, an advocate for strong neighborhood schools, entered the Ward 8 DCSBOE race last November. She touts her 15 years of experience as a special educator and administrator in the D.C. public and public charter
school systems and the Office of the State Superintendent of Education [OSSE] as an asset in speaking to various stakeholders across the ward and developing educational policy that addresses key issues. If elected, Reid’s priorities include spurring funding for technology and innovative curricula, creating opportunities for members of the Ward 8 community to engage one another and leveraging her professional experience to influence the decision making of the D.C. Council and OSSE. She has pointed to the STAR rating system as a mechanism in need of vast improvements, including those that better allow parents, particularly those with special needs, to understand the accommodations available to their children at certain schools. In regards to connecting families to elected officials, Reid said it requires boosting parental engagement and providing community members with the information they need to make recommendations to the Ward 8 SBOE representative that reflect their values and desires for their community and not those of education officials with an agenda. “We have to move away from the process of special and emergency meetings for issues that we know are coming down the pike,” Reid, an education program specialist at the U.S. Department of Education, told The Informer. “I am the only individual running who has made policy and implemented programs at the local, state and national level which have included a variety of stakeholders. My professional experiences have taught me that it is not simply being at the table but engaging the community in tangible solutions that make a difference,” Reid continued. “Our community is made up of a variety of individuals. Of course, I run into parents who are engaged in the process. I [also] hear people who don’t have children and business owners who can contribute say they would like to help. It’s all hands on deck when it comes to Ward 8 education,” Reid said.
LAJOY JOHNSON-LAW: A PARENT FIRST
Over the last decade, LaJoy Johnson-Law has worn several hats in the education community but none with more pride than that of a mother with a special needs child. If elected as the Ward 8 representative on the DCSBOE, Johnson-Law said she’ll act as an authentic parental voice on a government body that hasn’t been the friendliest, or most transparent, to District families when it comes to recommending policy directly affecting students. Johnson-Law, a parent support specialist at Advocates for Justice and Education, said nothing has prepared her more for that job than the disappointment of not seeing her daughter’s Individualized Education Program fully implemented.
RACES Page 31
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SOURCE: BLACK AMERICA WEB
OCT 1 - 7, 2020
OCT. 1
1960 – African nation Nigeria gains independence from the United Kingdom. 1962 – James Meredith becomes the first African American student to enroll at the University of Mississippi.
OCT. 2
1800 – Nat Turner, the leader of a major slave rebellion, is born in Southampton County, Virginia. 1935 – Robert Henry Lawrence Jr., the first African American astronaut, is born in Chicago. 1937 – Famed lawyer Johnnie Cochran is born in Shreveport, Louisiana. 1967 – Thurgood Marshall is sworn in as the first African American Supreme Court justice. 2005 – August Wilson, Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, dies of cancer at 60 in Seattle.
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1917 – Fannie Lou Hamer, voting rights activist and civil rights leader, is born in Montgomery County, Mississippi. 1971 – The first legal interracial marriage in North Carolina, between John A. Wilkinson and Lorraine Mary Turner, takes place.
OCT. 7
AUGUST WILSON 6 - OCTOBER 1 - 7, 2020
1897 – Nation of Islam leader Elijah Muhammad is born in Sandersville, Georgia. 1931 – Desmond Tutu, anti-apartheid activist and retired Anglican bishop, is born in Klerksdorp, South Africa. 1934 – Amiri Baraka, renowned African American writer, is born in Newark, New Jersey. 1993 – Famed author Toni Morrison (above) wins the Nobel Prize in literature. WI
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As the days grow shorter and the heat of summer gives way to cooler fall temperatures, the U.S. has reached a disturbing milestone, six months after the coronavirus invaded our lives. Data released by the Centers for Disease Control as of Sept. 28 shows COVID-19 total cases and deaths in the U.S. have reached 7,115,046 and 204,756, respectively. As for the Greater Washington Area, coronavirus cases in the last week have dropped to their lowest level since mid-July. But there’s still reason to move with caution. In the DMV, as of Sept. 28, the total number of cases stands at 284,797 and 7,718 deaths. But do not be fooled. While we may have believed the worst was behind us and that we can look forward to the fall season and a return to “normal,” the scientific community tells us just the opposite. That said, it appears that schools will continue to operate in virtual mode, restaurants will remain limited to carry-out or outdoor service and the doors to churches and movie theaters will stay shuttered as small business owners hang on for dear life. Despite the conflicting rhetoric
issued nearly every day by Donald Trump and his minions, according to officials and health experts, infections will in all likelihood escalate this fall and winter forcing authorities to reverse course and tighten restrictions on public activities. In fact, the “real” experts warn us that within the next several months,
As the days grow shorter and the heat of summer gives way to cooler fall temperatures, the U.S. has reached a disturbing milestone, six months after the coronavirus invaded our lives. the U.S. will face a “twindemic” – that is, the confluence of two infectious disease outbreaks: influenza and COVID-19. They predict that with the frigid temperatures most of Americans will again endure during the winter that will result in more people staying indoors, often in large groups, conditions will be ripe for a “perfect storm.” It’s understandable that many citizens have long grown frustrated after complying with local shutdown orders and other measures initiated as early as March in efforts to contain the virus that have not achieved the desired ends – driving down infections. The result has been what’s now referred to as “COVID fatigue.” From my perspective, this “COVID fatigue” is little more than the behavior of people who have become accustomed to doing their own thing in a society which allows for the prevalence of instant gratification, giving excuses for their
inability or refusal to follow Centers for Disease Control guidelines including wearing masks and maintaining social distancing whenever in public. During my freshman year in college, while pledging Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., we were instructed to memorize a poem entitled, “Excuses.” Its message seems apropos in response to those who lament changes from the norm due to coronavirus, even saying they can’t take much more of this. Excuses are monuments of nothing that lead to nowhere. Those who use these tools of incompetence are masters of nothing. The reality we must all accept is things are going to get worse as the tandem of weather and noncompliance frustrate our hopes that the virus would have begun to wane after nearly seven months of unprecedented shutdowns and shuttering. Further, ‘COVID fatigue,” which some may be using as an excuse to hit the local watering hole or to throw caution to the wind and join dangerously large groups at outdoor concerts and beaches, also represents a legitimate case – a public weariness that has overwhelmed hundreds of thousands after following months over six months of adhering to health guidelines. So, what’s a person to do? While I’ve never asked my physician for a flu shot, this year I’m going to do it. Meanwhile, I’m going to follow the three S’s: SELFISH because I want to stay out of the hospital during COVID-19 as getting both influenza and coronavirus could prove deadly. SELFLESS because I want to prevent hospitals near me from being overwhelmed with COVID-19 cases. SCIENTIFIC because vaccinations boost the immune system. May the “Force” and common sense be with you all! WI
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AROUND THE REGION
By James Wright WI Staff Writer @JamesDCWrighter
The District’s civic, neighborhood and some public organizations have instituted measures to increase residents’ participation in the political process and the Nov. 3 general election by sponsoring voter registration drives and education campaigns on candidates and the electoral process. The District’s general election ballot will offer residents the opportunity to vote for public offices from U.S. president to their single-member district advisory neighborhood commissioner. W. Earl Williams, the president of the D.C. Citizens Federation and a member of the Hillcrest Community Civic Association in Ward 7, said civic and neighborhood associations—which are designed to encourage and facilitate communal participation in local matters of interest—should embolden residents to vote in this year’s election. “It is our important civic duty to encourage our neighbors to vote in this election,” Williams said. “This election is a turning point in our country. Everybody should have the chance to be heard.” While political clubs have long sponsored voter registration drives to get residents processed to vote in primaries, special and general elections, civic, neighborhood and even government agencies have held events with the same purpose in mind, without the partisan bent. The League of Women Voters of the District of Columbia serves as an example of this type of organization and Kathy P. Chiron, the president, champions her group’s nonpartisan charge. “We make it a point to register to vote anyone who is eligible, and we don’t ask party affiliation,” Chiron said. The League, operating since 1920, bills itself on its website “as the premier source for nonpartisan election information.” In terms of voter registration, the website said, “We register voters across the city every year and actively encourage all citizens to vote. “We concentrate our registration drives at locations in the city where D.C. residents are less likely to be registered to vote or participate in election,” the website said. Chiron said since the advent of the
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5 Volunteers help register a Ward 8 resident to vote. (Roy Lewis/The Washington Informer)
coronavirus in the District in midMarch, the League has worked with the D.C. Board of Elections to help residents register to vote virtually and online and has held a limited number of in-person events such as hosting a table outside of the MOM’S Organic Market in the Ivy City-Trinidad neighborhood in Northeast on Sept. 22. Chiron said members of her organization have mounted posters encouraging residents to vote throughout the District in apartment buildings, liquor stores and retail establishments. The League has interacted with neighborhood list serves, faith-based groups and has utilized social media “as best as we can,” Chiron said. She also said postcards have been sent to residents. Chiron said the League will work with residents and the board of elections to make sure the mail-in ballot process will go as smoothly as possible. This year, the board decided to mail all registered voters a ballot they can send in by mail or put in a dropbox and Chiron said part of her organization’s education campaign will be to inform residents how the process works. “Presently, there will be 55 dropboxes in the city and there will be dropboxes in the D.C. jail and at senior citizen centers,” she said. She said the League will encourage residents to vote as early as possible. “When you get that ballot, send it in as soon as possible,” Chiron said. “If you get it in early and there are errors, corrections can be made before Election Day. Also, early voting begins on Oct. 27 and we encourage people to take advantage of that to avoid long lines on Election Day.” While the League works on a non-
partisan basis, the D.C. Department of Youth Rehabilitation Service, a government agency, held a nonpartisan voter registration event on Sept.22 aimed at registering young people at its facility in the Gallery Place neighborhood in Northwest. Janay Williams, the program manager for the Achievement Center where the event took place coordinated the drive with the purpose of getting young people politically motivated. “I would like to highlight the fact that we are asking kids to get registered and we are doing it in a safe place,” she said. “While the focus is on the young people we serve, anyone could come in and register. We have representatives from the board of election to help.” Williams said she has noticed an interest in politics among her constituents spurred by Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) as the first woman of color being tapped to run on a presidential ticket as vice president. “A lot of youth is excited about Harris,” Williams said. “Some of them are looking at her and saying if she can do it, so can I. It has encouraged them to go through obstacles in their life.” Citizens Federation president Williams said he, too, has noticed African America interest in the election lately. “I think the African American turnout will be higher than it was in 2016,” he said. “If the Black turnout had been in 2016 what it was in 2012, our country will not be in the situation it is in now. I also think the at-large council races have generated a lot of interest in the city. As a result, it is up to the civic organizations to provide people the information so they can vote effectively and safely.” WI
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“Having traveled over a considerable portion of these United States, and having, in the course of my travels, taken the most accurate observations of things as they exist – the result . . . has warranted the full and unshaken conviction, that we (colored people) are the most degraded, wretched and abject set of beings that ever lived since the world began; and I pray God that none like us ever may live again until time shall be no more.”
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AROUND THE REGION
Gen Z and Millennials Debate Social Justice Issues By Sam P.K. Collins WI Contributing Writer @SampKCollins Family, friends and community members recently said their final good-byes to Deon Kay during a funeral at the Temple of Praise on Southern Avenue during which mourners reflected on what could’ve been a bright future for the teen shot and killed by a D.C. police officer just days after turning 18. In the weeks since his Sept. 2 death, supporters have not only had to find solace in the memories of their fallen son and friend, but combat residents and public figures who’ve lambasted those lionizing Kay as a victim of police brutality. Anti-violence advocate Miss Hardy DC, one of several who converged on the 200 block of Orange Street after MPD Officer Alexander Alvarez shot and killed Kay, recalled receiving phone calls from local leaders who called Kay a menace and questioned her perspective. “I got so much hate for supporting Deon Kay,” Hardy told an audience at Eaton DC in Northwest during a Friday evening event that commemorated the two-year anniversary of Speakezie..Go Hard, a collective of artists, poets and musicians dedicated to tackling racial injustice and trauma in communities of color. Miss Hardy DC, known for Guns Down Fridays, told Speakezie..Go Hard founder ElJay’Em that people need to affirm the humanity of Kay and other people living in portions of Southeast and a racist society at large without the tools needed to thrive. “The issue is that nothing is being done,” Miss Hardy DC said. “That specific neighborhood doesn’t have violence interrupters. They don’t have resources in that neighborhood. Everyone’s not on accord for fighting injustice. That’s the most heartbreaking part.”
YOUNG PEOPLE SPEAK UP
Throughout much of the year, as District residents young and old have combated COVID-19 and racial injustice, year-to-date figures have shown an increase in violent crime, much to the chagrin of D.C. Councilmember Trayon White (D-Ward
8) and others who’ve called for an increase of funding for violence interrupters charged with quelling neighborhood disputes. During the earlier part of September, some students started virtual learning still reeling from the deaths of 11-year-old Davon McNeal, 17-year-old Christopher Brown and several other young people who lost their lives over the summer. As their peers continue to fall victim to gun violence, students have brought to the virtual classroom questions about the conditions of their community and the pandemonium unfolding across the country during a tenuous election year. To channel that enthusiasm for change, DC Public Schools [DCPS] hosted the Empowering Males of Color/Reign virtual conference last Saturday. The five-hour event, themed “Virtual Vibes: Surviving to Thriving,” included keynotes and panel discussions led by author Jason Reynolds and activist Brittany Packnett Cunningham. Workshops about various aspects of the Gen-Z experience attracted youth from grades six through 12. The conference, which also included an appearance by 93.9WKYS’ own Little Bacon Bear, also provided a platform for young people, like Khalil Sommerville, to take their peers to task for not embracing causes that make society better for people from all walks of life. “In the Black community, we care about issues facing us but we don’t care about issues facing other groups even if other groups are intermingled with us,” said Khalil, a McKinley Technology High School student and participant in the Reynolds panel. “They are at odds. In the end that’s going to bring us down,” he continued. “I hope to help people realize that we face a common struggle with the authority above us. It’s all really connected in the end with the struggle that we can’t defeat by ourselves.” While speaking with Cunningham and her younger peers, DCPS alumnae Madison Bryan-Barnes noted that young people experiencing virtual learning at the K-12 and collegiate levels will determine the future trajectory of public policy. She told The Informer that she not only relished the opportunity to weigh in on contemporary issues as a DCPS
graduate, but as an on-campus freshman at George Mason University. “D.C. has allowed me to understand how diverse we actually are. In Georgetown, you have people who might not know how to interact with people who don’t look like them or in a position of power where they can do what they want,” said Bryan-Barnes, a 2020 graduate of The Duke Ellington School of the Arts. “Even though I went to school in an area that wasn’t designed for me, it was a very humbling experience to say that this is D.C., what people would call Chocolate City,” Bryan-Barnes added. “I wish I would’ve
GEN Z Page 37
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5 ElJay’Em of Speakezie..GoHard interviews Ari Theresa of Stoop Law during an event commemorating Speakezie..GoHard’s two-year anniversary on September 25 at Eaton DC in Northwest. (Courtesy Photo)
OCTOBER 1 - 7, 2020 11
PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY Virtual Learning in Prince George’s Garners Mixed Reviews By William J. Ford WI Staff Writer @jabariwill
Ninah Jackson said virtual learning in Prince George’s County provides freedom and flexibility within a student’s class schedule, especially with built-in breaks to not sit in front of a computer for several hours. The negative effect produces no in-person social and emotional interaction with friends and teachers. Fortunately for Ninah, she’s en-
rolled in only three classes: AP Calculus, organic chemistry and research practicum through the county’s science and technology program. “Virtual learning is an adjustment for everybody. I’m definitely not an audio-visual learner. I’m more of a traditional learner. Give me a textbook and send me off to do what I need to do,” said the 17-year-old senior at Oxon Hill High School and student member of the county school board. “It’s hard to have that endurance to sit in front of a screen to internalize
that information. I know it is hard for teachers to teach the content through a screen.” Monday, Sept. 28 marked the fourth week of Prince George’s public school students attending the 202021 school year strictly online. As of that day, health officials reported XXX confirmed coronavirus cases in D.C., Maryland and Virginia. With hundreds of thousands of students, and in some cases, parents at home either working or unemployed due to the pandemic, school officials continue to host virtual sessions to try and ease problems with the online form of instruction. The Pew Research Center of Northwest completed a survey of U.S. adults between April 7 and April 12 that showed how would technology reach their children when schools resumed in the fall. According to the center’s report released Sept. 10, about 80 percent of the 4,917 who participated believed school systems have a responsibility “to at least some of their students to provide computers or tablets to help students complete their schoolwork during the outbreak.” Prince George’s officials distributed thousands of Chromebooks and tablets to students.
5 Ninah Jackson, a senior who attends Oxon Hill High School, poses at her home Sept. 24. (Anthony Tilghman/The Washington Informer)
In addition, the school system paid Comcast Internet Essentials for almost 4,000 families and 5,00 Verizon hot spots so students can receive internet access. Some students such as Jaylen Blocker, 17, already experienced some Wi-Fi problems that booted him out during classroom lessons on Zoom. Once internet connection returns, Blocker will email his teacher to explain what happened. On a couple of occasions, the Parkdale High School junior used his cell phone to participate in class. The school system uses an A and B
Students: ‘Push for Change’ to Improve Community By William J. Ford WI Staff Writer @jabariwill
The same week a grand jury in Kentucky decided not to indict three police officers in the shooting death of Breonna Taylor, high school student leaders in Maryland participated in a virtual town hall Friday, Sept. 25. Although eight of the students serve on county school boards and another student moderated the discussion, they all spoke on behalf of themselves. In connection to the Breonna
Taylor case, Ninah Jackson, a 17-yearold senior at Oxon Hill School and member of the Prince George’s County school board, asked how can students have faith in public institutions, vote, or contact their local officials when “the system isn’t going to give them the answer or the results they’re looking for?” “Dissatisfaction is all the more reason to want to get involved and all the more reason to push for change,” said Nick Asante, a senior and member of the Montgomery County school board. “These systems are broken, so it’s our job now to go in and fix these systems
5 High school student leaders discuss a myriad of topics during virtual town hall Sept. 25. (Screen grab: MD SMOB Coalition)
12 - OCTOBER 1 - 7, 2020
through our voting, supporting candidates who we believe will change these systems through our advocacy.” The students who participated in Friday’s discussion entitled “Racial Injustice in Education” are part of the state’s Student Member on the Board of Education, known as SMOB. Some of the topics focused on student leadership, incorporating LGBTQ education into the curriculum and Black Lives Matter in schools. A hot button topic that continues to be discussed nationwide deals with school resource officers (SROs). Ninah said that topic won’t be reviewed again in Prince George’s until January. That’s because the school board recently adopted a recommendation from the Operations, Budget and Fiscal Affairs Committee to wait until a police reform report becomes completed by the county executive’s police reform task force. The report must be completed by Oct. 30. Afterward, school staff can review the report and analyze the impact of school resource officers. Zach Koung, a high school senior
in Howard County, said SROs are stationed at 12 of the 20 middle schools. Those 12 schools have the highest number of Blacks who attend them, he said. “If SROs were there to protect against school shootings, wouldn’t they be at every school?” Zach said. “I don’t think the data really supports their presence.” That’s why, as Drake Smith said, working with adults can be challenging because “some of these old people can be really hard-headed.” Smith, a senior from Anne Arundel County, said alliances can be formed by understanding another person’s culture. That, in turn, creates a more diverse and inclusive community in and outside of school, he said. “I don’t expect you to read a whole book about Islam. All I expect you to do is not be afraid and talk to these people that don’t look like you,” he said. “The best learning experience can happen just by talking to somebody that doesn’t look like you, someone that’s not cut from the same cloth.” WI
schedule in which students don’t take the same class daily. Blocker’s enrolled in nine classes that include math, world history and drama. He also plays on the school’s football team and works at Outback Steakhouse in Largo. “We get more work through virtual learning,” he said. “It can really mess you up.” As for now, the more than 136,000 students in Prince George’s are scheduled to continue with virtual learning for nearly four more months. County health, school and government officials will analyze in December whether to incorporate a hybrid structure with some in-person learning. If approved, students won’t return to school buildings until Feb. 1. The majority Black jurisdiction continues to record the most confirmed COVID-19 cases in Maryland. “We think there is great risk involved in moving out of the posture we are in right now,” County Executive Angela Alsobrooks said during a COVID-19 briefing Thursday, Sept. 24. “We’re going to continue to make sure we keep the health and safety of our students, their teachers, administrators and family members in mind. We are not ready to go to the hybrid” model. Although students want to see their friends, health and safety remains the best option. “I would love to get in the building as soon as possible,” Jaylen said. “But to be on the safe side, we should just wait until Feb. 1.” Neighboring school systems such as Charles County in Maryland and the District of Columbia public schools are working to offer some in-person instruction later in the fall. Another D.C. suburb, Montgomery County in Maryland, also plans to maintain virtual learning under the same timeframe as Prince George’s. WI
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PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY
Prince George’s, William Green Reach $20M Settlement
By William J. Ford WI Staff Writer @jabariwill
Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks announced the county reached a settlement of $20 million with the family William Green, killed by a former police officer in January while handcuffed in a police cruiser. Alsobrooks made the announcement during a press conference at the Wayne K. Curry Administration Building standing several feet from Green’s family members and their attorneys. “I understand this will not bring back your son, but we want to thank you, Ms. Green, for your grace and for your patience during this process,” Alsobrooks said Monday, Sept. 28 looking at Green’s mother, Brenda. “In Prince George’s County, when we are at fault, we take responsibility. In this case, we are accepting responsibility.” The family’s attorney, Billy Mur-
phy, said the $20 million settlement represents the largest figure in Maryland and one of the largest in the country for an unlawful shooting by police. Murphy also represented the family of Freddie Gray of Baltimore, who reached a $6.4 million settlement with the city of Baltimore five years ago after Gray died while in police custody. Murphy said police reform in Prince George’s and nationwide should include all police departments implementing body cameras and subjecting perspective officers to psychological testing. “I’ve been fighting for police reform … my entire life. There isn’t much that has changed in 50 years. The rhetoric has not changed. The police behavior has not changed,” Murphy said. “The Black community has never in this country been in charge of how it is policed. We have been policed in a way that reflects in the prevailing view that we are less than human.”
Members of Green’s family stood beside his mother, who wore a black hoodie with her son’s picture on it that read, “Rest In Peace. William Green.” He’s the father of two children. Green’s daughter and youngest child, Shelly Green, said her father’s death on Jan. 27 rest on the same day as her mother’s birthday. “For the rest of my life, the same day I celebrate another year of my mom, I will have to share that day mourning my father as well,” said Green, who added the family will use the monetary resources to combat police brutality. The former Prince George’s police officer, Cpl. Michael Owen Jr., noticed Green sitting in a car in Temple Hills after Green struck three parked cars. According to county records, Owen took Green out of the car, handcuffed him and placed him in a police cruiser. Several minutes later, Owen shot Green about six times and told author-
5 Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks, right, speaks to the family of William Green on Sept. 28 after she announced the county reached a $20 million settlement with his family. Former police Michael Owen, Jr. killed Green in January. (William J. Ford/The Washington Informer)
ities he feared for his life. Green, 43, was pronounced dead hours later at a local hospital. Police arrested Owen the next day and charged him with Green’s death, which Alsobrooks said marked the first time a county police officer was charged with murder while on duty. In March, a grand jury indicted Owen for second-degree murder,
manslaughter, first-degree assault and other charges. He remains in custody as he awaits a criminal trial. Alsobrooks said the money from the settlement will come out of the county budget. “This is not the way that we want to spend taxpayer dollars, which is
SETTLEMENT Page 37
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BUSINESS Joe Biden Maintains Lead in National Polling but Can Americans Trust the Polls? By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer @StacyBrownMedia Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden enjoys a significant lead over President Donald Trump in the battleground states of Nevada, Ohio and Pennsylvania, according to the most recent poll released before Tuesday’s debate. That poll, ironically released by Trump-backed Fox News, was conducted among likely voters and
showed Biden with an 11-point lead over the president in Nevada, where 52 percent of respondents said they want Biden elected. In Pennsylvania, 51 percent supported Biden and 44 percent supported Trump. In Ohio, 50 percent supported Biden and 45 percent supported Trump. Pundits noted that Trump’s 2016 victories in Pennsylvania and Ohio were critical to his electoral win that year. Nevada narrowly voted for then-Demo-
cratic candidate Hillary Clinton. However, most voters may recall that at this time during the 2016 election, Clinton led in most – if not all – polls. The former secretary of state would eventually lose in electoral college voting despite easily capturing the popular vote. That – and Democrat Al Gore’s controversial 2000 loss to Republican George W. Bush – has made many Americans skeptical of polls. “I constantly hear that you can’t trust the polls based on how the election went in 2016 but the national polling in that race was actually spot-on,” said political activist and lawyer Jeffrey Johnson. A managing editor at FreeAdvice.com, Johnson noted that Clinton was polling at about 2 percent better than Trump and won about 2 percent more of the popular vote. “That the national popular vote isn’t what determines who becomes president doesn’t change the fact that the polls were pretty accurate,” Johnson observed. Marketing expert Karen Condor warned that political polls should face severe scrutiny. “You should scrutinize political polls the same way you do when choosing your life insurance,” she proclaimed.
Department of Energy & Environment | Government of the District of Columbia PUBLIC NOTICE Anacostia River Sediment Project: Interim Record of Decision Notice is hereby given that the Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) will make available an Interim Record of Decision for the Anacostia River Sediment Project (ARSP) on September 30, 2020. The Interim Record of Decision is a limited-scope early action selected for the Washington DC portion of the ARSP study area and selects remedies for PCB contamination at 11 early action areas (EAAs) in the main stem of the Anacostia River, Kingman Lake, and Washington Channel. Collectively, the 11 EAAs encompass approximately 77 acres of the total 815-acre study area and are generally the areas that contain the highest concentrations of PCBs in the study area, excluding areas for which a particular land-based source of pollution has been identified. The remedial alternatives selected for the EAAs vary by area and include enhanced monitored natural recovery, dredging and disposal, and containment of contaminated sediments. Beginning September 30, 2020, a person may obtain a copy of the Interim Record of Decision by downloading it from the Department’s website: anacostiasedimentproject.com By October 30, 2020, the following local libraries will have copies of the Interim Record of Decision for review during normal business hours: Francis A. Gregory Library 3660 Alabama Avenue SE Washington, DC 20020
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5 Joe Biden with former President Barack Obama. (Photo courtesy Baltimore Times)
“Don’t go all-in on the first thing you see. Be discerning. Do your research. Shop around. Get the full picture. Both insurance companies and pollsters each use multiple basic factors for their results, but no two are the same.” Condor determined that the problem with political polls lies in the importance placed on them. “They are reported as news. They give an illusion of knowledge, of control, of being able to predict the future,” Candor said. “Their purported importance leads many politicians to become poll-chasers, adjusting their stances to follow the polls even if it leads them astray from their platform and principles. It eventually backfires on them, and they are branded as flip-flops.” Still, many news organizations and political watchers anxiously await post-debate polls, which generally provide a bounce to the candidate who performs best. Logan Phillips, the edi-
tor-in-chief of RacetotheWH. com, a political news site that projects the winner of the presidential and senate elections, called polling the single most crucial element of his forecasting. “When I tested it in past cycles, my model correctly predicts the winner of each state over 95 percent of the time,” Phillips proclaimed. “Polls are the single most useful tool we have to understand the views of the electorate. However, we have to put them in their proper context. They are usually a snapshot in time of what people thought last week.” Phillips noted that public opinion could, and often does, change over time. Additionally, he offered, no poll is ever perfect when it comes to predicting elections. “They represent what pollsters believe the electorate will look like. Sometimes, like in Wisconsin in 2016, they can get that call wrong,” he stated. WI
RELATIVES OF ODESSA MADRE/ AFTER-HOUR CLUBS I am doing historical research on Odessa Madre and would like to speak to a relative or anyone who knew her and has pictures of U Street during the 1940s, 50s and 60s. Please email me at Robin@aroundrobin.com
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BUSINESS
Prince George’s Residents, Advocates Demand Police Reform By William J. Ford WI Staff Writer @jabariwill Before a work group completes a report by Oct. 30 with recommendations to reform the Prince George’s County police department, some residents and advocates want at least a half-dozen added to ensure full accountability. The list of demands come from family members such as Tracy Shand, whose 49-year-old brother Leonard Shand was shot and killed by police Sept. 26, 2019, in Hyattsville. “When you killed my brother, you knocked at my door, so I can’t stay in my corner no more,” Shand said Friday, Sept. 25 outside the Wayne K. Curry Administration Building in Largo. “It is horrifying to come up here and tell you that change has
to happen in P.G. County.” To accentuate their point, Shand and other supporters held orange and white posters with 82 names of individuals killed by county police. Shand, affected loved ones and other supporters chose to speak in front of the administration building because it houses the office of County Executive Angela Alsobrooks. The 23-member task force held a meeting Thursday, Sept. 24 that included a presentation from the county’s Office of Homeland Security. One of the agency’s main duties is to provide dispatch of police, fire and other emergency services through county’s 911 call center. Alsobrooks has said the work group established in July would not only listen to community suggestions, but also assess and
analyze police department use of force, hiring and training policies. Meanwhile, residents on Friday focused one six demands such as to force police accountability for those killed by police in the majority Black jurisdiction in Maryland. This demand connects to the Leonard Shand case because a grand jury ruled several weeks ago his death “was objectively reasonable” and didn’t indict any of the nearly 12 officers involved. Two other requests would enforce the state’s attorney office publicly lists officers barred from testifying in court on previous cases, and support statewide police reform and accountability initiatives from dozens of advocacy groups. Two other demands are part of a report released in June that highlights racial and retaliatory practices within the police department. Michael E. Graham,
5 Josette Blocker talks about how Prince George’s County police caused her nephew, Demonte Ward-Blake, to become paralyzed from the waist down after a traffic stop in October 2019. Blocker spoke at a press conference Sept. 25 outside the Wayne K. Curry Administration Building in Largo. (William J. Ford/The Washington Informer)
a 33-year veteran of the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department, wrote the nearly 100-page document as a part of lawsuit by former and current Prince George’s police officers against
the county and department. Residents and advocates want the rest of the report unredacted that shows more than 6,800 use of force incidents occurred in the
REFORM Page 38
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OCTOBER 1 - 7, 2020 15
NATIONAL Kentucky Judge Orders Transcripts Released from Breonna Taylor Grand Jury By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer @StacyBrownMedia A defiant Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron maintained his desire to keep secret the recording of the grand jury proceedings in the case of Breonna Taylor’s death despite a judge’s order on Monday, Sept. 28 to release them. Judge Ann Bailey Smith, who presided over the arraignment of former Louisville police officer Brett Hankison, the lone officer indicted on somewhat lesser charges, ruled that the recording and all discovery documents cannot be shared merely between the parties. Smith set Wednesday, Sept. 30, as the day she will release the recordings. The grand jury indicted Hankison on three counts of first-degree
wanton endangerment for firing his weapon into apartments adjacent to the one occupied by Taylor. The 26-year-old former EMT worker was shot at least a half-dozen times when officers breached her apartment to serve a warrant later found to be suspect. Releasing the recording instead of the transcript is not expected to satisfy Taylor’s family or a grand juror who filed legal claims demanding the release of recordings, transcripts and asking the judge to make a binding declaration that the panel has a right to disclose information about the process. In court papers, the anonymous juror said there are fears that Cameron would attempt to use the court’s powers of contempt in the case of public disclosure. “It is the fear of the Petitioner that
Attorney General Cameron would attempt to utilize the court’s contempt powers ... if there was a public disclosure that contradicted certain things that he stated happened during the proceedings, characterized the singularity of the decision in a different light, or raised doubts about charges that were presented during the proceedings,” the motion states, according to CNN. The juror argued that Cameron “attempted to make very clear that the grand jury alone made the decision alone on who and what to charge” and that “the only exception to the responsibility he foisted upon the grand jurors was in his statement that they ‘agreed’ with his team’s investigation that Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly and officer Myles Cosgrove were justified in their actions.” “It’s a compelling public interest for these proceedings to be released,” the juror continued in court filings. “The citizens of this Commonwealth have demonstrated their lack of faith in the process and proceedings in this matter and the justice system itself. Using the grand jurors as a shield to deflect accountability and responsibility for these decisions only sow more seeds of doubt in the process while leaving a cold chill down the spines of future grand jurors.” Cameron responded with a statement that declared the grand jury is meant to be a secretive body. “It’s apparent that the public interest, in this case, isn’t going to allow that to happen. As the special prose-
5 Tributes to Breonna Taylor sit just outside a Kentucky courthouse. (Courtesy photo)
cutor, our team has an ethical obligation not to release the recording from the Grand Jury proceedings, and we stand by our belief that such a release could compromise the ongoing federal investigation and could have unintended consequences such as poisoning the jury pool,” Cameron said. The juror noted that public outcry over the absence of charges for the police officers in Taylor’s death had left them afraid and vulnerable. Cameron has subjected the panel to “a level of accountability that is unreasonable and that the legal system has put the grand jurors on an island where they are left to wonder if anyone who finds them will treat
them well or hold the plain and anger of the lingering questions against them,” the juror noted. “It is patently unjust for the jurors to be subjected to the level of accountability the Attorney General campaigned for simply because they received a summons to serve their community at a time that adherence to the summons forced them to be involved in a matter that has caused such a palpable divide between sides,” the court filing continued. Finally, the juror noted that they are seeking “only the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.” WI
ADHD Study Reveals Unique Genetic Differences in African-American Patients By Sarafina Wright WI Contributing Writer Researchers from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia [CHOP] believe there may be key genetic differences in the causes of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder [ADHD] between African Americans and people of European ancestry, which may play an important part in how patients of different ethnic backgrounds respond to treatments for this condition. The findings published online by the journal Scientific Reports suggested that structural variants of the genome play an important role in ADHD. However, these studies focused mainly on coding regions, or regions of DNA or RNA that code
16 - OCTOBER 1 - 7, 2020
for particular proteins, and were also primarily conducted in people of European ancestry. “We felt as though prior studies of ADHD from a genomic level were not telling the entire story because of whom they were leaving out and what they were studying,” said Hakon Hakonarson, MD, Ph.D., director of the Center for Applied Genomics at the CHOP Research Institute and senior author of the study. “Given the large number of African American individuals we have recruited into our studies, whose genomes are fundamentally more complex than those of European ancestry, we wanted to see if comparing the coding and non-coding regions of the genome in those of African-American and
European ancestry could help us pinpoint areas of focus for future research efforts.” The CAG team and their collaborators generated whole-genome
“We felt as though prior studies of ADHD from a genomic level were not telling the entire story because of whom they were leaving out and what they were studying.” – HAKON HAKONARSON, MD, PH.D.
sequence data on 875 participants, including 205 patients diagnosed with ADHD and 670 non-ADHD controls. African Americans represented 116 of the 205 ADHD patients and 408 of the non-ADHD controls. In addition to confirming several structural variants and target genes associated with ADHD identified in prior studies, the researchers also discovered 40 novel structural variants in patients with ADHD. They identified a cluster of structural variants in the non-coding region of pathways involved in neuronal brain function and highly relevant to the development of ADHD, including gene expression in specific ADHD phenotypes. There was little overlap (around 6 percent) in the genes impacted
by single nucleotide variants between African-American and European ancestry. These differences were especially pronounced in the non-coding structural variants. These variants may also impact how patients respond to medications for ADHD. “Whole genome sequencing appears to be a valuable discovery tool for studying the molecular mechanisms behind ADHD,” Hakonarson said. “Additionally, the inclusion of African Americans, coupled with the study of non-coding regions of the genome, identified several structural variants that warrant further study, as they may impact both susceptibility to ADHD and how patients respond differently to therapeutic intervention.” WI
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TAYLOR from Page 1
5 Protests throughout the world demand police accountability and justice for Breonna Taylor. (Courtesy Flickr/Rosanda Tyskar)
apartment next to Taylor’s. Cameron and the grand jury never considered that an unarmed and innocent Taylor remains the victim. “I understand that as a Black man, how painful this is ... which is why it was so incredibly important to make sure that we did everything we possibly could to uncover every fact,” Cameron claimed at a press conference following the grand jury announcement. “My job is to present the facts to the grand jury and the grand jury then applies those facts to the law. If we simply act on emotion or outrage, there is no justice. Mob justice is not justice. Justice sought by violence is not justice. It just becomes revenge,” he belabored. Having spoken a month earlier at the Republican National Convention, Cameron has made his way onto Trump’s ever-growing list of potential Supreme Court nominees if the president wins in November. Following the grand jury’s decision, Trump praised Cameron. “Daniel Cameron is doing a fantastic job,” Trump swooned. “I think he’s a star.”
Now, approximately one week after the grand jury’s decision, Cameron doesn’t appear ready to release what he presented to the panel. An old legal adage says that a prosecutor could indict a ham sandwich if he or she so desired. In layman’s term, if a prosecutor wants an indictment, there’s not much to prevent him or her from obtaining one. Taylor died on Mar. 13 after police mistakenly believed her home to be a drug house, breaking her front door off its hinges while she slept next to Kenneth Walker, her boyfriend. A frightened Walker, who had a licensed firearm, dialed 911, and when the first unidentified officer breached the apartment, Walker fired and hit the cop in the leg. The officers retreated but managed to blindly fire more than 20 rounds into Taylor’s home. Eight of the bullets struck Taylor and killed her. Taylor’s family reported that they never had any confidence in Cameron, a sentiment shared by many, including a long list of celebrities. “Arrest the cops who killed Breonna Taylor,” NBA legend Jalen Rose demanded during a live ESPN
broadcast as the network headed toward a commercial break in its coverage of professional basketball’s playoffs. Expecting the pushback, Cameron attempted a preemptive strike against celebrities, athletes and others who he believed would take him to task. “There will be celebrities, influencers and activists who having never lived in Kentucky would try to tell us how to feel, suggesting they understand the facts of this case and that they know our community and the commonwealth better than we do,” stated the attorney general. “But they don’t. Let’s not give in to their attempts to influence our thinking or capture our emotions. At the end of the day, it is up to us. We live here together. We work here and raise our families here together.” In the age of social media, there remained little chance that Cameron would escape a wrathful public, including a large number of celebrities. “I’m just gon’ let this sink into your hollow skull @danieljaycameron,” superstar Rihanna tweeted. “Bulls--t decision!!! BLACK
TAYLOR Page 44
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“Census Impacts Service Delivery at Grassroots Level,” President Weah Says Liberia President Dr. George Manneh George has underscored the importance of the national census, stressing that it directly impacts socioeconomic service delivery for citizens at the grassroots level. Launching the National Population and Housing Census (NPHC) 2021 at the Ministerial Complex Friday, Sept. 25, , the Liberian leader noted that statistics are important for planning and implementing development programs. He added: “If you cannot measure accurately then you will not be able to manage the fair distribution of resources and delivery of services. To address poverty effectively we must use targeted interventions that can be measured, and consult the people about their own development,” the president said. “It is therefore crucial that we mobilize the entire population to come forward and be counted, so that the results of Census 2021 can be used as a tool to improve service delivery.” After the census, the president in a press release said “we will have accurate data for the formulation of policy as well as implementation, monitoring and evaluation. The results from the census will provide us with a unique opportunity to realign our development strategies, policies and programs.” In Liberia, the conduct of a census is guided by a constitutional provision that mandates the executive branch of government to undertake the exercise. The chief executive asserted that since it is not every government that could conduct a census, the NPHC will be a part of his legacy to the people and country. “In addition to fulfilling this crucial constitutional requirement, the crux of our commitment on this issue is to ensure that development is equitable and in the public interest”, he said and urged citizens to fully cooperate with the exercise as it is for the general good of all. The president noted that to support a nation’s development efforts, timely, relevant, sufficient and reliable data sets are required, and the major foundation of this is the census. “A census is usually the largest peacetime undertaking of a government,” he declared. “Because it is very involving and costly, a census is normally conducted only once every 10 years, but its products and tools could be used for over a decade.” He acknowledged that undertaking such a huge national exercise needs a considerable amount of technical, financial and logistical resources. “At this time of our development, with a pandemic looming large, government cannot provide all the necessary inputs. But we have tried to make the census program happen by doing whatever we can to facilitate the implementation process,” Dr. Weah said.
caribbean now BHTA Chairman: Tourism Industry will Recover Chairman of the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association, Geoffrey Roach, encouraged hoteliers to use the time of reduced tourism activity as a result of the vagaries of COVID-19, to improve on their services. In a press statement released on Sept. 26 by Roach in celebration of World Tourism Day, he pointed out that tourism has gone through crises before and recovered and it is for this reason he believes that the tourism industry will indeed be able to recover from this current crisis. “In planning for our recovery we must seize the opportunities that arise to build an enhanced visitor experience and form more strategic and sustainable linkages. The opportunity is before us to retool and upgrade the skills of our people – to develop enhanced leaders, to develop new skills that will appeal to a changing traveling demographic while continuing to provide first-class experiences to our numerous repeat guests,” he said. “As tourism has changed, so has just about everything in the world in which we live, with much of the change in the past couple decades being driven by technological change. The opportunity is before us to embrace technology to a greater extent and employ it in our operations for greater efficiency and an expanded guest experience.” Roach strongly encouraged persons and businesses across Barbados to consider how they could use technology in an effort to make their lives and businesses more comfortable and efficient. Additionally, he stated that opportunities to improve the value chain with agriculture, the cultural industries and others also needed to be explored and advanced as new ways of thinking and operating in these industries were imperative.
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Eight Ways to Embrace Self-Care Submitted by AmeriHealth Caritas District of Columbia
Care has been foremost in the minds of many this year. How can we best take care of ourselves and those we love when our health may be at greater risk? To care for our loved ones, we first need to take care of ourselves. Self-care is when we pay attention to the needs of our own body and emotions. It means we take care of our own physical and emotional health. Self-care can help us adapt to changes and recover from setbacks. It can help us weather the stormy times and enjoy the brighter ones.1 Self-care often falls to the bottom of the list for caregivers. Yet the better we feel and function, the better we can care for others. Ways to care for your physical health1 1. Keep active every day. All activity counts. Even dancing around the kitchen to the radio, taking the stairs, and jogging in place may help our bodies stay healthy. Daily exercise naturally helps our bodies relieve stress. Schedule some time to move as a routine part of your day. Remem-
ber to talk to a health care provider before starting an exercise program. 2. Eat well. Get plenty of whole grains and fresh veggies and fruit in your diet. This may help lower your risk for chronic diseases. Eating right can also help improve your mood and energy level. 3. Get the sleep you need. Many adults need seven to nine hours a night. To make the most of your rest times, stay away from computers, TVs, and smartphones before bed. 4. Try some techniques to reduce stress. If you need a timeout, try five minutes of deep breathing, muscle relaxation, or meditation. These may help relieve hard feelings and help you stay more relaxed day to day. 5. Avoid alcohol and drugs. Ultimately, these may worsen your stress. Ways to care for your emotional health1 1. Focus on the good. Let yourself notice any positive moments during the day. Even the small ones count, like a kind word or a sunny day. Try to pause each day or week to jot down one good thing you saw. 2. Accept your feelings. It’s OK to feel some frustration or sadness. You may
find yourself thinking that you shouldn’t feel these things. Instead, try to just notice and respect your feelings. You can help reduce your stress by not labeling them as good or bad. 3. Look for support. If you’re a caregiver, this is key. We may think that we can or should be able to do it all ourselves, but this is untrue. Knowing you’re not alone is also a powerful boost. Support can come from community resources, family, friends, and professionals. Many resources are available online. Join a support group or talk to a counselor or friend. If you or your loved one is an AmeriHealth Caritas District of Columbia (DC) enrollee, we can help. Please call Enrollee Services at 1-800408-7511 (TTY 1-800-570-1190). Sources: 1. “Taking Care of Yourself,” National Alliance on Mental Illness, https://www.nami.org/Your-Journey/ Family-Members-and-Caregivers/Taking-Care-of-Yourself. 2. “Stress and Coping,” Centers for Disease Control and Preven-
tion, https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/ managing-stress-anxiety.html?CDC_ AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fw w w. c d c . g o v % 2 F c o r o n a v i rus%2F2019-ncov%2Fprepare%2Fmanaging-stress-anxiety.html. All images are used under license for illustrative purposes only. Any individual depicted is a model
Managing Health Stress #BestMe For some people, managing feelings of fear or anxiety may be the hardest part of challenging times. It’s normal to feel uneasy about uncertainty. However, we may help ourselves and others by adopting ways of coping. You may notice one or more of these signs of stress:2 • Worrying about your health or the health of those you love • Changes in how you sleep or eat • Difficulty sleeping or focusing • Worsening of chronic or mental health conditions • Using more alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs If you notice any of these signs, try some of these ways to cope2 • Give yourself a break. Limit how often you watch, read, or listen to the news. This includes news on social media. Hearing about trou-
bling events too often can add to our stress. • Give yourself time to relax. Try to do something you like each day. • Connect with others, even online. Talk with people you trust about how you feel. • Eat healthy, well-balanced meals • Take deep breaths, stretch, or meditate • Get the sleep you need • Keep your body active • Avoid alcohol and drugs If you or someone you love is overwhelmed with feelings of sadness, depression, or anxiety, there are resources available to help: • Call the Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990 • If you are an AmeriHealth Caritas DC enrollee, call Enrollee Services at 1-800408-7511 (TTY 1-800-570-1190)
Find us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/amerihealthdc. / Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/amerihealthcaritasdc. / Find us on Instagram at www.instagram.com/amerihealthcaritasdc.
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OCTOBER 1 - 7, 2020 19
HEALTH Frontline Medical Workers, First Responders Lauded News Conference Presents Launch of ‘Help the Heroes’ Initiative
WI Staff Report The National Press Club in Northwest served as the venue for a news conference, Thurs., Sept. 24, during which a team of stakeholders helped launch an innovative program that will assist medical workers who continue to lead the way in the fight against COVID-19.
“Help the Heroes” was designed to help front line medical workers at Howard University Hospital receive timely and convenient food assistance at the end of their shift. Streamed live on various platforms, speakers included: Anita L.A. Jenkins, CEO, Howard University Hospital; Michael Freedman, president, National Press Club; and Ed
Lewis, director of Public Policy Communications at Toyota. “This program is designed to help support the most valuable and vulnerable resource in the Hospital – its staff,” Freedman said. “The National Press Club sought to establish a program that could provide real and tangible support to the heroes who are fighting COVID-19 in an historic hospital in our community. We are honored to help support Howard University Hospital.” “The National Press Club continues to play a pivotal role in the fight against COVID-19 by supporting frontline healthcare workers through great initiatives like their Help the Heroes program,” Jenkins said. “The fight to defeat COVID-19 is a community-wide effort and your ongoing donations in the form of nutritious meals have positively impacted our staff members who have to contend with this virus on a daily basis. On behalf of the Howard University Hospital community, I want to thank the National Press Club and its many sponsors for your gratitude and continued support of this program.” According to a recent article in The Washington Post, hospitals continue to prepare for a nightmare scenario later this fall when
5 Ed Lewis, Director of Public Policy Communications at Toyota, Anita L.A. Jenkins, CEO for Howard University Hospital and Michael Freedman, President of the National Press Club. (The Washington Informer/Robert R. Roberts)
flu patients and COVID-19 patients may swamp hospital wards. There is appropriate concern that this will exhaust the staff. “I worry the most about the ability of the workforce to step into the ring again. Adrenaline can only take you so far,” said Dr. Brandan Carr of Mount Sinai Hospital. Help the Heroes is funded by do-
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nations from corporations, foundations and non-profits. Prior to the formal launch, the club had already raised money from members and clients, some of whom spoke during the news conference. Donations for Help the Heroes go to the National Press Club Journalism Institute, the Club’s affiliated 501c-3 and can be made online via credit card at http://www.press.org/hth. WI
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Young D.C. Actress Takes on Teen Dating in Film Project By Brigette Squire WI Contributing Writer Competing with cellphones, video games and television for their children’s attention is something most parents deal with daily. But the digital wedge between parent and child can be dangerous, in no small part due to the increasing threat of online sex trafficking. With youths especially vulnerable to online predators, Maya Jai Pinson, a 16-year-old actress and native Washingtonian, has penned and produced “I’m Ready,” a short film that tackles the uncomfortable topic of teen dating. Maya plays one of the main characters, Lo Wells, a teen who finds herself taking an interest in more than just schoolbooks. “I want to use this short film as a way to motivate and change people’s lives,” she said. “My purpose is to teach youth how to be more open, honest and trustworthy.” Maya said she realizes that teens are starting to date at a much younger age with little to no regard for parental consent. Even though she has not started dating herself, she thought courting was a topic worth addressing. “I am not ready to date yet, but I know that it can be an awkward and touchy subject,” she said. Maya has also launched her new “Conversating Before Dating” T-shirt line, which aims to have parents and children converse before the child begins dating. With Common Sense Media reporting that U.S. tween and teens spend an average of six to nine hours daily on social media, youth advocates say children need to be aware of the danger associated with using apps to meet people even if it “feels safe.” “Parents should have the conversation with their child before it’s too late and make sure they are safe and not engaging in any inappropriate messaging with anyone crazy,” said Mignon Pinson, Maya’s mother and manager. Popular dating apps such as Bumble and Hinge target people 18 and older, but underage indi-
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5 Maya Jai Pinson (center) wrote, produced and stars in “I’m Ready,” a short film that addresses teen dating. (Courtesy photo)
viduals can easily gain access. Apps such as OnlyFans, however, require a photo with a valid ID and a several-days verification period which helps keep underage users to a minimum. Nevertheless, predators no longer have to depend on the streets to get victims, and children are vulnerable if parents don’t take action, said Tina Frundt, a sex trafficking survivor and founder of Courtney’s House, a safe house in D.C. for children escaping sex traffickers. “It can be Ward 7 or it can be in Tenleytown,” Frundt said. “It can be in Tysons Corner or it can be down the street. No kid is safe because this is about manipulation and every child can be manipulated.” Some free and popular apps of note: 1) IMVU users chat with custom avatars. The “chat now” feature randomly pairs users with others. 2) MyLOL is where teens can create profiles, search for people, and chat. 3) ASKfm is where individuals can follow their friends and ask them questions anonymously or openly. There is a “shoutout” feature that allows people to ask if anyone near them is alone so they can hang out. 4) Skout is a friendship and dating app that is “all about protecting the magic of unexpected meetings that lead to finding new people.” 5) Omegle is where people talk
about what they like and meet new people. 6) Yubo, once called Yellow, is aimed at helping people make new friends. 7) Hot or Not, also called The Game, lets users meet people in their area. 8) MeetMe is aimed at introducing people to others in their area. 9) Instagram (IG) users create profiles and post videos and pictures to bring people together. 10) Snapchat is popular for its fun filters that modify photos, videos, and even the user’s voice. Users can video chat, discover new friends, and see where their friends are hanging out on SnapMap. Most of the apps listed above are rated 17+ due to nudity, suggestive themes, sexual content, profanity and/or drug use. “Parents are going to have to sit down with their children, be open-minded, instill good morals, and teach your child to be responsible,” Maya said. “I hope my film motivates families to talk more effectively because miscommunication can mess up a lot of things.” “I’m Ready” will premiere Oct. 24 at 9701 Apollo Drive in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. For more information, go to https://mjaip. com/im-ready-film. To contact Courtney’s House, call 240-389-0317. To contact the Sex Trafficking Hotline, call 1-888-3737888 or text BFREE (23733). WI
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HEALTH / COVID-19 UPDATE Mixed Messages from CDC, White House Impact Public Confidence By Sarafina Wright WI Contributing Writer
5 Vice President Mike Pence, joined by Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, during a coronavirus update briefing in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House. (Courtesy photo/The White House - Andrea Hanks)
Mixed messages from health experts leading the fight against COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, has increased uncertainty and unease about how to handle the illness that has killed over 200,000 Americans since March. Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its guidelines on how the virus spreads adding that it was possible to contract through airborne transmission with “small particles, such as those in aerosols.” Prior to that update, health experts maintained the virus wasn’t spreading
MedStar Washington Hospital Center
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Community Health Survey Ad_2020_09.indd 22 MWHC - OCTOBER 1 - 7, 2020
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through the air, but most commonly passed through respiratory droplets of an infected person by talking, sneezing, coughing or landing on a hard surface. Shortly after the posting, which made the CDC the first health agency in the world to declare airborne transmission, the center walked back its guidance removing the change from its website. CDC Deputy Director Jay Butler said in response to the blunder that “it was a failure of process at CDC. “Unfortunately an early draft of a revision went up without any technical review. We are returning to the earlier version and revisiting that process.” This isn’t the first misstep at the CDC regarding guidelines for the virus. Last month, they altered coronavirus testing guidelines to dissuade some asymptomatic individuals from getting tested despite growing evidence of these individuals spreading the virus, according to reports. The center reversed course on that decision last week, following robust criticism from public health experts. The CDC snafus continued with Director Robert Redfield saying that wearing a face mask may provide more protection against the virus than a potential vaccine. Redfield also said it would likely be 2021 before any vaccine is available to most Americans. Soon after President Donald Trump contradicted Redfield’s statements. “Okay, number one, it’s not more effective, by any means, than a vac-
cine,” Trump said in response to the director’s comments. “And I called him about that. And I believe that if you ask him, he would probably say that he didn’t understand the question.” Trump continued that Redfield was wrong about the timeline for a vaccine, as well. “He made a mistake when he said that. It’s just incorrect information,” Trump said. “And I called him, and he didn’t tell me that, and I think he got the message maybe confused.” Meanwhile, CNN reported Trump is losing patience with the CDC and White House Coronavirus Task Force officials after a series of mixed messages. One of the points of contention appears to be Trump’s positive outlook on the containment of the virus repeatedly clashing with health experts. CNN said Trump’s public undermining of the CDC chief is taking a toll on its staff, from top to bottom, employees say. “The morale is as low as I’ve ever seen it and we have no confidence in our leadership,” a CDC official said. “People are miserable and it’s a shame because this pandemic is still flying away and we still need a robust public health response.” FiveThirtyEight, an opinion poll analysis site tracking public response to the coronavirus pandemic found that, as of Sept. 25, 56.4 percent of those surveyed disapprove of Trump’s handling of the pandemic and 65.7 percent are worried or somewhat worried about infection. WI
Father and Son Duo Take on Prostate Cancer—and Win By James Wright WI Staff Writer @JamesDCWrighter
Health statistics reveal prostate cancer afflicts African American men at a higher rate than their White counterparts, but a Washington, D.C.-area father and son have beaten the disease and have written a book about their experiences. Thomas A. Butts Jr., and his son, Derrick A. Butts, are the co-authors of “Prostate Cancer: A Family Affair” published in 2019. The book talks
about the Butts’ struggle with the disease and the coping mechanisms they embraced after treatment. In the disclaimer, Thomas makes it clear “this book is for information and inspiration only.” “It is not intended to be medical advice,” he said. “My son and I are not physicians and we have never worked in the medical field. My purpose is to share my family’s experiences. We are survivors and there is life after prostate cancer.”
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HEALTH from Page 22 Derrick echoes his father’s assertion of the book’s educational purpose. “We want men to understand prostate cancer isn’t a death sentence,” he said. In 2019, the National Cancer Institute estimated the number of new prostate cancer cases to be about 174,650, compromising nine percent of all new cancer cases. The number of deaths from prostate cancer has been estimated at 31,260 in 2019, which comes out to 5.2 percent of all cancer deaths. Between 2009-2015, the number of prostate survivors over five years stood at 98 percent, meaning men who have the ailment are living longer, according to statistics from the cancer institute. For Black men such as the Butts’, the disease can be more fatal than in Whites. The institute, in a Jan. 28, 2019 study, “African American Men More Likely to Die from Low-Grade Prostate Cancer,” reported Black men are more likely to die from lowgrade prostate cancer than White men. The study cited White men possessing 105.7 new cases of prostate cancer per 100,000 men while
178.3 per 100,000 men for Blacks. Overall, African American men are 1.8 times more likely to be diagnosed with—and 2.2 times more likely to die from—prostate cancer than White men, according to the website “Zero: The End of Prostate Cancer.” The website also reported African American men slightly more likely than Whites to be diagnosed with advanced disease. However, the website said, “the racial divide for prostate cancer is narrowing. “Overall, the five-year relative survival rate for African American men diagnosed with prostate cancer is 97 percent, which means that if an African American man is diagnosed with prostate cancer today, at any stage, there is a 97 percent chance he will be alive in five years,” the website said. “When the disease is caught early, the rate increases to nearly 100 percent.” Thomas, 86, has survived prostate cancer 26 years while Derrick has lived four years since his battle with the affliction. Derrick said the advances in technology determined the treatment he and his father sought to fight the disease. “My father decided to undergo removal of his prostate when doctors
told him of the problem,” Derrick said. “When they removed the prostate, it was determined to be 70 percent cancerous and that could have been fatal. You have to remember the technology nearly three decades ago wasn’t the same as it is now.” Thomas said he did suffer some side effects such as nerve damage, incontinence and impotence. Thomas said his brother Carl received a diagnosis of prostate cancer at the age of 67 and opted to try a different tactic to fight the disease. “At the time, he was advised that the Proton Radiation option was the most exact method of treatment for him,” he said. “The treatment consisted of 44 treatment sessions of one minute each for five treatments a week. Carl said he had no side effects but nine years later he was having problems with his bladder and it had to be removed. Carl has survived the cancer more than 16 years. I asked Carl if he had to do this over again, what treatment option would be select. His answer was doing nothing.” Derrick said he opted to have his prostate removed robotically, one of the latest technological advances in fighting the ailment. The surgery
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5 Thomas A. Butts and Derrick A. Butts hold the book they co-authored on prostate cancer. (Courtesy Photo)
resulted in success and he said, after a while, he engaged in sexual intercourse with no signs of erectile dysfunction. In the book, the Butts advise men to get tested for prostate cancer annually to get detected early, ask the doctor questions about the disease and if applicable, options for treatment. Derrick said a quality of life can be had after prostate cancer treatment.
“No matter your journey, you can still have a quality of life when choosing the best treatment for you and your family,” he said. “And after you have gone through this experience, please take the time to share your experiences with someone else who has yet to begin or is in the middle of their prostate cancer journey—like my dad with me.” WI
We need you now more than ever! This year we walk virtually, but we must keep going to end HIV! For over 40 years, Whitman-Walker has made dignifying, head-to-toe primary care, HIV care & prevention, and community wellness our mission. Today, we also serve as a first responder in the COVID-19 pandemic. Your donation will help us continue to make an impact. On October 24th, join us to walk or run proudly to end HIV, ensure equality, fight racism, love openly and save lives.
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Equipoise: Voting for a Return to ‘Normalcy’ By Dr. Shantella Y. Sherman WI Special Editions Editor
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When Presidential-nominee Warren Harding addressed the nation in 1920 concerning those issues he believed threatened to destroy the country from within, it was a clarion call encouraging Americans to return to customs. “America’s present need is not heroics, but healing; not nostrums, but normalcy; not revolution, but restoration; not agitation, but adjust5 Dr. Shantella Sherman (Photo by India Kea) ment; not surgery, but serenity; not the dramatic, but the dispassionate; not experiment, but equipoise...” he said. Those concerns – a century ago -- included prohibition, interwar year economic malaise, the ongoing Spanish flu epidemic, and white mob violence in the form of race riots across the country that brought death and destruction to once-peaceful communities. As Americans head for the polls this election season, 100 years later, many carry similar sentiments and concerns in tow and crave more than anything, a return to something that resembles “normal.” In addition to political divisiveness and a surge in social unrest, the U.S. faces financial uncertainty, an unrelenting health pandemic, and the resulting loss of social mobility. Harding’s equipoise may be needed, but will voting turn the tide toward healing? In recent years Americans have overwhelmingly disconnected from the voting process with a mere 126 million votes counted in the 2016 presidential election – representing about 55 percent of voting age citizens. This meant that even as poll watchers celebrated the uptick from 53.5 percent in 1996, only about half of the nation’s eligible voters bothered to participate in the election process. The concept of “normal” only exists for a nation inside the parameters of each citizen taking seriously their civic duties, particularly, voting and jury service. Ironically, these are the two obligations taken most for granted and unceremoniously set aside regularly in recent history. Never forget that there was a time when Black people in America were not allowed to serve on juries. African Americans were also not allowed to bring charges against a white person for a crime or testify against a white person in court. Today, a single Black person seated on a jury could be the difference between an indictment or a release – a custodial sentence or a fine – life or death. Do your civic duty and answer the jury summons when it arrives. This is your moral and civil obligation. Exercise your right as a U.S. citizen. Also, consider that not only are federal and state politicians voted into office, but so too are judges, sheriffs, prosecutors, school boards, and public housing boards. Imagine how many of the disparities in policing, mass incarceration, school funding, and housing equity could be addressed if voters pulled the ballot lever for candidates committed to change. Don’t like the candidates? Well, welcome to America. Run yourself! Encourage someone who has the grit to get in and do the job to run for office and then support them all the way to victory. This is a democracy and one of the few places on the planet where you can pencil in a name on a ballot. Hell, you can even pencil in your own name! No more whining, whingeing, or waffling. This is the District of Columbia – where, as you’ll read in James Wright’s story on Home Rule – residents elect a non-voting Delegate to the US House of Representatives who can draft legislation but cannot vote, have no voice in Senate Committees or on the Senate Floor. This means that D.C. residents have no say in the determination of who should serve as leadership for federal agencies, serve as U.S. Ambassadors to foreign countries, sit on federal court benches, or serve in the U.S. Supreme Court. This is true even for the federal courts within DC’s boundaries. Again, there is no excuse not to vote (or serve on jury duty). The Washington Informer Election Guide, “Stay Safe & Vote” offers readers an historical framework from which to approach both the voting process and a template for taking hold of our most cherished and patriotic treasures – the right to vote. Read, Learn, Grow.
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Ensuring the College Vote Counts By Jordan Colquitt WI Contributing Writer Young people will play a major role in the outcome of the November 3rd Presidential Election. Historically, this has not been the case as college students who account for a large portion of this number have voted at significantly lower rates. While some students did not feel that politics impacted them, others lacked access to voter information, and some were deterred by other factors. However, there was a major shift and increase in election participation seen in the 2018 midterm election. According to political data analysis firm TargetSmart, there was a 188 percent increase in early voting in the 2018 election from 2014. The upswing in the 2018 midterm election was the result of various factors. Many universities across the country upped their efforts to register students and otherwise increase political involvement. Additional classes and requirements were created with the goal of raising political efficacy and understanding of elections within the college-aged voting bloc. Relying predominantly on peer-to-peer outreach, North-
western University registered 95 percent of eligible students in 2018. This shift served as a threat to officials in the Republican party, as data from the Pew Research Center shows that 58 percent of young adults age 18 to 25 either identified as or leaned Democratic. Tools of voter suppression were mighty in the 2018 midterm election, with states like Nevada making residency changes that impacted students in the eleventh hour. The new wave of increased civic participation among college students will not ease up in this election. And frankly, neither will
attempts to suppress this resilient group of voters. Tufts University Institute for Democracy and Higher Education Director, Nancy L. Thomas said that when the Coronavirus outbreak started she “realized immediately that election laws and rules were going to be a mess and there would be lots of efforts to disenfranchise certain groups, including college students.” Despite whatever attempts may arise to suppress the student vote, school officials and students are determined to ensure that students are equipped with the tools to not only register but also vote in the upcoming election. Vanessa Velas, an 18-year-old freshman who is studying Political Science at Rochester University, realizes the important role that her age group will play in the election. “It’s important for me to vote
because I believe that anyone who has the right to vote should use it,” Velas, of Hyattsville, said. “For those in my age group, it is so much more important because we should be speaking out and voting for the change that we want to see in the future.” Athletic officials at Georgia Institute of Technology in 9 of the institution’s Division I NCAA athletic programs have agreed to not hold mandatory athletic activities on election day to encourage students and staff to vote. In like manner, the school’s Student Government Association and Faculty Executive Board passed a motion that “strongly urges” professors to not hold exams or synchronous lectures on election day. Tech officials have also announced that the McAmish Pavilion will be used as a polling location for the presidential election.
Kyle Smith, Executive Vice President of Georgia Tech’s Undergraduate Student Government said that “many of our policies have been set in place before we even had the ability to vote. So now, exercising our right to vote is important to say that this is where the people of our generation stand.” Smith, a third-year Public Policy student, mentioned police reform, immigration reform, and climate change as some of his many priorities in the election. No matter what tactics of voter suppression may stand in their way, one thing is clear; their voices will be heard at the ballot box. For information on how to register to vote, election deadlines, polling places, and more please visit rockthevote.org/how-tovote/. WI
5 Questions to Ask Local Candidates The DC Council is made up of 13 members, including an elected representative from each of the eight Wards and five additional at-large members, including the Chairman. David Grosso (I-At Large), is not seeking reelection this year, creating a competitive race for one of the five at-large seats. Councilmembers in Wards 2, 4, 7, and 8 are also running for reelection. Make sure the candidates have a position on the issues below that aligns with your values. During this election, local candidates need to address the issues that matter to you.
1. What are your budget and tax priorities and how will they improve the lives of District residents
50 and older?
2. Do you think the District has done enough to promote affordable housing and access to community services? If not, what more can be done? 3. What are your views on a mandated consumer advocate on utility commissions and boards that approve utility rates? 4. What are your views on the Elder Abuse Response Team bill moving through the DC Council to help protect seniors from all forms of abuse? 5. What will you do to ensure that District resident are protected against fraud and deceptive or
unfair business practices, and provide opportunities for redress to victims of fraud?
Stay safe, stay healthy, and make your voice heard! #ProtectVoters50Plus
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Amplify Your Voice: Vote as a Bloc By Dr. Sophia Sparks WI Contributing Writer According to the US Election Project, approximately 60 percent of the voting eligible population voted in the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections. Historically, the percentage of the voting eligible population declines each election cycle as many Americans feel that
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A projected 32 million Hispanics will be eligible to vote in 2020, compared with 30 million blacks. The population of Asians eligible to vote will reach an estimated 11 million in 2020, which is more than double the 5 million who were eligible to vote in 2000, accounting for 5 percent of next year’s electorate.
their vote does not matter. Your vote matters. Voting does not determine which party inhabits an office. Your vote dictates which policies are pushed, whose voice the politicians hear, and whose voice the politicians ignore. Low voter turnout during elections leaves the level of political influence to corporate interests and voters who mobilize over issues rather than the popularity of the candidate. Amplify your voice. Vote as a bloc. The lion may be king of the jungle, but its true strength comes from the pack. The same is true in politics. There is strength in numbers. Political nominees target large, organized groups such as unions. Why? Less effort to obtain more votes. Canvassing the neighborhood takes time and may not result in the number of votes necessary to secure a political candidate’s victory. Attending an organizational meeting such as the local union or a homeowner’s association reaches the same number of people in less time and can result in a larger number of secured votes. Take the city of Alexandria,
Virginia for example. The 2019 U.S. Census estimates the city’s population to be 159,428. Only 7,500 of these residents voted in the city’s last election according to the city’s election statistics. An estimated 3,795 active/retired police and fire fighters live within Alexandria, making the political engagement of this labor group rival other labor groups that do not form a union. The police and fire associations’ influence extends beyond the individuals within the association. It touches their network of friends, family, and other related associations which makes their endorsement even harder to turn down. Union members are more likely to vote and more likely to belong to other associations than non-voters according to the 2013 study “Labor Unions and Political Participation in Comparative Perspective,” by Jasmine Kerrissey and Evan Schofer. Given this information and the multiplier provided by the study, we can assume a minimum 3,900 of the 7,500 Alexandria votes came from a union member or someone they influenced. The group’s voting record combined with the benefits of the
5 Unions, homeowners’ associations, and collective Ward or ANC voting often secure the best candidates to meet the needs of given groups. / Courtesy photo
associations’ ability to mobilize voters makes them an attractive political target and a formidable voting bloc. An endorsement by the police and fire association can secure a mayor, city council member, or state representative a seat in less time than it would take to knock on all 144,000 doors. Influence the 2020 election with
these four actions. One, help register individuals who are eligible to vote within your community. Two, put the November election on the meeting agenda of your next homeowner’s association or social gathering. Three, mobilize voters through conversation and education; and Four, help people in your network get to the polls. ES
By the Numbers Taken together, this strong growth among minority populations means that a third of eligible voters will be nonwhite in 2020, up from about a quarter in 2000. This increase is at least partially linked to immigration and naturalization patterns: One-in-ten eligible voters in the 2020 election will have been born outside the U.S., the highest share since at least 1970.
Since the 1960s, turnout rates have hovered between 51 percent and 62 percent in U.S. presidential elections, and between 37 percent and 50 percent in midterm elections. “I expect 2020 voter turnout to be exceptional, perhaps the highest in over a century, since 1908,” McDonald said. “I sometimes refer to it as ‘the storm of the century.” -University of Florida political scientist Michael McDonald
Also, this election will see a mere 53 percent of potential first-time voters as non-Hispanic white people — down 11 percentage points from the rest of the voter-aged population, according to U.S. Census projection data. More Hispanic: Nearly a quarter of 18 to 21 year olds in 2020 are projected to be Hispanic, In November, for the first compared to 16 percent of time: Americans born after the rest of American adults, the 9/11 attacks will be voting for a president, Gen Z will according to census data. Finally, first-time voters are surpass the Silent Generation’s share of the electorate; more likely to be pursuing and Hispanic Americans will college and have parents with college degrees. surpass Black Americans as the largest racial or ethnic minority voting group.
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Recent & Recommended Books for Election 2020 By Lee Ross WI Contributing Writer Among the great advantages of American citizenship are the rights and responsibilities associated with voting. Many outside the U.S. look in envy at the power and inclusion afforded under democratically elected leaders. Still, with highly polarized elections, key issues important in the process of electing officials take a backseat to sensationalized news stories, candidate popularity, and rumors. The Washington Informer encourages every American to vote as a function of their civic duty, their birthright, and their national obligation. To do so, you must be as informed about the issues facing your community, your state, and the nation – as well as those candidates who believe they are the best options for leading the charge and managing your concerns. The Ultimate Guide to the 2020 Election: 101 Nonpartisan Solutions to All the Issues that Matter by Ryan Clancy and Margaret White With the 2020 US presidential election looming, the emerging contest doesn’t seem so much a battle of ideas as it does a war of two tribes bent on the other’s destruction. The Far Left and Far Right increasingly dominate and drive America’s political debate, leaving a majority of Americans feeling left out and left behind. The Ultimate Guide to the 2020 Election gives a voice to this majority and provides an unbiased education on the true nature of the problems America faces on several key issues, including: Health Care, Energy & Climate Change, Infrastructure, Big Tech & Privacy, The American Dream, Immigration, The National Debt, and Gun Safety. Ryan Clancy and Margaret White present ideas for rescuing American democracy itself. Election Meltdown - Dirty Tricks, Distrust, and the Threat to American Democracy by Richard L. Hasen As the 2020 presidential campaign begins to take shape, there is widespread distrust of the fairness and accuracy of American elections. In this timely and accessible book, Richard L. Hasen uses riveting stories illustrating four factors increasing the mistrust. Voter suppression has escalated as a Republican tool aimed to depress turnout of likely Democratic voters, fueling suspicion. Pockets of incompetence in election administration, often in large cities controlled by Democrats, have created an opening to claims of unfairness. Old-fashioned and new-fangled dirty tricks, including foreign and domestic misinformation campaigns via social media, threaten electoral integrity. Inflammatory rhetoric about “stolen” elections super charges distrust among hardcore partisans. Home Rule or House Rule: Congress and the Erosion of Local Governance in the District of Columbia by Michael K. Fauntroy Article I, Section 8, Clause 17 of the Constitution of the United States grants Congress complete authority over the seat of government, the District of Columbia. This clause creates an infirmity that renders the residents of the District without the same measure of democracy enjoyed by Americans in the states. Various remedies have been attempted, none of which put the residents of the District on par with their fellow Americans. This book presents a political analysis of the relationship between Congress and the local government of Washington, D.C. It examines the influence of suburban members of Congress on District affairs, the fiscal crisis of the 1980s and 1990s, governmental inefficiency, and the Control Board. Democracy’s Capital: Black Political Power in Washington, D.C., 1960s–1970s by Lauren Pearlman From its 1790 founding until 1974, Washington, D.C.--capital of “the land of the free--lacked democratically elected city leadership. Fed up with governance dictated by white stakeholders, federal officials, and unelected representatives, local D.C. activists cata-
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lyzed a new phase of the fight for home rule. Amid the upheavals of the 1960s, they gave expression to the frustrations of black residents and wrestled for control of their city. Bringing together histories of the carceral and welfare states, as well as the civil rights and Black
Power movements, Lauren Pearlman narrates this struggle for self-determination in the nation’s capital. She captures the transition from black protest to black political power under the Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon administrations and against the backdrop of lo-
THE WASHINGTON INFORMER 2020 ELECTION SUPPLEMENT / www.washingtoninformer.com
cal battles over the War on Poverty and the War on Crime. As Pearlman reveals, this conflict laid the foundation for the next fifty years of D.C. governance, connecting issues of civil rights, law and order, and urban renewal. ES
Are You Registered to Vote? Submitted by DC League of Women Voters You may hear that question when you talk to a member of the DC League of Women Voters. We ask if you are registered to vote at your current address with your current name. We want to register every eligible voter, including returning citizens, incarcerated citizens, native Washingtonians, new US citizens, including you! The US League is 100 years old this year and was established to help people become informed citizens. We envision a democracy where every person has the desire, the right, the knowledge, and the confidence to participate. We work to secure equal rights and equal opportunity for all. We also promote social and economic justice and the health and safety of all residents. As a non-partisan organization we want to make sure that people know who is on the ballot so they can make educated choices when they vote. You can go to Vote411.org and put in your address to find out who is on your ballot and what they say for themselves.
This past year the League launched our People Powered Fair Maps Campaign (PPFM) in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. We think that maps that determine the lines of Congressional districts (and Ward districts in DC) should be drawn by independent, non-partisan commissions with transparency and fairness. Partisan gerrymandering is not fair and is damaging to our democracy because it prevents fair representation of everyone. We oppose all voter suppression and are working hard through legislation and lawsuits in many parts of the country to stop such practices. The DC League of Women Voters is participating in PPFM by working to get ON the map as a state. The DC League is also 100 years old this year! We called ourselves the “voteless League of Women Voters” in 1921. We work to gain full rights for DC citizens and improve the living and working conditions of our communities. Over the years, we pushed for Child Labor Laws, opposed “clearing slums”, called for safe and sanitary public housing, and took on gun control. The DC League
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desegregated in 1944, declared “segregation is discrimination” in 1946, and elected our first African American president in 1963. For more history, see our Centennial Timeline at www.lwvdc.org. What does “full rights” mean? It means joining the rest of the United States by becoming a state, fully equal to the other 50 states. We would have 2 Senators like the other states, ! We r a e and representay this d l tives according o n e s om year W 0 to our populaf 0 o 1 gue lso C a a D e tion (right now s i L r o s e f s u s e l t g a e h t e g we are entitled o i L C ns e “v ull r f o h i t t n i i s The D to one). It d a e elv con to g s r g k u r n i o also means we o k r w called nd wo would have full 1. We a 2 g 9 n 1 i v n i i l local control of ” e s r h . ies ve t t i Vote o r n our laws, our p u d im omm n c a judicial system, r s u n o of citize our budget. It means that the President could not order in troops without our governor’s consent. The United States would still have a national capital in a smaller federal district. The dis-
Absentee ballot info Ballot measure info Early voting options Election dates
trict would hold the Capitol building, the Supreme Court, the Mall, White House, monuments and congressional office building and Congress would have total control over it. Our neighborhoods—our fire stations, hospitals, schools, grocery stores, gas stations, restaurants, and homes where 705,000 of us live and work would all be in the new state. This year has been historic for DC in our fight for Statehood. The Washington, DC (Douglass Commonwealth) Admission Act has passed the House for the first time ever. The bill is on the Senate floor for the first time ever. We need the Senate to pass the bill and the sitting president to sign it to become the 51st state just like all the other 37 states have entered the Union after the first 13— through a majority vote. If it does not pass this time, the bill will be reintroduced in the next Congress. League members have traveled all over, visiting 30 states and Hong Kong. We know just how
little people living in the 50 states understand about how DC is governed and why we need to become a state. Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton is a powerful voice for DC in the House, but she cannot vote on the House floor. And, without Senators, DC has no vote on Supreme Court judges, and can get shortchanged like we did on COVID-19 relief funding. When people hear that we have more people than 2 states, we pay taxes, serve in the military, hold regular jobs like they do, they support our drive for statehood. You can help by asking your friends and relatives who live in the 50 states to sign our petition supporting statehood at www.lwvdc.org. You can invite us to talk to your community group (on Zoom, for now) by writing to statehood@lwvdc.org. We invite you to join the League at www.lwvdc.org. We want to have all our DC communities represented on our member rolls. We welcome anyone over 16 years old. ES
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Voting is
POWERFUL!
Make a plan (and a back-up plan)
Do it NOW
3
s e y a t w o v to The future is shaped by those who show up!
Vote-at-home ballot is safe, easy and reliable • Review your candidate choices on Vote411.org • Fill out your ballot and sign the envelope • Submit it in a secure drop box or at a voting center or a US mail box. Vote in person EARLY • Review your candidate choices on Vote411.org • Where? When? Vote411.org has all the information you need. Vote in person on Election Day • Review your candidate choices on Vote411.org • Where? When? Vote411.org has all the information you need. All 18+ year old DC Citizens including returning citizens and the currently incarcerated are eligible to vote. We welcome your membership in the DC League of Women Voters: LWVDC.org/join -- and yes, men join too!
Información Electoral que Necesita: Vote411.org/es Election Information You Need: Vote411.org
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Ready, Set, Vote! What You Need to Know to Vote Safely in the District of Columbia The D.C. Board of Elections is mailing a ballot to each of the city’s more than 500,000 registered voters in early October and expanding in-person early voting to give voters more options. • D.C. residents can use absentee ballots to safely vote from home. They can also avoid Election Day crowds by voting early and in person at 32 polling locations from Oct. 27 through Nov. 2. • Beginning in October, voters will be able to track the status of their mail-in ballots on the Board of Elections website. • The Board of Elections will use 95 of its usual 144 polling places on Election Day because smaller venues cannot accommodate social distancing. How do I register to vote? You can download a registration application from the Board of Elections website and email, mail or fax it back, or deliver it in person. If
you can’t download the application, request one from the Board of Elections. Applications submitted online or by mail must be received by Oct. 13. But you can also register in person as late as Election Day. The D.C. Board of Elections is also mailing paperwork to registered voters to confirm their address and voter information. You need to return it only if you spot incorrect information or if you’d like your ballot sent to another address. If you return it, be sure to send the entire form to the Board of Elections.
How do I know my absentee ballot is secure? Each voter’s ballot has a unique bar code. The D.C. Board of Elections has been using the process successfully for 20 years. Voters can drop off a completed mail ballot in ANY Ballot Drop Box at ANY time before 8 pm on Election Day, November 3, 2020. There will be at least five boxes in each Ward.
How can I get an absentee ballot? Are there important deadlines? All registered voters will be mailed a ballot and a postage-paid return envelope. You can also download an absentee ballot request form. Completed ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and must arrive no later than Nov. 13 — 10 days after Election Day.
When is Election Day? When are polls open? Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. There will be fewer polling places open because of the coronavirus, so voters may not be able to vote at their usual polling place. Check for the polling place closest to you at the Board of Elections website, under registration status.
Can I vote in person before Election Day? D.C. will offer early voting at 32 polling locations beginning on Oct. 27 and running through Nov. 2, the day before Election Day. Polls will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Check out the district’s early voting information portal to find the location of all early voting centers. You can cast your ballot at any of these locations. There will be six Super Vote Centers throughout the city that can accommodate large numbers of voters, both during early voting and on Election Day. These include: • Capital One Arena in Ward 2 • Dock 5 @ Union Market in Ward 5 • Entertainment and Sports Arena in Ward 8 • Omni Shoreham Hotel in Ward 3 • Nationals Park in Ward 6 • University of the District of Columbia in Ward 3.
What form of identification do I need to vote? Registered voters do not need to show ID, unless you’re voting for the first time and registered online or by mail. Then you’ll need to show a valid government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license or U.S. passport, or a recent utility bill or bank statement. See the full list of acceptable IDs. What is being done to make polling places safe from coronavirus? Polling places will have hand sanitizer, masks, gloves, disinfectant and social-distancing markers. Will be curbside voting be available for older adults or those with disabilities who vote in person? Voters over the age of 65 and voters with a disability who choose to vote in person can take advantage of curbside voting at all polling locations except for Super Vote Centers. ES
District of Columbia
Your Vote. Your Voice. Our Fight. As our nation battles a pandemic and economic downturn, the health and financial security of voters over 50 are on the line. That’s why AARP DC is fighting for your voice to be heard.
AARP DC wants to make sure that you know all of your voting options and that all Americans—from working parents to family caregivers to seniors in nursing homes—can vote safely whether they choose to vote from home or in-person. For more information on how you can vote safely and make your voice heard, visit aarp.org/DCvotes facebook.com/aarpdc | @AARPDC | aarp.org/DC PAID FOR BY AARP
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SINCE THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT PASSED IN 1965, WE’VE NEEDED 5 AMENDMENTS TO PROTECT IT Voting was and still is our super power. It keeps people and neighborhoods from being ignored. We celebrate the people who not only got knocked down, but who kept getting up. Join AARP DC as we continue the journey to protect and empower people of all races and ages in the District of Columbia.
Your Vote is POWERFUL Learn more at aarp.org/DCvotes
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The Maryland State Board of Elections has taken a number of steps to ensure eligible Maryland voters can safely cast their general election ballots in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. To reduce exposure to the novel coronavirus, Maryland voters are encouraged to vote by mail in the 2020 general election. Eligible voters across the state have been mailed applications for mail-in ballots along with postage-paid return envelopes to submit their applications. Voters’ requests for mail-in ballots must be received by October 20. Mail-in ballots will be sent to voters via first-class U.S. Mail beginning in late September and continuing through October. In order to be counted, mail-in ballots must be postmarked no later than November 3 and the oath on the postage-paid return envelope that arrives with the ballot must be signed. “Voting by mail is safe, easy and free,” said Maryland State Board of Elections Administrator Linda
Lamone. “We encourage all eligible voters in the state to request their ballots early and cast their votes early.” In addition to voting by mail, voters will have the option of submitting the mail-in ballots at ballot
drop boxes located throughout the state. Each Maryland jurisdiction will have at least two ballot drop box locations available to voters. The state’s most populous counties and the City of Baltimore will have additional ballot drop boxes to ac-
2020 Presidential General Election Tuesday, November 3, 2020
STAY SAFE. VOTE-BY-MAIL. Step 1:
REQUEST A BALLOT MUST BE RECEIVED BY OCTOBER 20 To vote-by-mail in the 2020 Presidential General Election you must request a ballot. Your ballot request must be received by October 20.
Step 2:
LOOK OUT FOR YOUR BALLOT You can track your ballot application status online. Ballots will begin arriving in early October.
Step 3:
COMPLETE YOUR BALLOT & SIGN THE ENVELOPE Follow the instructions.
Step 4:
RETURN YOUR BALLOT BY NOVEMBER 3 Return your completed ballot to an official election drop box by 8pm on November 3 or postmark by November 3.
ARE YOU REGISTERED? To be eligible to vote, you must register or update your voter registration information by Tuesday, October 13.
commodate the greater number of eligible voters residing in those jurisdictions. Voters can submit their completed mail-in ballots at any drop box located in their jurisdiction of residence. In all, 282 ballot drop boxes will be available at 281 locations around the state. Two ballot drop boxes will be available at Camden Yards in Baltimore. The complete list of ballot drop box locations is available at: https://elections. maryland.gov/elections/2020/ PG20_Drop%20Box%20Locations.xlsx Just as with ballots submitted by mail, in order for ballots submitted at drop boxes to count they must be sealed in the return envelopes that accompany the ballots and the voter oath on the envelope must be signed. Ballot drop boxes will begin opening around the state roughly 30 days prior to Election Day, November 3. Once open, the ballot drop boxes will remain open until 8 p.m. on Election Day. Voters may also drop their completed, signed and sealed ballots at local election board offices. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, office hours may be adjusted. Voters should call their local board of elections to confirm office hours and locations.
In-person voting will be available during eight days of early voting – from Monday, October 26 to Monday, November 2 – and on Election Day, November 3. To make in-person voting safe, voters must remain six feet apart and wear a mask. To maintain proper distancing, the number of voters permitted inside a voting center at one time may be limited, which could result in lines and wait times. Early voting centers and Election Day vote centers will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eligible voters may cast their ballots at any authorized voting location within their jurisdiction of residence. A complete list of early voting locations can be found here: https://elections.maryland. gov/elections/2020/2020%20 Early%20Voting%20Centers.pdf A complete list of Election Day vote centers can be found here: https://elections.maryland.gov/ elections/2020/PG20_List%20 o f % 2 0 El e c t i o n % 2 0 Da y % 2 0 Vote%20Centers.xlsx “This public health crisis has resulted in a number of changes to the way Marylanders will cast their ballots this fall, but we are confident every eligible voter will have the opportunity to safely exercise their right to vote,” said Lamone. “Our message to all Marylanders is don’t wait – don’t wait to apply for your mail-in ballot and don’t wait to cast your vote.” ES
or vote in-person EARLY VOTING October 26– November 2 7am–8pm
ELECTION DAY November 3 7am–8pm
Learn more about registering, requesting a ballot, or in-person voting options at
ELECTIONS.MARYLAND.GOV/2020
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2020 Presidential General Election Tuesday, November 3, 2020 ARE YOU REGISTERED? To be eligible to vote, you must register or update your voter registration information by Tuesday, October 13.
request a request a
STAY SAFE. VOTE-BY-MAIL.
or vote in-person
Step 1:
EARLY VOTING
REQUEST A BALLOT MUST BE RECEIVED BY OCTOBER 20 To vote-by-mail in the 2020 Presidential General Election you must request a ballot. Your ballot request must be received by October 20.
track your
Step 2:
LOOK OUT FOR YOUR BALLOT You can track your ballot application status online. Ballots will begin arriving in early October.
track your
October 26– November 2 7am–8pm
6oct 2 2 nov
ELECTION DAY November 3 7am–8pm
nov
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Step 3:
COMPLETE YOUR BALLOT & SIGN THE ENVELOPE Follow the instructions.
drop box
Step 4:
RETURN YOUR BALLOT BY NOVEMBER 3 Return your completed ballot to an official election drop box by 8pm on November 3 or postmark by November 3.
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Learn more about registering, requesting a ballot, or in-person voting options at
ELECTIONS.MARYLAND.GOV/2020
Jacque Patterson: The Parent Choice for State Board of Education At-Large When I first moved to Washington, DC, 25 years ago, I was a single father with a little girl. At the time, Ward 8 didn’t have any grocery stores, a single sit-down restaurant or any place for my daughter to play. While the rest of the city enjoyed the very things that make a community strong, Ward 8 went without. So, I rolled up my sleeves and went to work. I was elected to serve as the advisory neighborhood commissioner in my neighborhood and I begam working with residents and other community leaders to assist in building the Town Hall Education Arts & Recreation Center (THEARC). We worked with Mayor Anthony Williams to get the Giant grocery store built, replace the check cashing place with Andrews Federal Credit Union, and rebuild the Douglass Stanton Dwelling into a mixed-use affordable housing community. It didn’t matter that my first elected office was an unpaid “advisory” position, it was about organizing a community around the common good. I’ve always believed that it’s not the power of the position you hold, but about empowering the people you lead. For the past 10 years, I have been working as a lead-
5 It’s important that we elevate the parents’ voice in public education because they are an instrumental part of a student’s academic success, as we’re finding out even more during this pandemic and distance learning.
er in public education at Rocketship and KIPP DC to ensure students and parents have quality education options in their community as well as amplifying community and parent voices in our schools.
The role of a State Board of Education representative is to provide educational policy leadership and advocate for needed change to ensure that every student is valued and learn the skills and knowledge necessary to
become an informed, competent and contributing global citizen. Currently, I am the only candidate who has relationships with current members on the SBOE; Ward 6 representative, Jessica Sutter, and Ward 2 representative Jack Jacobson as well as members of the DC council; Robert White, Jr., Vince Gray and Trayon White. These relationships are pivotal to getting policy implemented for students, teachers and parents and as the AtLarge representative, I will leverage these relationships to ensure that our school are equitably resourced, retain the best teacher talent and are more anti-racist in policy and practice. I’m running for the State Board
of Education, At-Large seat because public education needs that same kind of community support to make it more equitable for every student, regardless of their zip code. The lessons I have learned in helping to revitalize my community and build relationships across the District, I’ll bring to the State Board of Education; starting with our parents. If elected to the State Board of Education, I’ll be the only father with school age children enrolled in DC Public Schools. It’s important that we elevate the parents’ voice in public education because they are an instrumental part of a student’s academic success, as we’re finding out even more during this pandemic and distance learning. I believe that we must organize and elevate the community’s voice around the issues that impact marginalized neighborhoods where educational inequities have become status quo. The quality of a neighborhood starts with the quality of education it provides its residents, regardless of their zip code. It’s time that we elected parent leaders to the SBOE. More than ever, we need proven leadership to truly close the equity and opportunity gap in communities across DC. I’m looking forward to representing every student, teacher, family and community as the at-large representative on the DC State Board of Education. I’m the only candidate running that has 20 plus years of experience in community advocacy and educational leadership. That’s why I’m asking you to join our campaign for a more equitable DC education system and vote for Jacque Patterson on November 3rd. ES
The role of a State Board of Education representative is to provide educational policy leadership and advocate for needed change to ensure that every student is valued and learn the skills and knowledge necessary to become an informed, competent and contributing global citizen. PAID FOR BY JACQUE 4 DC 2020
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The District’s Home Rule History and Statehood Goal By James Wright and Shantella Y. Sherman WI Staff Writers The District operates politically under a Home Rule Charter in which local officials legislate and manage the city under the watchful eye of the U.S. Congress, an arrangement unique to the nation’s capital. Residents who recall the early days of home rule continue to express a wide range of views, including a continued desire for statehood. The District Home Rule Act, passed by the Congress and signed into law by President Nixon, became operational on Dec. 24, 1973, allowing the city limited self-government for the first time in over a century. The legislation devolved certain congressional powers of the District to local government, including a charter providing for the election of a mayor, city council and elected community leaders known as advisory neighborhood commissioners. Under the charter, Congress reviews legislation passed by the council and signed by the mayor and retains authority over the city’s budget. The charter mandates that the President appoint District judges with Senate approval, but no provision exists granting voting representation in the U.S. Congress. The District’s road to Home Rule took nearly two centuries, starting in 1790 when the Congress created the District from land given to it from Maryland and Virginia for a national capital. In 1802, citizens of Washington City, a part of the District at
that time, petitioned Congress for a municipal charter. The congressionally-approved charter incorporated Washington as a city and allowed voters to elect a legislative body—a council—and its government had the ability to assess taxes on real estate to pay for governmental functions. The charter also created a mayoral position appointed by the President. In 1846, the Virginia portion of the District receded back to that state. In the early 1870s, the three portions of the District--Washington City, Georgetown and Washington County in Maryland--came under one jurisdiction and achieved territorial status with a governor and a council appointed by the President, a House of Delegates elected by the people and a nonvoting delegate to the Congress. Under a cloud of scandal a few years after, Congress scrapped the territorial system and installed three commissioners appointed by the President to manage the District. The commissioner system lasted nearly a century. Dr. Calvin Rolark, staunch proponent of Home Rule, statehood, and the founder of the Washington Informer, said of this history that it implied not only the lack of capacity among District residents in the mind of federal leaders, but also fed the fears of federal authorities that the right to govern would negatively impact the nation. “I fully believe that the creation of an Attorney General Office for the District would substantially increase citizen involvement, especially considering the role of District voters in the structure of the office,” he said
5 Walter Washington served as the first elected mayor of the District. (WI File Photo)
in a November 1983 commentary. “Secondly, to the question of the desirability of transferring the power of appointment and confirmation of judges from the President and the U.S. Senate to the mayor and the city council, I am stringently in favor of an independent judiciary. Further, I am aware that legislative history suggests that congress allowed for presidential appointment of judges to insure an independent judiciary. However, in my opinion, mayoral appointment and city council confirmation would in no way undermine the independence of the office. Furthermore, the mayor and city council are just as able to apply the criteria used by the President and senate in appointment and confirmation decisions.” Throughout the years, District residents pressed the Congress for Home Rule and as a result, the Senate passed bills calling for it six times from 1948 to 1966. However, the Senate’s Home Rule bills died each time in the House District of Columbia Committee because of the Southern chairmen’s hostility toward the city’s large Black population. Home Rule had the endorsement of President Dwight Eisenhower during the 1950s. In 1961, the 23rd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution passed allowing District residents three electors in the Electoral College during presidential election years. In 1967, with the civil rights movement in full force, President Lyndon Johnson disbanded the commissioners and appointed a mayor-commissioner and a nine-member council. Also, in 1967, District residents won the right to elect a school board. In 1970, President Richard Nixon signed legislation authorizing the District a nonvoting member of Congress. A Home Rule bill passed the Congress in 1973 when segregationist Rep. John McMillan, who chaired the House District of Columbia Committee, lost re-election and Nixon signed the measure. In 1974, District voters elected their first mayor and a 13-member council under Home Rule. Still, statehood remains elusive. Howard University political science professor Michael Fauntroy’s work, Home Rule or House Rule: Congress and the Erosion of Local Governance in the District of Columbia, leads the discourse in documenting the city’s fight for
5 The District was granted “limited self-government” in 1973, though statehood remains elusive. (WI File Photo)
legislative autonomy. He told the Informer in a 2014 interview that while he believed statehood was theoretically still possible, achieving it would require a committed effort by proponents of statehood to inform the nation about how the city currently operates. Fauntroy also said he believed an impassioned desire among residents was required to seize it. “I think it’s theoretically possible [to gain statehood], though I don’t think there is enough energy in the streets to make it happen. Ultimately you have to scare the members of Congress by un-electing some of them as we saw in 1972 and there is not enough energy to un-elect people in any significant way,” Fauntroy said. “I am probably a little less hopeful now than I was at the time that I wrote Home Rule and this was over a decade ago, in part because I think that the kind of street mobilization that you need is not on the radar of many of the people who need to be in the streets and organizing not just here in the District but around the country to try to get this done. I’m
frustrated, very frustrated by that generally.” Former House Committee on the District of Columbia staffer, Nelson Rimensnyder shared a panel with Fauntroy and The Honorable Sterling Tucker, the first elected City Council chairman, on the 40th anniversary of Home Rule. Citing the 1994 adoption by the D.C. Council of Act 10-222 that states: “No D.C. resident shall be required to make federal income tax payments until such time as the District is granted full representation in both houses of Congress,” Rimensnyder labeled District residents as third-class citizens. “Some leaders like to go around saying that we are second-class citizens, but in fact, we are third-class citizens because we are behind Puerto Rico and other territories. We are the only Americans taxed without our consent and I think that is the message we have to take to the country and the Congress. We are tired of being taxed without our consent. That is what this country was founded upon - it is in our Declaration of Independence,” Rimensnyder said. ES
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ELECTION DAY IS A MERE 24 DAYS AWAY! It’s essential that every citizen register to VOTE and cast their ballot. This is the best way to make sure that your voice is heard on those issues you and your family care about.
“ENERGIZE OUR VOICES” Let’s all
and make sure to VOTE before or on Tuesday,
NOVEMBER 3rd!
washingtongas.com
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OPINIONS/EDITORIALS
EDITORIAL Children Adapt to Change Easily So Why Can’t Parents? An insightful feature on parenting appeared in the Sept. 24 edition of The Washington Post under the title, “Should a first-grader be able to recall directions from online school?” The reporter responded to a question posed by a parent whose son, a six-year-old first-grader, seems to be struggling with remembering his teacher’s instructions in the first few weeks of virtual school. Like most children of the same age, the parent’s son has little patience for sitting at a computer for long periods of time. They may be able to respond with complete sentences and even express their feelings but they’re still years away from maturity. So, while adults may be able to review their work, to consider other options or improvements before submitting their final product, youngsters, after deciding that they’ve completed their given task, simply want to move on. Perhaps parents are finally seeing the challenges that elementary school teachers routinely face – providing a thoughtful and interesting curriculum while making learning fun. Young children, particularly boys, have an instinctive desire to play and move their bodies. They’re also easily distracted. So, with the school year just beginning, parents may want to find creative ways – joyful ways – to help their early learners navigate this strange new world. Maybe your child’s teacher can provide some suggestions. Meanwhile, parents may find it beneficial to make learning a process that continues throughout the day. When it’s dinner time, help your child count the number of utensils or food items on the table. Ask them about something funny that occurred during the day and then help them write a few sentences about it. Above all, let your child adjust to today’s virtual environment at their own pace. After all, many adults are still trying to force a square peg in a round hole. That is, we want to act as if we can somehow transport ourselves into the past instead of making the adjustments to what is becoming the new normal. WI
Enough is Enough!
It’s as if someone asked if American politics get any worse. Then came Tuesday night’s first presidential debate held in front of a live audience of 100 at Case Western Reserve in Cincinnati, Ohio. Millions of people across the nation and worldwide watched the outrageous scene throughout the live broadcast. President Donald Trump stooped so low to the point that some would say he showed off his rear end in what was no less than an attempted schoolyard brawl against his opponent, former Vice President Joe Biden, who stood firm against Trump’s bullying. While many Americans have already decided on their candidate, hundreds more have already begun to cast their ballots. The debate was only a means towards locking in their decision based on the candidates’ responses to issues impacting their health, wallets, civil and human rights, the Supreme Court’s future, and the election’s integrity. Mission failed. Organizers can blame the moderator Chris Matthews, of FOX News, who ultimately lost control of the program despite his repeated attempts to rein in Trump. But last night’s “Biggest Loser” was Trump, who refused to answer questions including whether he believed in the science behind global warming, whether he was honest about COVID-19 and the arrival of a vaccine, and whether he would accept the results of the Nov. 3 election. Trump continues to try to raise doubts among the American voters about whether a clean and fair election is possible and whether their ballots, received by mail, will be deemed fraudulent, especially if he loses. He went even further to stoke racism and violence when asked if he would denounce white supremacist groups. He responded, “Of course. I’d say, ‘Proud Boys, stand back and stand by.’” An article published in Politico, immediately following the debate, reported that Trump’s comments “were embraced by the Proud Boys, an alt-right self-described ‘western chauvinist’ group who clearly viewed it [Trump’s remark] as a call to action.” In recent years, The Washington Informer decided not to engage in political endorsements and believed laying our candidates’ stances on issues guides voters towards the best choice for them. However, after four years of ridiculousness and last night’s fiasco, we must strongly urge every voter, regardless of party affiliation, to stand up for democracy and vote Biden-Harris on Nov. 3. Enough is enough! WI
TO THE EDITOR Off the Beaten Path
Words of Wisdom
Nice story about the “Drive-in Church Experience.” One thing about this pandemic is that it has shifted people and organizations from doing the same old thing all the time. Variety is the spice of life. With that being said, I’m sure members of the church enjoyed the change of pace for a Sunday service and I wouldn’t be surprised if they kept it going — on occasion, of course — in the future.
I loved that profound and timely quote by the masterful Johnnie Cochran Jr. in your Words to Live By section. “What we have in this country is the appearance of justice.” Kezi Ude Washington, D.C.
Monica Griggs Washington, D.C.
Readers' Mailbox
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The Washington Informer welcomes letters to the editor about articles we publish or issues affecting the community. Write to: lsaxton@washingtoninformer. com or send to: 3117 Martin Luther King Jr Ave., SE, Washington, D.C. 20032. Please note that we are unable to publish letters that do not include a full name, address and phone number. We look forward to hearing from you. OCTOBER 1 - 7, 2020 25
OPINIONS/EDITORIALS Guest Columnist
By Lauren Victoria Burke
Trump Stokes Race-Based Fears, Avoids Denouncing Violence
On Aug. 18, speaking at an event at the White House, President Trump said, “The suburban voter, the suburban housewife, women and men living in the suburbs, they want security and they want safety. They don’t want to have their American dream fulfilled and then have a low-income housing process built right next to their house or in the neighborhood. … That’s not part of the deal.”
On Aug. 31, with 62 days until Election Day, Trump said, “Westchester was ground zero for what they were trying to do. They were trying to destroy the suburban beautiful place — the American dream really. They want low income housing and with that comes a lot of other problems including crime, may not be nice to say but, there is a level of violence. So, you have this beautiful community in the suburbs including women, right — they want security. I end it where they build low income housing projects right in the middle of your neighborhood. I
Guest Columnist
ended it. If Biden gets in, he already said it’s going to go at a much higher rate than before. You know who is going to be in charge of it? Cory Booker, that’s gonna be nice OK.” Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey represents and lives in Newark. In the days after the Republican National Convention, Trump has made his 2020 election strategy clear: He will attempt to scare white suburban women. Barely trying to conceal his consistent racism, Trump appeared to be attempting to get white suburban voters to vote for him by using fear
and channeling various stereotypes about violence, crime and poverty. During the week of the Republican convention, fear was a recurring theme that never left the stage. Trump steadfastly avoided being critical of the violence seen in Wisconsin after Jacob Blake was shot seven times in the back by a Kenosha police officer. In August 2017, days after a racist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, of neo-Nazis resulted in the murder of Heather Heyer and the inadvertent deaths of two responding state troopers, Trump said, “I watched those very
closely, much more closely than you people watched it. And you have — you had a group on one side that was bad, and you had a group on the other side that was also very violent, and nobody wants to say that, but I’ll say it right now. You had a group — you had a group on the other side that came charging in without a permit, and they were very, very violent.” The turmoil in Charlottesville was just a precursor of what was to come. In just the past seven months, Trump
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By Marian Wright Edelman
Ruth Bader Ginsburg: A Role Model for All
“I attended law school in days when women were not wanted by most members of the legal profession. … Yes, there are miles in front, but what a distance we have traveled from the day President Thomas Jefferson told his secretary of state: ‘The appointment of women to [public] office is an innovation for which the public is not prepared. Nor,’ Jefferson added, ‘am I.’
“The increasingly full use of the talent of all of this nation’s people holds large promise for the future, but we could not have come to this point — and I surely would not be in this room today — without the determined efforts of men and women who kept dreams of equal citizenship alive in days when few would listen. People like Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Harriet Tubman come to mind. I stand on the shoulders of those brave people.” Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg stated
Guest Columnist
these words before the Senate Judiciary Committee after becoming the second woman nominated to the United States Supreme Court. She acknowledged the women who paved her way and throughout her lifetime fighting gender discrimination, paved the way for countless others. She was a trailblazer and teacher for all Americans of all genders and races just as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was. I adored her. She is a role model for everyone, especially little girls, but also boys, reminding them that they can be and do
anything if they believe in themselves and never give up despite obstacles. She described many instances of discrimination including from a Harvard Law School professor who chided her for taking a man’s spot but she was not deterred. After graduating at the top of her Columbia Law School class, no New York City law firm offered her a job but she never gave up and inspired countless girls, women and men to shatter the glass ceilings women and people of color still face. The outpouring of grief and grat-
itude since her death reflects how many feel her loss. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ensured Justice Ginsburg would be the first woman honored to lie in state at the Capitol. This overdue “first,” which she so richly deserved, was a fitting honor for her tireless fight for equal rights for all. She received the National Constitution Center’s 2020 Liberty Medal the evening before her passing. In
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By Ray Curry
The United States Postal Service Delivers Much More Than Mail
America’s Postal Service has been an essential institution that has connected every one of us as Americans even before we were a nation independent of Great Britain. The most American of traditions Benjamin Franklin was appointed our first postmaster general in 1775. This democratic treasure, which has proven as reliable as it has self-sufficient, was a model for how government
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service should work. Its rich history is America’s history of adaptability, ingenuity and grit. Franklin used the system to get mail from Congress to our armies during the Revolution. In 1823, the service started using waterways to deliver mail, then began using railroads and in 1847 saw the first issued stamps. The famous Pony Express took up the task in 1860. By 1896, the service began delivering to some rural addresses, so people did not have to go to the town post office for their mail anymore. By 1923, all houses were required to have a mail slot. And in 1963, zip codes were
introduced. Also very American, a 1970 strike by organized labor led to an even more efficient operation and the Postal Reorganization Act that established the United States Postal Service as we know it today. And true to its roots, the revitalized United States Postal Service (USPS) knew how to make a buck. The reorganization legislation called for the phasing out of the post office’s direct government subsidies by 1983. The post office has been operating without any taxpayer money since then. In fact, as
recent as the start of this century, from 2003-2006, and despite the advent of email and stiff competition from companies like UPS and FedEx, the post office reported a 9.3 billion profit. I would say that is a pretty decent business model. But then HR 6407 came along in 2007. The act mandated that the post office calculate its retiree pension and healthcare costs for the next 75 years, including workers to come, and set aside enough over the next 10 years to cover them. An article appearing in Business Insider put the impact of the
requirement this way: “To put this in perspective, that’d be like you only working from age 18 to 28 and then expecting to live on that income until you were 103 years old.” What would Ben Franklin say? Needless to say, the bill and its contents have proven devastating. The long and the short of it has meant that the USPS has had to contribute about $5.6 billion a year for people who had not yet retired, in addition to the amount for current retirees.
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OPINIONS/EDITORIALS Guest Columnist
By Julianne Malveaux
Adding Fuel to the Fire of Our Pandemics
Nero, the Roman emperor who legendarily fiddled while Rome burned, is a symbol for an irresponsible, ineffective and callous leader who shows indifference to people in crisis. The great Rome fire took place in the first century A.D. The fiddle wasn’t invented until the 11th century, so it is unlikely that the hedonistic emperor played the fiddle while his city was burning. More likely,
he was engaged in some trivial or sybaritic act, regardless of the crisis. Our 45th president puts Nero to shame. Our country is burning, with COVID-19 cases rising, racial tensions rising. The president is pouring fuel on an already-flaming fire with his callous indifference, ineffective leadership and irresponsible proclamations. He has so utterly failed to provide a national plan to combat coronavirus that Republican governors have called him out. Notably, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, who chairs the National Governor’s Associ-
Guest Columnist
Lysol or bleach to cure the virus. He has prioritized the economy over human lives, urging governors to open their states up for commerce, even as the number of COVID-19 cases has risen. Still, he and his education secretary are urging the full reopening of schools for full-time in-person instruction, even though the numbers suggest otherwise. They are saying they schools that fail to meet their demands will forfeit federal dollars — fuel to the fire. Since the economy closed in late March, there has been plenty of time
to develop a coordinated response to COVID-19, develop a back-to-school plan and get school districts the additional resources they need to serve our nation’s young people effectively. Instead, he says he is leaving it to the states, just like he left the acquisition of personal protective equipment to the states. Why doesn’t he do his job instead of playing golf? Fiddling while Rome burns, the president and his daughter Ivanka are
we disrupt a family and interrupt generations to come. Until the justice system is dismantled from the inside out, there will continue to be Black people incarcerated at disproportionate rates across this country, many of which are under the age of 25 years old. This is how I can, in good conscious, simultaneously advocate to defund police, rid prosecutors of their power, and reform prisons. I believe that if the various parts of the system are burned down, the abolishment of prisons will be the ultimate result. America’s need and desire to capture the minds and bodies of Black people will no lon-
ger be the priority. Unfortunately, this will not happen overnight or over the course of a few years. As long as America prioritizes capitalism, prisons will always have a bed ready for the “have nots” and the privileges of white supremacy will continue to override humanity. As long as Black people are in prisons, there will always be a need to ensure that an anti-racist lens informs practices and policies with the hope of leading to conditions that can, at minimum, keep people alive and sane in order to fight another day
vate sector. Trump’s plan also includes a proposal to make Juneteenth a federal holiday — and a proposal to enshrine a national database of police misconduct into law. Trump called for establishing the database in June after George Floyd was killed by police in Minneapolis. All of his proposals would require action by Congress, but the Courvoisier, and fried chicken for Black supporters are free, and unlimited. Meanwhile, a few days earlier Biden discussed hiseconomic plan for Black
folks at an event in Charlotte, N.C., pledging to invest more money in historically Black colleges and universities and to leverage $150 billion in new capital for Black-owned businesses. The Biden plan — with an equally patronizing moniker: “Lift Every Voice” — promises to: “Advance the economic mobility of African Americans and close the racial wealth and income gaps; Expand access to high-quality education and tackle racial inequity in our
ation, excoriated Mr. Trump in a July 16 Washington Post op-ed, noting that our president seemed “more concerned about boosting the stock market or his reelection plans.” That’s fiddling while Rome burns. Forty-five fanned the flames of fear and uncertainty about COVID-19 with false comments about the virus. First, he said it was going to go away and that it was no more severe than the flu. Then he suggested a drug, hydroxychloroquine, that has proven to be ineffective. Then he “jokingly” suggested
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By Clinique Chapman
Abolition or Else?
Burn it down and from the ashes we will heal … Some may wonder how I can promote anti-racism, advocate for defunding the police, yet work toward prison reform instead of completely abolishing the carceral system? As a forensic social worker, I honed my advocacy skills at the best public defender office in the country where I provided expertise as a mitigation specialist and sentencing advocate in Wash-
ington, D.C. I met some of the most traumatized, yet resilient Black boys, girls, men, and women at the hardest time of their lives. They were facing the loss of liberty, many of whom were children detained in adult jail. One of my first clients received a 19-year sentence when he was merely 19 years of age. He sits in a prison cell today. That cell and that system are supposed to equip him with the rehabilitative tools necessary to return to the District of Columbia as a “changed” man. Unfortunately, the reality is that the education services, behavioral health programs and life skills that someone
Askia-At-Large
would need to overcome being abandoned as a child and becoming a man in the prison system will not be found in a cell. The trauma that is endured prior to entering the system, only to be exacerbated by the trauma experienced as an incarcerated, enslaved person in the prison system, is oftentimes insurmountable for many. Despite knowing these realities, police, prosecutors and judges continue to uphold racist practices and policies, rendering sentences that send a signal that Black lives and families do not matter and are dispensable. Each time a Black person is placed in a cell instead of in their community,
CHAPMAN Page 46
By Askia Muhammad
Trump’s ‘Courvoisier Plan’ for Blacks
Donald J. Trump must have some laid off Aunt Jemima/Uncle Ben’sbrand marketers working on his faux-campaign to attract Black voters. Dude unveiled what he called the “Platinum Plan” for Black economic empowerment at a campaign event in Atlanta on Sept 25. I call it his “Courvoisier Plan,” because it’s the modern equivalent of “pie in the sky.”
You see, The Donald is such a pathological liar (more than 20,000 false or misleading statements since taking office by the Washington Post’s count) that you can just take anything he says and deposit it directly in the commode — run with it if you’re Black. But during another of his disjointed, rambling speeches — this time in Atlanta — Trump spent more time telling people why they shouldn’t vote for Democratic rival Joe Biden than he did describing his campaign pitch to “Da Bloods” (Black dudes). “No one
in politics today has done more to hurt the Black community than Joe Biden,” he said at the ballroom event. “Joe Biden should not be demanding your support; he should be begging for your forgiveness,”he told the hand-picked crowd of supporters. The Trump campaign said in a news release that Trump proposes to increase lending through community development financial institutions and would aim to direct up to $40 billion in government funds to leverage as much as 10 times that amount through the pri-
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ASKIA Page 46 OCTOBER 1 - 7, 2020 27
LIFESTYLE African Ancestry Identity Summit Capitalizes on Increased Racial Pride By Sam P.K. Collins WI Contributing Writer @SamPKCollins In the aftermath of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor’s police-involved deaths, the fervor for racial justice among a newly-awakened and extremely indignant Black populace has translated into a push to implement Black-centered cur-
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ricula in public schools, support Black-owned businesses and celebrate Black cultural identity. For African Ancestry Co-Founder and CEO Dr. Gina Paige, this climate has proven opportune for taking conversations about Blackness to another level. Those who attended the Remember Who You Are Identity Summit did just that, by not
only exploring the Black identity through a cultural, psychological, and economic lens, but gaining a deeper appreciation of identity’s role in helping Black people achieve self-determination. “Identity is a personal thing and [as] we know and learned from some of our speakers, it is a constant narrative of self at a very basic level,” Paige told The Informer during the virtual affair that took place for an entire week during the latter part of September. The lineup of speakers scheduled to appear during the virtual summit included African-centered psychologist Dr. Afiya Mbilishaka, Atlantis Browder of IKG Cultural Center, Tony Lawson of SHOPPE Black, Diallo Sumbry of the Adinkra Group and more than a dozen others who reflected on their work and the condition of the Black identity in the areas of health, the arts and agriculture. “We’re giving people different lenses to reflect on their own identity,” Paige said. “I hope that they walk away with the tools they can
use to study, reflect upon, and pay attention to who they are. Once you know that, you can thrive in other areas.” Over the last few months, as protesters of various ethnicities have taken to the streets of nearly every major American city, expressions of Black racial pride have significantly increased, while local and state-level politicians and mavens of industry have shown an interest in addressing systemic inequity. The shifting mindset has also been illustrated among mainstream hip-hop and R&B musicians who’ve taken a more politically conscious tone in their music. Black-owned bookstores and other conduits of Black history and culture have seen an influx of orders, while some Black-owned businesses that have struggled during the coronavirus pandemic have found new life in a customer base hungry to use their dollars as weapons. Meanwhile, some Black people, nostalgic about the “Year of Return,” have further explored the possibility of repatriation. Since launching African Ancestry in 2003, Paige and Dr. Rick Kettles have helped more than 750,000 Black people make sense of their identity, primarily by tracing their matrilineal and patrilineal lineage to an African ethnic group with the use of the industry’s largest database of indigenous African DNA. The Remember Who You Are Identity Summit, indicative of a new normal where people all over the world are communing on virtual platforms, counted among African Ancestry’s more recent offerings, which also include Leg-
endary Roots – profiles of people and places that have contributed to the advancement of people of African descent. For that campaign, Selah Marley traced her ancestry to the Biaka people of present-day Central African Republic. During what was one of the most well-attended presentations of the week, Dr. Mbilishaka explained how mainstream psychology doesn’t take into account how the system of white supremacy hampers the Black sense of self. Later, while engaging audience members in dialogue about the food they eat and spiritual systems they practice, she introduced them to a bevy of notable Black thought leaders, including Franz Fanon, Dr. Frances Cress Welsing, Dr. Marimba Ani and Amos Wilson – each of whom have addressed the importance of fostering an Afrocentric identity and value system. The best part of the entire experience, Dr. Mbilishaka said, was the number of requests for book recommendations she received immediately after wrapping up her presentation. “This is the hungriest I’ve seen people wanting to get to the root of things,” she said. “We know the current system doesn’t work for us. The response to the information I’ve shared was very strong. People are ready for the concept [of ] actually practic[ing] a cultural alternative to the one being fed to us. I don’t know how long it will be [but] it’s going to be a process.” To download the week-long lineup of videos, visit AfricanAncestry.com/ summit. WI
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GINSBURG from Page 1 Journal of Managed Care [AJMC] reported that any Trump appointee, including Barrett, creates an opportunity for the erosion or complete reversal of other landmark cases instrumental in ensuring female reproductive rights. Justice Ginsburg repeatedly sided with pro-choice abortion advocates and dissented when the Supreme Court upheld a federal ban in 2007 on a specific abortion procedure. A report from the Urban Institute determined that without the pandemic’s added stress, repealing the ACA would result in a loss of coverage for 1-in-10 Black Americans and 1-in10 Hispanics compared with 1-in-16 white individuals. “The result is that about 1-in-5 Black people and nearly 1-in-3 Hispanic people would be uninsured if the act is repealed,” according to the AJMC. Should the act be repealed, women would lose guaranteed access to birth control at no out-of-pocket cost
and Medicaid patients would lose enhanced prescription drug coverage. National Bar Association President Tricia C.K. Hoffler declared that a Trump appointee to the high court would result in another pandemic for African Americans, Hispanics, women and immigrants. “First of all, Justice Ginsberg was a champion not just of women’s rights and gender equality but of civil rights, voting rights and racial equality,” Hoffler stated. “So, to move so rapidly without allowing the American public to nominate someone is ridiculous,” exclaimed Hoffler, whose path to excellence began with early education in Switzerland and matriculation from prestigious schools like the University of Geneva and Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C. “To place a right-wing conservative on the bench would be devastating for voting rights, for civil rights, for equality, for immigration, for access to housing and access to healthcare,” Hoffler continued. “When you think of Justice Ginsburg, you can’t help but think of the
2013 Shelby v. Holder decision when she wrote a crushing dissenting opinion. That opinion put it plainly that it was gutting the Voting Rights Act of 1965,” she said. Hoffler warned that African Americans specifically would fare worse under a majority conservative court. “Things will be so bad during this pandemic and it’s only going to get worse for Black and brown people,” Hoffler predicted. “With all of these police brutality cases … with Breonna Taylor, we just saw a settlement that was historical between the city of Louisville and Breonna’s family because it included police reform.” “Well, at some point, we know that will face a challenge in other states where there’s a different application of the laws, so you know the Supreme Court will eventually hear those issues.” “If you have a conservative court, do you think they are going to uphold policing reform? Do you think they will uphold protections for immigrants in this country? Do you think they will uphold the ACA or
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5 Ruth Bader Ginsburg (Courtesy photo)
anything that passed during President Barack Obama’s administration related to health care, or anything regarding human rights, civil rights, voting privileges, women’s rights and women’s equality?” “The answer to all of that respect-
fully would be no. We need to do everything that we can to voice our concerns as Black folks because this will have – like everything else – a disproportionate impact on our community,” she concluded. WI
BUILD BACK BETTER
JOBS AND ECONOMIC RECOVERY AGENDA Joe Biden believes we cannot build back better without a major mobilization of effort and resources to advance racial equity across the American economy. Visit joebiden.com/racial-economic-equity to learn more PAID FOR BY BIDEN FOR PRESIDENT WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
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Asbury United Methodist Church Celebrates 184 years of Loving, Serving, Transforming Lives By Louis C. Ward WI Contributing Writer With prayer, faith in God and $300.00, Eli Nugent and Black congregation members left the Foundry Methodist Church (FMC) in 1836 and started what is known today as Asbury United Methodist Church (AUMC) at 926 11th St., N.W The present two-story English Gothic architectural edifice was built in 1915 and has national landmark status. “Still Standing Through God’s Grace”, AUMC celebrated its 184th anniversary with its fourday homecoming service Sept. 17 through Sept. 26. Programmed events discussed the historical and contemporary aspects of the very prominent AUMC. Events were Asbury Foundry Story, Oral History, Youth Talent Show and its Homecoming Service with Bishop Gregory Palmer as guest speaker. “Still Standing Through God’s Grace” was the relevant theme of the celebratory event for a church whose founding members endured racist policies and suppressive treatment under the White leadership at FMC, which would not allow Blacks to sit
with Whites in the main sanctuary, but only upstairs in the balcony, which would not allow outstanding Black preachers to be credentialed, which would not allow Black congregational members to sing in the
“BAUMC provides programs to feed the hungry, built affordable quality housing for the aged and handicapped. It created a credit union in the 1950’s and an endowment to support programs in education, outreach ministry, history and heritage.
choirs, which did not practice God’s commandment to love thy neighbor as thyself. But God! God, through His immeasurably great mercy and grace has continued to bless AUMC, which has always been true to its mission: “Love God and one another, serve our community, and transform lives.” AUMC provides programs to feed the hungry, built affordable quality housing for the aged and handicapped. It created a credit union in the 1950’s and an endowment to support programs in education, outreach ministry, history and heritage. AUMC’s past is connected to the present goals of AUMC, Senior Pastor Dr. Ianther Mills said, “Asbury has a long standing history of social justice: supporting and advocating for two teenage church members who were among 77 slaves who attempted escape on the Pearl; hosting a soup kitchen in the 1930’s, owning the Roydon Apartments, the first integrated apartments in D.C.; and participation in the Civil Rights Movement. The same spirit is alive today and inspires us in our ministry with our unhoused neighbors and
CONSIGLI PROJECT SMALL BUSINESS BID OPPORTUNITY! Project: Meridian Hill Park Phase 5 & 6 at Rock Creek Park, Washington, DC Encouraging SDVOSBC,SDBC, WOSB, SDBC and HUBZone Subcontractors, to pursue this opportunity! Trades involved; Landscaping, Arborist Services, Site/Utilities, Soil & Erosion Controls, Electrical, Plumbing, Tree Removal, Fencing, Concrete (excluding exposed aggregate work) and Misc. Metals Proposal Submission Dates 10/14 @ 11AM Contact Michelle Evans: mevans@consigli.com call or text 202-748-1443 for bid documents.
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efforts to stop sex trafficking in the community.” AUMC leadership was still under White church leadership until 1864, when the Washington Annual Conference was established and Rev. James Peck became its first Black pastor. Then the deep rooted and rich heritage of AUMC and its historical connection with Black Methodism in Washington, D.C. began. Eventually, there was racial reconciliation between (AUNC) and (FUMC) in 2002 when FUMC held a Service of Repentance on March 24 and AUMC followed with a Service of Forgiveness on April 7.. Thereafter, both churches met on a regular basis and pastors Mills (AUMC) and Cirelli (FUMC) conducted pulpit exchanges annually, which continues today. “We hope that our journey is an inspiration to others who seek to live out the biblical understanding that all are created in the image of God and that our humanness is intimately tied one to another,” said Pastor Mills, acknowledging both churches’ attempt for racial reconciliation. Kelvin Childs, a greeter and AUMC congregant for more than 20 years, felt the “racial reconciliation between both churches recognized that slavery was part of Methodist history and an effort to show to the congregation to be better Christians by being together and not separate united Methodists.” Like most churches in the country reeling from the COVID-19
Coronavirus pandemic, AUMC had to “reimagine ministry in a virtual world,” Pastor Mills revealed. Live streaming worship services is the primary way AUMC conducts its worship service, and how membership care was conducted had to be changed, Pastor Mills stated. With the pandemic creating social distancing realities, hospital visits and home visits were restricted, Pastor Mills said we met the need to connect with a team of lay callers and church-wide wellness calls. Ornetta Slaughter, who retired and relocated to Lady Lake, Fla., has nothing but fond memories of AUMC. “During the time, my mom was extremely sick and I was crying. The pastor didn’t know me, but he gave me one the biggest hugs I ever had. The people were so welcoming; I said to myself this is where I belong,” she said. Concluding, Pastor Mills said, “With history and legacy comes responsibility and opportunity. I am grateful to have been called to be the pastoral leader of AUMC at this moment in its journey. I am inspired by the accomplishments of the past and hopeful of the new ways God Directs AUMC to be the church with a mission of loving, serving and transforming lives.” A reverend from FUMC said to continue to walk in reconciliation, unity, oneness. Walk together as one in all the years to come. WI
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Carrie Langston – An Important Suffragist Everyone Should Know By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer @StacyBrownMedia This feature is part of an ongoing Washington Informer series about the Women’s Suffrage Movement initiated by Washington Informer Publisher Denise Rolark Barnes. It lives in the institutional home of The Washington Informer Charities. Caroline “Carrie” Mercer Langston, the mother of Harlem Renaissance poet Langston Hughes, is among the most important suffrage movement heroines everyone should know. That declaration by the British news magazine, The Week, recognizes Langston’s role as a staunch activist for women’s rights – specifically to vote. “While her son is better remembered by history, Carrie was an activist who fought for women’s right to vote, picking up where her father, who was also a suffragist, left off,” the author wrote. “Impulsive and vibrant, Carrie Langston pushed back on conventions of the day, penning an article in 1892 that refuted the ‘male notion’ that women are content with their positions in life,” the article declared. Born on Feb. 22, 1873 to Charles Howard Langston, the son of a prosperous Virginia planter and a slave woman of both American Indian and African descent, Carrie Langston admired and followed the ardent abolitionist John Brown. One reference work noted that Langston’s brother – Langston’s paternal uncle – was a post-emancipation congressman from Virginia. He later served as minister to Haiti and dean of Howard University’s Law School. “It is because of the thousands of women like her across the country, who fought locally to be taken seriously as a political force, that 100 years on we can now celebrate the centennial of the right to vote,” the authors at The Week wrote. Also, the tireless work performed by Langston and her peers helped paved the way for today’s Black women who have become a force at the polls.
Langston had the same plan to enfranchise Black women as other Black suffragists, stated the Rev. Dr. Kelly Brown Douglas, the dean of the Episcopal Divinity School at Union Theological Seminary in New York. Douglas, an expert on the intersection of the Black church and various social justice issues including Black suffragists and voting rights, noted that the most effective means for making sure Black women could exercise the right to vote was the formation of their own organizations like the National Association of Colored Women [NACW]. “Given the prevailing racism within the white suffrage movement and the compromises this movement made with white supremacy, along with the sexism within Black male organizations as well as the church, Black women suffragists knew that they had to look out for themselves and their own interests,” Douglas stated. “Yet, they were not simply self-interested. They recognized that the way of Black women was the way of the Black community,
as expressed by NACW member Anna Julia Cooper who said, ‘When and where [Black women enter] the whole race enters with her,’” she said. Even with the ratification of the 19th Amendment, Black suffragists knew that their right to vote was still not protected. “They were simply on equal footing with Black men when it came to voting. Undeterred, they held rallies, went to churches, led grassroots organizing to educate Black women on how to vote, prepared them for the obstacles they would face in trying to vote and then led groups to register,” Davis exclaimed. “Black women turned out to register in record numbers, far outpacing white women. And, even though they were routinely turned away, they were never deterred,” she said. Although her most recognized claim to fame remains as the mother of Langston Hughes, historians agree that Carrie Mercer Langston proved herself as a writer, actress and above all, a fighter for women’s suffrage. WI
“Black women turned out to register in record numbers, far outpacing white women.“ RACES from Page 5 That’s why her plans center on boosting the mental health of teachers, students and parents, increasing access to information about special education accommodations on the STAR rating system and other mediums and pressing OSSE to follow federal mandates, especially while schools are in the midst of a new normal like today’s virtual learning. For Johnson-Law, the degree to which a school meets a family’s needs matters more than whether its public or public charter. To that point, she has also expressed plans, as the only Ward 8 DCSBOE candidate with a school-aged child, to organize parents in her community and protect
students attending programs, not only east of the Anacostia River, but in other parts of the District. “I don’t see us talking about families of color and referring to them as elected officials. That’s one of the reasons why I decided to get into the race,” Johnson-Law told The Informer. “I’ve been navigating the system for the last nine years. “It’s important to have that policy background but we have to value lived experiences during COVID-19. You can’t do anything without the family,” she said. The Informer was unable to establish contact with Ward 8 DCSBOE candidate Ryan Washington. For more information about all candidates, visit DCBOE.org. WI
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5 Carrie Mercer Langston was a writer at the center of progressive clubs in Kansas who encouraged women’s participation in politics and journalism. She was also the mother of famed Kansas poet Langston Hughes, shown here as a baby in 1902. (Photo courtesy Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University).
MARY MCLEOD BETHUNE DAY ACADEMY PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS- MULTIPLE SERVICES Mary McLeod Bethune Day Academy Public Charter School is seeking bids from prospective vendors to provide; ROOFING: Mary McLeod Bethune Day Academy Public Charter School seeks one or more qualified contractor(s) to install a new roof. Bidders can bid on the aforementioned project. Contact Don Cole at d.cole@mmbethune.org to arrange a walk-through. Walkthroughs are available on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Proposals are due no later than 3:00 P.M., EST, October 20, 2020. House Renovation: Mary McLeod Bethune Day Academy seeks a qualified contractor to provide home renovations. Bidders can bid on the aforementioned project. Contact Don Cole at d.cole@ mmbethune.org to arrange a walk through. Walk-throughs are available on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Proposals are due no later than 3:00 P.M., EST, October 20, 2020.
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LIFESTYLE
Tax Shenanigans Give Further Proof that President Trump is Unhinged By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer @StacyBrownMedia
the 2016 election and Democrats and others have sought to prevent a recurrence this year. On Sunday, Sept. 27, the New He lives in government hous- York Times released a bombshell ing, has five children from three report in which the newspaper different women, has refuted sev- noted it had obtained Trump and eral sexual assault allegations and his companies’ tax records for the past two decades. doesn’t pay taxes. Trump had repeatedly declined Moreover, the individual noted above isn’t your ordinary dead- to release those records and, since beat. He’s the president of the 2016, has claimed that he’d been United States of America and, under audit by the Internal Reveby all accounts, history will show nue Service. The Times’ story highlighted Donald J. Trump among the most unhinged leaders of the free world. that Trump paid no income tax“This president appears to have es at all in 10 of the previous 15 over $400 million in debt,” House years, with a paltry $750 paid in Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) 2016 and 2017 – sums tax analysts said during a nationally-televised say are usually attached to someone making about $18,000 per interview on NBC. Pelosi questioned whether year. The report revealed that Trump’s debt included sums of money owed to foreign govern- Trump is personally responsible ments and if it meant that those for more than $300 million in regimes were leveraging America’s loans, all of which must be paid over the next four years. The filcommander-in-chief. “So for me, this is a national se- ings show the president’s busicurity question,” Pelosi said. “The nesses including his golf coursfact that you could have a sitting es and hotels losing millions of president who owes hundreds of dollars every year. Perhaps more significant, the millions of dollars that he’s personally guaranteed to lenders and returns revealed that some of we don’t know who these lenders Trump’s businesses had received are … what does [Russian Presi- money from unspecified foreign dent Vladimir] Putin have on the officials and lobbyists who sought president politically? Personally? access to or favor from the president. Financially?” The tax documents suggest Some Americans assert that Trump sits in office, in part, be- Trump earned $73 million from cause of Russian interference with overseas parties or ventures
Pelosi questioned whether Trump’s debt included sums of money owed to foreign governments and if it meant that those regimes were leveraging America’s commander-in-chief. during his first two years as president. It also showed tax write-offs that included nearly $750,000 in 2017 paid to his daughter, Ivanka Trump, for consulting fees and another $70,000 for Trump’s
hair-styling expenses. “Fake news,” Trump deadpanned when confronted with the information by reporters. “It’s other nonsense with illegally obtained information and only bad intent,” he tweeted, adding that he “paid many millions of dollars in taxes.” The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics noted that the average American household that earned the median income of $78,635 in 2018 paid about $9,300 in income taxes. The U.S. pays its president $400,000 annually but Trump’s financial statements claim that in 2018, he raked in about $435 million. However, the Times report disputed that figure, noting that tax records
show he lost $47.4 million. “Donald Trump is a liar, a cheater and a crooked businessman, yes,” tweeted Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.). “But he’s also taking advantage of a broken, corrupt and unequal system that’s built for people like him to do what he did.” “Unhinged” serves as a continuing series developed by The Washington Informer which seeks to chronicle the unpredictable and sometimes questionable behavior of Donald Trump, including potential instances of race-baiting, while providing closer scrutiny of multiple examples of the president’s statements or positions, proven to be false or unfounded, that have marked his presidency. WI
If a loved one has passed away with HIV, we may be able to help. When a loved one passes away, you may feel hopeless. When the person you loved was HIV positive, grieving can be even more difficult. We can help. Your family may qualify for assistance if you have lost a loved one who: • received a diagnosis of HIV, and • legally resided in D.C.; and • had less than $800 in liquid assets at the time of death
32 - OCTOBER 1 - 7, 2020
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Continuing to Support our Customers and the Community During the Pandemic Submitted by Washington Gas As we continue to address the ongoing impacts and challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, Washington Gas is committed to delivering the latest updates and reminders. These many months have been a true test of patience and endurance for all of us. As a provider of essential energy services, each day our team is working hard to deliver natural gas reliably and safely in neighborhoods across Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia. Our dedication to providing information, reminders, and updates to our customers in these unprecedented times is just one of the many ways we aim to keep us connected, informed and united.
WASHINGTON GAS (WG) CARES
While our Walk-In Offices remain closed to the public for the safety of employees and our community, we remain focused on supporting our community and our customers. We know it’s never been more important to have access to energy payment options and resources for energy assistance, as well as information about how to use these programs and realize the benefits. Through our initiative Washington Gas Cares, we are working hard to package our existing customer programs and develop new ones, and to get word out proactively by contacting our customers to make sure they know about the options they have, what to expect and what help is available—with a personal touch—during the pandemic period. That means you may hear from the Washington Gas Cares team by phone, automated messaging or email communication in the
coming weeks as we strive to lend a helping hand and potentially match our customers in need with the appropriate assistance.
ONGOING SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY THROUGH COVIDRELIEF DONATIONS
As part of our efforts to help those in need during the pandemic, Washington Gas recently provided $250,000 to fund select programs in the DC-area that address the growing need for immediate and long-term food security assistance for individuals and families impacted by COVID-19. The donations are in addition to the COVID-19 funding previously made available by Washington Gas across our community. Our donations support non-profit programs, including the regional Get Shift Done initiative that pays hospitality and restaurant workers displaced by COVID-19 closures a rate of $15.00 per hour to work at local food banks where demand has risen significantly due to the economic impacts of COVID-19. Our COVID-relief giving will continue so that we help meet the growing needs of impacted communities in a way that is sustainable and equitable.
CALL CENTER PRIORITIES AND ONLINE ALTERNATIVES – HELP US SERVE YOU
While customer service remains a priority, you may experience longer than normal hold times. Keep in mind, most billing-related inquiries can be managed online at https:// www.washingtongas.com/my-account/account-services-support/billing There you can easily pay your bill as well as access and view up to date account information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We encourage all customers to sign up for our free, secure eBill service,
which is also accessible at https://eservice.washgas.com.
PAYMENTASSISTANCE FORCUSTOMERSINNEED
As the pandemic is greatly increasing the need for assistance, there are many resources available to help, even if you choose not to take advantage of our payment programs under Washington Gas Cares. Visit us at www. washingtongas.com/LIHEAP for more information.
OUR WORK CONTINUES
You can still expect to see Washington Gas in your neighborhood.
Whether responding to emergency calls 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or performing essential construction and system maintenance, our work continues. We ask that you give our crews the space they need to work by maintaining appropriate social distances from our workers (6 feet or more) at all times. This will help keep everyone—our crews and our neighbors—safe. Our crews are instructed to follow precautionary protocols when performing work on location. Most of the infrastructure work we perform in your neighborhood does not require entry into the home and will not result in an interruption of service. When inside work is required, to protect our technicians, we ask that you
let us know if anyone in your home is ill before we arrive. We continue to suspend disconnections, waive late fees on bills and offer payment arrangements until we get past this crisis. We want to do all that we can to support our customers to stay strong and prepared every step of the way. Emergency Calls – Available 24 hours-a-day/7-days a week As always, if you think you smell gas or are experiencing a natural gas-related emergency, please call 911 and then call us at 1-844-WASHGAS (927-4427). We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to respond to emergency calls.
WORKING TOGETHER TO IMPROVE OUR COMMUNITIES
While COVID-19 still continues to present challenges in our daily lives, Washington Gas is still working to ensure the safety and reliability of our system with the work of PROJECTpipes, our 40-year plan to upgrade, enhance and modernize infrastructure in Washington, D.C. Currently, there are over 20 active construction projects throughout the District of Columbia, with large active and/or planned projects occurring on Maryland Avenue, NE; Eastern Avenue, NE; Kennedy Street, NW; and in the Cleveland Park, NW area. For more information, please visit the PROJECTpipes interactive map at http://activitymaps.washingtongas.com.
YOU MAY SEE US WORKING IN YOUR AREA Washington Gas crews continue to follow approved COVID-19 protocols during planned construction. For everyone’s safety, we will continue to practice social distancing. Please wear a mask and stay 6-feet away. Our construction schedule is always dependent on the weather, our ability to access customers’ property to complete our work, and other circumstances beyond our control. During this unprecedented public health situation, we will continue to diligently monitor the situation and make the appropriate adjustments as necessary. For more information, call the PROJECTpipes Hotline at 844-WASHGAS (844-927-4427) or email PROJECT_pipes@washgas.com
WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
OCTOBER 1 - 7, 2020 33
LIFESTYLE
Native D.C. Vocalist Utilizes Musical Foundation in Transition to Jazz Promoter Lavenia Nesmith was Original Member of D.C.’s El Corols, Forerunner to Go-Go Groups
Barn, in Columbia, Md.’s Oakland Mills section. She’s also been lauded by Howard County officials for her contribution to the arts. Having also performed at the prestigious Kennedy Center of Performing Arts, Ms. Nesmith released a solo CD in the winter of 2013. She’s currently working on two CDs. For more information contact Lavenia Nesmith and the Oakland Mills Association at 301.596.5128. WI
By Timothy Cox Special to the Washington Informer When a Washington, D.C. area musical group observed its 60th Alan Amrhine, Communications Director anniversary last year, the memories Lutheran Mission Society stoked lots of good feelings for at least one of its members - Lavenia Nesmith. "MDDC has connected donors with the LMS Vehicle As the original female member Donation Program for over six years! Great exposure, and lead singer of The El Corols, cost effective, and Wanda is so helpful!" Alan Amrhine, Com Nesmith said her group is conLutheran M sidered the original instrumental-styled, R&B band in D.C. “We Call Wanda Smith, 410-212-2616 like to think we’re the foundation wsmith@mddcpress.com for the go-go sounds so pivotal to D.C.’s history, including groups like Chuck Brown and the Soul Searchers,” she said. Nesmith (pronounced NeeGet dental insurance from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company to help smith) said her group was formed cover the services you’re most likely to use – in 1959 in the basements of some Dentures Cleanings X-rays Fillings Crowns of the neighborhood houses in Northwest D.C. - specifically, the Shaw housing community. Most of the band members attended Call now to get this FREE Information Kit! Shaw Jr. High School, McKinley dental50plus.com/MDDC Tech and Paul Laurence Dunbar Product not available in all states. Acceptance guaranteed for one insurance policy/certificate of this type. Contact us for complete details about this insurance solicitation. This specific offer is not available in CO, NY; call 1-888-799-4433 or respond for similar high schools – all predominantly offer. Certificate C250A (ID: C250E; PA: C250Q); Insurance Policy P150 (GA: P150GA; NY: P150NY; OK: P150OK; TN: P150TN). 6154-0120 black schools. “ I’ve been really excited about singing since I was about eight.” Nesmith was nipped by the singing bug at Vermont Avenue Baptist Church in Northwest D.C. “My mother wasn’t excited about me joining the school band. She was more about me getting my education, but I learned the clarinet ,” she said and joined the El Corols, which had a solid reputation performing at school and community functions, and even at Carr’s Beach, an Annapolis, Md. summer outlet that served black patrons who were prohibited from whites-only beach properties like Ocean City, Md. or Atlantic City, N.J. “We featured a prominent horn section and performed with James Brown, The Temptations and Bobby Blue Bland, and because we were a female-led group we played tunes by Baby Washington,
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5 Lavenia Nesmith (Courtesy photo)
The Supremes and Mary Wells,” she recalls. In homage to their 60year history, in April 2019, The El Corols were acknowledged by D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and cited in the Congresssional Record by non-voting Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D). “We were very honored to have received these very distinguished awards,” she said. After Nesmith left the group to attend college and ultimately, get married and have two sons, the band continued to flourish and went on to record several 45 r.p.m. singles, including “Chick, Chick, Chick” which was penned by group member Tony Barge. As the founder of Jazz in the Hills, Ms. Nesmith now produces jazz performances at The Other
• Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington • Marvin Gaye • The Four Jewels • The Young Senators • Dynamic Superiors • Bela Dona Band • Stacy Lattisaw • Peaches & Herb • Billy Stewart • Don Covay • Secret Society Band • Sylver Logan Sharp • Junk Yard Band • Lavenia Nesmith • The Moments • Ray, Goodman & Brown • Chuck Brown & The Soul Searchers • Vaughn Mason & Crew • Martha (Harvin) High • Rare Essence • The Blackbyrds • Trouble Funk • EU (Experience Unlimited) • Johnny Gill • Shirley Horn • Van McCoy • Maxx Kidd • Mercer Ellington • Andy Razaf • Charlie Rouse • Billy Hart • The Unifics • Skip Mahoney & The Casuals
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LIFESTYLE
wi book review “We’re Better Than This: My Fight for the Future of Our Democracy” By Elijah Cummings with James Dale c.2020, Harper $28.99 / higher in Canada 272 pages By Terri Schlichenmeyer WI Contributing Writer Things could always be worse. You didn’t sleep well last night, your day started earlier than usual, and traffic, ugh; then you forgot your lunch and lost a bag of chips in a vending machine, and you never did catch up. You had a rotten day but look on the bright side: you’re above ground and breathing and, as in “We’re Better Than This” by Elijah Cummings with James Dale, someone had your back. Throughout most of his life, Elijah Cummings’ parents were his guidelights. “Neither had much education,” he wrote; they were sharecroppers who moved north so that their children could have better opportunities and they motivated Cummings to become a lawyer, civil rights worker, and a congressman. They inspired him to serve, he said, and “I believe that is why I was put on this earth.” His service began early but his biggest “fight... for our democracy” began in 2017, following his first meeting with the newly inaugurated president. Cummings believed that despite their fundamental differences, had Donald Trump listened then, and understood the needs of Cummings’ constituents, especially in reference to the cost of prescription drugs. Instead, Cummings’ words were dismissed, and nothing happened. Though not the type to carry a grudge, Cummings never forgot. When he was asked to serve on the House Committee on Oversight and Reform two years later, his first thought was for the American people, and the responsibility that his position as chair of the Committee demanded. The Trump Administration, he said, had had no real oversight until then, and he hoped to rectify that. He still had a passion for lowering prescription drugs, but his new position demanded a broader scope of attention. In months to come, that would include a fight to keep important words off the 2020 Census. It included mentoring and guiding freshman representatives. And it included the groundwork for impeachment proceedings that Cummings did not live long enough to see. Not just for its political implications, but for the everyday lessons inside it, “We’re Better Than This” is a book to have now. Writing literally as he was dying, author Elijah Cummings began his book with two people who appear frequently in it: his parents. From there, he sparkles as a storyteller, sharing vivid memories that are both personal and professional, and that give readers a sharp sense of what drove him. This part speaks volumes about Cummings. It’s hard not to be thrilled as he proceeds to his recollections of what happened while he was chair of the oversight committee: riveted as we were by it, Cummings’ account of the drama offers further behind-the-scenes peeks at, and his thoughts on, those proceedings. Wisdom, a charming ownership of his constituents, some well-deserved back-patting, and an awareness of his impending death add further luster. In his introduction, co-author James Dale writes about his friendship with Cummings, and about finishing this inspiring read without him. That alone is poignant; the rest is insightful; and reading “We’re Better Than This” is really the best idea. WI
horoscopes
OCT 1 - 7, 2020
ARIES Today, Aries natives may walk a fine line between looking at possibilities and breaking the rules. You have a clear understanding of your responsibilities, but the creative side of your personality may have some new ideas. Today, you may run headlong into company conventions that say things must be done a certain way while you could find ways to streamline or automate some of the tasks at your job. Today could be a stalemate. Lucky Numbers: 6, 17, 35 TAURUS Today’s a good day to think in terms of possibilities—whether that be a desire to renovate the kitchen or to move to a new dwelling. Build a vision board for yourself using pictures you find on the internet to give you an inspirational message for the future. The seeds you plant today can manifest into opportunities over the next few weeks. Lucky Numbers: 8, 12, 21 GEMINI There’s more than one way to manifest your goals. But Saturn would have you believe that you need a certain amount of money in the bank to begin anything. Saturn is not here to stop you, but instead to help you recognize that if you want to travel the world someday you first must lay out a foundation of plans. That’s the task today, to make a list of what you need to manifest to make a big life change. Lucky Numbers: 27, 31, 33 CANCER Today’s a good day for brainstorming different ideas that could open up streams of revenue for you. With Venus involved, you should focus on things that sound enjoyable as well as profitable. The North Node lights up your life path through your spiritual house helping you co-create something with the Universe. Lucky Numbers: 5, 19, 40 LEO Blocks suddenly disappear and the road ahead opens up. You can have a vision of how to incorporate your bigger goal into your daily routine. It may involve speaking to the CEO of your company about doing something in the community. Or it may be cutting your hours at work so you can spend more time pursuing your true calling. Today’s small step can lead to big leaps later in the year. Lucky Numbers: 9, 20, 43 VIRGO Today, you might recognize how much you truly enjoy your job. You may not love every single aspect of it, but you may believe in the mission, have terrific coworkers or perhaps you’re enjoying working at home. It is quite possible you are on your path and you can celebrate. As new opportunities open up, you will know the direction to take. Lucky Numbers: 33, 38, 50 LIBRA Today, you may wake with a vision of something you truly want to do. This could have been a dream growing inside of you for some time or something that’s just hit you like a lightning bolt over the last few days. Now that the yellow brick road is before you, it would be silly not to skip down that path. Lucky Numbers: 12, 16, 55 SCORPIO You could see real possibilities for pursuing the career you’ve been dreaming about. This may be a small step from what you’re doing now or a gigantic leap, but resources are becoming available to help you make this transition. These resources may be financial, but also can be people showing you the way. Today’s a good day to recommit yourself to following your heart’s desire. Lucky Numbers: 1, 8, 28 SAGITTARIUS You may discover your significant other or your best friend has the same goal as you do. Together you could make some real traction on manifesting your heart’s desire. This may involve a spiritual quest, a big lifestyle change where you someday live in a foreign land or going back to school to study a subject you’re truly interested in. Now you found someone to lean on and to be accountable to as you pursue your goal. Lucky Numbers: 15, 18, 57 CAPRICORN The North Node lays out your life path and now Venus, the planet of desire, is in alignment—giving you insight into the road ahead. This doesn’t necessarily have to be a huge change in your life. You may be adding art or music to your daily routine. Set up a corner in the house where your easel can stand, and your paintbrushes are ready. Or maybe dust off your electric keyboard and start playing again. Lucky Numbers: 6, 11, 17 AQUARIUS The full moon lights up your house of communication on October 1, giving you about a week of very positive energy for meeting new people. Today’s a great day for finding people on online dating sites as well as connecting through social media, direct messaging, and emailing friends you haven’t spoken to in a long time. You can even catch up with distant relatives who live out of the country. Lucky Numbers: 4, 12, 19 PISCES The full moon in Aries lights up your house of money on October 1—bringing new possible sources of revenue. While you may not have a chunk of money lying around to put toward your dream class CRV, today you can start an account to save up for what you want. You can look around the house and see if there’s something you can sell to add money to that account. You can put yourself on a budget now that you have a bigger goal. Lucky Numbers: 3, 7, 35
WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
OCTOBER 1 - 7, 2020 35
SPORTS Washington Falls to 1-2 after a Game Full of Turnovers By Daniel Kucin, Jr. WI Sports Writer danielkucin88
Dating back to last season, Washington Football Team Quarterback Dwayne Haskins had not thrown an interception in the previous four games before entering a Week 3 matchup against the Cleveland Browns on Sept. 27. However, Haskins threw three picks and put the ball on the ground twice, including losing possession of one fumble in the second half, allowing Cleveland (2-1) to capitalize on those mistakes and close the door earning a 34-20 win over the Burgundy and Gold. Turnovers and questionable throws by Haskins into double-coverage was the story of the game which put Washington in a hole despite going up 7-0 late in the first quarter after Haskins threw a 17-yard dart to Dontrelle Inman for a score.
36 - OCTOBER 1 - 7, 2020
“In spite of the bad, I thought I had some good stuff to work off and improve on,” Haskins said. “I want to keep getting better for myself and for my teammates. I feel like I tried to do too much.” However, after Cleveland Browns kicker Cody Parkey knocked down a 42-yard field goal on the ensuing drive, the flood gates opened up. The Browns scored 10 more unanswered points by way of a 16-yard touchdown run by Nick Chubb and a nine-yard touchdown pass from Baker Mayfield to Kareem Hunt, both coming off of two Haskins’ interceptions.
5 Washington Football Team Quarterback Dwayne Haskins had a day to forget against the Cleveland Browns. (Daniel Kucin, Jr./The Washington Informer)
Heading into the locker room down by a 10-point deficit, Washington attempted to exact another comeback this season. Despite turning the ball over three times, Haskins threw for 224 yards and led back-to-back scoring
Turnovers and questionable throws by Haskins into double-coverage was the story of the game which put Washington in a hole despite going up 7-0 late in the first quarter...
possessions after the Washington defense forced two three-and-out drives. “He did some good things . . . he tried to force a couple of things,” said Washington Football Team Head Coach Ron Rivera of Haskins’ performance. “It is unfortunate because a couple of times we were moving. It is a part of the process and we are learning and we’re trying to learn how to play and not make these kinds of mistakes.” First, rookie running back Antonio Gibson sliced his way into the end zone for a two-yard touchdown (PAT missed) with more than nine minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. Then Haskins hit Inman for his second touchdown grab of the contest toward the end of the third quarter. The tale of two halves swung in Washington’s favor having a three-point advantage at the start of the fourth quarter. However, it was short-lived as Haskins threw his second interception of the day with more than 10 minutes remaining in the game. Mayfield (156 yards) threw his second touchdown of the match to tight end Harrison Bryant the following possession to regain the lead. The turnover party continued
three plays later when Haskins threw an errant pass to Cleveland Browns linebacker B.J. Goodson. After a 20-yard scamper for a score down the left sideline by Chubb, Haskins struggled again. “That is one thing that we can’t do is turn the ball over and expect to win,” Rivera said. “You’re not going to win football games if you don’t win the takeaway battle, and I believe in that.” The second-year quarterback coughed the ball up the next possession to give up 24 points on turnovers on the day after another Parkey field goal to seal Washington’s fate. “This is a young team that’s learning, growing. We’re gonna make mistakes and we’re going to learn and grow with them,” Rivera said. Washington (1-2) only converted on third down 45 percent of the time as a team, barely rushed for more than 100 yards and had six total turnovers. The Browns rolled to its second victory of the season and marked the first time Cleveland has scored 30 or more points in two consecutive games since 2010. Washington will welcome cross region rival Baltimore Ravens to town on Sunday. WI
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SPORTS HEADLINES
Hot off the Press
GEN Z from Page 11 CCOMPILED BY D. KEVIN MCNEIR WI EDITOR @DKEVINMCNEIR
LA Clippers Fire Head Coach Doc Rivers Following Playoff Elimination NBA Now Down to Just Four Blacks in Charge of Teams
Doc Rivers has resigned as coach of the LA Clippers in what Steve Ballmer, the team’s chairman, describes as a “mutual decision.” The team had high hopes this year including an anticipated championship run after expectations this season after acquiring two hot commodities last summer: Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. However, despite ending the regular season with a 49-23 record, the fourth-best in franchise history, the Clippers squandered a 3-1 series lead in the Western Conference semifinals against the Denver Nuggets. In fact, they surrendered leads of 16, 19 and 12 points, missing the conference finals for a record 50 years. “Doc has been a terrific coach for the Clippers, an incredible ambassador and a pillar of strength during tumultuous times,” Ballmer said in a statement Monday, Sept. 28. “He won a heck of a lot of games and laid a foundation for this franchise.” Rivers, who had two years left on his contract, expressed his appreciation to the team’s fans. “Thank you Clipper Nation for allowing me to be your coach and for all your support in helping make this a winning franchise,” Rivers said in a statement posted to Twitter. “When I took this job, my goals were to make this a winning basketball program, a free agent destination, and bring a championship to this organization.” “While I was able to accomplish most of my goals, I won’t be able to see them all through. Though it was a disappointing ending to our season, you are right there and I know what this team is capable of accomplishing with your support.” “Thank you to all the players, coaches, and staff for helping us get here. Most importantly, thank you to the fans. We went through a lot, and I am grateful for my time here,” Rivers wrote. Rivers becomes the only coach in NBA history to lose a 3-1 lead in three playoff series, having previously done so with the Clippers in the 2015 West semis against the Houston Rockets and with the Orlando Magic in the first round against the Detroit Pistons in 2003. But this team, as noted earlier, was considered a championship contender from the moment the Clippers signed Leonard in free agency and traded for George. “We didn’t meet them,” Rivers said of the expectations. “That’s the bottom line. I’m the coach, and I’ll take any blame for it. But we didn’t meet our expectations, clearly, because if we had, in my opinion, we’d still be playing.” Rivers took over as Clippers coach in June 2013 and was later promoted to president of basketball operations in conjunction with his coaching duties, before giving up that post in August 2017. In seven seasons at the helm, the Clippers went 356-208, winning 63.1 percent of their regular-season games -- the fifth-best record in the NBA and the best by any team without a conference finals appearance. With his departure, the Clippers become the sixth team without a head coach in the NBA, joining Houston, Indiana, Philadelphia, Oklahoma City and New Orleans. In addition, Rivers’ departure decreases the number of Black head coaches to four: Lloyd Pierce, Atlanta; J.B. Bickerstaff, Cleveland; Monty Williams, Phoenix; and Dwane Casey, Detroit. Rivers counts as the third Black coach to either step down or be fired this offseason, joining Nate McMillan in Indiana and Alvin Gentry in New Orleans. WI
WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
known then that people want to listen to what young people have to say – because we are the future.”
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
In August, the Bowser administration announced the rollout of mental health services for students and parents that can be accessed through a 24-hour hotline. People who take advantage of that offering would have licensed social workers, psychologists and school-based counselors at their disposal. Over the last two years, Speakezie.. Go Hard has doled out conflict resolution resources to more than 10,000 victims of violence in the District and provided a platform for more than 100 artists of various mediums. Hosts of the September 25 event touted that milestone but not without stressing that more work has to be done in combating enemies within and outside the community. On Friday, Ari Theresa of Stoop Law, a Southeast-based law practice that tackles urban policy harmful to low-income communities, derided qualified immunity as a legal prin-
SPORTS ciple that emboldens police officers to kill people in the communities of color they patrol. While he didn’t articulate an all-encompassing solution for police brutality, Theresa noted that police departments should, at the very least, implement some form of cultural sensitivity training. Ty Hobson-Powell later conveyed a message of unity he said benefitted District organizers needs. Through a newly-formed organization, Concerned Citizens D.C., Hobson-Powell and other young activists, including a Parkland shooting survivor, have led rallies in support of police reform, defunding the Metropolitan Police Department and D.C. statehood. “We have to step into the spirit of comradery to find a higher ground and something better than what has been,” Hobson-Powell said. “A lot of people don’t have the privilege to protest amid a pandemic and mass joblessness.” “It’s about being a human and meeting people where they’re at, not taking the high ground and thinking your activism is better than someone else’s. These are the pieces we will put together to make this revolution happen,” he said. WI
SETTLEMENT from Page 13 why we are doing everything we can to make sure we’re never here again,” she said. That doesn’t sit right with some residents who listened to the press conference online. Dawn Dalton of Upper Marlboro, who spoke outside the administration building, said police assaulted her son, Lupe, about 10 years ago in Largo after a traffic stop while driving Dalton’s car with an incorrect tag number logged in the motor vehicle system. Dalton said her son suffered fractured ribs and other injuries. “I’ve been fighting this fight for many years,” said Dalton, who testified last week before the Maryland Senate committee’s police reform hearings. “I put blame on our elected officials because [they] know the culture within PGPD. This is not rocket science.” Meanwhile, Alsobrooks extended the deadline for a county police reform task force to complete a final report from Oct. 30 to Dec. 4. She said Green’s family will be able to address
“I’ve been fighting this fight for many years.” – Dawn Dalton the work group. Alsobrooks said some changes have been made such as closing a loophole in the system that allowed Owen to receive workman’s compensation for post-traumatic stress disorder from a previous incident. He did not report it to the police department. In addition, she said the county continues a nationwide search for a new police chief after the former chief Hank Stawinski resigned in June. “There have been significant reforms that have been done in this department,” Alsobrooks said. “This department is not where we’re going to be, but we are sure not where we used to be. We will continue to do better.” WI
OCTOBER 1 - 7, 2020 37
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38 - OCTOBER 1 - 7, 2020
DEBATE from Page 1 dential nominee Joe Biden who grew irritated by repeated interruptions by President Donald Trump at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland on Tuesday, Sept. 29. Trump, who received numerous rebukes from moderator Chris Wallace, claimed Biden was weak and unintelligent. “Don’t ever use the word smart with me,” Trump railed at Biden. “There’s nothing smart about you, Joe.” The president sunk even lower, making accusations that Biden’s son, Hunter, was “kicked out of the military – dishonorably discharged – because of drugs.” Biden reminded the audience of a little more than 100 people – down from an anticipated 900 because of the pandemic – that Trump called fallen military members “losers and suckers.” While Trump dared Biden to say, “Law and order,” Wallace opened discussions on race. “Are you willing, tonight, to condemn white supremacists and militia groups and to say that they need to stand down?” the moderator asked Trump. “Proud Boys, stand back and stand by,” Trump reluctantly said in a declaration that fell well short of condemnation. “But,” Trump insisted, “I’ll tell you what, somebody’s got to do something about Antifa and the left.” Biden also blasted Trump’s handling of the coronavirus. The former vice president said
REFORM from Page 15 department. In addition, for county officials to provide an updated figure on what has spent in legal fees challenging the lawsuit filed in December 2018 led by the Hispanic National Law Enforcement Association. The most up-to-date figure remains $6.3 million through April. In the meantime, some family members such as Josette Blocker continue to see and feel the pain endured after a police incident. Blocker’s nephew, Demonte Ward-Blake, remains paralyzed from the waist down after former county police officer Bryant Strong grabbed Ward-Blake while handcuffed and slammed him on the ground during a traffic stop last year.
5 Billed as the 2020 Presidential Debate, while Biden spoke to the people, Trump rallied a racist group. (Photo: screen grab)
more than 200,000 people have died and some 40,000 people continue to test positive for the virus each day. “The President has no plan. He hasn’t laid out anything,” Biden charged. Trump responded that a vaccine and life-saving treatments might come before the election. The president again hit out at China, blaming the Far East nation for the virus. “It’s China’s fault. It never should have happened,” Trump contended. “We’ve done a great job,” Trump added, accusing the “fake news” of distorting his record on the virus. Trump claimed a Biden administration would have “lost far more people.” Biden responded: “Get out of your bunker and get out of the sand trap and your golf course.” Later, Trump again refused to say whether he’d leave office peacefully if Biden wins the election.
The ugly match denigrated even more when the topic turned to Trump’s income taxes which he has refused to release for public scrutiny. A New York Times investigation revealed that Trump had gone 10 of the past 15 years without paying any income taxes, and in 2017 and 2018, he paid just $750. The president disputed the report but evaded Wallace’s questions about specifics. As a successful businessman, Trump offered that he understands the tax code and chided others who he said don’t take advantage of it and are therefore inept. Biden’s campaign released the former vice president’s 2019 tax returns before the debate which showed he paid nearly $300,000 in federal income tax last year. “You are the worse president America has ever had,” Biden told Trump. WI
A grand jury indicted Strong on Sept. 10 for second-degree assault, misconduct in office and reckless endangerment. “Was it enough?” Blocker said about the charges against the officer. “We’re thankful that did happen, but I have to speak on behalf of all of the other victims that are out there. All of the [people] that didn’t get justice like we did.” The sixth and final demand: Alsobrooks support a statewide platform of police reform demands from the ACLU of Maryland and dozens of other community and nonprofit organizations. A state Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee completed three straight days of hearings last week which focused on proposed legislation such as the controversial Law Enforcement Officer’s Bill of Rights statute, state prosecutors investigat-
ing crimes committed by police officers that result in serious physical harm or death, and police officers to report misconduct by another officer. State Sen. Jill Carter (D-Baltimore City), who sits on the committee and presented six reform bills, said this year’s difference comes from the police-involved death May 25 of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Carter also noted the difference in Maryland leadership such as committee chair Sen. William C. Smith Jr. (D-Montgomery County), who presented five draft bills. “You see the chair sit there for the whole thing. This wouldn’t have never happened four years ago,” Carter said in an interview Friday. “There’s been a shift in the culture in the legislature and a shifting in thinking on reform. People want change.” WI
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RELIGION the religion corner WITH LYNDIA GRANT
Finding Peace During a Storm
Storms are raging all around us this year. Every one of us find ourselves amid an unusual storm, beginning with a worldwide pandemic in which America, known as the world leader, is suffering the most deaths of any country in the world, which is a thesis for another day. Racism has reared its ugly head again in America, nearly as bad as it did back in the 1950s and ‘60s. We watch videos on television of Blacks being killed over and over again. The challenge is to find ways to have peace amid our storms. In the Brianna Taylor shooting, the only officer charged is the one who shot into the home of a neighbor; the others are free of all charges. What about Breonna?! She’s dead, and the only thing she did the day of her death was to go to bed to get some rest. Too many Black people have been killed by police in the past 10 years to name in this column. Let’s just stay with the story of the death of Breonna Taylor, killed in
her home, after having gone to bed for the evening, when police break down her door in a no-knock raid, and the night turns into her last night on this earth. Who was Breonna Taylor? We have heard her story in the daily news — a medical technician, saving lives, willing and ready to work overtime. According to an article by Karen Robinson-Jacobs in the Louisville Courier Journal, “Until 2016, she served as an emergency medical technician for Louisville Metro Emergency Medical Services. Most recently, she worked at Norton Hospital as a PRN and at Jewish Hospital as an ER technician, said family attorney Lonita Baker.” Her only crime was, in the recent past, she dated someone who was into dealing with drugs; however, that relationship had ended and Breonna had moved on. In the same article, Taylor’s sister Ju’Niah shared how Breonna loved being a health care professional, and how she had begun filling out paperwork to attend fall classes at Ivy Tech Community College in neighboring Indiana, her sister said. She was having trouble deciding on whether she wanted to work in a neonatal intensive care unit or in a trauma unit, her sister said.” It is stories like this that one would have to truly trust God to
Mt. Zion Baptist Church
understand this Scripture: “And I know that all things work together for good to them who love God and who are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28). It does not feel good, but I know God’s word is always true. As Tim Storey, acclaimed author, motivational speaker and life adviser, once said during an interview on the OWN Network with Oprah Winfrey, we go through recovery and discovery — or at least we should as we get over the things that happen in our lives. We recover when we figure out the lesson in how and why this thing happened to us. How many of us go through things and never learn anything? No one else is in charge of you. Every one of us was born with free will. You are your own boss, always. Let’s close with these two quotes: “When you are in the middle of a storm cloud it’s hard to think outside of it, but the only way out of the storm is to ride through it and things will be a lot clearer on the other side” — Jodi Ann Bickley. “Sometimes the greatest storms bring out the greatest beauty...Life can be a storm, but your hope is a rainbow and your friends and family are the gold. — Steve Maraboli. WI
John F. Johnson Reverend Dr.
5101 14th Street, NW / Washington, DC 20011 Phone: 202-726-2220 Fax: 202-726-9089
1306 Vermont Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20005
“A Church with a past to remember – and a future to mold” www.mtzbcdc.org
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Mount Olivet Lutheran Church
Reverend John W. Davis Pastor
Service and Times Sunday Worship Service - 8:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. Children’s Church - 11:00 a.m. (1st & 3rd Sundays) Communion - 10 a.m. 4th Sunday Sunday School - 9:15 a.m. (4th Sunday 8:15 a.m.) Prayer Meeting & Bible Study - Wednesday 7:00 p.m.
(301) 864-6070
Service and Times Divine Worship, Sunday 10:00 a.m. Communion 1st and 3rd Sunday “Friendliest Church in the City” Website: mountolivetdc.org Email: mtolivedc@gmail.com
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OCTOBER 1 - 7, 2020 39
RELIGION The Miracle Center of Faith Missionary Baptist Church
Pilgrim Baptist Church
Bishop Michael C. Turner, Sr. Senior Pastor
Rev. Louis B. Jones II Pastor
9161 Hampton Overlook Capitol Heights, MD 20743 Phone: 301-350-2200 / Fax: 301-499-8724
700 I Street, N.E. Washington, D.C. 20002 (202) 547-8849
Service and Times Sunday Worship Times : 7:30 AM 7 10:00 AM Communion: 1st Sunday Sunday School: 9:00 AM Bible Study: Wednesday, 12 Noon Bible Study in homes: Tuesday 7:00 PM
Service and Times Worship Sundays: 7:30 & 11:00 AM 5th Sundays: 9:30 AM 3rd Sundays: Baptism & Holy Communion Prayer & Praise: Wednesdays @ Noon & 6:30 PM
Website: www.themiraclecenterFMBC.com Email: Miraclecenterfmbs@gmail.com Motto: “We Walk by Faith, Not by Sight”
www.pilgrimbaptistdc.org
Covenant Baptist United Church of Christ
Blessed Word of Life Church
Church of Living Waters
Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church
Rev. Paul Carrette Senior Pastor Harold Andrew Assistant Pastor 4915 Wheeler Road Oxon Hill, MD 20745 301-894-6464 Service and Times Sunday Service: 8:30am& 11:00 AM Bible Study: Wednesday 7:30 PM Communion Service: First Sunday www.livingwatersmd.org
St. Stephen Baptist Church
Rev. Dr. Michael E. Bell, Sr., / Pastor 2498 Alabama Ave., SE - Washington D.C. 20020 Office: (202) 889-7296 / Fax: (202) 889-2198 - www.acamec.org Service and Times Sunday Worship Services: 8:00am and 11:00 AM Sunday Church School - 9:15am & Sunday Adult Forum Bible Study - 10:30 AM 2nd & 4th Monday Women’s Bible Study: 6:30 PM Tuesday Jr./Sr. Bible Study: 10:00 AM Tuesday Topical Bible Study: 6:30 PM Tuesday New Beginnings Bible Study: 6:30 PM Wednesday Pastoral Bible Study: 6:30 PM Wednesday Children’s Bible Study: 6:30 PM Thursday Men’s Bible Study: 6:30 PM Friday before 1st Sunday Praise & Worship Service: 6:30 PM Saturday Adult Bible Study: 10:00 AM “The Amazing, Awesome, Audacious Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church”
Third Street Church of God
Dr. Dekontee L. & Dr. Ayele A. Johnson Pastors
Reverend William Young IV Interim Pastor
Bishop Lanier C. Twyman, Sr. Senior Pastor
Rev. Cheryl J. Sanders, Th.D. Senior Pastor
4001 14th Street, NW Washington, DC 20011 (202) 265-6147 Office 1-800 576-1047 Voicemail/Fax
3845 South Capitol Street Washington, DC 20032 (202) 562-5576 (Office) / (202) 562-4219 (Fax)
5757 Temple Hill Road, Temple Hills, MD 20748 Office 301-899-8885 – fax 301-899-2555 Services and Times Sunday Early Morning Worship: 7:45 AM Church School: 9:30 AM Sunday Morning Worship: 10:45 AM Tuesday: 7:00pm/Kingdom Building Bible Institute Wednesday , 12:30 PM Mid-Day Bible Study Wednesday: Prayer/Praise/Bible Study-7:30 PM Baptism & Communion Service: 4th Sunday – 10:30 AM
1204 Third Street, NW Washington, DC 20001 202-347-5889 office / 202-638-1803 fax
Service and Times Sunday School: 9:30 AM Sunday Morning Worship Service: 11:00 AM Communion Service: First Sunday Prayer Service/Bible Study: Tuesday, 6:30 PM
Services and Times Sundays: 10:00am Worship Services Bible Study: Wonderful Wednesdays in Worship and the Word Bible Study Wednesdays 12:00 Noon; 6:30 PM (dinner @ 5:30 PM) Sunday School: 9:00 AM – Hour of Power “An inclusive ministry where all are welcomed and affirmed.” www.covenantdc.org
www.blessedwordoflifechurch.org E-mail: church@blessedwordoflifechurch.org
Campbell AME Church
Service and Times Sunday Worship Service: 10:00 AM Sunday Church School: 8:45 AM Bible Study Wednesday: 12:00 Noon Wednesday: 7:00 PM Thursday: 7:00 PM “Reaching Up To Reach Out” Mailing Address : Campbell AME Church 2502 Stanton Road SE - Washington, DC 20020
“Ambassadors for Christ to the Nation’s Capital” www.thirdstreet.org Live Stream Sunday Worship Service begins @ 12:00 noon www.thirdstreet.org
Rev. Dr. Alton W. Jordan Pastor 800 I Street, NE - Washington, DC 20002 202-548-0707 - Fax No. 202-548-0703 Service and Times Sunday Morning Worship: 11:00 AM Holy Communion: 1st Sunday Sunday School: 9:45 AM Men’s Monday Bible Study: 7:00 PM Wednesday Night Bible Study: 7:00 PM Women’s Ministry Bible Study: 3rd Friday -7:00 PM Computer Classes: Announced Family and Marital Counseling by appointment E-mail: Crusadersbaptistchurch@verizon.net www.CrusadersBaptistChurch.org / “God is Love”
Greater Mt. Calvary Holy Church Bishop Alfred A. Owens, Jr.; Senior Bishop & Evangelist Susie C. Owens – Co-Pastor 610 Rhode Island Avenue, NE Washington, DC 20002 (202) 529-4547 office • (202) 529-4495 fax
Sunday Worship Service: 8:00 AM and 10:45 AM Sunday Youth Worship Services: 1st & 4th 10:45 AM; 804 R.I. Ave., NE 5th 8 AM & 10:45 AM; Main Church Prayer Services Tuesday – Noon, Wednesday 6:00 AM & 6:30 PM Calvary Bible Institute: Year-Round Contact Church / Communion Every 3rd Sunday The Church in The Hood that will do you Good! www.gmchc.org / emailus@gmchc.org
Isle of Patmos Baptist Church Reverend Dr. Calvin L. Matthews Senior Pastor 1200 Isle of Patmos Plaza, Northeast Washington, DC 20018 Office: (202) 529-6767 - Fax: (202) 526-1661 Service and Times Sunday Worship Services: 7:30 AM and 10:30 AM Holy Communion: 2nd Sunday at 7:30 AM and 10:30 AM Sunday Church School: 9:20 AM Seniors Bible Study: Tuesdays at 10:30 AM Noon Day Prayer Service: Tuesdays at Noon Bible Study: Tuesdays at 7 PM Motto: “A Ministry of Reconciliation Where Everybody is Somebody!” Website: http://isleofpatmosbc.org Church Email: ipbcsecretary@verizon.net
St Marks Baptist Come Worship with us... Dr. Raymond T. Matthews Pastor and First Lady Marcia Matthews St. Mark's Baptist Church 624 Underwood Street, NW Washington, dc 20011 Services and Times Sunday School: 9:00 AM Worship Service: 10:00 AM Wed. Noon Day prayer service Thur. Prayer service: 6:45 PM Thur. Bible Study: 7:15 PM
Twelfth Street Christian Church
Rev. Dr. Henry Y. White 2562 MLK Jr. Ave., SE - Washington, DC 20020 Adm. Office 202-678-2263 Email: Campbell@mycame.org
“We are one in the Spirit” www.ssbc5757.org / E-mail: ssbc5757@verizon.net
Services and Times Sunday School: 9:30 AM Sunday Worship: 11:00 AM Sunday Community Worship Service: 8:30 AM
Crusader Baptist Church
Reverend Dr. Paul H. Saddler Senior Pastor (Disciples of Christ) 1812 12th Street, NW - Washington, DC 20009 Phone: 202-265-4494 Fax: 202 265 4340 Service and Times Sunday Worship Service: 11:00 AM Communion every Sunday: 11:00 AM Sunday School: 10:00 AM Bible Study Tuesday: 12 Noon Pastor’s Bible Study Tuesday: 6:30 PM Motto: “Discover Something Wonderful” Website: 12thscc.org / Email: Twelfthstcc@aol.com
Turning Hearts Church Virgil K. Thomas, Sr. Senior Pastor/ Teacher 421 Alabama Ave. SE Washington, DC 20032 Phone: 202-746-0113 Fax: 301-843-2445 Service and Times Sunday School: 10:15 AM Sunday Worship Service: 11;15 AM Children’s Church: 11:15 AM Tuesday Bible Study: 6:30 PM Motto : “A Great Commitment to the Great Commandment” Website: www.turningheartschurchdc.org Email: gr8luv4u2@gmail.com
40 - OCTOBER 1 - 7, 2020
Mount Carmel Baptist Church Reverend Dr. Paris L Smith, Sr. Senior Pastor 901 Third Street N.W. Washington, DC. 20001 Phone (202) 842-3411 Fax (202) 682-9423 Service and Times Sunday Church School : 9:00 AM Sunday Morning Worship: 10:10 AM Bible Study Tuesday: 6: 00 PM Prayer Service Tuesday: 7:00 PM Holy Communion: 3rd Sunday 10:10 AM themcbc.org
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RELIGION Shabbath Commandment Church Bishop Adrian A. Taylor, Sr. Pastor 7801 Livingston Road Oxon Hill, MD 20745 301-534-5471 Service and Times Sabbath School 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 AM Service 11:00 AM Praise & Worship Preaching 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM Motto: “A Church Keeping It Real for Real.” Website: Shabbathcommandmentchruch.org Email: Praisebetoyhwh@gmail.com
Zion Baptist Church Rev. Keith W. Byrd, Sr. Pastor 4850 Blagdon Ave, NW - Washington D.C 20011 Phone (202) 722-4940 - Fax (202) 291-3773 Service and Times 9:00 a.m. – Sunday School 10:15 a.m. – Worship Service Wed. Noon: Dea. Robert Owens Bible Study 7 PM Pastor’s Bible Study Ordinance of Baptism 2nd Sunday, Holy Communion 4th Sunday Mission: Zion shall: Enlist Sinners, Educate Students, Empower the Suffering, Encourage the Saints, And Exalt our Savior. (Acts 2: 41-47) www.zionbaptistchurchdc.org
St. Luke Baptist Church Rev. Aubrey C. Lewis Pastor 1415 Gallatin Street, NW Washington, DC 20011-3851 P: (202) 726-5940 Service and Times Sunday Worship: 11:00 AM Sunday School: 9:15 AM Holy Communion: 11:00 a.m., 3rd Sun. Bible Institute: Wednesday - 1:30 PM Prayer Meeting: Wednesday - 12:00 Noon
All Nations Baptist Church Rev. Dr. James Coleman Pastor 2001 North Capitol St, N.E. - Washington, DC 20002 Phone (202) 832-9591 Service and Times Sunday Church School – 9:30 AM Sunday Worship Service – 11:00 AM Holy Communion – 1st Sunday at 11:00 AM Prayer – Wednesdays, 6:00 PM Bible Study – Wednesdays, 7:00 PM Christian Education / School of Biblical Knowledge Saturdays, 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM, Call for Registration Website: www.allnationsbaptistchurch.com All Nations Baptist Church – A Church of Standards
Israel Baptist Church
Rev. Daryl F. Bell Pastor 2324 Ontario Road, NW Washington, DC 20009 (202) 232-1730 Service and Times Sunday School: 9:30 AM Sunday Worship Service: 11:00 AM Baptismal Service: 1st Sunday – 9:30 AM Holy Communion: 1st Sunday – 11:00 AM Prayer Meeting & Bible Study: Wednesday -7:30 PM “Where Jesus is the King”
Dr. Earl D. Trent Senior Pastor
2409 Ainger Pl.,SE – WDC 20020 (202) 678-0884 – Office / (202) 678-0885 – Fax “Moving Faith Forward” 0% Perfect . . . 100% Forgiven!
623 Florida Ave.. NW - WDC. 20001 Church (202) 667-3409 / Study (202) 265-0836 Home Study (301) 464-8211 / Fax (202) 483-4009
Service and Times Sunday Worship: 8:00 AM & 10:45 AM Baptism/Holy Communion: 3rd Sunday Family Bible Study Tuesdays – 6:30 PM Prayer Service: Tuesdays – 8:00 PM www.emmanuelbaptistchurchdc.org
Sermon On The Mount Temple Of Joy Apostolic Faith
Lincoln Park United Methodist Church Rev. Richard B. Black Pastor
Elder Herman L. Simms Pastor
1251 Saratoga Ave., NE Washington, DC 20018 (202) 269-0288
1301 North Carolina Ave. N E Washington, D C 20002 202 543 1318 - lincolnpark@lpumcdc.org www.lpumcdc.org
5606 Marlboro Pike District Heights, MD 20747 301-735-6005
Service and Times Sunday Worship Service: 10:45 AM Sunday School: 9:15 AM Holy Communion1st Sunday: 10:45 AM Prayer Service: Wednesday at 6:30 PM Bible Study: Wednesday at 7:00 PM Bible Study: Tuesday at 10:30 AM
Mount Moriah Baptist Church Dr. Lucius M. Dalton Senior Pastor
Service and Times Sunday Worship: 10:00 AM Holy Communion: First Sunday 10:00 AM Sunday School: 9:00 AM Bible Study: Wednesday @ 12 noon and 6:30 PM Motto: "Faith On The Hill"
Service and Times Sunday Apostolic Worship Services 11:00 A.M and 5:00 PM Communion and Feet Wash 4th Sunday at 5:00 PM Prayer/Seeking: Wednesday at 8:00 PM Apostolic in Doctrine, Pentecostal in Experience, Holiness in Living, Uncompromised and Unchanged. The Apostolic Faith is still alive –Acts 2:42
New Commandment Baptist Church
Eastern Community Baptist Church Damion M. Briggs Pastor
Rev. Stephen E. Tucker Senior Pastor
1636 East Capitol Street, NE Washington, DC 20003 Telephone: 202-544-5588 - Fax: 202-544-2964
8213 Manson Street Landover, MD 20785 Tel: (301) 322-9787 Fax: (301) 322-9240
13701 Old Jericho Park Road Bowie, MD. 20720 (301) 262-0560
Service and Times Sunday Worship Services: 7:45 AM and 10:45 AM Holy Communion: 1st Sundays at 7:45 AM & 10:45 AM Sunday School: 9:30 AM Prayer & Praise Service: Tuesdays at 12 noon & 6:30 PM Bible Study: Tuesdays at 1 pm and 7 PM Youth Bible Study: Fridays at 7 PM
Service and Times Early Morning Message: 7:30 AM Sunday Morning Worship Service: 10:00 AM Sunday Church School: 9:00 AM Holy Communion: 1st Sunday 7:30 AM & 10:00 AM Prayer, Praise and Testimony: Wednesday 7:00 PM Bible Study: Wednesday 7:30 PM
Service and Times Sunday Worship: 11 AM Sunday School: 10 AM Wednesday Mid-Week Worship, Prayer & Bible Study: Wed. 7 PM
Rehoboth Baptist Church
Reverend Peter R. Blue Sr. Pastor
Rev. Curtis l. Staley Pastor
2001 Brooks Drive District Heights MD. 20744 240.838.7074
621 Alabama Ave., S.E.- Washington, D.C. 20032 P: (202) 561-1111 - F: (202) 561-1112
Service and Times Sunday Worship Experience: 10:15am Sunday School: 9:00am Holy Communion: 3rd Sunday Morning Noontime Bible Study: Tuesday @ 12:00pm Prayer Meeting/Bible Study: Tuesday @7:00pm Theme: "Building On A Firm Foundation"
Service and Times Sunday Service: 10:00 AM Sunday School for all ages: 8:30 AM 1st Sunday Baptism: 10:00 AM 2nd Sunday Holy Communion:10:00 AM Tuesday: Bible Study: 6:30 PM Prayer Meeting: 7:45 PM
Email: revprbstmbc@gmail.com Website: www.stmatthewsbaptist.org
Motto: “Where God is First and Where Friendly People Worship”
“Real Worship for Real People” Website: www.easterncommunity.org Email: ecc@easterncommunity.org
“A Church Where Love Is Essential and Praise is Intentional”
Foggy Bottom - Founded in 1867 728 23rd Street, NW - Washington, DC 20037 Church office: 202-333-3985 - Fax : 202-338-4958
Shiloh Baptist Church
Matthews Memorial Baptist Church Dr. Joseph D. Turner / Senior Pastor 2616 MLK Ave., SE - Washington, DC 20020 Office 202-889-3709 - Fax 202-678-3304 Service and Times Early Worship Service: 8:00 AM Worship Service: 11:00 AM New Member’s Class: 9:45 AM Holy Communion: 1st Sunday, 11:00 AM Church School: 9:45 AM Wednesday 12:00pm Bible Study Prayer, Praise and Bible Study: 7:00 PM Saturday Bible Study: 11:00 AM Baptism 4th Sunday: 11:00 AM “Empowered to love and Challenged to Lead a Multitude of Souls to Christ”
Peace Baptist Church Rev. Dr. Michael T. Bell 712 18th Street, NE Washington, DC 20002 Phone 202-399-3450/ Fax 202-398-8836 Service and Times Sunday Early Morning Prayer & Bible Study Class: 8:00 AM Sunday School: 9:00 AM Sunday Morning Worship Service: 10:00 AM Wednesday Service: 12:00 PM “The Loving Church of the living lord “
4504 Gault Place, N.E. / Washington, D.C 20019 202-397-7775 – 7184 Service and Times Sunday Church School: 9:30 AM Sunday Worship Service : 11:00 AM The Lord’s Supper 1st Sunday Prayer & Praise Services: Wednesday 7:00 PM Bible Study: 7:30 PM Saturday before 4th Sunday Men, Women, Youth Discipleship Ministries: 10:30 AM A Christ Centered Church htubc@comcast.net
Christ Embassy DC
Kelechi Ajieren Coordinator 6839 Eastern Avenue, R1 Takoma Park, MD 20912 (202) 556-7065 Service and Times Sunday Worship Service: 10:00 AM Wednesday Bible Study: 7:00 PM Friday Evening Service: 7:00 PM ; Last Friday “…Giving Your Life a Meaning” www.Christembassydc.org Christ.embassy.dc@hotmail.com
Pennsylvania Ave. Baptist Church Rev. Dr. Kendrick E. Curry Pastor 3000 Pennsylvania Ave.. S.E Washington, DC 20020 202 581-1500 Service and Times Sunday Church School: 9:30 AM Sunday Worship Service: 11:00 AM Monday Adult Bible Study: 7:00 PM Wednesday Youth & Adult Activities: 6:30 PM Prayer Service Bible Study
First Rising Mt. Zion Baptist Church
Mt. Horeb Baptist Church
Rev. Dr. Wallace Charles Smith Pastor
Rev. Oran W. Young Pastor
Rev. Dr. H. B. Sampson, III Pastor
9th & P Street, N.W. - W. D.C. 20001 (202) 232-4288
602 N Street NW - Washington, D.C. 20001 Office:(202) 289-4480 Fax: (202) 289-4595
2914 Bladensburg Road, NE Wash., DC 20018 Office: (202) 529-3180 - Fax: (202) 529-7738 Service and Times Worship Service: 7:30 AM Sunday School: 9:00 AM Worship Service: 10:30 AM Holy Communion: 4th Sunday 7:30AM & 10:30 AM Prayer Services:Tuesday 7:30 PM. Wednesday 12 Noon
www.stmarysfoggybottom.org Email: stmarysoffice@stmarysfoggybottom.org
Service and Times First Sunday Worship Service (one service): 10:00 AM Second, Third, Fourth, and Fifth Sunday Worship service: 7:45 AM and 10:55 AM Sunday Church School/Bible Study: 9:30 AM Thursday Prayer Service: 6:30 PM
All are welcome to St. Mary’s to Learn, Worship, and Grow.
Email: sbc@shilohbaptist.org Website: shilohbaptist.org
Service and Times Sundays: 10 a.m. Holy Eucharist with Music and Hymns Wednesdays: 12:10 p.m. - Holy Eucharist
Service and Times Sunday Worship Services: 10:00 AM Sunday Church School: 8:45 – 9:45 AM Holy Communion: Every First Sunday Intercessory Prayer: Monday – 7:00-8:00 PM Pastor’s Bible Study: Wednesday –7:45 PM Midweek Prayer: Wednesday – 7:00 PM Noonday Prayer Every Thursday
Rev. Dr. George C. Gilbert Senior Pastor
Email Address: admin@pbc712.org
Historic St. Mary’s Episcopal Church The Rev. E. Bernard Anderson Priest
Holy Trinity United Baptist Church
Florida Avenue Baptist Church
Reverend Christopher L. Nichols Pastor
Rev. Dr. Jerryl V. Moody Pastor-Elect
Web: www.mountmoriahchurch.org Email: mtmoriah@mountmoriahchurch.org
St. Matthews Baptist Church
Emmanuel Baptist Church
King Emmanuel Baptist Church
WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
Service and Times Sunday School for All Ages: 8:00 AM Sunday Worship Services: 9:30 AM Midday Prayer & Bible Study: Wednesday 11:30AM Evening Prayer & Bible Study: Wednesday 7:00 PM Laymen's League: Thursday 7:00 PM Email: Froffice@firstrising.org Website: www.firstrising.org “Changing Lives On Purpose “
Email:mthoreb@mthoreb.org Website:www.mthoreb.org For further information, please contact me at (202) 529-3180.
OCTOBER 1 - 7, 2020 41
LEGAL NOTICES Notice of Unregistered Claim Notice of an unregistered claim by a private living woman, sovereign by the grace of God, name written in the Book of the Tree of Life, beneficiary in the original jurisdiction, now coming as Grantor/Settler with NOTICE OF UNREGISTERED Claim, or priority equitable right, title, and interest in the JOHN QUE PUBLIC estate, NORTH CAROLINA, state file number 1962000073498 529132, including all assets, attributes, derivatives, and transmissions there of. For more on the nature
LEGAL NOTICES SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION Washington, D.C. 20001-2131
2020 ADM 000448
2020 FEP 46
Linda L. Coleman Decedent Nakia V. Gray, Esq. 800 Maine Ave., SW Suite 200 Washington, DC 20024 Attorney
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Declaration of Nationality Notice of Special Appearance: I am that I am: “Adrian Bogopane ©”, in full life, in propria persona, sui juris, in solo propio, Haqdar by natural issue, the beneficiary and heir of: “ BOGOPANE, ADRIAN ©”, corp. sole Dba.: “ADRIAN BOGOPANE©”, Notice of Special Appearance: I am that I am: Lesley Ann Bogopane ©”, f/k/a “Lesley Ann Jackson©; in full life, in propia persona, sui juris, in solo proprio, Haqdar by natural issue, the beneficiary and heir of: “ JACKSON, LESLEY ANN© , corp. sole Dba.: “LESLEY ANN JACKSON ©”, and “BOGOPANE, LESLEY ANN ©, corp. sole Dba.:”LESLEY ANN BOGOPANE ©”. Collectively having reached the age of majority, being aboriginal to the northwestern and southwestern shores of Africa, the Atlantic Islands, the continental Americas, being duly certified, hereby affirm to declare our tribal intention to be as our pedigree subscribes, as: Moorish American(s), but not citizen(s) of the United States. We declare permanent, and unalienable, allegiance to The Moorish Empire, Societas Republicae Ea Al Maurikanuus Estados, The Constitution for the united States of America, Article III Section 2, The Lieber Code, Hague Conventions of 1899 & 1907, The Geneva Conventions,
Alicia Gordon, whose address is 1876 4th Street, NE, Apt 130, Washington, DC 20002, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Linda L. Coleman who died on December 24, 2019 without a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 3/17/2021. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 3/17/2021, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship. Date of first publication: 9/17/2020 Alicia Gordon Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills
LEGAL NOTICES SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 2020 ADM 000462
November 12, 2019 Date of Death John Henry Gause, Jr. Name of Decedent NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS
http.//notice.legal-regristry.org/PublicNotice.pdf
In God We Trust
LEGAL NOTICES
Tyrone Timms, whose address is 16988 W. Durango Street, Goodyear, AZ 85338 was appointed personal representative of the estate of John Henry Gause, Jr., deceased, by the Superior Court of Arizona Court for Maricopa County, State of Arizona, on February 28, 2020. Service of process may be made upon Jeffrey K. Gordon, Esq. 5335 Wisconsin Avenue, NW #700, Washington, DC 20015 whose designation as District of Columbia agent has been filed with the Register of Wills, D.C. The decedent owned the following District of Columbia real estate. 5524 C Street, SE, Washington, DC 20019. Claims against the decedent may be presented to the undersigned and filed with the Register of Wills of the District of Columbia, 515 5th Street, NW, Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001 within 6 months from the date of first publication of this notice.
Steven Anthony Brannum Decedent
LEGAL NOTICES SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division
Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 2020 ADM 000495 Estate of
Valerie Edwards, Esq. 1725 DeSales St., NW Suite 600 Washington, DC 20036 Attorney
Jean M. Harris aka Gene M. Harris
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS
Court by Delores D. Harris Floyd and Steven M. Weinberg for
Jennifer Brannum, whose address is 140 Ivanhoe Street, SW, Apt. 101, Washington, DC 20032, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Steven Anthony Brannum who died on September 2, 2019 without a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 3/24/2021. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 3/24/2021, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship.
NOTICE OF STANDARD PROBATE Notice is hereby given that a petition has been filed in this
standard probate, including the appointment of one or more personal representatives. Unless a responsive pleading in
the form of a complaint or an objection in accordance with
Superior Court Probate Division Rule 407 is filed in this Court
within 30 days from the date of first publication of this notice, the Court may take the action hereinafter set forth.
In the absence of a will or proof satisfactory to the Court of due execution, enter an order determining that the decedent died intestate appoint an unsupervised personal representative Date of first publication: 9/24/2020
Edward G. Varrone, Esq. #257147 1825 K Street, NW Ste. 1150
Date of first publication: 9/17/2020
Date of first publication: 9/24/2020
Tyrone Timms Personal Representative
Jennifer Brannum Personal Representative
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Nicole Stevens
Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer
Washington Informer
Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer
Washington, DC 20006 Petitioner/Attorney:
Register of Wills Washington Informer
[United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples], and all natural laws governing moors, and hereby declare and proclaim our Nationality in good faith as: Moorish American(s). Any and all facts contained in this publication, are fully applicable to any and all private tribal issue offspring of Affiants, Nunc pro tunc. I am: Adrian Bogopane© “, from this day forward, in harmony with my Nationality/Status/Jurisdiction, shall be known as: “ amanya basimane bogopane-el©”. I am “Lesley Ann Bogopane© “from this day forward, in harmony with Nationality/Status/Jurisdiction, shall be known as: “lesley ann bogopane-el ©”. Notice of White Flag Surrender: as “hors de combat pursuant to The Geneva Conventions, Article III, as ministers of the Moorish Empire, and Internationally Protected Persons. Notice of LAWS AND CUSTOMS OF WAR ON LAND (HAGUE, IV), ARTICLE: 45, 46, & 47. Notice of Claim pursuant to Public Law 87-846, TITLE II, SEC. 203. Notice of Bailment Merging of Legal Title with Equitable Title: This order is to preserve legal and equitable title, and to reserve all rights, title, and interest, in the property, Re: 1. DEPARTMENT HOME AFFAIRS / REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA/ CHILD’S ID NO:”, B4048958/7107145747081: “Adrian Bogopane ©, to the depositor: “amanya basimane bogopane-el©”nom deguerre: Adrian Bogopane©”, 2. STATE OF CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH: State file number: 14181, “LESLEY ANN JACKSON©”, to the depositor. “lesley ann bogopane-el©”, nom deguerre: “Lesley Ann Bogopane©”. All property of the same issue and amount, in like kind and specie, is to be returned fully intact, as a Special Deposit order of the Depositor/ Beneficiary/ Bailor/ Donor/ Principal/ Creditor. “amanya basimane bogopane-el©”, nom deguerre: “Adrian Bogopane© for: “AETHIOPIA JUS SOLI TRUST”, and or: “lesley ann bogopane-el©”, nom deguerre: “Lesley Ann Bogopne©”, for “Rising Sun Trust”, as special deposit order in lawful money. This special deposit is to
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131
Grace L. Callis Name of Deceased Settlor
2020 ADM 000442
2020 ADM 000427
2020 ADM 386
NOTICE OF EXISTENCE OF REVOCABLE TRUST
Donna Marie Check Beuttell Decedent
Blake Thomas Decedent
Leah F. Otuonye Decedent
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS
Attorney Ethel Mitchell 8403 Colesville Road Suite 1100 Silver Spring, MD 20910 Attorney
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION 2020 NRT 000015
Grace L. Callis, whose address was 530 Oneida Place, NW, Washington, DC, 20011 created a revocable trust on November 8, 2013, which remained in existence on the date of her death on September 21, 2019, and Donna Stewart-Moore, whose address is 5201 Janesdale Court, Glenn Dale, MD 20769, is the currently acting trustee, hereinafter the Trustee. Communications to the Trust should be mailed or directed to the following: Edward G. Varrone, Esq. at 1825 K St., NW, Suite 1150, Washington, DC 20006. The Trust is subject to claims of the deceased settlor’s creditors, costs of administration of the settlor’s estate, the expense of the deceased settlor’s funeral and disposal of remains, and statutory allowances to a surviving spouse and children to the extent the deceased settlor’s residuary probate estate is inadequate to satisfy those claims, costs, expenses, and allowances. Claims of the deceased settlor’s creditors are barred as against the Trustee and the trust property unless presented to the Trustee at the address provided herein on or before 3/24/2021 (6 month after the date of the first publication of this notice.) An action to contest the validity of this trust must be commenced by the earliest of (1) September 21, 2020, (One year from date of death of deceased settlor) (2) 3/24/2021, (6 months from the date of first publication of this notice) or (3) Ninety days after the Trustee sends the person a copy of the trust instrument and a notice informing the person of the trust’s existence, of the Trustee’s name and address, and of the time allowed for commencing a proceeding. The Trustee may proceed to distribute the trust property in accordance with the terms of the trust before the expiration of the time within which an action must be commenced unless the Trustee knows of a pending judicial proceeding contesting the validity of the trust or the Trustee has received notice from a potential contestant who thereafter commences a judicial proceeding within sixty days after notification. This Notice must be mailed postmarked within 15 days of its first publication to each heir and qualified beneficiary of the trust and any other person who would be an interested person within the meaning of D.C. Code 20-101(d). Date of First Publication: 9/24/2020
Valerie Edwards 1725 DeSales St., NW Suite 600 Washington, DC 20036 Attorney NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Robert Check, whose address is 802 Foxboro Drive, Norwalk, CT 06851, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Donna Marie Check who died on May 6, 2020 with a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 3/24/2021. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 3/24/2021, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship. Date of first publication: 9/24/2021
Donna Stewart-Moore Signature of Trustee
Robert Check Personal Representative
is not to be commingled with general assets of any bank, nor
TRUE TEST COPY
depositary/ trustee/agent/ bailee/ donee/ debtor. This deposit
TRUE TEST COPY
Nicole Stevens Register of Wills
be used exclusively for the benefit of: each respective Trust, an Inter Vivos Unincorporated Divine Grantor Trust. This deposit
is not limited to, but including: discharge and set off, of any and all outstanding liabilities as accord and satisfaction. Inter alia enact fuit. All Rights Reserved.
42 - OCTOBER 1 - 7, 2020
Washington Informer
Angela M. Thomas, whose address is 1218 Randolph Street, NE, Washington, DC 20017, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Blake Thomas who died on April 23, 2020 without a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 3/24/2021. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 3/24/2021, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship. Date of first publication: 9/24/2020 Angela M. Thomas Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Rosson C. Smith, whose address is 9609 Underwood Street, Lanham MD 20706, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Leah F. Otuonye who died on November 19, 2019 without a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 4/1/2021. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 4/1/2021, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship. Date of first publication: 10/1/2020 Rosson C. Smith Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY
Nicole Stevens Register of Wills
Nicole Stevens Register of Wills
Washington Informer
Washington Informer
THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM
LEGAL NOTICES
LEGAL NOTICES
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131
2020 ADM 000421
2020 ADM 000500
Carlton J. Alston Decedent
Martha A. Stevenson aka Martha Ann Stevenson Decedent
Howard Haley, Esq. The Haley Firm, PC 7600 Georgia Ave., NW #405 Washington, DC 20012 Attorney
Bryan Patrick MacAvoy, SmolenPlevy PC 8045 Leesburg Pike, Suite 540 Vienna, VA 22182 Attorney
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Janet Alston, whose address is 813 30th Street, SE, Washington, DC 20019, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Carlton J. Alston who died on February 21, 2014 without a Will, and will serve with Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 3/24/2021. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 3/24/2021, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship. Date of first publication: 9/24/2020
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Bryan P. MacAvoy and Alia P. Weaver, whose addresses are 8045 Leesburg Pike, Ste. 540, Vienna, VA 22182: 8708 First Ave., Apt. 905, Silver Spring, MD 20910, was appointed Personal Representatives of the estate of Martha A. Stevenson aka Martha Ann Stevenson who died on January 6, 2020 with a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 4/1/2021. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 4/1/2021, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship. Date of first publication: 10/1/2020
Janet Alston Personal Representative
Bryan P. MacAvoy Alia P. Weaver Personal Representative
TRUE TEST COPY
TRUE TEST COPY
Nicole Stevens Register of Wills
Nicole Stevens Register of Wills
Washington Informer
Washington Informer
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131
2020 ADM 000494
2020 ADM 000524
William Lorn Harvey aka W. Lorn Harvey Decedent
Edward Joseph Hall Jr. Decedent
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Kerri M. Castellini, Esquire, whose address is 409 Seventh Street, NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20004, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of William Lorn Harvey aka W. Lorn Harvey who died on February 6, 2020 with a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 4/1/2021. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 4/1/2021, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship.
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS
CL ASSIFIEDS
CL ASSIFIEDS
CL ASSIFIEDS
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Nicole Stevens Register of Wills
Nicole Stevens Register of Wills
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Washington Informer
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LIVES MATTER!!! Cannot be said enough times,” actor Viola Davis posted on Twitter. They weren’t alone – not by a longshot. After voicing Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s quote that injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere, comedian D.L. Hughley lashed out at Cameron. “So, I’d rather listen to a noteworthy person in history than a footnote in history. This isn’t a question of Black celebrities speaking out. I happen to have a Black wife and Black daughters and Black nieces and nephews,” Hughley told TMZ. For good measure, and to counter Cameron’s statement dismissing celebrities “who don’t and haven’t lived in Kentucky,” actor George Clooney also slammed the attorney general and the grand jury decision. “The justice system I was raised to believe in holds people responsible for their actions. Her name was Breonna Taylor and she was shot to death in her bed by three white police officers who will not be charged with any crime for her death,” Clooney responded. “I know the community. I know the commonwealth. And I was taught in the schools and churches of Kentucky what is right and what is wrong. I’m
5 Breonna Taylor (Courtesy photo)
ashamed of this decision,” he said. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear joined a chorus of others demanding that Cameron answer questions like how one officer could face charges of wantonly endangering Taylor’s neighbors’ lives by shooting into their homes but not with endangering Taylor? If the officers had the right to defend themselves by shooting in response to Walker’s shot, did they have any justification for shooting Taylor, who wasn’t a threat? Taylor’s family also have asked
whether the grand jury was asked to consider homicide charges or whether Cameron made that decision himself. “What has happened in a very long investigation, and ultimately a grand jury proceeding here, is that people haven’t seen the basic facts,” Beshear told NPR. “They’ve been told, for instance, about two ballistics reports. If they’ve been described to the people, let the people see them and read them,” he said. WI
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BURKE from Page 26 has mishandled a deadly pandemic that has led to the deaths of over 200,000 Americans. The U.S. now leads the world in the number of deaths. Trump’s use of fear in an attempt
EDELMAN from Page 26 accepting, she said: “It was my great good fortune to have the opportunity to participate in the long effort to place equal citizenship stature for women on the basic human rights agenda. In that regard, I was scarcely an innovator. For generations, brave women and enlightened men in diverse nations pursued that goal, but they did so when society was not yet prepared to listen. I was alive and a lawyer in the late 1960s and the decade commencing in 1970. Conditions of life had so changed
CURRY from Page 26 No business is forced to operate like this, and I dare to add that no business could operate like this. Also, the new bill took away the ability for the post office to set prices. Firstclass mail, marketing mail and other post office products have all been tied to the consumer price index, and therefore the post office could not increase rates for those products above the rate of inflation. All told, the post office has incurred a loss of $78 billion from 2007 through 2019 and owes $55 billion related to its future pension and health benefit obligations. Add in lost revenue related to COVID-19 and politically charged controversies over reductions in equipment and attendant slowdowns, the USPS is now in dire straits. Shall we really allow this most American of institutions to fail — through no fault of its own? It is unthinkable for it not to survive. It is unthinkable to rely solely on private companies for such critical services. It is truly a dagger in the heart of our American heritage. Of immediate consequence, consider the impact to mail recipients during this pandemic. The USPS handles 1.2 billion prescription drug deliveries each year. The service also transports millions of lab tests and essential medical supply shipments. It ensures that checks and payments arrive to keep small businesses operating. It helps seniors receive household items, social security and Medicare checks. And communications from family and friends from far away have been delivered on time, through, as they say, “rain, sleet or snow.”
to win the White House easily surpasses recent Republican presidents who have marketed “law and order” and other tag phrases to stoke fear in the minds of white suburbanites. Barry Goldwater, Richard Nixon and George Wallace used similar Southern strategy tactics to get white voters gal-
vanized. But no one has gone as far as Trump has in stoking fear and inciting violence. Trump’s consistent reliance on controversy, fear and race-baiting is likely to get worse in the weeks leading up to the 2020 election. WI
that audiences responded positively to pleas that society — men, women and children — would be well served by removing artificial barriers blocking women’s engagement in many fields of human endeavor — from bar membership to bartending, policing, firefighting, piloting planes, even serving on juries. Helping to explain what was wrong about the closed door era was enormously satisfying.” Too many leaders and citizens seek to turn the clock of progress backwards for girls, women, people of color and others left behind but
we must steadfastly follow Justice Ginsburg’s example and precepts in our families, schools, colleges and universities for boys and girls and all of our children alike. She lived up to the charge in Deuteronomy framed on the wall of her Supreme Court chambers: “Justice, justice you shall pursue.” May her memory goad us to action to see that every girl child and woman in our nation has the same opportunity as every boy child and man. We must leave no child behind. WI
Since the emergence of COVID-19, USPS workers have been on the front lines, delivering millions of personal protective equipment and vital supplies to hospitals. They’ve made sure shelters, food banks, and businesses have the supplies they need. In addition, they’ve made deliveries to home-bound, highly susceptible individuals. Needed now more than ever The notion to privatize the USPS is a truly un-American idea and could not come at a worse time. The recession we are experiencing due to the coronavirus is hitting Black Americans much harder than white Americans, with Blacks nearly three times more likely to be hospitalized for COVID-19 and their unemployment rate at 14.6% compared with 9.2% for whites. The Postal Service provides the only service that guarantees delivery to every American, which makes it especially crucial for rural areas and small towns that are too costly for private companies like FedEx or UPS to deliver to. Privatizing the service would add to the expense of crucial deliveries — at a time when we are more and more relying on deliveries to receive our daily needs. Then think about the importance of the post office in ensuring that the people’s will in our democracy will be accurately and duly noted. In November, the Postal Service will play a crucial role in allowing Americans across our land and in foreign countries to cast their vote in our upcoming Presidential election. So many of us will be turning to the USPS to deliver our ballots safely and securely. And please also think of the USPS
and those in its employ. The Postal Service has delivered a solid, secure, middle class lifestyle to a more than 600,000 workers and to an especially high number of Latino and African Americans. In the case of African Americans, when Congress passed a law — just after the Civil War — that ended the whites only hiring practice for postal jobs, the Postal Service became a haven of good jobs offering secure wages, benefits, and civil service protections. Today, African Americans make up 27% of the Postal Service — a rate more than double that of the national labor force. Coupled with our government’s anti-discrimination policies, the USPS has made the American dream possible, even when racial discrimination put up walls in other areas of work. And privatization, I would argue, is un-American for another reason. It is yet another attempt at union-busting. Both the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC), which represents primarily non-rural letter carriers employed by USPS as well as the American Postal Workers Union (APWU), which represents postal clerks, mail processors and sorters, building and equipment maintenance, custodial workers, truck drivers and others employed by USPS, would be in serious jeopardy. We must secure this most American of all American institutions. Demand that we save the USPS Fortunately, there is a way forward. The Delivery for America Act (H.R. 8015) can help make this happen. This legislation will deliver urgently needed
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auditioning as shills for Goya Foods. The president photographed in the Oval Office with an assortment of Goya Foods and a maniacal grin. The first daughter posted a picture of herself, holding a can of black beans. More than 135,000 people are dead, and the first family is hawking beans! The president’s comments on both masks and race are incendiary. It is irresponsible to making face coverings a matter of individual choice while COVID-19 infections are rising. Politicizing masks causes tension among citizens who share public space. In
CHAPMAN from Page 27 toward their freedom. I can be in support of my Black communities and schools being safer, but also advocate for police to be defunded. Investing in police and utilizing police to solve the ills created by a pro-slavery, pro-incarceration, and
ASKIA from Page 27
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education system; Make far-reaching investments in ending health disparities by race; Strengthen America’s commitment to justice; Make the right to vote and the right to equal protection real for African Americans; and Address environmental justice.” Be still, my heart! Trump won only 8 percent of the Black vote in 2016. Still, his campaign has opened field offices in predominantly Black communities in swing states, with the idea of skimming off a few more, mostly male voters, and maybe getting 10 percent of the Black vote this time around. In a tight election those few more votes could make a big difference. That’s what former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele told this writer. Trump says he’s the greatest thing to happen to Black folks since Abraham
CURRY from Page 45 funds to the Postal Service and reverse detrimental policy changes that are currently restricting postal workers’ ability to deliver mail and packages on time. The act has passed the House of Representatives. The Senate must follow suit immediately. Across the nation, delivery of mail has slowed dramatically due to the postmaster general Louis DeJoy’s recent decisions. Eliminating overtime and cutting down on late trips has created massive mail backlogs, leading to late deliveries of critical prescription medications and threaten-
Tulsa, Rev. Robert Turner has rallied for reparations every Wednesday for the past two years. On July 15, a rabid anti-mask white mob surrounded him, poured water on him, called him “boy” and assaulted him. Confederate flag-loving Trump has empowered these racists to behave horribly. And the president’s idiocy on the Confederate flag suggests he does not know history. His refusal to utter the words “Black Lives Matter” reminds us (but we already knew) that he doesn’t think Black Lives Matter. His request that NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace apologize for reacting when he found a noose in his area was spacious. His re-
sponse to a CBS interviewer who asked him about Black people’s police shootings was to note that white people are shot by police, too. “More white people, by the way,” the deflector-in-chief said. Black people are 2.8 times as likely to be killed as whites, but perhaps the president does not understand the concept of disproportionality. Since the president refuses to develop a national plan to address the coronavirus pandemic, even as the death toll increases, deaths increase, let him hawk beans. He is far more adept at that task than he is are running the country. WI
racist country is the easy remedy. One of the major expectations that I share with my students at the beginning of each semester is to ask “why?” Why is my client incarcerated, not what is he/ she accused of, but why are they your client in the first place and what system failures led to your fates crossing paths? If we, as a society, would focus on the
why, we will find ourselves focused on the root causation of America’s problems. Why do we think we need more police? Why do we think we need more prisons? Why are Black people the most impacted by the “injustice system”? The hard work is in addressing the root causes that will be revealed in the why. Are we willing to do the work? WI
Lincoln, and there is some room for comparison. Like Lincoln, The Donald has not appointed one single Black judge to the federal judiciary. Dude has appointed 195 judges to trial and appeals court benches, and two Supreme Court justices, with one justice pending. A quarter of his appointees have been female, and with his accomplice and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), he’s appointed more appeals court judges (43) than any recent Republican president. But none of them — ZERO — have been Black. That’s almost as dismal as the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Supreme Court justices and circuit court judges hire four law clerks every year. The Notorious RBG was on the bench for 40 years — 27 at the Supreme Court and 13 at the D.C. Circuit. That’s 160 law clerks. During that time, she hired only ONE (count them) Black law clerk, meaning that
only 0.6% of her hires were Black. Back to Trump. Alas, Justice Clarence Thomas hasn’t stepped down, so there’s no vacancy for any Black dudes in the Trump courts list, or any list. Which means the handful of his Black supporters may have a “shorter line” than that of potential Democratic operatives, but there are no positions available, unless you consider HUD Secretary Ben Carson, whose notes complaining about his treatment by a White House personnel office staffer were inadvertently viewed by a reporter, probably rendering Uncle Ben “disloyal” and ripe for replacement if Trump holds on for, or steals, a second term. The best advice for Black Trump wannabes that I can offer is: fill up on the free Courvoisier and fried chicken at the Blacks-for-Trump campaign events (no carryouts permitted) because this is definitely all about “what you see is what you get.” WI
ing the integrity of the upcoming November election. This bill would help address the backlog by remedying the impact of these policies and prohibiting “any change that would have the effect of delaying, deferring, or curtailing mail, allowing for the non-delivery of mail to a delivery route, or increasing the volume of undelivered mail.” The Delivery for America Act appropriates the $25 billion that the USPS requested to sustain the level of service all Americans depend on. Efforts to shrink the Postal Service would disproportionately affect racial and ethnic
minorities, women and veterans more than others. In addition, as of 2018, more than 100,000 military veterans are employed by the USPS. We MUST protect postal workers’ jobs. And we MUST ensure a safe and secure election. In the coming weeks, voters across the country will prepare to exercise their civic duty to elect their government, and Congress must do everything in its power to ensure that voters will be able to do so safely. For our citizens, for our democracy, for our livelihoods… We must support the USPS in every way we can. WI
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