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PG County
PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY
Vote Like Your Life Depends on It: Panel
By William J. Ford power in our own hands.” WI Staff Writer Johnson joined a panel Thursday, @jabariwill Sept. 3 entitled “From the Mailbox to the Ballot Box: Exercising Your Right
Less than two months away from to Vote in the Age of COVID-19.” the Nov. 3 general election, NAACP It marked the fourth day of the Con5 Sherrilyn Ifill, president and director-counsel for NAACP Legal Defense Fund, participates on a virtual voting panel Sept. 3 during President Derrick Johnson suggested gressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Congressional Black Caucus Foundation annual legislative conference. (Screen grab: CBCF) three ways for Americans to overannual legislative conference which come attempts at voter suppression: was held virtually for the first time. ican participation in the nation’s his“It’s not often you get a chance to provisions to increase federal supervipolicy change, legal action and voter The conference, usually held at the tory and will feature topics on crimmeet your real-life hero,” said Rep. sion on state election policies, mainly turnout. Walter E. Washington Convention inal justice reform and statehood for Terri Sewell (D-Ala.). “When I think in southern states and to eliminate
“That is the trajectory we must Center in Northwest, will be conD.C. about John’s legacy, nothing was pre-clearance policy changes, such as be on,” Johnson said. “We are ducted online through Oct. 2. A key participant will be missing more important than voting rights.” requiring photo ID’s to vote. done dying and public policy This year’s theme, “Now is Our this year: the late Rep. John Lewis The House voted in December to The U.S. Supreme Court in 2003 is killing us. We must take the Time,” focuses on the African Amer(D-Ga.). update the Voting Rights Act with ruled the law’s pre-clearance provision focused on data from decades ago that is not relevant to today. Fed-Ex Field Eyed as a Nov. 3 Voting Site in Prince George’s The Democratic-controlled House voted to rename the voting rights bill for Lewis in July, but remains in the
By William J. Ford WI Staff Writer @jabariwill FedEx Field in Landover could be transformed into a polling center for Prince George’s County voters on Election Day. Before voting booths, ballots and elections judges converge at the more than 80,000-seat stadium, the Maryland Board of Elections plan to meet Friday, Sept. 11 and must grant formal approval. The county’s Board of Elections scheduled an emergency meeting Wednesday, Sept. 9 for the stadium to become its 41st polling center for the presidential general election Nov. 3. “We are going to do everything we in our power to make sure that absolutely nothing stops Prince George’s County from being able to show up in this next election,” said County Executive Angela Alsobrooks, who told reporters about the plan at a Sept. 3 news conference. “This is going to be a historic turnout for this election and we’re going to do everything we can to prepare for it.” Alsobrooks said the county expects voter turnout to exceed the number of voters who showed up to cast ballots in the June 2 primary. According to final audit numbers, out of 521,877 ballots mailed, about 240,880 voters, or 46 percent, participated in this year’s primary election. Approximately 231,711 voters returned their ballots by mail or placed them in drop-off boxes. The 46% turnout was second only to voter participation in the 2008 primary when Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton were competing for the Democratic presidential nomination. During that election, about 48 percent of registered voters in Prince George’s cast a ballot. If FedEx Field gets approved to become a polling center, voting stations would be set up along the concourse area. The move not only would provide a larger venue, but also keep voters 5 Mail-in ballot requests from each Maryland jurisdiction. (Photo: Courtesy of Maryland Board of Elections) maintain social distance during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Because of the virus, voters are encouraged to primarily cast their ballots by mail. Thousands of Maryland voters have received applications to apply for mail-in ballots. As of Thursday, approximately 497,514 voters have requested mail-in ballots, according to the state board of elections. About 51,300 ballot requests came from Prince George’s, which ranks fourth in the state. The highest number of mail-in requests --124,551-- came from neighboring Montgomery County. For those who choose to vote in person, early voting in Maryland runs from Oct. 26 to Nov. 2. The state approved for Prince George’s 11 early voting sites to have and have selected 29 high schools for the Nov. 3 election. Prince George’s Election Administrator Alisha Alexander said the county is trying to recruit election judges who are registered Republicans. If not enough are available, she said registered voters who are registered as independent would be used in place of a Republican judge. WI Senate, a chamber controlled by the GOP. On Thursday, the speakers spoke about this year’s election with elected officials in the South such as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R). He faces a challenge in Kentucky from Democratic nominee Amy McGrath. “All Black folks need to be deputized and see themselves responsible for at least 10 voters (to vote),” said LaTosha Brown, co-founder of the Black Voters Matter Fund, a nonprofit organization that pushes for Black participation in voter registration through grassroots movement. “Who is setting the policy priorities in this country right now? They’re from Kentucky. They’re from South Carolina…where Black folks are living. It’s not just about participation, but it’s about power.” Sherrilyn Ifill, president and director-counsel for NAACP Legal Defense Fund, said the country faces two pandemics: COVID-19 and racVOTE Page 51
PGCPS BRIEFS
Compiled by Dorothy Rowley WI Staff Writer
LEARNING DISTANCE HOTLINE
Prince George’s County Public Schools’ new Distance Learning Hotline is 240-696-6229 and is available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Parent Support Centers will also be available to assist with technical/equipment issues, instructional guidance and more.
If students are unable to attend scheduled classes, parents must communicate the reason via email to the student’s classroom teacher.
Families are also encouraged to look for tips on the school system’s social media pages.
IMMUNIZATIONS STILL REQUIRED
Although PGCPS will offer distance learning for the first semester, students must meet state immunization requirements within 20 calendar days of enrollment or by Sept. 21.
PGCPS is hosting free immunization clinics at multiple school sites to assist families with meeting immunization requirements.
These services are offered in collaboration with the Prince George’s County Health Department and the Maryland Partnership for Prevention.
In order to adhere to social distancing guidelines, immunizations will be offered by appointment only and masks will be required. Temperatures will also be taken upon arrival.
BOYS READ PROGRAM
The Virtual Boys Read Program is a great opportunity for male students in elementary and middle school to explore and share their favorite books, engage in games, and other fun activities.
The virtual reading club is held Mondays at 5:30 p.m. and can be accessed via Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/ j/87105353853?pwd=RGtYWmVISnBlRWZlVFhwMW1iTEE2UT09.
‘GRAB N’ GO’ MEALS
Breakfast and lunch will be available for pickup at most schools — and delivery in many communities — on Mondays and Wednesdays between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Students who are not eligible for free and reduced-price meals can purchase breakfast and lunch.
VIRTUAL ATHLETICS
The first semester of athletics will be virtual and feature three sport seasons: fall, winter and spring.
During the first semester, athletes will have the opportunity to virtually participate in lessons for college and career readiness, academic achievement, recruitment preparation, physical activities, social, emotional and mental well-being and sport specific information.
Interscholastic athletics will start at the lowest risk level for participation.
In December, a determination will be made on how PGCPS will continue delivering instruction for the second semester. Once that decision has been made, direction will be provided regarding face-toface participation in sports.
LESSONS ON PGCPS-TV
Lessons will air through Sept. 18 on PGCPS-TV (channel 96/ Comcast and 38/Verizon) for students in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade who do not have a computer for learning at home and have not yet received a PGCPS device.
Televised lessons will cover reading, math, science and social studies aligned with classroom content. Art, dance, music and physical education lessons as well as weekly language immersion and “Montessori Moments” will also be broadcast.
WI
A Note to My Grandchildren
My beautiful grand-toddlers, you are growing up in challenging times- a global health pandemic taking hundreds of thousands of lives and a racial brutality pandemic taking Black lives. A virus called COVID-19 has overcome the world-closing businesses, churches and forcing millions of Americans who had stable employment to the unemployment line. All of this coupled with the police killing of unarmed Black citizens for menial offenses. These killings have brought nationwide forceful protest unlike anything we’ve seen in this nation’s history. Rest assured, you are covered by God’s love and your parents will keep you safe and well. At some point in your lives, they will help you put this historic moment in context.
The cacophony of protest voices have brought together a unified symphony ringing loud to protect Black lives. However, I was raised during a time when the song of social justice and healing rang; unfortunately, little changed. This time, for your sakes, I pray change will come.
I was born and raised in the Queensbridge Housing Projects in the great borough of Queens, New York. Let me remind you, a Mets fan you will become! Anyway, ask your parents and they’ll tell youQueensbridge is the mecca of hip-hop. Roxanne Shante, Nas, Tragedy Khadafi and Capone were the first Urban Poets.
Queensbridge was conceived in 1939 by the President Franklin Roosevelt Administration and remains the largest public housing project in the United States. Originally programmed for low income Whites to transition to the middle class, right around the period I was born in the 1950’s, Queensbridge was reprogrammed to segregate a rising low income Black population. You see, I was born in segregation!
Your great grandmother (my mom) was a high school graduate where upon graduation, for one year, she attended New York University majoring in English. Your great grandfather (my dad) was a Navy veteran who fought in the Korean War.
When my brother (your grand uncle Robert) came of school age, it was expected that we would attend the local public school. This dissipated when on our first day of school my mom overheard two teachers saying, “how many of them do you have in your class?” My brother and I were not seen as children, we were them. Within seconds, we were taken out of public school and enrolled in the Catholic school miles away from my community. Ironically the school was in the middle of segregated boundaries- one white the other black. My dad’s hard work and tax dollars could not place me in a public school where we could be children. He and my mom gambled that a religious education would prepare me. As she told me, “David, you have to adjust in this white world.”
I went to elementary school in the turbulent 1960’s where racial and social unrest was commonplace. My school days saw the assassination of a United States President and the murder of gifted social justice martyrs, but the bright side saw these tragedies bring together a multiracial cohort that seemed poised to forge an integrated society.
Fast forward, today we remain segregated.
It was segregation and presumption of guilt based on race that was on the neck of George Floyd, that barged into the home of Breonna Taylor, that shot Treyvon Martin & that choked Eric Garner. Just as my parents had few housing options, today too many Black people have few options. Where you live impacts health and education funding leaving many segregated Black communities with underfunded schools, inadequate healthcare and a presumption of fault.
Segregation is one of the root causes of the stark inequities between white and black people. In homeownership, 74% of Whites own homes while 44% of Blacks own their homes. In terms of wealth, that is money, property, investments which can be passed on to you, for every dollar, Blacks make .10 cents compared to Whites. This means there is a .90 cent gap between White and Black wealth.
For your sakes, I pray that the current movement will tackle the structures and policies that feed inequities. Removing these and adding others that bring every community great schools, access to wealth and health must be the goal. By the time you are of the age of consent that is voting and being civically engaged, hopefully segregation will be gone and no longer a barrier for your aspirational goals!
