Black Lives Matter

President Biden Arrives In Buffalo After Saturday’s Mass Killing

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The President and First Lady Jill Biden are in Buffalo following Saturday’s deadly mass killing at a grocery store. They will pay respects at the TOPS Market memorial before a private meeting with affected families, first responders and community leaders.

The President will deliver remarks around 1PM, Eastern time. Reports say President Biden is going to call the mass killing an act of “domestic terrorism.”

President Biden said the mass shooting that killed ten people in Buffalo was as an act of “white supremacy.” On Sunday while speaking at National Peace Officers’ Memorial Service at the Capitol, he confirmed the Justice Department is investigating it as a “hate crime.”

READ MORE: Families of Victims Suing After Buffalo “Hate Crime” Mass Shooting

Most of the victims in Saturday’s mass shooting were Black, and the alleged gunman, identified as Payton Gendron is a white male. Officials say the 18-year-old suspect drove from near the Pennsylvania state line to commit the attack and livestreamed the attack on Twitch.

NBC News reports a manifesto allegedly written by Gendron was posted on Google Docs Thursday night. The document allegedly lays out plans to attack Black people, and promotes conspiracy theory claims that white people are being replaced by minorities in the U.S.

Our thoughts and condolences go out to the community and loved ones of the Buffalo tragedy. Share your comments with us on social media.

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Judge Accepts Derek Chauvin’s Federal Plea Deal

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A federal judge is accepting the plea deal of a former white Minneapolis police officer convicted of killing George Floyd.

Derek Chauvin will be sentenced to between 20 to 25 years for violating Floyd’s civil rights. Chauvin was sentenced last year after being convicted of murder in Floyd’s 2020 death.

Late last year, Chauvin changed to pleading guilty in his federal civil rights case. He was hit with two counts of depriving Floyd of his rights under the “Color of Law.”

READ MORE: Convicted Police Officer Derek Chauvin Changes Plea To Guilty In Civil Case.

His sentence would be served concurrently with his murder conviction on the state level which equals over 22 years with good behavior.

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NJ-Based Playa Bowls Faces Racial Discrimination Lawsuit

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A Black man in Elizabeth, NJ is screaming foul following an incident in which he was denied service at Playa Bowls, an all-natural food store based in the Garden State, after he was already compensated by the store’s owner due to bad service during his last visit and now the man is seeking to file a discrimination lawsuit against the company.

Jason Cleare says that on April 10, he returned to the Elizabeth Playa Bowls store with his child following an incident where the store’s owner had to compensate Mr. Cleare for the store employees’ bad service a month prior. As he proceeded to make his order, one of the employees said that he was banned from the store and consulted with a manager via phone, who confirmed that he was banned from the store.

“The manager yelled over the phone that if I didn’t leave the store, she was going to call the police,” Mr. Cleare said. ” I called their bluff and told them to call the cops. I sat there and waited, but, of course, the police never came. What were they going to tell them? This guy came back that we had to give points for terrible customer service? “

When they realized that he wasn’t leaving the store and was waiting for the police to come, the same employee who claimed that he was banned from the store came back and offered to take his order.

“I wasn’t going to give them any of my money after they threatened to call the cops on me,” he said. “I knew as soon as the cops didn’t come, I was gonna sue them.”

Mr. Cleare says that he is filing a racial discrimination lawsuit against the company because he believes that the alleged ban and threatening of the cops was solely based on the fact that he is Black. He’s seeking punitive damage for the discriminatory treatment in hopes that the all-natural food store doesn’t conduct that type of behavior in the mostly Black Elizabeth neighborhood going forward.

“When you hit them where it hurts, they learn that they can’t treat people however they want and know that some people will hold them accountable for their actions.”

Playa Bowls has yet to respond to the allegations.

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[WATCH] MC Akilah Nehanda Goes Viral With Will Smith/Chris Rock Freestyle

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MC Akilah Nehanda has taken social media by storm with her controversial unapologetic freestyles.
From vaccinations to R.Kelly and now the Will Smith episode she voices her ‘unpopular opinion’ on trending topics. Garnering over 1 million views on TikTok, empress Akilah thanked viewers on her Instagram page.

1 million For the second time. #APDTA Listen! I just bring different perspectives! Will Smith can apologize. Jada can even say it was unnecessary and she doesn’t need protection! That doesn’t change my thoughts on the matter whatsoeverrrr. 🗣I SAID WHAT I SAID! I wish Breonna Taylors Killers got as much disciplinary actions for murder as Will is getting for a SLAP. All of them need to be in rehabilitation centers like they made Will go to 🤣 This country is sick. I hope y’all are watching what’s happening.

In a past interview with Vice magazine, the Houston beauty explained how and why she ventured into music.

I just started makin’ music, with the purpose of inspiration, and then, like you said, I just start realizing, “You know what? This can be bigger than what I’m makin’ it. I can make this bigger.” And I think — I try to think big, so I’m always like… the influence of Michael Jackson, that’s what we need, you know? [laughs] You know how big he was? This message deserves that type of impact on the world.

What do you think about her freestyles?

CLICK HERE to hear her latest viral freestyle.

Check out her new video below.

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[WATCH] Twitter Roasts Chris Rock After Old Videos Resurface Of Him Shading Black Women

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Last week Chris Rock’s brother Tony Rock came to Chris’s defense after he was slapped by Will Smith at the Academy Awards for disrespecting Jada Pinkett-Smith.

After watching the world go through a phase of ‘protect the black woman’ it was interesting to see the response after a man well…protected his black woman.
The feelings and history behind black hair is way deeper than poor comedic jokes. From alopecia to being told our hair is ‘bad’— black women have endured years of embarrassment at the expense of a few laughs. From being called nappy-headed, bald-headed and worse, it’s expected that men with black moms, aunts and relatives understand  the pain behind black hair. Acceptance, convenience, time-management and lack of hair knowledge have all contributed to black women’s hair journey. While it can be as personal to many as personal hygiene, it’s always baffling when men speak on issues that pertain to women.

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Tony Rock tweeted that everyone should watch his brother’s movie ‘Good Hair’ to prove Chris has nothing against ‘women of color’. This quickly turned bad when he was reminded how badly Chris portrayed Black women in ‘Good Hair’ a movie he allegedly stole from another Black woman. 
From explaining to White America how and why Michelle Obama wears weaves to turning his nose up at women who relax their hair Chris Rock’s disdain for black women’s hair choices were inevitable. His film Good Hair was supposed to teach others about our hair journey. Reminiscent of the kid that goes to school and tells all his family’s business. While celebrities supported the film and women in the film laughed nervously—most black women cringed through his movie. From questioning a child about her perm to trying to sell black hair no one wanted, it was just another slap in the face to the women we are supposed to protect. While Chris Rock’s own relationships have seemed to fail in spite of him choosing women with awesome hair choices, the question remains…is it a man’s business to discuss what a woman does with her hair? 
Watch these clips below and Twitter’s response.

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[LISTEN] Bank of America’s 911 Call About Ryan Coogler Released

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After the uproar and criticism over Black Panther director Ryan Coogler being detained in Bank of America after requesting a discreet $12K withdrawal, the audio of the 911 call placed by the BOA teller in Atlanta has now been released.

The BOA called 911 because they assumed Coogler was trying to rob the bank after he handed her a note that said, “I would like to withdraw $12,000 cash from my checking account. Please do the money count somewhere else. I’d like to be discreet.” Even though Coogler gave the teller his California I.D. which matched his bank debit car, the manager told her to call 911. 

Coogler addressed the situation, telling TMZ, “This situation should never have happened. However, Bank of America worked with me and addressed it to my satisfaction and we have moved on.” 

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Ex-Detective Not Guilty Of Charges Connected To Breonna Taylor’s Deadly Raid

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The only LMPD officer charged in connection to the deadly raid on Breonna Taylor’s apartment is not guilty of wanton endangerment.

The jury found former Detective Brett Hankison not guilty and acquitted him on all three charges yesterday.

Hankison was charged with endangering neighbors by firing the shots into Taylor’s apartment. The jury deliberated for about three hours before coming up with the verdict.

READ MORE: Jury selection begins in case surrounding Breonna Taylor’s death.

Hankison and LMPD officers Myles Cosgrove and Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly fired 32 shots into Taylor’s apartment.

Hankison fired 10 of the shots into Taylor’s apartment. Errant bullets penetrated a wall of the residence and entered a neighboring apartment that was occupied by a child, a man, and a pregnant woman, according to ABC News.

Brett Hankison testified he opened fire because he thought two other cops were being executed. Those two have already been cleared from the deadly 2020 botched no-knock warrant raid on Breonna Taylor’s home. 

Following the acquittal demonstrators packed Jefferson Square Park and marched through the downtown area last night with one protester saying “there’s no such thing as a peaceful protest,” adding “they won’t be controlled, this time.” More protests are expected today in Louisville.

There were no drugs were found, and the no-knock warrant was later deemed to be flawed and faulty.

Share your  thoughts with us on social media.

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Preserving Legacy: Nonprofit Organization Grants More Than $650,000 To Five HBCUs

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A nonprofit organization is granting more than 650-thousand dollars to five Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

According to the Miami Herald, The National Trust for Historic Preservation announced the grants will be funded through its HBCU Cultural Heritage Stewardship Initiative.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation awarded the grants to “preserve, and leverage their historic campuses.”

“There are 105 HBCUs across the country, and their infrastructure needs are increasingly urgent,” the National Trust for Historic Preservation said in announcing the grants.

Calling the commitment “a roadmap for preserving and celebrating the historic and hallowed places important to their institutional legacy.”

This year’s recipients are Florida A&M University, Rust College, Johnson C. Smith University, Shaw University and Voorhees College.

Continue the conversation on social media.

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Historic Abolitionist Harriet Tubman’s Bicentennial Celebration Set For March

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The bicentennial birthday celebration of a trailblazing abolitionist and global icon of freedom is set to place next month in Maryland.  The celebration will begin on Mar. 10, which has been recognized as Harriet Tubman Day since 1990.

Harriet Tubman, was born as Araminta Ross in early 1822, near Cambridge on Maryland’s Eastern Shore to enslaved parents. She grew up to be a freedom fighter, liberator, healer, military raid leader and suffragist.

While Tubman’s exact birthday is not known, the March events are expected to kick off a yearlong celebration of the abolitionist.

The seven-month celebration begins on the day Tubman died.

Harriett Tubman‘s 200th birthday celebration will be marked March 12th and 13th at the Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor’s Center in Church Creek. 

The festivities will include talks by Tubman biographer Kate Clifford Larson, a dramatic interpretation of Tubman’s life by actress Millicent Sparks and the display of recently discovered artifacts from the home of Tubman’s father, Ben Ross. 

For more information visit harriettubmanbyway.org

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Ahmaud Arbery’s Mother: “Thank You To Everyone Who Supported Us”

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Ahmaud Arbery’s mother, Wanda Cooper-Jones is thankful the Department of Justice brought federal hate crimes against the three white men who were convicted of killing her son. 

Arbery’s mother, father and lawyers came out of the courtroom with their hands raised in victory after the guilty verdicts were read.  Mrs. Cooper-Jones said the DOJ was forced to convict the killers of her son because the family and supporters put pressure on them to do so. 

She said she knew Ahmaud’s race was involved in the case from the beginning and knew the courts would side with them because of that.

“I now want to address the members of the DOJ. I’m very thankful that you guys brought these charges… but back on January 31, you guys accepted a plea deal with these three murderers” Cooper-Jones said.

She continued that she had “begged” the DOJ not to take the deal, and asserted that the verdict today would not have happened without her family’s continued activism.

Travis and Greg McMichael along with William Bryan were found guilty in the federal hate crimes trial. For the fatal shooting of 25-year-old Ahmaud Arbery nearly two years ago.

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