Can Charles Booker unseat Senator Mitch McConnell in Kentucky?

Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell has long been regarded as an enemy of Black people, beginning, conservatively, in the late 1980s, when he voted against the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987, and continuing to this day with his unwavering support of the Trump White House.

But a young, Black, educated and homegrown Kentuckian who succeeded in securing a seat in the Kentucky House of Representatives in 2018, Charles Booker, aims to defeat the veteran Republican senator.

theGrio spoke exclusively with Booker ahead of the June 23 primary, which is today, about what inspired him to enter politics, how the police killing of Breonna Taylor impacted him, and why Kentuckians should vote for him.

READ MORE: Jamaal Bowman, a former educator, hopes to bring new face to Congress

Like far too many Black families, Charles Booker grew up surrounded by poverty. “My childhood really shaped my view of the world, which is one of the things that really led me to go into politics,” Booker shared with theGrio. “Seeing how hard [my mother] worked just let me know that we weren’t struggling because we were lazy, because we were morally deficient.”

Seeing that economic disparity led Booker into politics.

“It just really lit a fire under me to go into the spaces where the policy and budgetary decisions are made,” Booker shared. “It makes sure that regular people are accounted for.  My wife and I have two daughters, and I’m trying to make sure we don’t pass poverty down to them.”

Booker hopes to beat a pro-Trump Democrat in the primary and Senator McConnell in November. “My focus is about uprooting racism,” he said.

“We find ourselves being ignored over and over again like no one ever listened to us, no one ever cared how we feel, no one ever pays attention to our struggles, challenges or aspirations,” Booker added. “We are invisible and that is being displayed once again because these big donors are telling us all we deserve is a pro-Trump Democrat.”

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Here I am. Right beside you. Together, we are bending the arc.

A post shared by Charles Booker (@booker4ky) on Jun 16, 2020 at 9:02am PDT

Booker then took aim at McConnell.

“[Senator McConnell] is essentially playing politics while we die and he’s profiting off poverty,” Booker explained. “[Defeating him] is just as important as getting rid of Donald Trump.” 

Booker has received high-profile endorsements from Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, something he is proud to have achieved.

“It has really been humbling but the most important thing for me is that it’s just an acknowledgment that Kentuckians are shining our light, we are fighting back, and we are leading the path forward in this time of pain and frustration,” Booker said.

Booker also shared what made the murder of Breonna Taylor in Louisville so personal.

READ MORE: Officer Brett Hankinson fired for misconduct during Breonna Taylor shooting

“My cousin TJ (Tyrone Booker, Jr) was really good friends with Breonna. TJ was murdered on Easter Sunday four years ago and Breonna was a support to him, to my family and it’s been really, really hard to just grapple with the fact that she’s gone,” Booker expressed.

Breonna Taylor is pictured in an undated photo. (Credit: Instagram/@keyanna.guifarro)

“A lot of folks were mourning in the streets because we felt so invisible. We feel like justice doesn’t account for us, and the laws help to affirm this.”

While protesting the death of Taylor, Booker recounts being met with opposition from law enforcement. “We were met with this adversarial posture from our law enforcement, and I said, you’re gassing me, even as a state representative responsible for the area where a lot of the protests have happened.”

But some good came out of the protests, he said. “It has been difficult and frustrating, but I will tell you the response from the community is really inspiring,” Booker said. “You’re seeing people band together from all walks of life, all corners of the commonwealth.” 

Finally, Booker explained why those who want to address structural racism and inequity should vote for him.

“I want things to change for Kentucky,” Booker shared. “I’ve walked with teachers to help protect pensions, I’ve stood with minorities to make it easier for them to get other benefits and treatments, I have stood with students demanding action on climate change.

“I have stood with family members that have lost loved ones to gun violence, demanding that these senseless acts be declared as a public health crisis. I have done that work in helping small farmers compete in the commercial market,” he added.

“I’m committed to Kentucky and the people of Kentucky are standing with me because I’ve stood with them.”

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Billionaire Bill Ackman Calls On Minority Investment Banks To Co-Lead $4 Billion Deal

Billionaire Bill Ackman is teaming up with Black, female, and veteran-owned investment banks for his next major investment venture.

According to Forbes, Ackman, owner of the hedge fund Pershing Square Capital Management, is listing a $4 billion publicly traded pool of capital to make his next major investment. The bookrunners for the deal are Citigroup, Jefferies, and UBS.

The deal’s co-managers are CastleOak Securities, Loop Capital Markets, Ramirez & Co, Siebert Williams Shank, Academy Securities, C.L. King & Associates, and Roberts and Ryan. All of which are either Black-owned investment banks, or those run by women, Latinos, and veterans.

CastleOak Securities, co-founded by CEO David R. Jones in 2006, is one of the largest African American-owned investment banks on Wall Street. CastleOak has been a co-manager on bond deals involving large firms such as Bank of America, AT&T, Citigroup, and Royal Bank of Canada.

Loop Capital, another underwriter on the deal, is one of the largest minority-owned investment banks in America. Loop was co-founded by James Reynolds Jr. in 1997 and like CastleOak, it is a full-service investment bank.

The deal also includes some unique features. Of the $86 million in fees paid to underwriters laid out in the registration statement, $18 million will go to minority and veteran-owned firms. The amount is significantly more than the typical fee paid to minority-owned firms in equity offerings.

Even without the minority underwriters, Ackman’s deal will be one of the biggest of the year. Although the deal is worth $4 billion, it has the potential to be worth more than $6 billion. Additionally, the value of the deal means there could be a wide range of companies involved.

Ackman isn’t the only person getting in on minority investment banks. The Minority Bank Trade Association‘s 22 member banks plan to seek $10 billion in funding the Small Business Administration and the Treasury Department carved out in PPP funding for Community Development Financial Institutions.

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Trump lies, falsely accuses former President Obama of treason

The current president of the United States is accusing his predecessor of treason against the nation, again. 

Donald Trump’s Obamagate narrative has picked up steam but when asked to lay out the particulars of the crimes that Barack Obama has supposedly committed, mums the word.

READ MORE: Romney: Obama shouldn’t be tried for treason

According to CNN, Trump has increased his rhetoric about the popular former president over the last few months. Yet, outside of mentioning that there have been terrible offenses perpetrated against the country by one of its own, the POTUS refuses to detail them at press conferences.

These accusations emerge almost lockstep with the national crises of the coronavirus and civil unrest. While he has not offered what treasonous charge to the larger group of news outlets at his daily briefing, he did speak to the Christian Broadcast Network News and announced the root of the supposed crime.

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a roundtable at the State Dining Room of the White House June 18, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

In a news story that ran on Monday, June 22, Obamagate resurfaced. Obamagate has had several faces over the years but has most recently been centered around Obama’s administration spying on the Trump campaign.

“It’s treason,” Trump said. “Look, when I came out a long time ago, I said they’ve been spying on my campaign. I said they’ve been taping, and that was in quotes, meaning a modern-day version of taping, it’s all the same thing. But a modern-day version. But they’ve been spying on my campaign.” 

Now that the world knows exactly what the crime is, inquiring minds are curious to know what evidence does he have that any actions taken by the previous leadership was illegal, and fits under the constitutional definition of treason.

The constitution defines treason thusly: “Treason against the United States shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort.”

By pointing to the spying accusations, the president is realigning the public interest back to his narrative pushed during the Mueller-Russia investigation. He asserted then (and continues to believe) that Democrats working within the Justice Department and the FBI investigated his campaign illegally, abusing their power and access granted by their vocation in the most powerful law enforcement agency in the nation.

“If it was the opposite, two years ago,” he stated, “25 people would have been convicted and they would be sent to jail for 50 years. And by the way, if it were 100 years ago, or 50 years ago, they would have been executed, but we’re in a different time.”

“We’re in a different time. You understand what I mean by that. They spied on the opposing party’s campaign and we caught them.” Trump expressed, “I just hope I get tremendous evangelical Christian support.”

READ MORE: Obama emerges as central figure in 2020 presidential race

The election is five months away and America faces many challenges under Trump’s watch. The COVID-19 pandemic is in flux, protesters continue to paint the streets advocating for police reform, the economy is tanked and people are hurting.

With the nation so deeply divided, many believe that bringing up Obama is a distraction tool, igniting anti-Obama red voters to influence those purple balloters to not vote blue. Another example, some have argued, of how this president sees that it is more important to win than to lead.

Have you subscribed to theGrio’s new podcast “Dear Culture”? Download our newest episodes now!

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Black Woman Entrepreneur Wins Major Contract to Develop California State Funded Web Project

Meet Zhe Scott, founder of the SEO Queen, who recently won a major contract from the state of California to design, develop and launch the state’s official web site for their Clean Off-Road Equipment Voucher Incentive Project (CORE). The web site, found online at CaliforniaCore.org, can be used as a guide on how to obtain vouchers for low and no emission off road equipment.

Analogous to the Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project (HVIP), the new project is intended to encourage California companies to purchase or lease currently commercialized zero-emission off-road freight equipment by providing a streamlined voucher process to offset the higher cost of such technologies.

The website was rolled out late January early February and over half of the $44 million available in this voucher fund have been allocated towards the qualified purchase of clean off road equipment to date.

Zhe, who is known as “the SEO Queen”, comments, “I am so excited that my company won this contract. It feels great to be recognized by the state of California as a woman-owned tech firm that is capable of building complex and unique web solutions.”

Zhe and her team implemented the following features into the CORE project:

* Responsive Design: Optimization for viewing on smart phones, tablets, desktops, or laptops

* Equipment Catalogue: Identifies eligible equipment for discounts

* Approved Dealers: Identifies eligible vendors from which to purchase approved equipment.

* Event Calendar: Organization and display of upcoming information sessions for the public.

* ADA Compliance: Compatibility for the visually-impaired.

For more informatin about Zhe Scott and/or to learn more about her company’s web development and SEO services, please visit www.theseoqueen.net or call (617) 475-0967.

This article was originally written by BlackNews.com.

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How African Tourism Is Preparing To Come Back Amid COVID-19

As many countries around the world prepare to reopen in the Caribbean and Europe, African countries are also navigating around new health measures as a result of the COVID-19, or the novel coronavirus, pandemic. While many countries on the continent haven’t dealt with an overwhelming number of cases compared to the United States, the tourism industry has taken a heavy hit economically.

According to CNN Travel, The UN estimates that the pandemic will cost up to 2 million direct and indirect jobs in tourism on the continent with many countries reporting a steep loss in overall revenue with most relying heavily on international travelers. Popular destinations like South Africa have opted to push back their reopening date to early 2021 as the government has gradually started to open back up.

“It is expected that in South Africa, domestic tourism and business travel will lead the recovery followed by regional and international (long-haul) travel. We have noticed some global destinations are now assessing entering the regional phase of reopening through AirBridge/Travel Bubbles between regional countries,” said Thandiwe Mathibela, PR Manager of South African Tourism in a press statement released earlier this month.

“As more data becomes available and more safety & health measures being put in place in South Africa, the impact of COVID-19 on the country is being updated and refined. It is therefore extremely important to understand that changes do happen on a regular basis.”

Countries such as Uganda, Mauritius, and Seychelles have also announced they will not be opening as of yet with others like Morocco stating that they will be reopening for international travelers in July. For countries that rely on tourism from conservations like Uganda, they will be reopening parks for domestic tourism to stay afloat until the country is ready to reopen for international travelers.

“While Uganda does not have definite plans just yet for reopening borders, the country is participating in all international aviation meetings and is well represented on the COVID-19 International Taskforce,” said Lilly Ajarova, CEO of Uganda Tourism Board in an email statement to BLACK ENTERPRISE. Despite the borders being closed, the country still plans to open savannah parks and reserves for domestic tourists while enforcing new health measures.

Outside of countries, businesses within the sector across the continent have been suffering under the new travel restrictions like many to have to reduce salaries for their full-time employees in order to keep their jobs.

“The most affected are our staff who not only agreed to give up a large portion of the salary, but also have been at the frontline of this pandemic,” said Jacquie Muhati, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility and Partnerships for Kenya Airways to BLACK ENTERPRISE in an email interview.

“We have grounded all our scheduled services which would be 98% of the business. Most of our employees are at home as majority of our operations remain suspended with a significant number of staff either on leave or working from home. Only staff mainly in the operations and technical departments working onsite, as we take this time to conduct maintenance operations on our grounded aircraft.”

 

 

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Minneapolis Police Chief Says Police Union, Leaders Must Choose A Side

Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo said on 60 Minutes Sunday the president of the Police Officers Federation of Minneapolis must decide what side of history he wants to be on.

Arradondo, a 30-year veteran and the first Black man to head the mostly white police department, was asked by reporter Lesley Stahl about police union leader Robert Kroll’s defense of police officers in George Floyd‘s killing and calling the Black Lives Matter movement a terrorist organization.

“He absolutely is an influence,” Arradondo told Stahl. “And I’ve continued to have very serious conversations with him. And he and others are going to have to come to a reckoning that either they are going to be on the right side of history or they’re gonna be on the wrong side of history. But– or they will be left behind. Or, they will be left behind.”

Stahl was quick to bring up when Arradondo and four other Black police officers sued the Minneapolis Police Department in 2007. In their complaint, the officers said every African American officer received a hate letter signed “KKK” through interoffice mail. The case was settled for $740,000. 

Stahl asked Arrandondo about the suit and how he feels dealing with the same situation over a decade later.

“It is not the same, Arradondo told Stahl. “The fact that I’m sitting before you today as Chief, I think, is indicative that some progress has been made.”

Arradondo added reforms within the Minneapolis department ended low-level marijuana stings and toughened body camera requirements. Stahl then asked Arradondo if there’s racial animosity within the Minneapolis department today.

“I’m– I’m not seeing that right now. But we also have to attack and address the systemic challenges and barriers that exist in that,” Arradondo said.

Members of the Minneapolis City Council pledged to defund the police in the city and find a new way of enforcing the law, however, The New York Times reported it will be a long and painstaking process that may not work.

Officer Derek Chauvin, the man who kneeled on George Floyd’s neck, had at least 17 complaints against him during his time as an officer, but only received two letters of reprimand. Chief Arradondo says he is stymied by the contract he negotiates with the city police union and has broken off talks.

Stahl also asked if the biggest problem is that he can’t get rid of bad police officers or discipline them because of the union’s contract with the city.

“It is problematic, absolutely. Yes,” Arrandondo said. “And so I cannot in good faith work with a contract that– that– diminishes my authority as chief but also erodes that public trust that our communities need so much right now.”

 

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Comerica Bank and National Business League Announce $1 Million Commitment to Aid Black Businesses

In a move to support Black-owned small businesses hit hard by COVID-19, Comerica Bank is making a $1 million commitment over four years to the National Business League (NBL). The accord is part of a national partnership that will launch the Black Capital Access Program (BCAP), an access to capital initiative to support Black businesses across America.

The small business program will be piloted over the next three months and reach Comerica’s five main markets of Arizona, California, Florida, Michigan, and Texas. The program will be rolled out in all 50 states in 2021. Dallas-based Comerica Bank is among the nation’s largest banks. The Washington, D.C.-based NBL calls itself America’s oldest and largest trade group for Black businesses.

The commitment is a big deal as it will be the first one-stop digital platform for Black-owned businesses, says Dr. Kenneth Harris, the NBL’s president and CEO. He says BCAP will offer Black businesses access to a capital toolkit, a wide variety of technical services, financial planning information, webinars, and other services. Black businesses will be able to engage with multiple lenders, including Black-owned community banks, minority depository institutions, traditional banks, Community Development Financial Institutions, Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) lenders, and fintech companies.

National Business League (file)

He says the program will connect Black business owners with micro-loans, grants, supplier funding, venture capital, and other forms of capital aid. Harris added the support will not just come from Comerica Bank but also from the entire financial community on NBL’s online program and mobile app that will be available soon.

Curt Farmer, chairman and CEO at Comerica Inc. and Comerica Bank,  stated in a news release, “Small businesses face a myriad of inherent challenges to open their doors and remain viable, and the current conditions due to COVID-19 only deepened those issues especially among African American business owners.” “We believe our partnership with the National Business League will become crucial in helping many Black-owned businesses and entrepreneurs recover and survive this turbulent time.”

The NBL claims it fights for legislation and policy to promote the growth of Black businesses, while aggressively finding solutions to challenges and business problems in the marketplace. Its efforts include collaborating with policymakers and CEOs to advance Black communities’ economic interests.

The NBL’s Harris stated, “Capital access remains the most important factor limiting the establishment, expansion and growth of Black-owned businesses. As part of the organization’s mission to eliminate institutional, structural, and systemic barriers to capital, it is important to develop public and private partnerships to address the financial burden on Black entrepreneurs who are trying to keep their businesses thriving in today’s economy, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Raising capital for decades has been a lingering problem for many small companies, particularly Black American entrepreneurs looking to start or expand businesses. Harris says the BCAP wants to ensure that Black-owned businesses will benefit from being capitalized, as well as create and grow sustainable enterprises that are consistently bankable and investment-ready in the digital economy.

Irvin Ashford, Jr., Comerica Bank’s chief community officer, stated, “We believe strongly that investing financially as well as connecting our team members to offer a wide range of technical resources will enable the NBL’s Black Capital Access Program to effectively reach and serve businesses in need.”

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Kenya policeman charged with murder after curfew killing of teenager

Duncan Ndiema pleads not guilty to the murder of a 13-year-old while imposing Covid-19 restrictions.

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Google and Visa Are Offering Grants Towards Social Justice and Black Entrepreneurs

Protests sparked by the deaths of unarmed Black civilians at the hands of police officers has caused a new conversation on race relations in the United States. The new dialogue has forced many major corporations to release statements standing up against racial injustice and taking responsibility for underserved black and minority employees. Now Google and Visa are the latest companies releasing new initiatives focused on social change.

Visa announced this week that it will be creating new $100,000 grant program aimed toward Black women-owned small businesses across the country as a part of its $50 million global commitment to small businesses. The initiative is in partnership with iFundWomen and will launch at the end of June by awarding 10 $10,000 grants to Black women entrepreneurs looking to expand their business. Grant recipients will also receive additional resources including networking opportunities and mentoring with private coaches.

“Small businesses on the frontlines of the global economy deserve extraordinary support in this extraordinary time,” said Al Kelly, CEO and chairman of Visa in a press statement according to Businesswire. “We are putting our network to work to help 50 million businesses globally not only survive, but also to thrive, along with the communities they serve.”

Google has also made an announcement this week regarding doing more for social justice by giving $1 billion in ad grants for various nonprofit organizations tackling COVID-19 and issues surrounding racial injustice in light of protests occurring around the nation. Some of the organizations that have received ad grants are the NAACP Legal Defense, United Negro College Fund, Houston Food Bank, Equal Justice Initiative, and Rethink Mental Illness.

“Since 2003, ad grants has provided nonprofits with up to $10,000 per month in free Search ads to help them attract donors, recruit volunteers, and promote their missions,” said Michelle Hurtado, Head of Google Ad Grants, in a blog post. 

“The increased funding will go toward nonprofits tackling pressing issues like COVID-19 response and recovery—especially in hard-hit developing economies—and fighting racial injustice around the world.”

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Voices vs. noise

If it’s not relevant, it’s noise. If it’s untrusted, unwelcome or selfish, it’s noise.

But your contribution isn’t noise. Not for the right people, at the right time.

The internet isn’t a mass medium. The voices online are not for everyone, it’s not the Super Bowl or M*A*S*H or even the nightly news. Nobody reaches much more than 1% of the audience on any given day.

But…

That tiny slice that does want to hear from you, that needs to hear from you, that would miss you if you don’t speak up–for that audience, you’re not noise. You’re essential.

That’s why we built the Podcasting Workshop with Alex DiPalma. Enrollment launches today.

Not because we need more podcasts. We don’t.

Because we need your podcast.

       

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Nigeria: Ikorodu Bois remaking scenes from famous videos

The Ikorodu Bois are using everyday household items to recreate famous movie trailers and TV shows.

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Malawi presidential election: Polls to open in historic re-run

President Peter Mutharika battles for re-election after irregularities voided last year's result.

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Shaun King supports takedown of ‘White Jesus’ statues

Activist Shaun King believes statues depicting Jesus as a “white European” is a form of “white supremacy,” and they no longer have a place in modern society. 

King’s bold remarks come as Black Lives Matter demonstrators topple, vandalize and in some cases utterly destroy historic monuments of slave owners and prominent figures from the colonial-era.

Protesters have taken down statues in the United States, Britain and Belgium as civil unrest continues over police brutality and race relations in the wake of George Floyd’s death, Fox News reports. 

“Yes I think the statues of the white European they claim is Jesus should also come down. They are a form of white supremacy. Always have been,” King tweeted on Monday. 

READ MORE: Shaun King’s fundraising called into question again in exposé report

“In the Bible, when the family of Jesus wanted to hide, and blend in, guess where they went? EGYPT! Not Demark. Tear them down,” he added. 

King’s comments received mixed reactions and sparked debate in the comments section. In a follow-up post, he noted that “white Jesus is a lie” and “racist propaganda” used by white supremacist as a “tool of oppression.”

Yes, I think the statues of the white European they claim is Jesus should also come down.

They are a form of white supremacy.

Always have been.

In the Bible, when the family of Jesus wanted to hide, and blend in, guess where they went?

EGYPT!

Not Denmark.

Tear them down.

— Shaun King (@shaunking) June 22, 2020

In a series of tweets, the controversial media personality expressed his support of the removal of all “murals and stained glass windows of white Jesus, and his European mother, and their white friends.”

Last month, King was the subject of a lengthy report from The Daily Beast that put his questionable fundraising tactics back in the spotlight.

In the piece titled, “Shaun King Keeps Raising Money, and Questions About Where It Goes,” former employees who had been hired to work with King at The North Star speak out about his seemingly shady business practices. The online publication is a reboot of the newspaper by the same name created by Frederick Douglass, theGrio previously reported.

The The Daily Beast article notes that while no criminal or civil charges have ever been filed against King, the hashtag #ShaunKingLetMeDown recurs with some regularity. The tag has been used to highlight some of the many projects, other than The North Star, for which King has raised money, but never completed.

Yes.

All murals and stained glass windows of white Jesus, and his European mother, and their white friends should also come down.

They are a gross form white supremacy.

Created as tools of oppression.
Racist propaganda.

They should all come down.

— Shaun King (@shaunking) June 22, 2020

 

In response to the piece, DeRay McKesson wrote on Twitter that King should “Immediately & publicly release all former North Star staff from NDAs w/ no penalty” and “Stop soliciting funds altogether, immediately.”

Activist and attorney Imani Gandy, another critic of King, accused him of “selling wokeness to white people.”

King stated that many of the problems with The North Star are due to his own “overzealousness” and “his tendency to take on too much, too soon.”

READ MORE: Shaun King’s fundraising called into question again in exposé report

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Family of pilot in Kobe Bryant crash want case moved out of LA

Attorneys for Ara Zobayan, the pilot in the Kobe Bryant helicopter crash, want Vanessa Bryant’s wrongful death case moved out of Los Angeles over concern that they won’t get a fair trial. 

In new court docs obtained by TMZ Sports, Zobayan’s family note that a change of venue to Orange County will net a better pool of impartial jurors, as Kobe’s popularity in L.A. would almost guarantee that the trial would begin with “two strikes” against the late pilot.

“The notoriety and popularity of the late Kobe Bryant in Los Angeles County is detailed herein and reached a level that left no person in the county unaware of his role in branding Los Angeles as his city,” Zobayan’s family says in the court docs.

READ MORE: BREAKING: Vanessa Bryant sues helicopter owner as Kobe memorial service takes place in LA

LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 27: Fans grieve the loss of former NBA star Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)

“No other single individual in recent memory, sports figure or otherwise, has been considered by the people to be such a personification of their city of Los Angeles,” the suit continues. 

“But with that unprecedented level of acclaim comes a lack of impartiality and objectivity by potential jurors about the merits under the law of the claims asserted in this lawsuit by the Bryant family,” the family adds. 

Kobe’s widow is suing the owner of the helicopter which crashed and took the lives of the NBA star, their teen daughter Gianna, and seven other victims, including Zobayan.

A complaint was filed in February in Los Angeles County Superior Court against Island Express Helicopters and Island Express Holding Corp, theGrio previously reported. The suit alleges that Zobayan failed “to use ordinary care in piloting the subject aircraft” and that this avoidable tragedy was caused by his negligence.

READ MORE: BREAKING: Vanessa Bryant sues helicopter owner as Kobe memorial service takes place in LA

TORONTO, ON – FEBRUARY 14: Kobe Bryant with daughter Gianna Bryant during the NBA All-Star Game 2016 (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Bryant’s family believes that instead of flying in cloudy conditions, Zobayan should have instead aborted the flight altogether. As a result, the suit argues the company’s “breach of its duty and negligence” caused injuries and damages and that the death of Bryant was “a direct result of the negligent conduct of Zobayan,” which the company is “vicariously liable in all respects.”

The 27-count complaint also names Zobayan’s estate as a defendant, and in addition to negligence, also accuses Bryant’s longtime pilot of failing to monitor and assess the weather, and failure to keep a safe distance between natural obstacles and the helicopter.

The Zobayan family also note in legal docs that Kobe Bryant lived in Orange County, as did all of the passengers — another reason why they are requesting that the case be moved.

Have you subscribed to theGrio’s new podcast “Dear Culture”? Download our newest episodes now!

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Jussie Smollett alleged attacker wants police to return red hat, ski mask

One of the Nigerian brothers at the center of Jussie Smollett‘s alleged hate crime hoax wants Chicago police to return some of his personal items that were used in the infamous attack.

New legal documents filed by Abel Osundairo state that cops executed a search warrant at his home following the January 2019 incident with Smollett, and seized several items, including a black ski man and a red hat, TMZ reports. 

The Empire star initially claimed he was physically assaulted by two masked men wearing red MAGA hats who hurled racist and homophobic slurs. They also doused him with bleach and tied a noose around his neck. 

READ MORE: Jussie Smollett is willing to ‘fight or die’ to be cleared of hoax charges

Police believe Smollett paid the brothers to help him stage the entire fiasco to boost his profile on the drama series.

Chicago police later released surveillance video showing Abel and his brother Ola Osundairo days before the “attack” buying gear that was allegedly used to stage the hate crime. 

Abel and Ola Osundairo create new sketch

Cops say they traced the brothers, who worked with Smollett on Empire, back to footage that was taken in the Streeterville neighborhood of Chicago where the actor said he was attacked, theGrio previously reported.

“I don’t have any doubt in my mind that that’s them. Never did,” Smollett said of the suspects in the video during an interview at the time with Good Morning America.

Charges against the Osundairo brothers were ultimately dropped. Now Able wants police to hand over all the items recovered from his home during the investigation, including an Empire script, 2 firearms, 2 iPhones and 5 bottles of bleach. 

READ MORE: Jussie Smollett calls for domestic violence awareness during COVID-19

In the new legal docs, Abel’s lawyer, Gloria Schmidt, says her client has “been patient but has now been deprived of his personal property for over a year and there exists no good cause for any further delay in returning his items to him.”

Meanwhile, as Smollett’s felony case in Chicago is still underway, and a judge in the matter said returning the items could prejudice the proceedings. An earlier report on theGrio noted that Smollett is maintaining his innocence and says he is willing to “fight or die” to be cleared of allegations of an alleged hoax about a racist and homophobic attack.

In April, he plead not guilty to felony charges that he had lied to police last January about being the victim of potential hate crime. Moments after his arrival, the Osundairo brothers showed up at the courthouse with their legal counsel.

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Meagan Good shares what she learned about cops from her police officer father

In the wake of the George Floyd protests which have sparked national debates about defunding the police, actress Meagan Good, whose father was a member of the LAPD for over two decades has some thoughts on the responsibility of “good cops” holding their counterparts accountable.

“I posted something a few weeks ago where I said something to the likes of ‘If you have 1,000 bad cops and you have 10 good ones, but the good ones don’t hold the 1,000 bad ones accountable, then you have 1,010 bad ones’ and that’s really how I feel,” the actress told Madame Noire during a recent interview.

READ MORE: 5 reasons you must watch Spike Lee ‘Da 5 Bloods’

“I do believe that there are some good cops out there,” Good continued. “However, if you fall in the realm of knowing what’s going on, seeing it firsthand, and not doing anything, I have a problem with that. I am realistic in understanding when cops speak out against other cops you are directly putting your life on the line. You can go into a drug bust and you can be the only one who doesn’t come out.”

Even though she believes her father was an “incredible cop,” that still doesn’t mean she’s pulling punches about what officers need to do to correct the ongoing issue of police brutality.

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Happy Fathers Day Papa Bear. They’re aren’t enough words for how much I adore and love you 🤎

A post shared by Meag G,Mrs.Franklin~IfYaNasty (@meagangood) on Jun 22, 2020 at 12:58am PDT

“If you do not feel safe, but you know some stuff is wrong and you need to be accountable then quit. Find a different job,” she advised.

“Do something different where you can look yourself in the mirror and you can have peace when you go to bed at night. If it affects you that way, which it should if you’re aware of it, then choose a different profession.”

The actress, who was out protesting in Los Angeles, also recently spoke to Essence about what she saw while on the frontlines.

 

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OUT NOW! Welcome To The Family. Link in my Bio . (Additional video courtesy of @wearetotl )

A post shared by Meag G,Mrs.Franklin~IfYaNasty (@meagangood) on Jun 10, 2020 at 5:16pm PDT

“People are out there peacefully protesting, which they have a right to do in their streets, and because of the cop’s aggression and because of the way they were being brutalized to the point of hospitalization, that is why a lot of the looting started. And even though I don’t condone the looting, I understand it.”

READ MORE: ‘Daria’ spinoff starring Tracee Ellis Ross lands at Comedy Central

She also noted that she’s “thankful that the news ultimately did start reporting the truth” about the protests in L.A. which she believes have in large part been infiltrated by interlopers who weren’t affiliated with Black Lives Matter.

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Two lawyers of color facing 45 years for burning police car

Two lawyers of color who were arrested in May following the protests in the wake of George Floyd’s death are facing a potential of 45 years in prison.

HuffPost reported that Colinford King Mattis and Urooj Rahma were arrested on May 30 in Brooklyn during the height of the protests that took place following Floyd’s death while in the custody of Minneapolis police. Mattis, 32, and Rahma, 31, were charged with attempting to burn a damaged New York City Police Department vehicle that was not occupied.

READ MORE: NYC detectives union to file lawsuit against George Floyd protesters

Protesters hold signs as they gather to protest police brutality and racism in the US, with the recent deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, in Boston, Massachusetts, on May 29, 2020. (Photo by Joseph Prezioso / AFP) (Photo by JOSEPH PREZIOSO/AFP via Getty Images)

The two lawyers have now been hit with seven federal charges of use of explosives and arson that carry a minimum sentence of 45 years. The penalty is so severe because police were allegedly the target.

Allies claim that Mattis, who is a Princeton and NYU educated corporate lawyer and Rahman, a Muslim woman educated at Fordham Law School who works for Bronx Legal Services, are being treated unfairly.

In an unusual set of circumstances, Magistrate Judge Steven M. Gold declared during a virtual arraignment that both could be released with electronic monitoring. Federal officials appealed that judgment but District Judge Margo K. Brodie ordered them to be released on a $250,000 bond and home confinement. However, the government filed another notice.

A three-judge panel in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit revoked Mattis’ and Rahman’s bond on June 5. They were deemed to be a danger to society and returned to the Metropolitan Detention Center.

They are being held without bail as some of the police officers who were involved in the killings of Floyd and Rayshard Brooks in Atlanta have been released.

READ MORE: Thomas Lane, former cop charged with killing George Floyd, makes bail

The disparity has prompted law students and faculty from both their alma maters to write in support of the jailed lawyers. The ensuing letter had more than 1,500 signatures.

“We believe that the Department of Justice’s prosecution and efforts to incarcerate Urooj and Colin are a gross overreach of federal law enforcement power, and an attempt to stifle and delegitimize dissent against police brutality,” NYU  wrote.

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a roundtable at the State Dining Room of the White House June 18, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

The harsh treatment they are receiving in comparison to the officers was also noted. The Fordham Law School signatories wrote in their open letter that some of the judges in the case were biased. Judge Michael H. Park and Judge William J. Nardini were appointed by President Donald Trump and the signees claim they are attempting to distract from police violence.

“Indeed, Rahman, a Pakistani Muslim immigrant and Mattis, a young Black man, are convenient scapegoats given this country’s deeply entrenched and violent history of anti-Black racism and Islamophobia,” the Fordham letter stated.

READ MORE: Atlanta cops booked and officially charged in Rayshard Brooks killing

J. Wells Dixon, a senior staff attorney for the Center for Constitutional Rights, told Huff Post that the treatment of the lawyers was in stark contrast to that of white police officers accused of crimes. He declared it was an illustration of all that was wrong with the criminal justice system.

“They face a 45-year mandatory minimum,” Dixon said. “How do you square that? It is shocking and appalling that in the United States someone could spend 45 years in prison for vandalizing an empty police car that had been previously vandalized. That is not right.”

Mattis and Rahma are set to appear before another panel of judges Tuesday. None of them were appointed by President Trump.

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