Uber, Lyft, and others have agreed to pay people who've missed work because of the virus. Seattle is on the cusp of making it law in that city.
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Sunday, June 7, 2020
Saturday, June 6, 2020
Jay-Z Sends Private Jet to Fly Ahmaud Arbery’s Lawyers to Court Hearing
When the lawyers representing Ahmaud Arbery couldn’t find transportation to make it to a court hearing in Georgia on Thursday, Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter lent his private jet to give the attorneys a lift.
Blerim Elmazi and S. Lee Merritt — the lawyers representing Arbery, who was fatally shot while jogging in February — said on Instagram that they “started losing hope” that they would be able to attend a scheduled hearing in Brunswick. That’s when Elmazi says that he and Merritt received a call at 1 a.m. from Roc Nation, Carter’s sporters and entertainment agency, who allowed them to use their private plane.
“At 1 am we started losing hope till we got a call from Jay Z’s people at Roc Nation who chartered a flight for us to attend this hearing with the family of Ahmaud Arbery,” Elmazi wrote in an Instagram post. “Thankful for their support.”
Merritt also shared the story on Instagram, writing, “When you absolutely have to be in Court to stand with your client and righteous protestors for justice… Jay Z sends his private jet.
As a result of the courtesy, the two lawyers made it to the hearing on time and were able to stand with Arbery’s family. During the hearing, it was revealed that Travis McMichael used a racial slur after firing three shots that killed Arbery shot on Feb. 23. At the end of the hearing, it was determined that he, his father Gregory McMichael, and William Bryan, who filmed the killing, will remain in police custody. All three have been charged with murder in the case.
Earlier this week, Carter and Team ROC, the philanthropic arm of Roc Nation, partnered with activists, attorneys, and the families who lost someone to police violence to dedicate a full-page ad in several newspapers Tuesday in honor of George Floyd. Floyd died last week after being detained and killed by Minneapolis police.
The hip-hop billionaire also called on Minneapolis Attorney General Keith Ellison to prosecute all of the officers involved in the killing of Floyd to the “fullest extent of the law,” reports Billboard. The rap superstar also spoke with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz in pursuit of justice for Floyd.
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Tennessee sheriff plans apology after admitting he used the n-word in a recording
Lauderdale County, Tenn., Sheriff Steve Sanders has admitted to using the n-word after a tape recording of him using the racist slur surfaced when a local recording artist played the tape during an Instagram live session.
“I did. I won’t tell you no lie about it,” Sanders told News Channel 3 Memphis on Wednesday. Despite his use of the n-word, Sanders said he isn’t a racist, and the word, “just slipped out.”
The sheriff also said he doesn’t remember when the conversation took place and that he was unaware he was being recorded.
READ MORE: Memphis woman’s violent police arrest draws outrage
“I got a lot of Black friends, I got a lot of enemies, as any sheriff would, but I apologize to all of them,” Sanders said in the interview. “I’m going to apologize Friday to all the citizens in the county because they’re good people.”
Sanders has been sheriff of Lauderdale County for 16 years, and is the area’s longest-tenured sheriff.
The audio was also posted on Facebook and has prompted some citizens to demand his resignation. One Lauderdale Country resident, Tiffany Driver, told New Channel 3 Memphis that it was “heartbreaking” and “a slap in the face” after the country is still dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.
White people using the n-word is a phenomenon that continues to make headlines. On Thursday, Oregon State freshman tight end Rocco Carley was dismissed from his football team after an audio recording where he used racist language recently surfaced.
READ MORE: Oregon State athlete uses n-word, calls Black people ‘field workers’ in rant
The recording was made when Carley was in high school. In the video, which was posted to Twitter, the freshman football player can be heard saying horrific, racist statements against Blacks, homosexuals, and Muslims.
“I’d like to get all the Blacks in a chamber, and burn the sh*t out of them,” Carley says.
In the video, Carley sounds as if he is using a southern accent. In an apology post on Instagram, he said that the video was “satire.”
The post Tennessee sheriff plans apology after admitting he used the n-word in a recording appeared first on TheGrio.
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Ivanka Trump removed as commencement speaker, due to ‘insensitive’ timing of George Floyd
Witchita State University in Kansas cancelled a virtual commencement address from Ivanka Trump on Thursday.
The decision was made mere hours after news of her speech went public, People reports.
Trump, the daughter and senior advisor to President Donald Trump, pre-recorded a video address for the graduates of Witchita State’s Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology (WSU Tech) on Saturday, June 6.
The move to remove her as the headlining speaker came from WSU Tech President Dr. Sheree Utash, who released a statement on June 4.
READ MORE: Trump says George Floyd is looking down in awe of economy, draws outrage
Dr. Utash said that Trump was invited in February to headline the ceremony as a speaker, but recognized that her presence wouldn’t be appropriate during the current civil unrest in America.
“In light of the social justice issues brought forth by George Floyd’s death, I understand and take responsibility that the timing of the announcement was insensitive,’ Dr. Utash said the statement. “For this, I’m sorry that was never the intent, and I want you to know I have heard you and we are responding.”
Trump’s father has come under fire for incendiary commentary regarding the nationwide protests for Floyd, who was killed while being violently detained by Minneapolis police, with one officer putting a knee on his neck for nearly nine minutes.
READ MORE: George Floyd’s brother says Trump wouldn’t let him speak during phone call
The president tweeted “when the looting starts, the shooting starts” in response to the rioting, and was flagged by Twitter for words that incited violence.
Dr. Utash has stated that WSU Tech nursing graduate Rebecca Zinabu would be the lone speaker for the school’s commencement in order to keep the focus on the “graduates and celebrating their accomplishments.”
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After Stating ‘No Good Person of Color’ Has Been Killed by Police, California Mayor Resigns
A Southern California city mayor has resigned after apologizing for an email that he wrote that stated he didn’t “believe there’s ever been a good person of color killed by a police officer” according to The Press-Enterprise.
Temecula Mayor James Stewart was responding to an email where he was asked what he was doing about racism and police violence.
This was the content of the email according to The Press-Enterprise:
“As you know the City of Temecula does not have its own Police Department. We contract with Riverside County Sheriff’s Department. And I don’t believe there’s ever been a good person of color killed by a police officer. So I’m kind of confuse what you are looking for. Of course racism is not excepted or tolerated in the City of Temecula. Or any other of the surrounding areas that I know of for sure. I have several good friends who are African-Americans, and they love living here because how safe it is for them and their families.”
Stewart claims he didn’t ‘write’ the word “good” in front of “person of color” instead, blaming “voice texting” to inserting the word.
“So you all are going to hear about this. I sent a voice text last night to a person concerned about our police officers and their sensitivity training. I am very well known for my dyslexia so I voice text everything. Unfortunately I did not take the time to proofread what was recorded. I absolutely did not say that. What I said is and I don’t believe there has ever been a person of color murdered by police, on context to Temecula or Riverside county.”
Stewart has released a statement via his Facebook account.
“City of Temecula, I hear you, I agree with you, and I am deeply sorry.
“I owe everyone an apology including our citizens of all backgrounds and ethnicities, City staff, and my respected colleagues on the City Council. You have every right to be hurt and offended. My typos and off-the-cuff response to an email on a serious topic added pain at a time where our community, and our country, is suffering. I may not be the best writer and I sometimes misspeak, but I am not racist. I deeply regret this mistake and I own it, entirely. I am truly sorry.
I understand that even my sincerest apologies cannot remedy this situation. Because actions speak louder than words, I will step down as your Mayor and City Council Member effective immediately. It has been a true honor to serve this great City and its citizens. My love for Temecula and its residents is beyond expression.”
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Ava Duvernay says ‘Selma’ was snubbed for Oscar over ‘I Can’t Breathe’ t-shirts
Ava Duvernay has confirmed that Selma was denied votes for the Academy Awards after she and the cast wore “I Can’t Breathe” t-shirts to the 2014 film’s premiere in the wake of the police killing of Eric Garner.
The film director’s confirmation backs up claims from actor David Oyelowo, who portrayed Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in the film about the 1965 march for Black voting rights. Oyelowo told Screen Daily in a story published Thursday that the movie’s studio and producers received backlash for the demonstration.
“I remember at the premiere of Selma us wearing ‘I Can’t Breathe’ t-shirts in protest,” he explained. “Members of the Academy called in to the studio and our producers saying, ‘How dare they do that? Why are they stirring S-H-I-T?’ and ‘We are not going to vote for that film because we do not think it is their place to be doing that.'”
READ MORE: Streaming films eligible for Oscars, but for 1 year only
When the story was posted on Twitter, Duvernay retweeted the post with the caption, “True story.”
The Academy responded to Duvernay’s tweet with a message for both the director and British actor saying, “we hear you. Unacceptable. We’re committed to progress.”
Ava & David, we hear you. Unacceptable. We’re committed to progress. @ava #DavidOyelowo https://t.co/1LoriTfYva
— The Academy (@TheAcademy) June 5, 2020
Selma was nominated for two Oscars, receiving a nod for Best Picture and winning the prize for Best Original Song for “Glory” by Common and John Legend.
READ MORE: Black excellence brings #OscarsSoWhite to life
Duvernay says the cast was snubbed for Best Picture. That award went to Birdman. The event was a catalyst for the #OscarsSoWhite hashtag.
Promises to diversify the Oscars have come before.
Former Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs vowed changes in the voting process. In 2016, the Academy Awards had a record 18 Black nominees. In 2019, there was a record seven Black winners, however, there were zero Black nominees in the acting categories.
The post Ava Duvernay says ‘Selma’ was snubbed for Oscar over ‘I Can’t Breathe’ t-shirts appeared first on TheGrio.
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NFL Commissioner: “We, The NFL Admit, We Were Wrong for Not Listening to NFL Players Earlier”
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell released a video clip condemning racing and admitting that the NFL was wrong to not listen to the players who were protesting against racial injustice and police brutality against blacks according to the NFL.
“We, the NFL, condemn racism and the systematic oppression of Black People. We, the NFL, admit we were wrong for not listening to NFL players earlier and encourage all to speak out and peacefully protest. We, the NFL, believe Black Lives Matter. #InspireChange ”
We, the NFL, condemn racism and the systematic oppression of Black People. We, the NFL, admit we were wrong for not listening to NFL players earlier and encourage all to speak out and peacefully protest. We, the NFL, believe Black Lives Matter. #InspireChange pic.twitter.com/ENWQP8A0sv
— NFL (@NFL) June 5, 2020
The ongoing protests that are taking place across the country and the world have forced the NFL and many organizations and companies to address the climate that has been created by police brutality against black people and systemic racism in general.
New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees reignited that flame when he stated earlier this week, “I will never agree with anybody disrespecting the flag of the United States of America or our country.”
He immediately apologized and backtracked as the backlash to his comment was swift and was condemned by his teammates, players around the league and media outlets.
President Trump has blasted the league and the players protesting for several years and commented on Brees’s apology to “ friends, teammates, the City of New Orleans, the black community, NFL community and anyone” he hurt with his comments.
Trump feels Brees shouldn’t have apologized.
I am a big fan of Drew Brees. I think he’s truly one of the greatest quarterbacks, but he should not have taken back his original stance on honoring our magnificent American Flag. OLD GLORY is to be revered, cherished, and flown high…
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 5, 2020
This is the full statement from Goodell:
“It has been a difficult time in our country, in particular, black people in our country. First, my condolences to the families of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and all the families that have endured police brutality. We, the National Football League, condemn racism and the systematic oppression of black people. We, the National Football League, admit we were wrong for not listening to NFL players earlier and encourage all to speak out and peacefully protest. We, the National Football League, believe Black Lives Matter. I personally protest with you and want to be a part of the much needed change in this country. Without black players there would be no National Football League. And the protests around the country are emblematic of the centuries of silence, inequality, and oppression of black players, coaches, fans, and staff. We are listening, I am listening, and I will be reaching out to players who have raised their voices, and others on how we can move forward together for a better and more united NFL family.”
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U.S. Unemployment Falls In May, Black Unemployment At Highest Rate In A Decade
The Department of Labor announced Friday 2.5 million jobs were added in May, however, unemployment among African Americans has hit its highest rate in a decade.
According to The New York Times, the numbers defied the expectations of economists, who were predicting unemployment to exceed 20%, but were hopeful the recovery would be faster than originally expected. However, The Hill reported African American unemployment hit its highest rate in a decade in May, despite an economy-wide reduction in unemployment.
For African Americans, the unemployment rate rose from 16.7% to 16.8%. The new rate is the highest rate in more than a decade, according to an analysis of statistics by Bloomberg.
Unemployment for Latinos fell from 18.9% to 17.6% but is still the highest among all racial and ethnic groups surveyed by Bloomberg. Many are pointing to states reopening as a reason for the rise in employment, even as coronavirus cases rise in many states.
Still, job openings are far below normal despite talks of another coronavirus relief package having all but disappeared as the protests surrounding the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor have become the country’s biggest topic.
The report noted “employment rose sharply in leisure and hospitality, construction, education and health services, and retail trade,” even as government jobs continued their decline.
“What this is telling us is that at least part of the pain in April was due to people being laid off or furloughed who still had very strong connections to their employers,” Ernie Tedeschi, an economist at Evercore ISI in Washington, told the Times. “As good and surprising as this report was, this may just be the low-hanging fruit. These may have been the easiest workers to bring back.”
Economists are unsure if the unemployment peak created by the coronavirus is over. Between the rash of protests going on daily across the country and people venturing out more often due to the warm weather, many are now wondering not if, but when we will see a significant rise in cases.
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California mayor resigns after racist email on police brutality goes viral
A California mayor has resigned his office after coming under fire for sending out a racially insensitive email regarding police violence.
James Stewart, who was elected mayor of Temecula, California in November 2016, resigned the seat Thursday after he was called out for a reply email to a Temecula resident, who asked what was being done about police violence, according to Too Fab.
“I don’t believe there’s ever been a good person of color killed by a police officer,” Stewart said in the message that went viral.
READ MORE: California police kill unarmed man who was kneeling with hands up
People flooded the internet with criticisms and accusations of racism on the southern California city’s official Facebook page. Stewart, who led the conservative-leaning city of about 115,000, posted an initial apology the day before issuing his resignation, stating that he uses “voice text” due to his dyslexia, and didn’t proof-reading before sending.
“I absolutely did not say that,” he wrote in the post. “What I said is and I don’t believe there has ever been a person of color murdered by police, on context to Temecula or Riverside county. I absolutely did not say ‘good’ I have no idea how that popped up. Please forgive me for this egregious error.”
The mayor of Temecula, CA Stew James Stewart sent this email in response to a concerned constituent in which he said, “I don’t believe there’s ever been a good person of color killed by a police officer” THIS RACIST NEEDS TO RESIGN. Please make this known @cityoftemecula @ABC7 pic.twitter.com/8nFs63fpoB
— gabriella morales (@gibriella_) June 4, 2020
However, the backlash continued, prompting him to make a follow-up statement to insist those aren’t his beliefs.
READ MORE: White teens start ‘George Floyd challenge’ mocking his death
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“I understand that even my sincerest apologies cannot remedy this situation. Because actions speak louder than words, I will step down as your Mayor and City Council Member effective immediately,” he wrote.
The news comes as nationwide protests against racism and police brutality continue in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd, an unarmed Black Minneapolis man whose last words were “I can’t breath” as four officers held him in custody in public.
One officer, who was seen pinning Floyd down by pressing his knee into his kneck for almost 9 minutes, has been charged with second-degree murder. The other three officers assisting in the arrest have been charged with aiding and abetting in the alleged murder.
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Drew Brees responds to Trump criticism: ‘This is not an issue about the American flag’
Just two days after Drew Brees infuriated the masses when he said he would never support kneeling during the national anthem at football games, the NFL quarterback is offering a mea culpa and schooling President Donald Trump on the #TakeaKnee movement.
The New Orleans Saints superstar issued an apology on Thursday after his Wednesday remarks drew major backlash from the Twittersphere and prompted prominent figures like LeBron James to speak out. Simultaneously, Brees is encouraging POTUS to listen to what protesters are saying.
The QB did an about-face and apologized for the “insensitive” comments.
“They lacked awareness and any type of compassion or empathy. Instead, those words have become divisive and hurtful and have misled people into believing that, somehow, I am an enemy,” Brees said. “This could not be further from the truth, and is not an accurate reflection of my heart or my character.”
READ MORE: Saints’ Drew Brees blasted after saying he’ll never agree to anthem protests
When the commander in chief caught wind of the mea culpa, he took to Twitter to chastise the Saints star for the apology. Trump said Brees should have stood his ground “honoring our magnificent American flag” adding that people can protest, “but not our Great America Flag – NO KNEELING!”
…We should be standing up straight and tall, ideally with a salute, or a hand on heart. There are other things you can protest, but not our Great American Flag – NO KNEELING!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 5, 2020
Brees doubled down on his newfound wokeness when he responded to Trump’s comments on Friday evening in a post titled “To President Trump.”
“Through my ongoing conversations with friends, teammates, and leaders in the black community, I realize this is not an issue about the American flag. It has never been,” Brees wrote on Instagram. “We can no longer use the flag to turn people away or distract them from the real issues that face our black communities.
“We did this back in 2017, and regretfully I brought it back with my comments this week,” he continued. “We must stop talking about the flag and shift our attention to the real issues of systemic racial injustice, economic oppression, police brutality, and judicial & prison reform. We are at a critical juncture in our nation’s history! If not now, then when?
“We as a white community need to listen and learn from the pain and suffering of our black communities. We must acknowledge the problems, identify the solutions, and then put this into action. The black community cannot do it alone. This will require all of us.”
The back and forth between the president and quarterback stems from NFL free agent Colin Kaepernick’s decision to take a stance against police misconduct and social justice in a peaceful way that proved controversial. In his last season as a quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, Kaepernick took a knee during the national anthem at every 49ers game in the 2016 season.
Some athletes, from amateur to professional leagues, joined Kaepernick in support, while others denounced his actions. The protest kneel came in the wake of the police shootings of two Black men, Terence Crutcher in Tulsa, Oklahoma and Keith Lamont Scott in Charlotte, North Carolina.
READ MORE: Ex- NFL exec admits Colin Kaepernick’s career ended because of activism
The most recent police killing of a Black man, George Floyd, in particular, has sparked nationwide protests and revived conversations about Kaepernick’s national anthem protests. Kaepernick’s actions drew the ire of both the NFL and Trump, who urged NFL owners to kick protesting players off the team.
“Wouldn’t you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, say, “Get that son of a b—- off the field right now. Out, you’re fired!'” Trump said in referring to Kaepernick’s actions without calling him by name.
Brees, however, is not the only one grabbing headlines for finally accepting the underlying purpose of the anthem protests. The NFL, who for years denounced the apparent war Kaepernick was raging, has also reversed course.
Commissioner Roger Goodell on Friday said “we were wrong for not listening to players” and that the league stands with its African-American players.
“We, the National Football League, admit we were wrong for not listening to players earlier and encourage all to speak out and peacefully protest,” he said in the statement. “We, the National Football League, believe Black lives matter. I personally protest with you and want to be part of the much-needed change in this country.”
We, the NFL, condemn racism and the systematic oppression of Black People. We, the NFL, admit we were wrong for not listening to NFL players earlier and encourage all to speak out and peacefully protest. We, the NFL, believe Black Lives Matter. #InspireChange pic.twitter.com/ENWQP8A0sv
— NFL (@NFL) June 5, 2020
Meanwhile, Kaepernick is still without a job in the NFL, despite being years ahead of the curve.
The post Drew Brees responds to Trump criticism: ‘This is not an issue about the American flag’ appeared first on TheGrio.
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NJ Gov. Phil Murphy Names First Black Woman To State Supreme Court
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy has named attorney Fabiana Pierre-Louis to the state Supreme Court on Friday, making her the first black woman to sit on the state’s highest court.
An NBC News report Friday states Pierre-Louis, 39, will succeed Walter Timpone, who will reach the mandatory retirement age of 70 in the fall. Pierre-Louis is a Cherry Hill-based partner specializing in white-collar crime and government investigations in the firm of Montgomery McCracken.
“Many years ago my parents came to the United States from Haiti with not much more than the clothes on their backs and the American dream in their hearts,” Pierre-Louis told NBC. “I think they have achieved that dream beyond measure because my life is certainly not representative of the traditional trajectory of someone who would one day be nominated to the Supreme Court of New Jersey.”
Pierre-Louis also spent nine years in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in New Jersey according to her page on Montgomery McCraken’s website. Pierre-Louis worked as a federal prosecutor, responsible for supervising all aspects of criminal matters handled by the Camden Office.
Pierre-Louis has worked on a litany of cases including criminal trials, investigations, and prosecutions of large-scale mail and wire fraud offenses, healthcare and government fraud matters, and narcotics, firearms, and violent crime offenses.
Murphy said Pierre-Louis will carry the legacy of John Wallace, the last black judge on the state supreme court. Pierre-Louis knows Wallace well as she clerked for him previously. Murphy said it still bothers him that Wallace was not renominated when his first term expired in 2010—the first time that had happened under the state’s current constitution.
Murphy tweeted Friday that he was honored to appoint Pierre-Louis to the position.
“Her humility, empathy, and character will serve the people of New Jersey well,” Murphy said.
“Across this country, there are 33 states which do not have a woman of color on their highest court,” said Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver in a press release. “I cannot wait to see New Jersey leave that list with Fabiana’s confirmation to the Supreme Court.”
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