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Wednesday, June 10, 2020
Over A Million People Are Calling for the Investigation Into Kendrick Johnson’s Death to be Reopened
The massive protests taking place worldwide in wake of the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis have led to a petition calling for an investigation into the death of Kendrick Johnson to be reopened, according to The Grio.
Johnson, who was a 17-year-old high school sophomore, was found rolled up in a gym mat at Lowndes High School gymnasium on Jan. 11, 2013. State and local officials ruled that Johnson suffocated after purportedly reaching for a pair of sneakers inside the mat and getting stuck.
The petition, titled Reopen Kendrick Johnson’s Case #J4Kendrick, has garnered more than 1.2 million signatures. It states that Johnson’s popularity made him a target of envy among his peers and that the son of a retired FBI agent admitted to killing Johnson over a girl that they both liked.
“Johnson was an honor roll student and well-known athletic all around the school, which had caused him to gain a lot of attention, especially from females. However, one day Kendrick Johnson’s popularity began to make people jealous, which was when he had got into an argument with Brian Bell, who was a student at Valdosta High School along with KJ. Both Kendrick Johnson and Brian Bell constantly argued with each other over Brian Bell found out that his girlfriend, who was Taylor Eakin, was having a sexual affair with Kendrick Johnson. There were two confession statements floating around, which made national news,” reads the petition.
It continues: “Both Brian Bell and Ryan Hall, who is Brian Bell’s friend, had met Kendrick Johnson in the gym and then Brian Bell killed Kendrick Johnson. Brian Bell has also stated that he killed Kendrick Johnson multiple times over the phone. Brandon Bell, who is both a student at Valdosta High School and the brother of Brian Bell, had got drunk at a party on July 4 of 2013 and told people that Brian Bell killed Kendrick Johnson. The second statement was about Ryan Anthony Domek-Hernandez, who is a friend of Branden Bell, side of the story, which said that when he went to Branden Bell’s apartment in Florida, Branden Bell had told him that Brian Bell killed Kendrick Johnson by striking his neck with a 45 pound weight/dumbbell after they began arguing over Taylon Eakin.”
The attorney representing the family of Floyd, Benjamin Crump, brought attention to the petition.
“What happened to #KendrickJohnson in 2012 is HORRIFIC, yet his killer was never held accountable. Please sign this petition & spread the word that federal authorities need to reopen this case, so Kendrick & his family can get the justice they deserve!”
What happened to #KendrickJohnson in 2012 is HORRIFIC, yet his killer was never held accountable. Please sign this petition & spread the word that federal authorities need to reopen this case, so Kendrick & his family can get the justice they deserve!! https://t.co/7ORW7ugLCn pic.twitter.com/9HUakxR0Gb
— Ben Crump (@AttorneyCrump) June 6, 2020
Kim Kardashian West was also supportive of the petition and asked her 65.5 million Twitter followers to sign the petition.
Please sign this! We demand justice for Kendrick!!!! Sign the Petition to Reopen Kendrick Johnson’s Case #J4Kendrick · https://t.co/BlYQlKVzKl https://t.co/16yxY9cL8y
— Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) June 6, 2020
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Jermaine Dupri, Slutty Vegan, and Impossible Foods Launch Nationwide Voting Initiative
Local elections are underway in multiple states leading up to the November presidential elections. A number of public figures have been using their platforms to spread awareness and encourage people to go out and vote. Recently, Atlanta native and music superstar Jermaine Dupri and Pinky Cole, owner of the Slutty Vegan, are teamed with Impossible Foods to start a new campaign to encourage young people to go out and vote.
Starting this week, the group will host the Votenik Initiative, playful spin from the city’s famous Freaknik event, to help feed communities while also encouraging them to go out and vote in their local elections and in November. Cole, who is known for her famous vegan soul food pop-ups, will open her food truck at schools and voting sites. Patrons who vote will be offered a complimentary food item from the Slutty Vegan’s menu.
“This is the next step in making sure that everyone gets out and vote,” said Cole in a press statement. “This is the most productive way to get our voices heard, and we are beyond grateful to be launching this initiative with both Jermaine Dupri and Impossible Foods.”
This event is the latest initiative of Cole’s Pinky Cole Foundation that recently has been offering local relief efforts to the community amid the COVID-19, or novel coronavirus pandemic. Through her foundation, Cole has been able to offer financial assistance to help small businesses pay their rent and provide meals to other local grassroots organizations.
. Join us for VoteNik! 
. We teamed up with @jermainedupri, @pinkygivesback and @impossiblefoods to feed voters for FREE between 2PM-6PM at Ralph Bunche Middle School. . *While supplies last* . Your voice is necessary to make changes in our communities! See you soon! 
. . #sluttyveganatl #sluttyvegan #slutsofinstagram #vegan #slutburger #thesluttytakeover #veganburger #vegantakeover #burgers #atl #atlanta #veganislife #slutnation #slutsonthemove #slutmobile #veganstastebetter #sluttified #getsluttified #fortheculture #eatplants #atlshawty #eatplantsyaslut #eatplantsbitch #sluttystrong #slutthevote #voteordie #sluttysummer #sluttysummer2020
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Martin Management Group Advocates For Anti-Lynching Bill, Donates to NAACP
The Martin Management Group, a family with Kentucky roots dating back to 1833, has endorsed the passing of the anti-lynching bill and has donated $25,000 to the NAACP.
In a June 8 press release, the Martin family expressed its anger and disappointment in Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul blocking the anti-lynching bill stuck in the Senate.
“Our family is as shocked as many Kentuckians that Senator Rand Paul has decided to be the sole vote
thwarting the attempt to pass anti-lynching legislation that our country has fought for decades to have,” the Martin Family said. “During these times we need leaders that take swift and decisive actions that help to heal and unite Americans. This leadership also starts at home. These donations are a statement that our family remains in the fight for equality and social justice.”
The Martin Management Group ranked No. 9 on the BE 100’s Auto Dealer 40 list of the largest black-owned auto dealerships, also donated $25,000 to the Kentucky branches of the NAACP. The group added further commitments will continue to be made in support of social equality initiatives.
Many people have blamed the anti-lynching bill being stalled on Sen. Paul. Paul wrote an op-ed in the Courier-Journal Monday, explaining that he actually hasn’t blocked the bill, but instead offered an amendment to strengthen the bill.
“The bill as written would allow altercations resulting in a cut, abrasion, bruise, or any other injury no matter how temporary to be subject to a 10-year penalty,” Paul wrote last week. “My amendment would simply apply a serious bodily injury standard, which would ensure crimes resulting in a substantial risk of death and extreme physical pain be prosecuted as a lynching.
“Because I stand so strongly behind the belief that a hateful crime such as lynching deserves a severe sentence, I could not support a bill that places such a low threshold on what could be considered a lynching,” Paul added.
The House of Representatives passed the Emmett Till Anti-lynching Act in February by a bipartisan vote of 410-4. In response to the recent police killings and protests across the country, House Democrats have drafted the Justice In Policing Act.
The bill would allow for the use of force only as a last resort, ban chokeholds, prohibit racial and religious profiling, and make it easier to hold police accountable for misconduct, among other dramatic changes.
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Atlanta secretary of state vows to investigate voting delays in minority areas
The primary voting in Georgia on June 9 could be defined by one word, “catastrophe.” Plagued by long wait times and broken voting machines, the state made national news for its failures.
Georgia’s Secretary of State, Brad Raffensperger, a Republican called the problems “unacceptable.”
READ MORE: Federal judge rules felons cannot be stopped from voting due to fees
According to NBC, wait times in some parts of Atlanta and DeKalb County were up to seven hours.
The long waits were primarily in minority neighborhoods. In a Twitter thread from Atlanta Mayor, Keisha Lance Bottoms, voters reported their experiences. Most complaints were about malfunctioning voting machines.
Now being told line is out to the street at Sandtown Recreation Center and their machines are not working either @gasecofstate. Is this happening across the county or just on the south end? https://t.co/szO7srzpWs
— Keisha Lance Bottoms (@KeishaBottoms) June 9, 2020
“In line since 6:30 a.m. at Fanplex in Summerhill with 300+ people and none of the voting machines are working. NONE,” one user wrote, “@GaSecofState this is widespread, this is criminal. And it’s under your watch.”
In line since 6:30am at Fanplex in #Summerhill with 300+ people and none of the voting machines are working. NONE. @GaSecofState this is widespread, this is criminal. And it’s under your watch. #GAPol #GAVote pic.twitter.com/ay9AhycIus
— Sabrina Gómez (@sabrihgomez) June 9, 2020
Raffensperger, a Republican, said in a statement, “My office has opened an investigation to determine what these counties need to do to resolve these issues before November’s election.”
This is the second time in recent history that an election in Georgia has been deemed controversial.
The 2018 Gubernatorial election between Stacey Abrams and Brian Kemp, who was Secretary of State at the time, was plagued by allegations of voter suppression. Kemp won the race by a thin margin and Abrams called the election, “rotten and rigged.” She went on to found Fair Fight-a political action committee dedicated to advocating for fair and free elections.
There was a lot at stake in yesterday’s election, including two Senate seats. However, experts are most concerned about resolving the problems before November’s presidential election.
Kristen Clarke, president and CEO of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, said, “If we view the primary election as a dry run for November, then Georgia gets an F today.”
In a statement, David Ralston, the Speaker of the Georgia House of Representatives said, “The legislative branch of government has an obligation to go beyond the mutual finger-pointing and get to the truth and the real reasons underlying these frustrations and concerns.”
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This Black Couple Is Helping Businesses Stay Clean Amid COVID-19
Since the start of COVID-19, or the novel coronavirus, pandemic, cleaning items have become hot sellers with stores across the country along with the growing need for cleaning services for businesses that now need to adhere to new cleaning standards. Items like disinfectant wipes, hand sanitizer, and other cleaning supplies are often sold out for weeks at a time due to the increased demand. One couple has turned the situation into a business opportunity by helping storefronts and businesses remove harmful bacteria amid the public health crisis.
Florida-based couple, Mister and Virginia Nelson, launched their company Nelson’s Professional Cleaning Services, to help companies and their employees work in safe environments during the virus pandemic using eco-friendly products to clean local storefronts. The Jan-Pro franchise offers its EnviroShield® program to help minimize the spread of viruses and bacteria, especially on commonly touched surfaces.
In their interview with Black Business, Mister, who has worked in waste management for 21 years, added, “Look what’s going on with this coronavirus. It’s important that companies have a clean environment for their employees. We’re going to be here for them now and many months and years, too.”
“While many companies like ours are now jumping into the marketplace with various solutions of disinfection, my husband and I know that there’s a need for this now—and long after COVID-19,” Virginia told Black Business who worked as a juvenile detention officer before starting her own business. She now works as a program manager at an all-girls group home in addition to running her company with her husband.
As companies begin to reopen as more and more states enter the second phase of reopening, the Nelsons plan to expand their coverage in northern and central Florida coasts including Brevard County, Orange County, Vero Beach, Cocoa Beach, and Cape Canaveral.
“We don’t use your everyday household products,” Virginia continued. “We use eco-friendly products and color-coded rags that are used only for certain surfaces and rooms.”
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Tuesday, June 9, 2020
‘Vanderpump Rules’ stars Stassi Schroeder, Kristen Doute fired for racist behavior
It looks like years of bad behavior has finally caught up with Stassi Schroeder and Kristen Doute. Both women have been fired from Vanderpump Rules over racist incidents.
It took a whole week for the stars of the hit Bravo reality series to get the boot after their one and only Black former costar Faith Stowers revealed that the pair called the police on her for fun.
After one of the series’ stars, Jax Taylor, cheated on his fiancee with Stowers, the girls decided to take revenge by making false claims to the police. The women had seen a story about theft in The Daily Mirror and the suspect pictured was a Black woman. Schroeder and Doute called the police and told them they suspected Stowers was the culprit.
READ MORE: Bravo stars reportedly have to sign an STD clause
“There was this article on Daily Mail where there was an African American lady,” Stowers recalled during a recent Instagram Live chat. “It was a weird photo, so she looked very light-skinned and had these different, weird tattoos. They showcased her, and I guess this woman was robbing people. And they called the cops and said it was me. This is like, a true story. I heard this from actually Stassi during an interview.”
Schroeder was so proud of this disgusting behavior that she bragged about it during an appearance on the “Bitch Bible” podcast. Meanwhile, Doute shared the article on social media.
“hey tweeties, doesn’t this ex #pumprules thief look familiar? someone put her on mtv & gave her a platform for press. I didn’t wanna go there but I’m going there,” she posted.
Schroeder and Doute have both issued apologies since Stowers came out with her story, but it looks like the pathetic attempts to save face were too little too late. They have been dropped by their book agents and are reportedly losing endorsement deals left and right.
They aren’t the only ones getting fired from the show. Two other cast members. Max Boyens and Brett Caprioni, are being dismissed as well, even though allegations of their racist behaviors came out in January.
READ MORE: 50 Cent reignites feud with ‘Vanderpump Rules’ star Lala Kent
It looks like Bravo may be bracing for more drama because their statement about the dismissals was pretty short.
“Bravo and Evolution Media confirmed today that Stassi Schroeder, Kristen Doute, Max Boyens and Brett Caprioni will not be returning to Vanderpump Rules,” the statement read.
Considering fans have been watching these people making extremely offensive statements and demonstrating generally disgusting behavior, it’s a wonder this took so long.
Schroeder had this coming for sure, especially since this allegedly isn’t even the first racist thing she has done publicly. Thankfully, it looks like her bad behavior will cost her big time considering she was gearing up for a big Bravo wedding that’s likely off the table.
The post ‘Vanderpump Rules’ stars Stassi Schroeder, Kristen Doute fired for racist behavior appeared first on TheGrio.
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FBI probes link between fatal shootings of federal officer, deputy
The FBI has launched an investigation into whether the fatal shooting of a Santa Cruz police officer is connected to a separate incident in Oakland that left a federal protection officer dead and another critically hurt.
Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller, 38, was ambushed and killed in the line of duty Saturday afternoon. Law officials are now looking into possible connections between this case and the death of federal officer Dave Patrick Underwood, who was gunned down on May 29, KRCA.com reports.
Investigators said both cases involved a shooter in a van. The suspected driver and gunman is U.S. Air Force sergeant Steven Carrillo who is believed to have been motivated by his support of Black Lives Matter.
“They were ambushed with gunfire and multiple improvised explosives,” said Santa Cruz County Sheriff Jim Hart.
Carrillo, 32, was shot during his arrest and remains hospitalized, according to reports. Authorities say he used guns and detonated explosives during his ambush on Gutzwiller and another sheriff’s deputy, near his home in Ben Lomond, in Santa Cruz County, California.
Gutzwiller was killed and the second deputy remains hospitalized with serious injuries.
Hart said both were investigating after a 911 about a suspicious white van containing weapons and explosives. The same van was reportedly captured on surveillance cameras.
Meanwhile, late last month, a federal security officer in Oakland was fatally shot in an ambush involving a white van. Federal investigators are now trying to determine if both cases are linked to Carrillo.
On his Facebook page, Carillo, who commanded an elite protection unit, was critical of law enforcement’s response to police killings and Black Lives Matter protesters.
“Who needs to start riots when you have police to do it for you,” Carillo posted last Friday, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
He also posted a meme on his Instagram page, reports ABC7News, that read:
“I’ll never let racist white people make me forget about the dope white people I know exist. I love y’all.” Fist emojis of varying skin tones were part of the meme and Carillo had crossed those out, writing “The only race that matters, the human race.’
A friend of Carillo says those who knew him are stunned, even though they knew he was having some trouble processing his wife Monika’s death by suicide in an off-base hotel two years ago.
“A lot of regret, I think was there and it was just challenging for him,” retired Air Force military policeman Justin Ehrhardt told ABC. “But even with all that none of us the people I talked to who were stationed with him even once thought this would happen at all.”
Gutzwiller was a 14-year veteran and he leaves behind a pregnant wife and young child.
READ MORE: Florida police union offers to hire officers accused of misconduct
“When I think about community policing and how we police here in Santa Cruz County, Damon is the picture of community policing,” Hart said. “He was kind, caring, patient, empathetic. He could take enforcement action when he needed to, but he would rather communicate his way through any problem that was in front of him.”
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QS ranks MIT the world’s No. 1 university for 2020-21
MIT has again been named the world’s top university by the QS World University Rankings, which were announced today. This is the ninth year in a row MIT has received this distinction.
The full 2019-20 rankings — published by Quacquarelli Symonds, an organization specializing in education and study abroad — can be found at topuniversities.com. The QS rankings were based on academic reputation, employer reputation, citations per faculty, student-to-faculty ratio, proportion of international faculty, and proportion of international students. MIT earned a perfect overall score of 100.
MIT was also ranked the world’s top university in 12 of the subject areas ranked by QS,
as announced in March of this year.
The Institute received a No. 1 ranking in the following QS subject areas: Architecture/Built Environment; Chemistry; Computer Science and Information Systems; Chemical Engineering; Civil and Structural Engineering; Electrical and Electronic Engineering; Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering; Linguistics; Materials Science; Mathematics; Physics and Astronomy; and Statistics and Operational Research.
MIT also placed second in five subject areas: Accounting and Finance; Biological Sciences; Earth and Marine Sciences; Economics and Econometrics; and Environmental Sciences.
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Apollo Theater goes virtual for ‘Amateur Night’ auditions
The world-famous Apollo Theater is living by the credo “the show must go on.” Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the theater is keeping pace with their Amateur Night contestants by hosting their audition videos online.
READ MORE: YG films music video at LA protest; claps back at critics
As reported by Vulture, the nation’s most famous theater for discovering Black talent has now gone virtual.
“The Apollo Amateur Night is all about access,” Kamilah Forbes, executive producer at the Apollo told Vulture. “What that’s saying is that, yes, this is a coveted space, but we want to make sure that any and everyone can get on, right? [Moving] our auditions online is one of those key ways we can lower the barrier of access.”
Producer Marion Caffey sorts the online videos via a one to five rating system but if there are any aspiring Apollo stars reading this, note that he reviews every one of those videos. And, according to Vulture, even lower-rated videos have a chance to make the show because, as he explains it, you want to have a balance. (Basically, you want to have a few train wrecks for entertainment value.)
Hey fam, keep ‘em coming!! We’ve received 💯’s of online auditions like Waseme’s for Amateur Night at the Apollo …and your talent is blowing us away!! 🤯 If you’re ready to show us what you’ve got – bring your A-GAME and visit https://t.co/2PEhOSkX0V to get all the details🚨 pic.twitter.com/MZoN8khlGV
— apollotheater (@ApolloTheater) April 9, 2020
It’s the first time in the theater’s 86-year history of hosting auditions that they’ve not been at the theater. Evaluating videos online does give the team, which includes Amateur Night’s coordinator Kathy Jordan Sharpton, more time to do a deeper dive on each video as contestants in-person get just over a minute.
“It takes a lot more time, but the talent really is no different,” Caffey tells Vulture. “I don’t get better talent live than I get online. It’s just that I have to look deeper and more for the online talent simply because there’s a lot more bad talent and a lot more mediocre talent and a lot more good talent.”
The Apollo has not determined when they will reopen as New York City slowly grinds back to full speed after the mandatory March 12 shutdown. They expect to lose about $4M in the fiscal year that ends this month. A virtual benefit concert “Let’s Stay (in this) Together” was held last week, which proceeds also benefitting neighborhood businesses also suffering. The Apollo is currently closed through at least June 30th.
#Let's Stay (In This) Together!
ICYMI: Tune in for the rebroadcast of LET'S STAY (IN THS) TOGETHER, a benefit to support our iconic theater. This special event features powerful performances and appearances by Dionne Warwick, Gary Clark Jr., Ledisi, Anthony Hamilton and many more. To support, please vistit apollotheaer.org/donate.
Posted by Apollo Theater on Friday, June 5, 2020
“We hope that the funds we raise will ensure long-term financial and operational stability, guaranteeing that we are around for generations to come,” Apollo president and CEO Jonolle Procope told Vulture.
READ MORE: Apple Music to launch its 1st radio show in Africa
You can donate to the storied theater here.
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