Donald Trump to hold next rally on Juneteeneth in Tulsa

President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday, June 10, that his first re-election rally after the coronavirus pandemic will be on Juneteenth in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Why is this significant?

Tulsa is the location of the deadliest race massacre in American history. Almost 100 years ago, a thriving Black community was decimated when racist whites killed hundreds of African Americans.

READ MORE: Donald Trump likes a tweet for the first time and it’s about ‘Insecure’

Oklahoma’s governor, Kevin Stitt, issued a statement yesterday saying, “The President is making Oklahoma his first campaign stop since March 2, and his visit here confirms Oklahoma is the national example in responsibly and safely reopening.”

The Oklahoma rally will be the president’s first since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Tulsa County has had 973 people die from coronavirus, according to state tallies. The president is also planning rallies in Texas, Florida, Arizona, and North Carolina.

The White House has not given a clear reason why the president chose to hold his first rally on Juneteenth or at this historic site. But people are watching and questioning the decision.

“Hard to view this as deliberate,” MSNBC host Joy Reid tweeted about the Tulsa rally. “Trump and his alt-right crew salt the wounds of our ugly racial history to activate the ID of his white conservative followers and try to send a shiver of fear down Black folks’ spines. But this theater of horrors won’t work. Ever.”

Hard to view this as anything but deliberate. Trump and his alt-right crew salt the wounds of our ugly racial history to activate the ID of his white conservative followers and to try to send a shiver of fear down black folks’ spines. But this theater of horrors won’t work. Ever. https://t.co/gdfk048tXm

— Joy Reid (@JoyAnnReid) June 11, 2020

When asked about social distancing at his rallies, the president’s campaign communications director referenced the recent peaceful protests against police brutality.

“Where we go we will make sure it is safe to hold a rally and what safety precautions we put in place,” Tim Murtaugh said, “But, I would point out to the national media that I don’t remember them doing any social distancing shaming when they were doing all of the coverage of the demonstrations that were going on.”

It is hard for many to believe that the significance of the date or location was lost on the president and his campaign leaders.  Twitter users were quick to point out the historic significance of Juneteenth and Tulsa, OK as a rally site calling the campaign’s choice is “curious,” while others called it “disgusting symbolism.”

Trump will hold his first rally in months on June 19 in Tulsa.

June 19 is Juneteenth.

The campaign’s choice of Tulsa on Juneteenth is curious given the city’s history. The worst single incident of racial violence in US history occurred in Tulsa in 1921.https://t.co/sZo14FQYiL

— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) June 10, 2020

Trump’s first rally in months will be on Juneteenth in the city of the Black Wall Street massacre. His team might be too stupid to realize this, but what disgusting symbolism. https://t.co/uUUFppEBj7

— Tyler Dinucci (@TylerDinucci) June 10, 2020

READ MORE: Russell Westbrook executive producing Tulsa race massacre docuseries

The massacre has become the subject of books, films, and even a TV show—The Watchmen on HBO. Also, Juneteenth is the date that African Americans acknowledge as the official ending of enslavement in America.

After the pandemic and worldwide conflicts related to police brutality, this year’s celebrations are due to be significant.

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The post Donald Trump to hold next rally on Juneteeneth in Tulsa appeared first on TheGrio.

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Merriam-Webster Dictionary To Change Definition Of Racism At Missouri Woman’s Request

In the conversation about racism, there has been much debate about the how the word should be defined. According to Merriam-Webster dictionary, racism is defined as a “a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race.” One Missouri woman is looking to change that.

Twenty-two-year old Drake University graduate, Kennedy Mitchum, recently approached Merriam-Webster last month about her proposal to update the definition. According to CNN, Mitchum sent her email and got a reply from editor Alex Chambers the next morning.

“I kept having to tell them that definition is not representative of what is actually happening in the world,” she told CNN. “The way that racism occurs in real life is not just prejudice it’s the systemic racism that is happening for a lot of black Americans.”

After an email exchange, the editor agreed that the definition should be updated. A new one is currently being drafted. “This revision would not have been made without your persistence in contacting us about this problem,” Chambers said in the email, which was provided to CNN. “We sincerely thank you for repeatedly writing in and apologize for the harm and offense we have caused in failing to address this issue sooner.”

Peter Sokolowski, an editor at large at Merriam-Webster, also spoke with CNN that its entry also defines racism saying it was “a doctrine or political program based on the assumption of racism and designed to execute its principles.”

“I think we can express this more clearly to bring the idea of an asymmetrical power structure into the language of this definition, but it’s there,” Sokolowski said. “The mission for [Noah] Webster himself, you know, back in his first dictionary in 1806, was to essentially present the current active vocabulary of American English and that’s still our mission today.”

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DJ Scratch Has the Vision to Fuel his Entrepreneurial Spirit

The history of hip-hop is well-documented. It was created in the streets of New York City, lived in the parks, and then blossomed into the biggest genre of music in the world. One of the fortunate hip-hop artists who made a business from the natural talent he possessed is still creating music, living off his craft, and building his entrepreneurial spirit in the process.

Brooklyn’s own DJ Scratch was playing to the audience virtually years before other DJs started showcasing their craft on social media. With the advent of his signature company, Scratchvision, he continues to build the platform that also showcases other prominent DJs across the world.

In an interview with BLACK ENTERPRISE, the three-time Grammy-nominated DJ and multi-platinum record producer, born as George Spivey, opened up about his business acumen.

BE: You were ahead of the game when you launched Scratchvision over 10 years ago. Why did you decide to create a platform like Scratchvision and what makes it unique?

DJ Scratch: I created ScratchVision because urban radio and music television vanished right before our eyes. Urban radio put an end to mix shows. The mix shows that started at 9 p.m. was the time of day that DJs could let loose and play what the people wanted to hear and break new records. But 2009 was the end of radio DJ’s having that freedom. Now, they have to add the same playlist of songs that are in rotation during the day into their nighttime mix shows.

Then music television vanished. MTV and BET music video shows were replaced with reality shows. The music and the history of music was taken away from this generation. So I wanted to fill that void, but in a more advanced way. So I created a social media website like Facebook, added a TV screen, a live chatroom, and a 24-hour radio station. Instead of listening to a DJ on the radio, you can watch the DJ spin and the audience watching can interact live with the DJ.

This was over 10 years ago, unheard of at that time. As the technology grew, so did ScratchVision.com. Now we have a mobile app that streams our live shows as well.

You’re known as the DJ for EPMD and producing many hits for a variety of artists. What advice would you give to anyone who wants to enter the entertainment industry and create something that will sustain their career?

Good relationships are most important.

Talent-wise, just be yourself. You can never be exposed being yourself.

Do not do business without paperwork; handshake deals don’t stand up in court.

What role does social media play in helping artists today?

Most artists haven’t figured out how to use social media to their advantage yet because they’re showing off their riches to their fans and not interacting with their fans. Social media is the greatest thing to happen for artists. Now you don’t have to kiss the radio DJ’s ass to get your song played so the masses can hear it. The artists now have direct access to their fans. (Because their fans are following them.) Social media cuts out the middle man to reach the people that buy and stream your records.

How are you able to sustain your business while still pursuing the creative aspects of your work?

I’m able to sustain my business while being creative because I created a business that serves music to the masses. Music makes the world go round, everyone loves music regardless of the genre.

Being involved in the business of hip-hop since the inception of the genre, how has your mindset changed from doing something you love for fun and now creating and maintaining an entity you own and operate?

My mindset changed because I really had to learn that business is business and you can’t take business personally. Most importantly, I wanted to create something musically for us by us. Everyone is eating off of hip-hop and black culture except black people. It’s time for black ownership in hip-hop where we can thrive. (Salute to Tidal and Revolt.) Respected hip-hop news websites are now gossiping instead of protecting the kings and queens of our culture. Black hop-hop media was originally created to give the positive news of our kings and queens. Now, black hip-hop media is only reporting the scandal of people in our culture just like white media.

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Revolt Launches New “Black News” Show With Host Eboni K. Williams

With the growing desire for news relevant to black culture, attorney and television personality, Eboni K. Williams announced her latest gig as the host and executive producer of “Revolt Black News.”

Williams unveiled the news that she will be the permanent host of the Revolt TV news show twice weekly on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9 p.m. EST/6 p.m. PST. Williams also serves as the co-host to the network’s popular show “State of the Culture” along with rappers Joe Budden and Remy Ma.

“With everything going on in the news cycle right now, we need a space where black culture and critical analysis combine to advance the conversation,” said Williams in a press statement. “This increased role at REVOLT will allow me to serve my community in a meaningful way at a historic time.”

Sean “Diddy” Combs, the founder of the Revolt TV network, announced the new show back in April,  revealing that it would focus on reporting and issues impacting black people in addition to providing solutions.

“My legal experience, newsroom experience, and understanding of the issues uniquely position me for this role,” she continued. “I’m excited to help REVOLT elevate the dialogue and keep our audience educated and informed.”

Prior to joining Revolt, Williams worked as a political contributor on FOX News Channel (FNC) and HLN. She also co-hosted The Fox Specialists, a nationally syndicated prime-time show on the FNC, in 2017.

 

 

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New Show Alert!! ⁣ ⁣ I’m beyond excited to share a new phase of my work on behalf of our people⁣ ⁣ Eboni K. Williams, has signed on to serve as Host and Executive Producer of ‘REVOLT BLACK NEWS’. ⁣ ⁣ In a media alert on Tuesday, REVOLT announced Williams will permanently host ‘REVOLT BLACK NEWS’ twice weekly on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9 p.m. EST/6 p.m. PST starting on June 9, 2020. Williams is also a co-host on REVOLT’s ‘State of the Culture’.⁣ ⁣ “With everything going on in the news cycle right now, we need a space where Black culture and critical analysis combine to advance the conversation. This increased role at REVOLT will allow me to serve my community in a meaningful way at a historic time,” said Eboni K. Williams.⁣ ⁣ Williams is also a regular guest expert on the nationally syndicated radio show ‘The Breakfast Club’, which simulcasts on REVOLT, and she was previously named by ESSENCE Magazine as one of its ‘Woke 100’. Williams’ undergraduate degree is in African-American studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.⁣ ⁣ “My legal experience, newsroom experience, and understanding of the issues uniquely positions me for this role. I’m excited to help REVOLT elevate the dialogue and keep our audience educated and informed,” said Williams.⁣ ⁣ LETS GOOOOO!!!! @revolttv @diddy @stateofthecultureshow

A post shared by Eboni K. Williams (@ebonikwilliams) on Jun 9, 2020 at 3:21pm PDT

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How Ghana paid tribute to George Floyd

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Amazon Won't Let Police Use Its Facial Recognition Tech for One Year

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Walmart announces end to putting ‘multicultural’ products in locked cases

Walmart announced Wednesday that it will no longer place “multicultural” hair products behind locked cases in another sign of the changing of the times.

READ MORE: Meet the queen who created Young King Hair Care for Black and Brown boys

Walmart and many other companies have long been criticized for placing products that serve the Black community behind locked cases when whites do not have that kind of barrier when shopping.

On Wednesday, Walmart announced they would rescind the policy. They said that locked cabinets were their practice only “in about a dozen” of their 4,700 U.S. stores. The company explained the change on social media, apologizing to those who called out the disparate treatment.

 

Jesús, we’re sensitive to the issue and understand your concerns. We have made the decision to discontinue placing multicultural hair care and beauty products in locked cases. This practice was recently in about a dozen of our 4,700 stores nationwide.

— Walmart (@Walmart) June 10, 2020

Walmart reached out directly to CBS Denver reporter Tori Mason after she reported about customers believing that that white privilege extended to something as simple as hair care products.

BREAKING: Walmart emailed me saying it will discontinue placing multi-cultural hair products in cases. https://t.co/ruP87MA6hP pic.twitter.com/2K8Fb4Puwm

— Tori Mason (@ToriMasonTV) June 10, 2020

 

Walmart shopper Judah Bell said the process of shopping was often a humiliating experience.

“This Walmart is in the heart of Montbello. There are Black and brown people all over the place. The message is clear: We don’t trust you,” Bell said.

Bell often has to drive 11 minutes to a more affluent area of town where the cases are not locked. They generally are in urban areas.

“In my neighborhood Walmart, you have to go find somebody and then if they don’t have the key, they have to find somebody, so you’re just standing there waiting, sometimes for as long as 10 to 15 minutes,” Bell said.

Walmart spokesman Lorenzo Lopez told NBC News that company is “sensitive” to the issues being raised. Lopez said a course correction would be implemented immediately.

READ MORE: Black owned business The Honey Pot ambushed with racist reviews because of Target commercial

“As a retailer serving millions of customers every day from diverse backgrounds, Walmart does not tolerate discrimination of any kind. Like other retailers, the cases were put in place to deter shoplifters from some products such as electronics, automotive, cosmetics and other personal care products,” Lopez said.

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

 

 

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

One of the fired police officers who was charged in the death of George Floyd has made bail. TMZ reports that Thomas Lane, the officer who had just four days on the job has been able to post $750K on a $1M dollar bail.

READ MORE: Black activist shot by same police department he trained on bias

Lane’s lawyer, Earl Gray, told TMZ only that it was “pretty good news” when asked how Lane was able to post bond. His family did seek donations to help him get out of jail and for his defense, the site reports, but was unable to confirm if that’s how he raised the money.

Lane is the one officer out of the four who asked if Floyd should be laid on his side while he was lying prone on the street in handcuffs. He also, according to his family, was the one who accompanied Floyd in the ambulance and he performed CPR.

People visit a memorial at the site where George Floyd was killed on June 3, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)

However, Lane, along with the three other ex-officers including Derek Chauvin, who had his knee on Floyd’s neck, was seen pinning Floyd down. He is the officer shown in the mask.

 

 

Despite Lane’s request to turn Floyd over, Chauvin would not let up and Lane’s family says that he was prohibited by the chain of command to intervene more. It appears that the family will cite his lack of experience as a factor in why he didn’t do more.

Chauvin, a 19-year veteran of the Minneapolis police force, had 18 citations on his record on May 25 when Floyd died after police were called to a forgery in progress call. Floyd was accused of passing a $20 bill at a convenience store in North Minneapolis.

Lane and former Minneapolis police officers Tao Thao, J Alexander Kueng were all charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder in a case that has generated worldwide protests for the last 16 days. Some protests have turned violent and looters destroyed and burned stores in several states.

Chauvin has been charged with second-degree murder.

READ MORE: New York passes bill to allow police records to be made public 

But in the wake of the protests and Floyd’s death, sweeping changes have been instituted in police departments including banning chokeholds and in New York, allowing police personnel records to be made public.

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

 

 

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Louisville detective who got no-knock search warrant for Breonna Taylor reassigned

The Louisville detective who sought a ‘no-knock’ warrant for Breonna Taylor‘s home which resulted in her death has been placed on administrative reassignment.

READ MORE: Louisville city council committee passes Breonna Taylor law

The Courier-Journal reported Wednesday that interim Louisville Metro Police Chief Robert Schroeder announced that he placed Detective Joshua Jaynes on leave until further notice. Schroeder stated that questions needed to be answered from Taylor’s family, attorneys, and other authorities in regard to “how and why the search warrant was approved.”

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

Schroeder added the matter has been referred to the FBI, who have started their own inquiry into the death of the 26-year-old EMT. Taylor was shot and killed on March 13 when Louisville police officers entered her home unannounced to serve a no-knock warrant in connection with a narcotics investigation.

Taylor’s boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, said that he thought someone was breaking in and fired off a shot. The officers returned fire, shooting Taylor eight times. She died at the scene and there have so far been no arrests in her death.

Court records showed that Jaynes had requested a judge’s permission for five no-knock searches in relation to a narcotics investigation in March “due to the nature of how these drug traffickers operate.” Jefferson Circuit Judge Mary Shaw signed all of them within minutes.

Jamarcus Glover and Adrian Walker were named in all the warrants. Taylor only appeared in the one for her apartment. It was because Jaynes said Glover had gotten a package from Taylor’s home in January and drove to a “known drug house.”

The detective further wrote that he “verified through a U.S. postal inspector that Jamarcus Glover has been receiving packages” at Taylor’s apartment.

Protesters ride aboard a vehicle with a smoke machine, with a sign reading ‘Justice for Breonna’, during a peaceful demonstration against racism and police brutality on Hollywood Boulevard on June 06, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

“It is not uncommon for drug traffickers to receive mail packages at different locations to avoid detection from law enforcement,” Jaynes wrote. ” … Mr. J. Glover may be keeping narcotics and/or proceeds from the sale of narcotics” at Taylor’s apartment “for safekeeping.”

When the warrant was executed at Taylor’s home, Glover was already in custody.

READ MORE: Officer involved in shooting of Breonna Taylor accused of sexual assault

However, U.S. postal inspector Tony Gooden of Louisville pushed back against the assertion that Taylor’s home was a drug den. He told WDRB News that his agency looked into whether Taylor’s home was being used in an illegal manner and it proved that it wasn’t the case.

“There are no packages of interest going there,” Gooden told the news outlet.

Benjamin Crump, the noted civil rights attorney who is defending Taylor’s family, said Gooden’s words showed there was no justification to issue a no-knock warrant on her home. In a statement, the attorney declared that Gooden’s comments “directly contradicts what the police stated in the affidavit to secure a no-knock warrant for her home.”

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

 

 

The post Louisville detective who got no-knock search warrant for Breonna Taylor reassigned appeared first on TheGrio.

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Georgia’s Failure Shows How Not to Run an Election in the Pandemic

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NBA Hall of Famer Bill Russell Responds to President Trump’s Tweet: ‘You Are Divisive and a Coward’

Retired basketball Hall of Famer Bill Russell has responded to President Donald Trump’s social media post over the weekend by stating directly to the president, ‘You Are Divisive and a Coward,’ according to The Hill.

Trump has once again taken the stance that people kneeling during the national anthem are disrespecting the flag even though they are protesting racial injustice and police brutality toward black people.

Late last week, Trump took to Twitter to state, “…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!”

…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

Russell, who became the first black man to become an NBA coach, had this to say to the president.

“#Trump you projected your narrative that #TakingAKnee is disrespectful & #UnAmerican it was never about that! You are divisive & a coward. It takes true courage 2 stand 4 what is right & risk your life in the midst of a #pandemic #Proud2kneel #BlackLivesMatter

”

#Trump you projected your narrative that #TakingAKnee is disrespectful & #UnAmerican it was never about that! You are divisive & a coward. It takes true courage 2 stand 4 what is right & risk your life in the midst of a #pandemic #Proud2kneel #BlackLivesMatter @MSNBC @BostonGlobe https://t.co/nhNITHSrxo pic.twitter.com/h0PuUYVFwu

— TheBillRussell (@RealBillRussell) June 7, 2020

Russell is wearing the Presidential Medal Freedom given to him by former President Obama back in 2010. Obama had stated at the time that Russell is “an impassioned advocate of human rights” who “marched with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and has been a consistent advocate of equality.”

Russell has won the NBA championship 11 times in 13 years while playing for the Boston Celtics. He was a five-time MVP (Most Valuable Player) and 12-time NBA All-Star. He also coached the Celtics, Seattle Supersonics, and the Sacramento Kings.

 

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White Landlord Evicts Black Business Owner In Iowa For Joining Protesters

For the past week, social media has been flooded with images of protesters marching in the streets in protest across the country and around the world. Even though many have come out in support of these people who are calling for an end to racial violence and police brutality, others have been experiencing push back from locals in their communities on the opposing end.

In a report by TMZ, a Des Moines business owner named Jeremiah Johnson shared a video on his social media platforms of his white landlord coming to his fashion retail store, Stylent Brands where he also rents out office space, to say his lease had been terminated because he saw a video with business partners of Johnson attending a peaceful protest under the assumption that he was there looting.

In the clip, Johnson tries to get a reason for why he was being evicted to which the landlord responded that it had to do with Johnson being around “illegal activity.” TMZ also reported that Johnson says the landlord sent his attorney an email, allegedly saying they were out there protesting for rights “they hadn’t yet earned or deserved.”

Johnson spoke out on his Twitter that he plans to take the landlord to court.

 

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We got kicked out from our office space in Des Moines Iowa by our landlord because he saw us on the news exercising our 1st amendment right by PEACEFULLY PROTESTING. Other people can protest for haircuts but when I protest for equality, injustice and police brutality in this country then I’m doing something illegal? No one is superior to me. Only God can judge me. I hope everyone is seeing what is going on and how we are treated. @stylentbrands

A post shared by Jeremiah B. Johnson Jr III (@jeremiah_miah11) on Jun 6, 2020 at 2:27pm PDT

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