by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

July 7, 2024

Chicago Homeowner Receives False $30K Property Tax Increase

The $30,000 tax hike was later revealed to be an overestimation of the home's worth.

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A Chicago homeowner, Darryl Lloyd, has garnered attention after his property tax bill skyrocketed from $1,800 to a debunked $30,000. He is now raising awareness about this escalating problem.

Lloyd bought his Chicago Heights home for $115,000 in 2006, with its cost justifying its then-modest property tax. This year, however, Lloyd shockingly received a 1500% property tax increase on the three-bedroom abode, costing a fifth of the home’s estimated value of $180,000. Lloyd told Fox 32 that the property value did not add up, given the 1950s home’s modest amenities.

“I was literally devastated when I saw that increase,” explained Lloyd to the news outlet. “I see 960 square feet; I don’t have a second floor [or a] basement.”

An inaccurate assessment led to a $30,000 tax hike, valuing the house at over $1 million. However, before its correction, Lloyd saw no other choice but to forfeit his homeownership and move in with family members, as he relied on disability insurance to cover his mortgage.

However, Lloyd fought the valuation with the Cook County Tax Assessor’s Office, initially meeting pushback. The office wrote the issue off as a result of the cost-of-living crisis.

“I told them that I had a substantial increase, and they were like, ‘everybody’s taxes increase,’” he recalled.

It took the news outlet reaching out to the office to take the matter seriously. They later admitted to the error.

“This property was given an incorrect assessment due to a permit that was unintentionally applied to the property,” shared a representative from Cook County. “We will process a corrected tax bill for this property in the coming weeks, ensuring that the homeowner will ultimately pay the right amount in property taxes.”

However, Lloyd is not the only homeowner in the county who has been a victim of over-assessments. The publication stated that over 4,400 homes have faced incorrect tax bills. Appealing these lofty tax hikes requires research and a substantial claim of overcharging.

While filing an appeal can lead to a lower cost, it does not guarantee keeping one’s home affordable. Moreover, the issue surrounding spiking property tax and interest rates continues to impact the country as a whole.

RELATED CONTENT: The Difference Is Clear: Appraisal of Same Home Quoted $350K for White Homeowner, $310K for Black Partner

• Arts and Culture

by Daniel Johnson

July 7, 2024

Boston’s First Black-Owned Art Gallery To Showcase Black And Brown Artists

Blkchip Gallery was opened by Tavares Brewington and the Street Theory Collective. .

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Boston’s newest art gallery, located in its Seaport neighborhood, is also the city’s first Black-owned art gallery. Blkchip Gallery opened on June 27, and according to its proprietors, it is intended to attract Bostonians of color to the neighborhood. 

According to CBS News, the artists and founders of the gallery want Blkchip Gallery to become a place where the community is welcome to come and learn about art. An artist, Melina Gomes, told WBZ News the importance of celebrating the art of artists of color. “What’s most important is that we’re celebrating fine artists that are people of color,” Gomes said. “Their value, who they are in this community, the legacy that we’re all building together is vital.”

Tavares Brewington, the founder of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Lab Street2Ivy, opened the gallery along with Street Theory Collective. Brewington explained his vision to WBZ News. “It really is an effort to have the Seaport reflect the rich cultural background of the city. It’ll be a place where we display artists–focused on lesser-known Black and Brown artists. It’ll be a place where people can come from diverse backgrounds and enjoy all of the great things here in the Seaport. And make Boston that shining city on the hill.”

Paul Goodnight, whose work is featured in the gallery, discussed the rarity of such an effort in the Seaport area, telling the outlet, “This initiative is rare for this area,” Goodnight said during the grand opening. “Displaying my work here offers an opportunity to reach new audiences and showcase the excellence that exists within our community.”

According to Boston Magazine, Boston’s Seaport district transformed from a district that only contained fishing piers and dive bars in the ’60s and ’70s to a bustling area in the 1990s. This is due in large part to public investment in the area. Though it was close to the city’s Financial District, until the Big Dig and the Boston Harbor cleanup were initiated, the area was underdeveloped and largely empty. 

In stark contrast to areas like Roxbury, the Seaport district, despite its investment in creating a place that Bostonians can call home, not just someplace to visit, has remained one of Boston’s whitest neighborhoods. Jarred Johnson, director of Transit Matters, told the outlet that the City of Boston should have thought deeply about how entrenched its lack of racial diversity is while planning the district’s revitalization. 

“The Seaport is sort of emblematic of Boston’s race problem. I don’t think anyone involved with its development specifically,” said Johnson. “We’re gonna build a neighborhood that’s almost entirely white and void of socioeconomic diversity.”

Johnson said, “I don’t think that was the intent. But refusing to acknowledge that Boston is a very segregated city and that there are different levels of opportunity for folks of different races—if they didn’t even acknowledge that, then there’s no way that the Seaport could have ever been successful from that point of view.”

Kimberly Barnes, former programs manager at FPAC, spoke to the outlet in 2020 about the vision of Brewington and said she feels it is beneficial that people of color and other historically underrepresented groups in Boston see themselves in Seaport. “I have been seeing more people of color walking around, which is exciting. Every Wednesday, we have Stone Soup Poetry at the Assemblage, and there’s a lot of people of color who participate in that. There’s engagement. It’s very slow, but it’ll be happening more and more.”

Barnes continued, “One of my focuses is getting more people of color, more queer artists, and younger artists into the neighborhood. People of all classes. I really want to be inclusive, just encourage a lot of creativity and communication with each other.”

RELATED CONTENT: The First Black Woman-owned Art Gallery Opens in New York’s Chelsea Neighborhood

• Events

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

July 7, 2024

Essence Festival Hosts Kamala Harris, Serena Williams, and More In its Third Day Festivities

The Black women-focused festival kicked off July 4 in New Orleans.

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The 2024 Essence Festival of Culture continues its third day of inspiring events with Kamala Harris, Serena Williams, and more.

In its 30th year, the festival highlighted these influential Black women as they led conversations in politics, business, and the overall empowerment of their communities. Vice President Harris engaged in a “Chief-to-Chief” conversation with Essence’s Ventures President and CEO Caroline Wanga. During their discussion at Global Black Economic Forum HQ, Harris encouraged attendees to “unleash their power” in any space they occupy, especially as the presidential election nears.

Presented by Coca-Cola, The Essence Stage hosted a full day of panels and engagements with celebrity speakers. Williams spoke at BeatyCon: Essence Edition to discuss her entrepreneurial journey from tennis champion to beauty brand founder. Emayatzy Corinealdi and Morris Chestnut, stars of Hulu’s “Reasonable Doubt,” shared a sneak peek of the show’s second season at the festivities.

Moreover, the mothers of the NBA, Sonya Curry and Lucille O’Neal, joined Michelle L. Rice, president of TV One and CLEO TV, in a conversation on preparing Black children for greatness. Television producer Carlos King later spilled the reali(tea) on entertainment. He joined New Orleans’ very own Big Freedia, Yandy Smith-Harris, and Toya Johnson-Rushing in the fun-filled talk.

On the evening of July 6, the inaugural Black Women in Business dinner honored Williams with the Investor of the Year award. This year sparked Essence’s first-ever ‘Black Women In…” event, recognizing these trailblazers in diverse industries. Hosted by Rashida Jones, the occasion also honored Thasunda Brown Duckett (CEO of the Year Award), Esi Eggleston Bracey (Transformer of the Year Award), and Laysha Ward (Community Investment Pioneer Award) for their professional contributions across sectors.

On the music side, 4batz and newly solo City Girl JT rocked the stage at the Essence GU kickback. However, headliner Usher topped the night off with a special, one-night-only performance of his entire “Confessions” album. Charlie Wilson also returned to the Essence Stage for his eighth time performing at the decorated event.

More of the day’s events included the Suede: Men’s experience. At the panel, Lance Gross and Terrence J saluted their HBCU experiences and their impact on their acting careers. A further nod to Black Hollywood brought Meagan Good, Sanaa Lathan, and writer dream hampton to discuss the current industry.

With the inclusion of additional panels for authors and entrepreneurs, Essence Festival’s Day 3 further solidified its cultural legacy and impact, continuing its jam-packed line-up of honored guests.

RELATED CONTENT: New Orleans City Council Protects Essence Fest With ‘Clean Zone’ Ordinance

• HBCU

by Daniel Johnson

July 7, 2024

Grambling University Player Sues NCAA For Discrimination Against HBCUs; Judge Sets July Settlement Conference

The NCAA has responded to McKinney's claims by saying that it considers multiple factors in its decision to place a program in its academic reform programs, saying that there is a “multitude of non-discriminatory factors.”

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Brenda McKinney, a current player on the Grambling University women’s basketball team, filed a federal class action lawsuit in Indiana in 2023 that accused the NCAA of discriminating against HBCUs through its academic reform programs. McKinney argues that the NCAA included metrics in its Academic Performance Program (APP) that it knew would have a discriminatory effect on its HBCU member organizations. 

U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark J. Dinsmore recently denied the NCAA’s request to delay the lawsuit any further, scheduling a deposition of McKinney for July 17, one day after the settlement conference scheduled for July 16. Judge Dinsmore wrote in his order, “While Defendant’s failure to have completed the Plaintiff’s deposition prior to the scheduled date of the settlement conference may well be a failure to properly plan its necessary discovery, it is neither good cause, nor an exigent circumstance.”

As The Indiana Lawyer reported in 2023, the class action lawsuit mainly concerns the Civil Rights Acts of 1981 and 1985. It claims that the NCAA interferes with student-athletes’ ability to make and enforce contracts, a reference to the national letter of intent that student-athletes sign when they commit to attend institutions. The lawsuit also claims that an HBCU is 43 times more likely than a PWI to be given a postseason ban, which the complaint argues places students at those HBCUs at a disadvantage. 

According to the lawsuit, “Black student-athletes were not provided full information about the potential consequences of the NCAA’s discrimination against Black student-athletes at HBCUs. As a result, unbeknownst to them, they entered their Contracts with substantial disadvantages and effects.”

The lawsuit also argues that the NCAA made an “intentional decision” to “undermine the path of the Black student-athlete.”

“Although the NCAA claims to have made numerous ‘reforms’ to its academic measurements throughout several decades,” the complaint argued, “it is an intentional decision to consistently acknowledge reliable data that its ‘reforms’ hobble and undermine the path of the Black student-athlete at HBCUs but nonetheless allow the discrimination to continue.”

The complaint also attempted to situate the historical role of the education system in the treatment of Black people, “The NCAA’s design and implementation of the APP perpetuates a system that punishes Black student-athletes at HBCUs because of the HBCUs’ unique and historical role in the education of Black people within the systemic vestiges of discrimination.”

According to Sportico, the NCAA has responded to McKinney’s claims by saying that it considers multiple factors in its decision to place a program in its academic reform programs, saying that there is a “multitude of non-discriminatory factors” including “institutional challenges, resource constraints, suspensions and expulsions, injuries, personal choices, illnesses, poor team performance, individual eligibility issues, the absence of postseason play for particular sports, coaching decisions [and] enrollment status.”

Elizabeth Fegan, McKinney’s attorney, told Sportico that the lawsuit is related to the NCAA’s failure to live up to its own bylaws. “We are not trying to prevent the NCAA from monitoring academic performance,” Fegan said. “We want them to be educated and successful. But the NCAA promised in its bylaws to tie those measures to the student bodies of schools and that is where the NCAA has failed.”

Fegan continued, “It is really hard to be a student-athlete bringing these cases. They put their athletic career at risk and risk the ire of their coaching staff. We have talked to HBCU presidents who are interested [in helping] but who can’t participate publicly because of fear of retribution from the NCAA.”

RELATED CONTENT: NCAA Faces Potential Billion-Dollar Lawsuit Regarding Student-Athlete Compensation

by Daniel Johnson

July 7, 2024

Black Woman Named First Female Chancellor Of England’s University Of Birmingham

The 60-year-old Sandie Okoro previously broke barriers as the first Black woman to hold the position of senior VP and general counsel for the World Bank Group.

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Sandie Okoro has been named the eighth Chancellor of the University of Birmingham, succeeding Lord Bilimoria, who is stepping down in July after serving the University in that role for the past 10 years. Okoro, who graduated from the University of Birmingham in Birmingham, England, is a highly regarded lawyer and champion of equality and will be the University’s first female Chancellor. 

According to the University of Birmingham’s press release, Okoro sees the appointment as an opportunity to give back to the University. “The wonderful University of Birmingham is the alma mater to three generations of the Okoros: my mum, me, and my son. So my connection to it is very special indeed. I have followed the University’s outstanding progress very closely since my days there as a student on a full grant back in the 1980s – its dedication to impactful research, its focus on creating an inclusive environment for talented, minority students, and educational excellence are themes very close to my heart.”

Okoro continued, “I am truly honored and delighted to be appointed Chancellor. It’s a fantastic opportunity for me to give a little something back to the amazing University that has given so very much to me and my family.”

Adam Tickell, who will be Okoro’s second in command as vice chancellor at the University of Birmingham, expressed his excitement in a statement. “We are excited to welcome Sandie as our new Chancellor. She is a highly respected trailblazer in the corporate legal sector and is, of course, a proud University of Birmingham graduate. To hear her talk about breaking glass ceilings and aiming high is inspirational and reflects the attitude and passion of our University and our commitment to championing equality, diversity, and inclusion.”

The 60-year-old Okoro previously broke barriers as the first British national and Black woman to hold the position of senior vice president and general counsel for the World Bank Group. During her tenure, she was primarily responsible for being the main advisor and spokesperson for all legal matters for the World Bank. Okoro was also the vice president for Compliance at the World Bank. 

Okoro received an honorary doctorate from the City University of London in 2014 due to her “outstanding achievements in the legal profession and financial services.” At the time, she worked for HSBC Global Asset Management as its Global General Counsel, making her the only ethnic minority to serve in that role for the company. 

Okoro told the Financial Times while employed at the World Bank that a central part of her identity and her ability to break barriers in the financial industry, both in England and abroad, is her background as a Black woman from South London. “Everybody at work knows I’m from South London, even if they don’t know where that is. It’s something I’ve worn with pride, and it’s given me a bullish sense that I can do anything,” Okoro said. “You really don’t mess with South London girls and Black South London girls in particular. We have to grow up pretty fast, and we have to grow up with a sense of turf.”

According to Okoro, her time as chair of the World Bank Group Task Force on Racism caused her to reflect on the injustices she suffered as a child. “It has completely changed my view. I thought people experienced racism in the same way, but even at this late stage, and in the post-George Floyd environment, that opportunity to challenge myself has taught me things,” she told the outlet. “It’s taken me back to my own childhood because I hadn’t been aware of how racism had affected me.”

Okoro continued, “It’s a matter of choosing what to focus on. You can choose to accept it or not to accept it, to see it or not to see it,” she says. “I don’t ignore it to the extent that I don’t think it exists, and I don’t ignore it in the wider world, but I’ve ignored the effect that it’s had on my life – and that’s very powerful because you are then in control.”

• Entertainment

by Mary Spiller

July 7, 2024

Kendrick Lamar Delivers Music Video For ‘Not Like Us,’ Adding Clever Visuals To His Drake Diss

Kendrick Lamar's diss track music video takes several more shots at the "The Motto" rapper.

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Compton rapper Kendrick Lamar has dropped a long-awaited music video for his hit diss track “Not Like Us.” On July 4, his music video took more shots at Drake, and the nail in the coffin for the Toronto rapper came just a month after Lamar performed the song six times in a row at his “The Pop Out” concert in L.A. on Juneteenth.

Not only has the video racked up over 25 million views in just over a day, but the clip features several more references to Drake and his OVO label. Lamar used the video to pay homage to the West Coast hip-hop stars who influenced his style and stack on more references to his feud with Drake, which has dominated the culture this year. 

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Dave Free and Lamar directed the video, which included cameos from “Not Like Us” producer Mustard, Compton native Tommy the Clown, NBA star DeMar DeRozan, and the CEO of Top Dog Entertainment label Anthony “Top Dawg” Tiffith.

In one scene, Lamar doing push-ups atop cinder blocks references Drake’s diss track “Push Ups.”

The video also includes references to owls, which is the mascot associated with Drake’s OVO label. In one scene where Lamar smashes an owl piñata, and a disclaimer that flashes across the screen reads, “No OVHoes were harmed during the making of this video.” 

The video notably includes Lamar’s partner, Whitney Alford, and their two children. In Drake’s song “Family Matter,” he alleged that Lamar’s long-time project partner and filmmaker, Free, fathered one of Lamar’s children with Alford. Lamar used the video to fire back at the “God’s Plan” artist by including cute shots of Alford, himself, and his children — Uzi and Enoch — dancing together and laughing.

The video ends with Lamar containing an owl in a cage.

RELATED CONTENT: Kendrick Lamar’s Powerful Juneteenth Pop Out Concert Performance Unites LA Gangs, Pledges $20K To Charities

• News History

by Mary Spiller

July 7, 2024

Here’s Why Applications For Historically Black Colleges & Universities Are Surging

HBCUs have seen a dramatic increase in freshman applications in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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There has been a recent surge in enrollment and applications at historically Black colleges and universities. According to HBCU Connect in a July 5 report, the rising trend in Black students seeking higher education from Black spaces has been driven by several factors. 

Schools such as Hampton University, Virginia State University, Virginia Union University, and Howard University have been pillars exemplifying this new trend. 

The most major and influential factor in the increase in applications to HBCUs has been their more salient reputation. They are known as “centers of academic excellence and supportive campus environments.” This makes them especially appealing to students who are searching for a higher education that also has an atmosphere of community and support.

Another factor has been the rise and fall of the COVID-19 pandemic. HBCUs tend to emphasize maintaining a high level of education while also providing a safe environment in an institution well adapted to maintaining an effective learning environment during uncertain times.

According to reports, this “has positioned HBCUs favorably among prospective students and families reevaluating their college choices.”

Thirdly, HBCUs focus on affording students scholarship opportunities and offering financial aid. By increasing their pool to draw from scholarship offerings, HBCUs have helped make higher education more attainable and accessible to students with financial barriers.

Not only are the individual universities’ practices drawing in students, but the surrounding broader recognition of their unique historical and educational contributions has also played a role. Applicants are drawn to HBCUs’ well-established network of alums and sponsors.

Vice President of Student Affairs at Florida A&M University, Dr. William E. Hudson, said “With influential figures showcasing the success of HBCUs, it’s no surprise that students are drawn in.”

According to reports compiled by the White House, HBCU schools have “educated 40% of all Black engineers in the country, 50% of all Black lawyers, 70% of Black doctors, and an astonishing 80% of Black judges.”

These factors, and others, have helped increase students’ motivation to attend HBCUs.

For example, Howard received 37,000 applications in the past school year, which marks a 12% increase for its incoming freshman class. FAMU has seen its incoming applications nearly double in the past two years. As of June, FAMU—considered the top public HBCU—received an influx of 21,939 applications for the incoming freshman class and concluded its application season with an admissions rate of 18%.

RELATED CONTENT: ‘A Different World’ Cast Reunites Amid HBCU Admissions Surge

• Entertainment

by Mary Spiller

July 6, 2024

African American Film Critics Association Unveils Winners Of 6th Annual TV Honors, With Glynn Turman Receiving Legacy Award

77-year-old Glynn Turman is well known for his roles in Black television media.

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The African American Film Critics Association (AAFCA) has announced the 2024 recipients of the AAFCA TV Honors, recognizing the outstanding achievements on the small screen in television and streaming. Notably, this year’s award includes Glynn Turman being honored with the Legacy Award.

The AAFCA has honored its special achievement award recipients, who will be celebrated on Aug. 2 at the historic Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in Los Angeles, California, The Philadelphia Tribune reports. The awards began in 2019 and were introduced to recognize the “outstanding achievements in television and streaming, with a particular emphasis on entertainment representing the Black diaspora.”

This year, the Legacy Award will be given to actor Turman, well known for his role in Cooley High. 

AAFCA President and Co-Founder Gil Robertson said, “From the legendary Glynn Turman, whose six-decade career continues to inspire, to rising stars and innovative storytellers, this group exemplifies excellence across the board.” Robertson continued, “We’re honored to recognize their achievements and celebrate their commitment to pushing the boundaries of storytelling. They make us all better.”

Not only was Turman honored, but the AAFCA’s other nominees will also be celebrated in full. 

“The 2024 AAFCA TV Honors class is a powerful testament to the exceptional range of Black talent in television today,” Robertson said.

See the rest of the winners in the competitive categories below:

BEST DOCUMENTARY – Black Twitter: A People’s History

BEST ENSEMBLE – Masters of the Air

BEST LIMITED SERIES/SPECIAL – Genius: MLK/X 

BEST NEW SHOW – Bookie

BEST TV ACTING (Female) – Ayo Edebiri (The Bear)

BEST TV ACTING (Male) – Wendell Pierce (Elsbeth)

BEST TV COMEDY – Unprisoned

BEST TV DIRECTING – Channing Godfrey Peoples (Genius: MLK/X – Episode 401 “Graduation”)

BEST TV DRAMA – The Chi

BEST WRITING – The Bear

BREAKOUT STAR – Josiah Cross (Masters of the Air)

The special achievement honorees include Thurman with the Legacy Award, Michelle Buteau with the Trailblazing Award, Nkechi Okoro Carroll with the Salute to Excellence Award, streaming service Tubi was given the Ally Award, and the Starz Power universe with the Impact Award.

RELATED CONTENT: Prince, Nia Long, Glynn Turman Among 30 Newcomers to The Hollywood Walk Of Fame 

by Daniel Johnson

July 6, 2024

Germany’s First African-Born Parliament Member Won’t Seek Re-Election After Racist Death Threats

Although Karamba Diaby downplayed the racist slurs and death threats, he announced that he would not be seeking re-election in Germany's 2025 federal elections.

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In Germany, anti-immigrant sentiment has surged with the rise of the far-right political party, The Alternative for Germany (AfD). According to The Guardian, Karamba Diaby, who made history as Germany’s first African-born MP in Parliament in 2013, has faced racist slurs and death threats recently. These incidents are widely seen as major factors in Diaby’s decision not to seek re-election in Germany’s 2025 federal elections.

During an appearance on Politico’s Berlin Playbook podcast, Diaby discussed the tenor of the political scene in Germany. “Since 2017, the tone in the German Parliament has become harsher. We hear aggressive speeches from colleagues of the AfD.”

Diaby continued, “We hear derogatory and hurtful content in these contributions. That is truly a totally new situation compared to the period between 2013 and 2017. This aggressive style of talking is fertile breeding ground for the violence and aggression on the streets.”

In 2013, Diaby and Charles M. Huber entered the German Parliament as the first Black members of the Bundestag in a moment similar to the election of Barack Obama in the United States and interpreted as a marker of Germany’s social progress. 

However, according to Diaby, the racist attacks have ratcheted up in recent years. “In the last few years I’ve faced several murder threats. This has now overstepped the mark,” Diaby told The Guardian. “The hatred that the AfD sows every day with its misanthropic narratives is reflected in concrete psychological and physical violence. This endangers the cohesion of our society. We cannot simply accept this.”

Despite choosing not to seek re-election, Diaby indicated that he would remain active with the Social Democrats (SPD) as they campaigned in a letter he sent to his colleagues on July 2. He also indicated he was looking forward to spending time with his family and friends. “We face big challenges and hard work. At the same time, I’m looking forward to having more time for my family and friends and our allotment.”

In November 2023, a survey indicated that Diaby’s experience is the normal experience of Black people in Germany. As DW News reported, a survey from the German Center for Integration and Migration Research conducted from June to November 2022 revealed that 54% of Black people who responded experienced racism at least once. Furthermore, 41% of Black men and 39% of Muslim men reported that they encountered racist discrimination when interacting with the police. 

The director of the center, Naika Foroutan, told the outlet that those instances of racism have a negative impact on democracy. “Repeated experiences of discrimination and racism have consequences for health and are demonstrably linked to a loss of trust in state institutions — this can weaken and threaten democracy.”

In March, Vox reported that the AfD’s resurgence can be compared to the emergence of the far right in the American Republican Party. The AfD, similar to tactics employed by its American counterparts, has gone from the fringes of German politics to major players. Like its American counterparts, the German far right is distrustful of migrants, and it often uses xenophobia and antisemitism to make its points. 

Jacob Guhl, a researcher who focuses on the far right at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue in Germany, told Vox his read on the party and its ambitions. “The party has radicalized a lot since 2013. There is both genuine xenophobia that they are tapping into, which [has] always existed and which they have mobilized. There is [also] discontent around the implementation of refugee policy and how local communities seem to be left alone and over-challenged with the scale of the issue.”

RELATED CONTENT: German Museum Faces Right Wing Backlash After Implementing A ‘Safer Space’ For BIPOC Visitors

• News

by Mary Spiller

July 6, 2024

Family And NAACP Demand Justice After Police Fail To Notify Of Son’s Death

Tori Thompson was found dead in a hotel parking lot in July of 2023 and police failed to notify his family before cremating his body.

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The Arlington chapter of the NAACP in Virginia has dedicated itself to supporting the family of Tori Thompson, who died last year of a fentanyl overdose outside of a motel. According to Thompson’s family, they were unaware the 33-year-old was dead until his ashes were sent to their home more than four months later. The family is calling for answers from the Arlington Police Department for reportedly failing to notify Thompson’s loved ones of his passing.

As reported during a news conference on July 3, the NAACP and Thompson’s family gathered with the community to celebrate Tori’s life and demand that police be held accountable for their failures.

Angela Thompson, Tori’s mother, spoke to the crowd gathered on Langston Boulevard about how she felt the Arlington Police Force wronged her.

She said, “They didn’t notify me that he passed away, and they lied about it. And I don’t think that’s fair.”

“My son passed away; he had his birth certificate on him, a letter from me that said ‘love mommy,’ and me and my family have lived in the same house for over 20 years. There was no reason a notification wasn’t made,” Angela continued.

“His daughters didn’t get to have a funeral. They got this. Thank you for coming. Tori matters.”

Tori’s death occurred in an Arlington hotel parking lot, and he was cremated without the family’s consent. He passed on July 5, 2023, and the Thompson family has been vocal about demanding transparency from the police after they were denied notification of his death when it occurred. 

According to Fox 5 DC, the Arlington Police have only just begun to take the family’s concerns seriously and take action to improve.

The department stated, “They are committed to conducting thorough and complete death investigations while treating all individuals with dignity and respect.” 

Additionally, they told the outlet that they met with the Thompson family in February to discuss the investigation into Tori’s death and give the family a chance to express their concerns directly. 

Following their failure to notify, the County Attorney’s Office has provided further training to officers and detectives within all related Homicide and Robbery Units on the proper procedures for “unclaimed bodies.”

The Arlington Police Department also said, “Additional procedures have been implemented, including requiring the homicide/robbery unit supervisor to review each case and ensure all steps have been taken before the process of unclaimed bodies can begin.”

RELATED CONTENT: Rev. Al Sharpton Eulogizes Dexter Wade And Vows Justice In Alleged Cover-Up Of Death