Reparations, Louisana, Reparations
by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

April 22, 2024

Reparations Bills Pass First Hearings In California Senate

The multiple bills would establish agencies to oversee the allocation of reparations as well as correcting the injustice of eminent domain.

New reparations bills made it through their first hearing in the California Senate. If passed, the bills would implement reparations policy and address systemic eminent domain that displaced primarily Black residents.

The author of the bills, State Sen. Steven Bradford of Gardena, said the policies are “overdue” to correct racially-motivated displacement by the state’s government.

“This is not a handout or a charity of any sort,” Bradford said, according to The Sacramento Bee. “It’s what is owed, what is promised, what is 160 years overdue.”

California historically took private property owned by its Black and brown residents for racially-motivated reasons. Senate Bill 1050 means to correct this injustice, and passed 6-1 during a vote by the Senate Judiciary Committee.

“The power of eminent domain has been repeatedly used to move Black and brown people off their land, to destroy homes and to devastate the opportunity for families to build generational wealth,” explained Bradford.

Cities from San Francisco to Los Angeles used eminent domain to take away minorities’ ability to build wealth through homeownership. Bradford intends for the bill to establish a path of restitution or returning of land to their former owners.

Bradford is also the vice chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus. The caucus proposed the bills as part of its 2024 Reparations Priority Bill Package. Bradford also serves on the first-ever Reparations task force in the state and nation.

“This is a debt that is owed to the people who helped build this country,” shared Bradford. Reparations is a debt owed to the descendants of slavery.” 

California has been relatively progressive in implementing reparations. Senate Bill 1403 specifically would establish the California American Freedmen Affairs Agency, which would oversee the implementation and allocation of reparations to those eligible.

“This agency will be the necessary foundation for the implementation and success of reparations,” Bradford said during a committee hearing in April. “The most important responsibility of this agency will be determining which individuals are eligible for reparations programs and services—the descendants of chattel slavery.”

Other state legislatures have also initiated conversations on reparations, such as New York. While the actual implementation has occurred, with Evanston, Illinois, being the first, these new bills making the rounds in California are a significant stride toward the effort.

RELATED CONTENT: Black California Residents One Step Closer To Receiving $1 Million Reparations Payments

Wahu Mobility, E-Mobility, ev bike, electric bike, Global, International
by Daniel Johnson

April 22, 2024

Wahu Mobility Advances Electric Mobility In Ghana

The cost of manufacturing EVs has gone down, making them more affordable for consumers.

Valerie Labi, the co-founder and CEO of Wahu Mobility, the ebike manufacturer and delivery service provider, spoke at the University of Michigan’s William Davidson Institute in April, highlighting that the average age of vehicles in Ghana is approximately 14 years old. She emphasized her company’s dual mission of addressing two critical challenges: designing vehicles tailored for African conditions and offering reliable transportation solutions.

Mobility, particularly e-mobility, can help supplement a lack of a public transportation system with vehicles that private citizens can use. According to a recent scholarship from the World Bank, the cost of manufacturing EVs, mainly two- and three-wheeled EVs, has gone down enough to make them a significant portion of a country’s movement toward sustainable mobility. 

In February 2024, Wahu Mobility of Ghana inaugurated the country’s inaugural electric vehicle (EV) assembly plant. Established in 2022 through the merger of Cargo Bikes and Mana Mobility, both enterprises operated by African women, Wahu Mobility primarily specializes in electric bicycles tailored to Ghana’s terrain. This initiative forms part of its broader mission to empower riders across Ghana.

As Innovation Spark reports, Wahu Mobility received a significant investment from Blue Lion in 2023, which allowed the company to expand production, invest in research and development, put more effort into marketing, and expand distribution. Though most discussion of EVs is tethered to the automotive industry, implementation of the technology in that sector has been disjointed, particularly from American manufacturers. 

Wahu brings together talent from Ghana and experienced engineers and designers from global brands like BMW and Audi. Labi is a serial impact entrepreneur who holds degrees from the University of Southampton and the University of Cambridge. 

According to Wahu’s website, the company is committed to making sustainable transportation accessible to all, which is evident in its lease-to-own program called ride-to-own.

Once a rider makes their initial deposit, the bike is delivered within 2-3 business days as long as e-bikes are available. Registration for the bikes is completed via a mobile app, the Wahu Rider App. Maintenance on the bikes is not free, but the maintenance is subsidized, meaning riders will only pay part of the cost of repairs. 

Ghana also needs the charging infrastructure for EVs, which Dr. Aruna Sivakumar, the director of the Urban Systems Lab, said is a problem in many developing countries.

As Sivakumar writes for Energy Futures Lab’s website, “Therefore, the transition to electrification of road transport must be accompanied by appropriate policies to ensure that accessibility (especially for the poor) is not compromised. Aggressive electrification without consideration of transport planning principles of equitable access will result in major setbacks for the low-income populations in these countries.”

In 2023, Impact Hub Accra, a social entrepreneurship and innovation center in Ghana, partnered with Siemens Stiftung to implement a Made In Ghana project to help facilitate, among other things, the creation of charging infrastructure in Ghana, the decarbonization of transportation in Ghana, and bringing stakeholders into the funding equation. 

According to Will Senyo, the CEO of Impact Hub Africa, the hope is that the investments into Wahu Mobility and other companies in the EV space will translate to more sustainable and inclusive transportation in Ghana.

“Collaboratively, we are working with regional institutions, businesses, academics, and administration on technical issues to foster more sustainable, accessible, inclusive, and efficient urban transportation in the country,” Senyo said.

RELATED CONTENT: Electric Vehicles Release More Toxic Emissions Than Regular Gas-Powered Cars

affordable housing, Washington State, Program, Historical Housing Discrimination, housing discrimination, property taxes, South Fulton
by Jeffrey McKinney

April 22, 2024

Cost-Saving Options For Black Americans To Consider As Mortgage Rates Exceed 7%

Higher mortgage rates may prompt potential homebuyers to decide whether to buy now or act later.

Bad news, prospective home buyers: mortgage rates have eclipsed 7% for the first time in 2024.

Based on housing finance giant Freddie Mac, the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage was 7.10% on April 18, 2024, up from 6.88% the previous week. And it was much higher than  6.39% at the same time last year.

“As rates trend higher, potential homebuyers are deciding whether to buy before rates rise even more or hold off in hopes of decreases later in the year,” Freddie Mac Chief Economist Sam Khater said in a news release.

He added, “It remains unclear how many home buyers can withstand increasing rates in the future.”

The most recent jump on the 30-year mortgage — the most commonly used by homebuyers nationwide — has hit its highest point since December 2023, per Freddie Mac data. Rising mortgage rates, of course, translate into higher borrowing costs, making home affordability more difficult for buyers.

The current conditions may indeed have some prospective buyers questioning whether to buy now before rates climb higher or wait to see if they fall. While experts don’t provide a definitive answer, they say a decision may simply be driven by a person’s financial position and whether buying now works for them budget-wise.

William Michael Cunningham, an economist and owner of Creative Investment Research, says that though the 30-year rate has increased, it is still much lower than it was in October 2023, when it was about 7.8%.

He says that means the monthly costs for today’s buyer on a $250,000 mortgage with a $10,000 down payment is $1,728 at 7.8%, as opposed to $1,613 on a 7.1 % mortgage.  He says the difference would save a buyer over $41,300 over the life of the mortgage in payment and interest costs. “That’s four times the amount of the down payment than you placed on the home that you’re buying, giving you more money to buy another house if you decide to do so.”

He says another cost-saving option Black homebuyers should consider is energy-efficient mortgages.

With rates likely to continue rising, now might be a good time to consider options to help offset those costs. This report offers some ways to save money and restrain rising mortgage rates.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

April 22, 2024

Tamera Mowry-Housley ‘Incredibly Blessed’ To Receive Trailblazer Award At 16th Annual Pink Pump Affair

Tamera Mowry-Housley feels "incredibly blessed" to be honored as a Trailblazer.

Tamera Mowry-Housley’s 30 years of innovation on and off screen is being celebrated as she gears up to receive the Trailblazer Award at the 16th annual Pink Pump Affair.

Taking place on Sunday, May 19, 2024, Mowry-Housley is among the distinguished honorees set to be recognized by the Special Needs Network (SNN) for their contributions within their respective fields. The Emmy Award-winning host, author, actress, producer, and entrepreneur is being honored as a Trailblazer for her dedication to advancing women’s health, wellness, and inclusivity and for her commitment to empowering others through her platform.

From her start as a child star alongside her twin sister Tia Mowry to transparently tackling real-life issues and conversations as a co-host on “The Real,” Mowry has continued to serve as a voice for underrepresented groups.

“I feel incredibly blessed and honored to have been considered for the ‘Trailblazer Award.’ It’s hard for me to believe I’ve been pursuing my passion for more than 30 years now!” she shared in a press release.

“While there have been some challenging times throughout my career, I’m grateful that most of my experiences have been positive. All these experiences have helped shape who I am today, and I couldn’t have done it without the amazing support and love I’ve received. I’m forever grateful for this journey.”

One look at her social media shows how committed Mowry-Housley is to promoting self-love, family, and motivation to her 11.7 million followers. From her motherhood testimonials to the positive affirmations she shares just because the “Sister Sister” star is leading by example and taking action toward motivating transformative change.

The Pink Pump Affair’s Trailblazer Award honors individuals who have forged paths for others through groundbreaking work in their field or through community activism. Past honorees include Angela Bassett, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Alfre Woodard, Holly Robinson Peete, and Tisha Campbell.

Held during Autism Awareness Month, the annual charity event is hosted by Special Needs Network (SNN), a leading non-profit organization that advocates for individuals with disabilities and their families. In addition to Mowry-Housley, this year’s honorees include Alva Adams-Mason, Director of Multicultural Business Alliances at Toyota, who will receive the Game Change Award for her work promoting diversity in the automotive industry, Cristy Romero will receive the Self-Advocate Award for advocacy work in disability rights, and Entrepreneur and Autism-Self Advocate Michael Jett will receive The Areva Martin Everyday Advocate Award for his retail innovation and commitment to DEI initiatives.

This year’s ceremony will be hosted by comedian Kym Whitley, with famed Los Angeles news anchor Pat Harvey serving as mistress of ceremonies.

2024 Paris Olympics, Kevin Durant, Devin Booker
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

April 22, 2024

USA Basketball Reveals Roster For 2024 Summer Olympics

Kevin Durant, LeBron James and Steph Curry lead the way for the USA.

LeBron James and Stephen Curry are among the headliners on USA Basketball’s roster for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

The men’s team was put together by Hall of Fame basketball great Grant Hill, USA Basketball Men’s National Team managing director, and approved by the USA Basketball Board of Directors. The Olympics’ men’s basketball games start July 26 and end August 11, 2024.

Here’s the roster that will look take the gold this summer: Kevin Durant (Phoenix Suns), LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers), Bam Adebayo (Miami Heat), Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns), Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors), Anthony Davis (Los Angeles Lakers), Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves), Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers), Tyrese Haliburton (Indiana Pacers), Jrue Holiday (Boston Celtics), Kawhi Leonard (L.A. Clippers), and Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics).

“It’s an honor to introduce the 2024 USA Basketball Men’s National Team,” Hill said. “I’m grateful to these 12 men for their commitment to represent USA Basketball. The United States is home to some of the best basketball players in the world, and I appreciate the vast interest in being part of this roster. These decisions weren’t easy, but it was a pleasure to go through the process and reach this outcome. 

“We have the utmost respect for the level of competition we will face this summer. The Olympics represent the pinnacle of sport, and the world will be watching the USA as we play in the toughest basketball tournament in history.”

Steve Kerr (Golden State Warriors) is the head coach. His assistantsare  Mark Few (Gonzaga University), Tyronn Lue (L.A. Clippers) and Erik Spoelstra (Miami Heat). 

“My staff and I are honored to coach this amazing group of players in our quest to win Olympic gold in Paris,” Kerr said. “We plan to represent USA Basketball with the utmost class, and we hope to make our country proud.”

The team will attempt to bring back the country’s fifth straight—and 17th overall—Olympic gold medal in basketball.

LA’s Homeless, Housing
by Sharelle B. McNair

April 22, 2024

Housing Built By LA’s Homeless Community Receives Mixed Reactions From Neighbors 

Talking about taking matters into your own hands....

Los Angeles’ growing homeless community members have used their creative skills to settle into makeshift homes alongside a busy highway, causing stares and mixed reactions.  

The community, made of materials such as tents and tarps, sits along the Arroyo Seco next to the 110 Freeway and close to Highland Park. One “homeowner” said the location is a safe space. “It’s good because nobody bothers us,” a man who goes by Cesar said. 

“That’s why we’re here.” 

Cesar’s home is one of the most impressive—with a front door and electricity. He has lived there for four years, working part-time,. He said this is the best option for him since he can’t afford housing.

“For my work, I can’t do that and move to another place because the rent is too high,” he said.

According to the New York Post, the number of homes above the “dry river” has increased as 46,000 LA residents experience an increase in homelessness. “They don’t bother me,” a nearby resident said in Spanish.

But another neighbor, while admiring the work done, isn’t so enthusiastic.

“This doesn’t belong here. This is public property,” Mike Ancheta said. “But this is not what it’s supposed to be used for. This is dangerous. As you can see, someone is cooking out there, an open fire. They are stealing electricity. I mean, come on.”  

Connie Flanders, who cares for a horse nearby, called the set-up “scary.”

Residents are calling on city leadership to do something about the homeless crisis. During her State of the City address on April 15, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass called for “the most fortunate Angelenos” to join the city’s new public-private partnership campaign, LA4LA, to speed up the process of affordable housing by acquiring more properties and lowering the cost of capital.

“We have brought the public sector together—and now we must prevail on the humanity and generosity of the private sector,” Bass said.

The area’s representative, Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez, released a statement saying the “outreach teams are working to urgently find housing for the individuals living in this encampment. Our office believes that this status quo is unacceptable and is working to urgently address this crisis, with both short-term and long-term solutions,” Hernandez said.

Los Angeles isn’t the only city where the homeless community is taking housing into their own hands. In Seattle, Steve Irwin, who faced criminal charges for the destruction of Dr. Joze Rizal Park with an excavator in October 2023, built a cabin in February 2024. He said he didn’t see anything wrong with what he was doing and admitted to using heavy machinery to clear trees.

Liberty Bank, Evanston, Illinois, Reparations, Fund,
by Sharelle B. McNair

April 22, 2024

Evanston Reparations Committee Announces Funds To Be Moved To America’s Largest Black-Owned Bank 

Let's hope other reparation plans are activated in other cities.

The Evanston (IL) Reparations Fund’s money will be held at Liberty Bank, one of the largest Black-owned banks in the United States.

Reparations Committee Chair Robin Rue Simmons announced a minimum of $17 million will be transferred to the financial institution for residents of the Illinois city.

The fund was created to support several initiatives, like the Restorative Housing Program, to increase homeownership and intergenerational equity among its Black residents. Simmons said the measure will provide more support for businesses and homeowners.

“Seventeen million dollars in a Black bank is going to give more lending power and access to Black businesses, Black mortgages and other forms of support,” Simmons said. 

In what Simmons described as “the biggest deal since the passing of Resolution 126-R-19 in 2019” during a meeting on April 4, the program has provided more than $4.5 million in funding to residents who were at least 18 years old between 1919 and 1969 and have descendants affected by redistricting and other racially motivated policies. 

Funding is received through a city tax on donations, recreational cannabis, and yearly transfers of $1 million from the city’s real estate transfer tax. 

With the closest branch in Park Forest, Liberty is valued at $1 billion and has provided services for first-time home buyers who chose to use their reparations funding as mortgages. Committee member Claire McFarland Barber said she is pleased with the outcome and happy the city can assist in paying it forward. Fellow member Krissie Harris called the move “amazing,” calling it proof that the reparations plan for Evanston is “instrumental.”

The group identified other ways to expand the city’s growth outside of reparations. During the meeting, Twyla Blackmond Larnell, a political science professor at Loyola University Chicago, presented a survey as the best way to identify the racial patterns in the city’s business activity. 

By modeling her research to mimic a 1996 study of local business disparities in Evanston, the professor hopes to take into account additional aspects that broadly impact Black businesses, like racial, economic disparities, and how the issue has expanded over time.

“We have seen — not just in Evanston, but this whole entire area — an exodus of Black residents, business owners, etcetera,” Larnell said, according to The Daily Northwestern. “This has economic ramifications for the Black community, but it also has political ramifications for the Black community.”

The reparations program’s construction administrator, Michael Dykes, also provided an update on the importance of reparations recipients wanting to improve their homes. Dykes and Simmons expressed their vision for the home to be done by Black contractor— adding another form of economic benefit to the Black community.

“All of our contractors are local, and all of them are Black,” Dykes said.

NHL, diversity
by Daniel Johnson

April 21, 2024

TSU Hires Duanté Abercrombie As First Head Coach For Men’s Hockey Program

In addition to his work as an inaugural member of the Washington Capitals’ Black Hockey Committee and co-creator and lead instructor of the Rising Stars Academy, he was nominated for the 2024 Willie O’Ree Community Hero Award by the Capitals for his work on its committee.

As BLACK ENTERPRISE previously reported, Tennessee State University signed its first hockey player in January, and now it has hired a coach to lead its men’s hockey program.

Duanté Abercrombie is the first head coach of a hockey program at an HBCU and the second Black hockey head coach of a collegiate program, following Kelsey Koelzer in 2021. 

In a press release, TSU President Glenda Glover and Director of Athletics Dr. Mikki Allen welcomed Abercrombie’s addition to the university.

“I am incredibly excited to embark on building this program, supported by God, my family, TSU students, alumni, and all those eagerly awaiting this moment,” Abercrombie said. “I firmly believe that one day, TSU will be recognized not only as a powerhouse on the ice but also as a program whose student-athletes leave a profound legacy on the world, enriched by the lessons learned at TSU.”

Glover praised Abercrombie’s hiring as another instance of the university’s commitment to breaking barriers in her statement.

“We recognize the profound significance of bringing hockey to an HBCU and providing our students with unparalleled opportunities that will enrich their college experience,” Glover said. “This bold move builds upon the TSU legacy that we had envisioned for the institution as a comprehensive university offering a wide range of academic and extracurricular programs, with a continued commitment to excellence.”

Abercrombie brings an impressive pedigree as a barrier-breaker in the game of hockey himself. In addition to his work as an inaugural member of the Washington Capitals’ Black Hockey Committee and co-creator and lead instructor of the Rising Stars Academy, the Capitals nominated him for the 2024 Willie O’Ree Community Hero Award for his work on its committee. He also counts Neal Henderson and Graeme Townshend among his mentors, the first and third Black players inducted into the United States Hall of Fame. 

“Duante will prove to be one of the best hires in College Hockey,” Townshend said in the press release. “He brings a wealth of experience that is rooted in a high degree of character, compassion, and integrity. He will prove to be an incredible role model for ALL members of the Tennessee State University community.”

Allen is also looking to expand the university’s athletic offerings between 2025 and 2028 to encompass baseball, women’s soccer, and women’s swimming and diving. Allen is excited about what Abercrombie represents for the university’s hockey program and the university at large.

“Today is a historic moment for Tennessee State University Athletics, as we welcome our first-ever hockey head coach,” Allen said in the press release. “With Duanté’s extensive experience in player development and coaching, I’m confident in his ability to build a reputable program, along inspire our student-athletes to excel both on-and-off the ice. We’re excited to embark on this groundbreaking journey together!”

RELATED CONTENT: Aced It! Tennis Phenom Sydney Brantley Signs With Tennessee State University

self deport, Haiti, Photojournalist Dieu-Nalio Chery
by Daniel Johnson

April 21, 2024

Calls For France To Repay Haitian ‘Freedom Tax’ Grow Louder

France demanded the newly freed enslaved population of Haiti pay them, their former enslavers, reparations, a disastrous arrangement for the infant country.

France stole from Haiti almost 200 years ago. However, France has not made an effort to repay what some scholars refer to as a freedom tax. One group is connecting these events to present-day turmoil and calling on the United Nations to ensure a wrong gets righted.  

The Guardian reports that 20 non-governmental organizations are seeking an independent commission from the UN’s Permanent Forum on People of African Descent. They refer to the debt France claimed from Haiti in 1825 as a ransom. 

Monique Cleska, a Haitian activist leading the effort, told Reuters that to move forward truly, France needs to recognize its role and that “we move forward.” 

Jemima Pierre, a professor of global race at the University of British Columbia, is also a member of the coalition. She believes economists have likely underestimated the amount of Haiti’s loss. Pierre told The Guardian, “It’s $21 billion-plus 200 years of interest that France has enjoyed, so we’re talking more like $150bn, $200bn or more.”

The assassination of Haiti’s President Jovenel Möise in 2021 also exacerbated problems in Haiti, which were further compounded by the United States backing Ariel Henry, an unelected leader who has effectively since been forced into exile by Haitian gangs due in part to his unpopularity. Ambassador Daniel Foote, who resigned in protest of President Joe Biden’s decision to deport Haitian immigrants, blasted American foreign policy in his 2021 resignation letter. 

“I will not be associated with the United States’ inhumane, counterproductive decision to deport thousands of Haitian refugees. This cycle of international political interventions in Haiti has consistently produced catastrophic results.”

According to NPR, Haiti’s poverty cannot solely be attributed to the decisions of its leaders. The country has been profoundly impacted by the actions of various superpowers, particularly France, which scholars like Marlene Daut of the University of Virginia describe as having committed “the greatest heist in history.”

France demanded the newly freed enslaved population of Haiti pay them, their former enslavers, reparations. This arrangement was disastrous for the infant country, as the amount was approximately three times the country’s GDP, which meant they had to take out loans from French banks at high-interest rates.

As Daut wrote, “Just as the legacy of slavery in the United States has created a gross economic disparity between Black and white Americans, the tax on its freedom that France forced Haiti to pay—referred to as an “indemnity” at the time—severely damaged the newly independent country’s ability to prosper.”

In 2020, French economist Thomas Piketty argued that France owed Haiti at least $28 billion in restitution payments. In an interview with French outlet Le Nouvelliste, Piketty framed his argument in context with the GDP numbers of Haiti. “This debt represented in 1825 the equivalent of approximately three years of Haiti’s production (300% of GDP, one would say using today’s language).”

Pierre, in particular, has been clear and critical of the outsized role France and the United States’ foreign policy have played in creating the conditions that Haiti is in presently. During her remarks in the meeting, she highlighted what outside actors have done to Haiti over its history.

“Haitian people have endured wide-scale violence over the past few decades, especially at the hands of foreigners.” Pierre continued. “In order for the Western imperial powers to mask their own responsibility in the face of violence, precariousness, and poverty that they have helped to create…they devote themselves to their favorite sport—foster a political crisis so that they can come and play savior.”

Pierre closed her remarks by implicating the United States, Canada, and France in its imperialist actions.

“The nature of imperialism never changes. All the ongoing negotiations, by the way, the rest of the Haitian political class occur not just with the participation but through the rules of the United States Department of State (and articulated through its emissaries: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the French government, or now CARICOM).”

RELATED CONTENT: With A Surge In Gang Violence, Americans In Haiti Are Struggling To Find Ways To Escape

Kim Scott, Cleveland, City Planner, Felony Theft, Falsifying Documents
by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

April 21, 2024

Family Of Ricky Cobb II Files Lawsuit Against Minnesota State Troopers Over Fatal Traffic Stop

The federal lawsuit seeks monetary damages from Ryan Londregan and Brett Seide for the fatal July 2023 shooting of Ricky Cobb II.

A federal lawsuit was filed April 17 against two Minnesota State Troopers for their involvement in Ricky Cobb II’s death. The lawsuit seeks monetary damages from Ryan Londregan and Brett Seide for the July 2023 shooting.

According to the Minn Post, the family of the slain 33-year-old announced the lawsuit. The civil suit alleges that the state troopers violated multiple amendments while attempting to remove Cobb II from his vehicle during a traffic stop.

The news conference featured numerous members of Cobb II’s family, including his parents and both of his children’s mothers.

“Imagine your children walking out the door every day to go out to school and having to say goodbye to an urn instead of their actual parent,” said Danielle Pickett, who shared two sons with Cobb II. “They don’t have a father and we’re left to raise little boys without their dad being present.”

The civil lawsuit claims that the troopers did not uphold the fourth and fourteenth amendments at the scene and that the troopers conducted an unreasonable seizure and used excessive force toward Cobb II. Upon stopping him, they learned that Cobb II may have violated a protection order in Ramsey County. This revelation prompted the officers to begin arresting Cobb.

However, Cobb II refused to leave the vehicle. After the car moved forward, the incident escalated, with Lonrdegan firing two shots that ultimately killed him. The Cobb family’s attorney, Harry Daniels, explained how the suit does not call upon the state nor Minneapolis. This is dissimilar to the case brought by George Floyd’s family, who received a $27.5 million settlement from the city.

However, Daniels said a similar suit is not out of question. Furthermore, Londregan faces charges of second-degree unintentional murder, first-degree assault, and second-degree manslaughter for his involvement.

RELATED CONTENT: Black Man Files Lawsuit Against Police Officers Who Beat Him After Mistaking Him For Domestic Violence Suspect

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