by Daniel Johnson

August 30, 2025

Florida Pastors Arrested After Allegedly Trying To Prevent Erasure Of Black History Matters Mural

A pair of Florida men are in the news after police in St. Petersburg, Florida, alleged that the pair attempted to block transportation crews from painting over a “Black History Matters” mural.

A pair of Florida pastors is in the news for making what the late Rep. John Lewis used to call “good trouble” after police in St. Petersburg, Florida, alleged that the pair attempted to block Florida Department of Transportation crews from painting over a “Black History Matters” mural.

According to Fox 13 Tampa Bay, Rev. Andrew Oliver, 45, and Rev. Benedict Atherton-Zeman, 59, brought a stop to an attempt to paint over a street mural by walking past police officers and sitting down in the middle of the street, directly on top of the mural set to be painted over.

Oliver is the pastor at Allendale United Methodist Church; Atherton-Zeman is the pastor of the Unitarian Universalist Church of St. Petersburg.

Per the police account of the situation, the two men were attempting to block FDOT machinery. The St. Petersburg police officers who spoke to the outlet indicated that the two men were repeatedly warned to move, but they declined to acquiesce to the demands of the police, so they were arrested and later booked on charges of pedestrian(s) obstructing or hindering traffic, and obstruction.

The two-man peaceful protest stems from Florida’s Gov. Ron DeSantis signing Senate Bill 1662 into law in June. Purportedly, the bill aims to keep transportation facilities (which apparently has been expanded to include roads) clear of any kind of political ideology.

However, the city had requested that the state make an exception for several murals including a Pride mural, a mural on the campus of the University of South Florida, and the aforementioned Black History Matters mural outside of the Woodson African American History Museum, which it defended by providing crash data that proved that not all street murals posed the danger that the state said they did.

Despite this effort, the request was denied by the FDOT, and although city officials disagreed with the decision from the state entity, in an Aug. 25 press conference, St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch urged residents to be strategic and not reactionary regarding the decision from the State of Florida.

As the outlet reported, St. Petersburg’s leaders did not want to risk losing critical funding from the state, similar to how the Trump administration has sought to punish local governments that don’t adhere to its anti-diversity, equity, and inclusion stance by withholding critical funding.

“These murals are more than paint on pavement. They are expressions of our community identity and values. As the mayor of our city, I will not risk these essential investments in a fight I don’t believe we can win,” Welch said in the press conference. “That would be irresponsible leadership and detrimental to our city in the long run. But make no mistake, this is not the end of the story. Our response will be strategic, not reactionary.”

According to CBS 12, in keeping with Mayor Welch’s response, leaders of other cities, including Delray Beach’s Vice-Mayor Rob Long, have called attention to the fact that the removal of these murals is not about public safety, but DeSantis and the Republican Party’s war on culture and inclusion, which often targets Black Americans and LGBTQ+ individuals.

“Let’s be honest. We all know that this is not about traffic safety, this is political,” Long said. “It’s a part of same culture war climate where symbols of inclusion are targeted precisely because they represent acceptance. It’s about erasing the visibility of the LGBTQIA+ people.”

by Mary Spiller

August 30, 2025

Sterling K. Brown Gets Emotional At AAFCA TV Honors, Wins For ‘Paradise’ As Other Standouts Celebrated

The African-American Film Critics Association’s 7th Annual TV Honors lit up LA with powerful speeches and groundbreaking wins, as Sterling K. Brown and Kathy Bates led a night celebrating diverse voices and top-tier television.

The African-American Film Critics Association (AAFCA) celebrated its 7th Annual TV Honors on Aug. 23, highlighting standout television achievements over the past year. The star-studded event, hosted by Jordin Sparks, unfolded inside the historic Blossom Ballroom at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in Los Angeles.

Honorees spanned a range of genres at the AAFCA event. “Harlem” took home Best Comedy, “Number One on the Call Sheet” earned Best Documentary, and “Gen Zone” won Best Reality. “The Big Cigar” claimed Best Limited Series, while “The Supremes at Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat” was awarded Best TV Movie. “Bel-Air” was recognized for Best Ensemble, and Sterling K. Brown received individual honors for his acclaimed role in Hulu’s “Paradise.”

In his heartfelt acceptance speech, Brown spoke to the deeper meaning behind the recognition he receives. “One of the things that is truly something that no one who doesn’t walk in my skin will ever understand, and it happened to me this evening as well, is when folks come up to me and say, ‘Brother, thank you for representing us the way that you do,’” Brown said, via Gold Derby.

“I want you to know that sometimes there’s a certain sort of heaviness when you’re the face of things. But when you do come up to me and you say that to me, it feeds me in ways that you can never possibly imagine.”

Veteran actress Kathy Bates accepted her Best Actress award at the AAFCA TV Honor for her performance on CBS’s “Matlock.” Quoting Freedom Rider Joan Mulholland, Bates opened warmly: “Joan Mulholland, one of the white Freedom Riders, said, ‘Y’all means all.’ So, y’all, thanks for inviting me to your cookout,” she joked before expressing gratitude.

“I’m grateful to the nearly 200 AAFCA critics across the globe that ‘Matlock’ has touched your hearts. Your recognition is not just for me, but for the entire team behind ‘Matlock,’ made up of many diverse voices, perspectives, and backgrounds. You bring the voices of the artists who are being honored here today and the ones you honor throughout the year to the public so that their truth can reach the people all over this country, all over the globe. Truth creates empathy, and empathy is the most powerful human resource we have.”

Netflix newcomer “Forever” was one of the night’s biggest winners, securing Best Writing, Best Director, and Best New Show, while also landing on AAFCA’s list of the Top Ten Television Programs of 2025.

Series creator Mara Brock Akil, who received the Legacy Award, described the show as a labor of love. “Stories allow us to be seen,” Akil told Ebony. “I tell the truth through fiction and pull our narrative into full frontal view. I’m birthing these ideas, and I pull together a village of other caretakers because their love, skill, time and talent are a part of these stories.”

The AAFCA TV Honors continue to spotlight excellence in television, bringing together creators, performers, and tastemakers to uplift diverse voices on screen.

by Mary Spiller

August 30, 2025

James E. Ferguson II, Civil Rights Lawyer Who Helped Integrate Schools, Dies at 82

Ferguson spent decades fighting for racial justice by challenging school segregation, reversing wrongful convictions, and sparing prisoners from execution.

James E. Ferguson II, a civil rights lawyer who spent decades fighting for racial justice by challenging school segregation, reversing wrongful convictions, and sparing prisoners from execution, died July 21 in Charlotte, N.C. He was 82. His son, James Ferguson III, said the cause was complications of COVID-19 and pneumonia.

Long before earning his law degree, Ferguson was actively involved in the civil rights movement, organizing his classmates in the Jim Crow South to integrate libraries, lunch counters, and other public spaces. After graduating from Columbia Law School in 1967—where he recalled being one of fewer than 15 Black students in a class of about 300—he joined Julius Chambers and Adam Stein to form Charlotte’s first racially integrated law firm, according to The New York Times.

“We weren’t practicing law in the abstract,” Ferguson said in Robert Samuel Smith’s book, Race, Labor & Civil Rights (2008). “We were the legal arm of the civil rights movement in North Carolina.”

In 1971, Ferguson helped persuade the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold busing as a tool for integrating public schools in Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education. The unanimous ruling became a national model for school desegregation efforts. During the case, his law office was torched in an arson attack—no injuries or arrests followed—but Ferguson never forgot the 3 a.m. phone call alerting him to the blaze.

Ferguson also worked on landmark cases overturning wrongful convictions. He helped secure pardons for the Wilmington 10, who spent nearly a decade in prison, and represented the Charlotte Three, whose long sentences were later commuted.

Partnering with the Innocence Project, he introduced DNA evidence and new testimony that led to the 2004 exoneration of Darryl Hunt, who had spent 19 years imprisoned for a murder he did not commit.

“If you do justice to Darryl Hunt, you have done justice to the state, to the prosecution, to your country and yourselves,” Ferguson told an all-white jury during the case.

Beginning in 2011, Ferguson also fought under North Carolina’s Racial Justice Act to reduce death sentences for four inmates, succeeding in having their sentences changed to life imprisonment. “He endured abuses and threats but made everyone feel seen and heard — that is the civil rights movement,” said attorney Sonya Pfeiffer, his law partner. “What he did for schools across the country was extraordinary.”

Beyond the courtroom, Ferguson trained Black lawyers in apartheid-era South Africa, lectured at Harvard Law School, served as general counsel for the ACLU, and led the North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers.

“I just want to feel that I’ve done all I can do to bring about equality — for everybody,” Ferguson told The Charlotte Post in 2016. “That’s what life is about — trying to create the society we think we want.”

He is survived by three children, a brother, four grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. His wife, Barbara, died in 2022.

by Mary Spiller

August 30, 2025

Chicago Chefs Serve Up Black Culinary Excellence At Summertime Dining Showcase

A group of Chicago’s top Black women chefs is coming together to serve up more than just food — they’re serving community, culture, and collaboration with 'A Taste of Black Excellence: Summertime Edition.'

Chicago’s vibrant food scene will get an infusion of cultural pride next weekend as four accomplished chefs join forces for “A Taste of Black Excellence: Summertime Edition,” founded by Chef Ora Thompson in Illinois. The event features an eight-course dining experience celebrating Black culinary artistry this weekend.

The event, taking place on Sept. 6 from 5 to 8 p.m. in Blue Island, highlights Black women chefs who are blending tradition with fresh innovation. The evening will also feature live entertainment, local vendors, and food rich with cultural heritage — from jerk barbecue chicken wings and baked mac and cheese to sliders and homemade potato chips.

Chef Thompson, who founded the event and runs the Chicago-based Cafe 322 Urban Bistro catering company, said her goal is to showcase creativity while encouraging collaboration.

“It’s important in our culture because it’s a lot of competition, unfortunately, and so I want to change that narrative and bring light and awareness to all of the creativity and the excellence that our community has, and we can do that together. We can do it better together,” Thompson said.

Although this year’s lineup features only women chefs, Thompson emphasized that the focus extends beyond gender. According to CBS News, the event uplifts Black chefs, entrepreneurs, and performers while welcoming people from all backgrounds.

“It’s open to everybody. So, it’s not just a celebration of us, and including us. It’s inclusive to everybody, but we’re highlighting Black Excellence,” she said.

This marks the second edition of the Chicago culinary showcase, following a successful spring launch that drew food enthusiasts from across the region. With doors opening at 4:30 p.m., guests can expect an evening of food, music, and connection, spotlighting talent from across the city — as per Ora Thompson’s original vision.

Tickets are available through Eventbrite until Aug. 31.

by Daniel Johnson

August 30, 2025

Intel Ends Partnership With HBCU After U.S. Takes Stake In Tech Giant

Intel ended a partnership with North Carolina Central University's law school aimed at developing a pipeline for diverse recruits through the university's Technology Law and Policy Center.

The first impact of a deal between chip manufacturer Intel and the Trump administration, which some economists and conservatives have criticized as potentially affecting free enterprise, is the suspension of an existing partnership with North Carolina Central University’s law school aimed at developing a pipeline for diverse recruits through the university’s Technology Law and Policy Center.

According to CBS News, Kevin Hassett, the director of the White House National Economic Council, indicated that this deal is potentially the first of many in his comments to reporters, an indication that set off the alarm bells for economists and conservatives alike. Under the agreement, the U.S. will now own stock in Intel.

Trump has a bad habit of nickel-and-diming the American people.

Deals with Intel, Nvidia, and Nippon are not just bad economics; they are terrible tax and fiscal policy.

I explain in my latest @MarketWatch op-ed ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/w2mP2hDkcQ
— Adam Michel (@adamnmichel) August 28, 2025

The Trump administration’s proposal to take a 10% equity stake in Intel and other chipmakers by converting CHIPS Act grants would undercut the very purpose of the program—making U.S. semiconductor manufacturing competitive. https://t.co/1CwvJofR2o
— Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (@ITIFdc) August 21, 2025

As Michael Strain, director of economic policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute, told the outlet, although the Trump administration’s goal isn’t yet clear, “There are major risks to these companies. A lot of the things that companies need to do in order to stay competitive in the market are politically unpopular,” such as layoffs. “It’s going to be a lot harder for these companies to engage in those painful but necessary moves if the president feels like they would create a political vulnerability for him.”

He added, “This is also going to accrue to the detriment of the American people, because you’re going to see a lot of good taxpayer money chasing bad investments … and more generally, countries that have gone down this route have had slower productivity growth, slower increases in living standards, and companies that are less likely to be industry leaders.”

Bloomberg Law noted in its reporting that although the university noted that Intel has provided the “final round of funding” for the initiative, the formal end of the program is in line with deals the government has brokered between Skydance Media and Paramount, Verizon and Frontier Communications, and T-Mobile’s ongoing bid to acquire two smaller companies.

Intel, for its part, per its sources, has already been working to reduce its reliance on DEI, despite rounds of layoffs and retirements rendering the company in desperate need of new blood, which was to be provided by the program at NCCU.

However, according to those sources, due to Intel’s continued financial struggles, the price tag of $1 million per year to maintain the partnership with the university was seen by the organization as untenable, despite the commitment the chip manufacturer made in 2021 to foster a more inclusive work environment.

As the company noted in a press release that year, HBCUs continue to provide an outsized number of Black lawyers relative to their sizes, a major reason for creating the initiative in the first place, as well as part of its larger efforts to address social justice and racism in America, which they dubbed the Intel Rule.

Now, the Intel Rule, the pipeline, and the executives responsible for creating both are gone, and the federal government, due in part to its aggressive stance against DEI, may have shackled itself to an albatross that may prove difficult to disentangle itself from.

As Scott Lincicome, a leading economic and trade policy expert as well as vice president of the libertarian Cato Institute, warned in an op-ed for The Washington Post, the deal with Intel “marks a dangerous turn in American industrial policy.”

He continued, “There are also risks for Intel’s U.S.-based competitors, who might find themselves at a disadvantage when vying for government contracts or subsidies, winning trade or tax relief, or complying with federal regulations. Private capital might in turn flow to Intel (and away from innovation leaders in the semiconductor ecosystem) not for economic reasons, but because Uncle Sam now has a thumb on the scale.”

Lincicome closed his comments, calling on Congress to stand up to the executive branch, but wryly mused that maybe it has lost its appetite for reigning in the executive branch.

“Congress should recognize this dangerous trajectory and reject the Intel deal before government ownership becomes the norm in strategic American industries and U.S. economic leadership is lost. Or is it too late for Congress to stand up to this White House?” Lincicome wrote.

by Mary Spiller

August 30, 2025

Essence HBCU Classic Debuts At Harvard Stadium, Spotlighting Culture Beyond The Game

Harvard Stadium will trade crimson for HBCU colors this Labor Day weekend as the inaugural Essence HBCU Classic brings Black college culture to Boston.

A new college football tradition is taking shape in an unexpected place — Harvard Stadium. This weekend, the historic venue will host the first-ever Essence HBCU Classic, a matchup between the Morehouse College Maroon Tigers and Johnson C. Smith University Golden Bulls during Labor Day weekend.

“It’s really a cultural event,” said Derek Brown, co-founder of the Essence HBCU Classic. “Football is definitely a part of the weekend. But I would say it’s the appetizer, and everything that comes with it is the entrée.”

The four-day celebration, organized by Campus Rise, which also created the HBCU NY Classic, is designed to feel like an HBCU homecoming. The schedule features a pep rally, tailgate, battle of the bands, and step show, all intended to spotlight historically Black colleges and universities and their influence.

“We are trying to amplify HBCUs and the amazing folks that go to those schools,” said Michele Ghee, chief content officer at Essence, which is serving as the event’s title sponsor. “What an amazing opportunity to say, ‘Yes, HBCUs are producing great students just like Harvard.’”

Organizers chose Boston as the site due to its sizable HBCU alumni community and the historical relevance of Harvard Stadium. In 1971, Howard University and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore played there in a game organized by the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts.

“Boston is actively working to shape a new narrative,” said John Borders IV, a Morehouse graduate, who leads the Boston Office of Sports, Tourism and Entertainment. “Boston has a rich Black history. While people may have one perception about Boston historically, there is a different dimension.”

Leaders from both participating institutions say the event is about more than football. It’s an opportunity to share the legacy of HBCUs with new audiences and expand their reach beyond traditional settings.

“It’s really an opportunity to have that broader exposure and to bring the product of Morehouse, the product of the pride of HBCUs on the road to showcase,” said F. Dubois Bowman, president of Morehouse College.

Valerie Kinloch, president of Johnson C. Smith University, noted that the game also prompts reflection on representation and the role of Black institutions in shaping American culture. “I think there are lots of questions we have to ask ourselves about representation, about the role that people of color, particularly Black people, play in this country,” she said.

“When we talk about traversing different types of spaces, we have to understand how historically Black colleges and universities have a wide impact, and that also includes an impact on spaces that we usually would not be represented in.”

In addition to Essence, the inaugural game is sponsored by DraftKings and Cash App, helping to ensure this celebration of culture, education, and sport launches on a high note.

Kim Scott, Cleveland, City Planner, Felony Theft, Falsifying Documents

by Mary Spiller

August 30, 2025

Black Real Estate Investor Sues California County, Claims Racial Bias Blocked Property Permits

Marin County developer Dietrick Burks says local officials deliberately slowed his floating home projects because he's Black.

A Black real estate investor is suing Marin County, California, and its chief building official, alleging that he was subjected to unfair permitting hurdles due to his race. Dietrick Burks, an entrepreneur who sells floating homes, filed a federal civil rights lawsuit this week alleging county officials imposed unlawful requirements that stalled his projects.

“This is a place I wanted to retire. I was very excited about being here in Marin County. I don’t have that excitement anymore,” Burks said, according to ABC News.

Burks said his first floating home sale in 2019 went smoothly when he had a white business partner. However, according to the lawsuit, problems arose after the community discovered that Burks was Black and he pursued subsequent projects independently.

“I was just shocked. I couldn’t believe that in today’s society, in the world that we live in today, that I was actually faced with having to deal with that,” he said.

The lawsuit claims residents of Waldo Point Harbor petitioned the Marin County Board of Supervisors to block Burks’ efforts. It also accuses Chief Building Official William Kelley of “intercepting the plans” and collaborating with the board to modify the County’s municipal code in a way that targeted Burks’ projects.

“It was only when he was doing the other ones by himself, that he encountered, essentially, these issues,” said Burks’ attorney, Patrick Buelna.

Burks’ legal team argues that he was subjected to rules not on the books, such as mandatory inspections before his floating homes could even be transported into Marin County.

“That had not been a requirement. That was simply a gate-keeping requirement in a gate that was only used to prevent him from entering the Sausalito Marina,” said attorney Adante Pointer.

In February 2024, the Board of Supervisors voted to formally tighten regulations on floating homes. Marin County officials, responding to inquiries from ABC7 News, said they had not yet been served with the lawsuit but stated, “Once received, we will carefully review it and respond through the legal process. The County’s building policies are applied uniformly and are not motivated by race.”

Burks said that once whistleblowers within the building department flagged the treatment he was receiving, his permits were eventually approved.

“There were several in that county government that said I was being held to a different standard,” Burks said.

Although he was able to sell the homes, Burks’ attorneys say the delays caused significant financial losses. He is now seeking compensation as part of the lawsuit.

by Ida Harris

August 30, 2025

New Edition Gears Up To Receive A Hometown Tribute

New Edition’s Ron Devoe sat down to discuss the proud moment.

On the heels of celebrating the 40-year legacy with a monumental, 31-city Legacy Tour back in 2023, the six members of New Edition—Ronnie, Bobby, Ricky, and Mike, and of course Ralph Tresvant and Johnny Gill—are readying themselves for yet another huge honor.

The city of Boston has declared Aug. 30 New Edition Day. Mayor Michelle Wu announced on Aug. 22 a rollout of events that make up the celebration and tribute to the iconic group; the first of which begins with a New Edition street naming ceremony at 10 AM on the corner of Ambrose and Albany Streets in Roxbury, Massachusetts. Immediately afterwards, New Edition Day continues with a community block party at the Orchard Gardens Boys & Girls Club at 2 Dearborn St., Roxbury, MA 02119.

BLACK ENTERPRISE sat down with New Edition’s Ron Devoe, who represented the group in discussing this proud moment:

“When it presented itself—for us to continue to do what we love to do and to be recognized by the place that really birthed your ideas and your hustle mentality, your charisma, your showmanship, and all of these different things, and to know that our legacy will be kind of set in stone with New Edition Way,” Devoe said.

“You talk about the Patriot Way and Harvard Way … we’ve been doing it the New Edition Way for over 42 years now and to know that our kids are gonna be there to take this in and our fans, which we have the best fans on the planet, those NE4lifers are gonna be there with us to take this day—it’s amazing.”

In addition to the events the city of Boston planned around New Edition Day, an exclusive Sneaker Ball is going down that Saturday evening. Brooke Payne will be honored for his 42-plus years of contribution to New Edition; for shaping the history-making group in its formative years and providing guidance and management throughout.

“We’ll get to honor Brooke Payne,” Devoe told BE.

“The person that gave us the vision and the swag and the name New Edition. Mr. Brooke Payne will speak that night, and there’ll be an unveiling, and we’re just gonna celebrate.”

Devoe takes pride in the community inclusion of the celebration and that New Edition will have the opportunity to show up for the neighborhood in-kind.

“It’s not about what they’re giving to us, it’s about what we’re putting back into the community as well,” Devoe stressed.

The group will support the community’s children and senior citizens with giveaways, school supplies, and a charitable donation. New Edition will always move around the city to support Boston’s For The Culture Week and pull up to its inaugural HBCU Classic.

“To be able to stop by a Boys and Girls Club … put a check on the table or talk to some kids because their parents poured into New Edition at some point …” Devoe said.

“I think really that’s the rewarding part to be able to pay it forward now. If it wasn’t for certain people and certain organizations, we wouldn’t have been able to be the reflection of people that come from the very same place that we come from…”

Devoe shared updates on group members, in addition to the New Edition Day tribute. Bandmate Johnny Gill has been working on new music. His single “One Night” is out now. New Edition’s Ricky Bell is a new father, having recently welcomed the birth of his baby girl with wife Amy Correa Bell.

“Slick had a baby…” Devoe said.

“Talk about completion and right before New Edition Way, right, right before New Edition Day in the city of Boston …

“To know that he’s bringing his amazing, beautiful daughter and she’ll be able to see that …. When I think about the most amazing things or memorable things that I’m gonna take away, it’s the completion of our legacy—a New Edition.”

Atlanta Dream, naz hillmon, WNBA, Basketball, Season Ticket

by Kandiss Edwards

August 30, 2025

The Atlanta Dream Partners With Cash App And ForgiveCo To Offer Debt Relief

More than 3,500 families in the Metro Atlanta area will see a total of $10 million in debt cleared this week thanks to the Atlanta Dream.

More than 3,500 families in the Metro Atlanta area will see a total of $10 million in debt cleared this week — the financial reprieve is thanks to a coalition led by the WNBA’s Atlanta Dream.

The WNBA partnered with Cash App and debt relief firm ForgiveCo. The announcement comes on the 62nd anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech.

Debts to be forgiven range from $500 to $80,000, with awardees chosen based on financial hardship. ForgiveCo identified households most in need and the company leveraged its power to purchase debt at reduced rates, thereby, allowing ForgiveCo to forgive it outright.

“Behind every debt is a real person, a parent, a family under strain,” said ForgiveCo CEO Craig Antico. “What we do is more than eliminate balances. We give people room to breathe, hope to dream, and the reassurance that they don’t have to carry this burden alone.”

The team expressed that the act is a part of its larger commitment to empower the Atlanta community.

The Atlanta Dream majority owner, Larry Gottesdiener, spoke of the initiative. “We believe sports is a catalyst for social change,” Gottesdiener said. “Together, we’re proving that sports teams can be powerful agents for transformation, rooted in purpose and committed to strengthening our communities.”

Cash App echoed that vision. Zach Ashley, its head of brand partnerships, said the effort aligns with the company’s overall mission.

“At Cash App, we believe financial freedom should be accessible to everyone, and this moment with the Atlanta Dream exemplifies our commitment to turning that belief into action,” he said.

To further honor its commitment, the Dream, Cash App, and ForgiveCo will host a girls’ basketball clinic at C.T. Martin Natatorium and Recreation Center. The event includes skill stations, leadership workshops, and opportunities to connect with Dream staff, players, and Cash App executives.

The companies’ agenda blends economic relief with long-term community empowerment. Furthermore, it gives not just financial relief, but also hope and tangible support that falls in line with Dr. King’s enduring legacy.

by Sharelle B. McNair

August 30, 2025

Organization Defends UTC’s First Amendment Rights As Greek Life Paused In Hazing Probe

Schools across the nation, including historically Black colleges and universities, are stepping up to address hazing accusations.

A free speech advocacy group claims that the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s (UTC) decision to pause the activities of fraternities and sororities may violate students’ free speech rights while the school investigates hazing accusations, according to the Chattanooga Times Free Press.

Attorneys with the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression wrote a letter to UTC’s Chancellor Lori Mann Bruce, urging the university to reconsider the decision by Aug. 29, as the ban placed limitations on students organizing political protests, wearing Greek letters, hosting educational or philanthropic events, and other forms of activities protected by the First Amendment. “The university punished 25 different groups affecting hundreds of students based on the reports of misconduct of only two of the groups,” attorney Zachary Greenberg said.

“And this guilt by association approach is antithetical to the First Amendment, by which the university is bound.”

The suspension comes as students started classes in mid-August, with some eager to be recruited by groups including Black Greek organizations Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. Greenberg warned the university that if the lifting demand isn’t met, the Philadelphia-based nonprofit will zone in on options such as public pressure or potential litigation. “At this point, all advocacy options are on the table,” he continued.

However, after reviewing the letter, UTC referred back to its original announcement of the pause following hazing accusations, stating officials would be permitted to reevaluate policies, activities, and ways to strengthen Greek Life that “foster a culture of care, accountability, leadership and respect.”

The letter comes just one week shy of the school’s original lift date of Sept. 5, as a mandatory community meeting for all UTC fraternity and sorority members is scheduled for Sept. 2. As the school continues to push a narrative that the action isn’t singling out one event, the timing comes as one organization, the Alpha-Iota Chapter of Kappa Sigma, received serious accusations of hazing, according to News Channel 9.

Investigative files dating from September 2024 reveal that an incident during a fraternity ritual known as the “Weather Pledge” resulted in two pledges being hospitalized with second-degree burns. Videos show pledges placing lemon juice into their eyes, jumping from rooftops, and setting their chests on fire — after dousing themselves with rubbing alcohol.

One suffered burns on over six percent of his body, while the other suffered from burns to over 25%, requiring skin grafts. Both victims admitted to participating in the ritual voluntarily, but also claimed that if chapter leaders had stepped in, they would have stopped. Schools across the nation, including historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), are stepping up to address hazing accusations.

In early 2025, members of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. from Southern University were arrested and charged with criminal hazing and manslaughter after the death of pledge Caleb Wilson drew national attention to Greek letter organizations.