Black Woman Sues Delaware State Police for Mistaken Identity Debacle That Left Her Traumatized
A Black woman filed a lawsuit against the Delaware State Police after being targeted and attacked by undercover police officers before realizing they had the wrong person.
Martiayna Watson, 20, was in her car when she says undercover officers in unmarked vehicles closed in on her car, banged it up, pulled a stun gun on her before leaving the scene after realizing she wasn’t the suspect they were after, WDELreports.
On Thursday, July 15, Watson was joined by her lawyers Emeka Igwe and Renee Leverette, along with members of the NAACP Delaware Chapter, to announce her lawsuit and recall her horrific experience.
“I’m sorry. This event has been really traumatic for me,” Watson said through tears. “Like, I have trouble sleeping at night. When I’m driving, I’m afraid that officers are just gonna barricade me again, and just pull me over without reason again and just hold me at gunpoint.”
Watson recalled the June 24th encounter that came while she was leaving a gas station, 6ABCreports. Watson says her car was blocked off and surrounded by four unmarked vehicles driven by four plainclothes police officers.
Her lawyers say the cops were looking for a Black man and woman wanted for a robbery driving the same type of car as Watson.
Watson says one of the officers smashed the driver’s side window while another pulled her out of the car and held a taser to her neck. She says once the officers realized they made a mistake, they drove off, leaving her with a damaged car and scarred view of undercover cops.
“I did nothing to no one and this is a shame I went through this,” Watson said. “I want the officers to be held accountable.”
Watson said she was not offered victim support in the form of counseling, Delaware Onlinereports. Instead, a state police sergeant and lieutenant reached out to Watson to apologize and offer money to help get her car fixed.
Survey: Roughly 90% Of Small Business Owners Vigorously Back National Paid Leave
Nearly 90% of small business owners vigorously back a national paid leave program, a new survey by the Main Street Alliance shows. They also favor a major federal increase for childcare support.
Those are among the top findings the small business advocacy organization just announced from its last pop member survey. President Joe Biden this year reportedly added a paid leave proposal in his American Families Plan. Yet aid for such legislation has not been approved by Congress so far.
The fresh Main Street Alliance survey came from 15 industries across 24 states. More than 120 small business owners shared their challenges with the lack of a comprehensive, national paid leave program and affordable childcare, along with priorities for investment in upcoming recovery packages.
Some 89% of small business owners support a national paid leave program that provides up to 12 weeks of paid leave for employees to care for themselves or a loved one for birth or adoption of a child or a serious medical condition. And 90% support investments in childcare, and that figure rose to 93% when tied to a statement stating the program would be paid for “by a tax increase on the wealthy and large corporations so they pay their fair share.”
Entrepreneurs reported that paid leave and childcare are critically needed investments in the care economy.
Some 88% of those surveyed said they faced one or more business challenges due to a lack of affordable childcare and a paid leave program covering small businesses. Some 48% cited competition with larger corporations for recruitment as the biggest challenge, followed by 45% for employee morale and stress, and 36% with hiring or retaining workers.
Another survey discovery was care infrastructure—which essentially consists of policies, resources, and needed services to help U.S families meet caregiving needs—is a priority for recovery and investment.
When faced with the reality of the number of women leaving the workforce this year and questioned on what policies would most support hiring and retaining women workers, 89% supported investments in childcare while 74% backed a paid leave program.
Sixty-seven percent of respondents reported investment in care infrastructure was equally as or “more” important than investment in traditional infrastructure to support their businesses. For those who picked just one area, investments in care infrastructure were identified as most critical to helping restart and drive income to the business, coming in at 81% for care infrastructure compared to 19% for traditional infrastructure.
Small business owners from different parts of the country and the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee Chair, Sen. Ben Cardin (Md.-D), talked about the topics here.
More details and findings from the survey can be seen here.
Ta’Neasha Chappell, Dies Under Mysterious Circumstances While In Police Custody in Indiana
Another Black person was arrested, another Black person dies in police custody.
According to Newsweek, in Indiana, a Black woman, Ta’Neasha Chappell, who was in police custody, died on Friday under mysterious circumstances.
The 23-year-old woman, who had been in the custody of the Jackson County Jail in Brownstown, Indiana, since May 26, was being held on shoplifting charges. According to a statement released by the Indiana State Police, Chappell died shortly after being transported from the Jackson County Jail to the Schneck Memorial Hospital on Friday.
Wave 3reported that Chappell’s family suspects foul play after the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department told them Chappell was sick and died after being taken to the hospital. Chappell’s mother, Lavita Mcclain, spoke to WAVE 3 News and told them that her daughter feared for her life in the jail.
“She called every day telling us to get her out of there,” Mcclain said. “‘Mama they’re going to kill me in here, they’re going to kill me in here,’ and she would always say ‘get me out of here if anything happens to me, just know that they did it.’”
“It is with extreme sadness that we announce the passing of Ta’Neasha Chappell. She unexpectedly passed away at The Jackson County Jail in Brownstown, Indiana. She was a loving mother, sister, daughter, and friend who touched the lives of many around her. She leaves behind her 10-year-old daughter Nevaeh who will miss her terribly. We are all devastated by her loss but are working tirelessly to figure out the events that transpired moments before her passing. In the meantime, we need any help possible to give her the proper burial she deserves. Any and all help will go to her funeral arrangements and autopsy. On behalf of our family, we truly appreciate your support and encouragement during this time.”
Ciara Launches Antimicrobial Accessory Line ‘Dare to Roam’
Singer-songwriter and businesswoman Ciara has “leveled up again,” launching a new accessories brand called Dare To Roam.
“I’m excited to share a cool new project I’ve been working on to help you rebuild your confidence as you Dare To Roam. @daretoroam launching 8.11.21, Link in bio for exclusive access. 🔥 #DareToRoam,” Ciara posted on Instagram.
The stylish product line arrives right on time before kids return to classrooms in-person. With prices ranging from $42 to $98, items are meant to withstand “daily commutes, travels, days on campus, and journeys back to school. The forthcoming “everyday essential accessories and gear with elevated style and protection” is “made for the unknown journey and those who dare to roam.”
As a bonus for those who are concerned about pandemic germs, Dare to Roam helps to discourage germs collecting on it. The “custom nylon with antimicrobial protection and a water-resistant finish” provides protection “against harmful bacteria, “growth of mold, mildew and fungi,” according to a press release.
“I’m excited to share a cool, new project that I’ve been working on to help rebuild your confidence as we all get back out into the world,” Ciara said in a press release. “After so much time indoors, Dare to Roam is all about feeling protected as you start traveling, sending your kids off to school, and getting back into the motions of everyday life.”
Wilson founded Dare to Roam with a New York-based creative agency, Harper + Scott. Ciara co-founded Why Not You Foundation with football star Russell Wilson, who is her husband. Dare to Roam is committed to providing 3% of the company’s profits to benefit the couple’s nonprofit, which fights “poverty through education,” according to a press release.
Black Model Reveals On TikTok Saks Employees Ignoring Her While Waiting to Be Serviced
A Black NYC-based fashion model took to TikTok to reveal how poorly she was treated during a shopping trip to Saks Fifth Ave.
Erica Wiltz was shopping for wedding shoes at Saks when she realized she wasn’t receiving any customer service at the luxury retailer, the Daily Dot reports. In a video that received over 800,000 views, Wiltz revealed how employees ignored her.
“Went to #saksfifthavenue excited to buy @jimmychoo wedding shoes & it turned out like this,” Wiltz captioned the video.
In the short video, Wiltz says she was shopping for wedding shoes and had to watch other customers get serviced while a sales associate ignored her.
“Had to demand help but he’s still not getting my sale,” Wiltz said while showing the employee finally helping her purchase the shoes.
At the end of the video, Wiltz confessed that the experience left her in tears. “Saks get your people,” she added.
TikTok users were quick to blast Saks for the poor customer service that was visible on the video. With it seeming to be race-related, social media users called out the luxury retailer.
“These are the microaggressions we have to deal with too often. I’m so sorry you had to deal with this,” one user commented.
“This does not get talked bout enough! They either think we can’t afford it, or we got lost and ended up there,” added someone else.
“People have no idea how traumatizing and dehumanizing it is,” Wiltz said in response to one TikTok user. “It’s wrong to discriminate against people, whether it was classism, racism, whatever it was,” she added.
Wiltz is set to get married in New Orleans and shared how humiliating the experience was for her.
“I’m watching the salesperson help someone else, who happened to be a white woman, but whatever, I wasn’t thinking this at the time,” Wiltz toldDaily Mail. “So he’s all in her face and really being super attentive and just attending to her so carefully. They were taking a while, but I was patient.”
After wandering off and returning to let him know she was still waiting, she says the employee completely ignored her.
“He never acknowledged me, never said, “I’ll be right with you,” but it was clear that I was waiting. I left, came back, patiently waiting, all that,” she said. “After he’s done with the lady, and she closes out and everything, he never acknowledges my existence, I’m completely invisible, and he walks awaY.”
Now, Wiltz has a bad taste in her mouth when it comes to shopping at Saks.
“Until you experience that, you can’t say s*** about that experience,” she said. “Because that is the lowest a human could possibly feel.”
Founders First CDC Launches $60,000 Job Creators Quest Grant Program
Founders First CDC, a nonprofit empowering expansion in diverse founder-led, revenue-generating businesses, announced its Job Creators Quest Grant.
The Job Creators Quest Grant will create premium-wage jobs and reward minority businesses in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Camden, Trenton, and Newark, New Jersey, that have retained and grown their workforce through the pandemic.
Funding for this program was facilitated by a $1 million grant from the Rockefeller Foundation, in conjunction with Founders First Capital Partners’ recent $9 million Series A financing accelerator to support underrepresented entrepreneurs in underserved communities. Additional support partners include Black Enterprise Magazine, PIDC, Spring Point Partners, The Enterprise Center, Ben Franklin Technology Partners, DiverseForce, Impact PHL, Pennsylvania Chamber for Black Owned Business, Urbane Development, Village Capital, and the New Jersey Small Business Development Center.
Twenty local businesses will each receive a portion of the $60,000 grant.
“This grant program is a way to create success beyond the classroom,” said Shaylon Scott, executive director of Founders First.
“We have observed many founders working more in their business than on their business. Our priority will be to help give entrepreneurs resources to grow while simultaneously becoming premium wage job creators within their community. Investing in diverse entrepreneurs is an impactful way to drive job and wealth creation in underserved communities.” Scott continues, “The Job Creators Quest Grant is more than a dollar amount, it’s a celebration of their success.”
To encourage premium wage job growth, the grants will benefit businesses that have sustained their employee base and will have the ability to add new premium wage jobs in the next year. Diverse founders may be Black, Indigenous, a Person of Color, LGBTQIA+, Military veteran, female, or located in a low- to moderate-income area.
“We are in the beginning stages of optimism for Black entrepreneurs and businesses across the country” says Derek Dingle, EVP & Chief Content Officer for BLACK ENTERPRISE. He continues, “The largest adjustment we are seeing is in the effort to incentivize support staff to return to work. Black Enterprise is excited to collaborate with Founders First to support the creation of jobs with microbusinesses in Philadelphia and New Jersey markets that need the support the most.”
Here are four successful entrepreneurs innovative entrepreneurs who benefited from the Founders First financing/ accelerator model.
Robert Carter, Carter Transportation Group L.L.C.
The Carter Transportation Group provides freight delivery services throughout the United States. The San Diego-based service is offered directly or through a network of national truck freight brokerage companies. Additionally, Carter is a contractor with FedEx Custom Critical providing freight delivery services to customers of FedEx nationwide through its White Glove and Surface Expedited services.
Also, its affiliated company, Carter Transportation Inc., is a FedEx Ground contractor providing general freight expedited service to FedEx customers out of Menomonee Falls, WI. Carter Transportation expects to grow its FedEx Ground business to cover Pick Up and Delivery service in Memphis, TN, and general freight expedited service outside Knoxville, TN.
Sulaiman Rahman, DiverseForce
DiverseForce is a Philadelphia-based social enterprise that aims to advance racial diversity in leadership and governance across all sectors by cultivating diverse leadership pipelines and inclusive ecosystems. In 2017 DiverseForce launched DiverseForce On Boards in partnership with the University of Pennsylvania, a cohort-based program that trains and matches mid-to-senior level professionals of color to serve effectively on governing boards. DiverseForce also cultivates a talent pipeline that helps connect diverse talent to senior positions.
Since 2018, DiverseForce has helped fill more than 140 nonprofit board seats and helped dozens of organizations source diverse slates of candidates for mid-to-senior level positions. With national partners like Philanthropi, Founders First Capital Partners, and Lendistry, DiverseForce is now expanding its work to launch the P4 Hub, an 11,000 square feet tech-enabled home for public, private, and philanthropic partnerships to scale Black and Brown leadership pipelines that are prepared for the future of work and entrepreneurship.
LaShondra Mercurius started JLM Strategic Talent with her husband and co-founder, Jayson Mercurius. JLM specializes in providing professional talent to the construction, infrastructure, and transportation industries.
JLM helps to shape policies, regulations, manage project talent, and ultimately form staff-related strategies for individual projects. JLM is committed to building strong, mutually rewarding relationships with candidates, client companies, and the communities it serves.
The company offers contracted and for-hire talent and payroll and back-office services, talent management, and consulting. Recent projects JLM was involved in include I-10 High Occupancy Vehicle lanes, the Los Angeles Rams stadium project, and the LAX Automated People Mover.
Michelle Courton Brown, Quality Interactions
Michelle Courton Brown is an executive board member at Quality Interactions, which was created to improve cross-cultural interactions in healthcare.
Quality Interactions’ pioneering research in cultural competency was put into practice through an initial eLearning program in 2003 and has grown to include more than 25 online courses and comprehensive service packages.
The certified Minority Business Enterprise has trained over 250,000 healthcare professionals at the country’s largest hospitals, health plans, and medical schools. Quality Interactions is exclusively dedicated to providing the best learning experiences for a diverse, inclusive, and culturally competent healthcare workforce.
6-Year-Old Girl Killed in Washington D.C. Mass Shooting
A mass shooting over the weekend in Washington D.C. left a six-year-old girl dead as well as her mother and several others wounded.
According to CNN, the girl was shot and killed and five adults were also injured in the drive-by shooting that took place after 11 p.m. Friday in the southeast part of the district outside a liquor and convenience store.
A video released by police officials shows a silver or gray car driving through the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE and Malcolm X Avenue SE. Several gunshots can be seen being fired from the vehicle.
The car was set on fire after the incident.
Today our city is heartbroken. A child’s life was taken, and there is no way to make sense of the callousness or cruelty.
We will never accept gun violence as normal, & we must never allow people to get away with murdering our children. If you have information, please share it. pic.twitter.com/ZHGmWGVVBo
NBC Washington reported the slain child as Nyiah Courtney; two women and three men were shot. Nyiah was rushed to a hospital and pronounced dead. The two women and three men were all treated for their gunshot wounds and are expected to recover. Their identities were hidden because they are considered witnesses in the case, D.C. Police Chief Robert Contee said.
“We’re asking…that everyone post that video far and wide,” Contee said. “That car should not be able to be in the DMV area anywhere and not be noticed. Someone in the community has seen that car operating, yesterday, perhaps today, and I’m asking justice for Nyiah. Let’s find that car and let’s find the individuals responsible.”
Last night, 6 year-old Nyiah Courtney tragically lost her life to senseless gun violence.
We seek our community’s help to bring justice and closure to Nyiah’s family.
If you have any information about the vehicle pictured below, please call (202) 727-9099 or text 50411 pic.twitter.com/9vHMEPP1lV
— DC Police Department (@DCPoliceDept) July 18, 2021
After Black Syracuse Officer Was Punished For Listening to Rap, A Community ‘Pulls Up’ To Support
About 50 people joined with the mother of officer Brandon Hanks amid his racial discrimination claims against the Syracuse Police Department.
On Friday, Michele Vanfossen organized a local march supporting her son amid his racial discrimination and retaliation claims against the city police department, Syracuse.comreports. Vanfossen had her knee walker in tow as she led marchers past the Public Safety Building, which houses the headquarters for the Syracuse Police Department.
The dedicated mother still managed to march and spread awareness about Hanks’ case despite recently breaking two toes after tripping over her dog.
“We got your back,” the crowd chanted. “Brandon Hanks,” the crowd called back.
Earlier this month, Hanks filed a notice of claim against the Syracuse Police Department over allegations of “conspiracy” by white officers who aimed to prevent Hanks from getting a promotion to a gang-violence task force, The Daily Beastreports.
“They cast me off as a gang member, a gang affiliate because I like to play basketball with kids and I’m involved in my community,” Hanks said at a press conference in New York City this week. “One thing that I want to tell you guys here is don’t let nobody tell you or pick on you or trick you out of your spot, OK? Be who you are, remain who you came from, and provide for your community.”
The filing also claims that Hanks and other Black officers in the department were subject to a “hostile” and “Jim Crow” work culture. Released memos show that some white officers expressed concern about Hanks being promoted and made claims of him having “known associations with gang members and convicted criminals.” They also said one of his tattoos resembled that of some known gang members, among other claims.
Hanks filed a racial discrimination lawsuit against his co-workers for the “extreme racism” he experienced on June 25. Days later, on July 1, the department reprimanded him for posting a video of himself listening to rap, according to Syracuse.com.
Hanks became a social media sensation back in 2019 with his “Pull Up Challenge,” where he would challenge kids in his community to a one-on-one basketball game. If they won, they would get a pair of sneakers, and if Hanks won, the kids would have to do push-ups.
Hanks’ efforts worked to rebuild community relations between the police and the Black community. But it looks like other officers used his good deed against him when it came time for a promotion.
“I never thought this would be the case,” Hanks mother said of his allegations. “I thought they would embrace the fact that people listen to him, that people ride for him.”
The shocking memo revealed the officers’ claims against Hanks, which included listening to rap music with cuss words in it, getting tagged in a Facebook post by someone who was charged with racketeering, as well as allegedly sitting in cars with gang members.
Hanks’ mother says her son is hurt that the officers he thought would support his elevation in the department are the same ones who spoke out against him.
Dr. Ian, Popular Black TV Doctor, Calls Out Dr. Phil’s Production Company, Citing Racism
One of the former hosts on Dr. Phil McGraw’s show The Doctors are speaking out against the famed doctor’s production company and accusing them of racial discrimination.
On Monday, Dr. Ian Smith filed a complaint with the New York State Division of Human Rights and U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission over claims of facing racism, harassment, and retaliation from ViacomCBS and Dr. Phil’s production company, LA Timesreports.
Smith claims that during his time on The Doctors, he faced racial discrimination and defamatory remarks that he reported to producers but was ignored. He also complained about the lack of diversity on the show, but his gripes allegedly went unnoticed.
According to the Black TV doctor, after bringing the diversity issue to producers, he was reportedly told, “We have you as the host. That’s what matters.”
Smith says in January, he was fired from the show after he complained about racially insensitive remarks he overheard during a Zoom meeting.
“‘The Doctors’ show has an extremely hostile work environment,” Smith said. “It has a tremendous disregard for diversity and it is extremely abusive to those who speak up with concerns about behavior or about the culture of inequity.”
The complaint comes after CBS head George Cheeks told an already fired Dr. Smith earlier this year that his experience should have “never happened” and would “be investigated ASAP.” However, according to Smith’s recent filing, no investigation has taken place, Deadlinereports.
“To date, the CBS investigation remains incomplete,” Smith’s complaint said. It also mentioned how fast CBS investigated the racism claims against the former host of The Talk, Sharon Osbourne.
“The delay in the investigation is striking given how quickly CBS investigated recent allegations that Sharon Osborne engaged in race discrimination on another CBS daytime talk show called The Talk,” the complaint said.
Smith says he hasn’t heard from network execs since February despite being featured prominently on the show’s website.
NEWS WE LOVE: Harvey residents welcomed home Scripps National Champion Zaila Avant-Garde with the only way they knew how…with a PARADE! pic.twitter.com/NNKh9qGeca
Fans blew horns and whistles. They displayed hand-drawn signs. Some wore t-shirts in Zaila’s honor, while others took selfies with the guest of honor to join the party which was underway.
“The first African American and Louisiana native to win the Scripps National Spelling Bee competition,” was excited to be thought of by the community who embraced their champ, the news station reported.
The honor was much-deserved. And Zaila’s mother, Alma Heard, knew that better than anyone.
“I watched her do those 13,000 words a day listening to her own music in her own world. And when it came through, she worked for this, y’all. She wanted it and she worked for it,” Heard told WDSU.
Although the drive-by parade and event was Zaila’s moment for supporters from the neighborhood to pay tribute to her, the teenager was also thinking of other local children in Harvey who could be reminded to pursue “what they want.”
“Don’t let anybody stop you. Don’t let anybody say you can’t and just go for it,” Zaila said during WSDU’s interview.
Zaila’s accomplishments have earned her a growing fan base. People love shouting her out for good reason. Some even use a #SpellingBee, #ZailaAvantgarde and #ZailaandtheBee hashtags to make her Black Girl Magic” trail easier to find.
Three Guinness World Records and now the national spelling bee champ! Congrats, Zaila—your hard work is paying off. We’re all proud of you. https://t.co/UaYoRMGirZ
The spelling champion who also possesses record-breaking basketball skills has been making appearances around the country. Zaila made an ESPY Awards appearance on July 10, “where she was able to meet her WNBA heroes,” according to KATC. Jimmy Kimmel Live, and a visit to The New York Times were just a few more rounds which filled her busy schedule.
