Posthumous Pardon Requested for George Floyd’s 2004 Drug Arrest
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

April 29, 2021

Posthumous Pardon Requested for George Floyd’s 2004 Drug Arrest

A posthumous pardon request has been issued in Houston in relation to George Floyd’s 2004 drug arrest.

In the wake of Derek Chauvin’s recent conviction for the death of Floyd, a request was submitted to Texas officials Monday on his behalf, ABC News reports. The pardon is in relation to Floyd’s 2004 drug arrest performed by a former cop who has since been indicted following a deadly drug raid.

Ex-cop Gerald Goines arrested Floyd years before his death in his hometown of Houston, Texas. Goines took Floyd into custody in February 2004 and charged him for selling $10 worth of crack in a police sting. Floyd pleaded guilty to the drug charge and was sentenced to 10 months in state jail.

But Goines indictment related to a 2019 drug raid has put his case history under review, The Guardian reports. The former police officer is facing two counts of felony murder and other charges in both state and federal court over the drug raid that killed Dennis Tuttle, 59, and his wife, Rhogena Nicholas, 58. Goines is accused of lying to obtain a warrant to search the couple’s home by claiming that an anonymous informant bought heroin there. However, Goines later admitted there was no informant and that he was actually the one who bought the drugs from the couple.

Goines and about a dozen current and former officers who were tied to the deadly drug raid have been indicted and are facing charges following the fatal shooting of the couple. As a result, over 160 of Goines’ convictions have been thrown out, with Floyd’s 2004 drug arrest receiving a pardon request.

Allison Mathis of the Harris County Public Defender’s Office accuses Goines of making up a confidential informant in Floyd’s case and “no one bothered to question the word of a veteran cop against that of a previously-convicted Black man.”

A posthumous for Floyd “wouldn’t erase the memory, personal or institutional, of this thing that happened to him, or the things that would happen to him later… It would show that the state of Texas is interested in fundamental fairness, in admitting its mistakes, and in working to increase the accountability for police officers who break our trust and their oaths, and harm our people rather than serve them,” Mathis said, as noted by USA Today.

Several of Floyd’s family members and friends wrote letters in support of the pardon, including Floyd’s former counselor Maureen Bishop who recalled Floyd once telling her about his arrest by Goines. Allegedly, Floyd didn’t understand why the ex-cop “would lie about innocent people. He said that he had prayed to God that he would help him find peace to forgive him.”

Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg cited Floy’d 2004 drug arrest as being “on the lone word of Gerald Goines, a police officer we could no longer trust. We fully support a request that the governor now pardon George Floyd from that drug conviction.”

ESPN’s Sage Steele Gets the Business From Twitter for Response to LAPD Officer’s Tweet to LeBron James
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

April 29, 2021

ESPN’s Sage Steele Gets the Business From Twitter for Response to LAPD Officer’s Tweet to LeBron James

Los Angeles Lakers basketball player LeBron James created some dialogue when he tweeted a photograph of the latest police officer to shoot and kill a Black person, a teenager in Columbus, Ohio, and wrote: “YOU’RE NEXT #ACCOUNTABILITY.” Presumably speaking about being the next police officer charged and convicted in killing a Black person, in reference to Derek Chauvin being found guilty of killing George Floyd.

A police officer responded to James’ tweet on his Facebook page:

“Your current stance on policing is so off base and extreme. Your tweet that targeted a police officer in Ohio who saved a young woman’s life was irresponsible and disturbing. It showed a complete lack of understanding of the challenge of our job in the heat of a moment. You basically put a target on the back of a human being who had to make a split second decision to save a life from a deadly attack.”

He then offers to meet with James:

“I don’t know if this will ever reach you, but my hope is that one day I can sit down with you and talk. As a man of faith, I can have no hatred toward you. But I do feel I can help you understand the reality of the profession of policing, and that there is another side you need to hear.”

Based on this Facebook post, ESPN’s Sage Steele responded with prayer hands on her Twitter account.

This caused a backlash toward Steele as Twitter users went at her for acknowledging that post from the police officer.

VP Kamala Harris, Speaker Nancy Pelosi Make History as First Women to Lead the House and Senate During Presidential Address
by Derek Major

April 29, 2021

VP Kamala Harris, Speaker Nancy Pelosi Make History as First Women to Lead the House and Senate During Presidential Address

Vice President Kamala Harris and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi made history Wednesday as the first women to lead the House and Senate during President Biden’s address to Congress.

The two women were introduced before Biden’s address and bumped elbows when they reached the podium. Pelosi told Yahoo News that “it’s about time,” women lead both houses. President Biden wasted little time paying tribute to the historic moment in his opening remarks.

“Thank you all — Madame Speaker, Madame Vice President,” Biden said before laying out his goals. “From this podium, no president’s ever said those words — and it’s about time.”

White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain also commented on the historic moment last week during a conversation with Georgetown University’s Institute of Politics and Public Service.

“For the first time in American history, behind the President when he speaks, will be two women: a woman vice president, and woman speaker of the House. Presidents have been addressing Congress since George Washington did it,” Klain said. “It wasn’t until 14 years ago that the first time one of those seats was filled by a woman. So it took a long time to get to that milestone. Fourteen years later, for the first time, there’ll be two women behind the President.”

When asked about the historic moment Harris described it as “normal” but that might be because the Biden-Harris administration is mostly female.

The administration nominated 233 individuals to serve in Senate-confirmed roles in the first 100 days, more than any previous administration has nominated in the same time frame.

Many of these appointments include not just women, but women of color. Women serving the Biden-Harris administration include Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, Council of Economic Advisers Chair Cecilia Rouse, Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines, U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai, Assistant Secretary of Health Rachel Levine, and Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence Stacey Dixon.

According to a White House release, 58% of the 1,500 agency appointees hired by President Biden are women. Diversity in race is also well-represented as 18% identify as Black Americans, 15% identify as Latino, 15% identify as Asian American or Pacific Islander, 3% identify as Middle Eastern or North African, and 14% identify as LGBTQ+.

by Ida Harris

April 29, 2021

Retired Harvard Professor Pens New Book: ‘A Letter To My White Friends and Colleagues: What You Can Do Right Now To Help The Black Community.’

Listen: if there’s anything Steven S. Rogers knows, it’s business. In his new book, A Letter To My White Friends and Colleagues: What You Can Do Right Now To Help The Black Community, the retired Harvard Business School professor shares words of advice with his white network. Rogers leans into what it takes to be an ally to the Black community when it comes to business and finance. It’s a read you really don’t want to pass up on because, well, Rogers knows his stuff—and it is literally the business. So you might want to keep a watchful eye out for the book release on May 25.

RELATED CONTENT: BLACK BUSINESSES SEEKING FAIR SHARE OF $310 BILLION COVID-19 RELIEF FUNDS MUST LISTEN TO THIS PODCAST

Excerpted with permission from the publisher, Wiley, from A Letter to My White Friends and Colleagues by Steven S. Rogers. Copyright (c) 2021 by Steven S. Rogers. All rights reserved. This book is available wherever books and eBooks are sold.

3 White Men Indicted on Federal Hate Crime Charges in the Death of Ahmaud Arbery
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

April 29, 2021

3 White Men Indicted on Federal Hate Crime Charges in the Death of Ahmaud Arbery

The three white men who were arrested and charged in connection with the death of an unarmed Black man in Georgia last year have all been indicted in federal court.

According to the Department of Justice, three white men from Georgia were indicted by a federal grand jury in the Southern District of Georgia and charged with hate crimes as well as the attempted kidnapping of Ahmaud Arbery. The indictment also charges two of the men with separate counts of using firearms during that crime of violence.

The three men, Travis McMichael, 35; Travis’s father, Gregory McMichael, 65; and William “Roddie” Bryan, 51, have each been charged with one count of interference with rights and with one count of attempted kidnapping. The McMichaels were also charged with one count each of using, carrying, brandishing, and in Travis’s case, discharging, a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.

According to court documents, counts one and two of the indictment have alleged that the defendants used force and threats of force to intimidate and interfere with Arbery’s right to use a public street due to his race. Count one of the indictment states that as Arbery was jogging on a street in the Satilla Shores neighborhood of Brunswick, Georgia, Travis and Gregory McMichael proceeded to arm themselves with weapons, got into a truck, and chased Arbery through the streets as they yelled at him, using their truck to cut off his path, and threatening him with firearms. It also alleges that the offense resulted in Arbery’s death. Count two also alleges that William “Roddie” Bryan joined the McMichaels for the chase and used his truck to cut off Arbery’s route.

In addition to the hate-crime charges, the third count also alleges that all three men attempted to unlawfully seize and confine Arbery by chasing him in their trucks in an attempt to restrain him, restrict his free movement, corral and detain him against his will, and prevent his escape.

Counts four and five allege that during the course of the crime, Travis McMichael used, carried, brandished, and discharged a Remington shotgun, and Gregory used, carried, and brandished a .357 Magnum revolver.

All three of the defendants have been charged in a separate state proceeding with malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, false imprisonment, and criminal attempt to commit a felony. No trial date has yet been set for the state case.

Maulana Dotch is New GM at Hermann Park Golf Course, Becomes First Black Woman PGA Member in the Role
by Andrea Blackstone

April 29, 2021

Maulana Dotch is New GM at Hermann Park Golf Course, Becomes First Black Woman PGA Member in the Role

A noteworthy milestone was recently reached in the golf world. According to the PGA of America, the world’s largest sports organization comprised of nearly 29,000 PGA professionals— Maulana Dotch, was named general manager at Hermann Park Golf Course in Houston. Additionally, Dotch became the first African American woman PGA Member to serve as a general manager of a golf facility.

“The PGA of America is proud of Maulana Dotch for earning this prestigious leadership position in golf management, while achieving another impressive milestone in her successful career,” PGA President Jim Richerson said online. “As a groundbreaking PGA Member, Maulana serves as a role model for women and girls and a source of inspiration for all who aspire to become PGA Members, as well as pursue careers throughout the golf industry.”

According to KHOU, Dotch was the only woman on the golf team at Florida’s Bethune-Cookman University, a historically black university. However, she is a member of Bethune-Cookman’s Athletics Hall of Fame and the Texas Black Sports Hall of Fame.

In KHOU’s interview, Dotch said that she wants girls to see they can be general managers of a golf facility and do the job.

“This is nothing that’s out of your range,” Dotch said in the interview with KHOU.

Although it may be uncommon for a woman of color to excel in golf, the sport had been on Dotch’s radar before her college days. The African American Golfer’s Digest said that at the age of 12, Dotch’s father began to teach her golf, along with her three brothers. It was added that Dotch was immediately attracted to the sport. She played it at Irving High School, located in Irving, Texas.

On Dotch’s LinkedIn account, it was also mentioned that she was the first African American woman in Texas, and second African American woman in America, to earn her Class A, PGA Membership.

 

Black Republican Tim Scott Says America is Not Racist, Then is Shocked at Being Called Uncle Tim
by Derek Major

April 29, 2021

Black Republican Tim Scott Says America is Not Racist, Then is Shocked at Being Called Uncle Tim

South Carolina senator and Black Republican Tim Scott gave the Republican response to President Joe Biden’s address to Congress Wednesday night, in which he announced America isn’t racist and seemed surprised when Black Americans checked him.

During his 15-minute speech, Scott said President Joe Biden seems like a good man but is dividing the country by pursuing major legislation. Scott also gave credit for the coronavirus recovery to former President Donald Trump.

However, what really stuck out from his speech was when he used his own personal story of being a son to a single mother and a grandson to an illiterate Black man who was forced to pick cotton to connect with minorities lamenting racism before condemning Democrats for their response to racism.

“America is not a racist country,” Scott said, after sharing that he has experienced racism himself including being called an Uncle Tom.

That statement rubbed Black Americans the wrong way and the term Uncle Tim immediately became a trending topic on Twitter. The term became so popular on the social media site, it blocked the phrase from its trending topics.

While Scott believes the country has turned the corner, many Black Americans feel differently. Many Black Americans felt the country may be on the right path after the Derek Chauvin verdict, but Slate reported that police across the country killed six people in the next 24 hours including Ma’Khia Bryant, a 16-year-old Black girl who was killed in Ohio.

Scott told Yahoo News Thursday he found the trend “upsetting and disappointing” and a sign that the left is doubling down on liberal oppression.

In many ways, Scott is a success story in the South. He is the first Black U.S. Senator from South Carolina and the first U.S. Senator from a southern state since Reconstruction. Scott is also one of three Black members of the 263 Republicans sitting in office.

However, Scott has little support in the Black community due to his allegiance to Trump and his views on policing, racism, and his support of qualified immunity for cops.

The Rookie Officer Who Shot And Killed Tamir Rice Within Two Seconds Wants His Job Back
by Christian Spencer

April 29, 2021

The Rookie Officer Who Shot And Killed Tamir Rice Within Two Seconds Wants His Job Back

The former Cleveland, Ohio, police officer who shot and killed 12-year-old Tamir Rice wants his job back.

Taking his appeal case to the Ohio Supreme Court, attorneys for Timothy Loehmann made the case that their client’s termination was due to “a police union’s failure to serve notice on outside attorneys hired by the city,” Revolt TV reported.

Related stories: THE MAN WHO KILLED TAMIR RICE

Loehmann did not get fired for shooting Rice in 2014. The rookie officer was fired in 2017 for lying on his job application, citing the city of Cleveland fired him because Loehmann did not mention that he had to resign from the Independence Police Department before getting fired due to performance issues, according to Fox 8.

As BLACK ENTERPRISE reported, Loehmann’s employment lasted a total of five months. Four out of those five months were spent in the police academy. Loehmann had spent only a month as an official police officer before his conduct became too much of a liability for the Independence police force.

On Monday, President of the Cleveland Police Patrolman’s Association, Jeff Follmer, said he is hopeful the court’s decision will be based on the merits of Loehmann’s firing and not on a technicality.

“They’re trying to say that we didn’t file this in a timely manner, and we’re saying, ‘Yes we did,’ and we want the appeal and its merits to be heard,” Follmer said.

Regarding the shooting of Rice, Follmer said, “It was investigated by the sheriff’s department, by the grand jury, the county and it was even reviewed by a civilian board set up by the chief,” he added. “The only thing they found that he did wrong was lied on his application, which we’re disputing that he did not lie on his application… Everything else was justified.”

“The police union should be ashamed of itself for still trying to put a dangerous police officer back on the street. Every time they try to do this, they hurt my family and put the public at risk,” Samaria, the mother of Rice, said in response to the police union.

by Christian Spencer

April 29, 2021

Congressional Black Caucus Wants to Push the John Lewis Voting Rights Act

Some of the members of the Congressional Black Caucus are prioritizing voting rights, saying it is under attack by Republicans.

NewsOne and POLITICO reported that Rep. Anthony Brown (D-MD) said the right to vote needs to be restored due to bills throughout the nation trying to undermine Black people’s democracy.

Related stories: GEORGIA’S NEW VOTER SUPPRESSION MEASURES UPSETTING MLK, JOHN LEWIS, AND C.T. VIVIAN’S CHILDREN

The For the People Act, better known as H.R. 1 and inspired by the late Rep. John Lewis, is a bill Democratic Congresspeople want to enact that will expand voting rights and change how campaign finance laws reduce the influence of money in politics.

As BLACK ENTERPRISE previously reported, one of the main offenders of infringing on voting rights is Georgia, which added strict voting laws like prohibiting voters from passing out free refreshments such as water.

I certainly think our focus ought to be on [the Lewis bill] and voting rights,” Brown said. “You would think that that would provide a real good opportunity for a handful of Democratic senators who want to hold onto the filibuster [to say] ‘Yes, we can do it on this John Lewis Voting Rights [Act].’”

Follow CBC Rep. Marc Veasey (D-TX) agreed that Congress needs to protect voting rights.

“If you want to play into [Republican] hands, you do nothing at all and let them pass redistricting maps that absolutely don’t have to be pre-cleared where they can do whatever the hell they please, and they can discriminate at will,” Veasey said to Politico. “Or, you step up your game, and you do what needs to be done.” 

Initially, H.R.1 was introduced on January 3, 2019, in response to the Democratic majority in the House. The House passed the bill on March 8, 2019, but it was blocked by a then-Republican-controlled Senate, under then Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

Now that Democrats hold a majority in the House and the Senate, the party must reintroduce the bill to ensure the bill accommodates different states laws.

Black Democrats want the name bill to be named after the late Lewis, who fought for voting rights from his protesting days with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

The Lewis bill aims at restoring key sections of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, which required certain states to get pre-approval changes onto their electoral maps to ensure there is not racial discrimination.

However, the Supreme Court removed the Voting Rights Act’s  protections and pre-approval formula in 2013, which caught the ire of many voting rights advocates.

By September,  Black lawmakers said Congress needs to get voting rights legislation to Biden’s desk because most states will begin enacting new maps around then. Others are already beginning the process.

Members of the CBC have teamed up with leaders of two panels that have jurisdiction over election issues to strengthen the language of the Lewis bill.

by Andrea Blackstone

April 29, 2021

 Black-Owned, Online Tutoring Academies Merge During the Pandemic

Despite the disruption caused by the pandemic, school is still in session. Students may need additional support. BlackNews.com reported that Aquarius Cain and LaTishia Jordan established Achieve Success Tutoring, which is said to be one of the fastest-growing Black-owned online schools for students of all ages. The pair merged their companies during the pandemic.

Achieve Success Tutoring’s website, lists Cain as the company’s CEO/Co-Owner who earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology, Masters in Public Health and is at the dissertation stage of pursuing a Ph.D. in Public Health. She has over 20 years of teaching and tutoring experience.

“When I finish explaining a concept that a student struggles with and their response is, “Oh, that’s it! That was easy!” I joke that I need to buy the Staples Easy Button to send to all of my students,” Cain said on the website.

Jordan is Achieve Success Tutoring’s COO/Co-Owner who earned a BS in Mathematics and Masters in IT. She has 26 years of teaching and tutoring experience. The website mentioned that her favorite part of teaching and tutoring is finally seeing a student grasp a concept that she has been working on with him or her.

Additionally, Achieve Success Tutoring’s Facebook page explains that tutoring, homeschool services, study skills, and test prep services for students to excel beyond what is required in the classroom are among services that are offered.

It’s #MotivationMonday and what better way to motivate the kids than by getting them excited about SUMMER CAMP! 😀

😒They…

Posted by Achieve Success Tutoring on Monday, March 8, 2021


photo credit- @ahievesuccesstutoring- Instagram

 

According to BlackNews.com, both women have worked as adjunct professors, department deans,and teachers. Additionally, the business owners are members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

“Our goal is to figure out the student’s learning gaps, fill those gaps allowing the students to move forward in their academic matriculation,” Jordan said, according to BlackNews.com. “Outside of that, we also have test prep for SAT and ACT.”

 

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