The Movement for Black Lives Announces Juneteenth Weekend of Action
by Selena Hill

June 12, 2020

The Movement for Black Lives Announces Juneteenth Weekend of Action

In observance of Juneteenth, a holiday that commemorates the emancipation of African slaves in America, the Movement for Black Lives (M4BL) is organizing a weekend of action to demand divestment from police departments and investment in black communities.

The History of Juneteenth

Juneteenth is a day that honors black freedom and resistance and centers black people’s unique contribution to the struggle for justice in the United States. The first Juneteenth celebration was organized by newly freed slaves on June 19, 1866, to mark the end of American slavery. Although the Emancipation Proclamation declared all slaves as legally free in January 1863, it took years before the news traveled to all parts of the country. It was also harder to enforce the executive order in rebellious Southern states like Texas where there were few Union troops. As a result, African American slaves were still working on plantations as late as 1865, while 250,000 people were still enslaved in Texas.

However, on June 19, 1865, Union soldiers traveled to Galveston, Texas, to announce that the Civil War had ended and all enslaved people were free. Newly freed slaves rejoiced in the streets and the following year, freedman organized the first June 19, or Juneteenth, celebrations.

Today, Juneteenth is observed in 45 states as a holiday that celebrates freedom.

Demanding Justice on Juneteenth

To commemorate Juneteenth, African Americans typically engage in barbecuing, rodeos, fishing, prayer services, and baseball games. The day also serves as a time for reflection and an opportunity to trace their family roots. This year, however, the M4BL is expanding the holiday into a weekend of action.

“This Juneteenth is a rare moment for our communities to proclaim in one voice that Black Lives Matter, and that we won’t tolerate anything less than justice for all our people,” said the organization in a press release.

Titled SixNineteen, the Juneteenth weekend of action includes several digital actions and marches around the country to push three causes: defunding the police, investing in black communities, and the resignation of President Donald Trump. Although details about the actions have not been provided, the group said June 19 will be dedicated to celebrating black beauty and resilience, while marches will be organized for June 20, and the focus for June 21 will be to get Trump out of office.

“Electoral justice and political power are often pitted against activism and protest, but in our movement they are deeply connected and a requirement for one and the other to coexist, said Jessica Byrd, an organizer with the Movement For Black Lives Electoral Justice Project, in a statement.

“For the last six years we have collectively taken a national course in police violence, and we now know some solutions that have been offered, have not borne fruit in terms of reducing or eliminating police violence, said Mervyn Marcano, the co-founder of Blackbird. “We believe this weekend of action will continue to lift people’s spirits at the same time that they are fighting for justice in the streets.”

by Selena Hill

June 12, 2020

Stacey Abrams Shuts Down Meghan McCain on “The View” (Video)

Former George gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams recently appeared on ABC’s The View, where she schooled Meghan McCain on Donald Trump’s path to becoming an authoritarian dictator and the primary voting disaster in Georgia.

McCain, a conservative TV pundit who blamed Barack Obama for starting a culture war that “ushered in the era of Trump,” challenged Abrams on The View Thursday. At one point, McCain tried to blame Democrats for the state’s voting chaos, which resulted in voters waiting for up to seven hours to cast their ballots in the state’s primary election on Tuesday. In addition, many of the state’s new voting machines did not work and many voters did not receive absentee ballots, reports The Huffington Post.

“There’s a lot of finger-pointing going on and you seem to be implying that it was Georgia’s secretary of state that was targeting communities of color,” said McCain. “But most of the counties that had issues this week were run by Democrats.”

In response, Abrams argued that Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger should be held accountable since he is the election superintendent and responsible for overseeing voting in the state.

“Your access to democracy shouldn’t depend on your county of residence,” Abrams said.

The two went at it after McCain questioned Abrams for comparing President Trump to Turkey dictator Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

″[Erdogan] is a horrific, murderous dictator. Do you really think it’s fair to call the United States no better than Turkey?” McCain asked, referring to Abrams’ comments suggesting that the United States is in the “early stages” of an authoritarian regime.

“I didn’t call it no better than Turkey,” Abrams replied. “I said that we’re on the path to populist authoritarianism similar to what we saw with Erdogan.”

Abrams went on to explain that both Erdogan and Trump were voted into office in a democratic election and then used their power to stack the courts with judges who support them. She also noted that Trump is using his power to call for the militarization of public institutions.

“We have to acknowledge the authoritarian nature of Donald Trump,” she said. “And we’ve got to nip it in the bud if we want democracy to continue here, and if we want to continue to be the moral leader abroad.”

by Derek Major

June 12, 2020

Lowe’s Opens Applications for $25 Million in Minority Small Business Grants

Lowe’s, the home improvement superstore, opened its first round of grant applications for $25 million in small business grants for minority-owned businesses.

Late last month, Lowe’s CEO Marvin Ellison announced Lowe’s would assist minority-owned businesses with $25 million in grants to support efforts to relaunch the American economy. According to a Lowe’s release, the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), the nation’s largest community development organization, will manage the process of vetting applications for grants.


To apply for a grant, small business owners should visit LISC.org/lowes. For this round, all applications must be submitted by Wednesday, June 17th at 11:59 p.m. ET.

The grants are intended to provide emergency assistance. Eligible expenses include:

  • Paying rent and utilities
  • Meeting payroll
  • Paying outstanding debt to vendors
  • Upgrading technology infrastructure
  • Other immediate operational costs

“Lowe’s has been committed to helping minority small business owners—the very backbone of our economy—rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic’s devastating impact,” Ellison said in a statement.

“Helping people make their homes better extends beyond our walls and into our neighborhoods, communities, and country. We’re proud these grants will help minority- and women-led small businesses, many of which have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. This commitment is far more than a moment in time—it’s a reflection of who we have been and will continue to be as a company.”

Ellison, who joined Lowe’s in July 2018 and is one of four Black CEOs of a Fortune 500 company, said the grants are the first step in a $50 million effort to support communities during the pandemic. In March, Ellison announced Lowe’s would provide $25 million to support workers, customers, and communities. That effort included donating $10 million to get personal protective equipment materials to frontline medical workers.

LISC President and CEO Maurice A. Jones commended Lowe’s and Ellison, noting it will take a significant investment of public and private resources to spur economic recovery and close the opportunity gaps that only grew larger as a result of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

“The need for this kind of relief is overwhelming,” Jones said. “Our country’s small businesses are the backbones of rural and urban communities. They require capital, right now, if they are to continue to provide vital goods and services to their customers and help drive long-term recovery and growth.”

Jones noted that when LISC began offering small business rapid relief grants in April, it saw more than 50,000 applications in just the first four days and another 200,000 for subsequent funding. Two-thirds of the initial applicants are businesses owned by minorities, veterans, and women. Forty percent are in distressed locations, and nearly half have been in business for more than 10 years.

Racial Justice Org Blasts Amazon One-Year Ban of Facial Recognition Software as ‘Bare Minimum’
by Derek Major

June 12, 2020

Racial Justice Org Blasts Amazon One-Year Ban of Facial Recognition Software as ‘Bare Minimum’

The Action Center on Race and the Economy (ACRE) has called Amazon’s one-year ban on its Rekognition facial software to law enforcement agencies, the “bare minimum.”

The tech giant announced Wednesday it will place a one-year moratorium on allowing law enforcement to use its controversial Rekognition facial recognition software. The move was made in response to the Black Lives Matter protests happening across the country following the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor.

Maurice Weeks, co-executive director of ACRE, believes it was a mistake to sell the software at all.

“Amazon should have never allowed law enforcement to use their flawed and racist facial recognition software in the first place,” Weeks said in a statement. “Their one-year moratorium is doing the bare minimum during this time where the United States is in uproar over the continued murder of Black people by police.”

According to The Guardian, Amazon has sold its Rekognition software to police departments across the country. Additionally, the American Civil Liberties Union ran a test on the software and found it incorrectly matched 28 members of Congress to photos of people arrested for a crime. It also disproportionately misidentified Congress members who are not white.

According to Weeks, Amazon is jumping on a moment before the public does.

“It’s clear that Amazon is merely responding to a moment in order to save face and preserve their bottom line. The fact that they didn’t even explain their reasoning behind their decision shows that they’re unwilling to be held accountable to the fact that their technologies have been shown to disproportionately—and often, inaccurately—surveil people of color,” Weeks said.

Weeks also blasted Amazon’s Ring doorbell cameras.

“Further, Amazon still allows over 1,300 police departments to access Ring footage,” Week said. “This continued relationship puts people of color—particularly Black people and undocumented immigrants—in danger, and is wholly unacceptable. Amazon must commit to completely divesting from their relationships with law enforcement agencies, immediately. Anything less is a racist violation of human rights.”

In 2018, ACRE and the Partnership for Working Families released a report on Amazon’s continued sales of products that promote hate speech and white supremacy. Amazon continues to sell Nazi materials including coins and books.

U.S. Soccer Repeals Policy Requiring Players to Stand During National Anthem
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

June 12, 2020

U.S. Soccer Repeals Policy Requiring Players to Stand During National Anthem

Following the recent uprising of protests against police brutality against Blacks and racial injustice, U.S. Soccer has has repealed a policy that required its players to stand during the national anthem.

The U.S. Soccer Board of Directors released the following statement:

“U.S. Soccer affirms Black Lives Matter, and we support the fight against racial injustices.

“The U.S. Soccer Board of Directors voted yesterday afternoon to repeal Policy 604-1, which required our players to stand during the national anthem. The policy was put in place after Megan Rapinoe kneeled in solidarity with the peaceful protest inspired by Colin Kaepernick, who was protesting police brutality and the systematic oppression of Black people and people of color in America. It has become clear that this policy was wrong and detracted from the important message of Black Lives Matter.

“We have not done enough to listen—especially to our players—to understand and acknowledge the very real and meaningful experiences of Black and other minority communities in our country. We apologize to our players—especially our Black players—staff, fans, and all who support eradicating racism. Sports are a powerful platform for good, and we have not used our platform as effectively as we should have. We can do more on these specific issues and we will.

“It should be, and will be going forward, up to our players to determine how they can best use their platforms to fight all forms of racism, discrimination, and inequality. We are here for our players and are ready to support them in elevating their efforts to achieve social justice. We cannot change the past, but we can make a difference in the future. We are committed to this change effort, and we will be implementing supporting actions in the near future.”

This announcement was made a week after NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said, “We, The NFL Admit, We Were Wrong for Not Listening to NFL Players Earlier.”

CBCF Launches New Initiatives To Support Social Justice Reform In America
by Derek Major

June 12, 2020

CBCF Launches New Initiatives To Support Social Justice Reform In America

The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc. (CBCF) announced today it will launch three key initiatives to support social reforms and education needed to advance the global Black community.

The foundation released a statement Tuesday, saying it will place Social Justice Policy Fellows in the U.S. Congress for two years; establish social justice scholarships for students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities and advance racial equity and human rights in research, data, analysis, and public policy related to criminal justice reform via the newly formed National Racial Equity Initiative for Social Justice (NREI).

“CBCF is answering the global call for action to honor George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and countless others in our country’s past—even predating Jim Crow—who have reached their demise at the hands of law enforcement or imprisonment due to a failed justice system,” Rep. Cedric L. Richmond, chair, CBCF’s board of directors said in a statement. “Our new initiatives will advance educational opportunities for Black students and explore reform through the policy lens of education, economic opportunity, incarceration, the courts, and law enforcement, and ultimately, propose policy solutions.”

The initiatives will be rolled out over the next 90 days according to the foundation. The initiative are part of a significant push to donate time and money to African American causes following the death of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd. The deaths of Floyd, Taylor and others have lead to nationwide and worldwide protests.

“We have always envisioned a society where African Americans can realize basic human rights,” Tonya Veasey, CBCF’s interim president and CEO. “Our nation is hurting and longing after much-needed reform. With the injustices that have plagued this country and have disproportionately affected people of color, it is important that CBCF be on the right side of history to help nurture the global black community and continue to develop leaders, inform policy and educate the public.”

Apple Launches $100 Million Racial Justice Initiative, Promises to Increase Spending With Black Businesses and Recruit HBCU Students
by Selena Hill

June 12, 2020

Apple Launches $100 Million Racial Justice Initiative, Promises to Increase Spending With Black Businesses and Recruit HBCU Students

A number of corporations and large tech companies are standing in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement in wake of the ongoing protests that have swept the nation. Over the past week, Amazon announced a $10 million donation to social justice organizations, Facebook made a $10 million pledge to “groups working on racial justice,” and Alphabet (Google’s parent company) promised $12 million to organizations addressing racial inequities. Most recently, Apple launched a $100 million initiative to promote racial equality.

On Thursday, Apple CEO Tim Cook released a video announcing Apple’s Racial Equity and Justice Initiative, which will focus on “education, economic equality, and criminal justice reform.”

“The unfinished work of racial justice and equality call us all to account,” Cook explained. “Things must change, and Apple’s committed to being a force for that change.” He went on to say that “the initiative will challenge the systemic barriers to opportunity and dignity that exists for communities of color and particular for the black community.”

As part of the initiative, Apple plans to increase its spending with black-owned companies across its supply chain and increase the representation of black-owned partners. The tech giant will also launch a camp for black developers and entrepreneurs and increase its recruitment efforts with HBCUs. In addition, the company will form a partnership with the Equal Justice Initiative, a nonprofit that offers legal representation to prisoners who may have been denied a fair trial.

The program will be led by Lisa Jackson, Apple’s vice president of Environment, Policy, and Social Initiatives. Jackson became the first African American EPA Administrator in U.S. history under the Obama Administration in 2009.

“Fighting for equality and justice for my community has driven my career as an environmentalist,” said Jackson in a tweet. “I’ll continue the work leading Apple’s Racial Equity and Justice Initiative.”

The announcement comes as millions of people around the world are flooding the streets and demanding an end to police brutality and systemic racism at large following the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor at the hands of police.

by Derek Major

June 12, 2020

Dave Chappelle Drops Surprise Special, Rips Candace Owens

Comedian Dave Chappelle released a half-hour comedy special early Friday morning in which he ripped Republican pundit Candace Owens, CNN host Don Lemon, and Fox News host Laura Ingraham.

Chappelle titled the special 8:46, which debuted on Netflix’s YouTube channel, after the amount of time Minneapolis police office Derek Chauvin had his knee on George Floyd’s neck. The special, recorded June 6,  was set in a socially distanced open field in Beaver Creek, Ohio.

Chappelle touched on topics such as Floyd, LeBron James, and Azealia Banks’ accusation of an affair with Chappelle. However, Chappelle saved his most incendiary remarks for Owens, Lemon, and Ingraham.

Candace Owens

“She’s the worst,” Chappelle said to the crowd about Owens. “I can’t think of a worse way to make money. She’s the most articulate idiot I’ve ever seen in my (expletive) life.”

Chappelle’s dig at Owens comes from her repeated attacks on Floyd since his death. Owens released a video on June  4 titled ‘I Do Not Support George Floyd And The Media Depiction Of Him As A Martyr For Black America.’

In the video she took numerous digs at Floyd including mentioning his arrest record. She also asked why the black community made him a hero?

“We didn’t choose him, you did!” Chappelle said loudly. “They killed him and that wasn’t right, so he’s the guy. We’re not desperate for heroes in the black community. Any (expletive) that survives this nightmare is my God damned hero.”

Owens responded in a tweet Friday morning.

“To every Democrat tweeting me the clip of #DaveChappelle insulting me: I’m not a leftist. I have a sense of humor & I think comedians SHOULD make fun of people. Dave Chappelle is one of the greatest comedians of all time and I made it into one of his specials. That’s POWER!”

Laura Ingraham

Chappelle also took shots at Fox News host Laura Ingram for her comments telling LeBron James to “shut up and dribble.”

“She told one of Ohio’s greatest residents to ‘shut up and dribble,'” Chappelle said to the crowd. “I’ll tell you something about LeBron James, he was on the cover of Sports Illustrated when he was 17 years old and exceeded every expectation they had of him.

“My friend is the best at something and she’s not the best at anything, she’s just a regular white woman with a platform.”

Don Lemon

Chappelle also went after CNN host Don Lemon after he called out celebrities for not speaking out on George Floyd’s murder.

“He says where are all these celebrities why aren’t they talking, I was screaming at the TV ‘I dare you to say me,'” Chappelle said. “Has anyone listened to me do comedy? Have I not ever said anything about these things before?

“So now all of a sudden this (expletive) expects me to step over the streets and talk over the work these people are doing as a celebrity?”

Chappelle then asked the crowd “Do you want to see a celebrity now? Do we give a (expletive) what Ja Rule thinks, does it matter about celebrity now? No. This is the streets talking for themselves, they don’t need me right now.”

Lemon responded  on CNN Friday morning saying he agreed with Chappelle’s point.

“I actually agree with Dave Chappelle,” Lemon said. “And I think the young people out in the streets don’t really care what we have to say. They think the part of the world that we created and what we did, we didn’t move fast enough and weren’t strong enough.”

NYPD Police Allegedly Brutalize Bronx Teen During Protests, Mayor Starts An Investigation
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

June 12, 2020

NYPD Police Allegedly Brutalize Bronx Teen During Protests, Mayor Starts An Investigation

A 16-year-old Bronx, New York, boy was allegedly brutalized by NYPD police officers during a night of protests, rioting, and looting inspired by the police killing of George Floyd, according to The Grio.

On June 1, Jahmel Leach, bruised and battered, was taken to the hospital after he was allegedly beaten and had a stun gun used on him three times by an NYPD officer.

“I was in the area of the protest during the evening around 8 p.m.,” Leach told The Grio. “I was not participating in a protest because I am scared of crowds. I was outside during the protest walking home. I was approached by several police officers, who unexpectedly slammed (me) to the ground and tased me to the left temple.” 

Leach didn’t remember how he received all the injuries, only that he “woke up in a police car being taken to the precinct. I was in a cell (with adults) coughing up blood.

Police sources say Leach was observed attempted to set fire to a pile of trash and was arrested for arson, according to The New York Times.

Leach’s family is furious it wasn’t notified by police as required whenever a minor is arrested. The family found out after receiving a phone call from St. Barnabas Hospital.

When Daisy Acevedo arrived at St. Barnabas, she found her son in a hospital bed, badly beaten, with his face swollen and covered in blood.

“The doctors refused to treat me without my mother’s permission because they knew I was a kid,” the 16-year-old told The Grio. “Once the doctors called my mom, she came to see me in the hospital. I was shackled and handcuffed to the hospital bed. She tried to take photos but I heard the officers tell her to stop.”

When Acevedo went to the 52nd precinct to pick up her son, she stated that when the arresting officer, Kevin Hickey, a veteran of the force of nearly five years, brought Leach out, he didn’t have on any clothing or shoes, just a hospital gown, according to CNN.

New York City Mayor Bill DiBlasio announced on Twitter that there is an investigation.

“I’ve spoken to Jahmel’s family and I’m really troubled by what they told me. We’re going to get them answers. The NYPD has launched an investigation into what happened.”

Acevedo wants consequences for the police officer’s actions. “If I was responsible for these injuries to my own child, I would be in jail as a parent!” she said.

L’Oreal Rehires Black Model It Once Fired For Speaking Up About Racism
by Dana Givens

June 12, 2020

L’Oreal Rehires Black Model It Once Fired For Speaking Up About Racism

The recent protests over police brutality and racial injustice has sparked a conservation about racism both in the United States and around the world.

In 2017, a Black model for L’Oreal named Munroe Bergdorf was fired for speaking up about systemic racism while under contract. In light of current events, Bergdorf has not only been rehired by the international cosmetics company, she has been given a seat on the diversity and inclusion board to oversee company policies.

The incident between the model and the brand started when Bergdorf condemned the “racial violence of white people” on her Facebook page after the white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2017 before being fired from their U.K. advertising campaign. When the brand made a recent post about the current Black Lives Matter protests, Bergdorf once again called the brand out on the hypocrisy of its tone-deaf post on Instagram following the protests in the U.S.

“Excuse my language but I am SO angry. F— YOU @lorealparis. You dropped me from a campaign in 2017 and threw me to the wolves for speaking out about racism and white supremacy. With no duty of care, without a second thought,” Berdgorf wrote in her Instagram caption. 

The company responded to her post, and Bergdorf announced on her Instagram page that she will be rehired by the brand and become a part of its U.K. Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Board.

“I regret the lack of dialogue and support the company showed Munroe around the time of the termination. We should have also done more to create a conversation for change as we are now doing,” said Delphine Viguier, brand president of L’Oreal Paris, in a statement, according to Black Business. “We support Munroe’s fight against systemic racism and as a company we are committed to work to dismantle such systems.”

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