Floyd Mayweather Offers To Pay All of George Floyd’s Funeral Costs

Floyd Mayweather Offers To Pay All of George Floyd’s Funeral Costs


The recent death of George Floyd at the hands of law enforcement officials in Minneapolis has sparked public outcry and spurred a wave of protests around the country and world. Many celebrities were spotted out in their hometown joining in the protest, including Wale, J. Cole, and Michael B. Jordan. Now boxing champion Floyd Mayweather has come forward in support of the victim’s family and committed to helping them during this tragedy.

Hollywood Unlocked broke the news Monday that the professional boxer told with the publication’s founder CEO Jason Lee about his commitment to take care of all Floyd’s funeral expenses during a private conversation. Mayweather added that Anzel Jennings, CEO of his TMT music label, grew up with Floyd in Houston and that Jennings reached out to the Floyd family on Mayweather’s behalf. The family plans to hold three services in different locations, including Houston, Floyd’s hometown, Charlotte, and Minneapolis. “The family is also looking to have a fourth service in another location. Mayweather has also offered to take care of those expenses as well,” reports Hollywood Unlocked.

In the report, Mayweatherexpressed deep sadness over the recent string of deaths at the hands of law enforcement and is distraught about the minimal charges the officer responsible for Floyd’s death has received.

 

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HU Staff: Kecia Gayle @kecia.kae Hearts are broken all over the world following the tragic death of George Floyd — the unarmed black man who suffocated under the knee of white Minneapolis police officer, Derek Chauvin. Although his death is still very hard to take in, many people all over the world are determined to get justice for George and his family. ______________________________________________________________ Many people including a number of celebrities have taken the streets to protest for George. Some public figures have even used their platform to shed light on his story. However, we’ve just learned that Boxing Champ Floyd Mayweather has personally reached out to George’s family to help out in a major way. ______________________________________________________________ While speaking with Hollywood Unlocked CEO Jason Lee during a private conversation, Mayweather shared that he was distraught after learning the minimal charge former officer Chauvin received for killing George — just third-degree murder and manslaughter. He told Jason that he was in a group chat with Anzel Jennings, the CEO of TMT music label, who shared that he actually grew up with George in Houston. Following their conversion, Jennings reached out to the family on Mayweather’s behalf. The 43-year-old star felt compelled to do something so he committed to paying for the three funeral services in Houston, George’s hometown – Minnesota and Charlotte. The family is also looking to have a fourth service in another location. Mayweather has also offered to take care of those expenses as well. ______________________________________________________________ Read more at hollywoodunlocked.com 📸: Photo Credit: GETTY IMAGES ______________________________________________________________ If you have a tip or suggestion, or want to talk to us about this story, Text the word “TIP” to 1-310-388-6463!

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Minneapolis Police Have Used Neck Restraints in Over 200 Arrests Since 2015, Leaving Dozens Unconscious

Minneapolis Police Have Used Neck Restraints in Over 200 Arrests Since 2015, Leaving Dozens Unconscious


According to an NBC News analysis of police records, Minneapolis police offers have a five-year history of using excessive force on hundreds of people, leaving 44 unconscious.

Since 2015, officers have rendered dozens of civilian’s unconscious using neck restraints. Meaning, the likelihood of the unfortunate case of George Floyd was bound to happen someday. As a result, people are beginning to question the legal and non-deadly ways to restrain someone.

A week after the death of Floyd, people are still searching for answers and protesting for justice to be brought expeditiously. While countless people have taken to the streets around the nation to advocate for black lives, others have begun to dig deeper into the Minneapolis Police Department.

NBC found that there was an unusually high use of excessive force. According to their research, Minneapolis police reported having used neck restraints over 237 times.

As it relates to the case of Floyd, “More than a dozen police officials and law enforcement experts told NBC News that the particular tactic Chauvin used — kneeling on a suspect’s neck — is neither taught nor sanctioned by any police agency. A Minneapolis city official told NBC News Chauvin’s tactic is not permitted by the Minneapolis Police Department. For most major police departments, variations of neck restraints, known as chokeholds, are highly restricted — if not banned outright.”

Related: Teenager Who Recorded Death of George Floyd Says She’s Receiving Online Backlash 

Minneapolis police records obtained by NBC also revealed, “Three-fifths of those subjected to neck restraints and then rendered unconscious were black. About 30 percent were white. Two were Native Americans. Almost all are male, and three-quarters were age 40 or under.”

While many police departments across the nation have moved away from using neck restraints while arresting people, Minneapolis officers have yet to follow suit. Ed Obayashi, an attorney and the deputy sheriff in Plumas County, California, serves as a national use-of-force expert and trains and advises police agencies.

In an interview with NBC, he shared that excessive force is bad business. “Any time you cut off someone’s airway or block blood flow to the brain, it can lead to serious injury or death as we have seen in so many of these tragedies. By using this tactic, it’s a self-fulfilling tragedy.”

As people seek justice for Floyd and others who have lost their lives, many are calling on officers to be retrained. Others are calling on departments with bad reputations to be defunded.

To read the full story, click here.

Bus Drivers in New York City and Minnesota Refuse to Drive Protesters To Jail

Bus Drivers in New York City and Minnesota Refuse to Drive Protesters To Jail


Union bus drivers stood in solidarity with protesters over the weekend, refusing to drive arrested protesters to jail.

According to Vice, bus drivers in Minneapolis signed a petition saying they refuse to transport police officers and arrested protesters to jail on Thursday.

“We are willing to do what we can to ensure our labor is not used to help the Minneapolis Police Department shut down calls for justice,” the petition read. “For example, I am a bus driver with ATU 1005, and I urged people to call MetroTransit and the Governor the second I heard our buses and members were being organized to make mass arrests hours before the protests escalated.”

Bus drivers weren’t the only union who stood with the protesters. Hundreds of union workers in the city, including Minneapolis postal workers, nurses, teachers, and hotel workers have signed the petition pledging not to assist police during the protests, according to Adam Birch, the Minneapolis bus driver who wrote the petition.

“I was on my route on Wednesday evening and there was a message that came over transit control asking for a bus to transport police officers,” Birch told Motherboard. “I interpreted this as Minneapolis police department preparing for mass arrests so when I had a moment on a layover, I created a post on Facebook saying that I’m a metro transit bus driver, and I don’t feel comfortable assisting the Minneapolis police department to make arrests. It got a lot of reaction, which was surprising so I created a petition.”

The bus driver’s union, Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1005, also posted a statement on Twitter supporting those fighting for justice for George Floyd. The union represents more than 2,000 transportation workers in the Twin Cities.

In New York City, a video of a bus driver refusing to transport arrested protesters and police officers to jail made rounds on social media. The Transport Workers Union Local 100, which represents New York City bus drivers, released a statement saying drivers can and should refuse to transport protesters.

“TWU Local 100 Bus Operators do not work for the NYPD. We transport the working families of NYC, all TWU Operators should refuse to transport arrested protestors,” the statement said.

For the union, standing up to the police and the city is nothing new. In 2011, the union sued the city for using bus drivers to transport arrested protesters during the Occupy Wall Street protests.

The protests against police brutality and racism began last Wednesday after the death of George Floyd, who was killed by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin who held his knee against Floyd’s neck for almost nine minutes while three other officers stood by. He has since been arrested and charged with third-degree murder.

Black Toronto Woman Falls to her Death After Police Encounter; Family Wants Answers

Black Toronto Woman Falls to her Death After Police Encounter; Family Wants Answers


A Toronto black woman, who was said to be in “distress,” fell to her death from her 24th-floor apartment balcony last week after her mother called the police for assistance, according to The Toronto Sun. Now her family is looking for answers.

According to the family’s lawyer Knia Singh, 29-year-old Regis Korchinski-Paquet began experiencing epilepsy and mental health episodes within the last five years that sometimes required help from the police.

Singh said Korchinski-Paquet’s mother called police around 5:15 p.m. to the High Park apartment after a domestic conflict.

“I asked the police if they could take my daughter to CAMH (The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health), and my daughter ended up dead,” said Claudette Korchinski​​​​​​-Beals.

When police arrived at the family’s apartment, Singh stated that the police officers met Korchinski-Paquet, her brother, and mother in the hallway. Words were “exchanged” between and the officers as they walked down the hall when she then told police she had to use the bathroom. He said that the woman’s brother saw “multiple” officers follow her and they prevented him from going in the bathroom.

Within a minute or two, the family heard a commotion and Korchinski-Paquet cry, “Mom, help. Mom, help. Mom, help.”

“The family wants answers to what happened. How can a call for assistance turn into a loss of life?” asked Singh.

Toronto Police Chief Mark Saunders issued a statement last week.

“We know this incident has caused a great deal of concern and our thoughts are with the family and the community,” he said. “Let me be very clear that we want the facts as much as anyone. The Toronto Police Service is fully co-operating with the Special Investigations Unit.

“The Service is legally not permitted to discuss the incident at this time. While we cannot comment at this stage, I understand the community’s need for answers. I urge witnesses to contact the SIU.”

A statement was also issued by the Special Investigations Unit:

“The province’s Special Investigations Unit is continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of a 29-year-old woman yesterday in Toronto. She fell from the balcony of a 24th floor apartment unit while Toronto Police Service officers were in the building. A post-mortem will be conducted this afternoon.

“SIU interviews have begun and will be ongoing in the next few days. The SIU is aware of allegations made by certain family members of the deceased and will be looking to speak to anyone with information about these allegations. As the investigation is in the early stages, it would be inappropriate for the SIU to make any further comment at this time with respect to what transpired.

“The SIU is urging anyone who may have information about this investigation to contact the lead investigator at 1-800-787-8529. The Unit is also urging anyone who may have any video evidence related to this incident to upload that video through the SIU website.”

Toronto Mayor John Tory released a statement via Twitter:

Atlanta Mayor Fires Two Police Officers Who Tasered Black HBCU Students On Live TV

Atlanta Mayor Fires Two Police Officers Who Tasered Black HBCU Students On Live TV


Two police officers from Atlanta have been terminated for using excessive force to detain two college students who were in their vehicle, according to CBS 46.

The assault on the Morehouse and Spelman college students was filmed on live TV as the police officers converged on the college students who were in their car.

CBS 46 News, which was reporting live, captured the moments that Messiah Young, 22, and Taniyah Pilgrim, 20, were forcibly taken into custody after 9 p.m. Saturday night. Young is a student at Morehouse College, and Pilgrim attends Spelman College.

The couple was leaving the protest at Atlanta’s Centennial Olympic Park as the video shows police officers smashing the driver’s side window, forcibly opening the passenger side door, and using stun guns on the passengers before forcing them out of the vehicle.

Three other officers involved in the incident have been placed on desk duty pending further investigation. Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms made the announcement during a press conference on Sunday. 

“After review of that footage, Chief Shields and I have made the determination that two of the officers involved in the incident last night will be terminated immediately. The other three officers are, right now, on desk duty pending further determination of what, if any, appropriate disciplinary action should be taken against them,” the mayor said.

Atlanta Police Chief Erika Shields also made a statement at the press conference. 

“We have been handed an enormous obstacle and have, by and large, done it as well as we could in the space that we’re being afforded,” Shields said. “It’s an unpleasant space to be in but that does not relieve us of our responsibilities. And we have a responsibility, when we handle any incident, to not escalate the incident and not cause further harm or injury.”

CBS46 has reviewed the bodycam footage obtained Sunday night. Officer Lonnie Hood is the officer who broke the window and tased Young, the driver. Officer Mark Gardner tased Pilgrim, the female passenger.

In a police report filed by Officer Gardner, he stated that officers were attempting to secure Young and Pilgrim. He said he approached the passenger side and gave verbal commands to Pilgrim to “show her hands and stop resisting.” Then, Gardner says he heard other officers shout “gun.” Gardner said he couldn’t see the hands of the passenger, so that’s when he tased her.

“I was not sure if she or the male driver was the one suspected of possessing the handgun. I served in a back up roll to officers that were making the arrest based on a traffic stop. My purpose for deploying my taser was to bring the female under control for which the officer I was assisting was making an arrest. I did not witness the initial traffic violation or crime under which she or her male companion were being investigated,” Gardner said in his report.

White Protesters Form Human Barrier to Shield Black Protesters From Louisville Metro Police

White Protesters Form Human Barrier to Shield Black Protesters From Louisville Metro Police


In a show of solidarity with black protesters fed up with police officers brutalizing black citizens, a group of white protesters formed a human shield blocking the Louisville Metro Police from harming black demonstrators, according to The Grio.

The Kentucky National Organization for Women posted a picture from a protest last week in downtown Louisville. The photograph showed a line of white protesters, with their arms locked, forming a standing barrier between Louisville Metro Police officers and black protesters.

Louisville photographer Tim Druck captured the picture that has gone viral. The photo appeared on the Facebook page of the Kentucky National Organization for Women. During the rally, protesters called for justice in the death of EMT worker Breonna Taylor, who was shot to death in her apartment in March by Louisville police while they were serving on a no-knock warrant. The protest also supported the Black Lives Matter movement amid the recent spate of police killings of unarmed black people.

The now viral photo was shared on social media platforms by organizations such as the Kentucky National Organization for Women, where it was shared more than 100,000 times on Facebook.

“This is a line of white people forming a barrier between Black protesters and the police. This is love. This is what you do with your privilege,” the post states.

The Louisville Courier-Journal reports that according to Druck, Chanelle Helm, a lead organizer for Black Lives Matter Louisville, addressed the white protesters using a bullhorn and said: “If you are going to be here, you should defend this space,” and instructed people to form the line facing police at 6th and Jefferson streets.

Druck, who stated he showed up to take photos of the protest around 9 p.m. Thursday, said a police presence had come to that territory to block off intersections downtown as the crowd grew.

“She was asking for white folks to use their privilege, and put their bodies between police and the other demonstrators,” Druck said. “And people responded. They didn’t, they didn’t need to be convinced. Everybody willingly and enthusiastically did it.”

Ice Cube Joins Charlamagne, Diddy, Against Biden Democrats: ‘Let’s Hold The Black Vote Hostage Until There’s A Black Agenda We’re Satisfied With’


On May 24, Ice Cube tweeted, “Hold the Black vote hostage until one of ’em comes with A Black Agenda that we’re satisfied with. It’s not our job to fix the country’s mess until we fix our mess…#fuckyoupayme.”

The hip-hop icon’s tweet falls in line with a sentiment Sean “Diddy” Combs recently shared during an interview with Naomi Campbell when he called for Black people to hold off giving Joe Biden and the Democrats support until the Black community’s issues and needs are addressed.

“We want to know very clearly. Just like Trump made it clear that he wanted to build a wall, Biden needs to make it clear that he’s gonna change the lives and quality of life of Black and Brown people,” Diddy said. “Or else he can’t get the vote. I will hold the vote hostage if I have to.”

In the interview on Campbell’s web series, “No Filter with Naomi,” Diddy declared the “Black vote ain’t free.” More people seem to be following this belief especially after the presumptive presidential Democrat’s interview on The Breakfast Club with Charlamagne Tha God.

Nina Turner, national co-chair of the Bernie Sanders 2020 presidential campaign, tweeted, “The @DNC must stop playing games with our votes. And to my Beloved Black Community: Now is the time! We owe it to our ancestors, ourselves and to our future to seize this moment for the uplift of our people. This assignment is forever!#Iaintblack

During the interview, Biden seemingly questioned Charlamagne’s — and any other undecided Black voter’s — Blackness by saying Black people who don’t vote for him“ain’t Black.”

Biden later backtracked and expressed remorse for acting so “cavalier,” insisting that he’s “never, never, ever taken the African-American community for granted,” Hot News Hip Hop reported.

Shortly after Diddy’s declaration, Biden released his plan for Black America called, “Lift Every Voice.”

Now, after The Breakfast Club interview, the Biden campaign reposted highlights from the plan on Instagram.

According to the post, “The Biden Plan for Black America” will close the wealth and income gap by investing in African-American workers, businesses, and communities, TheGrio reported. The post also stressed that a Biden administration would push for health equity and address racial inequity.

“I shouldn’t have been such a wise guy. I shouldn’t have been so cavalier…I have never, ever taken the African-American community for granted,” Biden said, according to journalist Yamiche Alcindor. “No one should have to vote for any party based on their race, background, religion, or any demographic information.”

While the sentiment of Diddy, Charlemagne, and now Ice Cube seems to be gaining momentum, other Black voters say now is not the time to put the election on the line.

Holding the Black vote hostage is irresponsible and puts the Black community in danger, wrote Christina M. Greer, an associate professor at Fordham University and the author of “Black Ethnics: Race, Immigration, and the Pursuit of the American Dream.” Greer co-hosts the podcast FAQ-NYC, and is the political editor at The Grio.

While Greer said she agrees with Diddy that Biden and the Democrats cannot take the Black vote for granted, she feels holding the Black vote hostage “would be detrimental to not only the Black community but the nation (and world) for generations to come.”

This article was written by Ann Brown for The Moguldom Nation.

CDFIs Get An Additional $10 Billion In PPP Funding From SBA


The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is providing an additional $10 billion in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funding for Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs).

The new funding will be specifically lent by CDFIs, part of a move to make sure that PPP loans reach low-income communities where CDFIs operate. The SBA, along with the with the U.S. Treasury Department, made the announcement Thursday in a press release.

The fresh funding comes after the SBA provided $30 billion in April in Round 2 of PPP funding for CDFIs, community banks, and other lenders with assets of $10 billion or less.

“The forgivable loan program, PPP, is dedicated to providing emergency capital to sustain our nation’s small businesses, the drivers of our economy, and retain their employees,” stated SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza. “CDFIs provide critically important capital and technical assistance to small businesses from rural, minority, and other under served communities, especially during this economically challenging time.”

Though the new funding does not include community banks and other lenders, a SBA spokeswoman says there is still more than $100 million in PPP funding that can be lent by participating lenders to small businesses, including black-owned businesses. So far, since being launched in early April in two phases, the SBA has approved more than $510.5 billion in funding covering over 4.4 million loans.

Interestingly, some 3,581 banks with less than $1 billion in assets have provided 891,301 loans totaling over $81.4 billion since PPP  rolled out, according to SBA data. Several firms on the BE 100s 2019 Banks list fall into that category.

William Michael Cunningham, an economist and banking expert, stated by email that the additional $10 billion in PPP funding that the SBA is setting aside exclusively for CDFIs is a good sign. He added it is responsive to the observations and complaints that many have made concerning the lack of funding directed to minority businesses.

However, Cunningham stated, “the downside is that the speed with which SBA has come up with this additional funding may indicate that the economic situation is worse than we thought.”

In general, CDFIs largely focus on providing personal lending and business development efforts in poorer local communities often in need of revitalization across the country. They can seek funding from the U.S. Treasury. They often promote economic development and operate in areas not adequately targeted by traditional banks.

CDFI’s  have been among PPP participants. A current listing of PPP lenders to date can be found on the SBA website.

This Black-Owned Sunscreen Brand Just Secured A $1 Million Investment Amid COVID-19


Black entrepreneurs have statistically always had more problems with access to venture capitalists to help garner the necessary capital needed to expand their business. According to previous reports, despite leading the pack in business creation and entrepreneurship, black women business owners receive 1% of all venture capital funding.

Previously, we reported about entrepreneur Shontay Lundy behind the Black Girl Sunscreen brand. News came out this week that the founder will be expanding her brand with a lucrative $1 million boost with the help of a new female investor.

Black Girl Sunscreen is the only black-owned sunscreen brand in Target and is now available in over 200 stores around the country. According to a new report published by Forbes, after spending months vetting potential partners, Lundy partnered with a new investor, raising her company’s valuation to $5 million.

Since the start of the COVID-19, or the novel coronavirus, pandemic, Lundy and her team have gone into overdrive ensuring that they had what they needed to keep the company afloat amid the public health crisis. While brick-and-mortar businesses have been temporarily closed under quarantine restrictions, the brand has managed to use its digital storefront to keep up with costs. Lundy still plans on launching a new product later this year.

In an interview with Forbes, Lundy offers advice to aspiring business owners to take advantage of free resources when they are pursuing investing opportunities. She states that her advice to entrepreneurs and “other minority businesses looking for funding is to take advantage of grants and available resources, participate in pitch competitions to learn how to sell your business and gain exposure, have buttoned-up financials; and put yourself in environments to meet investors/high-net-worth individuals.”

75% of Consumers Aim to Back Local Businesses More Extensively Post-COVID-19


Despite being battered by the coronavirus pandemic this year, small local businesses have gained consumers as a new ally to give them much needed future hope and support.

A robust 75% of consumers plan to back local businesses more extensively once limitations on non-essential businesses are removed in their areas, a new report shows.

That is among discoveries from a new survey paid for by Groupon and completed by OnePoll. It is encouraging news for restaurants, retail shops, clothing stores, salons and spas, and bars, places where people first are expected to spend money when it is safe to do so. The study done in early May surveyed 2,000 people to get a feel of their shopping plans post-COVID-19 lockdown.

Some 67% of those questioned are more hopeful now than when the pandemic initially started. And  Americans have been going out of their way to help small businesses. Some 86% of those surveyed report they continued to support locally owned businesses during the quarantine.

The study comes as states across America have started some type of reopening—including partially—in recent days. Some 57% of those surveyed know at least one business affected by lockdown restrictions.

So what are among the ways people favored small businesses during the quarantine?

  • Some 77% of respondents took an online class or took part in a virtual experience offered by a local merchant.
  • Sixty-five percent booked summer “staycations,” which included planning activities that are close to home and keep their kids entertained.
  • Around 65% boosted their takeout and delivery options from local restaurants.

Another welcomed survey statistic for small business owners perhaps is this: The average American plans to spend nearly $100 a week at local businesses post-COVID-19, up 16% from before the crisis. That could boost the local economy where people live, further helping small businesses.

A whopping 92% of small businesses have been negatively impacted by COVID-19, the National Federation of Independent Business reports. The survey findings offer small businesses a ray of hope.

“This crisis has disproportionately affected small businesses and our hearts go out to local merchants, who have often poured their life savings into their businesses,” Simon Goodall, chief commercial officer, Groupon stated in a news release.

“As some businesses begin to slowly and responsibly open back up, it’s encouraging to see that many Americans plan to continue to help their communities recover by supporting small, local businesses.”

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