CNN is reporting that Senator Elizabeth Warren, the former presidential candidate, has endorsed Joe Biden for President of the United States.
This morning, the Massachusetts Senator tweeted out a video announcing the support of her former rival.
In this moment of crisis, it’s more important than ever that the next president restores Americans’ faith in good, effective government—and I’ve seen Joe Biden help our nation rebuild. Today, I’m proud to endorse @JoeBiden as President of the United States. pic.twitter.com/VrfBtJvFee
Senator Warren’s endorsement of Biden comes two days after Bernie Sanders endorsed the former vice president and a day after former president Barack Obama endorsed his former number two.
Biden secured the nomination after Sanders dropped out of the Democratic nomination race.
Don Lemon Calls Out Donald Trump After Losing a Close Friend to COVID-19
On Monday, Don Lemon shared a heartfelt message where he revealed that he lost his close friend, Robby Browne, due to complications with COVID-19. He also called out Donald Trump for claiming that he has “total authority” to dictate when states reopen during a press briefing.
The outcomes due to the spread of the coronavirus have made it clear that no single person has control as it relates to the crisis. Not the healthcare providers, banks, scientists, or those who practice social distancing. Not even the president. For those reasons, Lemon called out Trump on CNN saying, “I lost a very good friend this weekend. I wanted to hear from the president how he is going to stop that from happening. “Instead, I got a campaign video. What do I need a campaign video for?”
He went on to say, “I want to know how you’re going to stop my loved ones from dying. I don’t need a campaign video, Mr. President. How are you going to keep friends and loved ones from dying? It is crystal clear from what happened today what the president’s top priority is, defending himself rather than focusing on the health and well-being of the American people.”
Lemon isn’t the only person calling out Trump. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo weighed in on Trump’s statement during an appearance on CNN and reminded people about the Constitution—and that Trump is not above it.
“We don’t have King Donald Trump, we have President Donald Trump. The states created the federal government, not the other way around. And, that is explicit. Certain responsibilities are state responsibilities. Health, welfare, quarantine — those are state responsibilities. So, the president should not even think of going there.”
Tulsa’s Black Wall Street Has Received A Grant To Be Modernized
Black Wall Street, a historic black and affluent district in Tulsa, Oklahoma, was infamously burned down by an angry white mob during the 1921 Race Massacre. Now, almost a century later, the community will be rebuilt thanks to a grant.
In 1921, the thriving black business community was destroyed in race riots, resulting in more than 300 black deaths and nearly 1,000 injuries at the hands of an angry vigilante mob. North Greenwood Avenue is all that remains from the community. The 10 buildings were refurbished in the early 1980s but have not had any major work done since then.
Today, the historic district has been one of many places devastated by the coronavirus outbreak. The grant comes at a time of necessity in order to preserve’s the neighborhood’s history.
The National Park Service (NPS) announced they will be donating $500,000 in grant money to renovate buildings along Tulsa’s North Greenwood Avenue business district known as the former Black Wall Street. The organization will be partnering with the Greenwood Chamber of Commerce, which manages the district.
“These grants will fund important projects that document, interpret, and preserve sites that tell the stories of the African American experience in the pursuit of civil rights,” said National Park Service Deputy Director David Vela in a press release announcing the grants. “Thanks to the coordination of public and private partners, these projects will help connect Americans to historic places that preserve American history.”
Chamber President Freeman Culver told the Associated Press that the money would go to replacing roofs on the 10 buildings and finance reconstruction of the exteriors.
“We hope that it’s obvious we’re committed to preserving the history our ancestors left us,” Culver said. He added that the chamber submitted paperwork for the buildings to be listed in the National Register of Historic Places for further protection.
Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey Donates $1 Million to Help Black and Brown Communities Fight COVID-19
As part of Jack Dorsey’s $1 billion commitment to help combat the spread of COVID-19, the Twitter co-founder and CEO announced that he is donating $1 million to the Masks for the People humanitarian campaign. The donation will also go toward providing free personal protective equipment (PPE) and testing kits for those who are incarcerated, formerly incarcerated, violence interrupters, essential workers, and the elderly in communities of color.
Dorsey made the announcement Monday night during a livestream chat with campaign leaders Pastor Michael McBride and CNN host and comedian W. Kamau Bell.
“Your plan was extremely thoughtful and comprehensive, and it’s obviously touching a community that needs it. The way you thought out not just the logistics of how to buy the PPE and the protective gear for people, but also how you’re supporting them with community outreach,” said Dorsey, according to a press release.
Launched on April 6, Masks for the People is sponsored by the nongovernmental organization Live Free and Black Church Action Fund. The campaign aims to secure a supply chain of needed supplies like masks, sanitizers, and coronavirus tests for urban neighborhoods and poor rural communities.
“Less than a week ago we pulled together an unprecedented coalition of activists, faith leaders, artists and entrepreneurs committed to securing a supply chain of PPE and preventative care for Black and Brown communities,” said Pastor McBride. “Thanks to Dorsey’s generosity, and the generosity of others who have given, we can scale immediately and expand beyond the initial eight to 10 cities. It’s just a blessing.”
Dorsey’s donation comes a week after he pledged to transfer $1 billion of his equity in Square, the digital payments company he also co-founded, to a new foundation that will support coronavirus relief efforts. The billionaire has also teamed up with Rihanna to contribute to a $4.2 million grant to help domestic violence victims amid the COVID-19 crisis.
According to reports, black people across the country are being infected and dying from COVID-19 at alarming rates. In both Louisiana and Chicago, roughly 70% of the COVID-19 deaths have occurred among blacks even though they are a minority in both areas. Meanwhile, in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, blacks make up about 27% of the population but comprised almost half of all COVID-19 infections and 71% of all fatalities.
The coronavirus’s impact on African Americans is being exacerbated for a number of reasons. For one, a disproportionate number of black and brown Americans face underlying health conditions, which have made them more vulnerable to the pandemic. In addition to being likely to be sick, people of color are less likely to have health coverage, stable housing, and protection. Furthermore, black and brown workers are more likely to commute to work during the crisis.
Ugandan Politician Bobi Wine Offers to Airlift Mistreated Africans Out of China
Since the start of the COVID-19, or novel coronavirus, pandemic, China has been the first country to start to lift their mandatory bans and are slowly going back to everyday life. However, not all residents are being helped and have been on the receiving end of hostility.
News broke last week that African residents and African American tourists were facing discrimination from locals, being barred from restaurants, and even being evicted from hotels, forcing some to sleep in the street. Images and videos of Africans sleeping on the streets caused massive outrage online over the weekend, with governments, including the U.S. consulate, urging citizens of African descent to avoid the city. Now, some public figures want to step up to protect Africans abroad.
Ugandan politician and musician Bobi Wine has teamed with the co-founder of Atlanta Black Star, Neil Nelson, to help airlift Africans and African Americans being subjected to inhumane treatment in China. They announced their plans in a joint statement on Monday.
“The two leaders are currently working together to facilitate a humanitarian mission to airlift those Africans and African-Americans who are affected by these attacks to a country in Africa that is willing to receive them,” read the press release. “We are also prepared to evacuate them to the United States for those holding U.S. citizenship or permanent resident status.”
Wine also went on Twitter and Instagram to announce his new partnership. In the statement, they mentioned they appealed to the Chinese government and other global African leaders to take urgent action to protect Africans abroad. “We call upon leaders from across the global African community including political leaders, social activists, artists and other leaders to join in this effort.”
Together with my friend Neil Nelson, CEO @ATLBlackStar, we are offering to airlift Africans & African-Americans being subjected to inhumane treatment in parts of China. Only if we get an African nation and/or the US willing to receive them! #soos#savingourownsoulspic.twitter.com/HFHEf4p8wa
President Trump’s Claim That He Has Total Power To Restart States Is False, Here’s Why
President Trump said in a contentious press briefing Monday that he has total authority to reopen states, but legal experts say he’s wrong.
According to CNBC, Trump said the decision as to when to reopen states is his decision alone. However, legal experts say U.S. law gives state governors wide authority to protect the health and safety of their constituents. Additionally, Trump did not declare a nationwide lockdown, so the thought that he can order a nationwide reopening is false.
“The president of the United States calls the shots,” Trump said at his evening news briefing. “They can’t do anything without the approval of the president of the United States.”
When asked what provisions of the Constitution gave him that power, he said, “Numerous provisions,” but Trump did not name any. “When somebody’s the president of the United States, the authority is total.”
William Buzbee, a professor at Georgetown University Law School and an expert in federalism, told CNBC the federal government cannot override governors.
“State and local governments have strong police power to protect their citizens and so I’m unaware of any way in which the federal government could basically try to override anything the states and cities have been doing to protect the public health of their citizens,” Buzbee said. “Since the president has mainly acted in a sort of bully pulpit sort of way, there’s nothing in particular that he would be reversing or restarting.”
Conservative legal scholar Josh Blackman agreed with Buzbee, saying, “I don’t know what it means for the president to ‘open up the states.’
Ignoring Trump, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Govs. Phil Murphy of New Jersey, Ned Lamont of Connecticut, Tom Wolf of Pennsylvania, John Carney of Delaware, and Gina Raimondo of Rhode Island have joined forces to create joint recommendations on how they can reopen their economies. On Monday night, Cuomo reported that Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker has also joined the group.
The governors said in a conference call Monday they will name a public health official, an economic official, and their respective chiefs of staff to work on the plan. The governors emphasized the importance of working collectively to ensure safety and success.
“Study the data, study the research, study the experiences of other countries, and give us guidelines and parameters to go forward. Let’s be smart and let’s be cooperative and let’s learn from one another,” Cuomo said.
The governors of California, Washington, and Oregon also announced a similar plan Monday also ignoring Trump’s claims.
Scientists Discover 6 New Coronavirus Strains in Bats
Scientists in Myanmar have discovered six new coronavirus strains lurking in bats on Monday. The strains belong to the same family as the virus that affected humans in the past.
According to International Business Times, the new strains are family, but not closely related to other strains that have led to severe infections in humans. Strains that have impacted humans include severe acute respiratory syndrome and the Middle East respiratory syndrome.
The team discovered the new strains while studying bats in Myanmar as a part of a government-funded program known as PREDICT. The program seeks to identify infectious diseases that have the potential to hop from animals to human beings. As a result of the discovery, medical experts are assuming these bats are hosting numerous undiscovered strains.
The research team collected bat samples between May 2016 and August 2018 at three selected caves in Myanmar. Two of the sites are cave systems where people were routinely exposed to bats through religious practices, guano harvesting, and ecotourism.
“Many coronaviruses may not pose a risk to people, but when we identify these diseases early on in animals, at the source, we have a valuable opportunity to investigate the potential threat. Vigilant surveillance, research, and education are the best tools we have to prevent pandemics before they occur,” Suzan Murray, director of the Smithsonian’s Global Health Program said.
The researchers noted that contact between human beings and wildlife is becoming more frequent.
“Worldwide, humans are interacting with wildlife with increasing frequency, so the more we understand about these viruses in animals — what allows them to mutate and how they spread to other species –– the better we can reduce their pandemic potential,” lead study author Marc Valitutto, a former wildlife veterinarian said.
The coronavirus has impacted almost all forms of human life. Every level of education in the US has felt its impact and more than 16 million people have filed for unemployment.
NASCAR Racer Kyle Larson Fired for using N-word During a Virtual Race
On Sunday night, superstar NASCAR racer Kyle Larson said the N-word during a company iRacing event while testing the sound on his microphone. NBC News reported that Larson was frustrated with the soundcheck and blurted out the word in a chat with his fellow drivers who were perplexed and shared that they heard him.
In a statement released by his team Chip Ganassi Racing, the team said, “We are extremely disappointed by what Kyle said last night during an iRacing Event. The words that he chose to use are offensive and unacceptable. As of this moment, we are suspending Kyle without pay while we work through this situation with all appropriate parties.”
(Image: File)
In a public apology, Larson said:
“Hey, I just want to say I’m sorry. Last night I made a mistake and said the word that should never, ever be said and there’s no excuse for that,” Larson said in a video message.
“I wasn’t raised that way. It’s just an awful thing to say. I feel very sorry for my family, my friends, my partners, the NASCAR community and especially the African-American community. I understand the damage is probably unrepairable and I own up to that. But I just want to let you all know how sorry I am and I hope everybody is staying safe during these crazy times. Thank you.”
NASCAR also released a statement saying, “NASCAR has made diversity and inclusion a priority and will not tolerate the type of language used by Kyle Larson during Sunday’s iRacing event. Our Member Conduct Guidelines are clear in this regard, and we will enforce these guidelines to maintain an inclusive environment for our entire industry and fan base.”
Larson appears to be remorseful for his actions, but NASCAR and Chip Ganassi Racing are not going back on their decisions. After his initial suspension, on Tuesday they announced that they are severing ties with the driver. Larson has also lost the sponsorship of McDonald’s and Clover, and Credit One. NASCAR has suspended Larson and will need to go through sensitivity training before reinstatement is possible.
Boston University Announces It May Not Reopen Campus Until January 2021
Boston University has announced that it may not re-open its campus until its next spring semester in January 2021.
Boston University, a private residential research university with 33,000 students that traces its roots to 1839, made its announcement through BU Today, a news site managed by its communications department. The article added the January start date would happen in the “unlikely event” that health officials advise that social distancing should extend through the fall.
Still, Boston University is the first major college or university to make such an announcement. The school has already canceled its in-person summer classes.
University President Robert Brown closed the campus on March 22 and announced five working groups who are all contributing to a COVID-19 recovery plan. The plan includes a group that is examining remote learning and another focused on residential life.
Richard Ekman, president of the nonprofit Council of Independent Colleges, said other colleges in the council have begun quiet discussions to consider plans in case they have to postpone campus openings. Others are discussing start date delays of a month or are looking at more extended closures.
“They’re all waiting to get better health information,” Ekman said.
The coronavirus outbreak has hit colleges hard. Colleges nationwide have canceled classes and sent students home. As a result, millions of dollars have disappeared from colleges and the towns they reside in. Some colleges are trying to raise much-needed revenue and are reporting that without additional funding, they may have to close permanently.
Historically black colleges and universities were struggling before the coronavirus outbreak hit U.S. shores. Now, they’re also feeling the financial effects of coronavirus.
Adding to the issue is the fact that when campuses open again, enrollment will certainly be down at many schools. As a result, many campuses will be raising tuition, room and board, and social activity fees.
Because of this, calls for widespread student loan forgiveness have started up again. Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has also released a plan for student loan forgiveness.
NFL and Players Agree to Virtual Off-Season Program
As the coronavirus plays itself out, professional sports leagues are changing protocols and rules until it’s safe to take the field again. Due to the league being in off-season mode, the NFL and its players’ union have agreed on how they will conduct the off-season functions while the COVID-19 pandemic continues to hold everyone on lockdown.
The National Football League and The NFL Players Association have mutually reached an agreement on a voluntary off-season program set to begin on April 20, Although no on-field work is allowed, the virtual period of the program can begin next week until all 32 club facilities can reopen.
“Both our Executive committee and Board of Player Reps have voted unanimously to approve a virtual off-season program up until the start of training camp,” the NFLPA said in a statement. “We will be sending out all the details and setting up calls with players and agents for how this will work shortly.”
Club facilities will open in accordance with strict NFL protocols and federal, state, and local rules and regulations. The virtual period will consist of three consecutive weeks of classroom instruction, workouts, and non-football educational programs using videoconferencing technology. An extra voluntary veteran camp will be available for new coaches, with the virtual period ending no later than May 15.
NFL teams will be allowed to send players workout equipment and monitoring devices such as kettle-bells, resistance bands, Apple watches, etc. The cost for the equipment and/or devices isn’t allowed to exceed $1,500 for any individual player.
If club facilities do not reopen during this off-season program, which concludes June 26, there will be an additional option for teams. Teams can conduct a mandatory veteran mini-camp, which can be done virtually, but with limits of two hours of classroom time and two hours of workout time.
As long as the restrictions are in place, this plan provides the NFL’s 32 team franchises with guidelines and a framework within which they can plan and conduct off-season programs.
The plan was approved Monday via a vote between the NFLPA and NFL management council.
