Sesame Place, lawsuit, Indianapolis
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

December 2, 2024

Trial Begins For Indianapolis Officers Involved In Herman Whitfield’s Death During Mental Health Crisis

Adam Ahmad and Steven Sanchez are on trial for allegedly killing 39-year-old Herman Whitfield III in 2022.

Two Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Officers are set to be tried for the killing of a Black man who was having a mental health crisis.

On April 25, 2022, police officers in Indianapolis were called by the parents of a man who was having a mental health crisis in their home. After the officers arrived, the man was tasered and killed by the police who arrived at the scene. After more than two years, the two police officers will go to trial on Dec. 2.

According to The Associated Press, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Officers Adam Ahmad and Steven Sanchez, who were indicted by a grand jury a year after the incident took place, will stand trial in an Indianapolis courtroom. Both men have been charged with one felony count each of involuntary manslaughter, reckless homicide, battery resulting in serious bodily injury, and battery resulting in moderate injury, and one misdemeanor battery charge.

They were charged after responding to a 911 call from the parents of 39-year-old Herman Whitfield III, who was having a mental health breakdown at their house. After making the call, Ahmad and Sanchez showed up and found Whitfield naked and pacing inside the home. The officers, who were wearing body cameras, were seen trying to convince Whitfield to put on some clothes so they could take him to a hospital. Whitfield did not get dressed and moved from room to room, avoiding contact with the officers. As he ran past a table in the dining room, Sanchez allegedly utilized his taser, shocking Whitfield. After the victim fell, Sanchez, Ahmad, and other police officers gathered to try to handcuff Whitfield as he was face down on the floor.

Whitfield allegedly told the police officers that he “can’t breathe” several times before he goes silent. He was unresponsive when officers rolled him over to place handcuffs on him. After being taken to the hospital, he was pronounced dead.

The Marion County Coroner’s Office ruled that Whitfield’s death was a homicide. The autopsy states that the cause of death was “cardiopulmonary arrest in the setting of law enforcement subdual, prone restraint, and conducted electrical weapon use.”

It took almost a year for the officers to be indicted after Whitfield’s family demanded that the police department release videos from the body cams the officers were wearing. They requested that the six officers involved be terminated.

An attorney for the police officers, John Kautzman, said, “The only thing I’ll say on record, which I’ve said before, is we believe these officers did not commit any criminal actions whatsoever and that they shouldn’t be standing trial for crimes.”

Ahmad and Sanchez are currently on administrative leave.

Whitfield’s family has sued the police department and is seeking unspecified damages. The civil case will begin in July 2025 in federal court in Indianapolis.

RELATED CONTENT: Justice Department: Police In Small Mississippi City Engaged In Systemic Discrimination Against Blacks

Ralph Yarl, Civil Lawsuit, Andrew Lester
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

December 2, 2024

Trial For White Man Who Shot Ralph Yarl To Start In February

After 86-year-old Andrew Lester underwent a mental evaluation in September, the judge announced that the trial would start as scheduled

The trial for a white man who shot 16-year-old Black teenager Ralph Yarl, who mistakenly went to his house to pick up his younger brothers, will start in February after he underwent a mental evaluation in September, the judge on the case announced.

Last year, on April 13, Yarl mistakenly went to the wrong house and was shot twice by a white homeowner, Andrew Lester, in Kansas City, Missouri. Several days later, Lester was arrested and charged with assault in the first degree and armed criminal action.

According to NBC News, the trial is scheduled to start on Feb. 18, after the completed mental evaluation was entered into the record on Nov. 15. The retired aircraft mechanic has pleaded not guilty to the charges after he was accused of shooting Yarl with a gun after he rang his doorbell. He erroneously appeared at Lester’s house when he went to pick up his younger twin brothers. He was supposed to go to Northeast 115th Terrace but ended up at Lester’s house at Northeast 115th Street.

After the shooting, Clay County Prosecuting Attorney Zachary Thompson stated that the shooting may have been racially motivated.

A written statement was given to KSHB 41 from Yarl’s mother, Cleo Nagbe.

“The family of Ralph Yarl is grateful that the trial against Andrew Lester is moving forward. This case represents more than just accountability — it’s a step toward justice for the trauma Ralph and our family have endured simply because he rang the doorbell at the wrong home. We remain committed to seeking fairness and ensuring that no other family has to face such pain due to the color of their skin. Thank you to all who continue to support justice for Ralph and our eagerness to put this chapter behind us.”

A pretrial hearing was originally scheduled for last week but has been moved to Jan. 25. According to court documents, Lester’s defense attorneys asked for the continuance “for good cause shown.”

Lester is facing a maximum sentence of life in prison for the assault charge, while the armed criminal action charge could place him in prison for 3 to 15 years if found guilty.

In April, a year after the shooting, the family filed a lawsuit against Lester and the home association, Highland Acres Homes Association.

RELATED CONTENT: Cissy Houston, Grammy-Winning Mother Of Whitney Houston, Dies At 91

Republican Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears
by Daniel Johnson

December 2, 2024

Virginia Governor Race Poised To Create History, No Matter Who Wins

The race for Virginia's governorship set to take place in 2025

The race for Virginia’s governorship in 2025 is likely to involve two candidates who each possess an equal opportunity to make history.

According to The Hill, both the likely Democratic and Republican candidates, Rep. Abigail Spanberger and Lt. Gov. Winsom Earle-Sears, respectively, each bear claim to becoming Virginia’s first female governor, and if Earle-Sears is elected, she would become the state’s first Black female governor.

The field has cleared for the two women, which political analysts like Debbie Walsh, the Center for Women in Politics director at Rutgers University, noted is a rare occurrence.

“It is really significant that not only are there going to be two women running but that both parties seem to be kind of clearing the field for them, which we have not necessarily seen,” Walsh told The Hill.

Walsh continued, “It’s been a bit of a challenge overall for women to move into those positions,” Walsh said before saying that women in politics are working against a “notion that women work well collaboratively and in committees, which lends itself to legislatures but not so much to being chief executive.”

Walsh concluded, “Virginia is also interesting because Virginia was the state after Donald Trump was elected in 2016 that gave us our first indication of a big political mobilization of women in the legislative races there, where we saw record numbers of women running for the Legislature but also beating incumbents at a rate much higher than anyone would have expected, and it foretold the story of 2018.”

Women, particularly Black women, are naturally expected to play larger roles than normal in shaping this election. Walsh also noted that since Earle-Sears is a Republican, that does not mean that she will get the backing of Black women in Virginia.

“They (Black women) will be a powerful force in that race,” Walsh said. “We know that women in general are more likely to support the Democratic candidate, but there’s tremendous variation and the strongest group for Democratic candidates regardless of the gender of the candidate’s gender.

The task for Spanberger, conversely, will be making sure the voter apathy from non-presidential races doesn’t affect Democratic voters as much as it does Republicans.

According to Bob Holsworth, a veteran Virginia political analyst, Spanberger will also have to marshal support from Black voters, which is uncharted territory for her.

“Critically, she has to do well in the African American community, and she’s never had to do that before,” Holsworth told The Hill. “The Democrats have to turn out people in the African American community in larger numbers than they have, and there was some backsliding from ‘20 to ‘24.”

Holsworth concluded, “There’ll be a million less people who will vote in this election than did in the presidential election. In an election where a million people aren’t voting, Spanberger needs to ensure that 60 percent of them aren’t Democrats.”

RELATED CONTENT: Virginia’s First Black Female Lieutenant Governor Launches Gubernatorial Bid

tulsa, black Wall Street
by Daniel Johnson

December 2, 2024

Bill To Establish Black Wall Street As A National Monument Advances

The Sierra Club called for Black Wall Street to become a national monument

On Nov. 19, the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resource Committee voted unanimously to advance S.3543, a bill that would establish Tulsa, Oklahoma’s Greenwood District, otherwise known as Black Wall Street, as a national monument under the National Park System.

According to Congress.gov, S.3543 was introduced in December 2023 by Oklahoma’s Republican Sen. James Langford and was co-sponsored by Sens. Cory Booker (D-NJ,) John Cornyn (R-TX), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Michael Bennet (D-CO), and Bill Cassidy (R-LA).

According to Tiffany Crutcher, the executive director of the Terrence Crutcher Foundation and the great-grandaughter of a former survivor of the massacre, Rebecca Brown Crutcher, who barely escaped the 1921 massacre, the passage of the bill presents a chance for the nation to honor those who died in the Tulsa Race Massacre and its few survivors.

“The successful Senate markup presents a profound opportunity for our nation to honor the legacy of the Tulsa Race Massacre while the remaining survivors are still here,” Crutcher told Fox 23.

“For the sake of these living witnesses to history and future generations, Congress and the President must act swiftly to ensure Greenwood’s story is enshrined and its lessons never forgotten.”

Along with Reuben Grant, the executive director of the John Hope Franklin Center, Crutcher is the leader of the Historic Greenwood-Black Wall Street Coalition, a collection of multiple activist groups in Tulsa that have been pushing for the recognition of Black Wall Street as a national monument for years.

Like Crutcher, Grant expressed hope that the bill’s advancement would lead to a reckoning with a dark chapter of American history.

“Today’s committee vote proves that Greenwood’s story resonates far beyond Tulsa. This is a moment of national reckoning with our history. The families who built Black Wall Street through ingenuity, hard work, and perseverance represented the best of America. By understanding how racist hatred and violence destroyed their rousing success story, we can emerge as a stronger, more connected nation on the other side,” Grant told the outlet.

In June, coinciding with celebrations of Juneteenth, The Sierra Club called for Black Wall Street to become a national monument and retold the story of Crutcher’s brother, Terrence, who was killed by the Tulsa Police Department in 2016, the same police department that had helped to create the Tulsa Race Massacre by deputizing Tulsa’s white citizens.

According to The Washington Post, some activists have called for President Joe Biden to use executive authority under the 1906 Antiquities Act to establish the monument. That act protects cultural and natural resources of historical or scientific interest.

Crutcher told News On 6 that the story of what happened in Greenwood has been erased from the history books, even in the Greenwood area itself.

“It’s about preserving the story of Greenwood, a story that was erased from our history books,” Crutcher said. “I went to school on Greenwood and didn’t learn about what happened here during the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre in Oklahoma history.”

She continued, “Not only did they (the residents of Black Wall Street) build a beautiful community, but when it was burned to the ground, they were able to rebuild. So, this is about resilience, this is about strength, this is about honor and making sure that everyone knows that you can always move forward when truth is told and when tradition is extended.”

RELATED CONTENT: DOJ To Finally Review 1921 Bombing Of Tulsa Under Emmett Till Civil Rights Act

Solange, Tina Knowles,
by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

December 2, 2024

Tina Knowles Joins Daughter Solange In Holiday Campaign For Gucci

The wore Gucci as they connected with loved ones.

Family meets fashion for the Knowles household. Tina Knowles joined her daughter, Solange, in Gucci’s Gift campaign for the holidays.

The mother-daughter duo starred in the third chapter of Gucci’s holiday rollout, which showcases real-life families in its storytelling. The campaign intends to “portray the simple yet profound joys of being close to those we care about during the festive season.”

The commercial starring the mother and sister of Beyoncé was released on Nov. 26. It featured the women sitting down at a family dinner to kick off the holiday season.

Of course, the two wore Gucci as they connected with loved ones around the table. The short clip also featured Solange hugging her mother as the festivities continued.

Both women opted for a primarily Black dress ensemble. The mother of two wore a Black blouse and trousers, accompanied by a Gucci Marina Chain Necklace and Signoria Slingback heels.

As for the “Almeda” songstress, she rocked a leather jacket from the Italian fashion house with a GG Marmont belt adorning her jeans and a Horsbit 1955 handbag.

Solange spoke to Vogue about her collaboration with Gucci. She emphasized her long-time connection with the fashion house, referencing its iconography.

“I’m a big fan of iconography in design, especially iconography in logos and graphic design,” she told the publication. “Ever since I was a teenager, I’ve paid close attention to the way we communicate with symbols, and the House of Gucci has always been at the forefront of that conversation.”

The Knowles “matriarch” is also preparing for her words to reach audiences. The grandmother announced her memoir, “Matriarch,” will be released in March 2025.

All the women in the Knowles family appear to be busy this holiday season, with Beyoncé preparing for her NFL Christmas Day Halftime Show performance. However, these powerhouses remain a close-knit family as they take on new opportunities.

RELATED CONTENT: Tina Knowles Reveals Beyoncé Was Bullied As A Child Because ‘She Was Very Shy’

Louisiana, courthouse, New Orleans, Clifton Davis
by Sharelle B. McNair

December 2, 2024

Former Kansas Detective Stands Trial After Being Accused Of Preying On Black Women and Girls For Years 

Get him out of here!

Black women and girls who were victims of former Kansas City, Kansas, detective Roger Golubski will finally be able to tell their story as preparation for the federal trial begins, Associated Press reports. 

The jury selection for the Golubski trial will begin on Dec. 2 in a federal courthouse in the state capital of Topeka. Golubski, who is white, is accused of sexually assaulting Black women and girls for decades and then terrorizing those who fought back. Prosecutors allege women who were residents in poor neighborhoods were fearful if they crossed paths with the ex-cop. He is accused of demanding sexual favors and, if they didn’t oblige, would threaten jail time or harm to them or family members.  

Golubski is charged with six felony counts of violating women’s civil rights and has since pleaded not guilty. His attorney, Chris Joseph, labeled the allegations as being fabricated. However, victims claim otherwise. 

Jermeka Hobbs, who will not sit in as a witness at the trial but filed a separate lawsuit, says she was groomed to be one of “Golubski’s girls.” She claims she gave in to the former detective’s wishes so he wouldn’t bust her for drug use. Another victim alleges the sexual assault began when she was approximately 13 years old and another after her sons were arrested. “Every time I turn around, I’m looking,” Hobbs said. 

“I’m thinking somebody is after me. I have no peace at all.”

According to the Kansas City Star, both women tell stories of rape and sexual misconduct between the 1990s and early 2000s. They claim Golubski repeatedly forced himself on them, in his patrol vehicle or inside their homes, after threatening them. 

The case has heightened the massive distrust between predominantly Black communities and law enforcement. One neighborhood Golubski reigned over is listed as one of Kansas’ second-poorest zip codes. It is added to a lengthy list of prosecution of similar abuse allegations across state lines, resulting in hundreds of officers losing their badges after accusations of sexual assaults. 

The trial is the latest addition in the county prosecutor’s $1.7 million efforts to re-examine cases the 71-year-old worked during his 35-year tenure with the Kansas City Kansas Police Department (KCKPD) including a double murder case resulting in an exoneration and an organization-run by hip-hop mogul Jay-Z suing to get their hands on police records.

A fellow former KCKPD officer, Max Seifert, ripped the seal off the department for having a “boys will be boys” mentality, describing how misconduct was often tolerated. He said Golubski’s ex-wife once complained of her then-husband’s desire to solicit prostitutes and was once caught having sex with a woman in his office. 

Jim McCloskey, founder of the nonprofit Centurion, which works to free innocent people, described Golubski during a court hearing as the “dirtiest cop I’ve ever encountered,” backing up claims by Seifert. McCloskey caught wind of Golubski’s alleged ways after Lamonte McIntyre, arrested in 1994 at just 17, began writing to him. 

McIntrye was arrested and charged in connection with a double homicide. Although he had an alibi, there was no physical evidence linking him and an eyewitness pointing the finger at a notorious drug dealer. Since then, Golubski and the dealer have been charged in a separate federal case of running a violent sex trafficking operation.

If a jury convicts him, Golubski will spend the rest of his life in prison.

RELATED CONTENT: Play Pits: Black-Owned Deodorant Brand Started In The Kitchen Is Now Sold In Target

franklin, childhood home, Memphis, Tennessee
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

December 2, 2024

Aretha Franklin’s Old Detroit Home Restored After $2M Investment

New owners Trevor Thomas and Brandon Lynum purchased the 5,623-square-foot Rose Estate

Trevor Thomas and Brandon Lynum have invested money in restoring the house to its original look and luster. The pair is not only trying to regain the look that Franklin gave it when she owned it, but they have also made it into a museum celebrating the “Freeway of Love” singer.

Tours have already taken place in the house as fans of the singer have visited the place, and nonprofit groups have hosted benefit events, school tour groups, and other various functions at the Rose Estate.

“People get emotional here,” Thomas said last week during a tour. “If they want to have a moment alone, let them do that.”

Just under five years ago, Thomas and Lynum noticed the property as they lived near Sherwood Forest. They got a chance to view the house up close during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Not realizing who once lived there, after doing an internet search, they discovered the house was for sale. They were able to buy the property last year finally.

They researched the property’s history by finding old news clippings and going through Franklin’s archives at the University of Michigan. They anticipate this being a five-year project, and they’ve just completed the first phase. They intend to restore the home’s slate roof, third floor, and basement level, which was gutted following significant water damage.

In March 1994, Aretha Franklin purchased a 5,623-square-foot home in Detroit. The Rose Estate was her second home, while her primary residence was in Bloomfield Hills. As the singer got older and her health declined, the property also did. After Franklin died in 2018, her estate sold the home for $300,000 to a Michigan developer, who sold it to two men who recently invested more than $2 million in the house to restore the home that the “Respect” singer once owned.

When people visit the Rose Estate, they will see museum-style placards detailing the story of Franklin’s old residence. Photos, artwork, and memorabilia saluting Franklin are also displayed.

Franklin’s niece, Sabrina Owens, complimented the men on their pursuit of restoring the home. “A rose is still a rose because of Trevor and Brandon,” she stated.

RELATED CONTENT: Aretha Franklin and Halle Berry Related?

Dr. Viola Lanier, Bookstore, Morehouse school of medicine
by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

December 2, 2024

Morehouse School Of Medicine Grad Opens Bookstore and Wellness Boutique In Atlanta

A Better Today Books & Boutique goes beyond the typical array of novels and other literature.

Morehouse School Of Medicine graduate Dr. Viola Lanier officially opened her Atlanta-based bookstore on Nov. 30 with wellness and hope at its forefront.

A Better Today Books & Boutique goes beyond the typical array of novels and other literature. Within its walls, bookstore lovers will find wellness products that can further them into the space they wish to curate.

“I’ve loved reading anything I could get my hands on since childhood. Books gave me a glimpse of parts of the world I had not yet seen,” said owner Dr. Viola Lanier in a press release. “Books helped me see what was possible for my life, and from there, I was able to create the world around me that I wanted.”

The Black-owned bookstore held its grand opening on Small Business Saturday in the North Atlanta suburb of Marietta. Its difference lies in its wellness factor, emerging as a first-of-its-kind “literary sanctuary” in the area.

However, avid readers will still find new and classic titles to check out, ranging from non-fiction to fantasy. On its boutique side, A Better Today also offers a lounge area for both adults and children, and a bookmark charm-making station for one to add their personal touch to their latest purchases.

However, Dr. Lanier is a scholar of another field, obtaining her Master’s and PhD in biomedical research and sciences. Despite this, she prides herself on building a diverse book collection that looks to the great while also promoting new novels to gain a wider audience.

“I curate our collection of books. You can find brand-new titles and classic bestsellers, but I also introduce our readers to authors they may not be familiar with. We also feature a host of local authors,” said Dr. Viola Lanier.

Patrons can survey Dr. Lanier’s personally curated book collection and look through its assortment of essential oils and candles to complement their sanctuaries at home. Through its niche of wellness and reading, A Better Today provides an idea of an even brighter tomorrow.

RELATED CONTENT: Aretha Franklin and Halle Berry Related?

Atlanta falcons, HBCU, sports
by Daniel Johnson

December 2, 2024

Atlanta Falcons Team Up With HBCUs To Offer Pipeline To Sports And Entertainment Jobs

The partnership that was designed to give students an edge

The Atlanta Falcons and Spelman College, Morehouse College, Morris Brown College, and Clark Atlanta University continue collaborating on the AMB Sports and Entertainment Fellowship (AMBSE), a program designed to give students an edge as they pursue careers in sports and entertainment.

According to 11 Alive, the AMBSE was created in 2023 to give students at the program’s partner universities a chance to stand out after graduation–and this year has also been a success.

Since the program’s creation, it has now expanded from 12 fellows to 15 fellows and covers a wider range of departments in the AMBSE.

In August, the Atlanta Falcons issued a press release announcing that Wells Fargo had joined its initiative to offer fellowships to HBCU students in the Atlanta area.

According to the press release, the participants will now have access to roles within player engagement, live events, entertainment, stadium production, graphic design, brand communications, and more.

In addition, due to increased demand, more corporate partnerships have been added. Participants will receive hands-on experience from the Atlanta Falcons at their home field, Mercedes-Benz Stadium. They will also receive mentorship from associates and executives at Wells Fargo and AMBSE.

Latonda Henderson, the AMBSE’s chief DEI officer and a Spelman graduate, recently told 11 Alive that the program’s main benefit is opportunity.

“I know that all we need is an opportunity. There is so much talent, there’s so much passion, there’s so much enthusiasm on our campuses. So when we have the opportunity, and that door is open for us, there’s no stopping us,” Henderson said.

Tai Roberson, senior vice president of Philanthropy and Community Impact at Wells Fargo, told the outlet that the program’s students and alumni have been impressive so far.

“We are so proud of not only this initiative, but of the students and alumni of the program who continue to impress us with their work ethic, collaboration, and passion,” Roberson told 11 Alive.

In her comments, Roberson indicated that she was excited about the benefits for the program’s participants.

“Wells Fargo is The Bank of Doing and we are working to level the playing field by connecting HBCU students in Atlanta with their career goals and with financial education resources to prepare them for life after graduation,” Roberson said. “We are so proud to partner with the Falcons on this first-of-its-kind program that offers HBCU students from the top universities across Atlanta the chance to immerse themselves in the front office of a professional sports team and to experience how sponsors align with teams to drive positive change in communities.”

RELATED CONTENT: Will Packer And Dominique Dawes Strengthen Ties To Atlanta Through Falcons Ownership

water, graduation, Joe Biden, pro-Palestinian, Israel, Gaza, students, protesters, UCLA, Columbia University, president, social security
by Sharelle B. McNair

December 2, 2024

President Joe Biden Backtracks On His Promise By Pardoning Son Hunter Before Leaving Office 

Wouldn't you do the same fro your son?

President Joe Biden backtracked on past promises and issued a pardon for his son, Hunter Biden, just days before his sentencing.

In a personal statement from the 46th president, Biden says his decision was prompted by his belief of “raw politics” infecting the process. “I believe in the justice system, but as I have wrestled with this, I also believe raw politics has infected this process, and it led to a miscarriage of justice — and once I made this decision this weekend, there was no sense in delaying it further. I hope Americans will understand why a father and a President would come to this decision,” Biden said. 

Hunter Biden was due to be sentenced on Dec. 12 on federal gun charges. In a separate criminal case, he is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 16 after pleading guilty to federal tax evasion charges. A senior White House official said the decision to issue a “full and unconditional pardon” was made over the Thanksgiving weekend for all offenses committed by his son or “taken part in during the period from January 1, 2014 through December 1, 2024.” 

In June 2024, the proud father claimed, “I will not pardon him,” after learning of the guilty verdicts.

Biden mentioned the struggles of addiction that Hunter deals with and feels his political opponents used them to “break him.” No reasonable person who looks at the facts of Hunter’s cases can reach any other conclusion than Hunter was singled out only because he is my son — and that is wrong,” Biden continued. 

“There has been an effort to break Hunter — who has been five and a half years sober, even in the face of unrelenting attacks and selective prosecution. In trying to break Hunter, they’ve tried to break me — and there’s no reason to believe it will stop here. Enough is enough.”

Republican lawmakers were taken aback by the president’s moves since, in early 2024, Biden promised that he wouldn’t be pardoning Hunter since “no one is above the law.” 

Reps. Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) and Eli Crane (R-Ariz.) retweeted the post with the comment, “Unless your last name is Biden.” 

Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.) called the move “disgraceful” and labeled Biden as a liar to the American people, according to Fox News. “You’ve been lied to every step of the way by this Administration and the corrupt Biden family. This is just the latest in their long coverup scheme,” Scalise said.

“They never play by the same rules they force on everyone else. Disgraceful.” 

While the pardon has not officially been signed yet, Hunter issued a statement reiterating his sorrow and “shame” brought on the First Family. “

Despite all of this, I have maintained my sobriety for more than five years because of my deep faith and the unwavering love and support of my family and friends. In the throes of addiction, I squandered many opportunities and advantages,” he wrote. 

“In recovery, we can be given the opportunity to make amends where possible and rebuild our lives if we never take for granted the mercy that we have been afforded. I will never take the clemency I have been given today for granted and will devote the life I have rebuilt to helping those who are still sick and suffering.”

RELATED CONTENT: NAACP Chapter Is Prepared To Fight After Virginia State Leaders Purge 1600 Voters From Voting Rolls

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