On Monday, May 4, The Transformative Justice Coalition (TJC) and the Voting Rights Alliance held a tele-townhall titled, “The Fight for the Vote 2020: Our March to the Ballot Box.” Broadcast over Facebook Live, the presentation featured panelists who agreed that the election process would be severely hindered unless strategies are developed for more robust […]
Category: National News
Posted inAfro Briefs, Coronavirus, Health, National News, NEWS
Inmates, Staff Worry About Care as Marion Prison Becomes One of Largest COVID Outbreaks in US
According to state data that is updated daily, for Marion Correctional, as of May 1, staff members who reported positive results are 175; COVID-19 related staff deaths are 1; staff who have recovered are 98; units in quarantine include the full institution; inmates in quarantine are 430; inmates in isolation are 2016; inmates currently positive […]
Posted inMaryland Government, National News, NEWS, Senator Cardin's Announcements
Cardin Statement on Arrests in the Murder of Ahmaud Arbery
“It has been heartbreaking to see yet another family gripped by tragedy as result of racial profiling in America.” BALTIMORE – U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Special Representative on Anti-Semitism, Racism, and Intolerance for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Parliamentary Assembly, released the following statement after the arrest of two white men in the […]
Posted inCoronavirus, Health, National News, NEWS, Washington D.C. News
Sick and Tired of Being Sick and Dying
By Micha Green AFRO D.C. Editor mgreen@afro.com The U.S. Census Bureau reports that African Americans make up 13.4 percent of the U.S. population. However, that portion of the population is being disproportionately affected by the novel coronavirus, and when partnering those statistics with homicide rates and health figures (heart disease, diabetes, etc…), keeping it real, […]
Posted inCoronavirus, Health, National News, NEWS
In Clamor to Reopen, Many Blacks Feel Their Safety Ignored
By JAY REEVES, Associated Press BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Many African Americans watching protests calling for easing restrictions meant to slow the spread of the new coronavirus see them as one more example of how their health, their safety and their rights just don’t seem to matter. To many, it seems that the people protesting […]
Posted inAfro Briefs, National News, NEWS
Indiana Shootings Strain Relationship Between Police, Blacks
By COREY WILLIAMS and RICK CALLAHAN, Associated Press INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indianapolis police Chief Randal Taylor solemnly promised thoroughness and transparency as his department investigates the fatal shootings of two Black men in the city by officers. Taylor, an African American and longtime member of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, also made a plea to […]
Posted inArts & Culture, ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT, Books, ENTERTAINMENT, National News, NEWS
Ida B. Wells Gets Pulitzer Prize
The iconic journalist, educator and pioneer, Ida B. Wells was awarded the 2020 Pulitzer Prize on May 4. During her lifetime, Wells was dedicated to reporting the violent and inhumane acts against Black people. This posthumous honor comes with a monetary award of up to $50,000 to continue Wells’ work and to support her mission. […]
Posted inCoronavirus, National News, NEWS
Obama to Deliver 2020 HS Commencement Address
By The Associated Press Former President Barack Obama will deliver a televised prime-time commencement address for the high school Class of 2020 during an hour-long event that will also feature LeBron James, Malala Yousafzai and Ben Platt, among others. ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC will simultaneously air the special May 16 at 8 p.m. EDT […]
Posted inBaltimore News, National News, NEWS, Washington D.C. News
The AFRO Awarded $100,000 Grant by Facebook Journalism Project
Today, Facebook is announcing that more than 200 news organizations will receive nearly $16 million in grants through the Facebook Journalism Project’s relief fund for local news. These grants stem from $25 million in local news relief funding announced in March as part of Facebook’s $100 million global investment in news. It includes: $10.3 million being awarded […]
Posted inBUSINESS, Coronavirus, National News, NEWS
Pandemic Chokes Retail: J.Crew Files for Bankruptcy
By Anne D’Innocenzio Associated Press The owner of J.Crew is filing for bankruptcy protection, the first major retailer to do so since the pandemic forced the closing of most stores in the United States. More retail bankruptcies are expected in coming weeks with the doors of thousands of stores still locked, though states have begun […]
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT, ENTERTAINMENT, National News, NEWS, TV and Film
Don Lemon Calls Trump Out
By Jessica Dortch Production Editor jdortch@afro.com Longtime CNN Anchor Don Lemon aired his grievances about President Trump on live television May 3. The monologue came after a video of former President Barack Obama endorsing former Vice President Joe Biden was played. Immediately following the video, Lemon questioned President Trump’s apparent “obsession” with the former president. […]
