By Aaron Morrison, AP National Writer The sound of the djembe drums started as a low tremble and grew more distinct as the musicians drew closer to the hundreds gathered inside the Memphis church. “We love you, Tyre,” the drummers chanted, referring to Tyre Nichols, a 29-year-old Black man whose beating by five police officers […]
Category: NEWS
Posted inAfro Briefs
Family of Minneapolis man killed in no-knock raid sues city
By Steve Karnowski, The Associated Press The parents of Amir Locke, who was shot to death by a Minneapolis police officer when a SWAT team executed a no-knock search warrant one year ago, sued the city and the officer Feb. 3, alleging he was “gunned down in cold blood” in violation of his constitutional rights. […]
Posted inNEWS
Trump strategists scoff at Black voters, plan election stunts on audio recording
By Scott Bauer, The Associated Press A newly released audio recording offers a behind-the-scenes look at how former President Donald Trump’s campaign team in a pivotal battleground state knew they had been outflanked by Democrats in the 2020 presidential election. But even as they acknowledged defeat, they pivoted to allegations of widespread fraud that were […]
Posted inMaryland Government
Maryland marijuana measure prioritizes social equity
By Brian Witte, The Associated Press Maryland is working toward creating a recreational marijuana industry with greater social equity, lawmakers said Feb. 3, with more licenses for minority-owned businesses and proceeds directed to areas adversely impacted by the war on drugs. The measure before the General Assembly, which is controlled by Democrats, will enable the […]
Posted inNews
House introduces bill establishing a service year program – one of Moore’s priorities
By KARA THOMPSON, Capital News Service ANNAPOLIS, Maryland — Gov. Wes Moore’s plan for a year of service for the state’s youth began to take shape this week with the introduction of a bill to establish and fund the program. HB 546, the Serving Every Region Through Vocational Exploration Act of 2023, was introduced Thursday. […]
Posted inAfro Briefs
Maryland lawmakers propose choking off invasive running bamboo
By DOROTHY HOOD, Capital News Service ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Running bamboo grows so fast and is so invasive that it’s rooting up headstones in cemeteries, crossing neighborhood property lines and becoming a “major issue” in Maryland parks. Bamboo overgrowth was so bad for one Maryland resident that the constituent contacted Del. Linda Foley, D-Montgomery, for […]
Posted inBaltimore News
#TheThingsILoveaboutBaltimore: Former mayoral candidate, Catalina Byrd shares what she loves about Baltimore
By Beverly Richards, Special to the AFRO Political pundit and former mayoral candidate Catalina Byrd is a self-described “hopeless romantic” when it comes to Baltimore City. “It’s one of my first loves,” she said. Catalina has been loyal to Baltimore and has dedicated her entire adult life to its residents trying to “make what’s wrong […]
Posted inNEWS
3 reasons the local Black press has a strong future
By John Celestand andRobert Walker-Smith Black History Month — which evolved from “Negro History Week,” the brainchild of noted historian Carter G. Woodson and other prominent African Americans — is known as the annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing their central role in U.S. history. Although we mostly concentrate […]
Posted inNational News
Urban League Leaders: Unjustified killing of Anthony Lowe underscores the urgency of transforming police culture and accountability
NEW YORK and LOS ANGELES (February 3, 2023) – Urban League leaders today said the cold blooded killing of a disabled man as he tried to flee police reveals an almost delusional mindset on the part of the Huntington Park officers who shot him, underscoring the urgency of transforming police culture and accountability. “Absolutely no […]
Posted inNational News
Say their names: communities across the country mourn young lives stolen by gun violence
By Aria Brent, AFRO Staff Deanta Dorsey didn’t know that his life would end during his lunch period on Jan. 4. Hanging out with four of his friends outside of a fast food restaurant just across from his school, Edmondson–Westside High, the bullets came for him. “He was not in the wrong place and it […]
Posted inSports
Sports Roundup: a look at local high school sports
On Jan. 27 the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) and the Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland (IAAM) track and field teams gathered at the Prince George’s County Sports Complex in Landover, Md. Some of the best high school talent in the area participated for the championship, including two outstanding athletes Elise Cooper, of the McDonogh […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
D.C. celebrates Mardi Gras with Krewe of Pyros
The DMV was full of excitement in the past month, with celebrities and VIPs taking part in a variety of public events. On Jan. 21, one of the largest Krewe of Pyros Mardi Gras Ball was held at the Grand Hyatt D.C. The event featured performances by the Force MDs and T-Ray.