Maryland lawmakers overrode Gov. Wes Moore’s veto to create a commission that will study potential reparations for slavery, despite his argument that the state should focus on direct action rather than further study. Supporters say a formal commission is necessary to ensure reparations efforts are credible, constitutional and effective.
Tag: George Floyd
Posted inAfro Briefs
Justice Department investigating fraud allegations in Black Lives Matter movement, AP sources say
The Justice Department is investigating whether leaders of the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation and other affiliated groups misused millions in donations raised during the 2020 racial justice protests. While no charges have been filed, subpoenas and a search warrant have been issued, renewing scrutiny of the movement’s finances amid concerns about political targeting of progressive organizations.
Posted inCivil Rights
Former UN Ambassador Andrew Young describes ‘dirty work’ of civil rights movement in new documentary
At 93, civil rights leader and former U.N. Ambassador Andrew Young reflects on his behind-the-scenes role in the Civil Rights Movement in a new MSNBC documentary, “Andrew Young: The Dirty Work.” The film, produced by Rachel Maddow, explores Young’s unheralded contributions alongside Martin Luther King Jr., the personal sacrifices made during the struggle, and lessons for today’s social and political movements.
Posted inU.S. Government
FBI fires agents photographed kneeling during 2020 racial justice protest, AP sources say
The FBI has fired roughly 20 agents who were photographed kneeling during a 2020 racial justice protest in Washington after the death of George Floyd, according to people familiar with the matter. The FBI Agents Association condemned the firings as unlawful, calling on Congress to investigate and accusing Director Kash Patel of violating employees’ rights amid a broader purge that has already fueled declining morale within the bureau.
Posted inOpinion
What were they thinking: A betrayal of leadership?
Black Americans across the nation are questioning why Black leaders such as Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY-08) voted for a National Day of Remembrance for Charlie Kirk, the conservative commentator who often made disparaging comments about the Black community. This week, AFRO News Publisher and CEO Dr. Frances Murphy Draper speaks on the legislators who voted to honor Kirk, and praises those like Congressman Kweisi Mfume (D-MD-07) (center) and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY-14) (right), who stood against the resolution put before them.
Posted inPrince George's County News
Rep. Glenn Ivey reintroduces George Floyd Justice in Policing Act
U.S. Rep. Glenn Ivey of Maryland has introduced the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, a wide-ranging proposal to overhaul policing practices and expand accountability measures. Five years after Floyd’s death galvanized a national movement, the legislation seeks to strengthen transparency, limit excessive force and restore public confidence in law enforcement.
Posted inNational News
A new vocabulary for racial healing
Through her emotional justice framework, Esther Armah offers language for Black thriving across the diaspora. By Aaron Foley Word in Black Esther Armah sought a change of scenery for her own emotional well-being, so she relocated to Accra, Ghana, some years back, and now tends oranges in her backyard. It wouldn’t make sense, she says, […]
Posted inCommentary
Abusive cops won’t be punished– but #BLM isn’t over yet
By Joseph WilliamsWord in Black In 2020, when Louisville police gunned down Breonna Taylor during a botched raid, the incident helped galvanize the ascendant Black Lives Matter movement. Along with the murders of George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery, Taylor’s killing spurred outrage and pushed nationwide police reform tantalizingly close to reality. How times have changed. […]
Posted inHealth
Left out twice: Shawn Callaway fights for inclusion at the crossroads of race and disability
Blinded by a stray bullet in college, Shawn Callaway once believed fatherhood—and a full life—were out of reach. Now, as president of the National Organization of Blind Black Leaders, a division of the National Federation of the Blind, he’s working to dismantle the double stigma of being both Black and blind in America.
Posted inAfro Briefs
Florida’s Raiford Prison bans AFRO edition from inmates; warden cites threat to security and rehabilitation initiatives
Florida’s Raiford Prison banned the AFRO’s special edition on George Floyd and racial justice, claiming it posed a security risk and threatened rehabilitation efforts. Critics argue the ban reflects a broader pattern of censorship that suppresses inmates’ access to reform-focused content and silences marginalized voices behind bars.
Posted inNational News
Senators mark Juneteenth with call to action on racial and economic justice
On the evening of Juneteenth, four Democratic senators gathered at the U.S. Capitol for a candid discussion with Black media outlets, using the moment not just to commemorate emancipation but to issue a pointed call to action. On June 18, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senators Cory Booker (D-N.Y.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) and Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) reflected on the historical significance of Juneteenth and the enduring struggle for racial justice in America.
Posted inWord In Black
Rev. Jamal Bryant: Target is canceled. Dollar General’s next
On the fifth anniversary of George Floyd’s murder, faith leaders held prayer vigils outside Target stores to protest the company’s retreat from its racial equity commitments, leading Rev. Jamal Bryant to announce a full cancellation of the retailer. Calling it the most successful Black boycott since Montgomery, Bryant said the movement has cost Target $1 billion in valuation and is now turning its focus to holding Dollar General accountable for failing Black communities.