Dr. Kevin Beckford and Yasmin Salina, co-founders of The Hustlers Guild, argue that both federal and local policies in Washington, D.C. are undermining Black freedom by reinstating cash bail and expanding pretrial detention under the guise of public safety. They call for rejecting punitive measures and instead investing in restorative justice, community supports and policies that protect pretrial freedom.
Tag: President Donald Trump
Posted in!Front Page National News
47th U.S. president threatens to take over D.C. police again over immigration enforcement
By Gary Fields and Chris Megerian President Donald Trump on Sept. 15 threatened to once again federalize Washington, D.C.’s police force, in what he suggested could come in response to the city’s mayor’s stated refusal to cooperate with immigration enforcement. Trump’s emergency order, which took over the local police force, expired last week. Hours before […]
Posted inNational News
Fed Gov. Lisa Cook claimed 2nd residence as ‘vacation home,’ undercutting White House fraud claims
Federal Reserve Gov. Lisa Cook described a condo she purchased in 2021 as a “vacation home” and “second home” on official documents, potentially undermining White House allegations that she committed mortgage fraud by claiming multiple primary residences. Cook, the first Fed governor to be targeted for removal by a president, has secured an injunction blocking her firing as the legal battle continues ahead of a key Fed interest rate decision.
Posted inHBCU
Multiple historically Black institutions targeted with threats of violence
Multiple Black institutions, including Virginia State University, Clark Atlanta University and others went into lockdown on Sept. 11 after receiving campus threats. Though the lockdowns have been lifted, officials warn students, faculty and staff that if they “see something, say something.”
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Thousands protest for a ‘Free DC’ on the fourth week of federal control in Washington
Thousands marched in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 6 to protest the 47th president’s federal takeover of policing in the capital, now in its fourth week. Demonstrators decried the National Guard presence as an “occupation” and demanded local control, while a parallel protest in Chicago pushed back against No. 47’s threats to deploy troops and ICE agents there.
Posted inU.S. Government
47th president vows to deploy federal forces to Chicago and Baltimore, defying state and local leaders
The 47th president announced plans to send federal law enforcement into Chicago and Baltimore over the objections of state and local leaders, insisting he has the authority to act without their consent. Democratic officials in both states vowed legal challenges, calling the move political and authoritarian.
Posted inWashington D.C. News
DC unemployment rate is the highest in the US for the third straight month
Washington, D.C.’s unemployment rate climbed to 6 percent in July — the highest in the nation for the third consecutive month — fueled by mass federal worker layoffs under President Trump’s workforce cuts and a sharp decline in international tourism. Economists warn the trend could worsen racial disparities in employment and strain the city’s economy.
Posted inAfro Briefs
CDC shooting tied to anti-vaccine beliefs leaves officer dead, sparks outrage over rhetoric
A gunman who blamed the COVID-19 vaccine for making him suicidal opened fire outside CDC headquarters in Atlanta on Aug. 8, killing DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose and striking multiple buildings. Identified as 30-year-old Patrick Joseph White, the shooter was stopped from entering the CDC before attacking a nearby pharmacy, prompting renewed debate over anti-vaccine rhetoric, political hostility toward federal workers, and CDC security.
Posted inBaltimore News
Charm City is farm city: How Baltimore’s urban farms might be the best weapon against rising food costs
Baltimore’s network of 40 urban farms and 60 community gardens is helping residents cope with rising grocery costs by providing affordable—or often free—fresh produce in neighborhoods with limited healthy food options. Rooted in a century-old tradition and strengthened by decades of city policy, these farms not only feed communities but also foster job skills, entrepreneurship and social connection.
Posted inWashington D.C. News
DC sues to halt White House’s unprecedented police takeover amid federal troop surge
Washington, D.C., sued Aug. 15 to block President Trump’s takeover of its police department, calling it illegal and dangerous. The move installs DEA chief Terry Cole as emergency head, displacing Police Chief Pamela Smith, and comes amid a surge of federal agents and National Guard troops in the city.
Posted inNational News
Officials: Army sergeant opens fire on fellow soldiers, 5 injured at Fort Stewart
Army Sgt. Quornelius Radford is accused of shooting five fellow soldiers with a personal handgun at Fort Stewart, Ga., on Aug. 6. The victims are expected to recover, and the quick actions of nearby soldiers prevented further harm. Authorities are still investigating the motive behind the attack.
Posted inTV and Film
Not just Big Bird: Things to know about the Center for Public Broadcasting and its funding cuts
By Audrey McAvoyThe Associated Press The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which helps pay for PBS, NPR, 1,500 local radio and television stations as well as programs like “Sesame Street” and “Finding Your Roots,” said Aug. 1 that it would close after the U.S. government withdrew funding. The organization told employees that most staff positions will […]
