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Jury awards $700k to Seattle protesters jailed for writing anti-police slogans in chalk on barricade
Read full article: Jury awards $700k to Seattle protesters jailed for writing anti-police slogans in chalk on barricadeFour protesters have been awarded nearly $700,000 after they were jailed for writing anti-police slogans in chalk on a temporary police barricade on Jan. 1, 2021.
Black Lives Matter activist loses lawsuit against Los Angeles police over ‘swatting’ hoax response
Read full article: Black Lives Matter activist loses lawsuit against Los Angeles police over ‘swatting’ hoax responseA leading Black Lives Matter activist in Los Angeles has lost her lawsuit against the city’s police department over its handling of hoax calls that brought a large law enforcement response to her home.
Seattle will pay $10 million to protesters who said police used excessive force during 2020 protests
Read full article: Seattle will pay $10 million to protesters who said police used excessive force during 2020 protestsSeattle has agreed to pay $10 million to 50 demonstrators who sued over the police department's heavy-handed response to racial justice protests in 2020.
At Black Lives Matter house, families are welcomed into space of freedom and healing
Read full article: At Black Lives Matter house, families are welcomed into space of freedom and healingA national Black Lives Matter nonprofit that was widely criticized for purchasing a sprawling California mansion with donated funds recently opened the property to dozens of families who lost loved ones in incidents of police violence.
New Black Lives Matter tax documents show foundation is tightening its belt, has $30M in assets
Read full article: New Black Lives Matter tax documents show foundation is tightening its belt, has $30M in assetsA national Black Lives Matter nonprofit, whose philanthropic fortunes grew almost overnight during historic racial justice protests three years ago, raised just over $9 million in its last fiscal year, new IRS tax filings show.
US gathered intel on Oregon protesters, report shows
Read full article: US gathered intel on Oregon protesters, report showsU.S. Department of Homeland Security officials under then-President Donald Trump compiled intelligence dossiers on people who were arrested at Black Lives Matter protests in Portland, Oregon.
The AP Interview: BLM's Patrisse Cullors denies wrongdoing
Read full article: The AP Interview: BLM's Patrisse Cullors denies wrongdoingIn an exclusive interview, Patrisse Cullors, the former leader of the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation, tells The Associated Press that neither she nor anyone else in leadership has misused millions of dollars in donations.
4 acquitted in toppling of British slave trader statue
Read full article: 4 acquitted in toppling of British slave trader statueFour anti-racism demonstrators have been cleared of criminal damage in the toppling of a statue of a 17th-century slave trader during a Black Lives Matter protest in southwestern England.
Police: Teens driven by racial hatred targeted BLM leader
Read full article: Police: Teens driven by racial hatred targeted BLM leaderAuthorities say three teenagers driven by racial hatred were behind hoax calls that brought major police responses to the home of one of the leading Black Lives Matter activists in Los Angeles.
Duval School Board votes in favor of settlement in teacher’s BLM flag lawsuit
Read full article: Duval School Board votes in favor of settlement in teacher’s BLM flag lawsuitDuring its meeting on Tuesday night, the Duval County School Board voted in favor of a settlement agreement in a civil case brought against the district by Amy Donofrio -- one of its teachers.
DCPS to consider settlement in teacher’s BLM flag lawsuit
Read full article: DCPS to consider settlement in teacher’s BLM flag lawsuitDuring its meeting on Tuesday night, the Duval County Public Schools board is scheduled to vote on a settlement agreement in a civil case brought against the district by one of its teachers, Amy Donofrio.
Group wants name changed at Robert E. Lee High School
Read full article: Group wants name changed at Robert E. Lee High SchoolSome people in Duval County want the name of Robert E. Lee High School to change, calling it oppressive because the school is named after a confederate general in the Civil War. Others say the name is about of history and should not change.
Globes group ousts member over his Black Lives Matter email
Read full article: Globes group ousts member over his Black Lives Matter emailA former president of the organization that hosts the Golden Globes has been dropped from the group’s board after calling Black Lives Matter a “racist hate movement” in an email.
UN experts slam UK report for repackaging 'racist tropes'
Read full article: UN experts slam UK report for repackaging 'racist tropes'A body of experts that advises the United Nations on human rights concerns has slammed a widely criticized British government-backed report that concluded there was no systemic racism in the country.
Lee principal speaks to students about BLM flag controversy, student demonstrations
Read full article: Lee principal speaks to students about BLM flag controversy, student demonstrationsThe principal of Jacksonville’s Robert E. Lee High School opened up to students on Friday about the administration’s controversial decision to remove a teacher’s Black Lives Matter flag from the school’s hallway, the resulting plans by students to stage a protest of that decision, and a strategy to help students voice their concerns directly to him.
Authors of UK racism report hit back at 'misrepresentation'
Read full article: Authors of UK racism report hit back at 'misrepresentation'The commission behind a report that concluded that Britain does not have a systemic problem with racism has defended itself against critics, some of whom have argued that it downplayed the country’s historic role in slavery.
Plan to revamp police force proceeds in Ithaca, New York
Read full article: Plan to revamp police force proceeds in Ithaca, New YorkBlack Lives Matter is seen along East Green Street where is passes under South Aurora Street, Monday, March 22, 2021, in Ithaca, N.Y. The nationwide reexamination of policing after the killing of George Floyd has led the Ivy League town in New York to consider an ambitious and contentious plan to remake its force. A proposal would replace the 63-officer Ithaca Police Department with a new Department of Community Solutions and Public Safety. The Ithaca Common Council unanimously approved a series of reform recommendations Wednesday night that included reconstituting the city police force to add unarmed officers to handle nonviolent calls like petty thefts. AdArmed officers of the 63-officer force would be able to keep their positions, and supporters of the plan said the new unarmed officers would be able to engage more with communities distrustful of police.
Black adviser quits UK government in wake of racism report
Read full article: Black adviser quits UK government in wake of racism report(AP Photo/Frank Augstein, FILE)LONDON – The most senior Black adviser to U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has resigned, the government said Thursday, the day after a report on racial disparities concluded that Britain does not have a systemic problem with racism. But Simon Woolley, a former government equalities adviser and a member of the U.K. House of Lords, said Kasumu’s exit was connected to the “grubby” and “divisive” report. The Conservative government launched the inquiry into racial disparities in the wake of anti-racism protests last year. The panel of experts concluded that while “outright racism” exists in Britain, the country is not “institutionally racist” or “rigged” against ethnic minorities. “There are very serious issues that our society faces to do with racism that we need to address,” he said.
With drivers confused, Atlantic City to redo BLM road paint
Read full article: With drivers confused, Atlantic City to redo BLM road paint(AP Photo/Noah K. Murray, File)ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. – Atlantic City says it will redo a Black Lives Matter tribute on a street because the original painting of those words across the entire road confused motorists who didn't know where to drive on it. Instead, the words “Black Lives Matter” will be painted onto the repaved road in a manner that does not obscure lane divider markings, Mayor Marty Small said Thursday. “The words ”Black Lives Matter" will still be on the street." The road painting was a compromise that averted a potential confrontation between activists who wanted to paint the words “Black Lives Matter” on the famous Boardwalk, and city officials who would not allow it. City Council member LaToya Dunston accused the city of wasting taxpayer dollars by painting the road without knowing the rules governing it.
Duval County teacher told to remove BLM flag from classroom
Read full article: Duval County teacher told to remove BLM flag from classroomJACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A Robert E. Lee High School teacher told News4Jax that she was instructed by administrators to remove a “Black Lives Matter” flag from her classroom on Tuesday. The report focused on a viral video compilation of various clips recorded at Lee High School’s auditorium during public discussions on whether or not to rename the school. Hours after the post, Donofrio said principal Timothy Feagins told her to take the flag down by the end of the day. She said the school’s administrators told her that she has to take the banner down or the school custodians will do it. AdThis screenshot shows a Nov. 7, 2020 Facebook post by Amy Donofrio, a teacher at Robert E. Lee High School.
Journalist acquitted in Iowa case seen as attack on press
Read full article: Journalist acquitted in Iowa case seen as attack on pressDes Moines Register reporter Andrea Sahouri, facing, hugs her mother, Muna Tareh-Sahouri, after being found not-guilty at the conclusion of her trial at the Drake University Legal Clinic, Wednesday, March 10, 2021, in Des Moines, Iowa. (Kelsey Kremer/The Des Moines Register via AP, Pool)IOWA CITY, Iowa – An Iowa jury on Wednesday acquitted a journalist who was pepper-sprayed and arrested by police while covering a protest, in a case that critics have derided as an attack on press freedoms and an abuse of prosecutorial discretion. Robnett, 24, said he was sprayed and handcuffed after telling the officer that Sahouri was a Register journalist. Sahouri was the first working U.S. journalist to face a criminal trial since 2018, according to the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker. Another Register reporter, Katie Akin, was near Sahouri and quickly informed police that they were journalists.
Local activist says violence doesn’t represent broader Black Lives Matter movement
Read full article: Local activist says violence doesn’t represent broader Black Lives Matter movementJACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Black Lives Matter Movement protesting police violence against Black people spurred a series of protests and demonstrations last year in Jacksonville and across the country. Sampson said the violent uprisings following some protests were used as excuses to belittle the movement because they resulted in property damage. AdShe related those moments to the Boston Tea Party, saying it was a riot with property destruction -- although it isn’t taught that way. And I know that because 95% of Black Lives Matter movements were peaceful protests, I know that history will absolve that 5%,” Sampson said. In Jacksonville’s protests, dozens were arrested, windows were broken, police property was damaged, and an officer was stabbed.
Reports: Seattle police violated policies at summer protests
Read full article: Reports: Seattle police violated policies at summer protestsProtests erupted in Seattle and across the country after George Floyd was killed by a Minneapolis police officer. The latest findings are separate from three other investigations into Seattle officers by the Office of Police Accountability. In the latest reports, investigators found that officers and one commander violated department policies while responding to demonstrations in Seattle. As she walked toward a group of people, the officer threw the blast ball and it hit her in the chest. Investigations found that the officer violated department policy by throwing the blast ball overhand toward a person who was unarmed and not throwing projectiles at officers.
Judge bans Proud Boys leader from Washington after arrest
Read full article: Judge bans Proud Boys leader from Washington after arrestFILE - In this Sept. 26, 2020, file photo, Proud Boys leader Henry "Enrique" Tarrio wears a hat that says The War Boys during a rally in Portland, Ore. Police in the nations capital on Jan. 4, 2021, arrested the leader of the Proud Boys, who is accused of burning a Black Lives Matter banner that was torn down from a historic Black church in downtown Washington in December 2020. (AP Photo/Allison Dinner, File)WASHINGTON – A judge has banned the leader of the Proud Boys, a far-right extremist group, from the nation’s capital after he was accused of vandalizing a Black Lives Matter banner at a historic Black church and found with high-capacity firearm magazines when he was arrested. Tarrio was arrested Monday by the Metropolitan Police Department and accused of burning a Black Lives Matter banner that was torn down from a historic Black church in downtown Washington last month. A large Black Lives Matter sign was ripped from Asbury United Methodist Church property, torn and set aflame in December. Tarrio was seen with the sign in video of the incident posted on YouTube, according to a police report.
Proud Boys leader arrested, accused of burning church banner
Read full article: Proud Boys leader arrested, accused of burning church bannerFILE - In this Sept. 26, 2020, file photo, Proud Boys leader Henry "Enrique" Tarrio wears a hat that says The War Boys during a rally in Portland, Ore. Police in the nations capital on Jan. 4, 2021, arrested the leader of the Proud Boys, who is accused of burning a Black Lives Matter banner that was torn down from a historic Black church in downtown Washington in December 2020. (AP Photo/Allison Dinner, File)WASHINGTON – Police in the nation’s capital on Monday arrested the leader of the Proud Boys, who is accused of burning a Black Lives Matter banner that was torn down from a historic Black church in downtown Washington last month. By nightfall, vandals tore down a Black Lives Matter banner and sign from two historic Black churches in downtown Washington and set the banner ablaze. Tarrio told The Washington Post he had participated in the burning of the Black Lives Matter banner and said he would plead guilty to destruction of property and pay the church the cost of the banner. Another video showed men removing a Black Lives Matter sign at the Metropolitan A.M.E. Church.
Athletes act: Stars rise up against racial injustice in 2020
Read full article: Athletes act: Stars rise up against racial injustice in 2020The NBA painted “Black Lives Matter” on the courts inside their Orlando, Florida, “bubble" and social justice messages were emblazoned on the backs of jerseys. Paul met with NBA players, and they decided awareness wasn’t enough anymore. “Black Lives Matter” also was featured prominently on the league’s courts. Wallace, the only full-time Black driver at the NASCAR national level, first began speaking out against racial injustice in America in the spring. His car featured a “Black Lives Matter” paint scheme.
Christmas unites community after fire guts historic church
Read full article: Christmas unites community after fire guts historic churchThe site of Middle Collegiate Church, which was devastated by a fire earlier in the month, is seen in New York on Dec. 14, 2020. The facade and the New York Liberty Bell are the only parts of the 128-year-old church that remain. Middle Collegiate had previously occupied two other locations in Manhattan beginning in 1729. Middle Collegiate has also welcomed 25 new parishioners since the fire, she said. “The church is made up of the congregation and what the people in the congregation believe and do,” said Slacik, who married her wife at the church.
Police guide that calls BLM a terrorist group draws outrage
Read full article: Police guide that calls BLM a terrorist group draws outrageFILE - In this July 11, 2020 file photo, Alycia Pascual-Pena, left, and Marley Ralph kneel while holding a Black Lives Matter banner during a protest in memory of Breonna Taylor, in Los Angeles. The document, labeled “restricted to law enforcement only,” is one of the few publicly available materials on its website. The law enforcement association, known by its nickname ILEETA, says in a mission statement that it's “committed to the reduction of law enforcement risk” and saving lives through high-quality training. The paper claims that those who participated in months of protests earlier this year in Portland and Seattle were “useful idiots” designed to give cover to the “hard-core, terrorist trained troops” that would follow. Goff, whose group works with departments to make policing “less racist and deadly,” said the document showed why it's important for critics to engage directly with local law enforcement to seek changes.
Miami officer befriends teen who attacked him during protest
Read full article: Miami officer befriends teen who attacked him during protestMIAMI – The moment seemed to capture the super-heated emotions of a summer of national protest: A young Black teenager whacked a Miami police officer over the head with a skateboard during a chaotic demonstration. Today, they text frequently about football, family and life. “It was important to me as a young Black man to go out there and stand with my people,” he said. OFFICER WASHINGTONAmong the officers was Washington, a slender officer who was on duty with his identical twin brother, Jayson, also a Miami cop. Marshall began sobbing as he read the three-page apology letter he’d spent days poring over.
Homeowner sues over HOA’s order to remove BLM flag
Read full article: Homeowner sues over HOA’s order to remove BLM flagSome homeowners express their views through the flag that flies on their homes, so Mickel didn’t understand why he got a letter from his homeowners association more than a month ago telling him to remove his Black Lives Matter flag. You’ll find plenty of flags in the neighborhood: Blue Lives Matter, Trump, LGBTQ, college teams and seasonal. Crump says it is evident that Mickel was harassed and discriminated against for supporting Black Lives Matter. “The first day that he put up his Black Lives Matter flag, he was met with retaliation from the homeowners association,” Crump said. A letter would have been sent had he flown a Blue Lives Matter flag off of his house.
Brunswick to remove Confederate monument from park
Read full article: Brunswick to remove Confederate monument from parkBRUNSWICK, Ga. – Leaders of a Georgia city have voted to remove a Confederate monument from a park where it has stood since 1902. Commissioners in the port city of Brunswick voted 4-1 to take the monument out of Hanover Square. Officials had debated what to do about the monument since July. Brunswick Mayor Cornell Harvey says the monument will initially be moved into storage. The city hasn’t found a new home for it, but the mayor says perhaps a museum might be willing to take it.
Gov. DeSantis backs ‘anti-mob’ proposal in response to protests
Read full article: Gov. DeSantis backs ‘anti-mob’ proposal in response to protestsThe proposal titled “anti-mob legislation draft” would expand the list of “forcible felonies” under Florida’s self-defense law to include property crimes. “We don’t want to see our cities burning like across the nation without consequences, so Gov. Meanwhile, a rally to protest the proposal is planned for 1 p.m. Nov. 21 at the Duval County Courthouse. The first survey question by AP VoteCast found 42% of Florida voters surveyed have a gun in their household. Only 32% of Joe Biden voters have a gun in their house compared to 51% of President Donald Trump voters.
Portland, Oregon rejects bid to cut $18M more from police
Read full article: Portland, Oregon rejects bid to cut $18M more from policeBack the Blue police supporters, left, stand next to Black Lives Matter protesters calling for defunding the police, Thursday, Nov. 5, 2020, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Paula Bronstein)
Jacksonville man says HOA told him to remove Black Lives Matter flag
Read full article: Jacksonville man says HOA told him to remove Black Lives Matter flagJACKSONVILLE, Fla. – An Arlington man says he’s receiving unfair treatment from his homeowner’s association. Antoine Mickel has lived in the Arlington community for 21 years. He said everyone living in his neighborhood are free to express themselves, flying American flags, seasonal flags and political flags. She said Monday that she would request a statement from management for the community and that she was aware of the flag. “There are signs around the neighborhood that I don’t necessarily like, but I don’t harass and worry about them,” Mickel said.
Black Lives Matter faces test of its influence in election
Read full article: Black Lives Matter faces test of its influence in election“Black Lives Matter saved us, because we had nobody,” said Jones. Now, BLM’s influence faces a test, as voters in Tuesday’s election consider candidates who endorsed or denounced the BLM movement amid a national reckoning on race. Enter Black Lives Matter. Across social media platforms, the Black Lives Matter movement boasts a following of millions. “Black Lives Matter,” as a slogan, elicited “All Lives Matter” and “Blue Lives Matter” responses from foes.
Is there a racial divide when it comes to length of the voting lines?
Read full article: Is there a racial divide when it comes to length of the voting lines?Is there a racial divide when it comes to voting wait times at precincts? In 2016, white voters waited an average of 10 minutes, according to a survey of voters conducted by the Bipartisan Policy Center and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In comparison, Black voters waited an average of 16 minutes and Latino voters were in line an average of 13 minutes, according to the survey. During the 2018 election, Black voters waited an average of 11.5 minutes, Latino voters an average of 11.7 minutes and white voters an average of 8.8 minutes, according to the Bipartisan Policy Center. In precincts with 90% or more non-white voters, the average wait time was 32.4 minutes and the median was 13.3 minutes.
Environmental groups sue over Portland tear gas use
Read full article: Environmental groups sue over Portland tear gas useThe federal lawsuit alleges the U.S. government violated federal environmental law by deploying “an unprecedented amount of dangerous chemical weapons” without assessing their environmental impacts beforehand, as required by the National Environmental Policy Act. Oregon’s Department of Environmental Quality noted that “the repeated deployment of tear gas in downtown Portland has led to elevated levels of certain contaminants” in stormwater drains. But state officials said air-quality monitors aren’t located nearby and don’t measure tear gas exposure. Medical experts say there are few studies on health effects of tear gas. A European Union agency says it “is very toxic to aquatic life.”Figuring out precisely what tear gas components are in the environment is also a challenge.
BLM 5K offers supporters a different way to have their voices heard
Read full article: BLM 5K offers supporters a different way to have their voices heardBLM 5K offers supporters a different way to have their voices heardPublished: October 3, 2020, 10:15 pmThe race, put on by a separate organization from Black Lives Matter Jacksonville, was in support of the Black Lives Matter movement and aimed to give those who don’t want to protest a chance to have their voices heard.
BLM 5K offers supporters a different way to have their voices heard
Read full article: BLM 5K offers supporters a different way to have their voices heardEveryone feels like they can support the Black Lives Matter movement, so that’s the No. 1 goal here -- and to honor the Black community, to give back to the Black community,” Crisp said. “Talk about why your business benefits the black community,” News4Jax reporter Marilyn Parker asked Dominique Cleveland, owner of True Dreams Financial. “It benefits the Black community because growing up, a lot of people don’t have good credit,” Cleveland said. They’re not taught the benefits of having good credit, especially in the Black community.
White man seeks forgiveness in attack on Black family's home
Read full article: White man seeks forgiveness in attack on Black family's homeA 24-year-old white man has been charged with ethnic intimidation and other counts for firing shots into the Hall's home just north of Detroit after the family put a Black Lives Matter sign in their front window. (AP Photo/Corey Williams)WARREN, Mich. – A white man accused of firing shots into the home of a Black suburban Detroit family who put a Black Lives Matter sign in their front window asked for forgiveness during a court hearing Thursday. Frederick told Judge Michael Chupa that he wanted Eddie and Candace Hall to forgive him, though he didn't specify what he did to make him seek their forgiveness. Outside, they discovered the swastika and found that someone had written “terrorist Black Lives Matter,” “not welcome” and a phrase containing an expletive on their pickup truck. A neighbor’s home surveillance video showed a masked and hooded man carrying what appears to be a handgun outside the Halls' home.
Secret grand jury files in Breonna Taylor case to be public
Read full article: Secret grand jury files in Breonna Taylor case to be publicBlack Lives Matter protesters march, Friday, Sept. 25, 2020, in Louisville. Breonna Taylor's family demanded Friday that Kentucky authorities release all body camera footage, police files and the transcripts of the grand jury hearings that led to no charges against police officers who killed the Black woman during a March drug raid at her apartment. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Homespun BLM products include cookie kits, garden gnomes
Read full article: Homespun BLM products include cookie kits, garden gnomesOne of the cookie-decorating kits she offers has a Black Lives Matter theme. Other examples of homespun BLM merchandise include wine stoppers and even garden gnomes — objects more often associated with white suburbia. The yellow-and-black-clad gnome — a nod to the colors used on a Black Lives Matter website — wears a “BLM” hat. “Hopefully, someone who sees it is not offended.”He has since gotten a few orders for either Black Lives Matter gnomes or African American gnomes. Kate Mayer, 37, of Cincinnati, decided to offer a Black Lives Matter wine bottle stopper among her dozens of handmade wine stoppers.
Group hoping to shift narrative for Black lives says now is the time to show up
Read full article: Group hoping to shift narrative for Black lives says now is the time to show upOrganizers told News4Jax they MUST keep the momentum going heading into the election as they push to get people out to vote. The group behind the effort is called The Shift, and they were out for over an hour Saturday chanting, “Black Lives Matter,” and drawing honks from passing cars. The group started earlier this year and their focus is to impact the world and shift the narrative. The president of the group acknowledged that protests and demonstrations have slowed down a bit since the start of summer. “I think the protests have kind of died down because a lot of people feel like it’s not really making a change,” Cone said.
Louisville protests continue in Breonna Taylor's name
Read full article: Louisville protests continue in Breonna Taylor's nameProtesters spend time in a church lot, Friday, Sept. 25, 2020, in Louisville. Many briefly ended up back at a downtown square that has been a focal point of protests. Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer had urged continued peaceful protests in an appearance at a news conference Saturday evening. Cameron said the other officers were not charged with Taylor’s killing because they acted to protect themselves. Since when does freedom and civil rights have a curfew?”___Associated Press writer Claire Galofaro contributed to this report from Louisville.
Trump, social media, right-wing news stir up antifa scares
Read full article: Trump, social media, right-wing news stir up antifa scaresIt's a scene that has unfolded in many other cities and small towns this year, the product of fear and conflict stoked by bogus posts on social media, right-wing news outlets and even some of the nation's most powerful leaders. A man suspected of fatally shooting a Trump supporter after a pro-Trump caravan in Portland, Oregon, last month had described himself in a social media post as “100% ANTIFA." They’re trying to blame all this stuff on antifa, and I’m like, ‘Who exactly is antifa? Adam Klein, an associate professor of communication studies at Pace University, analyzed social media posts by far-right extremists and antifascist activists leading up to the Charlottesville rally three years ago. “You don’t get the sense online that there is an organization as much as there are some prominent (social media) accounts associated with antifa,” he said.
Bradford Middle student told to remove Black Lives Matter mask
Read full article: Bradford Middle student told to remove Black Lives Matter maskSTARKE, Fla. – The parent of a Bradford Middle School student said her daughter was told by school leaders Tuesday to take off a face mask, which displayed support for the Black Lives Matter movement. Jennifer Brown told News4Jax that her daughter, 12-year-old Deziyah Brown, was not given an immediate explanation as to why the mask was not allowed but that she was later told it was too political. The black mask has the words “I can’t breathe,” printed in large, red letters followed by “Black Lives Matter” below in white letters. Brown said her daughter was not offered a replacement mask when she was told to remove her own. Harris said the school district does have masks on hand for any student that wants to wear one.
Tallahassee demonstrators protest grand jury decisions in police shootings
Read full article: Tallahassee demonstrators protest grand jury decisions in police shootingsTALLAHASSEE A grand jury in Florida declined to issue indictments against Tallahassee police officers involved in the shooting deaths of three people in separate incidents that helped ignite Black Lives Matter demonstrations in the states capital city. A diverse group of demonstrators under the banner of the Tallahassee Community Action Committee took to the streets Saturday afternoon to declare solidarity with the city's African American community which accounts for more than a third of Tallahassee's 200,000 residents. TALLAHASSEE PROTEST: Tallahassee protest brings out heavy police presence after several people are arrested. While the grand jury declined to hand down indictments against the police officers, it expressed concern. About a week earlier, police shot and killed Woodard, who police say was armed, after a report of an altercation in a restaurant parking lot.
Portland's grim reality: 100 days of protests, many violent
Read full article: Portland's grim reality: 100 days of protests, many violentBlack Lives Matter protests, vigils and speeches marking the occasion are planned over three days and Trump supporters are planning another caravan rally. But smaller protests have continued, with groups of 100 to 200 people marching nightly. The protesters want city officials to slash the police budget and reallocate that money to Black residents and businesses. The tension reached a new high last weekend when the pro-Trump caravan motored into downtown, with some shooting paintballs and spraying bear repellent at Black Lives Matter protesters who tried to block the streets. Lost amid the escalating tensions are the voices of the citys Black residents, who are divided about the best way to keep up the momentum of the Black Lives Matter movement.
More than 250 arrested since Blake shooting in Wisconsin
Read full article: More than 250 arrested since Blake shooting in WisconsinA protester holds a flag during a Black Lives Matter march Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2020, in Kenosha, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)If you need help with WJXT’s or WCWJ's FCC public inspection file, call (904) 393-9801.
ACLU sues over federal action in Portland, Oregon, protests
Read full article: ACLU sues over federal action in Portland, Oregon, protestsThe American Civil Liberties Union has filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020, challenging the legality of the actions taken by U.S. agents sent by President Donald Trump to subdue protests in Portland. The federal agents exceeded the limits of their authority, making illegal arrests and using tear gas, rubber bullets, pepper spray and other tactics to squelch the protests, the lawsuit alleges. A video of plaintiff and Navy veteran Christopher David's encounter with U.S. agents outside the Portland courthouse circulated widely on social media. It showed one agent hitting David with a baton and another dousing him in the face with pepper spray. Local police have arrested hundreds of people over the three months and federal agents arrested at least 94 people at the height of the demonstrations in July.
Photos: Protesters, authorities clash in Wisconsin after video emerges of police shooting unarmed Black man
Read full article: Photos: Protesters, authorities clash in Wisconsin after video emerges of police shooting unarmed Black manThis time, the town is Kenosha, Wisconsin, which has about 100,000 people and sits just south of Milwaukee. The city is now trying to quell racial tension after police were caught on camera shooting 29-year-old Jacob Blake in the back multiple times. (2020 Getty Images)A car attempts to drive through a crowd of protesters on Aug. 24, 2020 in Kenosha. (2020 Getty Images)Demonstrators chant in front of a burning truck on Aug. 24, 2020 in Kenosha, Wisconsin. (2020 Getty Images)A man stands with a sign on Aug. 24, 2020 in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
Police shooting lays bare Wisconsin's deep partisan divide
Read full article: Police shooting lays bare Wisconsin's deep partisan divideA small group of Black Lives Matter protesters pray near the sight of a police shooting Monday, Aug. 24, 2020, in Kenosha, Wis. Kenosha police shot a man Sunday evening, setting off unrest in the city after a video appeared to show the officer firing several shots at close range into the man's back. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Black creatives in Italian fashion demand cultural reform
Read full article: Black creatives in Italian fashion demand cultural reformFashion designer Stella Jean talks during an interview with the Associated Press, in Rome, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2020. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)MILAN The only Black designer belonging to Italys influential fashion council is demanding a "long overdue cultural reform from her colleagues under the slogan: Do Black Lives Matter in Italy? A frequent refrain from Black creatives in Italian fashion is that they are often the only person of color in the workplace. Stella chafes at the Africa Hub, which promoted five brands during Milan Fashion Week in February. While she won't show in September, she has asked Capasa to host a Black Lives Matter event to kick off "the immediate launch of a long-overdue fashion cultural reform.''
Looking back on the Watts Riots, 55 years later: In photos
Read full article: Looking back on the Watts Riots, 55 years later: In photos(Getty Images)Scenes from the Watts Riots in Los Angeles in 1965. (Getty Images)Scenes from the Watts Riots in Los Angeles in 1965. (Getty Images)Scenes from the Watts Riots in Los Angeles in 1965. (Getty Images)Scenes from the Watts Riots in Los Angeles in 1965. (Getty Images)Scenes from the Watts Riots in Los Angeles in 1965.
Protesters voice opinions on Confederate statue at Putnam County Courthouse
Read full article: Protesters voice opinions on Confederate statue at Putnam County CourthousePALATKA, Fla. Protesters representing the Black Lives Matter movement and Patriots Unite gathered Saturday in front of the Putnam County Courthouse to voice their opposing opinions on a Confederate statue. The young organizers of the BLM protest said they think the courthouse is the wrong place for the statue. We feel it is a symbol of divisiveness and it does not belong at a place on the steps of justice, said Tevel Adams. The group is asking that the memorial statue be moved to a local cemetery where dozens of Confederate soldiers are buried. The Patriots Unite group also gathered to counterprotest the statues removal and the BLM movement.
Lack of study and oversight raises concerns about tear gas
Read full article: Lack of study and oversight raises concerns about tear gasFILE - In this July 26, 2020, file photo, federal officers launch tear gas at demonstrators during a Black Lives Matter protest at the Mark O. Hatfield U.S. Courthouse in Portland, Ore. The Associated Press found that there is no government oversight of the manufacture and use of tear gas. Instead, the industry is left to regulate itself. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File)
Analysis: Early returns say so far, so good for NBA bubble
Read full article: Analysis: Early returns say so far, so good for NBA bubbleIf that wasnt enough, the quality of play is so good that its almost like the NBA hadnt stopped playing for 4-1/2 months. In all honestly, its better than I was expecting ... talking about all the teams in general, San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich said. So, you see some of the talents these guys have are coming out.The numbers inside the bubble are ridiculous. Try 36 points again, 18 rebounds and eight assists in the Bucks loss to Houston on Sunday night. The Rockets beat the Mavs 153-149 in overtime Friday and then tried 61 3-pointers to tie an NBA regulation-game record Sunday.
Portland protest peaceful after federal presence reduced
Read full article: Portland protest peaceful after federal presence reducedLeshan Terry hold his son Leshan Terry, Jr., 6, during a Black Lives Matter protest at the Mark O. Hatfield United States Courthouse on Friday, July 31, 2020, in Portland, Ore. A group identified as Firefighters for Black Lives Matter gathered in a small park a couple miles west of the courthouse. A parade of cars with Black Lives Matter signs taped to their windows slowed traffic in the city. Since then, there have been no visible signs of any federal law enforcement presence outside the Mark O. Hatfield Federal Courthouse. And while thousands have marched and rallied peacefully, Portlands federal courthouse became a target for some protesters.
Portland, Oregon, protests relatively calm after US drawdown
Read full article: Portland, Oregon, protests relatively calm after US drawdownMarshals Service and Immigration and Customs Enforcement pulled back, troopers with the Oregon State Police took over. There were no visible signs of any law enforcement presence outside the Mark O. Hatfield Federal Courthouse, where a protest lasted into early Friday. Protests have roiled Portland for more than two months following the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. And while thousands have marched and rallied peacefully, Portland's federal courthouse became a target for some protesters. He apologized to peaceful demonstrators exposed to tear gas used by Portland police before federal officials arrived.
Players, coaches kneel before NBA's re-opening night
Read full article: Players, coaches kneel before NBA's re-opening nightThe NBA had a strong, powerful re-opening night message. Tonight we witnessed sober, powerfully moving and heartfelt demonstrations by our players of their commitment to the pursuit of justice," National Basketball Players Association Executive Director Michele Roberts tweeted. And all the players, all the coaches, are united in that fact and committed to do what we can do to effect long-term change.Many players warmed up wearing shirts that said Black Lives Matter." Thursday also marked the debut of new jerseys bearing messages that many players chose to have added, such as Equality" and Peace." NBA players have used their platforms both in the bubble and on social media to demand equality, to demand justice for Taylor.
Boateng recounts pain of racist abuse to Bayern teammates
Read full article: Boateng recounts pain of racist abuse to Bayern teammatesFor weeks Bayern Munich players had been showing solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement at games when Jerome Boateng was approached by teammates for a deeper conversation. Before our break, I talked actually to Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka about it, Boateng recalled on a video call. There are some situations of course that are really hard to help, but you can always help in a situation, the defender said. Now the German champions are preparing to take the field again in the Champions League next week, in the round of 16 against Chelsea where they lead 3-0 from the first leg in February. I think about racism you never can do enough as you see how bad it is still in the world right now," Boateng said.
Portland: Big protest crowds again over US agents' presence
Read full article: Portland: Big protest crowds again over US agents' presenceDuring demonstrations the previous night federal agents repeatedly fired tear gas to break up rowdy protests that continued into the early morning Saturday. Authorities say six federal officers were injured and one person was arrested. Trump said he sent federal agents to Portland to halt the unrest but state and local officials say they are making the situation worse. There were demonstrations for police reform and against the increased presence of federal law enforcement in cities across the country Saturday. The Federal Protective Service had declared the gathering in Portland that began Friday evening an unlawful assembly.
Yanks, Nats kneel in Black Lives Matter salute; Fauci's toss
Read full article: Yanks, Nats kneel in Black Lives Matter salute; Fauci's tossThe New York Yankees and the Washington Nationals kneel while holding a black ribbon to honor Black Lives Matter before playing an opening day baseball game at Nationals Park, Thursday, July 23, 2020, in Washington. before the start of the first inning of an opening day baseball game at Nationals Park, Thursday, July 23, 2020, in Washington. Players from both clubs wore T-shirts saying Black Lives Matter during batting practice, and the letters BLM were stenciled into the back of the mound at the center of the diamond. In a poignant reference to the racial reckoning happening in the U.S., players and other members of both teams held a long black ribbon while standing spaced out along the two foul lines. That followed a series of videos: about Black Lives Matter, showing major league players such as New Yorks Aaron Judge and Washingtons Howie Kendrick; about the Nationals postseason run; about the COVID-19 outbreak.
5 Things to Know for Today
Read full article: 5 Things to Know for TodaySmoke fills the sky as federal officers try to disperse Black Lives Matter protesters on Wednesday, July 22, 2020, in Portland, Ore. A federal judge is hearing arguments on Oregon's request for a restraining order against federal agents who have been sent to the state's largest city to quell protests that have spiraled into nightly clashes between authorities and demonstrators. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
5 Things to Know for Today
Read full article: 5 Things to Know for Today(AP Photo/Noah Berger)Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today:1. MAYOR OF PORTLAND TEAR GASSED BY FEDS Mayor Ted Wheeler, a Democrat, was tear gassed by U.S. government agents as he stood at a fence guarding a federal courthouse during another night of raging protests. WHAT VIRUS-WRACKED COUNTRIES HAVE IN COMMON When it comes to battling COVID-19, nations led by populist leaders like the U.S., Britain and Brazil are faring poorly compared to more traditional liberal democratic models. CHINA JOINS RACE TO RED PLANET China launches its most ambitious Mars mission yet in a bold attempt to join the U.S. in successfully landing a spacecraft on the red planet. (FINALLY) Four months after it was originally scheduled, Major League Baseballs opening day is here with the World Series champion Nationals hosting the New York Yankees.
Black Lives Matter, Blue Lives Matter supporters gather in Middleburg
Read full article: Black Lives Matter, Blue Lives Matter supporters gather in MiddleburgAcross the street, Blue Lives Matter supporters gathered. “When we say Black Lives Matter, that it solely means Black lives are better,” said Kevin Connor with Black Lives Matter Clay County. Standing on the same side of the road of the Black Lives Matter supporters was Norm Brewer, a Blue Lives Matter supporter. I mean, it’s just that simple.”Brewer explained further why he stood with the Black Lives Matter supporters even though he supports the Blue Lives Matter movement. At last weekend’s rally, a group of Blue Lives Matter supporters counter-demonstrated across the street from the Black Lives Matter rally near the corner of Blanding Boulevard and Kingsley Avenue.
'Black Lives' mural outside Trump Tower defaced for 3rd time
Read full article: 'Black Lives' mural outside Trump Tower defaced for 3rd timeNew York Police Department officers attempt to detain a protester who defaced with black paint the Black Lives Matter mural outside of Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue Saturday, July 18, 2020, in the Manhattan borough of New York. The Black Lives Matter street mural in front of Manhattans Trump Tower has been defaced with paint for the third time in a week. In the latest incident, two women were arrested around 3 p.m. Saturday after police said they poured black paint on the block-long mural outside Trump Tower on Manhattans chic Fifth Avenue. Meanwhile, police are continuing to look for a man in black shorts and a dark blue T-shirt who was seen splashing red paint on the Black Lives Matter mural around noon on Monday. Mayor Bill de Blasio helped paint the mural in front of President Donald Trumps namesake tower last week.
Black Lives Matter billboard placed next to Confederate flag
Read full article: Black Lives Matter billboard placed next to Confederate flagA Black Lives Matter billboard is seen next to a Confederate flag in Pittsboro, N.C., Thursday, July 16, 2020. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)A Black Lives Matter sign now fills a billboard next to a big Confederate flag that greets people coming into a small town outside Raleigh, thrilling some community organizers and angering the property owner. Friends called and asked if they could put a Confederate flag on my property," White said. He says they did it because the county commissioners had removed the Confederate statue.White has leased the billboard to Lamar Advertising, which sent representatives to notify him before putting up the Black Lives Matter sign on it. They wanted to know how I would react to it, and I told them I would not want a Black Lives Matter sign on that billboard, he said.
Statue of Black protester replaces toppled UK slave trader
Read full article: Statue of Black protester replaces toppled UK slave trader(AP Photo/Matt Dunham)LONDON An artist has erected a statue of a Black Lives Matter protester atop the plinth in the English city of Bristol once occupied by the toppled statue of a slave trader. Marc Quinn created the likeness of Jen Reid, a protester photographed standing on the plinth after demonstrators pulled down the statue of Edward Colston and dumped it in Bristols harbor on June 7. The statue, titled A Surge of Power (Jen Reid) was erected before dawn on Wednesday without approval from city officials. Colston was a 17th-century trader who made a fortune transporting enslaved Africans across the Atlantic to the Americas. Now were crystallizing it.Reid told The Guardian newspaper that the new statue was incredible and would help continue the conversation.City authorities fished the Colston statue out of the harbor and say it will be placed in a museum, along with placards from the Black Lives Matter demonstration.
Boy, 12, arrested after Palace player Zaha gets racist posts
Read full article: Boy, 12, arrested after Palace player Zaha gets racist postsCrystal Palace's Wilfried Zaha takes a knee in support of the Black Lives Matter movement before the English Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Crystal Palace at Villa Park in Birmingham, England, Sunday, July 12, 2020. (Tim Keeton/Pool Photo via AP)LONDON A 12-year-old boy was arrested by police after Crystal Palace player Wilfried Zaha highlighted racist abuse he received ahead of Sunday's Premier League match at Aston Villa. The Premier League has launched a reporting system to allow players to report abuse that can be followed up by authorities. This behavior is completely unacceptable and the Premier League stands alongside Wilfried Zaha in opposing this, and discrimination in any form," the league said in a statement. We will continue to support players, managers, coaches and their family members who receive serious discriminatory online abuse."
Black Lives Matter, Blue Lives Matter protesters peacefully face off in Clay County
Read full article: Black Lives Matter, Blue Lives Matter protesters peacefully face off in Clay CountyORANGE PARK, Fla. – Dozens of people gathered Saturday in Orange Park for a peaceful Black Lives Matter rally, and a group of Blue Lives Matter supporters counter-demonstrated across the street. Dozens of people gathered Saturday in Orange Park for a peaceful Black Lives Matter rally along Blanding Boulevard. “I support Blue Lives Matter, actually I support all lives matter,” Brewer said. “Well, I don’t think there’s a distinction between any of the three (Black Lives Matter, Blue Lives Matter, political signs). Clay County resident Sonny Lafontaine said he was driving by and saw the Blue Lives Matter demonstrators and stopped.
Mayor helps paint 'Black Lives Matter' outside Trump Tower
Read full article: Mayor helps paint 'Black Lives Matter' outside Trump TowerMayor Bill de Blasio, third from left, participates in painting Black Lives Matter on Fifth Avenue in front of Trump Tower, Thursday, July 9, 2020, in New York. Al Sharpton as he helped paint the racial justice rallying cry in giant yellow letters on Fifth Avenue in front of Trump Tower. Our streets!When we say Black Lives Matter, there is no more American statement, there is no more patriotic statement because there is no America without Black America, de Blasio said. We are acknowledging the truth of ourselves as Americans by saying Black Lives Matter. We are righting a wrong.The mayor announced the plan to paint Black Lives Matter in front of Trump Tower last month after earlier saying the slogan would be painted on streets at several locations around the city. Trump lived in Trump Tower before he took office as president but has spent little time there since.
F1 Drivers all wear "End Racism" T-shirts, but 6 don't kneel
Read full article: F1 Drivers all wear "End Racism" T-shirts, but 6 don't kneelWorld champion Lewis Hamilton, the only black driver in F1, wore a T-shirt with Black Lives Matter on the front and End Racism on the back. Hamilton attended a Black Lives Matter march in London and is setting up a commission to increase diversity in motorsport. Soccer players on fields in England and Germany have taken the knee together simultaneously before games in support of the Black Lives Matter movement, and F1 drivers discussed what they should do during a drivers briefing on Friday evening. Mercedes is competing in an all-black car instead of the usual silver, while Hamilton and Bottas have End Racism written on the cars halo. Hamilton praised some drivers for speaking out against racism, but he still feels others need to do more and he raised that in their briefing.
Administration skips hearing on violence against protesters
Read full article: Administration skips hearing on violence against protestersThe White House, however, trumpeted the administration's continuing support of law officers in the now subsiding protests. If there was a shred of evidence, the administration would have presented fact witnesses to support this gaslighting, Rep. Jared Huffman, a California Democrat, said. The clearing of Lafayette Square is the subject of an Interior Department inspector-generals review and at least one lawsuit brought by those wounded. At a separate briefing Monday, a House Oversight subcommittee addressed the treatment of protesters and journalists at demonstrations across the country, including Lafayette Square. The administration has denied that authorities forced protesters from the square that day so Trump could stage a law-and-order photo op nearby, clinching an upheld Bible.
Police investigating 'White Lives Matter' banner
Read full article: Police investigating 'White Lives Matter' bannerA plane towing a banner reading White Lives Matter Burnley flies above the stadium during the during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Burnley at Etihad Stadium, in Manchester, England, Monday, June 22, 2020. (AP Photo/Shaun Botterill,Pool)BURNLEY Police are looking into an incident in which a plane pulled a banner with the words White Lives Matter Burnley on it over Manchester Citys Etihad Stadium at the start of a Premier League match between the teams. The aircraft came into view moments after players and coaches from both clubs took a knee at kickoff on Monday in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. When the league season resumed last week amid the coronavirus outbreak, Black Lives Matter replaced player names on the backs of shirts. Iffy Onuora, the equalities officer for English soccers players union, said he hoped the widespread condemnation of the banner will act as a catalyst for further conversations about the Black Lives Matter movement.
While Confederate statues come down, other symbols targeted
Read full article: While Confederate statues come down, other symbols targetedSundays work follows the removal of two other Confederate statues on the state Capitol grounds in Raleigh on Saturday. Cooper ordered the statues removed after protesters toppled two other Confederate statues Friday night, stringing one up by the neck and hanging it from a light pole. Cooper has advocated the statues removal for years. In another case in California, symbols of the Black Lives Matter movement have been targeted in recent weeks with vandalism. The Ventura County Sheriffs Office said late Saturday that a tarp painted with the letters BLM has been repeatedly damaged in Thousand Oaks.
Man charged in deaths of BLM protester and another woman
Read full article: Man charged in deaths of BLM protester and another womanTALLAHASSEE, Fla. A Florida man faces murder and kidnapping charges in the deaths of a missing Black Lives Matter protester and another woman, authorities said Tuesday. Authorities didn't say whether the women had any previously connection between each other or to each other or Glee. Salau, who had participated in recent demonstrations against police brutality, was reported missing by family members earlier this month, authorities said. Sims also was reported missing by her family, authorities said. Police said they learned that Glee had fled on a bus to Orlando before they arrived at his home.
UK demonstrators hold fourth weekend of anti-racism protests
Read full article: UK demonstrators hold fourth weekend of anti-racism protestsA white U.S. Police officer in Minneapolis, recently killed black man George Floyd, sparking anti-racism protests worldwide, and the Black Lives Matter movement hoping to enable reforms and greater social justice. (Ben Birchall/PA via AP)LONDON Anti-racism demonstrators are holding a fourth weekend of protests across the U.K., despite a ban on large gatherings because of the coronavirus pandemic. Hundreds assembled for a socially distanced Say No to Racism rally in Glasgows George Square, where earlier this week members of the far right attacked a refugee-rights gathering. Hundreds of thousands of people have held mostly peaceful anti-racism protests across Britain since the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis on May 25, urging the U.K. to confront its own history of imperialism and racial inequality. Hundreds of far-right activists clashed June 13 with police near the Churchill statue in London, which had been boarded up for protection.
Veterans for Black Lives Matters group organizes on Juneteenth
Read full article: Veterans for Black Lives Matters group organizes on JuneteenthJACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A new group, Veterans for Black Lives Matter, organized in Jacksonville on the historic day Juneteenth. The group did this in honor of two Black veterans killed by a mob more than 100 years ago in Jacksonville. “I urge all veterans to support the Black Lives Matter issue here in Jacksonville,” said another speaker. “We will have justice and we will take it by any means necessary because Black Lives Matter. Black lives have always mattered, but now we’re here to tell you that we’re speaking up, we’re speaking out that Black Lives Matter,” said McCollough.
Jacksonville pastor, others arrested at protest sue sheriff, officers
Read full article: Jacksonville pastor, others arrested at protest sue sheriff, officersJACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A Jacksonville pastor who was arrested last month while trying to mediate between police and demonstrators has filed a federal lawsuit — along with several arrested protesters — against Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams and four police officers. The 23-page lawsuit filed Friday in federal court details what was happening during the peaceful protest May 31 in front of the Duval County Courthouse and how the protesters were treated by officers. READ: Full lawsuit embedded at bottom of this articleSmith was streaming on Facebook Live that day as Jacksonville Sheriff’s officers arrested her and other protesters whom police said resisted orders to clear the area surrounding the courthouse. They were told to leave the courthouse area, and the lawsuit alleges that is what they were doing when they were “indiscriminately” arrested. “In other words, even from the arresting officers’ accounts, the protesters were dispersed at the time of their arrests,” the lawsuit says.
Do you have what it takes? Submit a short film to the Black Life Film Fest
Read full article: Do you have what it takes? Submit a short film to the Black Life Film FestNow more than ever it’s so important to lift up and amplify black artists and creators, which is why a new film festival was created to do just that. The inaugural Black Life Film Fest will take place Sept. 5, and luckily for people who are interested in watching the selected films, the film festival will happen virtually, from the comfort of your home. Swirl Films and Mansa Productions are producing the festival, and the people there are asking for short film submissions that fit any kind of category. From documentaries and comedies to drama or animation -- as long as the film shows the black experience, it is eligible for submission. To find out more information about how you can submit your short film, or just general details pertaining to the new festival, you can visit the website here.
More U.S. workers getting Juneteenth off as awareness grows
Read full article: More U.S. workers getting Juneteenth off as awareness growsThe date - June 19th - is not a federal holiday, and many non-black Americans have only recently become of aware of the day. Several of her employees are spending the day volunteering for the Juneteenth Freedom Phonebank, an initiative encouraging Census participation. Declaring the date a federal holiday would add considerable momentum, and there is growing support for the idea. Sen. John Cornyn, a Texas Republican, introduced legislation Thursday to make Juneteenth a federal holiday. In contrast, 93% of employers close on Independence day, with similar rates for Labor Day, Christmas Day and Thanksgiving.
America marks Juneteenth as protests bring new attention
Read full article: America marks Juneteenth as protests bring new attentionProtesters march in a Black Lives Matter demonstration organized by the Dallas Black Firefighters Association on Juneteenth 2020 in Dallas, Friday, June 19, 2020. Juneteenth marks the day in 1865 when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas to take control of the state and ensure all enslaved people be freed, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Former President Abraham Lincoln first issued the Emancipation Proclamation on Sept. 22, 1862, and it became effective the following Jan. 1. Word didnt reach the last enslaved black people until June 19 of that year, when Union soldiers brought the news of freedom to Galveston, Texas. Kristi Noem proclaimed Friday as Juneteenth Day, but the proclamation does not make the day a state-recognized holiday.
Black Lives Matter banner removed at US Embassy in Seoul
Read full article: Black Lives Matter banner removed at US Embassy in SeoulIn this June 14, 2020 photo, U.S. flag flutters next to a giant Black Lives Matter banner at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, South Korea. The banner has been removed from the U.S. Embassy building in South Korea's capital three days after it was raised there in solidarity with protesters back home. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)SEOUL A large Black Lives Matter banner has been removed from the U.S. Embassy building in South Korea's capital three days after it was raised there in solidarity with protesters back home. The Black Lives Matter banner was seen as support of worldwide movements honoring George Floyd, a black man who died in handcuffs while a white Minneapolis police officer pressed a knee on his neck. His death last month has prompted weeks of protests in the United States and around the world with the same theme: Black Lives Matter.
NASCAR driver raced in Back the Blue car in support of police
Read full article: NASCAR driver raced in Back the Blue car in support of policeDays after NASCAR's only full-time black driver raced in a Black Lives Matter-themed car, a competitor drove with a symbol of Blue Lives Matter on its hood. The Thin Blue Line flag resembles an American flag but in black and white, with one blue stripe in the middle. The space above the blue line represents societal order, and the space below the line is meant to be crime and chaos. The "thin blue line" of law enforcement separates the two, according to Thin Blue Line USA, which makes pro-police clothing and gifts that support police nonprofits. NASCAR bans the Confederate flag and a driver supports Black Lives MatterJune is turning out to be quite eventful for NASCAR.
Japan, New Zealand march to mourn George Floyd, seek change
Read full article: Japan, New Zealand march to mourn George Floyd, seek changeA protester prepares a banner prior to a solidarity rally for the death of George Floyd in Tokyo Sunday, June 14, 2020. Mitsuaki Shidara, standing in the crowd at Yoyogi Park, said Japan has plenty of discrimination problems, but they're overlooked. Last week, a rally with similar themes in Tokyo drew several hundred people, and one in Osaka, in central Japan, drew about 2,000. More Black Lives Matter gatherings are planned for next week, in the southwestern city of Fukuoka and the central city of Nagoya. The rallies reflect how more people of various backgrounds are becoming part of a rapidly globalizing Japan.
Far-right activists protest in London despite warnings
Read full article: Far-right activists protest in London despite warningsBritish police officers, left, scuffle with members of far-right groups protesting against a Black Lives Matter demonstration, in central London, Saturday, June 13, 2020. British police have imposed strict restrictions on groups planning to protest in London Saturday in a bid to avoid violent clashes between protesters from the Black Lives Matter movement, as well as far-right groups. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)LONDON Hundreds of far-right activists gathered to demonstrate in central London's Parliament Square Saturday, despite strict police restrictions and warnings to stay home to contain the coronavirus. Officials put protective panels around the monuments amid fears that far-right activists would seek confrontations with anti-racism protesters under the guise of protecting statues. In London, Churchills statue was daubed with the words was a racist.Police have imposed strict restrictions on Saturdays protests in a bid to avoid violent clashes.
Trump campaign selling ‘Baby Lives Matter’ onesie on website
Read full article: Trump campaign selling ‘Baby Lives Matter’ onesie on websitePresident Donald Trump’s campaign is offering a onesie for babies on its website with the words “Baby Lives Matter” in the script and style of the “Black Lives Matter” movement logo. The Trump campaign is selling "Baby Lives Matter" onesies in the "Black Lives Matter" font/style. In recent weeks, Black Lives Matter supporters have been trying to clarify what the statement, Black Lives Matter, is meant to communicate. Several celebrities, activists, protesters, and more said Black Lives Matter does not mean that other lives don’t matter or that all lives don’t matter. A report by CBS news, further shows what activists and supports say about the Black Lives Matter slogan.
5 Things to Know for Today
Read full article: 5 Things to Know for TodayThe protests sweeping the world after George Floyd's death in the U.S. have added fuel to a movement to confront Europe's role in the slave trade and its colonial past. Leopold is increasingly seen as a stain on the nation where he reigned from 1865 to 1909. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today:1. HISTORICAL FIGURES REASSESSED AROUND GLOBE The movement to pull down Confederate monuments around the U.S. in the wake of George Floyds death extends to statues of slave traders, imperialists, conquerors and explorers around the world. CHIEFS LEAD VOTER REGISTRATION DRIVE The Super Bowl champions are putting together the program in response to the social unrest that has gripped the nation.
Statues boarded up in London as more protests expected
Read full article: Statues boarded up in London as more protests expectedScaffolders erect boarding around the statue of Sir Winston Churchill at Parliament Square, in London, Thursday, June 11, 2020, following Black Lives Matter protests that took place across the U.K. over the weekend. The protests were ignited by the death of George Floyd, who died after he was restrained by Minneapolis police while in custody on May 25. (Kirsty O'Connor/PA via AP)LONDON Authorities in London boarded up a war memorial and a statue of wartime Prime Minister Winston Churchill ahead of expected rival demonstrations by anti-racism and far-right protesters, as the citys mayor on Friday urged protesters to stay home because of the coronavirus pandemic. Several other statues have been defaced during mass protests around the country, including Churchills, which was daubed with the words was a racist. Police now fear far-right groups plan to seek confrontation under the guise of protecting statues. With more demonstrations expected on the weekend, a protective plywood screen was erected late Thursday around Churchills statue outside Parliament.
Starbucks creates own Black Lives Matter shirt for employees
Read full article: Starbucks creates own Black Lives Matter shirt for employeesStarbucks is creating its own Black Lives Matter shirt for employees to wear if they choose. The move comes after the coffee chain reportedly banned employees from wearing Black Lives Matter gear. The T-shirt depicts protest signs with phrases including Black Lives Matter, Speak Up and Time for Change. One sign shows a raised black fist. Social media blew up over news reports that Starbucks had told employees in a memo they couldn't wear Black Lives Matter shirts or other paraphernalia because it might be used to amplify divisiveness. Until the corporate T-shirts are available, Starbucks staffers can wear their own Black Lives Matter T-shirts and other gear.