There’s a deadline fast approaching that oftentimes is overlooked but is significant nevertheless — the Business Property Statements. And the deadline is here.
Because of where America stands today on the ever present issue of race, the following reflections are offered from the first two paragraphs of the Declaration of Independence, signed July 4, 1776. First, the Preamble, which has much bearing on where we stand today as a nation: “When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the Powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, they should declare the causes which impel
It appears that two important things have happened since the death of Geoge Floyd at the hand of the police in Minneapolis, Minnesota: (1) police continue to kill black men and women either by shooting them or physically killing them by hand.
There are more signs that we can expect changes at the Justice Department.
This week, authorities announced they had suspended Louisiana State Police Master Trooper Kory York, and acknowledged that Ronald Greene, who was shackled, handcuffed and dragged, “was mistreated.” The admission came after Greene’s family viewed graphic body camera footage of the arrest that included York using a barrage of expletives as he detained the Black motorist. York and other troopers were seen on the video choking and beating Greene.
January 6th, 2021 was intended to be a day of ceremonial ritual that underscored the strength of our democracy, and the commitment we as a nation have to a set of principles, values, and ideals that anchor our embrace of the constitution of the United States. Students in universities and colleges, in K-12 institutions, and even mature adults could treat it as a civics lesson, for there were many teachable moments in this season of election politics.
These are the top stories of what happened in Crenshaw & Around this year.
This week, Senator Bradford (D-Gardena) and Senate President pro Tempore Atkins (D-San Diego) introduced Senate Bill 2 to increase accountability for law enforcement officers that commit serious misconduct and illegally violate a person’s civil rights.
The law enforcement culture is going through a deep conditioning within Los Angeles, recent incidents triggered a global awareness of the imbalance in community protection. It unveiled a disconnection between the purpose of the police and the spirit of trust among the community. Los Angeles has looked to bridge that gap by designing the Community Safety Partnership Program in 2011. Captain Emada Tingirides has been the Coordinator Sergeant for CSP, she has embodied the mission and now leads the programs as Deputy Chief.
Los Angeles is experiencing turbulence amid residents and those sworn to protect them. Chairwoman Barger disclosed that two LAPD deputies were ambushed over the weekend. Supervisor Mark-Ridley Thomas and Barger are offering a $100,000 reward for any information leading to a capture of those who committed the violence.
In response to an increase in shootings of unarmed Black men and women, including the recent shooting of Dijon Kizzee in South Los Angeles, and subsequent protests against the racialized violence endured at the hands of law enforcement towards communities of color, Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, in collaboration with the Institute for Nonviolence in Los Angeles (INLV), led a leadership level virtual dialogue on Racism, Policing, the Pandemic + Beyond.
A bill to establish a pilot program to have community-based organizations serve as first responders instead of the police awaits only Governor Gavin Newsom’s signature.
Within the conversation between legislators supporting the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, the general tone was this day was long overdue. The House Judiciary Committee passed the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, by a vote of 24 to 14. Capitol Hill has responded to the demands for police reform, the goals are set to ensure equality, community safety, and to hold those accountable who abuse power and act out excessive use of force.
Political leaders and spiritual guidance affirmed Big Floyd’s homecoming; close friends and families gathered to find comfort in one another as George Floyd lay to rest. In the streets, diverse groups stood in reflection of the murders that happened similar to the injustice on May 25. The world stood for eight minutes and forty-six seconds in honor of George Floyd.
Derrica Wilson and her sister Natalie noticed what had become the norm for mainstream media when it comes to the plight of missing women and girls of color: there was little to no media coverage. As a result, in 2008, Derrica and Natalie founded the nonprofit Black and Missing Foundation with a mission to bring awareness to missing persons of color and to provide vital resources and tools to missing person’s families and friends.