Denver Urban Spectrum - October 2020 - Our Voices, Our Vote Matters! by Denver Urban Spectrum

Volume 34 Number 7 October 2020

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O ur Voices,Our Votes Matter...15-18 • black • culture • activism • george floyd • racial injustice • voting • disease • unrest • • black sons • pain • complacency • inequities • pandemic • humanity • police reform • human rights • suppression • youth • community • gianna • breathe • truth to power •

Young Perspectives on the 2020 Presidential Election

All the flavors to entice kids. All the nicotine to keep them hooked. E-cigarette makers and vape shops are enticing kids with flavors like cotton candy, gummy bear and bubble gum. And nationally, over 5 million kids are using these flavored ecigarettes. Vape shops and tobacco companies say their products aren’t ending up in kids’ hands, but that’s just not true. Many retailers still sell to minors, and many of them in Denver even illegally sold products during the COVID-19 shutdown violating emergency orders. Let’s stop pretending vape shops and the industry care about public health or the health of our children. It’s time to stop the sale of flavored tobacco products to protect our kids. Take action now by visiting FlavorsHookKidsDenver.org to tell your City Council Members to end the sale of all ﬂavored tobacco products, including e-cigarettes.

Paid for by Tobacco-Free Kids Action Fund

MESSAGE FROM THE PUBLISHER

What was it like and what did you do? Volume 34

Number 7

October 2020

PUBLISHER Rosalind J. Harris GENERAL MANAGER Lawrence A. James EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Alfonzo Porter CoLAB INFORMED COMMUNITIES COORDINATOR COPY EDITOR Tanya Ishikawa COLUMNISTS Kim Farmer Barry Overton FILM CRITIC BlackFlix.Com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Charles Emmons Alfonzo Porter Zilingo Nwuke ART DIRECTOR Bee Harris MARKETING AND ADVERTISING Marie Weatherspoon GRAPHIC DESIGNER Jody Gilbert - Kolor Graphix

October and November will be pivotal for the country, and both political parties are fighting like hell to win. A lot is at stake for future generations. By the time this issue is published more skirmishes will have happened in the war for the White House. As you peruse the pages of this issue, starting with the cover, we hope you read and take to heart every important message encapsulated here for you and the future of your families. In our cover story, several members of Generations Y and Z voiced their opinions on the importance of voting for their peers; and DUS Editor Alfonzo Porter talks to longtime “elderly’ voters. Regular contributor Zee shares the stories of four women working behind the scenes in the political arena and what they are doing to get the word out to vote. Take a moment and read about other women who had their eyes set on the White House before Vice Presidential candidate Kamala Harris. Former Denver Mayor Wellington E. Webb and former U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar share their views on two very important amendments and how you should vote on them on Nov. 3. And if you didn’t know much about RBG, check out her inspiring journey as we pay tribute to Ruth Bader Ginsburg. During the Democratic National Convention, Kamala Harris said, in part… “There’s something happening, all across the country…People of all ages and colors and creeds who are, yes, taking to the streets, and also persuading our family members, rallying our friends, organizing our neighbors, and getting out the vote… I’m inspired by a new generation of leadership.You are pushing us to realize the ideals of our nation, pushing us to live the values we share: decency and fairness, justice and love.You are the patriots who remind us that to love our country is to fight for the ideals of our country. In this election, we have a chance to change the course of history...So, let’s fight with conviction. Let’s fight with hope. Let’s fight with confidence in ourselves, and a commitment to each other.To the America we know is possible.The America, we love.Years from now, this moment will have passed. And our children and our grandchildren will look in our eyes and ask us:Where were you when the stakes were so high? They will ask us, what was it like? …And we will tell them.We will tell them, not just how we felt.We will tell them what we did.” Yes, much is at stake due to racial injustices, police brutality, the economic and unemployment crisis, climate change, and the impending second wave of COVID-19. So, I also ask, what will you do? Listen to the voices of our youth.Vote and vote early. Rosalind J. Harris Publisher

PHOTOGRAPHERS Lens of Ansar Bernard Grant DISTRIBUTION Ed Lynch Lawrence A. James - Manager

Member The Denver Urban Spectrum is a monthly publication dedicated to spreading the news about people of color. Contents of the Denver Urban Spectrum are copyright 2020 by Bizzy Bee Enterprise. No portion may be reproduced without written permission of the publisher. The Denver Urban Spectrum circulates 25,000 copies throughout Colorado. The Denver Urban Spectrum welcomes all letters, but reserves the right to edit for space, libelous material, grammar, and length. All letters must include name, address, and phone number. We will withhold author’s name on request. Unsolicited articles are accepted without guarantee of publication or payment. Write to the Denver Urban Spectrum at P.O. Box 31001, Aurora, CO 80041. For advertising, subscriptions, or other information, call 303-292-6446 or fax 303292-6543 or visit the Web site at www.denverurbanspectrum.com.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR who they vote for and there won’t likely be significant systemic changes anyway. Well, it is clear that the Democratic Party has nominated an African-American/AsianAmerican (double color you might say) – so this must mean they are committed. But the younger and the more radical set will say that simply repeating “Black Lives Matter” will not by itself MAKE Black lives matter. They would say that economic justice, reparations for descendants of slaves, housing, health care, education, and criminal justice inequities, etc. need to be addressed directly and emphatically if we are to even start with changing these inequities and racial prejudices and MAKING Black Lives Matter. Is America really ready to seriously address the core issues? Then there is the over-riding issue of the change in the

We Must Stay Hopeful! Editor: How should people of color look at this election when it is a year filled with discussions on systemic racism, demonstrations against police brutality directed at people of color, and when the two dominant political parties have nominated two old white men? How do we make Black lives matter when voting? Is it just a case of voting for the party that is courting the vote of people of color? Should we accept what the politicians are saying or should we demand commitments for specific changes and specific actions? Everyone says this may be the most important Presidential election in American history. Whether this is hyperbole or the truth, it is clear we have some stark choices. Younger folks of color are often heard saying they are not sure if it matters

Denver Urban Spectrum — www.denverurbanspectrum.com – October 2020

earth’s climate. Recently, 30 women chained themselves to the British Parliament building demanding action on climate change, stating that wars, famines, violence and disaster certainly await us – if we don’t make changes. With this, it couldn’t be clearer which party will address these issues – it is the Democratic Party. One can only wish that the party of Lincoln would see the light but they are blind to it. Climate change is projected to overwhelmingly affect the world’s people of color the worst. VOTE and tell your children, your grandchildren, your friends, their friends, their children and their grandchildren to go vote! If you feel this unbalance and there is no question that one party or the other best addresses the issues of folks of color, then I’d suggest that’s where you put your vote. But, Continued on page 29

To suggest that the 2020

presidential race is the most consequential election of our lifetimes does not begin to do justice to the urgency of our need to vote. It cannot be overstated that this is the election that could end the American democratic experiment as we know it if Donald Trump is in the White House for four more years. The current administration is rife with fraud, deception, racism, hate and animus. The president and his minions are sabotaging the postal service, flooding social media with Russianbacked propaganda, promoting white supremacist conspiracy theories, threatening not to accept the results of the election, and refusing a peaceful transfer of power if Trump loses. The president is fanning the flames of division in America that would make the likes of Bull Connor and George Wallace look more like the simple-minded, bigoted neophytes they were. The chaos that continues to ensue, as a result, could literally end the republic. Trump is threatening to flood polling places with poll watchers in a brazen attempt to disrupt the voting process. Even worse, he is promising to encourage state electors to break ranks and ignore the popular vote when choosing the president. What is clear is that this president will lie, cheat and steal in order to maintain power; the country and the will of the American people be damned. Nevertheless, your vote counts! The 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1870, “prohibits the federal government and each state from denying a citizen the right to vote based on that citizen’s race, color or previous condition of servitude.”

Voices Across Generations

Elders Beseech Young Voters to Turn Out in Record Numbers By Alfonzo Porter However, while So, what do former slaves had these generational finally won the political developright to cast a balments really lot, it did not mean mean? Younger Eula Adams that our ancestors Geta Asfaw African would be welAmericans have comed at the poldifferent opinions ling place. Indeed, on political and the opposite was social manifestatrue. They were tions than do often met by white Mary Scott older generations Terry Manns mobs, intent on of Black voters. intimidating Black However, Black voters and vastly millennials and suppressing the members of numbers of Black Generation Z folks who could must understand successfully partici- Drs. Joe and Alice Langley that their current pate in the democratic process. struggles, frustrations and aspiThese practices lasted for rations are merely an extension nearly a century after the right of the foundation and work laid to vote was granted. Now, by the generations before them. these old tactics have reared What remains uncertain is how their ugly heads yet again, these generational voting progiven new life by the Trump clivities will factor in this elecadministration. tion? This year’s election is now Our future rests on who upon us—and so is the electorturns out to cast their votes. The ate that is charged with its conBlack voting population has clusion. The intense weight and remained steady at approxpressure of this election rests imately 12% since 2000. That squarely upon the shoulders of translates into just over 30 milyoung African Americans. lion eligible African American Demographics change gradvoters. ually and we have arrived at a However, there is considermoment in time when voters of able concern as to whether color will comprise as much as younger African Americans will one third of the total electorate. turn out in the numbers needed This represents the largest share to change the course of the elecin history. Specifically, 1-in-10 tion. Older Black voters from eligible voters will be members the so-called Silent Generation of the so-called Generation Z. (born before 1946), Baby This group represents newly Boomers (born between 1946minted voters ranging in age 1964), and Generation X (born from 18 to 23 for this election between 1964-1980) have been cycle. This, while millennials working hard to encourage and older generations occupy a their children and grandchilsmaller share as eligible voters dren to take their rights than they did even four years seriously. While these groups ago in 2016. typically vote in large numbers, Denver Urban Spectrum — www.denverurbanspectrum.com – October 2020

their percentage in the overall electorate continues to decline. This year, millennials (aka Generation Y) and members of Generation Z will comprise almost 40% of the Black electorate, and the older generations are keen to impress upon them the reasons why they should not fail in exercising their right to vote. For Geta Asfaw, CEO of Addis & Co., younger African Americans must never forget the sacrifices made to win the rights that they currently enjoy and many times are taken for granted. “The fact that it is necessary to convince people about the importance of voting is very sad,” Asfaw said. “We have endured 250 years of slavery, 100 years of legal apartheid and only 50 years of full citizenship. At this moment in history, it should be fully understood. They must never forget that people died fighting to give you (younger African Americans) this right.” By failing to vote, Asfaw insists, we confirm that we are content with the status quo. “Even when you don’t vote, you really do vote because you reaffirm that you are happy with the current social, financial and political state,” he says. “We have the power to make significant change around our homes and communities through voting. You don’t count if you don’t vote.” In the wake of Supreme Court actions a few years ago, some older African Americans are worried that voting rights are in grave jeopardy. Eula Adams suggests that if we are not mindful, we could quickly revert to past discriminatory practices. “The Supreme Court invalidated key provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 in 2013. As a result, some states were able to reinstitute certain practices such as gerrymandering, voter suppression and others, thus limiting the Federal Government in mandating

changes which would insure and protect voters’ rights,” Adams says. “In the absence of Federal Government intervention, we have seen in Georgia and North Carolina just how results of elections are impacted when it becomes more difficult to register or cast your ballot. So, if young African Americans have seen this pattern, they may become discouraged and feel that it is an uphill battle that’s not worth fighting.” President Trump’s public threat to place “poll watchers” at polling places around the country seems all too familiar to Adams who grew up in the South. “There is no doubt that in the South we had local officials assign police with dogs to stand around or near polling places to intimidate Black voters,” Adams recalls. “That is one reason I am very concerned when I hear President Trump say as he frequently does that he will send federal troops to states to ensure that elections are conducted properly. I see this as nothing more than reinstituting an intimidating tactic designed to discourage African Americans from voting.” Failure on the part of younger Black voters to cast a ballot this year, according to Adams, may be the single greatest catastrophe of our time. “Everything we hold dear is on the table. Democracy as we know it is being threatened by the president and his Republican enablers,” Adams warns. “Failure to vote may be the biggest failing in our lifetime.” It is a familiar refrain from senior African Americans—that casting your vote cannot be a faint consideration this year. According to Mary Scott, President of the Urban League Guild of Metropolitan Denver, their generation has the most to lose. “Their future is at stake,” Scott says. “They have to ask, is their current condition something they are willing to deal with on a

regular basis? 2020 is a chance to change the face of those who cause hatred, division and suppression – rid the lies.” Scott’s colleague with the Urban League Guild, Terry Manns, expresses concern over the level of motivation shown by young African Americans. “The issues surrounding the diminishing of the Voter Rights Act have the potential to affect their motivation to engage in the voting process,” Manns says. “They need to know the issues, know the candidates’ positions, and listen to what’s not being said.” She believes that the social unrest and peaceful protest across the nation can help encourage the younger generation to become more involved in the election. “I think the racial unrest will help them to see the value in voting. But it takes all of us to interact with our young folks with the facts and thought-provoking conversations about the outcomes of the election,” she says. “Voter suppression is real, and they are doing it right in our faces and daring us to do something about it.” But Joe and Alice Langley, both retired educators with doctorate degrees, say they are encouraged by young African Americans. “It is evident as we see more and more of our youth marching and protesting,” the Langleys assert. “Young professionals from many organizations, like the Young Professionals of the Urban League, are doing online registration and working with other youth organizations to promote voter registration.” And while they say that they understand why young Black voters might be turned off to the election process, they want the younger voters to know that their time to make a difference is now—and that they should not allow voter suppression efforts to prevail.

“The reason these are the top issues of concern for our youth is precisely because the current power dynamic in America doesn’t see them as a priority, and in some cases are overtly in denial that they are even an issue at all. If the youth didn’t like three years of how Republicans treated these issues they care about – how do they feel about four more years? This is their time to vote for change,” they insist. The Langleys are adamant about young voters not allowing anything to keep them from the polls. “Here is the reality – nothing should keep Black people from the polls this election, not picket lines, not fake police, and not armed bubbas playing GI Joe,” they say. “The only thing that is going to stop Black people from voting this election is Black people. Bullies back down, the Coronavirus can’t stop you from voting, and unless they

shoot us all at the polls, nothing can stop us.” Yet, they do want the next generation to appreciate our progress while being mindful of the forces who want us to move backwards. “This next generation of Black voters see this now, and they see the new voter suppression efforts just as sophisticated, and just as passive aggressive as they were when we were coming of age in 1965,” the Langleys state. “We lived with voter intimidation as a way of life growing up in Kentucky and the deep south of Beaumont, Texas. It was not uncommon to face voter intimidation of law enforcement at the polling sites, or arbitrary ‘tests’ to register to vote, or mis-information about polling locations or even dates of the election!” So, despite your manner of casting your ballot—whether in person or by mail, the message from the community’s elders is crystal clear. No matter what, Vote! .

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Many of the Freedom Riders, who rode buses into the south to draw attention to discriminatory policies in public transportation were 19 years old with the youngest being 18. Colorado’s youngest elected official, Tay Anderson, who serves on the Denver Public School Board, is 22 years old. A’Dorian Murray-Thomas, at 23 is the youngest elected Newark, New Jersey School Board member and at 29, Alexandria OcasioCortez, representing New York City, was the youngest woman ever elected and is one of the most outspoken members elected to the U.S. Congress. Would we have even considered this possible 30 years ago? But the reality is, with there so much information available, amplified by social media to get up to speed on national and community issues, it is not too difficult. Politics is local and in Colorado it is never too early to get involved by taking that first step to vote. Seventeenyear olds can register to vote if they are going to be 18 by Election Day. Sixteen year olds can pre-register; their registration becomes automatic when they reach 18. So getting that driver’s license isn’t the only goal for your teenager. “Voting is the oxygen of our democracy,” said Alex Padilla, California Secretary of State. It’s time that we all breathe it in. Young people marched this summer in protest for justice for George Floyd, Elijah McClain, Breonna Taylor, and Jacob Blake. But leaders taking the baton still need to be nurtured and, family and schools sometimes need

We Need Leaders… Where Will They Come From? By Charles Emmons

These are different and challenging times. While we are quarantined and getting back to what has become our new normal, we might look across the coffee table at our teenage son or daughter immersed on the couch with their phone on social media, not paying attention to us or to what is on TV. Think back to when you were a teenager and had conversations with your parents or grandparents about the significance of civil rights and the marches. Then look at today’s teens, scratch your head, and wonder what happened? And, the painful conclusion you reach is nothing. As some of us reach Medicare eligibility, it is disheartening to realize that little seems to have changed since the 60’s and 70’s. The struggle goes on. “There is no vaccine for racism. We’ve got to do the work,” said Democratic VicePresidential candidate Kamala Harris on the eve of accepting the party’s nomination. Indeed, we all have to do the work, and we cannot just shoulder all the responsibility. It’s time for all of us to get y

off the couch and get into good trouble. Our leaders of the next generation must be prepared. What will be the basis and foundation of that preparation? Traditionally our character has been steeped in faith. We look to heroes in the struggle – Dr. Martin Luther King, Malcom X, and John Lewis. These times are no different. Revolutionary thought may be necessary, but requisite implementation and action cannot veer into violence and mayhem. This isn’t good trouble. We must be mindful of our values driving our actions. History teaches us that it is never too early to pass the baton to the next generation. The late civil rights advocate Congressman John Lewis, became active in the movement before he was 21. “John Lewis did not want to be passive about the racist conditions of the country. So, when he was only 15, he stood in front of a crowd and gave his very first public sermon. From that point onward, he kept pushing to get his voice, and the voices of Black people, heard across the country,” says author and executive director and founder of Youth With A Future Dr. Robert Fomer. 2nd Location

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enhancements.Youth With a Future is a Colorado non-profit that is filling the gap with leadership training and development for young people. Their summer program concluded in August with a successful virtual session, but in preparation for the next year, tools for young people are accessible through eBooks. “As we look to the future, it will be young people like this that will have to face the different crises for them, and so what they are learning from this crisis is to be leaders in the future,” said Fomer who has developed three eBooks that are available in the Kindle platform on Amazon. “Leadership Today: Unlocking the 8 Core Values of Leadership” covers the core values 1) Friendship with a mentor; 2) Passion for purpose and people; 3) Visionary leadership; 4) Culturally relevant communication; 5) Multiplica-tion of leaders; 6) Family values as a priority; 7) Good stewardship; and 8) Commitment to integrity. Truly we have come so far, to be so far, from where we need and want to be. This is a time for great reflection, and re-generation. A young Gianna Floyd told Joe Biden, “Daddy changed the world” about her father, George. The Youth With a Future eBooks are a starting point for being better servant leaders. It’s time to get off the couch and get into good trouble. We are not in this alone. Start your journey with the young people in your life. . Editor’s note: For more information, visit the Youth With a Future website, www.ywfleaders.com.

Wonder Women:

Forces to be reckoned with!

By Zilingo Nwuke

ith the upcoming presidential election between Donald Trump and Democratic candidate Joe Biden, four women in Colorado have been working overtime to raise awareness about the election and sway voters to vote for the Joe Biden and vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris ticket. Harris is the first African American, the first Asian American, and the third female vice presidential running mate on a major party ticket. Danielle Kombo, Portia Prescott, Bianka Emerson and LaToya Petty have made it their sworn duty to make sure

Danielle Kombo, Portia Prescott, Bianka Emerson and LaToya Petty

Colorado voters make the right decision on Nov. 3. These four women have always been involved in Colorado politics. In fact, that is how they met; crossing paths as their assistance was needed in attaining votes for the BidenHarris campaign. “I met LaToya through the campaign and I’ve known both Bianka and Portia for some time. Both of those ladies have been involved in various levels of politics across the state and they are wonderful sisters in the fight,” stated Danielle Kombo, the Women’s Voter Director for the Biden-Harris campaign. They all came from different

places on the map, but somehow fate brought them together now working wonders. Three weekly programs were developed and have been their focus in spreading the word to gain more votes for the BidenHarris campaign: Make It Happen Mondays, Sister Circle on Sundays and the Shop Talk Program. Make It Happen Mondays is an opportunity to highlight African American business owners and an opportunity to discuss the Biden-Harris Lift Every Voice Plan for Black America. This policy plan lays out key areas of business assistance and stability for Black businesses. They also discuss the loss of Black owned businesses that have suffered under the Trump administration. According to a Washington Post article, Black business owners have decreased more than 40% under the current administration and are slated not to return. Business owners all over Colorado are invited to join Make It Happen Mondays with special guests from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. with hosts Denise Burgess and Victoria Scott Haynes. Sister Circle, hosted by Portia Prescott and Gloria Neal, is an opportunity for African American women to come together on Sundays and talk about issues that are important to African American women

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and the community. Sister Circle highlights the contributions of African American women, locally and nationally, and encourages women to continue to support the Democratic Party and the Biden-Harris campaign. “African American women have been the backbone of the Democratic Party for a number of years. We consistently vote and out-vote our counterparts,” said Bianka Emerson, the Colorado Coalitions Director Biden for President. Women are encouraged to participate in this virtual meeting from 1 to 2:30 p.m. The Cuts and Conversations program is a virtual substitution for the Shop Talks that occur in barbershops locally and around the country. Attendees can discuss any issue of concern and seek answers to how the Biden-Harris campaign will address them. This is the place to go to get anything off your chest that has been bothering you. Unfortunately, you just can’t get a haircut. Men are invited to join in the virtual discussions on Fridays, from 5 to 6 p.m. This effort is being led by Broncos All Pro Wide Receiver Brandon Lloyd, Anthony Graves, and Vernon Jones Jr. “We want to get voter engagement. We want to turn up the vote. We want a high African American turnout. We want everyone to feel like they are engaged. We want everyone

in the community to feel like they have a voice,” said Sister Circle Coordinator Prescott. “If there are any concerns they may have that they want to bring to the leadership, they are welcome to bring them. And, we will help them understand why this is a very important election.” “These programs were created to create honest, reliable communication. Real conversations with real people on a real grassroots level,” said LaToya Petty African American Outreach Coordinator. “I really hope to see people getting excited and seeing the opportunities. People seeing that there is a chance for us to move forward in a progressive way that is supportive within our community and also supportive within our country,” said Petty. “We cannot have four more years of Trump. Look at the devastation, the pandemic, Black Lives Matter. I think if you’re not part of the solution, you are part of the problem. We

wanted to come together to create something unique, bring our communities together and show our strength. We want everyone to know they are not alone,” said Prescott. Donald Trump’s term in office has not been a highlight in American history. He has only focused on making one group of Americans happy and in the process has angered many others. Kombo, Prescott, Emerson and Petty’s goal is to change that by getting Joe Biden and Kamala Harris in the White House. Their collective power will not let them quit until they achieve that goal. But, they can’t do it alone. They need community support from Colorado. These programs are just a few ways they are working diligently to garner that support.. Editor’s note: If you are interested in helping with the fight, supporting the campaign, or participating in the weekly programs call 720-6177729

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With Broncos All Pro Wide Receiver Brandon Lloyd, Anthony Graves, and Vernon Jones Jr.

Got Voting Questions? We’ve Got Answers By Sandra Fish, Colorado News Collaborative Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3, but registered voters in Colorado will receive mail-in ballots after Oct. 9. With national concern about the veracity of mail-in ballots, Colorado has become a focal point. Colorado began statewide vote by mail in 2013, although some counties used it before that. Voters and potential voters will have questions about how voter registration works, how mail-in ballots work, how ballots are counted and more. The Colorado News Collaborative and its members, including Denver Urban Spectrum, want to answer those questions. Here’s this week’s big question: Do I have to request a ballot from my county clerk or the Secretary of State? Not if you’re an active registered voter. County clerks automatically will begin mailing ballots to active registered voters on Oct. 9. A voter is considered active if they’ve voted in the most recent general elections or updated their address or other registration information A recent nationwide mailer from the U.S. Postal Service insinuates that voters must request mailin or absentee ballots. Colorado

Secretary of State Jena Griswold is suing the Postal Service, saying the mailer is misleading and could disenfranchise voters. A federal judge issued an order late Saturday to halt the mailings, and the Postal Service asked that he reconsider the order on Sunday. On Monday, the Postal Service said it already delivered 75% of the mailers. Find out if you’re registered at www.govotecolorado.gov. And get elections information at your county elections office at datawrapper.dwcdn.net/9x2Tu/4/. Voting What if I’ve moved? This link also will allow you to change your address: www.sos.state.co.us/voter/pages/pu b/olvr/findVoterReg.xhtml What if my name changed? You’ll need to fill out this form and take it to your county clerk or mail it to the Colorado Secretary of State: www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/vot e/VoterRegFormEnglish.pdf

What’s the difference between an “active” voter and an “inactive” voter? As mentioned above, a voter is considered active if they’ve voted in the most recent elections or updated their address or other registration information. A voter is considered inactive if their county clerk receives returned mail to them marked “undeliverable.” Under federal law, clerks must wait two general election cycles before removing inactive voters from the database. Again, you may check GoVoteColorado (www.govotecolorado.gov) to see if your registration is active and

update your information if it isn’t. How long do I have to register? You must register by Oct. 26 to get a ballot in the mail (but you’ll need to return it to a vote center or drop box). But you may register and vote in person at vote centers through 7 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 3. Ballots When will I get my ballot in the mail? The first day ballots may be mailed is Oct. 9, a Friday, and they must be sent out by Oct. 16 at the latest. Check with your county clerk’s office (https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/el ections/Resources/CountyElection Offices.html) for information on when they will send out mail ballots. How do I know if my ballot was received? Voters statewide may sign up to track your ballot online: colorado.ballottrax.net/voter/ You’ll get notifications via email, text message or phone (you may choose) when your ballot is mailed, and when it has been received and accepted. A dozen Colorado counties already offered ballot tracking, so if you’re already signed up, there’s no need to do it again. What if I don’t get my ballot? Check GoVoteColorado to see if your ballot has been mailed: www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Res ources/CountyElectionOffices.html

If it has been mailed and you haven’t received it, contact your county clerk’s office (https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/9x2Tu/3) and ask. Not every county will send ballots out the first day possible.

RE-ELECT TONY EXUM FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE

Protecting workers and families during the COVID crisis by providing over $19 million in rent and mortgage assistance.

Join Tony In Building A Stronger Colorado

Expanding education opportunities for Coloradans by securing over $1 billion in new funding for public schools. Defending public lands from the threat of privatization and preventing the toxic contamination of our lakes and rivers.

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Denver Urban Spectrum — www.denverurbanspectrum.com – October 2020

But they need to hear from you if you don’t receive yours. How do I return my ballot? Ballots must arrive at a vote center or county clerk’s office by 7 p.m. Nov. 3.You may mail your ballot back, if there’s enough time for it to arrive.You may also deliver it to drop boxes at your county clerk’s office or other locations in your county. Beginning Oct. 19, you may deliver it to voter centers staffed by election workers. About 75% of Colorado voters return their mail ballots to drop boxes, according to the Secretary of State’s office. Are drop boxes safe from tampering? Yes, according to the Secretary of State’s Office. They are under 24-hour video surveillance and are emptied every day by a team of bipartisan election judges. The sturdy, metal boxes are bolted to the ground. If I send my ballot back by mail, will it get there? The Secretary of State recommends delivering ballots in person in the final eight days before the election. If you mail them before that, they should arrive in time. I don’t want to vote by mail. I want to vote in person. Colorado will open about 330 vote centers beginning Oct. 19.You may vote there in person starting then through 7 p.m. Election Day with some limited weekend hours. Editor’s note: This story is powered by COLab, the Colorado News Collaborative. Denver Urban Spectrum joined this historic collaboration with more than 20 other newsrooms across Colorado to better serve the public.

How this Election will Affect the Real Estate Market By Barry Overton

hile 2020 has certainly been one for the record books, real estate has been the industry that has managed to not only survive, but thrive. The market has experienced the effects of a global pandemic that led into record-breaking levels of unemployment, as well as new heights of social unrest in the

U.S. In 2020 we often asked, “Can it get any worse?” And it did. That leaves us with a cautious mindset as we proceed into the election We now embark on one of the most controversial presidential elections in our nation’s history. So, one can only assume that this would yet be another area that would have an effect on the real estate market. Facts show that from the month of October to November, typically home sales will experience a decrease; just due to the time of year. BTIG, a research and analysis company did a study on home sales from 1963 to 2019,

and their report indicated there was a -9.8% decrease in November compared to the month of October. The study further showed that during presidential election years, that decrease goes even further down to -15%. The study advised that potential home buyers are just more cautious when faced with a national election and the uncertainty of that election. This particular election, no matter what side you’re on, has certainly placed people in a position to pause, because of the uncertainty. Another study conducted by Meyers Research in Zonda, Ali Wolf, Chief Economist, agrees that those purchases are just delayed until after the election. The fact that the market slows down during the election has been a part of real estate history. So this year is really no different other than it being more contentious than past elections.

But the very thing that has kept the real estate market thriving through a pandemic, record level of unemployment, and civil unrest has been the low interest rates. And as long as we continue to experience these low interest rates and the possibility of them getting even lower, we will continue to experience more home sales. So what this means for the savvy buyer is opportunity. Lower interest rates will often provide the buyer the ability to purchase “more” house and keep an affordable mortgage payment. Whether its owner occupied or an investment opportunity, this is a great time to make a move in real estate. . Editor’s note: Barry Overton is a licensed Real Estate Agent with New Era Group at Your Castle Real Estate. He has been an agent since 2001, and started investing in real estate in 1996. For more information, email barrysellsdenver@ msn.com.

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Before Kamala Harris became Biden’s running mate, Shirley Chisholm and other Black women aimed for the White House By Sharon Austin Professor of Political Science, University of Florida

Kamala Harris, a U.S. senator from California, endorsed Joe Biden for president in March. Now she is his vice presidential nominee.

U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris, the American daughter of Jamaican and Indian immigrants, is Joe Biden’s choice for vice president. If Biden wins in November, Harris would break three centuries-old barriers to become the nation’s first female vice president, first Black vice president and first Black female vice president. Geraldine Ferraro was the first female vice-presidential candidate on a major party ticket, in 1984. In 2008, Alaska’s then-governor Sarah Palin was Republican John McCain’s running mate. Before Harris was picked as Biden’s running mate, she was his competitor for the

Democratic presidential nomination. She is one of many Black American women who have aimed for the highest office in the land despite great odds. Biden, himself a former vice president, understands the significance of the role.

Hands that once picked cotton African Americans have endured many hurdles to political power in the United States, among them slavery, Jim Crow and disenfranchisement. Black women, in particular, have hit barrier upon barrier. Women didn’t gain the right to vote in the U.S. until 1920, and even then Black people – women among them – still couldn’t vote in most of the

A better future for you. PAID FOR BY ELECT LISA NEAL-GRAVES. REGISTERED AGENT: LISA NEAL-GRAVES.

South. In the 1960s, Black women helped organize the civil rights movement but were kept out of leadership positions. As a political science professor, I address issues like these in my government and minority politics classes. But I also teach my students that Black women have a history of political ambition and achievement. As the Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. said in 1984 about the progress Black voters made last century, “Hands that once picked cotton will now pick a president.” Today, Black female mayors lead several of the United States’ biggest cities, including Atlanta, Chicago and San Francisco. Black women are police chiefs, gubernatorial candidates, and, in growing numbers, congresswomen. Now, Black women, who once had no chance of even voting for president – much less being president – will see one of their own a step away from the Oval Office. Biden allies have reportedly suggested that he would only serve one term if elected because of his age – Biden would be 78 on Inauguration Day – but his campaign officially denies that possibility. Either way, his vice president would be in a powerful position for the 2024 campaign. Harris is also of Indian descent, making her place on the ticket a meaningful first for two communities of color.

‘Unsuitable’ for the job? Kamala Harris is a registered Democrat who served as California’s attorney general and later one of the state’s U.S. senators. But, historically, most Black female presidential candidates have run as independents. In 1968, 38-year-old Charlene Mitchell of Ohio became the

Denver Urban Spectrum — www.denverurbanspectrum.com – October 2020

first Black woman to run for president, as a communist. Like many other African Americans born in the 1930s, Mitchell joined the Communist Party because of its emphasis on racial and gender equality. Black female communists fought Jim Crow, lynchings and unfair labor practices for men and women of all races. Mitchell’s presidential campaign, which focused on civil rights and poverty, was probably doomed from the start. In 1968, many states didn’t allow communists on the ballot. Media outlets from the Boston Globe to the Chicago Tribune also discussed Mitchell’s “unsuitability” as a candidate because she was both Black and female. Mitchell received just 1,075 votes. Other independent Black female presidential candidates include community organizer Margaret Wright, who ran on the People’s Party ticket in 1976; Isabell Masters, a teacher who created her own third party, called Looking Back and ran in 1984, 1992 and 2004; and teacher Monica Moorehead of the Workers World Party ticket, who ran in 1996, 2000 and 2016. In 2008, the year Barack Obama was elected president, Cynthia McKinney, a former U.S. representative from Georgia, was a nominee of the Green Party. And in 2012, Peta Lindsay ran to unseat President Obama from the left, on the Party for Socialism and Liberation ticket. Only one Black woman has ever pursued the Republican nomination: Angel Joy Charvis, a religious conservative from Florida, who wanted to use her 1999 candidacy to “to recruit a new breed of Republican.”

Unbought and unbossed These Black female presidential candidates were little known. But as the first Black female member of Congress, Shirley Chisholm had years of experience in public office and a

national reputation when she became the first Black American and the first woman to seek the Democratic presidential nomination in 1972. Chisholm’s campaign slogan: “Unbought and Unbossed.”

She became the target of vehement sexism. One New York Times article from June 1972 described her appearance as, “[Not] beautiful. Her face is bony and angular, her nose wide and flat, her eyes small

Shirley Chisholm announces her entry for the Democratic nomination. Don Hogan Charles/New York Times Co. via Getty Images

Chisholm, who mostly paid for her campaign on her credit card, focused on civil rights and poverty.

almost to beadiness, her neck and limbs scrawny. Her protruding teeth probably account in part for her noticeable lisp.”

Chisholm received little support from either Black or female voters and won not a single primary. The Black women who followed in Chisholm’s footsteps from Congress to the Democratic presidential primary, including Illinois Sen. Carol Moseley Braun and Harris herself, have seen little more success. Harris was among the first 2020 Democratic primary candidates to drop out, in December 2019. Challenges for Black women Why did these candidacies and those of other Black women who aimed for high office fail? In most cases, my research finds, America’s Black female presidential candidates haven’t made the ballot. Those who did had trouble raising funds. And because their candidacies weren’t taken seriously by the media, they had trouble getting their messages heard. Historically Black female pres-

idential candidates have received no real support from any segment of American voters, including African Americans and women. Generally, people – even those who might have been heartened by the idea that someone who looked like them could aspire to the White House – thought they couldn’t win. As a vice president for two terms who had a major role in governing under Barack Obama, Joe Biden knows what the office entails. He has now selected a woman who he believes can not only help him win the election but also to govern if he is elected. It is a watershed moment for African Americans, Asian Americans and women who’ve so long been excluded from so many aspects of politics. . Editor’s note: This story has been updated to clarify that it is not an exhaustive list of all Black women who have ever run for president or vice president.

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Soul 2 Soul Sisters’ Let My People Vote (LMPV) program is a Black, bold, collaborative electoral justice program with New Era Colorado. LMPV is a Black Womxn-led, non-partisan, voter engagement program that increases 1) the awareness of political issues that impact Black people 2) Black voter registration 3) Black GOTV and 4) Black voter protection as we work to enfranchise all voting-age Black people and cultivate robust and sustained Black political participation.

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Virtual Crisis Counseling Program Are you struggling with the pressures caused by COVID-19? We have people and resources to help you. Our Virtual Crisis Counseling Program is designed to support individuals in the following ways: • Provide emotional support. • Help you better understand your situation and reactions. • Help you develop coping strategies. • Connect you with helpful resources. Counseling will be provided remotely via phone or video conferencing. All services are offered FREE of charge. Contact us today to meet with a counselor:

connect@caahealth.org (720) 923-7250 The Virtual Crisis Counseling Program is a part of the Colorado Spirit Crisis Counseling Program funded by the Federal Emergency Management Administration and administered by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

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Generations Y and Z Voice Their Opinions

What’s At Stake for Future Generations? Youth Vote in the U.S. According to Wikipedia, the youth vote in the United States is the cohort of 18–24 year-olds as a voting demographic. Many policy areas specifically affect the youth of the United States, such as education and the juvenile justice system. The general trend in voter turnout for American elections has been decreasing for all age groups, but young people's participation has taken the biggest nosedive. Young people have the lowest turnout. As people age, their voting activity increases to a peak at the age of 50 and then falls again. Ever since 18 year olds were given the right to vote in 1972, youth have been underrepresented at the polls. In 1976, one of the first elections in which 18 year olds were able to vote, 18 to 24 year olds made up 18% of all eligible voters in America, but only 13% actually voted – an underrepresentation of onethird. In the next election in 1978, youth were underrepresented by 50%. Wikipedia notes that "Seven out of 10 young people…did not vote in the 1996 Presidential election… 20% below the general turnout." In 1998, out of the 13% of eligible youth voters in America, only 5% voted. During the competitive Presidential race of 2000, 36% of youth turned out to vote, and in 2004, the "banner year in the history of youth voting," 47% of the American youth voted. In the 2008 U.S. Presidential election, the number of youth voters tripled and even quadrupled in some states, compared to the 2004 elections. In 2008,

Barack Obama spoke about the contributions of young people to his election campaign outside of voter turnout. On November 9, 2016, CIRCLE (the Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement) estimated that 23.7 million young voters participated in the 2016 Presidential election, a 50% voter turnout of citizens aged 18 to 29 in the United States. Young voters supported Hillary Clinton over Donald Trump by 55% to 37%. They estimated that 13 million youth voted for Secretary Clinton and almost nine million youth voted for Donald Trump. Among young people of color, Clinton won by even more decisive margins. An additional two million young people either voted for thirdparty candidates or chose not to vote for any of the Presidential candidates on the ballot. Nationally, young voters aged 18 to 29 cast 19% of all votes in the 2016 presidential election, which is the same as the youth share of voters in 2012. For this very special political issue of Denver Urban Spectrum, we reached out to several diverse, young community voices for their opinions on the upcoming U.S. Presidential election. Here is what they want to share with their generation (and younger) about the importance of voting, why to vote, why this election might have a greater impact than past elections, why they are supporting Joe Biden and Kamala Harris for President and Vice President, and why others should support them as well.

Jice Johnson

CVO, Black Business Initiative

Voting is a form of exercising agency over ourselves and our communities, as well as participating in the process of governance. Don’t ever let anyone tell you that your vote doesn’t count. Also, don’t ever let anyone convince you to give your vote freely without accountability. Accountability starts before the vote is cast. Your vote is powerful. It is leverage. It is valuable. And it is most effective when we are knowledgeable and strategic. Politics is a group sport. We have to play together to win. I think this election can have a greater impact because the nation is extremely polarized. However, I also believe that no matter the outcome, our community has not positioned itself to gain strong economic footing. I believe unrest will continue and this disruption to the status quo may be what our people need to lull us from a place of complacency and keep us consistently pushing towards liberation.

Anthony E. Graves

GRAVES CIVIC SOLUTIONS, Principal

When I think about my generation and the next generation of young voters who are poised to lead our country, it makes me deeply optimistic. I have been inspired by the advocacy and

Denver Urban Spectrum — www.denverurbanspectrum.com – October 2020

activism of the millions of young people who have flooded the streets to decry racial injustice and reinvigorate a national dialogue about civil rights. They are leading a movement that will define this generation. The New York Times recently reported between 15 to 26 million people protested the death of George Floyd, potentially making it the largest social movement in American history. Beneath this generation’s current social activism, there is also a strong sense of independence, nonconforming thought, and an interest in creating rules of their own that I find refreshing. Young people are also standing up for environmental stewardship, gender equity, school safety, economic empowerment, and other important issues that will improve our quality of life. As I watch these historic actions by young leaders unfold across the country, I want them to know that they are powerful and that if they want to fully realize their vision for a brighter future – they must VOTE. To crystallize their influence and actualize policies that give their ideas life, they must register to vote and cast their ballots for the candidates and issues that model the values and actions they want in practice. In this election cycle, I believe that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are the leaders that can give voice to the values on display by the current generation. I encourage young leaders, and all generations, to join me in supporting BidenHarris for President and Vice President of the United States.

Simone D. Ross Founder & CEO

BIPOC (Black Indigenous and People Of Color) communities have been on the periphery for far too long. We’re elevating our voices unapologetically. Our voices are resonating with impassioned demand, and it seems that we’ve finally caught the attention of the world. We have to maintain the momentum, head to the polls in droves to further demand that our voices be heard, and then be relentless in taking the most important next step. This next phase is demanding that those we’ve elected are fulfilling their promises. It’s about creating bold callout culture, rejecting exploitation, and building consensus in our community about the issues our elected officials can lead versus the issues we can tackle in community pods. This election is a make or combust situation. We’ve already reached the breaking point in this nation; another four years of Donald Trump and Trump’s Republican Party will be the demolition of America. Albeit a norm we’ve grown far too accustomed to, racism is not normal, is not OK, and is not the American way. THIS election is about rejecting racism and supremacy, and standing in power.

Jason McBride

Founder, McBride Impact

This is a hugely important election for our community! The younger generation must understand the importance of using their voices! YOUR FUTURE DEPENDS ON IT! This election will define what America will look like for the next generation

of young Black and Brown people. We have the chance to hold America to her promise to Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness for ALL of her citizens. During these polarizing and pivotal times in this country, we have the responsibility to use our voices for change. I’m supporting the Biden-Harris ticket because we cannot afford four more years of the divisive, racist words and actions of the current administration. The choice is simple: opportunity and inclusion versus oppression and division!

Kennedy Massey

Howard University Freshman

This election is one of the most important ones thus far, not because our civic duties or responsibilities have changed, but because the essence of American values hangs in the balance. For the sake of humanity, those who’re truly educated know that no longer can you use party affiliation as a justification to why you choose one candidate over another. At the end of the day, the job of the U.S. President is to represent all American people, yet currently, we have a President in office who continuously pits the Democratic and Republican Party against one another. This will be my first time voting in the Presidential election and I’m wholeheartedly voting for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. I am begging you to vote for what’s right. At this point in time we have multiple examples as to what’s wrong. Vote as though you aren’t upper class, as though you aren’t Caucasian. Vote as though you aren’t a male, as though you aren’t heterosexual. Vote as though others’ lives depend on it, because they do. To allow one’s privileges to overshadow the greater good of

the American people is to continue to be blissfully ignorant in the face of repeated attestation. To vote is to make your voice heard, to provide a change, and to preserve the decency and pride of this country. Do not find yourself on the other side of right, in the face of adversity. As American people of our different shades and identities, in our beauty, we must rise to the occasion, if not for ourselves, then for the greater good of humanity.

Sam Elfay

Community Youth Organizer, Senate Employee

I encourage my peers more than ever to vote now because our future depends on it – a better today leads to a better tomorrow! So, with 78 million young people in America, we can shift the true meaning of democracy. This election will have greater importance than ever to America’s future. The current Presidential administration has put the United States on the edge and increased social injustice in America. This election will show what side of history this administration will be on. Anyone, from Bernie Sanders to Joe Biden, would be more of a leader than Trump. Don’t get me wrong – you have one bucket of crap and another bucket but only half of crap. I would eat the bucket with half of crap over the bucket with full crap any day. I am supporting Biden and Harris because I believe in democracy. I believe the power is with the people. As a young Black man, I had the blessing to experience the first Black President and hopefully will see the first Black female Vice President candidate of the United States, Kamala Harris, elected this year.

Denver Urban Spectrum — www.denverurbanspectrum.com – October 2020

LaKeshia Hodge

Struggle of Love Foundation

I feel as if presidency in a democratic society is nonessential. I would tell my peers and future generations that we should unite within our own communities, create a culture and environment- based education system and govern ourselves. As citizens of a society undergoing generational systematic inequity and racism, only we know what is best for us. Americans need to learn to depend on each other rather than a public figure to make changes. The 2020 election is the most vital, yet deceptive election thus far. It seems as though this 20/20 vision is blinding. We have a lot to consider while voting, including manipulation. It is hard to say whether the votes will genuinely be impactful or just another government hoax. I choose to support the people and partners of the community to do what is right. I don’t believe in the world of politics; it is a structured corporation that is designed to achieve one desired outcome. I seek knowledge from a higher power beyond this political realm and ultimately that is who will have the final say. Everything going on today, especially our election has significance and will all unfold a greater plan and purpose.

Dr. Ryan Ross Educator

We live in America. Voting is our right and not a privilege. Only through exercising our right can we genuinely utilize our voice. Since 1876 we have been silenced, oppressed, suppressed at the polls, and denied funda-

mental human rights. We must turn out to change racist policies, practices, procedures, people, and documents that continue to serve as barriers to Blacks and African Americans thriving. It is a new day, as the traditionally left out, outnumbered, and marginalized are emerging as a minority. Our collective participation will deliver overdue accountability, as well as the acknowledgment of America’s sins against people of color. This election is indeed the most important vote of our lifetime because it is about more than policy and our country’s strategic plan. This election is about the very moral fabric and DNA of the country. It is about an attack on excellence, decency, division, and leadership. It is about gaining ground and not losing ground. It is about Black Lives Mattering, real conversations about race, justice, and equity. If we don’t show up, we run the risk of defaulting to the error of Jim Crow or worse. I am voting for Biden/Harris; I invite you to join me. They believe in America and democracy, not merely power, privilege, and themselves. It is time we exercise our right thoroughly. We are our superheroes, and voting is our power. Don’t meet me at the polls; beat me to them!

Quincy “Rev. Q” Shannon Community Activist

Voting is such an important right and I know this to be true because I continue to see different ways that certain groups and people try to prevent others from exercising it. Voter suppression did not end with the Voting Rights Act, and sadly, several people continue to attempt to stop others from voting. Choosing to opt out of vot-

ing just insures those who do vote have a greater chance of getting the changes they want. To simply say someone died for my right to vote downplays all of the effort put into continuing to ensure that our votes are counted when we go to the polls. Voting is not a past reality that we gleam the benefits from, but rather a constant fight that we must do our part to engage in and protect. Within a democracy, ideally, voting is the great equalizer that gives all voices the ability to make change. I vote because I remember an election when I was in college in which everyone just assumed what we wanted was going to happen. Few of us voted because we all assumed everyone else’s vote would get what we wanted. We lost the election by two votes and could not blame anyone but ourselves for the fact others were able to push through something that seemed impossible. After that, I vowed to always exercise my right to insure without a doubt that I do my part to attempt to usher in the future I want.

Danielle Shoots

Founder and CEO, The Daily Boss Up; Vice President and CFO, The Colorado Trust

The current Presidential administration is a symptom of a disease. The disease we need to cure in this country is inequity. This president did not create our illness, but he has capitalized on it and exposed it in a way no other has. He is unapologetically holding up the systems of racial, social, and economic injustice that helped him build wealth and power without a single skillset to do so. This vote is different in so many ways because we are not voting along party lines; we are voting along moral lines. We are not voting Republican or Democrat;

we are voting for good vs. evil. We are not voting for a President. We are voting for the Supreme Court Justices that will either uphold the human rights our ancestors fought for or reverse them. We are deciding whether women will own the rights to their bodies. We are deciding if the LGBTQ community will be able to wed the ones they love and start families. All of us and all of you are deciding if my Black son who just started his freshmen year at one of the most difficult engineering schools in the country has to continue to fear that he will be criminalized, feared or even gunned down by the ones that are meant to serve and protect him. It is that simple to me and I am hoping every day that the good people of this country see it the same way.

Samir Paige

Event Chair, 100 Men Who Cook

It’s almost cliché to say this is the most important election of our generation since every election has significance. However, I believe this election has a greater impact because overt and emboldened racism is on the ballot. I’m a registered independent, fiscal conservative with liberal values. While there is disagreement on how to make this country a better place, this election is as much about humanity and decency, as it is about anything else. We are bombarded with lies from leadership. Our community is being ignored, all while Black and Brown people are being murdered by each other, police, and white America, when considered a threat. The aforementioned issues are not the fault of this Presidential administration, but it has not attempted to provide any solutions and I believe has thus worsened fears and

Denver Urban Spectrum — www.denverurbanspectrum.com – October 2020

emboldened racism and hatred. I am supporting the BidenHarris ticket because I believe they can lead us out of the pandemic with honesty; implement police reform; and be empathetic to issues faced in minority communities. The current administration has not been upfront and truthful with American citizens.

Cecile Perrin

Sweetz Photography

We all want change in this country but the only way to achieve this is by voting. Voting not only affects us today, but it affects our children, our children’s children, and so on. Don’t take the right to vote lightly!!! In my opinion, this election has a greater impact than past elections because during this last Presidential term, our country has been negatively impacted by those currently in office. There has been a huge racial divide, worse than we’ve ever seen. Also, so many fatalities could have been prevented if better decisions were made regarding COVID-19. There has been so much corruption and hate in recent years, that it is time for leaders who are genuine, knowledgeable, and can lead with dignity and truth. Our country has hit rock bottom and it’s only up from here. Biden and Harris have the potential to catapult us to higher levels.

DJ KTone

Still Livin Ent, LLC, C&C Premier PR & Entertainment Firm

I want my generation and younger to know that voting, or the lack thereof, could directly affect them in the present time as

well as the future. It impacts healthcare, education, our future kid’s education, and a multitude of other issues that will affect lives in the years to come. And I encourage you to use your voice by voting, which is your right and responsibility. I believe the current state of the country and the economy clearly shows that change is needed. This is a make-or-break election. I think the alternative option (of not voting for Biden and Harris) is not conducive to the social and economic well-being of the country in general, and people of color in particular. As far as telling people who to vote for, I just encourage them to do their research and vote from the heart.

Kia Milan

Visual Communications, Awards & Talent Relations at Netflix

I implore everyone to examine the state of our world and make a decision to cast their vote this election and every election hereafter. I come from a long lineage of remarkable women, women who made it their mission to instill the importance of voting in their children and great-grandchildren. When I drop off my ballot this election, I know I am standing on their shoulders and the shoulders of the men and women who came before them and legally could not vote. I recognize the frustration with the current state of our world, but I refuse to believe my vote, coupled with my voice and actionoriented steps, are not a part of the change I desperately want to see in our country. We are up against unprecedented times and a man in the President’s office who simply is not concerned about our best interests. His daily vitriolic actions are not only disturbing but dangerous and deadly. Our votes matter this election in a way

that should have everyone on their feet, ready to make their voices heard! This election will absolutely have a greater impact than past elections because our future is at stake. A difference of opinion on policy is one thing, but we’ve far surpassed that. Racism has always been alive and well; however, this Presidential administration has emboldened people to blatantly spew hate. We have COVID-19, climate change, immigration, our economy, healthcare and the education and safety of our children and elderly to concern ourselves with. We cannot afford to turn a blind eye this election. I recently read Senator Kamala Harris’ book, The Truth We Hold. She concludes the book by writing, “Years from now, our children and our grandchildren will look up and lock eyes with us. They will ask us where we were when the stakes were so high. They will ask us what it was like. I don’t want us to just tell them how we felt. I want us to tell them what we did.” This election, exercising our right to vote is a means of protest against the unbearable last four years. I have a 5-year-old son with whom I’ve already had the dreadful “talk” so many parents of Black boys have found themselves compelled to have. A conversation I know I will continue having with my son as he gets older. Do I think police brutality and racism will change overnight? Well no, but I am certain the

V O T E

current administration’s ideology on Black lives will not support the vision I see for our children. Supporting law enforcement using excessive force and outright murder could not be further from that vision. And so I will vote, I will vote early, and I will continue making phone calls, sending emails, and volunteering my time to enact the change we not only want, but the change we deserve. We are the descendants of giants, giants that overcame insurmountable odds. Sitting at home and choosing not to vote would completely disregard the blood they shed to give us rights today.

Tay Anderson

DPS School Board Member

We need to get out and vote because our ancestors fought for us to do so, but more importantly we must vote for our future. This election is the most important election of our lives, because change is on the ballot, good schools are on the ballot, police reform is on the ballot, and the environment is on the ballot. During this election, we must vote for the next generation after us. I’m supporting Democrats this election because we are the party of progress. We must win back the Senate, keep the House, and win the White House to take back our courts. We also must vote from the bottom of the ballot up!

Please...

Denver Urban Spectrum — www.denverurbanspectrum.com – October 2020

Theo Wilson

Author, Speaker, Activist

Dear younger generation, I used to think voting was totally useless. My first election was literally when Jeb Bush stole the election for his brother, George Bush, while Jeb was governor of Florida...and I lived in the capital of Florida. So of course, I thought my vote didn’t count. I thought the candidate was preselected and that our votes were just ceremonial. I was wrong. Even if it’s kind of rigged, enough votes can actually overturn the preselected candidate if you overwhelm the voting booths. If this wasn’t true, Trump wouldn’t have overcome the establishment GOP candidates like Jeb Bush, Mark Rubio, and Ted Cruz. He did it because he energized his base so much, the vote couldn’t be rigged. This election is the most important in my life, and sadly, not for positive reasons – not like Obama. Obama’s election as the first Black president was an important achievement. Now, Trump literally is a threat to the stability of the country. Two hundred thousand dead people from COVID-19 are a testament to that. Being aided by the Russians is a testament to that. Encouraging white nationalist terrorism is a testament to that. Obstructing the mail, not testifying before congress, and tweeting from the toilet at 5 a.m. all threaten to pull the country into an irreversible institutional decline. This, and only this reason, is why I’m voting for Biden and Kamala. They’ll present a new set of problems, but not these ones. We can do better, and better’s going to have to cut it for now. Vote! It actually counts. .

HATS OFF TO...

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Ruth Bader Ginsburg helped shape the modern era of women’s rights – even before she went on the Supreme Court By Jonathan Entin Professor Emeritus of Law and Adjunct Professor of Political Science, Case Western Reserve University

ustice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died on Friday, September 18 the Supreme Court announced. Chief Justice John Roberts said in a statement that “Our nation has lost a jurist of historic stature.” Even before her appointment, she had reshaped American law. When he nominated Ginsburg to the Supreme Court, President Bill Clinton compared her legal work on behalf of women to the epochal work of Thurgood Marshall on behalf of African-Americans. The comparison was entirely appropriate: As Marshall oversaw the legal strategy that culminated in Brown v. Board of Education, the 1954 case that outlawed segregated schools, Ginsburg coordinated a similar effort against sex discrimination. Decades before she joined the court, Ginsburg’s work as an attorney in the 1970s fundamentally changed the Supreme Court’s approach to women’s rights, and the modern skepti-

cism about sex-based policies stems in no small way from her lawyering. Ginsburg’s work helped to change the way we all think about women – and men, for that matter. I’m a legal scholar who studies social reform movements and I served as a law clerk to Ginsburg when she was an appeals court judge. In my opinion – as remarkable as Marshall’s work on behalf of African-Americans was – in some ways Ginsburg faced more daunting prospects when she started. Thurgood Marshall, in 1955, when he was the chief counsel for the NAACP. AP/Marty Lederhandler

woman are to fulfil the noble and benign offices of wife and mother. This is the law of the Creator.” And in 1908, the court upheld an Oregon law that limited the number of hours that women – but not men – could work. The opinion relied heavily on a famous brief submitted by Louis Brandeis to support the notion that women needed protection to avoid harming their reproductive function. As late as 1961, the court upheld a Florida law that for all practical purposes kept women from serving on juries because they were “the center of the home and family life” and therefore need not incur the burden of jury service.

Challenging paternalistic notions Ginsburg followed Marshall’s approach to promote women’s rights – despite some important differences between

segregation and gender discrimination. Segregation rested on the racist notion that Black people were less than fully human and deserved to be treated like animals. Gender discrimination reflected paternalistic notions of female frailty. Those notions placed women on a pedestal – but also denied them opportunities. Either way, though, Black Americans and women got the short end of the stick. Ginsburg started with a seemingly inconsequential case. Reed v. Reed challenged an Idaho law requiring probate courts to appoint men to administer estates, even if there were a qualified woman who could perform that task. Sally and Cecil Reed, the long-divorced parents of a teenage son who committed suicide while in his father’s custody, both applied to administer the boy’s tiny estate. Continued on page 22

Starting at zero When Marshall began challenging segregation in the 1930s, the Supreme Court had rejected some forms of racial discrimination even though it had upheld segregation. When Ginsburg started her work in the 1960s, the Supreme Court had never invalidated any type of sex-based rule. Worse, it had rejected every challenge to laws that treated women worse than men. For instance, in 1873, the court allowed Illinois authorities to ban Myra Bradwell from becoming a lawyer because she was a woman. Justice Joseph P. Bradley, widely viewed as a progressive, wrote that women were too fragile to be lawyers: “The paramount destiny and mission of

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Denver Urban Spectrum — www.denverurbanspectrum.com – October 2020

Ruth Bader Ginsburg Continued from page 21 The probate judge appointed the father as required by state law. Sally Reed appealed the case all the way to the Supreme Court. Ginsburg did not argue the case, but wrote the brief that persuaded a unanimous court in 1971 to invalidate the state’s preference for males. As the court’s decision stated, that preference was “the very kind of arbitrary legislative choice forbidden by the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.” Two years later, Ginsburg won in her first appearance before the Supreme Court. She appeared on behalf of Air Force Lt. Sharron Frontiero. Frontiero was required by federal law to prove that her husband, Joseph, was dependent on her for at least half his economic support in order to qualify for housing, medical and dental benefits.

If Joseph Frontiero had been the soldier, the couple would have automatically qualified for those benefits. Ginsburg argued that sex-based classifications such as the one Sharron Frontiero challenged should be treated the same as the nowdiscredited race-based policies. By an 8–1 vote, the court in Frontiero v. Richardson agreed that this sex-based rule was unconstitutional. But the justices could not agree on the legal test to use for evaluating the constitutionality of sexbased policies. Ginsburg at the 2015 State of the Union address.

Strategy: Represent men In 1974, Ginsburg suffered her only loss in the Supreme Court, in a case that she entered at the last minute. Mel Kahn, a Florida widower, asked for the property tax exemption that state law allowed only to widows. The Florida courts ruled against him. Ginsburg, working with the national ACLU, stepped in after the local affiliate brought the case to the Supreme Court. But a closely divided court upheld the exemption as compensation for women who had suffered economic discrimination over the years. Despite the unfavorable result, the Kahn case showed an important aspect of Ginsburg’s approach: her willingness to work on behalf of men challenging gender discrimination. She reasoned that rigid attitudes about sex roles could harm everyone and that the allmale Supreme Court might more easily get the point in cases involving male plaintiffs. She turned out to be correct, just not in the Kahn case. Ginsburg represented widower Stephen Wiesenfeld in challenging a Social Security Act provision that provided parental benefits only to widows with minor children. Wiesenfeld’s wife had died in childbirth, so he was denied benefits even though he faced all of the challenges of single

Reuters/Joshua Roberts

parenthood that a mother would have faced. The Supreme Court gave Wiesenfeld and Ginsburg a win in 1975, unanimously ruling that sex-based distinction unconstitutional. And two years later, Ginsburg successfully represented Leon Goldfarb in his challenge to another sex-based provision of the Social Security Act: Widows automatically received survivor’s benefits on the death of their husbands. But widowers could receive such benefits only if the men could prove that they were financially dependent on their wives’ earnings. Ginsburg also wrote an influential brief in Craig v. Boren, the 1976 case that established the current standard for evaluating the constitutionality of sex-based laws. Like Wiesenfeld and Goldfarb, the challengers in the Craig case were men. Their claim seemed trivial: They objected to an Oklahoma law that allowed women to buy low-alcohol beer at age 18 but required men to be 21 to buy the same product. But this deceptively simple case illustrated the vices of sex stereotypes: Aggressive men (and boys) drink and drive, women (and girls) are demure

Denver Urban Spectrum — www.denverurbanspectrum.com – October 2020

passengers. And those stereotypes affected everyone’s behavior, including the enforcement decisions of police officers. Under the standard delineated by the justices in the Boren case, such a law can be justified only if it is substantially related to an important governmental interest. Among the few laws that satisfied this test was a California law that punished sex with an underage female but not with an underage male as a way to reduce the risk of teen pregnancy. These are only some of the Supreme Court cases in which Ginsburg played a prominent part as a lawyer. She handled many lower-court cases as well. She had plenty of help along the way, but everyone recognized her as the key strategist. In the century before Ginsburg won the Reed case, the Supreme Court never met a gender classification that it didn’t like. Since then, sex-based policies usually have been struck down. I believe President Clinton was absolutely right in comparing Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s efforts to those of Thurgood Marshall, and in appointing her to the Supreme Court. .

At this unique moment in history, we need leaders like STEVE HOUSE! Steve House has shown he’s ready to take on our toughest problems. Now he’s running for Congress and has a plan to help lead our community to decency, dignity and equality. Steve House understands the Black Experience in America. Steve House understands the racial and economic injustices that Black people have struggled with in a white American Society. Steve House believes that “Black Lives DO Matter.” He wants to help correct and bring Justice to our People. In Congress, Steve House will proudly say that Black Lives Matter, and will work to dismantle structural and systemic racism through law-making and advocacy.

Steve House is a Voice for Colorado in Washington, DC.

In congress, Steve House will: • Address quality, affordable healthcare for all American citizens • Fight for education reform and better schools for our children • Fight to reform our criminal justice system and to hold police accountable for their actions. • Expand capital to minority businesses hit the hardest by COVID-19 • Address the issues of economic disparities faced by African-Americans For more information or to join our fight,

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Proposition EE Targets Low-andMiddle-Income Families Op-Ed by Wellington E. Webb

This year has been challenging for most everyone in Colorado. People have been impacted financially, emotionally, mentally, and the COVID-19 pandemic is not near its end. As a former Denver Mayor, I’ve seen the impact of what an economic downturn can do to our city and our people. And, as much as we are all ready for COVID-19 to be a piece of history, we are still facing it as we go into the election cycle and 2021.

One of the challenges that we as a city and state continue to face are the impacts that taxes have on low-income communities. One of the many tax hikes on the ballot in November will be Proposition EE. Proposition EE is a $294 million tax hike on Coloradans with a promise that the funds raised will go toward preschool in the state; however, that’s simply not guaranteed. Proposition EE targets lowand-middle-income families,

Denver Urban Spectrum — www.denverurbanspectrum.com – October 2020

who are struggling to make ends meet amid COVID-19 while allowing Big Tobacco companies dominate the nicotine and tobacco industry in our state. The result of a backroom deal with Big Tobacco, Proposition EE proposes doubling the price of discount cigarettes through an anti-competitive, anti-consumer, state minimum cigarette price that is unlike any other pricing approach used in the United States. Specifically, Proposition EE will raise the price of discount cigarettes from around $4 a pack to $7 a pack, all but eliminating choice for value conscious consumers. Discount cigarettes are primarily purchased and consumed by low-income adult smokers, and the rise in cost, of up to $1,200 a year, would cause those individuals to pay a greater proportion of their income than moderate or high-income individuals. Moreover, Proposition EE would give the Legislature a blank check to spend on unidentified projects. The ballot claims the tax revenues will go to preschool education; however, there is nothing in Proposition EE that states the Legislature is required to spend funds collected from this tax increase on preschool. All funds collected from Proposition EE will go to the state’s General Fund and preschool education will not receive funding for at least two-and-a-half years, if ever. As a state and as a society, we agree that education is critical to our success. That’s why we shouldn’t put a band-aid on this problem with Proposition EE. As leaders, we must sit down and find a more comprehensive fix to the education funding formula. If the goal of this ballot is to decrease and discourage smoking, then all tax revenues collected from Proposition EE should be used to aid tobacco cessation. However, only a miniscule portion of the reveContinued on page 26

Stop digging a hole for first responders, schools and small businesses: vote ‘yes’ on Amendment B By Wellington Webb and Ken Salazar The Gallagher Amendment is a 40-year old formula that has no business in the state’s Constitution. We are proud to stand with the state’s small business leaders, who say Gallagher poses an enormous threat to Colorado’s small businesses in this post-COVID world. We are proud to stand with firefighters, teachers, law enforcement and rural hospitals, that oppose Gallagher’s crowd-out of essential local services. And we’re proud to stand with leaders from rural Colorado and our urban neighborhoods because Gallagher is a reckless policy that traps lowincome communities in a downward spiral of higher business taxes and declining local services. As voters weigh Amendment B, which would repeal the outdated Gallagher amendment from our state constitution, they need only remember the “rule of holes”: If you find yourself in one, stop digging. Since being placed into our constitution nearly four decades ago, Gallagher’s complicated formula and unintended consequences have put countless Coloradans and Colorado communities in a hole. Its one-sizefits-none approach is increasingly unfair to rural communities, to low-income areas and to our schools, small businesses and first responders - particularly given the recession and pandemic. To understand Gallagher, it helps to think of a scale. When it was put into the constitution in 1982, that scale was reasonably balanced.

Gallagher mandated that residential properties make up 45 percent of state property-tax collections, and that commercial

businesses — including small businesses, agricultural properties and commercial space — pay 55 percent. At the time, residential properties made up 53 percent of all the property value in the state, and commercial 47 percent. But fast forward to 2019, when Colorado’s residential properties account nearly 80 percent of the property value in the state and pay 45 percent of the taxes, whereas local businesses, commercial proper-

ties and farmers are paying 55 percent of the property taxes when they have just 20 percent of the value. The scale is now seriously out of balance. Small local businesses currently pay a tax rate (29 percent) that is four times higher than the residential rate (7.15 percent), and that imbalance is projected to be five times higher next year. The trouble with locking financial formulas into the Continued on page 26

Vote Yes on Amendment b A WIN-WIN FOR OUR COMMUNITIES

Saves small businesses from extra taxes

Preserves funding for first responders and schools

Freezes property tax rates for homeowners

Amendment B repeals the Gallagher Amendment Protect the budgets of our schools, firefighters and frontline health providers from drastic cuts and ensure sure that wealthy neighborhoods pay their fair share.

Amendment B is endorsed by: Organizations AFL-CIO Colorado Association of School Boards Colorado Association of School Executives Colorado Consumer Health Initiative Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce

Elected Officials Denver Public Schools LUINA Local 720 New Era Colorado SEIU 105 Women’s Chamber of Commerce

Former US Secretary of the Interior and Former US Senator Ken Salazar Former Denver Mayor Hon. Wellington E. Webb State Sen. President Leroy Gracia

to learn more go to yesonamendmentb.com PAID FOR BY YES ON AMENDMENT B; BERNARD A. BUESCHER, REGISTERED AGENT

Denver Urban Spectrum — www.denverurbanspectrum.com – October 2020

State Sen. Dominic Moreno State Sen. Brittany Petterson State Rep. James Coleman State Rep. Leslie Herod State Rep. Janet Buckner State Sen. Rhonda Fields

Proposition EE Continued from page 24 nue collected from Proposition EE, if passed, will be spent on cessation efforts. Proposition EE is a poorly drafted ballot initiative that would give money to the legislature with no guarantee how the money will be spent. Coloradans deserve to know exactly which programs these tax revenues will fund including a firmer spending timeline to ensure their money is not

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being wasted. Unfortunately, there are no guarantees with Proposition EE and low-andmiddle-income families will be affected most. After suffering continued hardships from the coronavirus pandemic, now is not the time for a $294 million tax increase. Coloradans deserve better.. Editorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s note: Wellington E. Webb, Denverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 42nd mayor and the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first African American mayor, was the only mayor elected by his peers to serve as presidents of the U.S. conference of Mayors, the National Conference of Black Mayors and the National Conference. He also served three terms in the Colorado State Legislature, as regional administrator for the U.S. Department of Health and Human service, executive director of the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies, and as Denverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s auditor. His firm, Webb Group International, has more than 50 years of experience solving problems for city, state and federal governments, and a variety of clients.

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Amendment B Continued from page 25 constitution is that it makes it impossible to adjust them as unintended consequences and negative impacts come to light. So for Colorado, repealing the Gallagher Amendment is the only way to stop digging the hole. Under Gallagher, increases in property values in metro Denver have for years resulted in budget cuts for schools, libraries, fire departments, and first responders in rural and low-income communities where there is not a sizable commercial property tax base. And in economic downturns, when businesses suffer and lose value, Gallagher has the result of lowering residential tax rates to maintain the 45/55 split. So, unless we vote yes on Amendment B, wealthy homeowners across the state (including second- and third-home owners in resort communities) will be getting a break on their property taxes next year, while struggling local businesses like restaurants, day care providers and farmers are further walloped by out of balance property taxes. Opponents of Amendment B are, not surprisingly, trying a sleight of hand. They look at the projected residential rate cuts that we simply cannot afford, and call Amendment B a tax increase. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be fooled.

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Amendment B specifically says residential property tax rates will be frozen at the current level â&#x20AC;&#x201C; which is third-lowest in the country. The only way tax rates can go up is by a vote of the people. To be clear, Amendment B is not the solution to the numerous fiscal challenges Colorado faces, but it stops a bad situation from getting much, much worse. By voting yes on Amendment B, we will free our first responders, hospitals and schools from the financial burden placed on them by Gallagher. We will stop an additional shift in property-tax burden to our local businesses and our farmers and ranchers. Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s stop digging the hole that cuts funding for our schools, our first responders and our local businesses. Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s stop digging a hole that unfairly penalizes areas - largely rural and low-income communities - that donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have significant commercial propertytax bases. Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s get the Gallagher Amendment out of our constitution. Join us in voting â&#x20AC;&#x153;yesâ&#x20AC;? on Amendment B.. Editorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s note: Wellington Webb served as Denver Mayor from 19912003 and is the former president of the National Conference Democratic Mayors, the past president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors and National Conference of Black Mayors. Ken Salazar served in the U.S. Senate from 2005 to 2009 and as Secretary of the Interior from 2009-2013.

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Emmett Till’s Story Receives Feature Film Treatment By Samantha Ofole-Prince

American director

Making transmissions well since 1983.

Chinonye Chukwu is set to helm a feature film based on Emmett Till’s tragic death. An award winning filmmaker and social justice advocate, her most recent movie Clemency about a Death Row inmate snagged several accolades and award nominations. Chukwu’s film will focus on the African-American teenager who was just 14 years old when he was lynched in Mississippi in 1955, after being accused of offending a white woman. His brutal racist attack in August 1955 shocked the nation and provided a catalyst for the emerging civil rights movement.

Denver Urban Spectrum — www.denverurbanspectrum.com – October 2020

The untitled film will be based on the extensive research of documentarian Keith Beauchamp who investigated the kidnapping, torture and murder of Till. His efforts succeeded in getting the United States Department of Justice to reopen the case in 2004 and his research formed the basis for the original screenplay he coauthored with Michael J P Reilly and Chukwu. “I am deeply honored to be telling this story and working with such an incredible producing team,” shares Chukwu, a Nigerian American director who became the first Black woman to receive the Grand Jury prize at the Sundance Film Festival for Clemency. The Till story will be produced by Keith Beauchamp, Barbara Broccoli, Whoopi Goldberg, Thomas K Levine, Michael J P Reilly and Frederick Zollo and is scheduled for production in 2021 coinciding with what would have been Emmett Till’s 80th birthday.

Continued from page 3 there is more to it. Study the core issues, communicate with the political party you prefer and find out if they will address the issues. Make your views known. This is what we should tell the folks, and especially the young ones, who are emphatic for change. They should certainly vote where their interests are at least best addressed, but they should let it be known that they will be watching, they will be responding, they will be making their views publicly known if they are not clear, certain and unambiguous actions for change. Hope springs eternal, so let’s be hopeful, but let’s also keep on saying ‘we shall overcome someday’!

Mike Sawaya Denver, CO

ANTIFA: No Friend To The Black community! Editor: In our opinion, the Black community and Black leaders need to publicly call these groups out for who they are and what they’re doing to our community! they are doing. Regardless of what side of Since the arrival of ANTIFA, I have noticed a few things that need our immediate attention. Over the years, ANTIFA has grown in number and in reach. Today they are on a very aggressive path of destruction that has been tearing through the northwest for years and is now in our own backyard. Recently, they destroyed businesses in downtown Denver, by shattering windows, all in the name of BLM. This destruction took place while ignoring the call from the mother of Elijah McClain, a Black woman, who personally asked them to stop the violence, looting, and rioting. ANTIFA is mostly made up

of young white individuals, who have no respect for or knowledge of the history and basis of Black frustrations. They are only using the frustration of Black people to further their anarchist, socialist agenda. Here in Colorado and around the US, ANTIFA has infiltrated peaceful protests, protest that have a valid rationale, and turned them into riots, looting, and death.

The most recent example of that was the hijacking of the George Floyd and Elijah McClain deaths. While those situations warranted protest and demands for accountability and change, ANTIFA took the opportunity to use those tragedies as the front, while rioting and looting, and costing citizens of Denver millions of dollars in taxpayer funds, all under the BLM flag.

If we as a people begin to examine the evidence before us, there is but one conclusion we can draw, and that conclusion is: ANTIFA is no friend to the Black community! Casper Stockham

Editor’s note: Charles “Casper” Stockham is the GOP candidate for Colorado’s Congressional District 7.

The Coalition Aga inst Global Genocide and the Denver Urban Spectrum presents

Genocide and Slavery Virtual Discussion Series

What If Democracy Fails Live Zoom Presentation – Open to the Public October 8 Dehumanization as an Initial Weapon in the Commission of Genocide November 12 U.S. and its Continued Refusal to Confront its Atrocities December 1 0 Addressing the Psychology of the Bystanders, Perpetrators and Upstanders A l l d i s c u s s i o n s w i l l b e h e l d o n T h u r s d ay s f r o m 7 t o 9 P M . O c t o b e r D i s c u s s i o n S e r i e s S p e a ke r s : Ved P. Nanda Ken Scott "Distinguished professor of Law at the University of Denver and founder of the Ved Nanda Center for International and Comparative Law"

"International war crimes prosecutor and former UN Commissioner on Human Rights in South Sudan"

The Coalition Against Global Genocide is a non-profit organization whose mission is to educate, motivate and empower individuals and communities to oppose Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity. For more information on the discussion series call 303-856-7334 or email Executive Director, Roz Duman at rozduman@aol.com. To register or for more information on the Coalition Against Global Genoicide, visit www.CoAGG.org. Denver Urban Spectrum — www.denverurbanspectrum.com – October 2020

Eye Sore Scrap Removal

Do you have a site for sore eyes that need to be removed?

Eye Sore Scrap Removal

is here to help. Ready to remove those unwanted appliances? For a quote or to schedule a pickup:

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DROP OFF YOUR LEAVES FOR FREE We’ll compost pumpkins too!

WEEKDAY DROP SITES MONDAY – FRIDAY

Get your

FREE 5-pack of 30-gallon paper leaf bags at Denver Ace Hardware Stores today!

OCT. 5 – DEC. 4 | 8 AM TO 2 PM

WEEKEND DROP SITES SATURDAYS & SUNDAYS

OCT. 31 – NOV. 15 | 11 AM TO 3 PM For drop-site locations, visit DenverGov.org/LeafDrop. All participants must comply with COVID-19 State of Colorado Public Health Orders.

PLEASE USE

PAPER BAGS!

Help reduce the amount of leaves going to the landﬁll! All leaves brought to LeafDrop sites will be turned into Denver’s Own EcoGro Compost™.

Limit one per household WHILE SUPPLIES LAST. Rain checks and special orders not valid. For in-store use only. Not valid with any other offers. Available at participating Ace Hardware locations. Other exclusions may apply. See store for details. Offer valid 09/01/2020 – 11/15/2020

For more information, call 311 (720-913-1311) or visit DenverGov.org/LeafDrop. Denver Urban Spectrum — www.denverurbanspectrum.com – October 2020

John Hickenlooper will fight for Coloradoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Black communities in the U.S. Senate.

\ As governor, John expanded healthcare to 500,000 Coloradans, and in the Senate, he will lower costs, protect people with preexisting conditions, and expand access to care. \ Communities of color have been disproportionately hurt by Washingtonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s failed response to COVID-19. John will fight to make sure we build back stronger and more equitably than ever before. \ John believes that Black Lives Matter, and in the Senate, he will continue to promote racial justice and equity for all.

VOTE FOR JOHN HICKENLOOPER. Make sure to return your ballot by 7:00 PM on November 3rd. Visit Hickenlooper.com/vote for more information.

PA I D FO R BY H I C K E N LO O P E R FO R CO LO R A D O