Insight News ::: 08.10.15

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Brandi Maxiell The “Basketball Wifes LA” interview MORE ON PAGE 10

aesthetically speaking

Insight News August 10 - August 16, 2015

Vol. 42 No. 32 • The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com

Voting rights: The legacy By Harry Colbert, Jr. Contributing Writer The four living Minnesota legislators serving in 1965 in the U.S. House and Senate and civil rights icon, Dr. Josie Johnson, were recently honored for their work in passing the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Minnesota’s bipartisan delegation of eight representatives and two senators voted unanimously in favor of the then bill’s passage. Honored along with Johnson were former vice president, Walter Mondale – then a junior senator; former Minnesota governor Al Quie – then a member of the House; former House member and past mayor of Minneapolis Donald Fraser; and former representative Alec Olson. The awards came from Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon.

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Harry Colbert, Jr.

Dr. Josie Johnson implored the crowd to stay vigilant in the fight for voting equality.

NABJ’s JSHOP trains future media professionals By Harry Colbert, Jr. Contributing Writer

Harry Colbert, Jr.

Northpoint Health & Wellness COO, Kimry Johnsrud, addresses the future journalists of the National Association of Black Journalists’ JSHOP student workshop.

Mobilizing for D.C. ‘Justice or Else’ March Black Press of America By Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr., President and CEO, NNPA When The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan issues a sacred clarion call for a national and international mobilization for justice, freedom and equality, millions of people across America and throughout the world respond with responsive enthusiasm and energy. Such was the case in response to the minister’s call for the Million Man March (MMM) in Washington, D.C. 20 years ago. I believe that history will be made once again this year on October 10 in Washington, D.C. Minister Farrakhan boldly has issued a new call: Justice Or Else mobilization on the occasion of the 20thanniversary of the Million Man March on the National Mall. The minister asserted, “On 10.10.15, let’s show the world our unity.” Our demand for justice will be a united demand. It will be an unequivocal demand for equal

justice. Without hesitation or fear, I made a decision to join Minister Farrakhan in 1965 to help him organize and mobilize the historic Million Man March as its national director. Being an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ, I knew then as I still know today that God continues to bless Minister Farrakhan uniquely with the vision and mission to redeem and empower Black Americans, Latino Americans, Native Americans and all others who struggle for a better quality of life in America and throughout the world. At four times the size of the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, the Million Man March is believed to have been the largest march ever on the nation’s capital. I believe that God hears and answers the prayers of people and communities that cry out for justice. Today, we must organize and mobilize again with renewed vigor and determination. Almost every day now we hear and learn of another dastardly fatal act of racially motivate police brutality and misconduct that leaves our families and

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The National Association of Black Journalists came to Minneapolis celebrating its 40th anniversary. The national convention held Aug. 5 – Aug. 9 brought media professionals from television, radio, newspaper, magazine and public relations to the area to network and address issues of concern to Black journalists and the African-American community at large. As a part of the convention, 28 high school

students and college freshmen were invited to participate in JSHOP, the organization’s workshop designed to train the next generation of journalists. Modeled after the association’s St. Louis chapter’s workshop, which was the first to offer student training, JSHOP trains students in broadcast, print and photography. Professionals from around the country volunteer to instruct JSHOP and students participate at no cost, minus any travel expenses. During intensive study,

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Charges against Black Lives Matter Minneapolis dismissed Bloomington Prosecutor Sandra Johnson has dismissed all substantive trespassing charges against the alleged organizers of the Black Lives Matter demonstration that took place at the Mall of America this past December. The dismissals came on the heels of motions to dismiss that were filed by lead attorneys Jordan Kushner and Bruce Nestor who are representing 10 of 11 individuals identified as “ringleaders” of the Black Lives Matter gathering at the nation’s largest mall. Both Kushner and Nestor argued that the Mall of America asked demonstrators to “disperse” rather than to leave the property all together on the day of the demonstration. In legal terms, disperse was not an order to leave the mall, therefore negating the trespass claim. “It is evident that the Mall of America failed to explicitly demand that demonstrators leave the property during the Black Lives Matter demonstration in December. The large monitors simply read, ‘We expect all participants to disperse at this time.’ Under the law, there is a clear distinction between orders to disperse, which means to spread out, versus demanding that someone physically leave the property. Thus, it would have been a

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Thousands march nearly 900 miles in journey for justice By Curtis Bunn, Urban News Service SELMA, Alabama--The movement that began in a bungalow is traveling nearly 900 miles to the home of Dr. King’s “Dream.” A coalition of organizations, led by the NAACP, embarked Saturday on an 860-mile, 40day, 40-night march from Selma, Alabama to Washington, D.C. This initiative recalls the original Civil Rights Movement. America’s Journey for Justice began August 1 with a prayer at the historic Boynton House, a modest home in Selma that witnessed much of the fight for integration, including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s 1965 march across the notorious Edmund Pettus Bridge. Fifty years later, activists will caravan some 860 miles through Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, and conclude September 16 in Washington. “Why march?” NAACP president Cornell William Brooks asked. “We march because our

Courtesy of the Urban News Service

lives matter, our votes matter, our jobs matter, our schools matter.” The organizers of America’s

Journey for Justice stress four issues: the vitality of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, criminal-

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Clean Power

Justice

Commentary

Community

Obama Clean Power Plan praised

It’s like 1955 with Wifi

Hanging on to hope to keep Black men and boys alive

IndiaFest celebrates rich heritage, traditions, diversity, and culture

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