THE TRUE AMERICA: THE TRUE
PHOTOGRAPHS BY ERNES T COLE BY ERNEST
When they tell you about their own, believe them
By Dr. Wilmer J. Leon, III
There are periods in history… epochs, distinctive periods in time marked by notable events, that in many instances signal change. Columbus stumbling upon the Americas where Indigenous peoples had been living for thousands of years. The French Revolution, the Industrial Revolution, the invention of the semiconductor, WWII, the Civil Rights era, etc. In many instances, one may not realize that they’re living in the historic moment. It’s only upon reflection that you realize the significance of the time. There are other periods, I call them Oppenheimer moments, where you know that you are in the moment. The first atomic bomb was tested on July 16, 1945. The bomb, nicknamed “Gadget”, released 18.6 kilotons of power. We are told that Dr. J. Robert Oppenheimer, upon watching the first ever atomic bomb explode, quoted a line from Hindu scripture; the Bhagavad Gita, “Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds”. Oppenheimer knew he was in the moment. As we look at the current geopolitical landscape, we find ourselves firmly in the grips of the second Trump administration. There is a dramatic decline in the status of America, both domestically and internationally. The economic outlook is uncertain. America is funding a war in Ukraine and a genocide in Gaza. Homelessness, unemployment and incarceration rates are continuously on the rise. One can only conclude that we are
By Haley Taylor Schlitz, Esq.
The Great American Game has never been just about touchdowns or trophies.
Beneath the roar of the crowd and the spectacle broadcast to over 130 countries lies a much older competition, rooted in the nation’s DNA since 1619. It’s a game where exclusion has always been the rule, where power is hoarded, and where resilience is a necessary survival skill. The gridiron, celebrated as a field of athletic triumph, doubles as a stage where America’s contradictions come into sharp focus. This year, Kendrick Lamar’s halftime performance turned that stage into a mirror, reflecting a nation grappling with its dual legacy of exclusion and survival. Racism and exclusion remain embedded in America’s foundation, built on exploiting those deemed “not like us.” It’s a system that both fears and depends on Black resilience, a contradiction Lamar laid bare with striking clarity.
Millions of viewers
watched Kendrick Lamar transform the halftime show into a bold reflection on race and resilience, a performance that carried far beyond the stadium walls. His dancers, clad in red, white, and blue, presented a vision of patriotism that did not gloss over history’s scars but instead confronted them.
Samuel L. Jackson’s appearance as “Uncle Sam” set the tone. Dressed in the traditional suit and hat, he welcomed everyone to the “Great American Game,” a pointed commentary on how America celebrates Black contributions when convenient but suppresses them when they challenge the status quo.
When Jackson chastised Lamar for being “too loud, too reckless - too ghetto,” it was more than part of the act. It mirrored society’s tendency to police Black voices, demanding they conform to expectations of palatability. But Lamar didn’t comply. He performed “DNA,” a song that reveals America’s complicated reliance on Blackness, both feared and exploited, yet essential to its
living in a historic moment. Steve Bannon, the former Trump campaign and White House advisor calls it “managed decline”.
One of the ironies in all of this is we have seen this movie before. We are watching Trump Redux. We are not just watching the film; we are actors in it. For those of us that are old enough to remember, watching the news and political programs today is analogous to watching the Rocky Horror Picture Show. We find ourselves constantly yelling at the screen, except this is unscripted.
People are aghast listening to President Trump attack DEI policies, firing federal Inspectors General, threatening to close the Department of Education and pledging to fire FBI agents that investigated January 6. Steve Bannon told us in 2019 of what was to come, “…we had a whole tiger team of the White House counsel guys, the ‘deconstruction of the administrative state,’ which is a huge element…we want less (government intervention). In fact, we want to start to take apart certain parts of the apparatus.” America, you were warned.
Now, the authoritarian that over 77M Americans voted for wants to disregard the constitutionally guaranteed right of “birthright citizenship”.
He is impounding funds, freezing nearly all foreign aid, federal grants and loans as if he has been magically granted the power of the “ex post facto veto”.
Almost none of President Trump’s policies have gone through legislation or House votes. Trump issues
core. The line “I got loyalty, got royalty inside my DNA” stood as a declaration of the indelible role Black Americans play in shaping the nation.
While Lamar’s performance highlighted the resilience of Black culture, our nation has continued to display its darker side. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), under Elon Musk’s leadership, rehired Marko Elez despite his openly racist posts. Elez’s statements like “Normalize Indian hate” and “I was racist before it was cool” were brushed off by Musk and Vice President JD Vance as youthful errors, ignoring their active role in perpetuating hate.
Weeks earlier, Musk made headlines for performing two Nazi salutes at an event. He also joined President Trump in accusing South Africa of human rights violations against white South Africans and later posted that “White South Africans are being persecuted for their race” and should be prioritized for immigration to Europe. The message is clear: those who promote exclusion and hate are not only excused but elevated.
This wasn’t just about offering a second chance. It was a signal that racism remains deeply embedded in the nation’s power structures. Lamar’s performance celebrated defiance and cultural resilience, while the government embraced Elez, a figure whose views reflect exclusion, hate, and hostility. On one side, symbolic gestures like the performance of the Black national anthem and the NFL’s DEI initiatives; on the other, the institutional endorsement of hate.
America eagerly celebrates Black culture when it fits into a convenient narrative. But when it comes to addressing the systemic
his edicts through Executive Order. The American people are being subjected to a flurry or whirlwind of executive action.
Bannon called it “flooding the zone and muzzle velocity”.
“Every day we hit them with three things. They’ll bite on one, and we’ll get all of our stuff done, bang, bang, bang. These guys will never—will never be able to recover. But we’ve got to start with muzzle velocity.”
Some people may think Trump
Egypt rejected similar proposals from the Biden administration and European countries early in the war.” Trump’s major faux pas was he made Biden’s secret proposal public.
Trump is not alone in his racist deportation efforts.
CNN reported, “According to an analysis by the Migration Policy Institute, more than 12 million people were “deported” – either removed or returned – from the US during the
“I don’t know who you are and I don’t know why you like this guy (Trump). I think what you like about him; he appears to be strong and the rest of us are weak… That’s what he’s selling…Here’s what you’re buying…He’s a race-baiting, xenophobic religious bigot. He doesn’t represent my party. He doesn’t represent the values that the men and women who wear the uniform are fighting for... He’s the ISIL man of the year.”
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) on CNN
is crazy. If he is, he’s crazy like a fox. But it’s not just him.
President Trump is not alone.
The racist suggestion of Trump saying, the United States should own Gaza and develop it into “the Riviera of the Middle East” by displacing the Palestinians from their homeland to other countries in the region, was first posited by former President Joe Biden. The AP reported, “A Western diplomat in Cairo said
inequality that underpins that same culture’s oppression, it looks away. Benny Johnson’s critique of the halftime show for lacking “diversity” exposed this hypocrisy.
Former Congressman Matt Gaetz’s comment, describing the performance as the “regime’s response” to Trump’s “gains with Black men,” revealed his disdain for Black men and Black American culture. By labeling it a regime response, Gaetz reduced the celebration of Black creativity and defiance to a threat against political order, exposing the underlying fear that Black empowerment challenges the status quo.
This is the real “Great American Game”, one where symbolic gestures coexist with structural denial. Where the same country that celebrates Kendrick Lamar’s brilliance also dismisses his warnings. Where Black History Month becomes a time for performative displays of support while the systems that perpetuate inequality remain intact.
Lamar’s performance was a powerful statement of defiance. At one point during his performance, all the Black men on stage came together and formed the American flag, a striking visual symbol of the country’s complex and painful relationship with Black identity and history. This wasn’t just choreography, it was a declaration that Black men are, and always have been, integral to the fabric of America.
Then, there was the powerful line Lamar delivered that cut through the spectacle: “You picked the right time, but the wrong guy.” It was a message that could apply beyond the performance, a commentary on America itself. Our nation has picked this time
not new. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich proposed similar tactics with his “Contract with America”. Former President Bill Clinton thought he could make government more efficient by employing principals from the private sector by “Reinventing Government as We Know It”. The major problem with these schemes is very simple. The goal of private sector capitalism is the maximization of profit. The goal of democratic/republic government is the protection of the people and the delivery of services. Contrary to the beliefs of the oligarchs, government is not in the “business” of making money. It’s lucky if it breaks even.
Clinton administration. More than 10 million were removed or returned during the Bush administration. Far fewer –more than 5 million – were removed or returned during the Obama administration.” Lest we forget, President Obama was dubbed the “Deporter in Chief”. Trump’s ideas of deconstructing the administrative state, cutting government agencies or his privatization/neo-liberal policies via Project 2025 are
for upheaval and transformation, ushered in with Trump’s rise, but miscalculated by assuming the current generation of Black Americans would be easily dismissed or controlled. This generation is not willing to conform or retreat. We are rewriting the rules.
But the question remains: how much longer can America play this game? How much longer can it celebrate Black art while ignoring the policies that harm Black communities? The hiring of Marko Elez is not an isolated
By Simon Burris
Don’t let this context confuse you. Sen. Graham is correct, President Trump is “…a race-baiting, xenophobic religious bigot.” This is evidenced by his baseless rants about Mexican rapists, his proposed Muslim ban, his lie about Barack Obama’s birthplace, his attack on the Central Park 5, his baseless attack on DEI programs, removing historical videos of its storied Black Tuskegee Airmen from Air Force training modules, supporting genocide in Gaza, just to name a few. Remember, all of this resonated with over 77M Americans.
So, what are we to do? Well, for starters do not listen to Rep. Nancy Pelosi.
Anyone who tries to insist that the election was not a rebuke of the Democrats is delusional and anyone who argues that Democrats don’t need to change is clueless.
I strongly suggest reading Dr. King’s 1963 Letter from a Birmingham Jail,
incident. It’s a symptom of a broader problem, one where people in power prioritize protecting themselves over confronting the truth. Consider this: Elez, the same man who proudly declared, “You could not pay me to marry outside of my ethnicity,” now has a role within an institution with significant influence. It’s not just about his words; it’s about what they signal, an acceptance of exclusion and hate at the highest levels.
Lamar’s performance was a reminder that Black
“We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.” Then read Frederick Douglas’, 1857 speech, If There Is No Struggle, There Is No Progress –“Find out just what any people will quietly submit to and you have found out the exact measure of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them, and these will continue till they are resisted with either words or blows, or with both. The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they oppress.”
After that, read more and remember, when they tell you about their own, they are also telling you about themselves. Believe them. Dr. Wilmer Leon is a nationally broadcast radio talkshow host. Author of Politics Another Perspective. Host of the podcast Connecting the Dots w/ Dr. Wilmer Leon. Go to www.wilmerleon.com or email: wjl3us@yahoo.com. www.twitter.com/drwleon and Dr.
people are not just participants in this game, they are rewriting its rules. But if America refuses to listen and continues protecting those who perpetuate hate, then the game will persist, leaving the nation wondering why its progress remains an illusion.
For now, we celebrate the brilliance of Kendrick Lamar. But the real work is ensuring that his performance isn’t just remembered as a moment of artistic excellence, but as a call to dismantle the very game that made it necessary.
Quincy Jones
Columnist
Dr. Wilmer J. Leon, III
Wikipedia Kendrick Lamar
Wikipedia Samuel Jackson
Puzzle Master
NIH awarded $65M to Minnesota institutions in 2025 alone Attorney General Ellison sues
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison last week co-led a coalition of 22 state attorneys general today in suing the Trump Administration, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for unlawfully cutting funds that support cutting-edge medical and public health research at universities and research institutions across the country. The coalition is challenging the Trump Administration’s attempt to unilaterally cut “indirect cost” reimbursements at every research institution throughout the country. These
reimbursements cover expenses to facilitate biomedical research, like lab, faculty, infrastructure, and utility costs. Without them, the lifesaving and life-changing medical research in which the United States has long been a leader, could be compromised.
Indirect cost reimbursements are based on each institution’s unique needs, negotiated with the federal government through a carefully regulated process, and then memorialized in an executed agreement. The Trump Administration purports to toss those agreements aside, putting public health and medical advancements
at risk. The coalition’s lawsuit seeks to prevent that reckless and illegal conduct.
The NIH reports that in 2025, it awarded $65 million to 5 Minnesota institutions, including $37 million to the University of Minnesota and $29 million to the Mayo Clinic.
“The NIH funds critical research into fighting chronic and catastrophic disease in every corner of our country, in red states and blue. Its work has an impact on countless families across America and helps keep us healthy and extend our lives. Abruptly and arbitrarily slashing funding for the NIH isn’t only dangerous
and cruel, it’s against the law,”
Attorney General Ellison said. “Once again, I’m joining with my attorney general colleagues to protect all Americans’ health and well-being against the Trump Administrations assaults and to hold the Administration accountable in court to following the laws that they are bound to uphold.” On Friday, February 7, the NIH announced it would abruptly slash indirect cost rates to an across-the-board 15% rate, which is significantly less than the cost required to perform cutting-edge medical
By April Ryan
“The threat that unregulated AI poses to Civil rights and national Security“ is a top priority of the Lawyers Committee on Civil Rights according to its President and Executive Director, Damon Hewitt. The rights organization has been working to reach Trump officials on AI bias data they presented to the major 2024 presidential campaigns during
“Everyone knows that Trump and Musk’s takeover of the federal budget and government agencies is completely illegal,” Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, D-MN5, says. “Democrats know it, Republicans know it, and every expert you can find will
By David Paulsen
[Episcopal News Service] More than two dozen Christian and Jewish organizations, including The Episcopal Church, sued the Trump administration on Feb. 11 for allowing immigration officers to target churches and other “sensitive” places for arrests as part of the president’s promised crackdown on legal and illegal immigration.
The Episcopal Church and its fellow plaintiffs, represented by the nonpartisan Georgetown University Law Center, argue that by allowing arrests without first obtaining
judicial warrants the Trump administration is violating First Amendment protections of both freedom of religion and freedom of association, because of the burden created by the “looming threat of immigration enforcement action at their places of worship and during their religious ceremonies.”
The lawsuit notes that many congregations serving immigrant communities have already seen decreases
U.S.
tell you it’s unconstitutional.” Omar said the real reason they are choosing to do things this way, the reason they are testing the waters of authoritarianism, is because they simply don’t have the
By Lisa Kaczke
The Office of Cannabis Management is focusing this session on its needs related to launching and regulating an expanding adult-use cannabis market in Minnesota.
Interim Director Eric Taubel laid out the budget recommendations for his office to the House Commerce Finance and Policy Committee Tuesday. No action was taken.
Additionally, Taubel said he expects to have policy proposals this session that would tighten up the
state’s existing cannabis law.
“We’re on the precipice of the launch, and certainly we could tinker forever and sort of make those changes here and there. But the reality is that we need to launch the market. Once the market launches, we’ll continue to make changes and update and build the market that is fair for all Minnesotans,” Taubel said. Cannabis license applications are scheduled to open Feb. 18. The office is also in the process of adopting rules to govern the cannabis marketplace in the state.
In his budget request, Gov. Tim Walz is proposing
By David Bauder
PBS says it is shutting down its office of diversity, equity and inclusion to comply with President Donald Trump’s executive order, firing the two executives brought on when the effort was begun in 2021. The move, eliminating the jobs held by Cecilia Loving and her associate Gina Leow, comes as public television and radio girds for a fight over federal funding likely to be more serious than it
the race for the White House.
Just days into the second Trump term, Damon Hewitt says the priority hasn’t changed but the “strategy” will.
The push by the rights group comes on the
Photo by Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP,
Klobuchar (D-MN)
Walz budget proposes education funding cuts amid predicted deficit
By Brian Basham
Education Commissioner Willie Jett asked the House Education Finance Committee an important question Tuesday.
“How do we maintain our priorities to fund Minnesota’s public education system on behalf of our students and educators with the responsibility to balance the state’s budget?” he asked while presenting Gov. Tim Walz’s proposed budget recommendations to the committee.
With Minnesota forecast to face a $5 billion deficit in the 2028-29 biennium, budget cuts may need to be made across the board.
“The governor’s 2025 education budget proposes to do just that,” Jett said. “It balances a narrow
set of urgent and prioritized needs, with ideas of how we can reach a balanced budget.” Walz proposes spending $17.16 billion in the 2026-27 biennium on education, cutting more than $34.5 million. The cuts would continue in 2028-29, shaving off another $114.8 million.
[MORE:Appropriations tracker, levy tracker with governor’s recommendations]
Under the governor’s proposal, the state would reimburse special education transportation at a rate of 95% for fiscal year 2026 and 90% in fiscal year 2027 resulting in a biennial reduction of $48.62 million. Non-public pupil transportation aid would also be cut, with a savings of $56.21 million in the 2026-27 biennium. Heidi Nistler, St. Paul Schools assistant
superintendent, Office of Specialized Services, said cutting the transportation budget would drastically impact school districts’ special education across the state, forcing schools to make cuts elsewhere.
“Special education leaders and district leaders are working incredibly hard to contain the cost of special education, but at the end of the day, we have a legal and ethical obligation to ensure every student with a disability has their needs met,” she said.
The alternative teacher compensation program, also known as Q Comp, would be closed in 2027, resulting in savings of $78.7 million in fiscal year 2027 and $173.13 million in fiscal year 2028. The budget would also eliminate non-public pupil aid for items like
textbooks, instructional materials, standardized tests, health services and guidance and counseling services, cutting $52.52 million in the 2026-27 biennium.
Quentin Moore, vice president of advancement at Ascension Catholic Academy, said cutting the non-public pupil aid will have far reaching economic consequences.
“This is not a debate about public and private education,” he said. “It’s about educational freedom, fiscal responsibility and ensuring every scholar and family has critical tools and resources to pursue prosperity and excellence.”
To pay for summerterm unemployment insurance through fiscal year 2026, $30 million would be added to the special revenue fund. Estimated aid
If U.S. voters reelected Donald Trump hoping for relief from higher prices, his recent threats to impose tariffs on America’s three largest trade partners might make them think again.
On Saturday, Feb. 1, Trump announced 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico and 10% tariffs on China, which he said would take effect on Tuesday, Feb. 4. While markets braced for the news to some degree, they still saw a steep premarket sell-off on Monday, Feb. 3, followed by morning volatility.
While Canadaand Mexico negotiated monthlong reprieves on Monday, the new tariffs on China went into effect as expected Tuesday, Feb. 4. And while the ultimate shape of Trump’s tariff policy remains to be seen, the president warned
that American consumers could feel “some pain” as a result.
Given my training as an economist and finance professor, I think Trump could be right on that score. In fact, if the tariffs go into effect, they could spell disaster for the Federal Reserve’s inflation reduction efforts.
From grocery stores to homes U.S. consumers might be surprised to find out that almost every economic sector could be affected by this opening salvo of tariffs, should they go ahead in March. Imports from Mexico and Canada reached close to US$1 trillion in 2024, almost double the amount the U.S. imports from China. The U.S. is particularly reliant on Mexico for fresh fruits and vegetables, and on Canada for lumber.
So if the tariffs go into effect, Americans who have been waiting for home prices to ease may have to continue
tax. They’re passed through the supply chain in the form of higher prices and are eventually paid by consumers. Traditionally, governments have used tariffs as a fiscal tool to encourage businesses and consumers to move away from foreignmade products and support domestic businesses instead.
national security concerns.
Stephen Miran, Trump’s pick to chair the president’s Council of Economic Advisers, has laid out a path for Trump’s tariff plan, which he says is aimed at putting American industry on fairer ground against the rest of the world.
A tax by any other name … Tariffs are an import
waiting, as tariffs on lumber and other building materials could worsen the affordablehousing crunch. And let’s not even talk about avocado prices. Meanwhile, the 10% tariffs on Chinese goods will likely boost the price of electronics, and China has already imposed retaliatory measures. Trump has also proposed 25% tariffs on Taiwan and its semiconductor industry, in an attempt to push Taiwanese companies to invest more in U.S. manufacturing. If that tariff were to go into effect, prices for U.S. consumers would be even higher.
In theory, new tariffs could encourage foreign businesses to invest in the U.S. and make more stuff on American soil. Unfortunately, domestic manufacturing has seen a systemic decline since the 1980s, resulting in lower prices for consumers but severely limiting U.S.produced products. In the short term, at least, import taxes on Canadian, Mexican and Chinese products would ultimately be paid by U.S. consumers.
Although this round of tariff threats may seem arbitrary to some, the Trump administration says it considers tariffs deeply intertwined with
In the long term, it’s unclear whether Trump’s threatened trade war will bring domestic manufacturing back to the U.S. and start a new industrial renaissance. In the meantime, American consumers will likely be stuck holding the bag. Jason Reed does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.
In the lawsuit, filed today in U.S. District Court for Massachusetts, Attorney General Ellison and the
research. The NIH purported to make this cut effective the very next business day — today, Monday, February 10 — giving universities and institutions no time to plan for the enormous budget gaps they are now facing. Without immediate relief, this action could result in the suspension of lifesaving and life-extending clinical trials, disruption of research programs, layoffs, and laboratory closures.
coalition argues that this action violates the Administrative Procedure Act, including a directive Congress passed during President Trump’s first term to fend off his earlier proposal to drastically cut research reimbursements. That statutory language, still in effect, prohibits the NIH from requiring categorial and indiscriminate changes to
indirect cost reimbursements. The coalition is seeking a court order barring the Trump Administration and NIH from implementing the action. The NIH is the primary source of federal funding for medical research in the United States. Medical research funding by NIH grants have led to innumerable scientific breakthroughs, including the discovery of treatment for cancers of all types, the first sequencing of DNA and the development of the MRI. Additionally, dozens of NIH-supported scientists have earned Nobel Prizes for their groundbreaking scientific work.
Joining Attorney General Ellison in the lawsuit are the attorneys general of Massachusetts, Illinois, and Michigan who co-led the coalition and the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Connecticut, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin.
partnership between OpenAI, Oracle and SoftBank, initially formed in 2024. Stargate is funded by the private sector and will build data centers along with electricity generation.
in worship attendance and participation in social service ministries since the Trump administration’s new policies took effect.
Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe, in a church news release about the lawsuit, echoed his recent sermon at Washington National Cathedral by saying that immigrants and refugees are not at the edges of God’s kingdom but at its center.
“We believe their struggles reveal the heart of God, and we cannot worship freely if some among us live in fear,” Rowe said. “We are seeking the ability to fully gather and follow Jesus’ command to love our neighbors as ourselves.”
The federal policy shift, enacted in the first days of the new administration, has spread fear in many of the plaintiffs’ worshipping communities, the lawsuit says, and runs counter to biblical teachings that “every human being, regardless of birthplace, is a child of God worthy of dignity, care and love.”
President Donald Trump vowed during his campaign to oversee mass deportations of millions of people living in the United States without permanent legal residency status. He began pursuing policies to follow through on that promise in
Days before the Trump Stargate announcement Hewitt expressed a concern about how the administration “by invitation”, will allow “companies to run a muck” when it comes to unregulated AI.
the hours after his Jan. 20 inauguration to a second term, with a series of executive orders related to immigration.
The lawsuit filed by the 27 faith-based organizations does not take direct issue with those orders, but rather with separate directives issued by the Trump administration’s Department of Homeland Security. On Jan. 21, the department ended Biden administration policies that had identified certain sensitive areas, including schools, hospitals and houses of worship, as protected from immigration enforcement actions.
The church’s release says some Episcopal congregations in the United States are among the houses of worship where even some immigrants with legal residency have chosen to stay home rather than attend worship services because of the risk of arrest.
“Welcoming the stranger is not a political act. It’s a sacred obligation,” House of Deputies President Julia Ayala Harris said in the news release. “When immigrants walk through our church doors, they’re not entering as outsiders; they are stepping into the heart of our faith, where their dignity and stories are embraced as reflections of God’s love. This lawsuit is about protecting our ability to live out the Gospel without fear or interference.”
The plaintiffs’ 80page complaint includes short summaries of ways the government’s policies
votes to legally enact their agenda through Congress.
“Even though Republicans control all three branches of government, Trump still has to resort to illegal executive actions because his
and Parkinson’s diseases. NIH research also supports hundreds of thousands of jobs across the country and spurs economic growth, including
From 3 3
has faced in many years. Despite eliminating the DEI effort, PBS CEO Paula Kerger said Tuesday that “we were committed to telling the stories of all Americans before we had an office, and will continue to do it afterwards.”
Because PBS gets federal funding through U.S. Department of Education and National Science Foundation for its children’s programming, the system’s lawyers determined that it needed to comply with Trump’s order, she said. The system gets some $535 million in general support from the government, about 16% of its budget, but because it is filtered through the private Corporation for Public Broadcasting, it’s unclear whether that would require compliance.
Some of PBS’ 330 member stations have their
subsequent fiscal year to cover operating expenses as the cannabis industry grows. Every cannabis product has to be tested to ensure it’s safe, but there could be a backlog in product availability because of a lack of testing facility capacity, Taubel said. The testing lab
own DEI efforts and receive CPB funding, so it will be up to them to decide what to do with their offices. “We’re trying to encourage them to have lawyers look at their circumstances,” Kerger told The Associated Press.
The Free Press website reported that PBS initially considered transferring Loving and Leow to other jobs within the system. Kerger said that was thought about but rejected.
The DEI office was concerned with more than just racial equity; much of its recent work went to making sure children with hearing issues had access to PBS programming, she said.
Four years ago, PBS faced pressure from the opposite direction. More than 130 filmmakers sent a letter to the system saying that its relationship with documentarian Ken Burns came at the expense of others and that PBS showed a “systemic failure to fulfill a mandate for a diversity of voices.”
Just last week, Jake Sullivan, the outgoing Biden administration National Security advisor told this reporter, “there have been a lot of studies to show that [AI] bias is a genuine challenge.” He continued by saying AI bias can ”undermine social cohesion in the United States and globally.” The former national security advisor also implicated problems in the fight against “terrorism” with biased AI intelligence. When Hewitt learned of Sullivan’s statement, he said,“the acknowledgement is important!”
have burdened the faith organizations’ practice of their religions. The Episcopal Church’s summary includes the following examples, which do not give specific locations or congregation names: Local officials parked outside one Episcopal church during past enforcement efforts and attempted to arrest undocumented congregants leaving the church.
At another congregation, federal agents already have appeared outside its food pantry, photographing those in line.
In one Episcopal diocese, some congregants were reluctant to join an informational Zoom call with an immigration attorney.
Some congregations have stationed members at their doors to watch for immigration officials.
The Episcopal Church is one of 12 denomination bodies that have signed onto the lawsuit, which also includes the Disciples of Christ, Mennonite, Methodist, Presbyterian and AME Zion churches. Other plaintiffs include regional denominational bodies and other religious associations
“We declare our unequivocal opposition to any and all attempts by the government or any other external entity to infringe upon or restrict or otherwise interfere with the free exercise of religion by members of our congregations,” the Rev. Carlos Malave, president of
agenda is so unpopular. People don’t want to see USAID eliminated or the Department of Education abolished,” she said.
“That’s why I believe if we keep up the pressure and continue to rally
nearly 8,000 jobs and $1.7 billion of economic activity in Minnesota. This lawsuit is a crucial step to reversing this illegal move that will set back
certification process takes 18-24 months. A proposal to change the testing facility licensing process would allow the office to issue licenses to facilities that are in the certification process, which would increase testing capacity in the early days of the cannabis market. The office’s current budget can
With the Trump administration’s current efforts at cutting federal spending, Kerger understands public broadcasting will be looked at closely. U.S. Sen. Mike Lee posted “let’s defund PBS and NPR” on X Tuesday. That’s not a new opinion. Republicans in the past have made similar calls, primarily because of a contention that news programming leans left. Ultimately, efforts to defund PBS usually fall short through pressure brought to bear on individual legislators from the hundreds of stations across the country.
Kerger and NPR officials are expected to testify next month before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.
“I think it is different this time because so much is under scrutiny,” Kerger said. “I never assume that government funding will continue. I think we have to work hard each and every time these questions come up to make sure we are
During the Biden administration the focus on
Latino Christian National Network, said in a Zoom news conference about the lawsuit.
Rabbi Rick Jacobs spoke on behalf of the Union for Reform Judaism, the largest Jewish denomination in the United States.
“The opening of the Hebrew Bible tells us that every single human being is created in God’s image and there are simply no exceptions,” Jacobs said.
And Rowe, in his remarks during the news conference, affirmed The Episcopal Church’s support for the lawsuit, which he said contained a “compelling and conservative argument about the exercise of religion.”
“We cannot worship freely if some among us live in fear,” Rowe said. “We must proclaim, particularly in this time, that all are welcome in our places of worship and should be able to be in those places worshipping their faith of choice without fear. This seems a basic human right, but certainly one we’re called to by the God that we serve.”
The lawsuit says many of the member churches and synagogues have undocumented congregants, as well as ministries that serve undocumented people, such as food and clothes pantries, English classes, legal assistance and job training services.
“An immigration enforcement action during worship services, ministry work or other congregational
the public against Trump and Musk’s actions, we will lay the groundwork for their defeat.” Omar said, in reference to upcoming mid-term elections in 2026.
medical innovation and lead to unnecessary suffering,” Klobuchar said.
cover costs associated with that change, according to Taubel. The recommendations also include clarifying that people who received stays of adjudication and adjudications of delinquency for cannabis crimes can be considered social equity applicants. That change would be budget neutral.
making the case of why this is important.”
She said it’s a time where people assume “there is bias at play” when they don’t see their opinions expressed in news stories. Some people feel news efforts are too conservative, others too liberal.
“We take that part of our work pretty seriously and if we miss sometime, we correct that,” she said.
Work done by local stations to alert citizens during the California wildfires and hurricanes in Florida are examples of things legislators need to be aware of, she said.
“I’m always an optimistic person,” Kerger said, “but I think it’s going to require a lot of conversations to see if we can hold on to a level of funding to enable our stations to continue.”
David Bauder writes about the intersection of media and entertainment for the AP. Follow him at http://x.com/ dbauder and https://bsky.app/ profile/dbauder.bsky.social
AI bias was addressed through the administration’s AI Bill of Rights and an AI Executive Order. Hewitt believed the Biden administration understood the pervasiveness of the problem.
Now Hewitt is working to make Trump officials more aware. A Trump administration staffer emphasized when asked about this AI bias concern that “this is early in the administration and there is more to come.” However, it is uncertain if that more to come will include addressing the issue of AI bias.
activities would be devastating to their religious practice,” the lawsuit says. “It would shatter the consecrated space of sanctuary, thwart communal worship and undermine the social service outreach that is central to religious expression and spiritual practice for plaintiffs’ congregations and members.”
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for Washington, D.C., seeks an injunction against the federal government that would block immigration enforcement at houses of worship or during worship services unless authorities first obtain judicial warrants.
The lawsuit cites at least one reported case in which immigration agents attempted an arrest at a church. Wilson Velásquez, a migrant from Honduras who came to the United States and applied for asylum in 2022, was with his family attending a Pentecostal service in Atlanta, Georgia. The pastor reportedly was in the middle of his sermon when Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrived at the church to arrest Velásquez.
The pastor tried to reassure the congregation, according to the lawsuit, but “could see the fear and tears on their faces.”
The plaintiffs, their congregations and their members “face an imminent risk of similar immigration enforcement actions at their places of
worship,” the lawsuit says. Lawrence Hitt II, chair of The Episcopal Church Executive Council’s Governance and Operations Committee, which provides oversight of the church’s legal affairs, said in a written statement for this story that prevailing in the lawsuit was “vitally important” to the church and its ministries.
“The filing of this lawsuit demonstrates the commitment of The Episcopal Church to migrants and others as we strive to follow the Gospel imperative set forth in Matthew when Christ said ‘I was a stranger and you welcomed me,’” Hitt said. The Trump administration’s new restrictions on immigration also effectively halted the United States’ 45-year-old program of refugee resettlement, which had been facilitated by 10 agencies with federal contracts to do that work, including Episcopal Migration Ministries. On Feb. 11, some of the 10 refugee resettlement agencies sued the Trump administration to reverse his order suspending the program. The Episcopal Church is not a party to that lawsuit. – David Paulsen is a senior reporter and editor for Episcopal News Service based in Wisconsin. He can be reached at dpaulsen@episcopalchurch. org.
Wide-ranging crime bill would boost penalties, establish new crimes
By Tim Walker
A plethora of changes could be coming to public safety laws, including identifying new crimes and increasing penalties for existing crimes.
HF7 would boost penalties on sex trafficking and assaulting peace officers and create new crimes or expand existing crimes.
“The themes of this bill are helping law enforcement make our communities safer from criminals, keeping violent and dangerous offenders off the street, and holding the criminal justice system accountable,” said Rep. Paul Novotny (R-Elk River), the bill sponsor.
Novotny, who chairs the House Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee, said many provisions were requested
by law enforcement agencies and/or came from unsuccessful Republican-sponsored bills from previous sessions.
Approved via splitvoice vote by the committee on Tuesday, the amended bill was sent to the House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law Committee.
Potential changes
The bill would establish a gross misdemeanor offense for obstructing traffic on a freeway or within the boundaries of airport property with the intent to disrupt that traffic.
Such disruptions can delay emergency responders, which puts the public and peace officers at risk, Novotny said.
The bill would establish a 120-month mandatory minimum sentence
for first-degree sex trafficking and 144 months if there are aggravating factors.
Other changes would increase penalties for individuals fleeing peace officers in a motor vehicle and violating certain traffic laws, such as ignoring a stop sign or traffic light, one-way sign, or driving on the wrong side of the road.
“Fleeing suspects have created a public safety crisis on our roadways; they create dangerous and sometimes deadly consequences for the drivers, innocent victims and law enforcement,” said Shane Myre, president of the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association.
Cass County Sherrif Bryan Welk welcomes increased penalties for fleeing offenders.
“Current penalties are insufficient to curb this
dangerous behavior,” he said. He said that together with a provision to expand situations under which peace officers can place a tracking device on a reported stolen vehicle it will also help reduce the danger to the public. With a tracking device in place, he said, officers can call off a dangerous pursuit and make an arrest later when the car is stopped.
DFLers on the committee raised several objections.
Rep. Kelly Moller (DFL-Shoreview) called the bill “fiscally irresponsible” because its many increased penalties would burden the judicial and corrections system with “massive” costs. Those exact costs are unknown, she said, because a fiscal note has not been provided.
She also rejects what she said was the underlying philosophy of the bill, which is that increased penalties will deter criminals. “We have been increasing penalties for years, and for decades, and the increase in penalties
Ellison shuts down Community Blacktop, LLC
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison announced today that his Office has reached a settlement that requires an asphalt company that victimized consumers to dissolve and pay $100,000 to the State of Minnesota that the Attorney General’s Office will use for restitution to victims.
The Attorney General’s Office alleges Minnesota resident Brandon Michael Ferguson and his business, Community Blacktop, LLC (which also went by the names of C. Blacktop LLC, Community Construction, LLC, Frontier Construction, and MVP Valued Paving & Engineering) victimized consumers in Minnesota and across the country, targeting the elderly in particular, by promising quality asphalt work at a discount, but delivering subpar results and subsequently demanding outrageously inflated prices
By Rob Hubbard
Stop that train! That’s what Rep. Kristin Robbins (R-Maple Grove) would like to do.
She sponsors HF14 to temporarily prohibit any Metropolitan Council spending on any other light rail transit projects until the Southwest LRT Green Line extension project is completed.
multiple times in excess of what was initially quoted.
Attorney General Ellison alleges that that, among Ferguson’s misrepresentations, Ferguson told consumers that he could give them a deal on asphalt work if they accepted that day because he had leftover asphalt from nearby projects. Sometimes, Ferguson would tell consumers that he had been working on a state highway nearby, even though the Minnesota Department of Transportation has no record of Ferguson or his companies engaging in such work.
The Attorney General’s Office also alleges that Ferguson quoted some customers a far lower price than he ended up trying to charge them. One Minnesotan in Little Falls was quoted between $2,000 and $3,000 to have their driveway tarred. Ferguson ended up handing them a bill for
$17,000. Another customer was quoted $320 to have a small parking area added next to their driveway. Ferguson ended up paving their entire driveway and handed them an $8,000 bill. In the consent judgment, Ferguson admits that he procured consent to perform
work by fraud and violated a number of Minnesota’s consumer protection statutes. The Attorney General’s Office worked with sheriff’s offices in Beltrami, Kanabec, Morrison, Stearns, and Todd Counties, local police departments in Hastings and
Woodbury, and law enforcement in Wisconsin and Michigan to hold Ferguson and Community Blacktop accountable. Attorney General Ellison grateful for the support and work that all of these public servants do.
“No one should be the victim of these kinds of predatory and fraudulent business practices, particularly older Minnesotans,” Attorney General Ellison said.
“Scammers often use what are called high-pressure sales tactics to help them cheat honest people. One of the most common of these tactics is creating a false sense of urgency to make people accept an offer before they can look into it. These incidents underscore how important it is to take your time, think, and do your research before making big purchases. Talk to your friends and family, look up online reviews, and compare prices.
And, as always, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.”
The consent judgment acknowledges that Ferguson’s recordkeeping, or lack of it, will make tracking down victims difficult. Attorney General Ellison called for impacted consumers to reach out. “We need people to reach out to us if they’ve been scammed by this business,” added Attorney General Ellison.
“Check your files, let us know.” Attorney General Ellison encourages Minnesotans to submit complaints about Mr. Ferguson and Community Blacktop, or any other scam, by filing a complaint with the Attorney General’s Office via its online complaint form. The Attorney General’s Office can also be reached by calling (651) 296-3353 from within the Twin Cities or (800) 657-3787 from Greater Minnesota.
“This is an attempt to help save taxpayers money by pausing the construction of the Blue Line light rail until the Southwest light rail line is complete and then we can evaluate whether the Blue Line still makes sense,” Robbins said.
After saying that the Southwest LRT Green Line extension was a project slated to cost $1.25 billion in 2018
The primary project that would be affected by such a moratorium would be the METRO Blue Line extension, which is proposed to operate on 13.4 miles of light rail track between downtown Minneapolis and Brooklyn Park. That project is still in the design phase, with construction currently slated to begin in 2027 and the first trains scheduled to leave the station in 2030. The House Transportation Finance and Policy Committee took the bill up on Wednesday and — during a vigorous debate and committee members’ proposals to re-refer the bill to other committees — the committee chair, Rep. Jon Koznick (R-Lakeville), called the question and the committee voted 8-7 along party lines to refer the bill to the House Floor.
that has grown to a projected $2.9 billion, Robbins talked about the projected costs of the Blue Line extension.
“We cannot afford to make this same mistake again with the Blue Line,” she said. “It was originally going to cost $999 million and open in 2022. … And now here we are in 2025 with a projected cost of $3.2 billion and now it’s slated to open in 2030.”
Robbins suggested that a bus rapid transit line could be completed for a fraction of the cost.
All 10 testifiers spoke against the bill.
“Last fall, all the cities along the Blue Line extension passed municipal consent for this project,” said Minneapolis City Council member Jeremiah Ellison. “Consent is
earned through a lot of public engagement. … It’s taken many, many years to get to this point.”
“Approximately 20% of all Hennepin County households without a car live within one mile of what will be the Blue Line extension,” said Brooklyn Park Mayor Hollies Winston. “Brooklyn Park will be putting $8 million of infrastructure improvements along the line. … And numerous developers are talking to us about developing a biotech corridor along the line.”
Rep. Katie Jones (DFL-Mpls) challenged Robbins on her comparison to the Green Line extension’s cost overruns and delays, saying they were primarily related to building an underwater tunnel, something absent from the Blue Line extension.
Classes at Summer Library
Visit www.hclib.org/events for registration information.
Let’s Clay Gnomes Tuesday, March 4, 2:30PM – 4:00PM For grades 1-5. Create an enchanted land where gnomes frolic on the green forest floor. Learn different sculpting techniques to form the sweetest little gnomes and mushrooms out of polymer clay. Once fi
Brandon Michael Ferguso
Paul Novotny (R-Elk River)
House Photography file photo
The House transportation committee approved a bill Feb. 12 that would temporarily
Sports
By Dave Campbell AP Sports Writer
The breakthrough season Griffin Jax produced for the Minnesota Twins from the back of their bullpen last year wasn’t enough by itself to convince the righthander to fully accept his status as a relief pitcher and abandon his goal of being a starter.
Candid conversation and a receptive perspective were the keys to bringing back Jax and him embracing his lateinning role for 2025.
About halfway through the offseason, Jax recognized the importance of shaping a throwing regimen around a starter or relief track well in advance of spring training, so he initiated a call with his agent and the Twins to reach a decision once and for all.
“This wasn’t an instance of me or anyone trying to convince Griff to do something. This was just finding out where Griff’s head was at, ultimately,” manager Rocco Baldelli said. “He’s going to be pitching in really important spots for us, as we know. I think it worked itself out really well. It was a smooth conversation, and I think when the time came, he had confidence in his decision and what he was going to ultimately do.”
Though the 6.10 ERA over 14 starts he had as a rookie in 2021 made for a rough debut, with only two quality turns of six innings or more and three runs or fewer, Jax still believed in his ability to be a solid major league starter. Competitiveness and pride are often influential feelings for professional athletes but, he acknowledged, there’s also the matter of money. Starting pitchers carry far more earning power than relievers, of course. Jax is already 30 and making $2.365 million in his first year of salary arbitration eligibility. He can’t reach free agency until he’s 33, so he realizes the urgency for building toward his first
big contract. But during their December discussion, Jax was encouraged to see the big picture of his value to the Twins and his overall job satisfaction. “When I tried to take it in that perspective and remove money as much as possible, I just found myself always gravitating back toward the bullpen,” Jax said during the team’s annual fan festival last month at Target Field. “I’m sure part of it is because I failed as
a starter at the big league level and found some pretty good success in the bullpen, but at the same time I feel like my personality just thrives in that back-end, late-inning role now. I almost just look at it as, ‘If it’s not broken, why bother trying to fix it?’”
Jax was reminded, too, that in this era of datadriven strategy, strikeoutfocused pitching and matchupbased bullpen use, the best
relievers in the game can make their share of millions.
“I found some comfort in knowing if I keep doing what I’m doing, I’ll be fine, financially,” said Jax, who posted a 2.03 ERA with 95 strikeouts in 71 innings last season. “I tried to make it more like, ‘Where do I feel my best self?’ That’s, I think, in the bullpen.”
Setting aside his formidable mix of five pitches,
featuring a swing-and-missinducing sweeper and a fastball that averaged 97.1 mph last season, per MLB’s Statcast tracking, Jax has a unique trait that simply fits best in the back of the bullpen. He’s a selfavowed adrenaline junkie who comes from a family full of them.
Jax became the first graduate of the Air Force Academy
Minnesota Twins pitcher Griffin Jax throws during a baseball game against the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas, Aug. 16, 2024.
Carl Walker: The Sound of Justice
By W.D. Foster-Graham Book Review Editor
WALKER
CARL
THE SOUND OF JUSTICE
By Majeste Phillip
As adults of African American and African descent,
it is upon us to teach our children about our history. In a recent Conversation With Al McFarlane show, Dr. Catherine Squires made the observation that, according to studies, African American children who know about their history as African Americans do better in school; and as a by-product, so do White children. Our history has been made not only by those who have gone before us, but those who are still here to receive their flowers. Such is the case with Majeste Phillip’s children’s book Carl Walker: The Sound of Justice.
teaching
justice
the
In his words, “Music will
be
no matter
they are.” As an original
Born in 1939 in East St. Louis, Illinois, Walker has always had a love of music. Because his parents couldn’t afford to pay for piano lessons, he taught himself by watching and listening to others play the piano. At the age of 9, he played for a singer at his church. The singer was so impressed that he offered to pay for Walker’s lessons, which led to his inspiring music teacher, Margarine Olive. In 1960, he became one of the few Black students to continue his music studies at MacPhail College in Minneapolis, where he later met his wife Linda and was blessed with 5 sons. Music was his passion, and yet when God called, Walker answered. After attending North Central University, he started preaching in 1983. Walker beautifully blended the use of music and the Word to touch souls, which ultimately led him to start his own church in St. Paul’s Rondo community, Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church, in 1992. His church established a shelter program to help his community. At the same time, in partnership with his friend Grant West, they established and opened the Walker West Academy, with the
of the
of
I share that
As a man of God, a man who loves music, and a man who is yet dreaming big, I acknowledge Carl Walker for his personal legacy and the one he shares with Grant West through Walker West Academy, an academy rooted in the African American experience. At the end of the day, we never know whose lives we will touch, from amazing musical careers to
Carl Walker: The Sound of Justice is available through Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and the Planting People Growing Justice website (www.
Insight 2 Health
HIV infections could jump over 6 times if US support is dropped and not
By Maria Cheng AP Medical Writer
The head of the U.N. AIDS agency said Monday the number of new HIV infections could jump more than six times by 2029 if American support of the biggest AIDS program is dropped, warning that millions of people could die and more resistant strains of the disease could emerge.
In an interview with The Associated Press, UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima said HIV infections have been falling in recent years, with just 1.3 million new cases recorded in 2023, a 60% decline since the virus peaked in 1995.
But since President Donald Trump’s announcement the U.S. would freeze all foreign assistance for 90 days, Byanyima said officials estimate that by 2029, there could be 8.7 million people newly infected with HIV, a tenfold jump in AIDS-related deaths — to 6.3 million — and an additional 3.4 million children made orphans.
“We will see a surge in this disease,” Byanyima said, speaking from Uganda. “This will cost lives if the American government doesn’t change its mind and maintain its leadership,” she said, adding that it was not her place to criticize any government’s policy.
Byanyima pleaded with the Trump administration not to abruptly cut off funding, which she said has resulted in “panic, fear and confusion” in many of the African countries hardest hit by AIDS.
In one Kenyan county, she said 550 HIV workers were immediately laid off, while thousands of others in Ethiopia were terminated, leaving health officials unable to track the epidemic.
She noted that the loss of U.S. funding to HIV programs in some countries was catastrophic, with external funding, mostly from the U.S.,
accounting for about 90% of their programs. Nearly $400 million goes to countries like Uganda, Mozambique and Tanzania, she said. “We can work with (the Americans) on how to decrease their contribution if they wish to decrease it,” she
said. Byanyima described the American withdrawal from global HIV efforts as the second biggest crisis the field has ever faced — after the yearslong delay it took for poor countries to get the lifesaving antiretrovirals long available in rich countries.
Byanyima also said the loss of American support in efforts to combat HIV was coming at another critical time, with the arrival of what she called “a magical prevention tool” known as lenacapavir, a twice-yearly shot that was shown to offer complete protection against HIV in women, and which worked nearly as well as for men.
Widespread use of that shot, in addition to other interventions to stop HIV, could help end the disease as a public health problem in the next five
years, Byanyima said. She also noted that lenacapavir, sold as Sunlenca, was developed by the American company Gilead.
International aid, Byanyima said, “helped an American company to innovate, to come up with something that will pay them millions and millions, but at the same time prevent new infections in the rest of the world.” The freeze in American funding, she said, didn’t make economic sense.
“We appeal to the U.S. government to review this, to understand that this is mutually beneficial,” she said, noting that foreign assistance makes up less than 1% of the overall U.S. budget. “Why would you need to be so disruptive for that 1%?”
Byanyima said that so far, no other countries or donors have stepped up to fill the void
that will be left by the loss of American aid, but that she plans to visit numerous European capitals to speak with global leaders.
“People are going to die because lifesaving tools have been taken away from them,” she said. “I have not yet heard of any European country committing to step in, but I know they are listening and trying to see where they can come in because they care about rights, about humanity.”
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Alvin Sangma
Gian Ehrenzeller/Keystone via AP, File
Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of Oxfam International, attends the 47th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum, WEF, in Davos, Switzerland, Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017.
NNPA Launches National Public Education Campaign
Washington, DC: The National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), representing the Black Press of America, has announced the planning and implementation of a national public education and selective buying campaign across the nation in direct response to those corporate entities that have dismantled their respective Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) commitments, programs and staffing.
“We are the trusted voice of Black America, and we will not be silent or nonresponsive to the rapid rise of renewed Jim Crow racist policies in corporate America,” stated NNPA Chairman Bobby R. Henry Sr. “The Black Press of America continues to remain on the frontline keeping our families and communities informed and engaged on all the issues that impact our quality of life.”
At a recent convening of NNPA member publishers and editors, a united resolve was reached that each member publication of the NNPA will begin a national public education campaign coupled with the release of research data on those America companies that are engaging in efforts to sanction racial injustice, inequitable polices, divisive leadership, and economic apartheid in America.
“We note forthrightly that Black Americans spend $2 trillion dollars annually as consumers of products and services throughout the United States,” NNPA President and CEO Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. emphasized. “We now must evaluate and realign to question why we continue to spend our money with companies that do not respect us,” Chavis continued. “This now must come to an end. These contradictions will not go unchallenged by 50 million Black Americans who have struggled for centuries to ensure equality, fairness and inclusion in our nation’s democracy.” A selective buying campaign involves exercising the right to select what we spend our money on and who we spend our money with.
The following are some of the major American companies that have publicly retreated from Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: Target Lowe’s John Deer Walmart Meta
