The Washington Informer - July 4, 2024

Conversation About Utility Shutoffs Reaches Council Once Again

Office of the People’s Counsel, Pepco at Odds about Unpaid Bills

By Sam P.K. Collins WI Staff Writer

Since its re-establishment nearly 50 years ago, the Office of the People’s Counsel (OPC) has helped overburdened utilities customers enter payment plans and get their electric, gas, and water and phone service restored.

However, Sandra Mattavous-Frye explained utility companies in recent years have been hard pressed to provide relief to District consumers with unpaid bills, going as far as shut off service during the winter and summer months.

“The utilities are not reaching out for collaboration to improve the service and the life of the consumers we serve,” Mattavous-Frye told The Informer. “Usually consumers go to the utilities and do not get any relief then they would come to us and we’d negotiate a payment plan or settlement… It’s not frequent that we can do that. The consumer would be pressured to pay a certain plan that’s higher than their bill, then they default and are back where they started.”

OPC and Ward 1 D.C. Coun-

A CNN Spectacle, Some Washingtonians Concerned About How Both Candidates Address Issues

By Stacy M. Brown, Harrison Buck and Juan Benn Jr. WI Senior Writer and Chevrolet Discovering the Unexpected Fellows

The first presidential debate of 2024 between President Joe Biden and criminally convicted former President Donald Trump was filled with false facts and heavy criticism. CNN, which declined to provide Black-owned media with any of the more than 800 credentials it passed out, enabled a boat load of misinformation and flat-out lies to pass through their airwaves like bad wind.

“Absolutely disgraceful that the CNN moderators refuse to factcheck Trump on anything,” said human rights activist and attorney Qasim Rashid. “This is journalistic malpractice, and it is decimating our democracy.”

Writer and attorney Olayemi Olurin noted that the journalists and current president should have been better equipped to make

Two Returning Citizens to Forgo 4th of July Celebrations

Antone White, Eric Hicks Broaden Movement for Justice and Reparations

By Sam P.K. Collins WI Staff Writer

As people across the nation gear up to commemorate 248 years of American independence, Antone White said he, for another year, won’t partake in any celebrations this July 4, out of his belief that Black people need to shift their collective focus.

“That day is a pagan celebration that comes with something negative,” said White, founder and executive director of Our City DC, a digital platform focused on fostering urban unity and

tackling gun violence. “A lot of people who possess guns and lack discipline want to fire their pistols up in the air.” White, a returning citizen, joined two other returning citizens -- Eric Hicks and ex-drug trafficker Ricky Donnell “Freeway Rick” Ross -- at a virtual event on June 8 intended to unite organizers in not only tackling gun violence that has plagued the U.S. and other countries in the Western Hemisphere, but determining the source of that dysfunction.

Poor People’s Campaign Moral March on Washington Draws National Crowd

By Ashleigh Fields WI Contributing Writer

Barber II ignited the crowd by emphasizing minimum wage workers control the crucial swing vote in various states.

“In this time poor people, low wage workers, religious leaders and moral advocates, we join voices today, hear us America, to declare MORAL MARCH Page 44 DEBATE Page 42

Union workers from across the United States assembled for the Moral March on Washington held adjacent to the Capitol on Saturday, June 29, where the Rev. William

THE FIRST PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE OF 2024:

5Antone White, a returning citizen and founder of Our City DC, often speaks to residents at the D.C. Jail. He doesn't plan to partake in July 4 celebrations this year. (Courtesy Photo)

5 Daccarri Ivy and her nephew attend the Mass Poor People’s and Low Wage Workers Assembly in Washington, D.C. (Ashleigh Fields/The Washington Informer)

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

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Supreme Court Blocks Some Charges Against Trump with Immunity Decision, Leaves Key Election Interference Allegations Intact

On Monday, July 1, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that former President Donald Trump has immunity for some of his conduct during his presidency in his federal election interference case; however, other actions may not be protected. This decision adds another layer of complexity to the potential trial proceedings.

In a closely watched case exploring the boundaries of presidential power, the justices voted 6-3 along ideological lines to reject Trump’s sweeping immunity claim. The ruling means that charges related to his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results will not be dismissed outright. However, the court indicated that actions closely tied to his presidential duties are off-limits to prosecutors.

Trump has already been convicted on 34 felony charges related to a hush-money scheme to conceal an extramarital affair with an adult film star while Melania

Trump was pregnant.

Chief Justice John Roberts, writing for the majority, emphasized the need for lower courts to examine further which actions Trump can be prosecuted for.

“The president is not above the law,” Roberts wrote. “But Congress may not criminalize the president’s conduct in carrying out the responsibilities of the executive branch under the Constitution.”

The ruling leaves the future of the case uncertain, requiring further proceedings before the U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan. Judge Chutkan will now review other alleged conduct by Trump, including his communications with state election officials, private parties, and members of the public, to determine if they qualify as official acts.

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, in a strongly worded dis-

IMMUNITY Page 5

Bullis Athletes Qualify for 2024 Olympics

The track and field team at Bullis High School in Potomac, Maryland is known for producing high quality athletes like Masai Russell and Quincy Wilson, both of whom recently qualified for the 2024 Olympics.

Russell, who graduated from Bullis in 2018 and University of Kentucky in 2022, will represent the United States in the women’s 100 meter hurdles as the top qualifier with a time of 12.25. Wilson, a rising high school junior, will run in the men's 4x400 meter relay.

“I have so many emotions because this has been the hardest season of my life. People were doubting me. Talking about ever since I signed with Nike I’ve been trash,” Russell told NBC reporters after her race.

At the University of Kentucky, Russell became the U.S NCAA record holder in the 100m hurdles and yes-

terday she again made history as one of 10 women to break 12.30 seconds in the event.

“I just stayed true to myself, my work and my craft and this is all God,” the 2018 Bullis graduate shared publicly after running the fastest time in the world this year and breaking the U.S. trials record.

Wilson remains on the track team at Bullis training under Coach Joe Lee with an expected graduation date of 2026. His performance at the 2024 U.S. Olympic trials in Eugene, Oregon was extraordinary as he broke the under 18 world record three times in a row for the 400 meter dash, with his best time clocking a blazing 44.59 seconds running across the finish line in a uniform touting the Maryland state flag.

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Read more on washingtoninformer.com

Wizards Draft Sarr, Carrington, and George Avdija Traded for 14th Pick, Future Assets

The Washington Wizards, coming off a year of rebuilding and player development, had the second overall draft pick and chose French big man Alexandre Sarr. Reportedly, Sarr had particular interest in coming to the Wizards. Sarr is described as an athletic defender, and was consistently rated among the top players in this draft class.

Forward Zachary Rissacher, who was drafted first overall by the Atlanta Hawks, is also French and four of the players selected in the first round hail from France.

Just before the draft began on June 26, the Wizards traded away defensive-oriented forward Deni Avdija to the Portland Trail Blazers for efficient lead guard Malcom Brogdon, the 14th overall draft pick, a 2029 first round draft pick, and multiple second round picks.

The 14th overall pick was used on 18-year-old, 6-footfour-inch point guard Bub Carrington from the University of Pittsburgh, a big guard with potential who can develop over the years. The 24th pick selected was 6-footseven-inch forward Keyshawn George, who has great up-

side as a scoring threat from three-point range.

The Wizards are likely to trade away point guard Tyus Jones and scoring guard Landry Shamet during or before the free agency period of the offseason.

Star forward Kyle Kuzma has garnered significant trade interest and is also a possible trade piece, with the Sacramento Kings rumored as a potential trade partner.

The Wizards are not expected to be competitive next year, and will likely prioritize short contracts and long-term draft capital.

The 2025 draft class is expected to have several strong prospects, including Cooper Flagg and Ace Bailey, that teams will be tanking to secure.

Bronny James, the son of basketball legend LeBron James, was drafted by the Lakers with the 55th overall pick. This marks the first time a father-son duo have ever been on the same NBA roster, or even been in the NBA simultaneously. WI

Read more on washingtoninformer.com

In Memoriam Dr. Calvin W. Rolark, Sr. Wilhelmina J. Rolark

What is the Fourth of July to Black Washingtonians? Residents Weigh in on Celebrating Independence Day

By Juan Benn Jr. & Harrison Buck

Chevrolet Discover the Unexpected Fellows

While many Americans will be celebrating America’s Independence Day with backyard barbecues and fireworks, Anacostia resident Faenita Dilworth will be opting out of all the July 4 pomp and circumstance.

“I do not [celebrate the Fourth],” Dilworth, a life coach and trainer, told The Informer. “[The day] is very much about independence, and I haven’t seen Black people have full independence and full freedom in this country. That’s why I don’t celebrate it, and I never have.”

Independence Day acknowledges the United States’ secession from Great Britain, which freed early American settlers from the monarchy’s taxes and control on July 4, 1776. However, many Black Washingtonians and African Americans nationwide believe that their fight for freedom from oppressive powers is ongoing.

“I don’t feel very free,” said Moniquea, a District resident standing outside of Busboys and Poets on Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE, who did not offer her last name.

A LONGTIME QUESTION OF TRUE FREEDOM

According to ThinkNow, a cross-cultural marketing research company, 40% of Black Americans said they do not celebrate the Fourth of July.

Ambivalent feelings around the holiday have been pervasive within the Black community since the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776.

Derrick Spires, an associate professor of Literatures in English at Cornell University, told the Cornell Chronicle that Black people navigated a “national double-speak”--- white Americans celebrated their own freedom, while dehumanizing and enslaving African people and displacing generations of Native Americans.

Three quarters of a century after the first Fourth of July celebrations were recorded in Philadelphia, Frederick Douglass delivered a speech to the Ladies' Anti-Slavery Society in Rochester, New York, entitled, “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?”

In it, he admonished the United States for its hypocritical celebrations for freedom.

“To him, your celebration is a sham,” said Douglass. “Your boasted liberty, an unholy license; your national greatness, swelling vanity; your sounds of rejoicing are empty and heartless; your denunciations of tyrants, brass fronted impudence; your shouts of liberty and equality, hollow mockery… a thin veil to cover up crimes which would disgrace a nation of savages. There is not a nation on the earth guilty of practices, more shocking and bloody, than are the people of these United States, at this very hour.”

CAVEATS IN CELEBRATING THE FOURTH

While some Washingtonians explained they technically don’t celebrate the Fourth of July, they also use the day to gather with loved ones.

“We don’t celebrate it, but we celebrate it,” said Briana Hunts. “I use

this as a form of a way for me and my family to get together and create memories though that day.”

Hunts’ experience reflects that of many Black Americans, inside and outside of the District, who spend the day convening with family–not to celebrate the Fourth of July, but, rather, observe the national holiday.

Some Black Washingtonians, however, would rather celebrate a

day that honors their history and live experiences in this country. And for many, Juneteenth has filled that gap.

The holiday commemorates the day in 1865 when enslaved people in Texas learned of their freedom, and President Joe Biden declared Juneteenth a federal holiday in 2021.

“I celebrate Juneteenth,” said Moniquea. “And then on the Fourth of July, go to work.” WI

IMMUNITY from Page 4

sent, accused the conservative majority of creating a dangerous precedent by establishing a new model of presidential accountability that grants undue immunity to the highest office.

“With that understanding of how our system of accountability for criminal acts ordinarily functions, it becomes much easier to see that the majority’s ruling in this case breaks

new and dangerous ground,” Jackson wrote. “Departing from the traditional model of individual accountability, the majority has concocted something entirely different: a Presidential accountability model that creates immunity — an exemption from criminal law — applicable only to the most powerful official in our Government,” she added. WI

5Spectators gather on the steps of the Thomas Jefferson Memorial in Washington, D.C. to watch the annual fireworks display on July 4, 2023. (Juan Benn Jr./The Washington Informer)

5 People sit by the Tidal Basin at the Thomas Jefferson Memorial in Washington, D.C., to watch the annual fireworks display on July 4, 2023. (Juan Benn Jr./The Washington Informer)

AROUND THE REGION

black facts

JULY 4

1881 – Tuskegee University is founded in Tuskegee, Alabama.

1910 – Jack Johnson, the first Black heavyweight champion, defends his title by knocking out "The Great White Hope," Jim Jeffries, in Nevada.

1938 – Singer-songwriter Bill Withers is born in Slab Fork, West Virginia.

JULY 5

1975 – Arthur Ashe defeats defending Wimbledon champion Jimmy Connors, becoming the first African American man to win the singles title in the tournament.

JULY 6

1957 – Tennis star Althea Gibson became the first Black tennis player to win Wimbledon, defeating fellow American Darlene Hard in straight sets.

1971 – Legendary jazz trumpeter Louis "Satchmo"Armstrong dies of a heart attack in New York City.

1979 – Musician and D.C. native Van McCoy, best known for his 1975 smash "The Hustle," dies in Englewood, New Jersey.

JULY 7

1913 – Negro leagues baseball legend Leroy "Satchel" Paige is born in Mobile, Alabama. 1913 – Blues pianist Pinetop Perkins is born in Belzoni, Mississippi.

1915 – American poet and writer Margaret Walker, author of "Jubilee," is born in Birmingham, Alabama.

1972 – Hall of Fame basketball player Lisa Leslie, the first player to dunk in a WNBA game, is born in Gardena, California.

JULY 8

1908 – Swing-era bandleader and musician Louis Jordan, "The King of the Jukebox," is born in Brinkley, Arkansas.

1914 – Famed jazz singer Billy Eckstine is born in Pittsburgh.

2000 – Tennis legend Venus Williams defeats Lindsay Davenport to win the Wimbledon women's singles championship, the first Black woman to do so since Althea Gibson in 1958. Exactly a year later, Williams successfully defended her title, knocking off Justine Henin in the finals.

JULY 9

1901 – Actor and composer Jester Hairston of "Amos 'n' Andy" and "Amen" fame, is born in Belews Creek, North Carolina.

JULY 10

1875 – Civil rights luminary Mary McLeod Bethune is born in Mayesville, South Carolina.

1893 – Dr. Daniel Hale Williams performs the world's first open-heart surgery at Provident Hospital in Chicago on a man stabbed in the chest.

1941 – Iconic ragtime and jazz pianist Jelly Roll Morton dies in Los Angeles at the age of 50.

1943 – Tennis great Arthur Ashe is born in Richmond, Virginia.

1973 – The Bahamas is declared a fully independent nation. WI

ARTHUR ASHE

ALTHEA GIBSON

VENUS WILLIAMS

AROUND THE REGION

view

BY SARAFINA WRIGHT

Do you celebrate the Fourth of July, why or why not?

LETITIA NEWMAN / WASHINGTON, D.C.

My family, we celebrate the [Fourth of July], we normally have a big cookout every year. We’re just using this day to get together and light fireworks, because our Independence Day is Juneteenth.

LISA FLETCHER / WASHINGTON, D.C.

I don’t like [the Fourth of July]. The fireworks, the trash, I just don’t like it and I wish D.C. would stop letting them bring fireworks in the city, because we don’t need them… I celebrate [Fourth of July] because of the kids, but I don’t like it… I don’t buy [fireworks] either. I’d rather watch them on TV.

MARQUI DUDGER / WASHINGTON, D.C.

“I celebrate the Fourth of July because it brings people together. I don’t get caught up in the analytics or politics of it all, I just like the fact that it brings our people together, whether it’s for the fireworks or just for the food, that’s why I celebrate the Fourth of July.”

TERRANCE CLARK / WASHINGTON, D.C.

“I celebrate the Fourth of July because I like to watch the fireworks. I do fireworks sometimes, but I like watching them. It’s cool!”

Surgeon General Declares Gun Violence a Public Health Crisis Amidst D.C. Efforts to Combat Rising Fatalities

By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer

U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy has declared firearm violence a public health crisis, highlighting its severe impact on both physical and mental health across the nation.

In an advisory issued Tuesday, June 25, Murthy emphasized that gun violence poses a “serious threat to the health and well-being of our country.”

Murthy’s declaration comes as Washington, D.C., works to combat gun-related fatalities.

In April, Mayor Muriel Bowser announced $330,000 in mini-grants for community-building individuals and nonprofits as part of the Building Blocks DC program. This initiative addresses gun violence at the community level by providing “mini” and “mini-plus” grants worth $5,000 and $15,000, respectively.

5U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy has declared firearm violence a public health crisis. (WI File Photo)

a decrease in homicides nationwide.

Our staff is made up of writers, just like you. We are dedicated to making publishing dreams come true. Trusted by authors for nearly 100 years, Dorrance has made countless authors’ dreams come true.

“These grants are one way we support people who know our community and who know our young people, and they are helping us build a safer, stronger D.C.,” Bowser said in a press release.

Data from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) indicated that 2023 was the deadliest year for gun violence in the District since 1997, with 234 fatalities. However, the rate of homicides involving guns in 2024 has decreased by over 20% compared to the same period last year, according to MPD data. According to AH Datalytics, this trend coincides with

While 2024 shows promising gains in D.C. and nationally, the Surgeon General’s advisory underscores the need for continued efforts. The advisory highlights that firearm-related deaths in 2021 reached a near three-decade high due to increases in both gun homicides and suicides.

In 2022, 48,204 people died from firearm-related injuries, with suicides accounting for 56.1% and homicides accounting for about 40% of these deaths.

“The problem has continued to grow,” Murthy stated, referencing data showing that 54% of U.S. adults have experienced a firearm-related incident.

He also pointed out the disproportionate impact on specific communities, stating, “Black individuals endure the highest rates of firearm homicides, while suicide rates are highest among veterans, older white individuals, and younger American Indian and Alaska Native people.”

Murthy also highlighted the tragic impact of gun violence on children. Since 2020, it has been the leading cause of death among children and adolescents, surpassing car accidents, drug overdoses, and cancer.

“I have sat with parents who have lost a child to firearm violence,” Murthy shared. “As a father, I know a parent’s worst nightmare is to lose a child, to feel like you can’t protect your child from harm.”

Comparative data from 2015 revealed that the rate of firearm-related deaths in the United States was 11.4 times higher than in 28 other

high-income nations, according to the Centers for Disease Control and World Health Organization. The mental and emotional toll of gun violence is also significant, with the report noting increased rates of depression and psychiatric disorders among families and communities affected by shootings.

The advisory proposes a public health approach to tackle gun violence, akin to strategies used to address cigarette smoking and reduce motor vehicle deaths. It calls for increased federal investment in firearm violence research, community-based intervention, and education programs, and encouraging health systems to discuss safe firearm storage with patients.

Policy recommendations include:

• Enacting laws on safe storage.

• Implementing universal background checks.

• Banning assault weapons and large-capacity magazines.

• Increasing mental health care.

• Enforcing effective firearm removal policies under extreme risk protection and domestic violence protection orders.

While some states have adopted these measures, federal legislation has faced significant opposition. Data from the Giffords Law Center indicates that “states with strong gun laws have fewer gun deaths.”

“A public health approach can guide our strategy and actions,” the advisory concluded. “The safety and well-being of our children and future generations are at stake.”

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Gen Z Takes to the White House for Pro-Palestinian Protest Young Adults Weigh In on General Election

By Ashleigh Fields WI Contributing Writer

Hundreds of thousands of young adult activists are taking to social media and protesting in the streets, in solidarity with the people living in the Gaza region subject to bombings, airstrikes and famine daily, forcing them to live among the rubble of what their communities used to be. Many recently gathered at the White House hoping to voice their concerns on the conflict to President Joe Biden, and statistics show more than half of young voters are prioritizing the war in Gaza as they consider placing ballots in the general election in November.

“As an American citizen, I so feel complicit in the genocide because its my tax dollars going to fund it,” said 27-year-old demonstrator, Samer El-Amine, who took to the White House gates on June 8.

Activists are helping get the Palestinian pleas to the masses. The Israeli government has banned foreign news outlets like the Associated Press and Al Jazeera from documenting catastrophes on the ground in real time. However, social media has helped close the information gap.

El-Almine, a club promoter in D.C. said he rarely posts about politics, but as a second generation Lebanese-American, he told The Informer there’s been too much controversy to remain silent on social platforms. Now, in addition to light hearted ads for evening events, his feed also features statistics about deaths in Gaza.

“There’s a long ranging history of the conflict between Lebanon, Palestine and Israel which precedes [October 7, 2023]. My family has been heavily affected due to Israeli aggressions toward Lebanon which has shaped my dad and his brothers experiences growing up,” explained El-Almine. “They had to move and leave to seek refuge.”

Olivia Ardito, told The Informer social media makes the devastation in Gaza hard to ignore.

“I think so many people, especially Gen Z, showed up to the protest because it’s impossible to ignore the violence and tragedy happening, even in far away places, because of social media. Because of how information can spread from real people on the ground, Gen Z is watching and aware. How could you see so much pain and suffering and not be outraged over it,” Ardito, a protestor from Canada asked.

CALL FOR PERMANENT CEASEFIRE IMPORTANT TO YOUNG VOTERS

According to a Harvard Kennedy School poll, 51% of young adults ages 18-29 support a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, while 10% oppose. Eligible young voters deeply care about how the conflict in Gaza is being addressed.

“We are at the age where we can vote, we pay our taxes, and understand how the government works. Many of us are unhappy with how our taxpayer dollars are contributing to the violence and our politicians aren’t listening to our desires. Because of that, we protest,” Ardito explained.

Attendees said that Jewish organizers against zionism helped facilitate buses of people from as far as the West Coast to South Florida to D.C. in hopes of raising awareness around the conflict.

“I was astonished by how many people showed up to the White House to protest the war on Gaza. I first heard about it from friends from my hometown in Florida that were taking free shuttles up to D.C.,” said Kailynn Bannon, 20. “There were people waving flags, shouting from megaphones… banging drums and playing music while chanting for hours. It gave me chills to see so many people come together and show their support for Gaza.”

Biden, who was out of the country during the demonstration, is currently working with Israel and

AROUND THE REGION

its counterparts to draft a ceasefire. In his draft proposal, the initial step toward peace would include Israel’s full withdrawal from Gaza.

“Everyone from the United Nations Security Council straight through to the G7 to the Israelis and Netanyahu himself have endorsed the plan I put forward which has three stages to it,” Biden said during the presidential debate on June 27. “The first stage is to trade the hostages for a ceasefire. Second phase is a ceasefire with additional conditions. The third phase is the end of the war. The only one who wants the war to continue is Hamas. They’re the only ones standing out. We’re still pushing hard to get them to accept.”

WI

5Hundreds of thousands of young adult activists are taking to social media and protesting in the streets, in solidarity with the people living in the Gaza region subject to bombings, airstrikes and famine daily. (WI File Photo/Ja’Mon Jackson)

AROUND THE REGION

CAPTURE THE MOMENT

“Those who profess to favor freedom, and yet deprecate agitation, are men who want crops without plowing up the ground. They want rain without thunder and lightning.”

– Frederick Douglass

On Saturday, June 29, Brentwood and North Brentwood unveiled an art installation, “Moving Forward, Together,” to replace the highway segregation barrier that long separated the towns on Windom Road. Created by artists Nehemiah Dixon III and Wesley Clark, the sculpture replaces a symbol of segregation with art dedicated to racial reconciliation. Dixon’s design features a sculpture of two hands lifting the barrier in the air so that the two towns walk freely beneath it. (Anthony Tilghman/The Washington Informer)

Funkmaster George Clinton reading the latest issue of The Washington Informer Newspaper. (Ja'Mon Jackson/ The Washington Informer)

U.S. State Department, Google, and YouTube Partner to Spread American Music Around the World

By Brenda C. Siler WI Contribution Writer

U.S. diplomacy extends beyond negotiating with world leaders and also encompasses cultural exchanges, where American entertainers visit other countries to strengthen relationships. In the U.S. State Department Treaty Room, Secretary of State Antony Blinken presented a new partnership with Google and YouTube to introduce the U.S. Global Music Ambassadors.

The ambassadors include Chuck D, Grace Bowers, BRELAND, Kane Brown, Herbie Hancock, Denyce Graves, Jelly Roll, Teddy Swims, Justin Tranter, Armani White, and Lainey Wilson. These music artists represent rap, blues, jazz, country, pop, classical, and soul music

“This is truly an extraordinary assemblage of talent,” said Blinken. “Music has a unique power in diplomacy, to communicate, to connect, to express who we are, and where we come from.”

Along with Blinken introducing the music ambassadors, he announced a new partnership with YouTube, and said Lyor Cohen, global head of music for Google and YouTube, immediately wanted to explore how his company could be involved after hearing about the program last fall.

A THRILL OF A LIFETIME FOR MUSICAL AMBASSADORS

American musicians began traveling to other countries for U.S. State Department cultural outreach nearly 80 years ago, and with the musical ambassadors such initiatives are continuing.

Often referenced, is Louis Armstrong traveling to Ghana and finding a kinship with the people he met and their work towards liberation. Leonard Berstein and the New York Philharmonic traveled to Moscow during the Cold War. Whitney Houston went to South Africa and performed standing with the country’s new president Nelson Mandela.

Cohen called YouTube the world’s largest virtual stage, in more than 100 countries and 80 languages.

“I never would have imagined that I would have the honor and privilege to stand here,” said Cohen about col-

5The U.S. Department of State presented the U.S. Global Music Ambassadors, an initiative in partnership with Google and YouTube, in the Treaty Room at the State Department on June 24. Mezzo-soprano opera singer Denyce Graves, composer Justin Tranter, rapper Chuck D, Lyor Cohen, global head of music for Google and YouTube, U.S, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, country singer Lainey Wilson, composer/producer/singer BRELAND, blues singer Grace Bowers, and rapper Armani White were present for the event. (Jacques Benovil/The Washington Informer)

laborating with the U.S. State Department. “I cannot think of a better partnership for all of us to come together and promote global peace through music.”

Cohen’s career in music spans 40 years. At age 21, he was road manager for Run-D.M.C. and the Beastie Boys. He also managed Public Enemy, the group that Chuck D is still with.

This group of global music ambassadors represents different musical genres, ages, races, genders, and advocacy issues.

ChuckD compared this cultural initiative to the music business.

“Peace, like good music, is easy to achieve. It takes time, detail, persistence, resilience, refinement, honesty, and creativity,” said Chuck D, one of the founding members of Public Enemy.

Mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves, a native Washingtonian and Duke Ellington School for the Performing Arts graduate, said she is thrilled to be included as a musical ambassador.

“In times of crises, we have to find an agent that will be universal,” Graves said about this opportunity. “I feel a great sense of responsibility and pride growing up in Washington, D.C., to be in this room.

Songwriter Justin Tranter emphasized that he does not take his new role as a global music ambassador lightly. He started in the music business as a band member in 2005. His compositions have been performed by Justin

Bieber, Selena Gomez, Britney Spears, Gwen Stefani, Imagine Dragons, Maroon 5, and other artists.

“I am in two communities, the LGBTQ+ and as a songwriter,” said Tranter, “I feel my communities have so much to offer in terms of storytelling and knowing how to ‘fight the good fight’”

BRELAND, a songwriter, producer, and performer, has close ties to D.C. He graduated from Georgetown University and proudly stated that his parents and grandparents graduated from Howard University. So far in his career as a musician, he has traveled to Australia, South Africa, and Europe and will soon depart for Korea. He said returning to D.C. for the music ambassador announcement represents a new chapter in his life.

“It’s an extension of what I have been doing,” said BRELAND, who has worked with Keith Urban, Ty Dolla $ign, Trey Songz, Chris Brown, and Kehlani. “I’ve seen firsthand how powerful music can be to connect with people with everything happening in the world.”

The countries where these talented musicians will travel have yet to be named. The reality of this appointment will set in as they are warmly greeted in other countries as U.S. Global Music Ambassadors.

Read more on washingtoninfomer.com WI @bcscomm

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY

Prince George’s County Political Updates

By Richard Elliott WI Contributing Reporter

NEW MARYLAND LAWS GO INTO EFFECT ON JULY 1

Laws passed during the most recent General Assembly session will go into effect on July 1. Some of the more than 300 news laws include:

• Easing the construction and development of data centers

• Reforming the state’s juvenile justice system

• A grant to provide security for abortion clinics

• Preventing books from being banned for ideological or partisan reasons

• Creating a state 988 number for mental health crises

• Grants for nonprofits in areas of concentrated child poverty

• Banning the speculative sale of event tickets

• Ban the use of a vape while indoors, in transit, or the workplace

• Ban the use of legacy or donor status for admission to public colleges

A more comprehensive list of bills going into effect is available here.

CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION SECURES TRANSIT VICTORIES

State House and Senate members are working to secure congressional funding to address local transportation issues and needs.

Maryland Democratic U.S. Sens. Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen and Rep. Glenn Ivey (DMd.) announced over $650,000 in funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation to develop comprehensive safety action plans aimed at preventing serious-injury and fatal roadway crashes in Laurel and New Carrollton on June 5.

“On behalf of our entire community, I want to thank the Department of Transportation for awarding us the Safe Streets and Roads for All grant,” said Mayor Keith R. Sydnor, Laurel’s first

Black Mayor. “This grant represents a significant step forward in our commitment to improving road safety and enhancing the quality of life for all our residents. With this funding, we will implement critical infrastructure improvements that will make our streets safer for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers alike.”

On June 13, an additional $1.3 million was announced to improve accessibility at the University of Maryland- College Park’s MARC stop. These renovations will include new 600-foot, low-level platforms that allow riders to easily board and depart at the station and additional safety protections in and around the station that will directly meet the needs of passengers with disabilities.

3 The Maryland gas tax rate will go down nearly 1 cent per gallon on July 1. The gas tax, which is tied to inflation and the consumer price index, went up by almost 7 cents last July. (Rob Roberts/The Washington Informer)

“Accessible public transportation is vital to Marylanders. It helps them get to work, enjoy leisure time and strengthens our economy. Improving our MARC station in College Park gives opportunities for people with disabilities to go more places and do more,” said Ivey. “I commend Senators Cardin and Van Hollen for shepherding this money through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Equal access for all starts with making transit a real and easier option.”

Accessible transportations is core to the Maryland Department of Transportation’s (MDOT’s) mission, according to Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul J. Wiedefeld, who also noted the importance of the funding in advancing the agency’s work.

“This funding will help advance our efforts to build low-level platforms for riders to easily access trains as well as added safety protections,” Weidefeld said. “The funding further supports building an integrated, multi-modal hub in College Park that will connect the MARC Camden Line station to WMATA and the future Purple Line. Thank you to Team Maryland’s federal delegation for supporting this grant and our work to further connect all of our passengers to opportunities.”

WI

GAS TAX TO SLIGHTLY DECREASE IN JULY

Maryland’s gas tax will decrease by almost 1 cent to 46.10 cents per gallon on July 1, in a slight relief to consumers. This is the third such decrease since the 2013 passage of a law to link the gas tax rate to inflation.

Each year, the Comptroller sets and announces the new gas tax rate by June 1 to implement on July 1. Last July, the gas tax rate went up almost 7 cents per gallon due to high inflation rates.

“Due to a decrease in pre-tax gasoline prices, the Sales and Use Tax Equivalent decreases by 2.0 cents per gallon,” Bureau of Rev-

enue Estimates Director Robert Rehrmann wrote in a letter to Governor Wes Moore (D) and legislative leaders. “The new rates, as a result of slower inflation and lower fuel prices, decrease by 0.9 cents per gallon.”

WI

ALSOBROOKS LEADS HOGAN IN POSTPRIMARY POLLING

In the most recent Senate polling between Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks (D) and former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan (R), Alsobrooks is leading by a double-digit margin in both polling and favorability.

Public Policy Polling measured Alsobrooks’ support at 45% compared to Hogan’s 34%, with minor candidates receiving 5% support and less than 20% of voters remaining undecided.

Shortly before the primary, the same polling firm measured a nine-point lead for Alsobrooks, at 46% support to Hogan’s 37%.

An Emerson College poll in May also had Alsobrooks ahead of Hogan, 48% to 38%.

Hogan, who has historically relied upon Democratic and independent voters to win statewide races, currently has the support of 15% of Democrats in this poll. Meanwhile, many conservative Republicans who are critical of aspects of Hogan’s record view him unfavorably in spite of the Trump endorsement.

Alsobrooks has consistently shown her support for upholding reproductive rights and has tied Hogan to former President Trump’s quest for a legislative majority in the Senate, while Hogan has focused on concerns regarding crime, taxes, and immigration.

Alsobrooks has been endorsed by Vice President Kamala Harris (D), Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D), and national organizations Planned Parenthood and Higher Heights.

Hogan has been endorsed by presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump (R), Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R), and former Judiciary Committee Chairman Bobby Zirkin (D).

WI

By Richard Elliott WI Contributing Reporter

JAMAL JONGO NOW

SERVING AS NEW STUDENT MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF ED

Rising Frederick Douglass senior Jamal J. Jongo was elected by his fellow students to serve as the student member of the Prince George’s County Board of Education on May 21.

“As a student leader, athlete and business owner I am aware of the importance of the student voice,” Jongo said.”

Jongo, who serves as the Student Government Association (SGA) Vice President at Frederick Douglass, had a platform of open and transparent communication, expanding mental health services, and advocacy for grade point average (GPA) recovery opportunities.

In this role, he will serve as an official member of the Board, with voting rights on all issues excluding budget and personnel issues.

“In order for us to create change and hear the full voice of the student body, we must band together,” Jongo continued. “I look forward to amplifying student voices and advocating for positive change on a broader scale.” WI

JOHN AND MARY TRAVERS CELEBRATE

70TH ANNIVERSARY

Local and national leaders, as well as family and friends celebrated with Accokeek couple John and Mary Travers, as they commemorated their 70th anniversary in June.

The couple, who first married in 1954, were presented with a proclamation from the State of Maryland by Delegate Edith Patterson (D- District 26) and signed by President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and Congressman Steny Hoyer (D- District 5) for reaching their platinum anniversary.

The couple. who had nine children and also adopted a nephew, cite having successful children as

one of their greatest joys. According to statistics, only one in 1000 marriages are expected to reach 70 years.WI

COUNTY FIREFIGHTERS RE-ASSIGNED TO ADDRESS BURNOUT, STAFFING SHORTAGES

In early June, Prince George’s Fire Chief Tiffany Green re-assigned career firefighters in an attempt to reduce overtime and worker burnout. Firefighters from Greenbelt, Bowie, Berwyn Heights, and Bunker Hill were temporarily detailed to other stations beginning on June 30.

“The Department realizes the significant negative impact that excessive mandatory callbacks and holdovers had on our personnel during last year’s peak leave season,” said Green in a June letter addressed to all sworn, civilian, and volunteer firefighters in the county. “Despite the accomplishments for additional staffing, short-term solutions to address our critical staffing shortages and the potential for burnout during this year’s peak leave season are necessary.”

The Prince George’s Fire Department has been given County Council approval to hire an additional 150 firefighters to address the critical staffing shortage, and Green is expecting 33 firefighters to begin in July with a cohort of 53 recruits who are expected to complete training this year.

College Park Mayor Fazlul Kabir wrote a letter to Chief Green, the 21st District Delegation, and other elected officials on June 18 to raise his concerns.

“I am writing to you on behalf of College Park residents and the City Council regarding the recently announced career staffing cuts to the Greenbelt and Berwyn Heights Fire/EMS Station,” said Kabir. “These stations serve our residents and the reduction in staffing could lead to longer response times and impacts on residents’ safety.”

PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY

On June 18, Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen (both D) voted to pass the Fire Grants and Safety Act, which would provide additional federal funding to support local fire stations by re-authorizing a prior federal grant. This funding could be used to purchase essential equipment, hire new firefighters, and develop training and education programs.

Over the last two years, $339,260 for the College Park Volunteer Fire Department and $458,400 for the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute at the University of Maryland were secured through federal grants. WI

5 Jamal J. Jongo, a rising senior at Frederick Douglass High School, will now serve as the Student Member of the Board of Education. In this role, he can vote on all matters before the Board excluding budget and personnel issues. (Anthony Tilghman/ The Washington Informer)

BUSINESS

By James Wright / WI Staff Writer

SPIVA JOINS CAMPAIGN LEGAL CENTER

The Campaign Legal Center (CLC) announced that District attorney Bruce V. Spiva, an election law and voting rights attorney and community leader, who ran for the Democratic nomination for D.C. attorney general in 2022, has joined the organization as a senior vice president.

Bruce will work closely with CLC’s senior vice president Paul Smith to provide guidance to the voting rights, redistricting and strategic litigation teams through the 2024 election and beyond.

“We are proud and pleased to welcome Bruce to CLC during the critical juncture for our organization and nation,” said Trevor Potter, founder and president of the Campaign Legal Center. “Bruce’s expertise and abilities will play a vital role in helping CLC address the significant challenges our facing democracy, and we are glad to have him on board.”

briefs

Spiva said he is thrilled to be joining the CLC team with a group of “advocates seeking to protect every American's right to participate equally in the democratic process.”

“CLC has built a policy and litigation powerhouse at a time when it is needed most. I am eager and ready to put my shoulders behind the wheel,” Spiva continued. WI

WELLS FARGO GIVES $500K TO D.C. AREA GROUPS

In recognition of National Homeownership Month in June, the Wells Fargo Foundation announced that it has joined forces with five D.C.area nonprofits as part of a local effort to address systemic barriers to housing.

The $500,000 in grant funding provides resources to create and preserve generational wealth through homeownership in the Greater Washington region.

Grants have been awarded to the following nonprofits:

Building Bridges Across the River will get $100,000 to support the development of a closing cost fund that will provide a small grant to households who are near completion of the homebuying process through the Ward 8 Homebuyers Club, a key strategy of the 11th Street Bridge Park’s equitable development plan.

Manna Inc. will receive $100,000 to support the implementation of a Saving Match and Debt Reduction program. This initiative will assist residents working with Manna Inc., housing counselors, to build their savings by matching their contributions up to a certain amount.

Latino Economic Development Center will get $100,000 to support the center’s Housing Counseling program to help prospective first-time

homebuyers understand the process and responsibilities of homeownership.

Centro de Apoyo Familiar will receive $100,000 to provide heirs property and estate planning to low-to-moderate income residents of the District and Prince George’s County.

DC Affordable Law Firm will get $100,000 to partner with housing counseling organizations in the District to provide estate planning to clients going through housing counseling to ensure clients have the knowledge to preserve generational wealth.

"Wells Fargo is dedicated to developing solutions that increase the supply of homes that are affordable and support families in realizing the dream

of homeownership and opportunities for building wealth,” said Victor Burrola, Wells Fargo’s vice president of philanthropy and community impact for Washington, D.C.

Scott Kratz, senior vice president of Building Bridges Across the River and director of the 11th Street Bridge Project said, “for the last six years, the Ward 8 Home Buyers Club has helped 153 Ward 8 renters become homeowners building intergenerational wealth east of the river.”

“We are so grateful to Wells Fargo for helping to build a more reputable and inclusive Washington, D.C.,” said Kratz. WI

FAMOUS AMOS INITIATIVE

Ferrero North America, in partnership with the U.S. Black Chambers Inc., announced its 2024 Famous Amos Ingredients for Success Entrepreneurs Initiative, an annual national program in its fourth year that provides a capital award, resources and mentorship services to Black early-stage businesses. WI

Read more on washingtoninformer.com

Bid Opportunity

PARKING OPERATIONS AND MANANAGMENT SERVICES REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP)

BONFIRE Bid # 24-S-212-051

The Washington Convention and Sports Authority t/a Events DC is soliciting proposals from qualified contractors to provide Parking Operations and Management Services for the RFK Stadium/DC Armory Campus and the St. Elizabeth’s East Campus.

This Request for Proposal (RFP) is designated for District of Columbia Department of Small, Local, and Business Development (DSLBD) certified business enterprises only.

Interested parties can view a copy of the RFP by accessing Event DC’s e-procurement website at https:// eventsdc.bonfire.com.

Key Dates:

RFP Release Date:                                                        3:00PM, EST, Tuesday, July 2, 2024

RFP Pre-Bid Conference/Site Visit:                           11:00AM, EST, Tuesday, July 16, 2024

RFP Question Due:                                                      5:00PM, EST, Friday, July 19, 2024

Proposal Due Date:                                                      5:00PM, EST, Friday, August 2, 2024

Primary Contact:

Name: Megan Manego

Email: Megan.Manego@eventsdc.com

Phone: (202) 249-3038

3Former D.C. Attorney General candidate Bruce V. Spiva joins the Campaign Legal Center as a senior vice president. (WI File Photo)

Prince George's County Business Updates

By Richard Elliott WI Contributing Reporter

PENN

FOREST SHOPPING CENTER SELLS FOR $7.4 MILLION

Facilitated by Marcus and Millichapp, Forestville’s Penn Forest Shopping Center was sold to Alexandria-based Woodmont Properties for $7.4 million on June 20.

The plaza’s Dollar General and CSL Plasma, which opened in 2014 and 2017 respectively, generate more than 51% of the mall’s overall revenue. The retail center measures in at almost 38,000 square feet.

“We are thankful for the opportunity to see through the sale of this property for our client,”

said Dean Zang, Marcus and Millichap’s executive managing director of Investments. “Our mid-2022 sale effort was hampered by the rapidly changing capital markets landscape, and this most recent effort was also challenging. The cooperation of all parties in any transaction today is so critical in these volatile times.”

WI

CAPITAL ELECTRIC PLANS TO EXPAND BRAND-NEW UPPER MARLBORO HEAD

Capital Electric was given permission by the Prince George’s County Planning Board on June 20 to add over 160,000 square feet of warehouse space to their

existing 363,000 square foot headquarters on Upper Marlboro’s Westphalia Road.

The company, which provides electrical products, lighting, and services to contractors and users, first moved into their headquarters in January.

The site will now have over 525,000 square feet of development on their 45-acre campus, including 38,000 square feet of office space.

The site will serve as their main headquarters, central distribution hub, and main warehouse for the company’s 50 branches across Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania. The company received two conditional $250,000 loans in 2021, one from the state and one from the county, to facilitate the move to their current facility. WI

HAVE A MAJOR PURCHASE ON YOUR MIND?

From home renovations to dream vacations, a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) from United Bank can help make it happen. Discover your home’s untapped potential and take advantage of your home’s equity!

5Forestville’s Penn Forest Shopping Center was sold to Alexandria-based Woodmont Properties for $7.4 million on June 20. (Anthony Tilghman/The Washington Informer)

NATIONAL

In First Debate, Trump Overwhelms Biden with Bluster and Lies

By Keith Boykin Word in Black

“Black Vote, Black Power,” a collaboration between Keith Boykin and Word In Black, examines the issues, the candidates, and what’s at stake for Black America in the 2024 presidential election. This article was originally published online with Word In Black, a collaboration of the nation's leading Black

news publishers (of which the Informer is a member).

Well, that was awkward.

The first presidential debate of the 2024 campaign has just ended in Atlanta, and it felt like a disservice to the public. Donald Trump lied and rambled nonstop without correction. And President Joe Biden was simply not able to keep up with Trump’s torrent

of falsehoods.

It was the first time in history a convicted criminal took part in a presidential debate, but it was 40 minutes into the discussion before the subject came up. It was as if it were completely normal for a twice-impeached, quadruple-indicted, convicted felon awaiting sentencing, who also incited a deadly insurrection, to be considered a serious candidate for the most powerful job in the world.

But the spectacle likely did nothing to move the needle: Biden’s shaky performance did not allay concerns about his age, and Trump’s nonsensical tirades did not allay concerns about his mental or moral fitness to hold office.

After the first half hour, Biden finally had a few good moments, attacking Trump as a criminal, condemning him for “having sex with a porn star while your wife was pregnant,” and accusing him of having “the morals of an alley cat.”

But Trump is a master at denying the truth, dodging questions, inflating his own record, and lying about other people as he pivoted to his favorite

Asked about Black voters, Trump blamed immigrants for taking what he called “Black jobs.” First of all, that’s not true, but second: what, exactly, are Black jobs?

talking points.

Asked about Black voters, Trump blamed immigrants for taking what he called “Black jobs.” First of all, that’s not true, but second: what, exactly, are Black jobs?

In the same round, Biden missed a golden opportunity to sell his own record on Black issues: lower Black unemployment, lower Black poverty,

more Black businesses, more HBCU funding, more Black judges, less student loan debt, and historic appointments to his cabinet.

Trump blithely walked past his own history of housing discrimination in the 1970s, the lynch mob he led against the now-exonerated “Central Park Five” in the 1980s, and the

NATIONAL Page 17

Dreaming of homeownership?

60th Anniversary of Civil Rights Act: Reflecting on Progress and Persistent Challenges

By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer

As the United States commemorates the 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the nation reflects on a transformative law that reshaped American society by prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. The landmark legislation emerged from a period of intense struggle and demand for the fulfillment of the 14th Amendment’s promise of “equal protection of the laws.”

Due to widespread opposition to desegregation and the assassination of civil rights activist Medgar Evers, President John F. Kennedy urged Congress to pass a comprehensive civil rights bill in June 1963. After Kennedy’s death, President Lyndon B. Johnson, with crucial support from civil rights leaders Roy Wilkins and Clarence Mitchell, championed the bill’s passage.

On July 2, 1964, Congress enacted the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The law prohibited discrimination in hiring, promoting, and firing, extending these protections to public accommodations and federally funded programs. It also strengthened the enforcement of voting rights and mandated the desegregation of schools.

“The Civil Rights Act of 1964 is

the nation’s benchmark civil rights legislation, and it continues to resonate in America,” said Melanie Campbell, president of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation.

The Act’s impact has been profound and far-reaching.

“It propelled a movement that was able to make major civil rights gains,” stated Marc Morial, president of the National Urban League. “It has not only changed the arc for Black people. It has changed the arc for women and for other people of color in a profound way.”

Despite these advancements, the 60th anniversary comes amid concerns over recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings perceived as eroding civil rights protections, including affirmative action, legalized abortion, and diversity initiatives.

“Securing our civil rights remains the unfinished fight of our time,” President Joe Biden said in a proclamation commemorating the anniversary.

Biden emphasized his commitment to reversing the legacy of segregation and creating new opportunities for all Americans.

“My administration is investing more money than ever in Black families and Black communities,” Biden asserted.

WI

NATIONAL from Page 16 brought up Vladimir Putin releasing hostages.

birtherism lie he peddled about President Barack Obama for nearly six years. Biden did cite a few examples of what he’s done for Black voters, but he let Trump put him on the defensive on an issue where Trump’s own record is abysmal.

Asked about child care, Trump avoided the question, rambled off into immigration lies, and spoke about how he fires people. Not one word about child care. And no one held him accountable.

Asked about the opioid crisis, Trump went on and on about irrelevant issues and again failed to provide a single substantive idea, much less give a coherent answer. Asked a second time about the opioid crisis, Trump

Asked about a Palestinian state, Trump did not even pretend to answer the question. He just launched into a rant about NATO.

And after all that, Trump still refused to say he would accept the election results this November.

President Biden should have mopped the floor with Trump, but he did not. Then, after the debate, Biden showed up at a rally and looked like a different person — refreshed and energized in a way that he was not during the debate.

I don’t know what just happened, but it’s going to be a long four months, and an even longer four years if things keep going in this direction.

WI

INTERNATIONAL

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COMPILED BY OSWALD T. BROWN, WI CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Rwanda’s Prime Minister Edouard Ngirente on Saturday, June 29, received his Central African Republic (CAR) counterpart Félix Moloua for a three-day visit, during which discussions focused on strengthening the existing cooperation between the two African countries.

Ambassador Olivier Nduhungirehe, Rwanda’s minister of Foreign Affairs, said both countries have strong bilateral relations based on various sectors, adding that the visit benefits both countries.

“We have sent our army to CAR in line with the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission and through cooperation between our two countries,” he said. “This helps them regain security. We also cooperate in sectors, such as infrastructure, health, security, and mining.”

Maxime Balalou, CAR’s minister of Communication and Media and Government spokesperson, explained that during the visit leaders are “working on important projects for the development of our people.”

“We are assured, and I think that this cooperation is a model for CAR,” Balalou continued. “We will benefit from Rwanda’s experience in resilience and overcoming difficult situations. Both Rwanda and CAR have faced challenging situations, and we are learning from Rwanda’s experience.”

Prime Minister Moloua’s visit to Rwanda was just over two weeks after the Chief of General Staff (CGS) of the Central African Republic Armed Forces, Maj Gen Zépherin Mamadou, visited the Rwanda Defence Force headquarters in Kigali, on June 10. Earlier, in April, 283 law enforcement officers from Rwanda and Central African Republic completed the 'Police Basic Special Forces' course at the Counter Terrorism Training Centre (CTTC) Mayange in Bugesera District.

Last year, Central African Republic President Faustin-Archange Touadéra said that the bilateral cooperation arrangement with Rwanda is fruitful, having helped to restore peace and security in his country.

In December 2020, Rwanda’s special forces were critical in blocking the advance – on Bangui – of the Coalition of Patriots for Change (CPC) rebel alliance led by former president François Bozize.

At the time, Rwanda quickly deployed special forces under a bilateral arrangement on defense to bolster the Central African Republic’s armed forces. WI

Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley has praised the Caribbean rum industry as an exemplar of regional cooperation, highlighting its economic benefits and global excellence, Barbados Today reported on Saturday, June 29.

Motley spoke at a joint presentation where Mount Gay Distilleries and Stade’s West Indies Rum Distillery presented two commemorative rum editions to honor CARICOM’s 50th anniversary.

“The expansion of rum production in the Caribbean is an excellent example of how regional collaboration aimed at a common objective may benefit every citizen.”

She emphasized the industry’s role in showcasing Caribbean capabilities on the world stage.

“Like cricket, we have been able to reflect excellence,” she said, adding that the industry’s growth aligns with broader developmental goals, including gender equality in traditionally male-dominated roles such as master distillers.

Mottley praised the industry’s openness to international investment, describing it as “a positive development” that has contributed to building global brands. She stressed the importance of maintaining production quality and volume to sustain economic benefits.

“That we are here 50 years after Errol Barrow signed the treaty establishing the community is a testament to our commitment and to our vision that one by one, we will not achieve what we can achieve together,” she said, reflecting on CARICOM’s half-century milestone.

The event saw the presentation of two commemorative rum editions honoring the regional economic and cooperation bloc.

Andrew Hassell, managing director at Stade’s West Indies Rum Distillery, acknowledged CARICOM’s crucial role in developing and protecting Caribbean rum, and called for continued support.

“Going forward, the rum sector will need Caricom’s continued focus and support in developing and protecting the CARICOM rum industry,” Hassell said.

Hassell revealed that their Plantation Legacy 120 rum is dedicated to three influential figures in Barbadian rum-making: Henderson ‘Digger’ Skinner, Mark Walker and John Kinch.

Antoine Couvreur, managing director of Mount Gay Distilleries, highlighted his company’s historical significance.

Read more on www.washingtoninformer.com

WI

5Rwanda Prime Minister Edouard Ngirente (right) met with his Central African Republic (CAR) counterpart Félix Moloua in Kigali on Saturday, June 29. (Courtesy Photo)

Caring for Children with Chronic Health Conditions

Submitted by AmeriHealth Caritas District of Columbia (DC)

Caring for children with chronic health conditions requires equal amounts of love, patience, and informed attention. Understanding how to manage chronic health conditions in children is important to ensuring that their well-being and quality of life are enhanced.

UNDERSTANDING CHRONIC HEALTH CONDITIONS

A chronic condition is a disease that lasts one year or more and requires ongoing medical attention or limiting daily activities.1 Managing chronic health conditions in children often requires a comprehensive care management plan. These conditions range from asthma and diabetes to sickle cell anemia.

Minority communities are up to two times more likely to have major chronic conditions than their white counterparts.2 This reinforces the importance of personalized care for those with ongoing health issues.

Understanding your child's chronic condition is the first step. You must familiarize yourself with the condition, its symptoms, and potential triggers.

CARING FOR YOUR CHILD’S HEALTH CONDITION

In the United States, more than 40% of school-aged children and adolescents have at least one chron-

ic health condition.3 If your child is diagnosed with a chronic illness, it can be an emotionally challenging time for any parent or caregiver. It is normal to feel overwhelmed, angry, or scared. However, there are helpful steps you can take to navigate and ease these emotions, making the process more manageable for both you and your child:

• Create a support system. Connect with local support groups and community resources. Engaging with other parents facing similar challenges can provide emotional support and valuable insights. Building these connections is also essential for maintaining your own emotional and mental well-being throughout this journey.

• Think of nutrition as medicine. Tailoring your child's diet to their specific health needs is essential. Food allergies can cause health challenges that affect your child’s quality of life. Work with your child’s primary care provider (PCP) to create a nutrition plan that complements their treatment at home and school.

• Manage medication. Following a medication schedule can be especially helpful. Set reminders, use pill organizers, and keep an open line of communication with your child's PCP to address any concerns.

• Engage in regular physical activity. Encourage physical activity to promote your child’s overall health. Work with your child's healthcare team to develop an exercise plan that accommodates their needs.

ProtectingLittle Ones through Immunizations

As Spring moves in, prioritizing your child’s health remains more important than ever. Immunizations serve as a shield against seasonal sickness, including colds, flu, and allergies. During these months, we see a spike in certain illnesses, increasing the need for vaccinations.

Parents of AmeriHealth Caritas DC enrollees can protect

their little ones who may be more vulnerable to sickness by scheduling a well-child visit or visiting their child’s PCP as needed. Well-child visits are a part of children’s benefits and offered at no cost for enrollees.

At a well-child visit, you can expect:

•Physical exams

•Growth and development checks

•Hearing and vision screenings

•Appropriate shots/vaccines

•Lab testing (including blood lead

• Attend well-child visits. Well-child visits are not only routine checkups; they are a key element of preventive care for children with chronic health conditions. These appointments help with detecting potential issues early, assist with developing care management plans specific to your child’s needs, and help keep vaccinations and immunizations up to date. Caring for children with chronic health conditions should be a collaborative effort between parents, healthcare providers, and community resources. With education, strong support systems, and well-child visits, you can empower your children to thrive despite any health challenges.

Sources

1. “About Chronic Conditions,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, https://www.cdc.gov/ chronicdisease/about/index.htm

2. “Minorities and Chronic Disease: Obstacles to Care,” WebMD, https://www.webmd. com/diabetes/features/ minority-chronic-condition-burden

“Managing Chronic

#BestMe

levels)

•Mental health and risk behavior checks

•Health education for parents and children

To schedule an appointment, or to arrange a ride to your doctor, call AmeriHealth Caritas DC Enrollee Services at 1-800-4087511 (TTY 1-800-570-1190). You can find more information at www.amerihealthcaritasdc.com.

Health Conditions,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, https://www.cdc.gov/healthyschools/chronicconditions.htm#:~:text=In%20the%20United%20 States%2C%20more,%2C%20and%20behav-

ior%2Flearning%20problems

All images are used under license for illustrative purposes only. Any individual depicted is a model

If you are grieving, remember you are not alone. Losing a child during pregnancy or after birth is a traumatic experience

HEALTH

Addressing Maternal Health Disparities East of The River

MedStar Hospital Center Awarded For Initiatives To Improve Birth Equity

By Lindiwe Vilakazi WI Health Reporter

As maternal and infant mortality affects families across the District, Medstar Washington Hospital Center has been working to not only improve health outcomes, but address disparities.

Recently, Medstar Washington Hospital Center received the 2024 Gage Award for Population Health, for their dedication to combating maternal and infant mortality, particularly in wards 7

and 8, where the city’s average almost doubles.

“We are so grateful for the generous gift from the A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation that has enabled us to do this great work together,” Dr. Tamika Auguste, chair of Women’s and Infants Services at MedStar Washington Hospital Center, said in a statement. “We’ve enjoyed collaborating with our community partners to make differences in the outcome and lives of our maternal and newborn populations in the District of Columbia.

5A mother and baby at the 2022 Maternal and Infant Health Summit at the Washington Convention Center in Northwest, D.C. As maternal and infant mortality affects families across the District, Medstar Washington Hospital Center has been working to improve health outcomes, and recently received the 2024 Gage Award for Population Health. (WI File Photo)

While serving maternal and infant patients across D.C. has been important, special attention has been needed for some residents east of the Anacostia River.

“Mothers who resided in Wards 7 and 8 were 1.5 to 2 times more likely to have low birthweight births than mothers residing in any other ward, except Ward 5,” according to DC Health’s Perinatal Health and Infant Mortality Report 2022, between 2019-2020. “Mothers whose births were Medicaid financed were almost two times more likely than mothers with private insurance to have a low a birthweight baby.”

Low birthweight infants are estimated to be about 20 times more likely to die than heavier infants.

Through MedStar Health’s D.C. Safe Babies Safe Moms initiative, Dr. Melissa Fries, high-risk obstetrician at MedStar Washington Hospital Center, works in partnership with Community of Hope to serve residents east of the River. The purpose of the partnership is alleviating common restrictions

of access to medical care while addressing cardinal maternal health concerns.

“One of the things that has happened as we become aware of the challenges for maternal health in pregnancy, is an escalation of people's anxiety about, ‘Will this be me? Is this something that is going to happen to me?’” Dr. Fries explained. “So with the awareness comes anxiety, and that's important so that people are on track and taking care of their own bodies, but at the same time, it heightens that sense of being sort of in the target zone for that.”

COMING TOGETHER TO IMPROVE BIRTH OUTCOMES

As a Certified Nurse-Midwife and Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner at Community of Hope, a local nonprofit providing quality healthcare and resources to help end family homelessness, Bayyinah Muhammad, knows firsthand the needs and hardships that many

District mothers face, including maternal mental health and housing insecurity.

“Some of the things that we run across with our pregnant folks who live in Ward 7 or 8, [and] across the district, but definitely exacerbated in those area [is] homelessness or housing insecurity,” said Muhammad.

In an effort to relieve patients from the mental stressors that come with pregnancy, Community of Hope offers wrap-around services to provide mothers and infants with medical needs, and an additional team of support to help balance personal issues that may arise beyond the pressures of pregnancy.

“We are very grateful for this partnership and the ability that it gives us to keep the continuity of care for our patients,” she told The Informer.

Our partnership with Safe Babies Safe Moms, allows us to give some cushion in those spaces where we may not be able to do that otherwise.” WI

DIRECTOR

CHARON P.W. HINES

Dear Seniors,

Happy Summer! Last month, we PROUDLY celebrated the vibrancy of Pride Month, showering our LGBTQ+ community with support. This show of living boldly is a clear example of resilience and living how one wants and chooses. Thank you to all seniors that joined us on the Senior Pride Trolley as we celebrated together at the Capital Pride Parade.

It was also a pleasure to see all of your faces at Mayor Bowser's 13th Annual Senior Symposium. Having the symposium during Elder Abuse Awareness Month was a must! This year's theme, "Empowerment through Awareness," highlighted elder abuse and

Live Boldly - July 2024 Message from Department of Aging and Community Living

fraud prevention. You engaged in panel discussions, a resource fair, and received a warm welcome from Mayor Bowser! We hope you took away key points and facts to help better safeguard yourselves from scams and fraud. Your protection is our number one priority at all times. If you or someone you know is experiencing fraud or a scam, please call the Adult Protective Services (APS) Hotline at (202) 5413950 available 24-hours 7-days a week.

The kick-off to this summer has been particularly hot already, and we want to ensure you are protected during a heat emergency. When the forecasted temperature or heat index in the District is 95 degrees or higher, the District Government implements the Heat Emergency Plan and activates cooling centers for community members to seek relief. If you find yourself in need of cooling down in hot temperatures, please visit: heat.dc.gov, to see where a cooling center near you may be located. If you or someone you know needs free, accessible transportation to a cooling center, please dial 311.

As we continue to stay cool, here are some tips on how to beat the heat this summer.

• Stay Indoors: Find places in the shade or with air conditioning to seek relief from the heat.

• Check on Your Neighbors: Young children, older adults, and those with disabilities or other access and functional needs are the most vulnerable in our community.

• Hydrate: Drink plenty of

water and avoid liquids that contain alcohol, caffeine, or large amounts of sugar.

• Dress Appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose-fitting, light-colored clothing and use SPF 15 or higher sunscreen.

• Never Leave Children or Pets in Vehicles: Vehicles can reach dangerous temperatures within 10 minutes. Pet and service animal owners should keep animals indoors, walk them early in the morning, and give them plenty of water.

We have also often seen seniors suffer from heat exhaustion during heat emergencies. Here are some tips to identify the signs of Heat Stroke and Heat Exhaustion.

Symptoms may include:

• Dry red skin

• Convulsions

• Throbbing headaches

• Disorientation

• Chills

• Delirium

• Coma

The kick-off to this summer has been particularly hot already, and we want to ensure you are protected during a heat emergency. When the forecasted temperature or heat index in the District is 95 degrees or higher, the District Government implements the Heat Emergency Plan and activates cooling centers for community members to seek relief.

If you suspect that you or someone you know is experiencing a heat-related illness, call 911 immediately. During these times, we invite you to come visit a senior wellness center and escape the heat. We have plenty of activities taking place and an amazing amount of AC to keep you cool! If you have any questions about senior wellness centers,

call my office so that we may assist you at (202)-724-5626. We hope that you are able to stay cool during this heated season.

Stay safe and enjoy your summer!

In Service,   Charon P.W. Hines   Director, DACL

EARTH OUR

from Page 17

cilmember Brianne Nadeau (D-Ward 1) engaged in dialogue about this situation earlier in the year.

Those conversations, in part, shaped the Utility Disconnection Protection Act, legislation that Nadeau introduced on May 24 to prevent an electric or gas company from shutting off residential service during the summer and winter months.

Mattavous-Frye said that the Utility Disconnection Protection Act could serve as the first step in addressing increasing energy demand and usage. She suggested that the bill also hold the D.C. government accountable in advising consumers about renewable energy options and subverting independent solar energy providers masquerading as

a cost-effective alternative.

“The benefits of this law is that it’s targeted for vulnerable communities,” Mattavous-Frye said. “Energy and utility services are essential. What happens without them are life and death consequences. There are consumers with young children during winter intensive days with no protection other than what we can negotiate,” she continued.

A COUNCIL MEMBER'S ATTEMPT TO CHANGE THE SCOPE OF ENERGY ASSISTANCE

As outlined in the legislation, the D.C. Department of Energy and the Environment (DOEE) would facilitate elements of the relief program.

A DOEE spokesperson told The

Informer that the agency is still assessing Nadeau’s legislation, including “its scope, fiscal implications and the potential impacts on the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).”

Nadeau said that the Utility Disconnection Protection Act will most likely not carry a fiscal impact because the legislation deals with public utilities.

Policy currently prevents utility shutoff during weekends, holidays and when temperatures fall below 32 degrees and rise above 95 degrees. As OPC representatives explained, those stipulations often leave consumers without utilities around the time before extreme weather hits, despite efforts by utility providers to avoid such scenarios.

Through LIHEAP, eligible residents receive a one-time regular energy assistance benefit of between $250 and $1,800. DOEE also provides emergency utility assistance payments of up to $750 to households of 55 years or older that experience utility disconnection, have an oil tank at capacity of 5% or less, and receive a disconnection notice. Other tools include the Utility DIscount Program and, for homeowners who’ve fallen behind on mortgage and

utility payments, the D.C. Homeowner Assistance Fund, and the Solar for All program, through which DOEE and the D.C. Sustainable Energy Utility (DCSEU) collaborate with solar contractors to provide solar power systems at no cost to income-eligible D.C. residents.

For Nadeau, such resources often don't suffice for constituents who've accumulated at least $10,000 in utility bills and exhausted every option available.

EXPERIENCES DOB IS BUILDING

We believe in exceptional customer service.

We strive to create moments of delight so that, no matter your project, your partnership with DOB is one of the best parts of it.

“We need to fundamentally look at utility assistance [because] the need is starting to become almost as great as emergency rental assistance,” Nadeau told The Informer.

The Utility Disconnection Protection Act, which Nadeau co-introduced with D.C. Councilmember Trayon White (D-Ward 8), also establishes guidelines for eligible customers and limits what providers can charge consumers to turn back on utilities after they’ve been disconnected for nonpayment.

This bill, a permanent and narrower version of protections implemented during the public health emergency, also requires that an electric or gas company reports monthly data on unpaid bills and disconnections to the Public Service Commission.

If passed, it would work in tandem with the Water is Life Amendment Act, legislation that D.C. Councilmember Zachary Parker (D-Ward 5) introduced in February to prevent the disconnection of water service. It would first have to go through the D.C. Council’s Committee on Business and Economic Development and Committee on Transportation and the Environment, chaired by D.C. Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie (I-At large) and Charles Allen (D-Ward 6) respectively.

“There are things we can do to reduce energy costs but people are strug-

gling with utilities,” Nadeau said.

“While these measures are in place to support them, we can’t have people without electricity when it’s 100 degrees. It’s not an easy thing to say to utility companies that they have to work with us. I haven’t seen a formal response, but I doubt they’re delighted.”

PEPCO EXELON WEIGHS IN ON THIS MATTER

In 2020, Pepco Exelon launched its Capital Grid Project, an effort to address aging infrastructure and focus on the increasing energy needs of residents living in the areas known as: Mt. Vernon Triangle, NoMa, Capitol Crossing and Northwest One.

The project, scheduled to wrap up in 2028, is anticipated to help the District meet its clean energy and climate goals by 2032, via substations and an underground transmission line. Last year, Pepco Exelon commemorated the upgrade to the Harvard Street Substation. Most recently, the utility company broke ground on the newly constructed Mt. Vernon Substation.

The Champlain Substation, located in Adams Morgan in Northwest, is slated for completion by the summer of 2025.

Lamont Atkins, director of governmental and external affairs at Pepco Exelon, said that while Pepco Exelon commends the intent of the Utility Disconnection Protection Act, and acknowledges the plight of vulnerable customers, the utility has focused much of its attention on helping customers access energy efficiency and energy assistance programs facilitated by DOEE and DESEU.

Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

WI @SamPKCollins

5Sandra Mattavous-Frye explained that the Utility Disconnection Protection Act could serve as the first step in addressing increasing energy demand and usage. (WI File Photo/Robert R. Roberts)

UTILITIES

EDUCATION

Amazon Opens Drone Academy at Howard University Amid DEI Rollbacks Across U.S. Program

Aims to Further Expose HBCU Students to STEM Opportunities

By Eden Harris WI Contributing Writer

In a world with diversity efforts being rolled back because of a rise in conservative pushback, Amazon launched its week-long Drone Academy at Howard University to promote diversity in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

Oluwafemi “Femi” Oladosu, a PhD student at Howard University with more than 10 years of engineering experience, said he enjoys knowing he can be a part of the solution in getting more Black representation in STEM fields.

"I know that if I'm there, then we can get more people in, and with more people coming in, then we can, hopefully, be able to support each other and just pull each other through," he told The Washington Informer.

Oladosu explained how the robotics program helps students understand how a drone is pieced together before it is operational.

"Sometimes, you see a drone, and it's fully completed, and it's working but here they got to engage with the drone to the build-up of the drone," he said. "It also helps to teach them the mechanics of it: how everything comes together, how the different parts play an important role in the build-up of the drone."

According to research from Columbia University on implicit bias in STEM, minorities feel unwelcomed and exit the field at disproportionate rates.

Harry Keeling, an associate professor of the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at Howard University, said one of his many goals as a practitioner is to work with students "to address their imposter syndrome of them feeling that

funding for housing and travel inspired him to let her into the course despite the program already being at capacity.

Skylar’s ambition comes from her dad, who she said advocated for her participation in a tech program in the past.

"I originally participated in this program called Tech Girls when I was 6-years-old, which I wasn't supposed to do because it was for girls [ages] 9 and up, but my dad really pushed the people in charge of the program, 'I want my daughter to be a part of this,'" Skylar explained.

PARTNERING FOR FUTURE SOLUTIONS

they're not qualified due to personal struggles.”

“They're working with people that they can identify with [such as] people of color,” Keeling said of the students.

Keeling told The Informer that as a student growing up in Southeast, D.C., access to educational opportunities was not always easy.

“When I was at Georgetown [University], some Jesuit priest took me under his wings, and he convinced me that I was capable and qualified and that is what I'm trying to do for these young people,” Keeling explained.

According to 17-year-old Igbekeleoluwaladun Daniels, a high schooler at Dr. Henry A. Wise Jr. High School in Princes George's County, Maryland, who is also dually enrolled at Prince George's Community College, this opportunity will set him up for his future.

"I believe that it would look good on my resume, and I'm really interested in creating algorithms and software for drones to help them detect things like hostility and work with companies like Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin or Boeing," he told The Informer.

KNOCKING DOWN THE DOORS FOR STEM OPPORTUNITIES

Skylar Spratt, a 16-year-old high school student from Kenwood Academy in Chicago, Illinois, flew into Washington to attend the Drone Academy meant for D.C.-area students.

While she lacked funding for lodging and travel, according to Keeling, Howard is her top choice school and was determined to attend.

Keeling said the teen’s ambition to come across the country without

Amanda Rodriguez Smith, the senior manager of University, Outreach and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Initiatives at Amazon, Fulfillment, Technologies and Robotics, said Howard University is a strategic partner for the program.

"[Howard is] closest to the solution and the outreach and they're a more sustainable partner to high schools in the region to be able to foster an open door for students to be able to learn within their communities,” Rodriguez Smith told The Informer.

After Howard, Amazon’s next stop is Hampton University, anoth-

er HBCU where they will continue the Drone Academy work from July 8-12. According to Smith, Amazon also plans to create a degree program at Hampton.

Other than resources and touring, Rodriguez Smith also explained how Amazon contributes to helping the program thrive.

"Amazon then has an opportunity to bring the power of our innovation team, including our employees, who have been in the shoes of students, at all of these levels to

Click.

Save. Submit!

It’s not too late to go to college this fall! The DC Tuition Assistance Grant (DCTAG) will provide up to $10,000 a year to help cover tuition at participating colleges and universities.

To be eligible, you must be a DC resident with a high school diploma or GED, and meet a few other requirements.

Click on dconeapp.dc.gov, upload a few documents, then submit! Apply by September 6, 2024.

come in as mentors," she added.

Kevin Smith, a STEM program manager with Mass Robotics, partnered with Amazon to bring a "dynamic experience" to the university, calling it a "one-of-a-kind" opportunity to help diversify the STEM field.

"It's a life-changing experience for me. It's allowing me to see students grow from a high school standpoint and collegiate students grow, but also industry professionals because we're all learning from each other in this experience,” he told The Informer. WI

5 Igbekeleoluwaladun Daniels, a 17-year-old high schooler at Dr. Henry A. Wise Jr. at Amazon Drone Academy at Howard University on June 27. (Eden Harris/The Washington Informer)

July 4th for Black Americans

The Fourth of July is a federal holiday commemorating the Declaration of Independence in the United States. The Second Continental Congress ratified the Declaration on July 4, 1776, establishing the United States of America.

July 4 is associated with fireworks, parades, carnivals, fairs, concerts, baseball games, family reunions, political speeches, and ceremonies. In addition, Americans commemorate the day with various other public and private events celebrating this country's history, government, and traditions.

Yet, many Black Americans remain ambivalent about this federal holiday.

One reason is of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence, 41 owned slaves. For example, at age 33, Thomas Jefferson, a primary author of the Declaration of Independence, who would become the third President of the United States, owned more than 600 slaves during his lifetime, the most of any occupant of the White House.

Having grown up in Virginia around slaves, Jefferson, who acquired most of his slaves through inheritance, also bought and sold them. In addition, Jefferson fathered two children with one of his slaves, Sally Hemmings.

Another reason is Black people were not considered even fully human when the Declaration of Independence was signed. As the signers wrote, “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness” into the historic document, the forefathers and foremothers of those enslaved, were not considered as having rights to those freedoms.

Indeed, the Declaration’s final version does not reference slavery. A passage condemning slavery was removed before the document was signed.

Therefore, it's completely understandable why, for Black Americans, the significance of July 4 does not carry the weight and importance that it does in other racial and ethnic groups.

Truthfully, The Declaration of Independence is not the symbol of American Democracy that makes Black people uncomfortable. Many find it offensive even as they rise, place their right hand over their hearts, and sing the “Star-Spangled Banner” at sporting and other public events.

The author, a 34-year-old lawyer named Francis Scott Key, spoke of Black people being a “distinct and inferior race,” only supporting the emancipation of enslaved people only if they were immediately shipped to Africa.

One original verse of the tune reads, “No refuge could save the hireling and slave, from the terror or flight or groom of the grave.”

The “Star-Spangled Banner” did not become America’s national anthem for a century after it was written.

Why are Black Americans regularly reminded that two premier pinnacles of American Democracy, the Declaration of Independence and “Star-Spangled Banner,” are rooted in centuries-old racism?

In Rochester, New York, on July 5, 1852, abolitionist Frederick Douglass delivered the keynote address at an Independence Day celebration, asking, “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” He noted “that the nation’s fathers were great men for their ideals of freedom.” But in doing so, he brings awareness to the hypocrisy of their ideals by the existence of slavery on American soil.

In his scathing Independence Day speech, Douglass also stated, “The Fourth of July is yours, not mine. You may rejoice. I must mourn.”

Those Black Americans who choose not to celebrate July 4 should never be viewed or condoned as unpatriotic. Instead, they should be considered authentic Americans committed to reminding the United States that it has fallen short of the Declaration of Independence’s words of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” for all. WI

Political Pundits Prefer Polls but Voters Decide the True Outcome

With the first presidential debate now behind us – and what a relief it’s over – organizations who profess to use a “rigorous scientific-based dual-frame approach” in their telephone survey methodology designed to represent the adult population, like the Marist Institute for Public Opinion or the Pew Research Center, are already poised to release their latest poll.

Of course, the question posed to Americans, via phone, text or online surveys, is which candidate, President Joe Biden or former president Donald Trump, rep-

TO THE EDITOR

Dear Ms. Green and Mr. Collins,

Thank you for the article Nalle Elementary’s Field in Jeopardy During Modernization Process, which sheds light on DCPS Central Administration’s rendering of an incomplete, poorly coordinated, and egregiously communicated modernization plan to the JC Nalle ES community. As a Ward 7 community member, it is without question, the project is nowhere near ready for implementation. While there is emphasis on how the project was poorly communicated, not enough focus is placed on the actual plan and how shoddy it truly is. We are calling for DCPS Central to pause the project for better planning, a more practical alternative activity space for the Nalle children and community engagement which will avail DCPS Central needed input for a more sustainable modernization plan overall. In short, this is a mess! We demand a better work product!

Sherice A. Muhammad, Ward 7

resents their choice for president.

And while the results of polls can be interesting, even titillating, for news junkies and “little old ladies from Pasadena,” it’s critical to understand that the results aggregated from polls only represent a small swath of the American population.

Despite their proven track records for releasing polls that accurately identify the eventual winner in elections and their claims of transparency related to the methodology that they employ, pollsters admit that there’s always a margin of error.

In other words, there’s always the possibility that they’ll get it wrong.

For example, historians still talk about the banner headline, “Dewey Defeats Truman,” that the Chicago Daily Tribune (now the Chicago Tribune) was forced to retract after incorrectly publishing the results of the election on November 3, 1948.

But it begs the question “who was among the sample of polled citizens on which the Tribune based their headline? Was it an inclusive sampling? Have you ever been asked to respond to surveys about your choice for president?

Even if you’re not particularly excited by either of the candidates, the incumbent or the former president, and even if you’re thinking about staying home this year and not voting at all, the reality remains – someone is going to win. And every vote – especially when it comes to presidential elections – counts.

In 1960 with the candidates tied at 47% in the Gallup polls, John F. Kennedy defeated Richard Nixon by less than 120,000 votes out of 68.8 million votes cast. And in one of the most contentious presidential elections in U.S. history, George W. Bush, despite losing the popular vote by about 500,000 votes, won the electoral college, 271 to 266, and was declared the winner.

On Friday, June 28, the morning following the first of two scheduled presidential debates, and with the General Election just a few months away, both Trump and Biden have said they won in their first showdown since October 22, 2020.

Meanwhile, polling organizations and political pundits are chomping at the bit to share their opinions.

But “at the end of the day,” it’s not polls or pundits who vote – it’s people. WI

OPINIONS/EDITORIALS

Guest Columnist

The Mumbler-in-Chief and the Liar-in-Chief

Could the "historic debate" between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump possibly live up to the hype? CNN promoted it nonstop, and had analysis days before, and for hours before and after the actual 90-minute debate. Despite the hype, neither candidate knocked the ball out of the park. President Biden offered an uneven performance, with a slow and

mumbling start, some strong and animated answers, and some garbled answers. Folks like me desperately hoped to see the Biden from the March 2024 State of the Union address; instead, we got the Biden of the Trump commercials.

He didn't fall up the stairs or off his bike, but he truly toppled off his game. This was a high-stakes game for Biden and, unfortunately, he lost. Should one debate performance determine the outcome of the election? Probably not, but with millions watching, President Biden did not strengthen his cam-

paign. Indeed, the debate was painful to watch. In fairness, Biden handlers said he was suffering from a cold, which may have impaired his performance. Watching Biden was painful, and Trump was infuriating. That man is a blatant liar, he repeats himself incessantly, he is rude, and he refused to answer questions repeatedly. He kept talking about our "ruined" country, accused President Bident of "destroying" the country, lied about the open borders and immigrants, took credit for Biden policies (such as $35 insulin), and stirred up racial animus. "They

Trump's Quest for Support from Black Rappers

In American politics, alliances and endorsements from cultural icons are not uncommon. They have the potential to play a pivotal role in determining public opinion as well as the electoral outcome in this year's presidential election. During his stint as a reality TV personality and later as president of the United States, Donald Trump sought support from Black rappers, a

demographic with significant influence in pop culture. According to CBS exit polls, Trump won 8% of Black voters in the 2016 presidential election and 12% in 2020. While Trump's past support from rap artists did not necessarily translate into decisive gains among Black voters, his support among rappers in 2024 appears to be growing, and polling data suggests young Black voters are showing much more openness to Trump, thanks in part to COVID-19 stimulus checks, criminal pardons, and attention.

To achieve an effective election strategy, Trump will never need a substan-

Guest Columnist

"Project 25 is a radical, extreme, pro-authoritarianism plan pushed by conservatives who are desperate to take our country backwards. It is a movement led by far-right extremists that attacks our nation's founding principles, such as our system of checks and balances, freedom of speech and of the press, and separation of church and state. These are the very principles that keep our country strong and

make America the best nation on earth."

— U.S. Rep. Ted Lieu

Eliminating safe, legal abortion and effective contraception. Obliterating of the very mention of sexual orientation and gender identity, diversity, equity, and inclusion, reproductive health, and reproductive rights from every federal rule, regulation, contract, grant, or piece of legislation. Replacing skilled civil servants with extremist partisan hacks.

This is Project 2025, the new Southern Manifesto. It is almost certain to be America's future if Donald Trump is

are taking Black jobs," Trump railed, speaking of immigrants. (By the way, what are "Black" jobs?) He also claimed he never said "there are good people on both sides" when racists marched on Charlottesville. He dithered in response to questions about abortion and rained negative comments on the president. If I had a dollar for every time he said "worst," I'd have enough for a nice lunch.

Flash polls say Trump won the debate by a wide margin; I disagree. Trump won on style; Biden won on substance. Trump got his zingers in with his lies,

calling Biden "the Manchurian candidate," accusing him of taking money from China, and repeatedly calling him the "worst" president ever. He also predictably called out Hunter Biden's three felony convictions, but Biden had snappy clapback, calling out Trump's convictions, the money he must pay E. Jean Carroll for sexual assault, and the Stormy Daniels relationship. Biden says Mr. Trump has the morals of an alley cat (that was funny), and generally comported himself decently, if

MALVEAUX Page 45

tial number of Black votes to go his way. If he can continue peeling away a small percentage of Black votes from his Democratic opponent, it can make a significant difference in who wins in November. By capitalizing on his celebrity status, the former president has an uncanny means of generating media attention in shaping his populist political persona, which can prove to be effective when targeted toward people who are tired of the political establishment and status quo, who are unhappy with the current political system, people who feel that promises have not been kept,

and who are just simply ready to shake things up while unsure of the outcome. From the beginning, white evangelicals were the political target. Now, it has expanded to include young Black voters through Black rappers.

On his final full day in office in 2021, Trump granted pardons to rappers Lil Wayne and Kodak Black. During this year's election campaign, Black is now among those in the "Black Americans for Trump" coalition. Earlier this month, rapper Sada Baby attended an outreach event for voters at a Detroit church where he encouraged people to

vote for Trump. Rappers Sheff G and Sleepy Hallow, well-known in New York City's drill music scene, spoke on behalf of Trump during a May rally in the Bronx.

One of the most notable cases of Trump's engagement with Black rappers was Kanye West during the 2018 presidential campaign. West would later praise then-President Trump, referring to him as a "brother" before posting images of himself wearing a "Make America Great Again" hat. After taping a Sat-

elected to another term.

Drafted in response to the Supreme Court's landmark ruling in Brown v. Board of Education and signed by 19 senators and 82 representatives from the South, the Southern Manifesto — officially titled "Declaration of Constitutional Principles" — was a vow to uphold racial segregation and white supremacy.

Project 2025 goes even further. It seeks to re-implement a rigid social hierarchy that oppresses not only people of color, but also women, non-Christians, the LGBTQ+ community, working

families, and immigrants.

Key to this dystopian agenda is purging the government of nonpartisan civil servants who are loyal to the Constitution and replacing them with extremist partisan hacks loyal only to Trump.

A list of non-partisan government officials who might stand in the way of Trump's agenda already is being compiled by a dark-money "slime machine," The Associated Press revealed this week.

With the entire federal government under his direct control, Trump would be free to act on his vow to turn the De-

partment of Justice into an instrument of retribution against his political adversaries.

The radical, repressive, and regressive regime previewed in Project 2025 includes:

• Dismantling the foundations of immigration policy, tearing families apart, turning away desperate refugees, and stripping away protections for Dreamers.

• Undermining climate change mitigation, environmental justice, and the

David W. Marshall

Marc H. Morial

Julianne Malveaux

Guest Columnist

Guest Columnist

Angel is Still an Angel!

a basketball player when I so often write about women who were civil and human rights subjects.

A few days ago, Angel Reese finished a game with 18 points and 11 rebounds. She tied Candace Parker for most consecutive double-doubles in a season. She was the youngest player in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) to have nine consecutive double-doubles. Now the average person might have no idea who Angel Reese is and why I am writing about

Well, even if you don't like basketball, you do understand historically the difference in treatment for African American women and other women — especially white women.

If you don't know who Angel Reese is, as a daughter of Louisiana, I know her from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. I know her as a superstar basketball player. I know her

as a young woman who earned her degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with concentrations and minors in communication studies, leadership development and psychology. In her two seasons at LSU, Angel was unstoppable, earning All-American honors both seasons. While at LSU, she received all kinds of top awards.

Angel is now with the Chicago Sky. Just a few days ago, Angel's team won over Caitlin Clark's Indiana Fever by a score of 88-87. The game came to be known as

Gun Violence: Acknowledging a Crisis

"I'm graduating, I'm going to college, I get to go home, I get to see my dog, I get to do all this when they don't. It's just really hard."

In the midst of this season's joyful graduation celebrations, one commencement ceremony stood out in a heartbreaking way because of the friends who were missing. Emma Ehrens told an interviewer she was

Independence Day at its best is a call to action to leave our children an America as good as its promise.

This time of year makes me think about my family's journey in this country. My father's family is white. He descends from the youngest combatant at the Battle of Lexington and Concord. My

a 6-year-old first grader in December 2012, looking forward to making gingerbread houses later that afternoon, when a gunman armed with a semiautomatic assault rifle burst into her classroom at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. When the gun jammed for a few seconds, one of those classmates, Jesse Lewis, yelled, "Run!" Emma ran, but Jesse was one of the 20 children and six adults who were killed at Sandy Hook that day. On June 12, about 60 survivors of the Sandy Hook shooting grad-

uated from Newtown High School. Like Emma, many of them were still grappling with their memories of that day, the missing teachers and administrators who might have been in the audience, and the other beautiful students who should have been crossing the stage too.

A group of these high school students have joined the Junior Newtown Action Alliance. The alliance is part of a national grassroots organization founded in Newtown after the shooting to transform their town's tragedy into meaningful ac-

"The rookie battle between Reese and Clark." Until that observation, the game was just a game between the Sky and the Fever. After all, there were other young women playing and donated to the score of both teams.

It's obvious some of the critics want to promote a battle between Angel and Caitlin. Both young women are obviously great players, but being an African American woman, I can see the attempt by some to make Angel the "bad guy." She's not. Refuse to listen to the

critics who are doing their best to put the young women up against each other and praise both for their talent!

My advice to Angel is, "Don't allow the disparate treatment to prevent you from doing your very best every time you go on the basketball court. Black women are accustomed to the disparate treatment no matter what we do, so just don't worry about what is said in the media. Just focus on doing

Page 46

tion. They work to end gun violence and reverse our nation's escalating gun violence epidemic through the introduction of smarter, safer gun laws and broader cultural change. The students of Junior Newtown Action Alliance join Hadiya Pendleton's friends, who began the Wear Orange movement after she was shot and killed standing in a Chicago park; the survivors of the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, who led the March for Our Lives movement; and other

young people across the country taking action. As Ella Seaver, also a Sandy Hook survivor, Newtown High graduating senior and Junior Newtown Action Alliance member, explained: "Putting my voice out there and working with all of these amazing people to try and create change really puts a meaning to the trauma that we all were forced to experience. It's a way to feel like you're doing something. Because we are. We're fighting for change and

mother's family is Black. She descends from two Black Virginia statesmen who helped to rebuild the Commonwealth after the Civil War. One of them descended from Thomas Jefferson's grandmother. Today, both families, like many Americans, live at or near some version of the same address. It is that place where there used to be factories and when they shut down, what shot up was poverty, despair, suicide, and opiate addiction. And as if all that were not enough to deal with, it keeps get-

ting hotter. The floods come more often. The superstorms do as well. If there is a silver lining in all this struggle, it is this: There is one solution that can tackle all these problems, and that is throwing everything we've got at stopping the climate crisis. If we do that, we will turn around the economy, our neighbors' lives, and the fate of the planet itself.

The next five years will define who leads the world economy, us or China. Our leadership in innovation and design allowed us

to take an early lead in the areas of electric vehicles (EVs) and other green technologies. But China leads in manufacturing. Today they dominate solar panel production and have overtaken the U.S. on EVs as well. Still, we have not given up the fight, despite calls from Fox News and others for us to do just that.

Georgia is home to the largest solar panel production facility in the Western Hemisphere. The same company that owns that plant, Qcells, is about to open an-

other one in Georgia that will be the only plant outside of China producing every component of the panel, from ingot to finished product.

Tennessee, North Carolina and other southern states have a battery belt. EVs are rolling off the assembly lines in Detroit and elsewhere. Illinois has very recently become home to a boom in production of both EVs and EV components. In short, because of the green econo-

WILLIAMS

Marian Wright Edelman

Ben Jealous

Guest Columnist

E. Faye Williams

LIFESTYLE

Things To Do, DMV!

By Jada Ingleton WI Contributing Fellow

Fourth of July weekend kicks off with a family-friendly carnival on Thursday, followed by nonstop cultural events and festivities for the whole family.

Keep your outlook vibrant and social life lit – and don’t forget to check out the Washington Informer Calendar to stay up to date on all the things happening in the DMV.

THURSDAY, JULY 4

Greenbelt Baptist Church’s

4th of July Carnival

4 p.m. - 7 p.m. | Free Greenbelt Baptist Church, 101 Greenhill Rd, Greenbelt, MD 20770

The community is invited to Greenbelt Baptist Church's annual 4th of July Carnival, a free event that includes moonbounces, face painting, hotdogs, popcorn, and games.

After the event, guests can walk to Buddy Attick Park and contin-

ue the festivities with the City of Greenbelt’s fireworks display.

DiVerse@Casey Poetry Nights

7 p.m. - 10 p.m. | Free Casey Community Center, 810 S Frederick Ave, Gaithersburg, MD 20877

Casey Community Center is partnering with DiVerse Gaithersburg to showcase DMV poets with a wide range of experiences and backgrounds from the metro area. Readings from local featured poets will be followed by an open mic, where members of the community can share an original poem, and later engage in conversation with the poets.

FRIDAY, JULY 5

DeRay Davis

6 p.m. - 8:15 p.m. | $55.00 DC Improv, 1140 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, D.C., 20036

From the South Side of Chicago, DeRay Davis has made himself into a comedic force. He's a presence in Hollywood, seen on

hit shows like FX's “Snowfall” and “Empire” and as host of “Hip Hop Squares” and “Joking Off.” Now, the comedian-turned-actor is bringing the fireworks Fourth of July weekend to the Improv.

Kennedy Center Summer Contemporary Music and Jazz

7 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. | $ River Pavillion, 2700 F St NW, Washington, D.C., 20037

The Kennedy Center announced a line-up of all new summer programming for Contemporary Music and Jazz, kicking-off July 5 through Aug. 4, featuring some of the most celebrated artists in each genre.

SATURDAY, JULY 6

The Colored Museum

8 p.m. | $34.00+

Victor Shargai Theatre at Studio Theatre, 1501 14th St NW, Washington, D.C., 20005

The Colored Museum is a provocative and humorous tour of 11 “exhibits,” showcasing toxic narratives about Black American experiences. From confrontational to aspirational, morbid to triumphant, Wolfe’s satirical sketches

target America’s most pernicious stereotypes of Black culture, looking to retire outdated exhibits and make room for the future.

The Nation’s #1 Earth, Wind & Fire Tribute Band

8 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. | $30.00+

The Hamilton, 600 14th St NW, Washington, D.C., 20005 Earth, Wind & Fire Tribute Band “Let’s Groove Tonight” includes talented musicians who are also huge fans of the legendary group and are passionate about accurately re-creating their iconic sounds.

Alongside saxophonist Curtis Johnson, who toured with the original Earth, Wind & Fire, and special guest vocalist Brent Carter, lead vocalist of Average White Band, the band performs powerful renditions of all of Earth, Wind & Fire's top hits, including “September,” “Let's Groove,” “Boogie Wonderland,” “Sing a Song,” and more.

SUNDAY, JULY 7

HAIR

2 p.m. | $40.00+

Signature Theater, 4200 Campbell Ave, Arlington, VA 22206

The sensational, groundbreaking rock musical bursts with the jubilant spirit, raging rebellion and psychedelic color of the 1960s.

With chart-topping hits such as “Aquarius,” “Let the Sunshine In,” and “Good Morning, Starshine,” HAIR's vibrant, groovy celebration of peace, love and life changed Broadway forever and still resonates today.

Curator Tour of “Star Power: Photographs from Hollywood's

Golden Age by George Hurrell” 3 p.m. - 4 p.m. | Free National Portrait Gallery, 8th St NW & F St NW, Washington, D.C., 20004

Join the Portrait Gallery’s Senior Curator of Photographs Ann Shumard for a lively tour of “Star Power: Photographs from Hollywood’s Golden Age by George Hurrell.” These vintage prints from the 1930s and ‘40s feature Joan Crawford, Clark Gable, Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, Anna May Wong and more Golden-Age favorites.

5The River Pavilion will host the first of a series of evenings showcasing the Kennedy Center’s Contemporary Music and Jazz summer programming, which runs from July 5 to Aug. 4. (Courtesy Photo/Nick Karlin)

5Coming to the Signature Theater, “HAIR” is a sensational, groundbreaking rock musical that bursts with the jubilant spirit, raging rebellion and psychedelic color of the 1960s. (Courtesy Photo)

With Love, George Clinton Brings the Funk to D.C.

By Brenda C. Siler WI Contributing Writer

The Funk scene has always been a massive part of the D.C. area’s cultural identity, and it is now being celebrated in a unique way. Thanks to the D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities, Washingtonians and visitors can experience an exhibition honoring 82-year-old Funkmaster George Clinton and his legacy.

“A Toast To The Boogie: Art In The Name of Funk(adelic)” is a curated collection of Parliament-Funkadelic memorabilia and photos and embraces Clinton’s creativity and what he has given to the world. The exhibition is open to the public until Aug. 17 at the Commission's offices at 200 I Street, S.E.

To kickoff the exhibit, a twoday Funk worship began on June 25 with Clinton arriving at a press briefing to the sounds of “Parliament - Give Up The Funk (Tear The Roof Off The Sucker).”

Guests cheered him as he entered the room. Following a welcome and introductions, it was time to be guided through the exhibition. It was Clinton’s first time seeing the finished “show and tell” of his career, and he could not stop smiling.

Tonysha Nelson, Clinton’s granddaughter, grew up with him on and off stage. She provided a brief overview of what was in the exhibition, and was recognized as a key liaison between her relatives and the Commission to bring this kickoff event to D.C.

“I’m really excited about today. Some of the pieces you will see are sections of my family’s history and my grandfather’s legacy,” said Nelson. “My mom had a collection of photos from the band on tour that she would carefully organize, showcasing the memories and experiences. It was a visual timeline.”

CREATING THE GEORGE CLINTON LEGACY TRIBUTE

This tribute to Clinton’s legacy was the brainchild of Melvin Witten, a long-time D.C. resident and friend of the funk star.

The exhibition at the Commission was preceded by a 50th-anniversary retrospect of Clinton’s “Cosmic Slop” album held last year at the Eaton Hotel in downtown, D.C. After that, Witten and the star’s family felt there was more to share about the legacy of Clinton and the Funk.

This new exhibition was curated by Michelle Day-Curry, curator at the Commission and Zavier Croft, co-curator for the exhibition and Clinton’s grandson.

In addition to family items on display, many of the pieces on display came from the Commission’s “Call for Art” to identify personal items individuals might want to have considered for the exhibition.

Day-Curry explained that the exhibition was organized to celebrate the Funk aesthetic in D.C. and the funk culture of the District through 2024. A juried panel

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UNPACK A NEW BEGINNING

5The DC Commission on Arts and Humanities opened an exhibition celebrating Funkmaster George Clinton and the District’s relation to the history and legacy of funk. (Ja'Mon Jackson/The Washington Informer)

LIFESTYLE

CLINTON from Page 29

headed by Keven Strait from the Smithsonian Museum of African American History and Culture selected the items that were not from the personal family collections.

D.C. educator Bevadine Z. Terrell was happy to see photos taken by her late brother Tom Terrell hung in the exhibition. Her brother also wrote the liner notes for the album “Chocolate City,” Parliament’s beloved ode to D.C.

“My brother met George in 1970 at a concert at Morgan State University, and he started following him,” said Terrell about her connection to Clinton. “For [my brother] to be here for this event would have been the ultimate.”

LEGACY LESSONS FOR CREATIVES

The Parliament-Funkadelic lovefest continued on June 26 with a discussion titled “A Toast to the Boogie: Protecting Our Legacy” with Nelson and Clinton’s daughter Gabrielle German, president of “Protecting Our Legacy,” the Parliament Funkadelic star’s foundation.

Moderated by Derek Ward, a reporter at NBC Washington, the

session focused on preparing and retaining one’s creative works. There is a well-known history about how Clinton’s works were sampled, for which he was not paid. The family has worked for many years to change that situation.

The discussion wrapped up with Clinton joining the conversation. He gave the audience what they wanted: wild antics on tour and Clinton weighing in on talent he keeps his eyes on, like hip-hop artists Rakim and Kendrick Lamar.

Clinton also spoke about how, from the beginning, he admired Motown, its acts and its style. But he had a revelation when the Jackson 5 joined Motown; he felt that was when the Detroit label peaked.

“As soon as Motown peaked, I didn’t have to wear a suit, tie, and a shirt pressed with five other guys,” said Clinton. “I went out there butt naked, and I put my little spaceship right here in D.C. at the Capital Centre.”

For more information on “A Toast To The Boogie: Art In The Name of Funk(adelic)” visit dcarts.dc.gov. WI @bcscomm

5

by

(Ja'Mon Jackson/The Washington Informer)

Co-curated

Zavier Croft, George Clinton’s grandson, this section of the DC Commision on Arts and Humanities exhibit in tribute to the icon, highlights an assortment of album covers that accompanied the music of P-Funk.

Parade Puzzle

On July 4, 1776, people living in the American Colonies declared their independence. They wanted to be independent, or free, from the rules of King George III of England. They wanted to form their own country.

They wrote a document to send to King George. It was called the Declaration of Independence, signed on July 4, 1776. This famous document says that all people are created equal and with certain rights.

One of the original signers of the Declaration of Independence visited Europe and fell in love with pasta. He brought back a machine to make macaroni and later, he became the first president to serve macaroni and cheese as part of an official state dinner. Which Founding Father was this? Circle every fourth letter to find out!

Unscramble the words to discover the rights mentioned in the Declaration of Independence.

Can you nd the letters L-I-B-E-R-T-Y hidden here?

How many stars can you nd below?

BONUS: How many stars can you nd on this page?

Which two picnic pictures are the same?

Onomatopoeia describes words that sound like the sound they make when you say them. For example, when you say, “Pop!” it sounds a bit like a pop. Look through the newspaper. Can you find three to five examples of onomatopoeia?

development.

MACARONI ENGLAND SIGNERS PARADE FATHER CHEESE GEORGE PEOPLE RULES PASTA EQUAL WORDS KING FREE LIFE

We the People

The Preamble to the U.S. Constitution starts with “We the People …” Find examples in the newspaper of people working together to improve something or accomplish a goal in your community.

Standards Link: Civics: Understand how a constitutional government has shaped America.

Write about the best birthday you have had. What made it feel so special? Be sure to give at least five details. My Best Birthday

Standards Link: Write descriptively using main idea and supporting details.

review wi book

Books for Kids for Summertime Reading by Various Authors and Illustrators

c.2024, Various publishers

$18.99-$24.99

Various page counts

Terri Schlichenmeyer WI Contributing Writer

You've played every game in the house — twice — and made up a few, too.

You've ridden your bike all over, gone to the pool just about every day, and you've finished all your chores ahead of time. So now what do you do?

How about a great new book to spend time with this summer?

Why not dream? In "Willis Watson Is a Wannabe" by Carmen Bogan, illustrated by Charyl "Ras" Thuesday ($18.99 Simon & Schuster), Willis wants to be a superhero because his grandpa says he can be whatever he wants to be. When the neighborhood boys tell Willis that there's no such thing as a superhero, well, isn't that a challenge? Your 4-to-6-year-old will find it to be so, with inspiration inside this book.

Why not fall in love with a new pet? In "Not My Cat" by Stacey Patton, illustrated by Acamy Schleikorn ($18.99, Simon & Schuster), Staceypants finds something she'd rather not have: a cat. Cats are messy and they scratch things. Staceypants does not like cats one bit. You might ask, but this cat is not hers. Or is it? Based on a true story, kids ages 5 to 7 will love finding out — especially if they're cat lovers. Why not pick up a new hobby? In "All the Rocks We Love" by Lisa Varchol Perron and Taylor Perron, art by David Scheirer ($18.99, Penguin Workshop, out 7/16), you'll read about something you probably barely notice: rocks! "Rocks are everywhere we look," say the authors, and they're all very different. Some are cool and smooth. Some sparkle and some even float! Bring some home with you on vacation this year and, if you're 4 to 10 years old, you can decorate your room.

Why not learn about a new heroine? In "Go Wilma, Go!" by Amira Rose Davis and Michael G. Long, illustrated by Charnelle Pinkney Barlow ($18.99, Bloomsbury, out 7/16), you'll read about Wilma Rudolph, who was an athlete in the 1960 Olympics. It's a great honor, until she learns that her hometown has planned a Wilma Rudolph Day and she's shocked. Wilma is Black and the celebration isn't open to people with Black skin. What happens when she "digs in" is a great story kids ages 6 to 10 will love.

And finally, for the older (12-and-up) reader, why not check out "Stamped from the Beginning" by Ibram X. Kendi, adapted and illustrated by Joel Christian Gill ($24.99, Penguin Random House)? It's a long, detailed look at racism in America that takes young readers from the 1600s to modern-day racism, with full stops for important historical events and heroism along the way. This is the kind of book you give your teen, but don't be embarrassed to borrow it back for yourself this summer.

And if these books aren't enough to keep your young reader occupied and happy, be sure to check with your favorite bookstore or librarian for more. They've got lots of summertime books for kids of any age, and adults, too. They might even have games to play, once or twice. WI

horoscopes

LIFESTYLE

JULY 4 - 10, 2024

ARIES Early in the week, you might be compelled to consider diving into an investment plan or moneymaking opportunity. You're craving change in a major way, so make sure you're not moving forward for that reason. Instead, you'll do well to ensure that this step is right rationally and intuitively. Later, aspects could create friction with your significant other or another loved one. Do your best to handle it in a measured, immediate way. Lucky Numbers: 12, 29, 39

TAURUS As the week begins, you'll enjoy spending time with your lover and friends. The vibe isn't exclusively social, though. It's also prime for getting caught up in an escapist pastime like working on a whimsical, creative project. Later, there could be tension in conversations with family members or colleagues. You might very well be at the end of your rope and inclined to repress these heated feelings, but expressing them now and letting out the steam will serve you best. Lucky Numbers: 5, 30, 57

GEMINI At the week's start, you'll get a burst of self-assuredness that can light up your love life. You'll be feeling like asserting yourself in a bold way, which is sure to be magnified now. Own this moment, and think about how you can make this playful, loving energy last. Later, you'll want to bring your whole heart to the conversation with a higher-up or colleague. Infusing your work with passion and emotional depth is the key to bumping up your financial gain. Lucky Numbers: 1, 6, 21

CANCER Your creativity, imagination, and sensitivity are heightened when the week begins. Break free of your usual routine and have an impromptu date with your lover or closest friends. The more you go with the flow, the more the sparks will fly. Later, the stage is set for butting heads with family members. Your instinct might be to try to keep the peace, contending with your emotions and expressing them in the moment can promote understanding and healing. Lucky Numbers: 2, 13, 20

LEO You'll be driven to create exciting change on the job early in the week. Your main focus is getting out of the rut you've been in and enjoying more freedom. Make sure to check in with your gut and follow your heart as you navigate this eye-opening, pivotal moment. Later, you're inspired to get together with your social circle and bat around your most heartfelt ideas. Vibrant conversation make you feel even more alive and connected to your friends and your goals. Lucky Numbers: 7, 17, 57

VIRGO Heartfelt conversations might be easier to initiate at the beginning of the week. The key is leading with your emotions as opposed to logic now. But it's an ideal time to open up about your fantasies, which can set you up for romantic magic. Later, the cosmos boosts your confidence to pitch a major passion project. If it feels like the right thing to you intuitively and emotionally, you're sure to be right on track and setting the stage for concrete rewards. Lucky Numbers: 5, 10, 21

LIBRA You'll feel like you have the green light to act on your deepest emotions when the week starts. This can be not only incredibly empowering but also fertile ground for making horizon-broadening moves that will have a resounding effect, such as taking a class that could lead to an exciting job opportunity or signing up for training related to a bold new wellness plan. You've got this! Later, the stage is set for conflict with a higher-up. It's possible that you simply aren't seeing eye to eye on your visions, and clashing is an inevitable step along the way to figuring out the best way to proceed. Lucky Numbers: 12, 19, 50

SCORPIO Look forward to getting caught up in daydreams that will be more vivid than usual when the week begins. You'll want to open up about these exciting visions and potentially draw inspiration from them as you lean into an activity that allows you to express yourself in a creative way. Later, the cosmos stirs you to hone your skill set and acquire knowledge that speaks to your big-picture goals. You won't want to invest in anything you feel lukewarm about! Lucky Numbers: 7, 28, 50

SAGITTARIUS At the start of the week, you find yourself itching to shake up your fitness and eating routine. Whether you consult with a trusted expert or you commit to boosting the intensity of your existing strategy, enacting a shift now can improve your morale and results. Later, the cosmos intensifies self-care and connecting with loved ones. For this reason, you'll want to explore l new ways to meditate, as well as spend time close to home. Lucky Numbers: 11, 17, 54

CAPRICORN You might shift your approach to dating or connecting with your current partner early in the week. Adopting a laid-back attitude or feeling more open in how you flirt can have you feeling even more empowered in your love life. Later, you have the green light to be assertive with higher-ups about your short- and long-term goals. This is a fruitful time to discuss a different way to tackle your day-to-day workload. Lucky Numbers: 23, 32, 53

AQUARIUS Don't hesitate to bring your wildest ideas to the table at the start of the week. You'll be on a roll dreaming up quirky, out-there proposals, and there's no reason to hold back from sharing them with higher-ups and colleagues. While some might suggest you need to find facts and figures to back up your proposals, your enthusiasm and ingenuity make a wonderful starting point! Later, the cosmos shores up your confidence and most heartfelt desires. You'll want to take bold, concrete action, such as booking the vacation of your dreams. Lucky Numbers: 4, 5, 9

PISCES If you've been feeling overwhelmed by the sheer frenzied pace of life, you might be compelled to switch things up in a significant way as the week begins. You might even surprise people around you when you decide to make a bold move, such as setting boundaries around the times you're answering messages. As long as the approach feels right in your gut, you'll do well to go for it. Later, you're encouraged to research that educational opportunity that could ultimately advance your career. The endgame might be a little blurry at the moment, but your instincts are on point. Lucky Numbers: 11, 15, 31

SPORTS

District Group Puts Double Dutch on the Map

By Ed Hill WI Contributing Writer

Double dutch has experienced a spike in national and international popularity over the past few years, and while the sport has international roots, a local team is taking the competition to the next level.

A rope skipping exercise involving two ropes turned in an eggbeater fashion while a third person jumps within, double dutch’s origins may be traced back to ancient Phoenician, Egyptian, and Chinese rope makers who developed the basic framework as they made their wares.

Dutch settlers brought double dutch to New Amsterdam (now New York City), where English observers named it. The game became a popular urban pastime, particularly in New York during World War II.

In 1973, David A. Walker and Detective Ulysses Williams revitalized double dutch as a competitive team sport, leading to the first tournament

in 1974 with nearly 600 students. Since then, double dutch has grown into a global sport with national and international championships.

Walker founded the American Double Dutch League in 1974 and later the International Double Dutch Federation and the National Double Dutch League. He also created the popular "Fusion" free-style approach used in international competitions.

Recently, a local D.C. group achieved the coveted world title in Double Dutch in the world invitationals held in Sumter, South Carolina.

Jump DC has made a mark in the double dutch world. The team traveled to Sumter to compete against some of the greatest jumpers that the nation has to offer. Participants from 15 states gathered to determine who is the best.

Sharde Perry is the founder and owner of the local team. Despite some early challenges, she had the vision to build a competitive program.

"It is like a dream come true," Perry told The Informer. "To realize where we came from in this process and to achieve this at this point is remarkable."

She first started the program in 2019 with five participants, but just when the program began to venture out, COVID hit and plans had to be postponed.

Following a three-year break, Perry reset and set Jump DC’s current system in place in 2022.

The first significant move for Jump DC came when Perry brought on Sherita McGill as a coach.

"Rita is the perfect complement to the program," noted Perry, a former double dutch performer. "It is interesting how these things work out. She

reached out to me several times when I first started out, but I did not return the calls. Then when I finally talked to her about coaching in the program, she turned out to be exactly what we needed. She is an excellent coach in terms of preparation and motivation, whereas I am more of the organizational person getting the administrative things done."

The team practices three times a week for three hours and up to four on Saturdays.

The next part of expanding Jump DC was incorporating travel in the game plan to prepare for competition. It included trips to New York and other places to face off some of the more established programs in the country.

The judging of competition is based on three components: compulsory, speed and freestyle. There are 28 members (including one male) of the team, ranging in ages from 5 to 16 and come from all quadrants of the city with a few from Maryland. They are broken up into two categories, Kindergarten through second grade, and third graders through high school seniors.

In training the jumpers, McGill comes in as a driving force. A former jumper, she demands hard work, discipline in the team's practice and preparation.

"We pride ourselves on being the most prepared team in the competition," declared McGill. "Our hard work was rewarded because of that."

Arayah Armstrong, 11, first started with the program three years ago. She talks about the experience of achieving such a lofty accomplishment.

"When I first heard them call Jump DC as the champion, it was disbelief," recalled Arayah. "There were a lot of

good teams there who were amazing. When I saw all my teammates jumping up and down, that's when I knew it was real. We had done it."

Jennifer Armstrong, Arayah's mother, also weighed in on the team’s success.

"It is remarkable how the program has grown over the past three years," Armstrong told The Informer. " At first, they were feeling their way and trying to find out where they were. Now there is no more doubt. There is a confidence, a lot of growth and a strong sisterhood that is a joy to see. The coaches have done a great job." Despite its success, the program faces a serious challenge and that is lack of funding. Since there is no major sponsor, the team relies on small fundraisers/donations to cover the costs. The team had to raise $20,000 to cover expenses for transportation, hotel accommodations, food, gas, team registration and other expenses. For their efforts, Jump DC was invited to participate in the Juneteenth celebration followed by a demonstration with their championship jackets on.

Further, JUMP DC has been selected to be a part of a documentary, "Majic Between the Ropes" that is being produced by actor and comedian Kevin Hart.

"This is big for Jump DC," said Perry. "We are excited for the opportunity."

Armstrong said the team’s success is not only big for Jump DC but the whole Washington Metropolitan region.

"For them to see themselves on that stage is not just going to be huge for the Jump DC program and the DMV area, but also for them individually.” WI

5Milan, Gigi, and "Lil Baby" performed a routine at the Joseph Cole Recreation Center in Washington, D.C., on June 13. (Marcus Relacion/The Washington Informer)

5Dorian performed a routine with Gigi and Charlie, watching and waiting for their turn at the Joseph Cole Recreation Center in Washington, D.C., on June 13. (Marcus Relacion/The Washington Informer)

CAPTURE the moment

Prince George’s Chamber of Commerce Hosts Annual Dinner

On June 27, at Martin's Crosswinds, located in Greenbelt, Maryland, the Prince George’s Chamber of Commerce’s (PGCOC) Annual Dinner brought together business and community leaders for an evening to celebrate accomplishments and recognize the organization’s members.

3Micheline Bowman, Chondria Andrews and Kiante Wheatley. (Robert R. Roberts/ The Washington Informer)

6Thomas Graham, Chris Riley, Pamlar Blair and Tony Ruffin. (Robert R. Roberts/ The Washington Informer)

6Alexander Austin, PGCOC president and CEO, and Market President of Commercial Banking for Truist Bank Cassius Priestly, recipient of the Prince George's Chamber of Commerce Award of Appreciation. He was honored for his service as chair of the PGCOC board. (Robert R. Roberts/ The Washington Informer)

3Prince George’s Council Chair Jolene Ivey (right) swears in Tony Ruffin as the new board chair, as Donna Bryand holds the Bible. (Robert R. Roberts/ The Washington Informer)

4The passing of the gavel from Cassius Priestly to Tony Ruffin, the new board chair. (Robert R. Roberts/ The Washington Informer)

3 Maryland State's Attorney Aisha Braveboy and Tony Ruffin. (Robert R. Roberts/ The Washington Informer)

5 In an event that featured food and entertainment, the annual dinner was also a special time to usher in the new board of directors and celebrate the incoming board chair during the changing of the gavel ceremony (Robert R. Roberts/ The Washington Informer)

RELIGION

Black Churches 4 Digital Equity Heeds Call to Bridge the Digital Gap

Inaugural Juneteenth Bible Study Reflects Advocacy of Black Churches

By Jada Ingleton WI Contributing Fellow

For 200 years, the Black church has been at the forefront of advocating for social issues and human rights nationwide, and organizations like Black Churches 4 Digital Equity (BC4DE) are working to address a major justice issue facing African American communities: the digital divide.

“Historically, African American churches have always had to be the counter public space for Black people in the United States to understand how to live in a country that didn't want them, how to lead in a country that didn't want them,” says Dr. Fallon Wilson, Vice President of Policy at the Multicultural Media, Telecom and Internet Council (MMTC) and lead organizer of the BC4DE Coalition. “It makes sense that the African American church now can lead in this new digital equity [space] and the artificially intelligent world that is being built.”

During the Civil Rights Movement, religious leaders like Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Rev. Ralph Abernathy organized and led marches and protests for racial inequality.; In 2021, Rev. William J. Barber II led a four-day voting rights march across Texas to counter voter restriction legislation.

Recently, BC4DE joined forces with the Greater Grace: Temple of David in Detroit to host the inaugural Juneteenth National Digital Equity Bible Study, an event rooted in fostering digital equity and literacy in the Black community.

The historic moment brought

guest speakers, technology experts, and a taste of praise and worship to hundreds of hybrid guests with a shared mission in advocacy.

“If we really think about the role of the African American church, it has been a cornerstone for economic, social and political mobility for Black people,” Wilson says. “For us at [BC4DE], it is simply the evolution of the work that Black churches have been doing post-slavery, post-reconstruction to build a better experience and freedoms for Black people in this country.”

Since its establishment in 2021, the BC4DE Coalition, an initiative of MMTC, has partnered with 50 Black churches and Black church nonprofits across 13 U.S. states and the District to ensure equal access to affordable and reliable internet.

The collaboration of over 400 church leaders has worked to build Black technology innovation systems, and been at the forefront of the push for broadband benefits and the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). In addition to lobbying the legislature, the churches have worked at the ground levelground-level educating ministries on how to use data and access digital resources.

“We have grown into a movement of Black church leaders who see digital equity and technology as a social ministry and not simply as a digital evangelism,” Wilson says. “The church…can be a transgenerational learning space for not only our seniors, but for our young people. We say we begin with digital equity, but the future is all about the emerging technologies that are terrifying our

community as we speak.”

Minister Dominique GrantKing, associate pastor of Ebenezer Everywhere at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, emphasized the importance of the church’s role in community engagement and connectivity in limited spaces.

“We are surrounded, unfortunately, by broadband desert, so we don't have the fastest networks in our areas, which impacts the way we reach our congregation,” King says. “Without knowledge, our people will perish. We want to make sure that they have the infrastructure, resources and connectivity that they need, so they are not left behind.”

‘IT’S AN UPHILL BATTLE’

With faith-based unions working to bridge the digital gap, congressional leaders are under immense pressure to enact change.

Programs such as the Juneteenth Digital Equity Bible Study and the National Black Church Initiative drive the call for equality within underfunded communities; however, some church leaders feel there is much more to be done at the legislative level.

“No matter what advocacy that the Black church is fighting against, the uphill battle is against…elected officials [on on] behalf of the corporations,” says the Rev. Anthony Evans, president of National Black Church Initiative. “We must hold

our Congressional Representative sheet to the fire to represent the Black community interest.”

He adds that the church should recognize this social issue as a “21st century fight” against technological companies who deny access to low-income areas, and argues for the benefit of more regulation and representation within the industry.

“We are the lone voice of advocating for the poor in terms of… trying to close the technology gap. I suggest the African American community [funds] an agency ourselves to advocate, protect and monitor the growth of technology in society,” he says.

Since Congress set forth $65 billion of funding to broadband, King urges communities to learn to recognize digital inequity at a local level.

She recommends residents become familiar with their local broadband officers and approved initiatives, and calls on Congress to “think creatively” on how to allocate funds without creating challenges for low-income areas.

“There's bias in the loan system. There's bias in the grant and philanthropic community. It immediately takes Black and brown organizations off the map from doing this work for their community,” she says. “It doesn't require additional funding to fix the systems you created that are consistently creating inequitable ways in.”

Some legislation aims to support

the need for community engagement and equity. The developing Digital Equity Act Competitive Program, which received 1.5 billion dollars in funding, will allow constituents to submit plans and proposals on how to address the digital divide. Additionally, the Biden-Administration Internet for All Program is committed to ensuring affordable, reliable high-speed internet by the end of the decade.

As for the Black church, the Black Church 4 Digital Equity will continue its Juneteenth Digital Equity Bible Study, and soon kick off the state-wide National Black Churches for Digital Equity Fall Tour, according to Wilson.

While inequity remains a continuing battle within the Black community, Black church leaders are prepared to lead the charge for a more inclusive digital future.

“Until we, as a church family, deal with the digital divide, we have no future in an AI world,” Wilson says. “There is no AI future without digital equity, and there is no digital equity without racial equity.”

For more information on Black Churches 4 Digital Equity, the digital divide, or local and federal resources, please visit the following links:

• blackchurches4digitalequity.com

• digitalequitybiblestudy.com

• mmtconline.org

• dcnet.dc.gov

• internetforall.gov

• squarespace.com WI

5The Rev. Dr. Renita Weems, a biblical scholar, author, and 2022 Black Churches 4 Digital Equity (BC4DE) fellow, addressed the importance of Black churches' involvement in achieving digital equity in the Black community at the inaugural Juneteenth National Digital Equity Bible Study. BC4DE is working to address a major justice issue facing African American communities: the digital divide. (Courtesy Photo/Instagram, BC4DE)

This is indeed the Religion Corner, so let me begin by saying, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge" (Hosea 4:6). The writings shared in this column by me, particularly the story of my family's struggle with Type 2 diabetes, is real. It is my prayer that each reader will benefit by learning what we did not know.

Allow me to share comments made during a C-SPAN interview with Dr. Griffin P. Rodgers, a medical doctor from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease, who responded to a caller during the interview who had the following question: "My mother had triggered diabetes. I don't recall what type it was. I have a brother and sister that are 10 years older than I am. They both take insulin shots and have had difficulties with this disease. Here I am so far in my life, I've been disease-free of sugar diabetes. This genetic makeup — if they have the gene and I don't, I would like to know why I succeeded in life without becoming a victim of that."

Dr. Rodgers answered her by saying, "Our genetic makeup says a lot about what we are likely to become. You may or may not have the same risk because we have two parents and you inherit half of your genes from one parent and half from the other. It could be that, that suscep-

WITH LYNDIA GRANT

Are You Treating Your Body Like a Temple? the religion corner

tibility gene, you may have been lucky to not inherit. A lot has to do with our environment, how much we are exposed to, what we eat."

He continued: "As it turns out, in Type 2 diabetes, our environment begins even earlier. For studies we have funded, both in our NIH Phoenix branch and other sites nationally, determine that our environment begins in utero. A mother who develops Type 2 diabetes or who has diabetes during pregnancy, the infant born to that mother when they have diabetes is more likely to develop diabetes later on in life than an infant born to that same mother who was not affected with just a small diabetes, known as gestational diabetes. There is something in our environment we are trying to understand. That's another factor to be considered. Of course, if it runs in your family, that does put you at higher risk. It sounds like you're doing the right thing and you are being checked periodically to determine whether you have any signs of it. A good prescription, however, is exercise and maintaining your weight at a level that your doctor approves."

I wanted to share this very significant question and answer session, which the Holy Spirit prompted me to transcribe and share with you. As I conclude this important column on how we must fight hard to curtail this out-of-control health

challenge called Type 2 diabetes, the research shows there are millions of people who have this disease now, and many more millions who don't even know that they have it. This is a problem we must face, head-on! It is not our fault when it is in our genes — some are born with that, according to Dr. Rogers. Read his answer again and again so you will understand. This shows even more explicitly why early detection is important.

Type 2 diabetes did run in my mother's family, but it wasn't discussed — they did not realize that there was a need to share this history with family members. They didn't understand what they needed to know and share or why. With me sharing with my family and also sharing with you the thousands of readers, I have taken the bull by the horns to teach as many as will hear about the way to save yourselves. This story will be told by me, for the rest of my life. Dr. Rodgers said a good prescription is one, get checked early and regularly for Type 2 diabetes; two, learn how to eat properly when you discover you are a candidate; and three, exercise and lose weight!

When you follow these simple 1-2-3 steps, you will save yourselves and your loved ones from experiencing a life filled with pain, unnecessary suffering and regrets! WI

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RELIGION

Church with a past to remember – and a future to mold” www.mtzbcdc.org

Bottom - Founded in 1867 728 23rd Street, NW - Washington, DC 20037 Church office: 202-333-3985 Fax : 202-338-4958

Service and Times Sundays: 10 a.m. Holy Eucharist with Music and Hymns Wednesdays: 12:10 p.m. - Holy Eucharist www.stmarysfoggybottom.org Email: stmarysoffice@stmarysfoggybottom.org

Rev Kevin A. O'Bryant Pastor

401 Van Buren St., NW, Washington D.C. 20012 Office (202)-882-8331

Service and Times Sunday Worship 10:30 am Zoom: zoom.us/;/2028828331

Bible Study: Wednesday 7:00pm Communion Every First Sunday "Serve, teach and Live by precept and example the saving grace of Jesus Christ."

www.firstrising.org “Changing Lives On Purpose “ The Rev. E. Bernard Anderson

All are welcome to St. Mary’s to Learn, Worship, and Grow.

Website: Theplbc.org Email: churchclerk@theplbc.org

Mt. Horeb Baptist Church

Rehoboth Baptist Church

First Rising Mt. Zion Baptist Church

Historic St. Mary’s Episcopal Church

Promised Land Baptist Church

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

PROBATE DIVISION

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2024 FEP 000059

July 12, 2023

Date of Death

Lacey Jackson Thomas, II

Name of Decedent

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Michaele Lynn Abner whose address is 3409 Sherbrook Road, Richmond, VA 23235 was appointed personal representative of the estate of Lacey Jackson Thomas, II, deceased, by the City of Richmond Circuit Court for the City of Richmond, State of Virginia, on May 6, 2024.

Service of process may be made upon Lauren Wilcock; The Geller Law Group 1250 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 700, Washington, DC 20036 whose designation as District of Columbia agent has been filed with the Register of Wills, D.C. The decedent owned the following District of Columbia real property.

7525 Alaska Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20012. Claims against the decedent may be presented to the undersigned and filed with the Register of Wills of the District of Columbia, 515 5th Street, NW, Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001 within 6 months from the date of first publication of this notice.

Date of first publication: June 20, 2024

Michaele Lynn Abner

Personal Representative

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2024 ADM 000667

Elizabeth Lee Hogenson Barnes Decedent

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Victoria Ellen Barnes Bishton, whose address is 6020 Walhonding Road, Bethesda, MD 20816, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Elizabeth Lee Hogenson Barnes who died on March 18, 2024 with a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 12/20/2024. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 12/20/2024, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship.

Date of first publication: 6/20/2024

Victoria Ellen Barnes Bishton Personal Representative

TRUE

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2024 ADM 000692

Delores Kittrell Decedent

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Juan Harrison, whose address is 7809 Beddington Court Clinton, MD 20735, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Delores Kittrell who died on 4/19/2024 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 12/20/2024. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 12/20/2024, or be forever barred.

Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship.

Date of first publication: 6/20/2024

Juan Harrison Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2024 ADM 000661

Lorraine Jerman Ivey aka Lorraine Ivey Decedent

Stephanie L. Royal, Esq. The Royal Legal Group, LLC 5335 Wisconsin Ave., NW, Suite 440 Washington, DC 20015 Attorney

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Montina I. Wood-McAbee, whose address is 733 Saint Michaels Drive, Bowie, MD 20721, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Lorraine Jerman Ivey aka Lorraine Ivey who died on 10/3/2023 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 12/20/2024. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 12/20/2024, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship.

Date of first publication: 6/20/2024

Montina I. Wood-McAbee Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2024 ADM 000685

Rachel Mae Ross Ellis

Decedent

Carlos Da Rosa Law Office of Carlos D. Da Rosa 1629 K Street, NW, Suite 300 Washington, DC 20006

Attorney

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Elizabeth L. E. Wiggins, whose address is 2403 Shade Oak Court, Waldorf, MD 20601, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Rachel Mae Ross Ellis who died on 5/21/2020 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 12/20/2024. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 12/20/2024, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship.

Date of first publication: 6/20/2024

Elizabeth L. E. Wiggins Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2024 ADM 000671

Mable Turner Decedent

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Owens T. Turner, whose address is 38700 Creek Lane Mechanicsville, MD 20659, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Mable Turner who died on June 21, 2007 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 12/20/2024. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 12/20/2024, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship.

Date of first publication: 6/20/2024

Owens T. Turner Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

PROBATE DIVISION Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2024 FEP 000060

July 26, 2022

Date of Death

Ethel Cobbs Spencer Name of Decedent

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Larry Spencer whose address is 4843 Greencove Circle, Sparrows Point, MD 21219 was appointed personal representative of the estate of Ethel Cobbs Spencer, deceased, by the Orphans Court for Baltimore County, State of Maryland, on 9/13/2023.

Service of process may be made upon Augusto D. Macedo 1629 K Street, NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20006 whose designation as District of Columbia agent has been filed with the Register of Wills, D.C. The decedent owned the following District of Columbia real property.

5733 Blaine Street, NE, Washington, DC 20019. Claims against the decedent may be presented to the undersigned and filed with the Register of Wills of the District of Columbia, 515 5th Street, NW, Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001 within 6 months from the date of first publication of this notice.

Date of first publication: June 20, 2024

Larry Spencer Personal Representative

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2024 ADM 000659

Alfred Plato Robinson, Jr. Decedent

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Toni Newman, whose address is 2238 13th St., NE, Washington, DC 20018, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Alfred Plato Robinson, Jr. who died on October 11, 2023 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 12/20/2024. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 12/20/2024, or be forever barred.

Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship.

Date of first publication: 6/20/2024

Toni Newman Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2024 ADM 000724

Estate of Ernest Postell Sr.

NOTICE OF STANDARD PROBATE

Notice is hereby given that a petition has been filed in this Court by Pamela Metts and Dominique Postell for standard probate, including the appointment of one or more personal representatives. Unless a responsive pleading in the form of a complaint or an objection in accordance with Superior Court Probate Division Rule 407 is filed in this Court within 30 days from the date of first publication of this notice, the Court may take the action hereinafter set forth.

In the absence of a will or proof satisfactory to the Court of due execution, enter an order determining that the decedent died intestate appoint an unsupervised personal representative waive bond for personal representative per waiver for as filed w/petition

Date of first publication: 6/20/2024

Stephen B. Pershing, Esq. Pershing Law PLLC 1416 E St., NE Washington, DC 20002

Petitioner/Attorney:

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2024 FEP 61

October 6, 2022

Date of Death

Louis Wilfred Provost aka Louis W. Provost

Name of Decedent

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS

M. J. Gertrude Provost whose address is 6 Sally Sweets Way, #108, Salem NH, 03079 was appointed personal representative of the estate of Louis Wilfred Provost aka Louis W. Provost, deceased, by the Probate Court for Essex County, State of Massachusetts, on November 14, 2023.

Service of process may be made upon Robin Laupheimer, Sparacino PLLC 1920 L Street, NW, Suite 835, Washington, DC 20036 whose designation as District of Columbia agent has been filed with the Register of Wills, D.C.

The decedent owned District of Columbia personal property. Claims against the decedent may be presented to the undersigned and filed with the Register of Wills of the District of Columbia, 515 5th Street, NW, Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001 within 6 months from the date of first publication of this notice.

Date of first publication: 06/20/2024

M. J. Gertrude Provost Personal Representative

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

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In the 1990s, Ross, and several other Black people, gained significant clarity about the “War on Drugs” when a series of articles by Gary Webb of the San Jose Mercury News revealed a connection between Ross’ Nicaraguan drug source, the CIA, and financial support of anti-government forces in the South American country.

Decades later, as District youth continue to reel from gun violence and substance use, White said the event, themed “Drugs and Gun Violence All Over the Western Hemisphere,” set out to further implicate the federal government for its ongoing role in destabilizing Black communities.

“There’s no seriousness to figure out who’s behind the drug and gun trafficking,” White said in his criticism of D.C. council members and D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D), all of whom he demanded provide youth with more economic opportunities. “It goes back to [Reagan administration National Security Council Lieutenant Colonel] Oliver North. It had a drastic effect because communities don’t exist anymore.”

ERIC HICKS PUSHES FOR A HOLISTIC, AND GLOBAL, SOLUTION

A News4 I-Team investigation in April found that a significant number of guns found at crime scenes in 2021 and 2022 came from gun sales facilitated by the Metropolitan Police Department, which once served as a federal firearm licensee. It got to the point where the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives sent letters to MPD in scrutiny of the connection and the short time window between gun sales and gun crimes.

A month before the release of that investigative piece, the D.C. Council approved the Secure D.C. Omnibus Amendment Act in response to incidents of gun violence that gripped the District since the pandemic. Those who organized against the legislation demanded further investment in safety net programs. A 40-page advisory recently compiled by U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy not only declared gun violence a public health emergency, but similarly gave a call to action for an increased focus on housing, high-quality education and healthcare, and employment and economic opportunities.

The degree to which the D.C. government provides that for marginalized residents has been called into question. The D.C. Council recently wrapped up a budget season characterized by atACTIVISTS from Page 1

tempts to reverse across-the-board cuts proposed by Bowser. Despite some restoration of vital programs, housing advocates continue to bemoan the decimation of emergency rental assistance and impending loss of rapid rehousing that they said could exacerbate violence and instability throughout marginalized communities in the District.

With all of that, Hicks extolled the Fiscal Year 2025 budget for funding the District’s exploration of reparations for those whose ancestors suffered through chattel slavery and Jim Crow. He acknowledged the program as a crucial start to addressing the racialized trauma accumulated through the generations.

“The word reparations never came up [in conversations] and now we have mass hysteria,” said Hicks, a paralegal and 2023 graduate of the Georgetown University Prison and Justice Initiative. “There has to be some personal accountability for young people, but it’s kind of a spurious argument to ask them to take accountability when this country won’t take accountability for historic violence.”

Hicks said he plans to spend his July 4 as he would any other -- being with his wife and reflecting on Frederick Douglass’ “What to a Slave is the Fourth of July?” speech.

For him, the 1852 speech addresses the hypocrisy of the U.S. government and Black people’s precarious relationship with Uncle Sam. As he reflected on the “Drugs and Gun Violence All Over the Western Hemisphere” event, Hicks expressed his desire to forge deeper connections with marginalized people in other parts of the world who face a similar problem.

“There’s a connection between American imperialism and the treatment of African Americans historically in America,” Hicks told The Informer. “A lot of South American countries subscribe to notions of whiteness and it makes me feel for the Black Hispanic population.”

“What affects them and us won’t be addressed until America has addressed what happened here,” Hicks continued. “People of color are catching hell everywhere and we have a historic opportunity to correct it, but it’s going to take a monumental effort to have people in those countries aligned with us in spirit and thought.”

WHITE AND HICKS CONTINUE THEIR CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM

In the 1990s, Ross, currently an author and entrepreneur, became the subject of a drug sting coordinated by

MORAL MARCH

from Page 1 and commit to protest agitation in street, litigation in the court, legislation in the suite and put forth our massive swing vote in the ballot box,” Barber exclaimed in his opening remarks. “We will take this nation to higher ground.”

His speech broadly touched on the Supreme Court's recent ruling upholding a decision that allows cities to ban homeless people from sleeping outside.

“We come here today in a moment when meanness is too often the measure of public policy, and it is a way that is far too low down and beneath the vision of ‘one nation under God,’” he said.

The Poor People’s Campaign presented a study that tracked 800 deaths per day due to extreme poverty and revealed 140 million people struggle to survive on low wages.

Many attendees participated in the march with hopes of reaching the ears of elected officials to advocate for a federal minimum wage and stronger labor laws that protect workers.

“I am standing here because right before my trip I was carried out on a stretcher due to heat exhaustion, dizziness, sweating and nausea, only for my

the same forces found to have provided him the drugs to sell. In 2009, he secured his prison release after an appeals court found that the life sentence imposed upon him more than a decade prior stemmed from the erroneous application of the three-strikes rule.

White and Hicks garnered a similar victory in 2022 under the First Step Act, which retroactively applied the Fair Sentencing Act of 2010, legislation that reduced sentencing disparities between crack and powder cocaine and eliminated minimum sentencing requirements for possession of the former.

Throughout their 30-year incarceration, White and Hicks, much like Ross, petitioned for early release. They argued that the judge and prosecutor in their case violated their right to due process by imposing a life sentence reflective of charges that didn’t initially appear on their criminal indictment.

White likened that tactic to star chambers -- secret judicial proceedings that convened during the 17th century in England. On June 8, he reflected on that experience before an audience that included Francisco Obadiah Campbell Hooker, Nicaraguan ambassador to the U.S., and a bevy of Afrodescendent organizers from Colombia, Honduras and Mexico. WI

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Rev. William

boss to tell me she’s been there all day and it’s okay,” said speaker Shae Parker, a 23-year-old Waffle House employee at a location in Columbia, South Carolina. “It’s not okay and it’s not right, it’s not fair. We dealt with heat and safety issues last year at Waffle House. We went on strike and our demands were not met.”

Lawmakers throughout the South and other states are contributing to poor working conditions for blue collar jobs. On April 11, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.) signed off on the legislation, which prohibits local governments from requiring heat and water breaks for outdoor workers.

“This has to stop, if we don’t take action as a whole collectively they are going to keep mistreating us making billions of dollars,” Parker continued. “If you are tired, get with a union, stand together and fight back.”

Groups like the Union of Southern Service Workers, Service Employees International Union and American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) were each in attendance at the march to encourage employees to join forces with them to create a better reality for all American workers.

“We don’t want to live in a big house, we just want to live in a house,” Parker concluded, ensuring listeners that the movement isn’t about generating wealth but enacting people’s right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

In 93-degree heat, hundreds stood with family, friends and fellow activists for a cause they believe in.

Dacarri Ivy, 30, of Wisconsin brought her young son and nephew to stand with her during the demonstration.

“It’s a lot of sacrifice but it’s a beneficial sacrifice. They saw what it took for us to come here and I’m happy they could be a part of it. Hopefully it makes them want to be a part of a

bigger purpose when they get older,” said Ivy, who has worked numerous minimum wage jobs.

According to a Brookings report, 53 million Americans ages 18 to 64— 44% of all workers—earn low hourly wages, with median hourly earnings at $10.22. For those working full time, year-round, the median annual earnings are about $24,000.

“As a mom, it’s just something you accept because there’s nothing else available and it doesn’t make it okay but it’s income. You don’t have a say, you just take it because it’s available,” Ivy continued. “I’m hoping politicians hear us clearly and really enforce changes. How many marches is it going to take for change to happen, for people to be treated equally?”

LABOR STATISTICS IMPROVING, MORE WORK TO END MASS POVERTY

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the percentage of hourly paid workers earning the prevailing federal minimum wage or less declined from 1.9% in 2019 to 1.5% in 2020 after the pandemic hit. The number remains well below the percentage of 13.4% recorded in 1979, when data was first collected on a regular basis.

The U.S. Treasury cited that Congress allocates over half of the discretionary budget towards national defense. During Barber’s address to attendees, he argued that some of this money should go towards universal healthcare for all, housing and other human services.

“No one should be struggling, no one should be homeless, no one should go without healthcare,” Ivy insisted.

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5 Hundreds gather in Washington, D.C. for the Poor People Campaign’s low wage workers assembly led by the

Barber. (Ashleigh Fields/The Washington Informer)

MALVEAUX from Page 26

feebly. Those who think Trump won this debate are looking at the undeniable optics. Trump was a vigorous liar, while Biden was the less vigorous, even mumbling, policy expert.

Donald Trump is a worst liar than Lillian Helman, the early 20th-century writer whose rival wrote that "every word she writes is a lie including "and" and "the." He lied about January 6. He would not confirm that he would accept the results of the 2024 election. As Biden cleverly pointed out, he has

MARSHALL from Page 26

urday Night Live episode, West told the audience, "If someone inspires me and I connect with them, I don't have to believe in all [their] policies."

Detroit-based rapper Icewear Vezzo told Fox News, "A lot of Democrats assume that [we're] just supposed to vote blindly. I feel like our votes should be worked for, I feel like our parents blindly voted for generations, but I think this generation is now understanding that we have to ask questions." Vezzo, who said he would encourage his followers to vote for Trump, makes a valid point about asking questions.

As a social justice advocate, I have no choice but to assess candidates and elections from the viewpoint of fairness. Therefore, I agree with Kayne West's statement that we don't have to agree with everything a particular candidate or elected official stands for. But as people of color, if we are sincere about maintaining "justice for all," then there are certain boundaries we should never

lied about his height and weight, and probably also about his golf handicap.

But Biden didn't check all his lies, as he might have. Sometimes he had time and the moderators had to say he had a few more seconds to make a point. In contrast, while many did not expect Trump to keep his cool, the fact is that he mostly did, often speaking in calmer tones than he usually does. I am among those who was surprised by Trump's demeanor, but unsurprised by his lies.

Tens of millions of people watched the debacle that CNN described as a "historic" debate. I walked away infuriat-

go beyond when voting in the best interest of the Black community at large. Personally, I supported the efforts of Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger as GOP lawmakers on the House Jan. 6 committee.

They displayed tremendous political courage and patriotism when investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection. In some ways, it was inspirational, but I still disagree with their partisan voting records. Most likely, I would not vote for them in a general election. While Black rappers are capable of influencing younger voters, the critical issues surrounding police brutality and accountability cannot be forgotten. Black children were six times more likely to be shot to death by police than their white counterparts, according to a study in the journal Pediatrics. While Blacks suffer an unfair burden of aggressive policing, MAGA candidates have shown an unwillingness to address the issue through legislation. On March 1, 2024, President Biden called for Congress to pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act.

MORIAL from Page 26 lives at risk.

transition to clean energy

• Eliminating racial justice initiatives and preserving advantages for white Americans, even perverting the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division to "investigate and prosecute all state and local governments, institutions of higher education, corporations, and any other private employers" with diversity, equity, and inclusion policies.

• Gutting public education, wiping out Head Start and other support for low-income students, and withdrawing federal oversight of public schools.

• Slashing health care insurance, putting 18 million Americans at risk of losing coverage entirely, killing the drug price provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act and Affordable Care Act's protections for pre-existing conditions.

• Shutting down access to safe abortions, contraception, and other reproductive health care, putting women's

ed about the Trump lies and concerned about President Biden's well-being. And I walked away with questions. Will there be a rematch? Will Trump's lies be factchecked and widely circulated? Vice President Kamala Harris did a great job by saying the president "had a weak start but ended strong." Nice save. But the raw truth is that for all his preparation, President Biden dropped several balls during this debate and missed opportunity to make important points. Still, if we have the choice between a liar-inchief and a mumbler-in-chief, I'll take the mumbler every time. WI

As of today, there's been nothing from the Republican-controlled Congress. Again, as a social justice advocate, I must also agree with Vezzo. Younger voters should ask pertinent questions. They need to ask the right questions because there are reasons why their parents and grandparents were consistent in voting for Democrats. Conservatives switched political allegiance and left the Democratic Party in the 1960s after Democrats became the defender of the 14th Amendment (full citizenship for people of color), as well as becoming a party of racial inclusion. Republican Sen. Mitt Romney recently exposed the truth. He told writer McKay Coppins as part of his forthcoming biography, "A very large portion of my party really doesn't believe in the Constitution."

Romney justifies why progressives have earned the Black vote. They fought the battle to achieve and maintain full citizenship rights dating back to the Reconstruction era. With these modern-day conservatives, there will be no end to this fight. WI

• Deleting "sexual orientation and gender identity" from all federal rules, reinstating a transgender military ban, and limiting LGBTQ workplace discrimination protections.

Even the architects of Project 2025 understand that its grisly agenda appalls and disgusts a majority of Americans who would reject it in a free and fair election — just as they rejected Trump in 2020. But democracy prevailed then only because the vice president and officials in the departments of Justice, Defense, and Homeland Security thwarted Trump's attempted Trump coup. If Trump manages to seize a second term, there won't be anyone left in the federal government to stop him from undermining future election.

There won't be anyone left in the federal government to stop his most extreme proposals, like disassembling the Veterans Administration, allowing Russian spies to remain in the country,

shooting racial justice protestors, deploying the military against migrants, kicking undocumented children out of schools, or dropping nuclear bombs into the eyes of hurricanes.

The echoes of the Southern Manifesto's in Project 2025 should come as no surprise, given the racist history of the Heritage Foundation, which spearheaded its production. The organization is rooted in the mid-1970s movement to protect racially segregated schools, waging it's first public battle against multicultural textbooks — "n***er books," as some opponents called them.

In fact, the coalition that developed Project 2025 includes at least nine SPLC-designated hate and antigovernment groups, including Alliance Defending Freedom, Center for Immigration Studies, and Moms for Liberty.

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You will discover Arts and Entertainment, Social Tidbits, Religion, Sports, People’s Viewpoints, Letters to the Editor, Classified Ads and more! And best of all… No crime, no dirty gossip, just positive news and information each week, which is why…

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WILLIAMS from Page 27 what

President Joe Biden spoke after he was rated badly in the presidential debate a few days ago, but he didn't quit. He gave the best advice in North Carolina at a massive rally. He said, "When you fall down, just get up." In the eyes of those of

EDELMAN from Page 27

we're really not going to stop until we get it."

Young people across the country are demanding the same thing. They know guns are the leading cause of death for children and teenagers in the U.S., they have seen firsthand how the threat of gun violence affected their childhoods, and they are determined to do something about it. On June 25, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy declared gun violence a public health crisis for the first time, underscoring what the American Medical Association and many others have believed for years. The surgeon general's advisory notes that gun violence leads to cascading harm across our society: those who lose their lives to guns, those who are injured, those who are direct witnesses, those who lose their loved ones, those who are exposed in affected communities, including schools, and those who experience collective trauma and fear. The majority of Americans fall into one or more of these categories, including the nearly 80% of U.S. adults who report feeling stress from the possibility of a mass shooting, and the

JEALOUS from Page 27

my America has helped the world give birth to, and the investments in manufacturing and infrastructure made under President Biden, we are opening new factories with increasing frequency and beginning to see the signs of an economy that will lift all boats again. This means thousands upon thousands of good jobs coast to coast. It has been revolutionary in places like Dalton, GA, the location of Qcells' existing Georgia plant. There, a wall is decorated with the artwork of employees' children showing their parents as heroes saving the planet.

The other part of the equation to save the planet requires us to protect and rebuild our forests.

us who know Angel and know how talented she is, will pull for her every time she goes on the court. We don't care about her critics. We love her, admire her and know she'll be a true star in the WNBA!

Among the women we know who love basketball, we also know great skill when we see it. Angel has got it and we are her eternal fan club! There are young women across the

more than half who say they or their family members have personally experienced a firearm-related incident. And we know the threat of gun violence is devastating for young people.

The report found half of U.S. teens ages 14-17 say they worry "about a shooting happening at my school or a local school near me."

Like all Americans, children and young people are the victims of all kinds of gun violence: homicides, suicides, community gun violence, domestic gun violence, and accidental or unintentional shootings. The report notes that 56% of unintentional gun deaths among children and adolescents happened in their own homes, and in cases where there was information about how guns had been stored before accidental shootings, 74% of the guns used were stored loaded and 76% were stored unlocked – most commonly accessed from inside or on top of a nightstand, on top of a bed, or under a pillow or mattress. There is so much more we can do. The surgeon general's advisory includes recommendations for a number of common sense measures, including an assault weapons

Expanding wild areas and protecting nature brings more jobs to rural America and helps preserve ancient ways of hunting, fishing and connecting with the natural world.

The benefits of protecting and planting more trees are not just for rural areas. Restoring our urban tree canopies is one of the most effective things we can do to combat the urban heat crisis in cities across the country. Recently I have been out visiting cities around the country, from Phoenix, Arizona, to Lansing, Michigan, with U.S. Department of Agriculture Undersecretary Homer Wilkes promoting the administration's $1.5 billion tree planting initiative. Every new tree casts shade and

world who see Angel and want to be like her. She's the inspiration so many Black youth need. I pray that she'll never stop being the real star she is.

I know I'm a member of Angel's fan club. It's my wish that she never forgets the great influence she's having on young people and that she'll remind them of the urgency of voting. WI

ban, universal background checks, secure storage requirements, including child access prevention laws, and increasing federal funding for gun violence prevention research and community investment in educational programs and mental health resources. As National Gun Violence Awareness Month draws to a close, this advisory provides new momentum for our nation to stay focused on ending this crisis. As Surgeon General Murthy said: "Our children should not have to live in fear that they are going to get shot if they go to school. None of us should have to worry that going to the mall or a concert or house of worship means putting our lives at risk, or that we'll get a call that a loved one in a moment of crisis has taken their own life with a firearm. All of us, regardless of our background or beliefs, want to live in a world that is safe for us and our children." And all of us should be listening to the children and young people who are already leading on gun violence prevention, who are tired of losing their siblings and friends and classmates, and who are demanding that our nation protect them, not guns.

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its shade makes the temperature feel 10-15 degrees cooler than it does in the sun. That encourages people to get outdoors. More people outside and on the street means communities are better protected, safer and more connected. And better connected communities are more content and, due to reduced social isolation among its members, experience less suicide.

The pursuit of America's promise is an ongoing journey. Although we may feel separate from each other at times, we walk this road together. And we will all rise or fall together. On America's birthday, let us choose to rise by meeting the challenge of the climate crisis and making the world a better place for everyone along the way.

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