Former Minneapolis Police officer Derek Chauvin has been convicted on all charges by a jury in the Hennepin County court on Tuseday, April 20, 2021. The 12 jurors found Chauvin guilty of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in George Floyd's death in May 2020. The maximum sentence for second-degree unintentional murder is … [Read more...] about Derek Chauvin found guilty on all charges in the death of George Floyd
National and Local News
Supreme Court reinstates pension of fired police veteran
In an extraordinary decision by the Supreme Court for the State of New York, the court reversed its own previous ruling and ordered that Cariol Horne received a full pension, back pay and benefits in a decision announced on April 13. Horne, a mother of five and a 19-year veteran of the Buffalo Police Department, was fired and denied a pension after she intervened to prevent her … [Read more...] about Supreme Court reinstates pension of fired police veteran
Klassik and Kingsbury honored as the ‘2021 Mildred L. Harpole Artists of the Year’
Klassik (Kellen Abston) and Anne Kingsbury are the 2021 Mildred L. Harpole Artists of the Year. Recipients each receive a $1,500 cash award. The Artist of the Year program was inaugurated in 1995 by Wayne Frank, then common council member and Milwaukee Arts Board (MAB) Chair. Artist of the Year became Artists of the Year in 2003 at the suggestion of current MAB Chair, … [Read more...] about Klassik and Kingsbury honored as the ‘2021 Mildred L. Harpole Artists of the Year’
Saluting America’s Black Male Mayors
The first African American mayors were elected during Reconstruction in the southern states beginning in 1867. Nine years later, white supremacists and a resurgent Democratic Party made it difficult for African Americans to vote in elections due to racial discrimination, such as Jim Crow Laws. But due to the civil rights movement and passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and … [Read more...] about Saluting America’s Black Male Mayors
‘Get Out the Vote’ rally held on Election Day
On Tuesday, April 6, 2021, Building Unity, Souls to the Polls, MICAH, Voces de la Frontera, Solomon Outreach Urban Learning Sessions (SOULS), the NAACP – Milwaukee Branch, and Our Wisconsin Revolution hosted a “Get Out the Vote” rally at the intersection of North Ninth Street and West North Avenue during the afternoon of the spring election. A similar rally was held on the … [Read more...] about ‘Get Out the Vote’ rally held on Election Day
DMX, rapper and actor, dies at 50
DMX, a rapper known as much for his troubles as his music, died on April 9, 2021, his family announced in a statement. He was 50. "We are deeply saddened to announce today that our loved one, DMX, birth name of Earl Simmons, passed away at 50-years-old at White Plains Hospital with his family by his side after being placed on life support for the past few days," family's … [Read more...] about DMX, rapper and actor, dies at 50
Tishaura Jones elected St. Louis’ first Black female mayor
Tishaura Jones on Tuesday, April 6, 2021, was elected mayor of St. Louis and will become the city's first Black woman to hold that office after running on a progressive platform and a promise to reform and revitalize the city. Jones, the city's treasurer, beat Alderwoman Cara Spencer by 2,280 votes, according to the final unofficial election results posted online by the … [Read more...] about Tishaura Jones elected St. Louis’ first Black female mayor
Reggie Moore leaving Office of Violence Prevention
Mayor Tom Barrett and Milwaukee Commissioner of Health Kristen Johnson praised Reggie Moore, director of Milwaukee’s Office of Violence Prevention during a virtual press conference on Monday, April 12, 2021 at which it was announced that Moore would be leaving the position at the end of the month. The Office of Violence Prevention is part of the Health Department in the City of … [Read more...] about Reggie Moore leaving Office of Violence Prevention
Evanston adds to a string of wins for reparations
The movement toward reparations for slavery received a significant boost on March 22, 2021 when an 8-1 majority of alderman in the Chicago suburb of Evanston, Illinois approved the first expenditures in a municipal reparations program designed to compensate Black residents for discriminatory housing practices. The reparations program in Evanston has been in the planning … [Read more...] about Evanston adds to a string of wins for reparations
April is National Poetry Month: Let’s Celebrate Black Poets
African American poetry predates the written words linked to our rich oral tradition from the mother country Africa. Black poems are inextricably linked to the experience of African American through their history in America from slavery to segregation and the equal rights movement. Black poetry also draws its inspiration from musical traditions such as gospel, blues, jazz and … [Read more...] about April is National Poetry Month: Let’s Celebrate Black Poets