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PTA official who resigned after ‘let them die’ comment says not aimed at critical race theory protesters

By Sara Sidner and Artemis Moshtaghian A leader in the Virginia Parent Teacher Association who resigned after saying “let them die” during a speech attended by counter-protesters opposed to critical race theory being taught in schools says her comments were not aimed at them. Michelle Leete, the Virginia PTA Vice President of Training, was asked to resign after she made the controversial comments in front of a crowd, according to a statement from the Virginia PTA. Leete is also a board member of the Fairfax, Virginia, NAACP. Leete’s comments were captured in video taken outside Luther Jackson Middle School, where

Biz Markie, ‘Just A Friend’ rapper, dead at 57

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By Lisa Respers France and Andy Rose Biz Markie, who infused his music with so much fun and humor that he became known as “The Clown Prince of Hip Hop,” has died, his manager, Jenni Izumi, confirmed to CNN. He was 57. “Biz created a legacy of artistry that will forever be celebrated by his industry peers and his beloved fans whose lives he was able to touch through music, spanning over 35 years,” Izumi said in a written statement. Beloved in the music industry for his lighthearted persona, Biz Markie even had a dance named for him. Born Marcel

Dozens of Black cultural sites will be preserved for years to come, thanks to a $3 million grant

By Harmeet Kaur The stories and legacies of Black Americans can be found throughout the US, each site and landmark helping illustrate a more complete picture of the nation we live in. History lives on in the communities where formerly enslaved people settled after the end of the Civil War, and the safe havens where Black Americans sought refuge from the dangers of Jim Crow. Legacies endure in the colleges and universities that birthed generations of Black scholars and leaders, and in the homes of prominent musicians and poets. Dozens of these places will now be preserved for years to

Navy christens USNS John Lewis on anniversary of civil rights icon’s death

By Chris Boyette With the breaking of a bottle of sparkling wine across its bow, the first in a class of Navy oiler ships was christened the USNS John Lewis in San Diego on the one year anniversary of the longtime US congressman’s death. “It’s fitting that we honor John Lewis with this formidable ship, because John Lewis was a warrior. One of the mottos of the Navy is ‘Semper Fortis’ — ‘Always Courageous’ — and John Lewis was indeed always courageous,” said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who led a congressional delegation to the event on Saturday. “This ship will

Shooting near Nationals Park puts renewed focus on another weekend of gun violence in US

By Eric Levenson A series of shootings over the weekend in Chicago, Philadelphia, Washington, DC, and other American cities underscored the ongoing rise in shootings and gun violence in the US this year. The shooting near Nationals Park in DC was the most prominent of the incidents, as the audible gunshots sent fans and players scrambling for safety in the middle of a Washington Nationals baseball game. Other shootings injured children, including a 1-year-old wounded on Saturday night in Philadelphia. They further a trend of heightened gun violence that emerged after Covid-19 lockdowns were lifted. According to the FBI’s preliminary

FBI agrees to consider upgrading criminal background checks to prevent sale of guns to underage and out-of-state buyers

By Christina Carrega The FBI has agreed to consider modifying its criminal background check system after the Justice Department’s inspector general found the system did not cross check the buyer’s age with legal requirements of their home state, according to a report released on Thursday. Under federal law, customers are not allowed to buy firearms, specifically a rifle or a shotgun, in a jurisdiction that is different from the address listed on their identification unless the customer’s age is legal in both the state of sale and where the person lives, according to the report. The findings stem from an

This all-Black Women’s Army Corps unit from WWII may finally receive a Congressional Gold Medal

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By Neelam Bohra and Radhika Marya Members of the Women’s Army Corps’ all-Black 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion had to fight racial discrimination, gender discrimination and the war itself during World War II. After traveling overseas in 1945, the unit, nicknamed “Six Triple Eight,” survived encounters with Nazi U-boats and a German rocket explosion before spending months sorting through unheated warehouses stacked to the ceiling with mail and packages, according to the US Army Center of Military history. The battalion cleared a six-month backlog of mail in just three months. Quarters were segregated by race and gender, leaving the group

Congressional Black Caucus Chair Joyce Beatty arrested at voting rights protest

By Morgan Rimmer and Shawna Mizelle Rep. Joyce Beatty was arrested by US Capitol Police on Thursday afternoon after participating in a voting rights protest that culminated in a march inside the Senate Hart Office Building atrium. Beatty, the chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, participated in a small rally alongside 12 activists outside the Supreme Court building before marching to Hart, singing songs including “We Shall Overcome” and “This Little Light of Mine.” After a warning from police to clear the area, Beatty was the first person arrested. Other members of the group were also arrested. The Ohio Democrat

Black Americans are battling ‘three pandemics,’ new report finds

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By Nicquel Terry Ellis Higher unemployment rates, lower household incomes and lack of access to health care left Black Americans more vulnerable to the Covid-19 pandemic and there is an urgency to address these structural inequities, according to a new report on the state of Black America released Thursday by the National Urban League. The report titled “The New Normal: Diverse, Equitable & Inclusive,” concluded that Black people are facing the burden of “three pandemics,” which include racial inequity in health care, economics and public safety. The authors of the report also point to overpolicing — including frequent targeting of

Critical race theory has become a social and political lightning rod. This is how we got here

By Nicquel Terry Ellis From chaotic school board meetings to political strife along party lines, critical race theory has ignited a controversy across the country in recent months. At least two dozen states have banned critical race theory or introduced legislation to ban it from being taught in the classroom, with many conservatives calling it a divisive concept. Educators, however, argue that critical race theory itself is generally not included in grade school curriculum. And proponents along with critical race theorists insist that the concept is largely misunderstood. Gary Peller, a professor at Georgetown Law and author of “Critical Race

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