National News - Page 149

Alabama Advances Bill to Rename Historic Selma Bridge

By Associated Press Alabama lawmakers on Tuesday advanced legislation that would alter the name of Selma’s Edmund Pettus Bridge to honor those who were beaten on the bridge as they marched for civil rights in 1965. The Alabama Senate voted 23-3 for legislation that would change the official name to the “Edmund W. Pettus-Foot Soldiers Bridge.” However, the lettering on the famous bridge would remain unaltered. The name “Foot Soldiers” would be on a separate sign that would include a silhouette of the marchers. The bill, dubbed the “Healing History Act,” now moves to the Alabama House of Representatives with

Heart of Mary School Saved by $450K Fundraiser, Community

By Angela Johnson A 120-year-old historically Black Catholic school in Mobile, AL, was on the verge of closing its doors for good until an online fundraiser and a pledge of support from the school community made it possible for the school to stay open. Heart of Mary Catholic School was facing the same budget challenges that many parochial schools around the country are grappling with. And the school faced the possibility of closing at the end of the 2022 school year. That is until an online fundraising campaign brought in more than $450,000 to help keep the doors open. According to

Ketanji Brown Jackson Confirmed as First Black Woman Justice

By Sahil Kapur Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson became the first Black woman to be elevated to the Supreme Court when the Democratic-controlled Senate on Thursday confirmed President Joe Biden’s pick. The final vote was 53-47, with all 50 Democratic caucus members supporting Jackson, joined by Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine; Lisa Murkowski of Alaska; and Mitt Romney of Utah. In a symbolic moment, Vice President Kamala Harris, the first Black woman elected to her job, presided over the vote. Jackson and Biden watched the vote together in the White House. The vote means Jackson will take office at the end of the court’s

Ketanji Brown Jackson: Breaking Barriers, Facing Bias

Written By Jennifer R. Farmer As Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson advances in this Supreme Court nomination and confirmation process, she will no doubt face disrespect and skepticism. Lovers of democracy should ardently stand beside her. When I wrote “First and Only: A Black Woman’s Guide to Thriving at Work and in Life,” I wanted to document the plight of Black women who were breaking barriers in their personal or professional lives. I wanted to note that Black women who are the only in their field, work or family face unique struggles requiring unique support. I wrote the book before Sen. Kamala Harris was

Ketanji Brown Jackson Nears Historic Supreme Court Confirmation

By Anoa Changa Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s nomination will move forward for a full Senate vote, bringing her historic confirmation one step closer to completion. After Jackson’s nomination “deadlocked” in the Senate Judiciary Committee, Democrats moved for a vote to discharge her nomination from the committee and to a full confirmation vote. It passed 53-47, setting the stage for Jackson’s confirmation later in the week. Senate Democrats were joined by Republican Sens. Mitt Romney, Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins. The alleged opposition to Jackson on “ideological grounds” has no more validity than the claims that Republicans would have preferred someone “moderate.”   Supreme Court justices are not

Activists Criticize Biden’s $30B Police Budget Proposal

By Char Adams Community organizers focused on eliminating police violence say they are disappointed by President Joe Biden’s proposed budget announced this week, which would allocate at least $30 billion in new police spending. Biden opposed calls to “defund the police” since the movement began to build broader support in 2020. He reiterated his stance in his recent State of the Union address, declaring, “We should all agree: The answer is not to defund the police. The answer is to fund the police.” So although the increased police funding in the fiscal year 2023 budget proposal comes as no shock to anti-police violence

Memphis Honors Dr. King on 54th Assassination Anniversary

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By Bria Bolden 54 years after his assassination, Memphis clergy and community members plan to honor the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Today, the anniversary of his death, the community is coming together to honor his life and legacy. 54 years ago today Dr. King traveled to Memphis in support of sanitation workers, and he gave his last speech He was assassinated at the Loraine Motel just a day later. There are multiple events happening tomorrow to honor him, including here at the National Civil Rights Museum. Action News 5 spoke with visitors, including civil right’s leader Jesse Jackson,

Experts: Public Outcry May Hurt Brittney Griner’s Case

By Curtis Bunn Public calls and protests to have WNBA star Brittney Griner released from a Russian prison, where she has been held for a month on drug charges, could work against the Olympian’s case, according to experts and scholars. Basketball Hall of Famer Lisa Leslie said on the podcast I Am Athlete last week that players and people associated with the league have been advised not to “make a big fuss” about Griner’s status. “What we were told, and again this is all sort of passed along through hearsay, but what we were told was to not make a big fuss about

Kamala Harris: New Grants Boost HBCU Security, Mental Health

By Amy Rock The Project School Emergency Response to Violence (SERV) program will provide short-term grants for added security and mental health professionals. Vice President Kamala Harris announced new grant funding for historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) as dozens of bomb threats have been made against them. The Project School Emergency Response to Violence (SERV) program will provide short-term grants through the Department of Education to support impacted schools with immediate needs, reports The Seattle Medium. The grants will range from $50,000 to $150,000 per school and will be determined based on specific needs. At least 36 HBCUs and other colleges have been targeted by threats

HBCU Students Testify on Bomb Threats, Demand Safety Measures

By Donna M. Owens  One by one, student leaders representing several historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) across the country described to the House Committee on Oversight and Reform on Thursday their anguish over the recent racially charged threats their educational institutions had faced, while emphasizing their resolve to move forward. For Kylie Burke, president of the Howard University Student Association, the resulting anxiety has felt like a “weight” as she and her peers navigate classes and campus life in the nation’s capital. “Students were repeatedly woken up to safety alerts as late as 2 a.m.,” said Burke, a senior political

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