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Volume 134 No. 36

THE BLACK MEDIA AUTHORITY • AFRO.COM

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APRIL 4, 2026 - APRIL 10, 2026

AFRO Photo / Alexis Larue

As part of the March 28 "No Kings" protests, thousands march across the Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge in Washington, D.C., all speaking out against the executive orders and policies of the 47th president and members of his administration.

Millions rally against threats to democracy with ‘No Kings’ protests By Alexis Larue and Jamannie Morgan AFRO Interns alarue@afro.com jmorgan@afro.com Demonstrators gathered in Baltimore and Washington, D.C., on March 28 for the third installment of the “No Kings” protest movement, a coordinated effort opposing what participants described as threats to democracy, civil rights and economic stability under the current national leadership. In Baltimore, residents of varying ages gathered from noon to 2 p.m at the intersection of York Road and Gittings Ave. to encourage all

to resist authoritarianism and protect democratic institutions. The protest extended along the strip towards Towson Town Center. Jonathan Wilson, an associate professor of biology at Morgan State University, said he felt compelled to attend rather than remain on the sidelines. “Democracy is being eroded everywhere. I’m not going to sit on the sideline and not do anything. This is a democracy where we don’t have a king,” Wilson said. The 77-year-old said he was also concerned about rising prices and general economic instability.

“When I used to go to the grocery store I used to spend $50 and get a lot. Not anymore, everything is going up,” he said. George M. Van Hook Sr., a 72-year-old retired public administrator, connected those rising costs to broader political decisions and White House and congressional leadership. “When I drove here, I had to pay more money for gas,” Van Hook said. “Why am I paying more? Because of decisions being made at the federal level. “Beyond economic concerns, Van Hook framed the protest within a longer historical

struggle for civil rights. As someone who grew up during the height of the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s and ‘60s, he said the current political climate feels like a reversal of hard-fought progress. “We are moving backwards and it is unacceptable,” he said. “Each generation has to stand up for freedom and democracy.” When asked what changes he would like to see as a result of these protests, Van Hook mentioned more interest in local elections and less tyrannical dictatorship. “When people organize, I believe that they are encouraged to vote, they are encouraged to

run for office, they are encouraged to contribute to causes that make a difference. And so much of the advantage here is sending a message to the society that we are not in favor of the kind of misleadership that we right now see,” Van Hook said. Joe Nobles, a 77-year-old Baltimore native, voiced frustrations with the direction of the country and described the protest as a fight to protect basic freedoms. “First and foremost, freedom,” he said of his reasons for participating. “They’re trying to take all of our freedom away from us. “While some participants

pointed to immediate economic strain, others emphasized looming policy changes and long-term consequences, such as the undermining of voting rights and other rights that were targeted in Project 2025. “The only thing that we can do is get out here and protest to make progress in the right direction,” Nobles said. The protest is part of a broader national movement – whose tentacles have spread abroad with No Kings protests in several European countries on March 28. A parallel demonstration took place in Washington, D.C., where additional Continued on A3

AFRO celebrates tenure, leadership of Lenora Howze as she departs executive director role By Alexis LaRue AFRO Intern alarue@afro.com

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Lenora Howze, longtime executive director and advertising director of AFRO News, was recently honored at a special event on March 26, celebrating her AFRO Photo / James Fields departure after more than 13 years Lenora Howze, AFRO executive director of dedicated service. and advertising director, celebrates her The farewell celebration served departure from the publication after as a tribute to her impactful lead13-and-a-half years of service. ership and lasting contributions

to the publication and the broader community it serves. Colleagues, friends and members of the AFRO family gathered to acknowledge her legacy with a surprise retirement party and wished her the best in her next chapter. “I was overwhelmed with emotions,” said Howze. “I thought I was coming to a team meeting, so to see people who were not part of the AFRO team–and to see people dressed in black and white, which is my favorite color theme–I was

overwhelmed with gratitude.” Howze’s AFRO News career began in 2012, but she arrived at the publication with decades of experience. She launched her career at The Philadelphia Inquirer right after college and was later part of The Baltimore Sun’s management team where she served as vice president of advertising until 2005. “When I left The Sun, I was just ready to do something different,” said Howze.

After time off and light consultant work, she said she received a word from God that directed her straight to the AFRO American Newspapers. “Just knowing the foundation and the principles upon which this company was founded, as well as who I am in faith, I knew this was where I needed to be,” said Howze. Frances “Toni” Draper, Continued on A3

Executive order moves to cut inclusion, diversity and equity requirements from federal contracting By Ashlee Banks Special to the AFRO In a move that systematically dismantles decades of civil rights-era procurement philosophy, President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order on March 26, effectively purging “diversity, equity and inclusion” (DEI) requirements from the federal contracting landscape. While the administration frames the move as a return to “merit-based” efficiency, the policy shift marks a seismic and potentially precarious era for Black and Brown Americans who have long relied on federal diversity mandates to break

into the $700 billion federal marketplace. For over half a century, the federal government, which is the world’s largest buyer of goods and services, used its purchasing power to level a playing field historically tilted against minority-owned firms. This new order, however, treats those very efforts as “racially discriminatory.” House Minority House Speaker Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.-08) told the AFRO that diversity, equity and inclusion is about “economic opportunity for everyone.” “No president in the United States of America can change the Constitution or change law like the 1964 Civil Rights

Act by way of example, through executive action or executive order,” said the New York lawmaker. U.S. Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-Md.-04) told the AFRO if this order is implemented, it will have a disproportionate impact on marginalized communities. “Contrats are going to be available under the traditional approach and it will be damaging to these companies owned by minorities, as they will not be allowed to bid for contracts that they used to be able to bid for,” said the congressman. If this executive order is Continued on A3

AP/Images Mariam Zuhaib

The federal government’s pivot toward an exclusively meritocratic procurement framework effectively dismantles the systemic support structures that previously facilitated economic participation for marginalized minority enterprises.