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Congressional Black Caucus Members Stand United... Page 8
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Mental Health: Solving CA’s Homelessness Crisis... Page 5
Anita Pointer of the Pointer Sisters, Dies at 74... Page 2
Oakland Post “Where there is no vision, the people perish...” Proverbs 29:18
Weekly Edition. Edition. January 4 - 10, 2023
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John Lewis, Thurgood Marshall to be Honored with Federal Stamp, Statue on Capitol Hill
By Brandon Patterson Civil rights icons John Lewis, the late former Congressman, and Thurgood Marshall, the first Black U.S. Supreme Court Justice, will be honored with official memorabilia commemorating their legacy after recent announcements made by Congress and the U.S. Postal Service. The USPS issued official stamps honoring Lewis in December. And Congress voted to replace a Capitol Hill statue of Supreme Court Justice Roger B. Taney, the pro-slavery justice who authored the infamous 1857 Dred Scott decision declaring Black people “threefifths” of a person, with one of Thurgood Marshall, the first Black Supreme Court Justice. The bill to replace the Taney statue with one of Marshall has now gone to President Biden for a signature. “Lewis spent more than 30 years in Congress steadfastly defending and building on key civil rights gains that he had helped achieve in the 1960s,” the USPS said in a press release. “Even in the face of hatred and violence, as well as some 45 ar-
rests, Lewis remained resolute in his commitment to what he liked to call ‘good trouble.’” Rep. Steny Hoyer of Maryland, where Taner was born, led the push in the House to remove Taner’s statue from the Capitol building. Other statues of Taner have also been removed in Maryland, according to NBC News. “Over three million people visit our Capitol each year,” Hoyer said in a statement. “The people we choose to honor in our halls signal to those visitors which principles we cherish as a nation.” “For Black Americans who have grown up in segregation, face racial violence and still confront institutional racism today, seeing figures like Taney honored here is a searing reminder that the past is present,” he continued. Earlier versions of the bill ultimately passed by Congress would have removed statues honoring three other white supremacists from Capitol Hill, including former U.S. Vice President John C. Calhoun of South Carolina, NBC News reports. But the bill was changed to accommodate senators who wanted to continue the custom of allowing individual states to decide what statues they place in the Capitol. Lewis will also soon be honored with a monument in front of the Dekalb County Courthouse in Georgia, where a new monument will replace a Confederate monument erected in 1908. The earlier monument, called “The Lost Cause,” was erected by the Daughters of the Confederacy the year Georgia banned Black people from voting in the state, according to Fox 5 Atlanta.
Mother Maryann Mitchell Cares for Our Neediest
Maryann Mitchell is shown with Richard Johnson as both met and volunteered to distribute to the neediest Oakland encampment. Photo by JonathanFitnessJones
By Richard Johnson
During this recent holiday season of Thanksgiving, Channukah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa while the Formerly Incarcerated Giving Back Organization (FIGB) was distributing tons of food, water, toys, and gift bags to families, I met Mother Maryann Mitchell, a lifelong member of the Evangelistic Outreach Center. My heart was warmed by her quiet, fearless dedication to taking care of our city’s most vulnerable populations. I discovered that she has been helping to feed and provide clothing to the underserved since 2010. Oakland needs to know that this god-fearing lady is the lady
who has distributed blankets and survival needs for the homeless and toiletries for everyone, including the women and girls who walk the streets alone. Every Week FIGB, along with community videographer/photographer JonathanFitnessJones, we travel around the city to volunteer to help non-profit organizations, churches and others to “just serve the neediest” citizens. We have been inspired to work with the Market Street SDA Church, Cooper AME Zion, Mistah FAB, AASEG, PIC and many more organizations. She is shown with Richard Johnson as both met and volunteered to distribute to the neediest Oakland
60th Year, No. 1
Community: “Price is Right for DA”
Community Rally hailed Price as a “Defender of Justice for All.” Photo by JonathanfitnessJones
By Carla Thomas Pure joy and pride filled the atmosphere as hundreds convened at the Oakstop California Ballroom in Oakland Monday to celebrate the inauguration of Attorney Pamela Price, who was sworn in at the Rene C. Davidson Courthouse Tuesday as the 14th District Attorney of Alameda County. Price is the first Black woman to hold the position in its history, and only the New Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price in her new office at the Alameda County René C. Davidson second woman elected to the posi- Courthouse in Oakland, California. tion. Presiding Judge Charles Smiley of the Alameda County Superior Court presided over the oath and offered his courtroom Price-Edwards from Phoenix escal’s Faith Presbyterian Church, for the historic moment. The of- is more fair, equitable, and just. and sworn in by award-winning, representing Price’s faith and anOakland Post publishers Paul ficial Oath of Office was given by retired Alameda County Superior and Gay Cobb spoke highly of retired Judge Brenda Fay Harbin- cestral heritage, gave thanks to God and the ancestors for guiding Court Judge, the Honorable Bren- Price. “The Price is right!” said Forte. Harbin-Forte welcomed the her and blessing her new term. da Fay Harbin. DA Price was sur- Cobb at the podium with his wife, “I am ecstatic with joy and spiritual presence of the great trail rounded by her family from across Gay. the U.S., more than 90 members of Price humbly expressed that blazers during the ceremony in- thanksgiving on Pamela accomthe DA’s Office, and elected offi- her campaign was never about her cluding Sojourner Truth, Harriet plishing this milestone in this mocials including Alameda County or her place in history, but it was Tubman, Shirley Chisolm, Rosa ment,” said Miles-Tribble, who Board of Supervisors President to “bring justice with compas- Parks, and Mary McCleod Bet- has known Price for 30 years. Keith Carson, Supervisor David sion.” She thanked everyone who Haubert, Supervisor Lena Tam, helped her to run a “people-powand County Administrator Susan ered, grassroots, corporate-free B. Muranishi. campaign that defeated a well“My vision is to serve you as funded political machine and got a Minister of Justice,” said DA the message out all over Alameda Price during her speech. “My job County.” is to protect public safety by adPrice credited her supporters vancing justice. Our goals are to and introduced her new team. A reduce crime and criminal activ- group photo nearly surpassed the ity, engage the entire community stage capacity as each team memin eliminating exploitation and ber posed for the historic photo. violence against vulnerable memAt Price’s swearing in the fol- New Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price seated in her new bers of the community, and lead lowing day at the Alameda Coun- office at the Alameda County René C. Davidson Courthouse in Oakland, Ca. the conversation about justice in ty René C. Davidson Courthouse, with surrounding family members (l-r) De’Angelia Huggins, Shawn Huggins, Tonsia Price Edwards, Saa Shemsu, Kia Shemsu, Dr. Adrienne MaGee, and the diverse communities that we several family members, Alameda Del Monte Edwards. Photo By Carla Thomas. represent.” County Supervisor Keith Carson, The new mayor of Oakland, and retired attorney Otis Bruce, hune. “We welcome our African “I empathize with the pain of Sheng Thao, former Oakland Jr., among others, attended. queens,” said Harbin-Forte, who victims and families and know mayor Jean Quan, Rev. Dr. Harold Donning her signature purple, became friends with Price in law that justice delayed is justice deOrr, Rev. Wanda Johnson, Calinied,” said Price of her civil jusPrice wore a beautifully textured school in 1978. fornia State Senator-elect Aisha Prior to the swearing in, Rev. tice career. “And I know no one suit as she placed her hand on the Wahab, BART Director Lateefah Dr. Valerie Miles-Tribble of Tem- wants to ever be judged by the Bible, held by her sister, Tonsa Simon, and the iconic activist and worst thing we’ve ever done in renown author Angela Davis atour lives. For most, that happens tended the inaugural celebration by the age of 24.” Monday along with more than 450 Price says she will create others. Attendees enjoyed wine bridges throughout the commuand dessert while hearing from nity to rebuild a broken system guest speakers. into one that can do a better job of Each speaker was more comserving society. plimentary and enthusiastic than Former mayoral candidate the next, praising Price as a histoAlyssa Victory said she was ry maker and woman of the people overwhelmed with hope and on the brink of transforming Al- Retired Judge Brenda Fay Harbin-Forte swears in Alameda County District Continued on page 10 ameda County into a system that Attorney Pamela Price with her sister, Tonsa Price-Edwards
Pamela Price Makes History as Alameda County’s First Black DA
County to Consider Recount of Mayor’s Race (visit:www.postnewsgroup.com)