Vol. 51 No. 8
June 11, 2020 -June 17, 2020
Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will. Find out just what people will submit to and you have found out the exact amount of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them and these will continue till they have resisted either with words or blows or words or with both. The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they suppress. —Fredrick Douglass (1849)
Trump Administration Officials to Black America: ‘Coronavirus Pandemic is Your Fault’ By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior Correspondent @StacyBrownMedia
United States Secretary of Health and Human Services, Alex M. Azar II (Photo: Official Photo: United States Department of Health and Human Services / Wikimedia Commons According to a top official in President Donald Trump’s administration, the poor health of African Americans is the primary reason for the nation’s devastatingly high coronavirus deaths. As the president tepidly tries to win Black voter support by touting his record with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and prison reform, Trump and his top lieutenants continue to alienate African Americans. In a CNN interview, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar attributed the high coronavirus death rate to unhealthy African Americans. Azar claimed that Black and minority communities have higher comorbidities like underlying health issues. “Unfortunately, the American population is very diverse,” Azar stated. “[America] is a population with significant unhealthy comorbidities that do make many individuals in our communities,” he presumed. “In particular, African
American, minority communities – are at risk here because of significant underlying disease, health disparities and disease comorbidities. And that is an unfortunate legacy in our health care system that we certainly do need to address,” Azar pronounced. The interview occurred immediately after Trump again attacked former President Barack Obama – the nation’s only African American president. Trump accused Obama of unjustly targeting his associates in what he calls “Obamagate,” and he called on the Senate Judiciary Committee to haul in Obama to testify in hearings about the origins of the investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election. However, Trump has yet to explain what crime he thinks Obama had committed. The administration’s rhetoric left social media users angered. “This whole Trump team is worse than worthless,” one Twitter use wrote, while many others noted
in their commentaries that “Racism is non-stop in The Trump administration.” “Blaming the 80,000+ human beings who have been killed by Covid-19 for their fate “is the most disgusting deflection yet from an administration that was asleep at the switch,” Laurence Tribe, a legal scholar and Harvard Law professor, tweeted. “This whole Trump team is worse than worthless.” Several reports indicate that minority communities have been disproportionately affected by the coronavirus. According to statistics, as of May 1, African Americans made up 32 percent of the coronavirus deaths in Wisconsin, even though they only make up 6.7 percent of the population. Places like Michigan and Missouri, where African Americans account for roughly 40 percent of coronavirus deaths, comprise just 14 percent and 12 percent of the population, respectively. There are more than 1.87 million confirmed cases of the novel
coronavirus in the United States, and more than 108,000 people have died in the U.S. Reportedly, more than 20 percent of the deaths are African Americans despite the Black population standing at roughly 13 percent. “I don’t believe [Trump] likes or respects Black or brown people from his treatment and comments of Hispanics, caging children and babies, and the way he’s treated Puerto Rico and throwing paper towels at people during the Hurricane,” Carol Gee, author of “The Venus Chronicles,” and “If Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus,” told NNPA Newswire in an email. “All of his remarks and actions toward nonwhites tell the real story,” Gee stated. “His movement to attract Black voters is only about winning the reelection. His prison reform and the release of [certain] black women, and his supposed embrace of Kanye West, is all just for show.” Attempts to get a comment from the White House by the Black Press of America were met with a usual no response. NNPA Newswire has repeatedly reached out to the White House requesting the President, Vice President Mike Pence, and top administration staff to provide direct messages to Black America. White House officials have responded by only asking that the NNPA report favorably on Trump-backed initiatives they believe is proof enough that Trump has done a lot for African Americans. “I’ll tell you what Trump has done,” Dominick Carter, an HBCU student, told NNPA Newswire in an email. “He’s dangled carrots and thrown out breadcrumbs and thinks we should be grateful. That we should be happy that master has fed the slaves today.”
Can We Move Beyond ‘Wash, Rinse, Repeat; Cycle Of Protests? “Nothing has changed except the year” By SUNITA SOHRABJI/EMS Contributing Editor SAN FRANCISCO — The COVID 19 pandemic, which has dominated the news throughout much of 2020, took a knee this week, as the U.S. turned its collective zeitgeist to the issue of police brutality against African American men. Cities across the nation erupted in civic unrest over the alleged murder of Minnesota resident George Floyd. Former Minnesota police officer Derek Chauvin pressed his knee to Floyd’s neck for almost nine minutes, not letting up even as the victim pleaded: “I can’t breathe,” before becoming unresponsive. Chauvin has been charged with second degree murder and manslaughter. Three police officers, Tou Thao, Alexander Kueng, and Thomas Lane, have been charged as accomplices in Floyd’s death and jailed. “Black lives just don’t matter. That is the bottom line here.
John Yang (top left), Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJC; Professor Jody Armour (top right), University of Southern California; Thomas Saenz (bottom left), Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund; Dr. Tung Nguyen (bottom right), University of California, San Francisco Black lives haven’t mattered since the inception of this nation,” said Dr. Jody Armour, a professor of law at the University of
Southern California, during a June 5 briefing organized by Ethnic Media Services. Armour said there is a “wash,
rinse, repeat” cycle to addressing the civil rights of African Americans. Armour ’s first book, ‘Negrophobia & Reasonable Racism: The Hidden Costs of Being Black in America’ was published in 1997 by New York University Press. “It was really about every one of the issues we’re talking about today,” he said. “Nothing’s changed, except what year it is,” said Armour, adding that each time there’s an eruption over police brutality. commissions are convened, public hearings are held, people vent their frustrations, and interventions — such as the use of body cams and implicit bias training — are put in place. “And here we are looking at a moment in Minneapolis, Minnesota where the police department had all those interventions. They (continued on page 7)
Publisher’s Corner Publisher of The San Bernardino AMERICAN News
Email: sbamericannews@gmail.com
Clifton Harris Editor in Chief
Black Enterprise CEO: "I Am Tired...The Pandemic Of Racism Must End" By Earl "Butch" Graves Jr.
Earl "Butch" Graves Jr. Over the past few days, civil unrest has gripped our entire nation. This was due to the unwarranted and senseless murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis last week by a police officer who placed his knee on the neck of Mr. Floyd for nine minutes as he begged for his life, while three other officers charged to protect and serve, did little - none of them displaying a shred of decency or humanity. It represents the latest, and perhaps the most disturbing, incident of police brutality against an African American man. As such, I feel compelled to share my personal thoughts because I cannot in all good conscience remain silent while the continuation of unchecked violence results in the loss of black lives without regard or consequence. I am a proud African American man who loves this country. I have close friends and family of all races, and I pride myself on being measured and fair. I have always tried to view the circumstances of life as "the glass 3/4 full instead of 1/4 empty," but my patience has truly run thin...and now I am tired! I am tired of watching innocent black men being targeted with violence at the hands of law enforcement. Tired of ignorant bigots taking the law into their own hands and feeling justified to confront black citizens. Tired of the media-driven, negative stereotypes that shape the dangerous narrative surrounding young black men. Tired of white people calling the police on black people, and weaponizing the police because they are entitled, scared, or distrusting. Tired of overlooking the purposeful or passive suppression of talented black professionals in Corporate America. Tired of watching black-owned businesses struggle without access to capital. Tired of Corporate America loving the fruits of black culture, but not nurturing the tree that bears it. Tired of the word "Diversity" which has been nothing more than a diversion away from black. Tired of systemic and institutionalized corporate racism which is masked by flowery mission statements and codes of conduct that are rarely enforced. Tired of the rise of the digital and social media economy without commensurate
reinvestment in the very market that has often led to its success. Tired of being disrespected in restaurants as if I were invisible. Tired of being followed in retail establishments as if I were a threat to rob them. Tired of not being afforded the same assumption of competence and associated opportunities as my white high school, college, and business school classmates. Tired of explaining why I like to spend time with black people...while white people are never asked to explain why they like spending time with people that look like them. Tired of the overall physical and psychological toll that being a black man takes on me every day. As the father of two talented, charming, educated, young black men with unlimited potential, it pains me deeply that I needed to have "the conversation" with them while they were innocent teenagers regarding their possible interaction with cops that my Dad had with me almost five decades earlier, and that no doubt his Dad had with him. Every evening before I go to bed I must say a prayer that my boys will not be targeted and killed by law enforcement who mistake them as a threat which is something none of my white friends or classmates ever have to endure much less think about. Why are we still facing the same problems, and having the same conversations surrounding racism in 2020 that we've had over the past 50, 100, and 200 years? The reason is we have never truly had any desire to actually address and cure the "Pandemic of Racism." I guarantee you we will soon find a vaccine for Covid-19 just like we have found cures for other health crises that have plagued this country throughout centuries. We are a nation with vast resources of money and intelligence, and this Pandemic of Racism can be cured, but black people alone cannot put an end to this virus. We need the commitment and assistance of consciously aware white people to bring an end to this virulent disease. Let me be clear: I do not condone violence and looting as a methodology to fix racism. On the other hand, I fully understand the frustration and outrage at yet another incident where the lives of black people are considered worthless. My heart is warmed to see so many of the protesters (continued on page 3)
Visit Us Online: www.SB-American.com
PAGE 2
June 11, 2020
COMMUNITY/EDUCATION/NATIONWIDE
SBCUSD Class Of 2020 Virtual Graduation Information Educational News
Indian Springs High School
San Bernardino High School
Virtual Graduation: Friday, June 5, 5 p.m., https:// indiansprings.sbcusd.com/ class2020
Virtual Graduation: Saturday, June 6, 5 p.m., https:// sanbernardino.sbcusd.com/ class2020
Valedictorian: Kyla Duhart
Valedictorian: Plascencia
Oprah Winfrey Donates $12 Million for COVID-19 Relief in Five Cities By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior Correspondent @StacyBrownMedia
Remijia
Salutatorian: Kacey Lam Graduates: 376*
Inland Career Education Center (formerly San Bernardino Adult School)
Congratulations, Class of 2020 Due to current national and international crises, including the COVID-19 social distancing recommendations, in-person commencement ceremonies for all San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD) graduates have been postponed until officials lift restrictions. Inperson graduations have not been cancelled. Interim Superintendent Dr. Harold Vollkommer said, “I want to assure you that we remain fully committed to having traditional, in-person graduation ceremonies as soon as we can do so safely.” In an effort to honor the Class of 2020 during the normal graduation season, SBCUSD will be holding virtual graduation ceremonies and drive-thru graduation ceremonies. Dates, times and links for virtual graduation ceremonies appear below. All virtual ceremonies will premiere on Facebook and YouTube and will be available at the links provided below. Videos and links will not be active until the date of the virtual ceremony. Information about drive-thru graduations will be made available as soon as dates and times have been set.
Michelle Shreve Watson, and Angelo Macatangay Graduates: 7^
Arroyo Valley High School Virtual Graduation: Tuesday, June 9, 5 p.m., https:// a r r o y o v a l l e y. s b c u s d . c o m / class2020 Valedictorians: Veronica Banuelos, Edward Dominic Castaneda, and Jesus Giselle Pantoja
Graduates: 580*
Cajon High School Virtual Graduation: Wednesday, June 10, 5 p.m., https:// cajon.sbcusd.com/class2020 Valedictorians: Tomas Ascencion Flores, Randy Gerond Medley, Elysia Rios, Brad Joseph Bolluyt, Serenity Ngoc Chavez, Thu Anh Nguyen, Ryan Daniel Chapin, Trevor Allen Chapin, and Yulissa Guadalupe Sanchez Salutatorians: Raziel Plata Serrato, Moremi Elize Olora, Saul Mercado, and Abigail Grace Willis Graduates: 652*
By Angela Sailor
Do you consider America to be your home or just the place you happen to live? September 22 has long been a meaningful date for me and my family. That's the day, in 1862, when Abraham Lincoln issued the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation. This year, as that date approached, I was listening to one of my all-time favorites, Luther Vandross's "A House Is Not A Home," when the question popped into my head: Do I consider America to be my home, or just my house? I know many in our community feel marginalized-as though America is not the loving, accepting, nurturing place that we often dream of. But, in real life, no homes are idyllic all the time. There are tensions, stresses, arguments and divisions, even in loving families. So, looking at America with realistic eyes, is it truly my home? If I posed that the question to billionaire entrepreneur David Steward, entertainment giant Tyler Perry, or my boss-Kay Coles James, the president of The Heritage Foundation-I'd wager they'd all have the same answer. Each of these leaders has demonstrated that they view America as not just a house but a home. Each has lived a real-life success story. Rooted in humble beginnings,
Born in Kosciusko, Oprah has lived in each of the cities where she’s donating money.
Graduates: 125*
Middle College High School
with the odds at their faces, each stepped beyond the walls of their community and the limits of their circumstances to explore, trailblaze and ultimately conquer the unknown. Empowered by emancipation, they have undertaken the allAmerican pursuit of happiness and left a lasting mark-a legacy, if you will-on the American identity and our nation's culture. Today, they stand as beacons of light, shining example to the next generation of what we can accomplish with our God-given talents, the freedoms we enjoy, the opportunities available in our nation and, yes, a whole lot of determination. As a community, we must be courageous enough to deal with the tragedies we have suffered as a people as well as our past failures-and to learn from them. But let us learn to forgive, and to encourage each other to move on boldly to pursue happiness and make the most of the freedoms we enjoy as Americans. As for how I answer the house/ home question... When I reflect on America's history, I also think about my family and the legacy of my forefathers and foremothers. Grandma Irene, fully decorated with a third-grade formal education and a Ph.D. in homemaking and rainmaking from the school of wisdom, intentionally pounded history into our household discussions. We often spoke about Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass, and Booker T. Washington and their different roles and approaches to liberty, life, and the pursuit of happiness. As we slowly rocked on her front porch during the summer nights, she would proudly whisper about Crispus Attucks the first American to die (continued in next 2 columns)
Virtual Graduation: Thursday, June 4, 6 p.m., https:// sangorgonio.sbcusd.com/ class2020
Virtual Graduation: Thursday, June 4, 5 p.m., https:// middlecollege.sbcusd.com/ class2020
Valedictorians: Matthew Jackson, Henry Luu, and Jeffry Umana
Valedictorians: Naeli Marie Mills and Adriana Toledo Calvillo
Salutatorians: Maia Garcia and Dennis Phan
Salutatorians: Lester Cedeno, Antonia Lopez-Vega, and Samuel Rojo-Aguayo
Graduates: 400*
Sierra High School Graduates: 62*
Salutatorian: Natalie Luna
America is My Home
Angela Sailor
Graduates: 311*
San Gorgonio High School
Anderson School Highlighted Graduates: Priscilla Contreras, Marcos Gallegos, Ashley Santoyo, Danielle Wayman, Joshua Gresham,
Salutatorians: Anthony Craddock and Jose RosalesTorres
Pacific High School Virtual Graduation: Monday, June 8, 5 p.m., https:// pacific.sbcusd.com/class2020 Valedictorian: Valerie GonzalezCaloca Salutatorian: Vanessa GonzalezCaloca
Virtual Graduation: Tuesday, June 9, 6 p.m., https:// sierra.sbcusd.com/class2020 Graduates: 200*
Approximately 3,150 San Bernardino City Unified School District students will receive their high school diplomas or GED certification this year. This does not include those graduating from vocational programs.
Graduates: 224*
San Andreas High School Virtual Graduation: Monday, June 8, 6 p.m., https:// sanandreas.sbcusd.com/ class2020
^Note: Anderson serves students ages 12 to 22 with a variety of physical and intellectual challenges. Graduates receive a certificate of completion, not a high school diploma. *Note: Graduate counts are approximate at this time.
Graduates: 220*
America is My Home...continued in the Revolutionary War, Benjamin Banneker, the architectural genesis who designed our nation's capital, and Dr. Daniel Hale Williams, the first person to successfully perform open-heart surgery. Grandma's history lessons about great Americans who looked like us convinced me that inalienable rights are the pathway to being better than just good, but good for something. My grandmother believed God anointed us with the power to overcome trials, tribulations, obstacles, disparities, and hopelessness by emancipating ourselves in the walk toward freedom and opportunity. George Washington viewed freedom much like Grandma didas a fundamentally internal or spiritual power rather than as a physical or political state. He noted that: All through human experience, we find that the highest and most complete freedom comes slowly, and is purchased only at a tremendous cost. Freedom comes
through seeming restriction.... Those persons in the U.S. who are most truly free in body, mind, morals, are those who have passed through the most severe training-are those who have exercised the most patience, and at the same time, the most dogged persistence and determination." Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation loosed the chains that had too long bound our people. It opened the door to us enjoying the freedoms that, under the Constitution, belong to all citizens. With that act, America became a home for my family-one that gives us freedom: the freedom to use our God-given abilities for our own benefit and the freedom to pursue happiness according to our own lights. The next generation has those freedoms, so let's invest our time teaching them how make America their home. Angela Sailor is a vice president of The Heritage Foundation, a leading national think tank based in Washington, D.C.
Torres Announces $650K Grant for Scholarships to Disadvantaged Graduate Students Educational News POMONA, CA— Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35) today announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is awarding a $649,950 grant to Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona. The Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students (SDS) program will fund scholarships to graduate students with traditionally underrepresented backgrounds. “While the Inland Empire has some of the brightest minds around, not everyone starts off on equal footing in life,” Representative Torres said. “The funds I’m announcing today will help address that disparity by ensuring Western University of Health Sciences can offer the
financial support and opportunity its graduate students need. Not only will this grant help more people within our community afford their education, but it will also help ensure our leading medical professionals reflect the diversity of the region they serve.” The SDS program promotes diversity among health students and practitioners by providing scholarships to full-time graduate students with financial need from disadvantaged backgrounds enrolled in programs like those offered by Western University of Health Sciences. Torres is a member of the House Appropriations Committee, which is responsible for appropriating federal spending.
“What this pandemic has done is made me think about giving differently. How I give and who’s on the receiving end of that, and how do you do that in such a way that sustains people? I’ve ultimately always believed that you teach people to fish. But sometimes people just need fish and a piece of bread,” the media mogul stated. “Sometimes you need some fish, OK? Sometimes you don’t have time to learn to fish. I just need some fish today!” Winfrey made sure that there was plenty of “fish” in the places she’s called home. Through the Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation, the OWN Network boss announced she was donating $12 million to organizations dedicated to helping underserved communities in Chicago, Baltimore, Nashville, Milwaukee and Kosciusko, Mississippi. Born in Kosciusko, Winfrey has lived in each of the cities where she’s donating money. “This thing is not going away. Even when the virus is gone, the devastation left by people not being able to work for months who were holding on paycheck to paycheck, who have used up their savings — people are going to be in need,” Winfrey told the Associated Press. “So, my thing is, look in your own neighborhood, in your own
backyard to see how you can serve and where your service is most essential. That is the real essential work, I think, for people of means.” Of the $12 million donations, Winfrey gave $5 million to Live Healthy Chicago, which provides immediate support to seniors and high-risk residents affected by the coronavirus. She gave $2 million to Nashville Nurtures, a collaboration with Mount Zion Baptist Church and Tennessee State University (TSU). Winfrey graduated from TSU and began her career in Nashville. She later lived in Milwaukee, where she announced a $100,000 gift to SaintA and the Nia Imani Family, Inc., which assists those in need of housing and mental health care. In Baltimore, where she once worked, Winfrey is donating money to Living Classrooms Foundation and Center for Urban Families. Winfrey also said she’s giving $115,000 to the Boys and Girls Club of East Mississippi. “I want to be able to reach people who have been incarcerated and are coming out of prison,” Winfrey noted. “I want to reach mothers of domestic violence. I want to reach people. I want to feed people. I want to help people get access to testing.
Death Investigation - 200 Block of East South Street, Rialto CA 92376 Community News Date:
June 5, 2020
Incident:
Death Investigation
Location: 200 Block of East South Street, Rialto CA 92376 Case:
932004454
Decedent 1: Nicholas Scott, 36 Years-of-Age, Resident of Rialto Decedent 2: Larissa Vissering, 34 Years-of-Age, Resident of Rialto Decedent 3: Female, 8 Monthsof-Age, Resident of Rialto Synopsis: On Thursday, June 4, 2020, at 7:31 a.m. the Rialto Police Department responded to the 200 Block of East South Street, after a person found the front door open
with what appeared to be a deceased female on the couch. Officers arrived minutes later and entered the residence, locating two deceased adults and a deceased infant in the living room area. The bodies appeared to have been deceased for several days due to body decomposition. Detectives found no signs of physical trauma to any of the decedents. The San Bernardino County Sheriff Department’s Coroner Division recovered the decedents and autopsies are pending. There is no other information available at this time. The investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information regarding this case is urged to contact Detective Travon Ricks of the Rialto Police Department at (909) 421-7227. Media inquiries can be directed to Captain Anthony Vega at (909) 820-2526.
Families, Rights Groups Demand U.N. Investigate U.S. Police Brutality, Protest Suppression Families of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Michael Brown, and Philando Castile Join Forces with Over 600 Groups from over 60 Countries Calling for International Scrutiny Community News GENEVA — In an unprecedented move, the families of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Michael Brown, and Philando Castile, together with over 600 rights groups led by the American Civil Liberties Union and U.S. Human Rights Network, are demanding the United Nations Human Rights Council swiftly convene a special session to investigate the escalating situation of police violence and repression of protests in the United States. Additional signatories include Black Lives Matter and the NAACP. “Mamie Till Mobley made a decision to open the casket of her son Emmett Till so the world could see the atrocities Black
people faced in America. I want people across the world and the leaders in the United Nations to see the video of my brother George Floyd, to listen to his cry for help, and I want them to answer his cry,” said Philonise Floyd, brother of George Floyd. “I appeal to the United Nations to help him. Help me. Help us. Help Black men and women in America.” The groups warn of an “unfolding grave human rights crisis” in the United States and write that the recent police killings of unarmed Black people as well as police use of excessive force and repression of protests violate (continued on page 5)
Visit Us Online: www.SB-American.com
PAGE 3
June 11, 2020
COMMUNITY/ GOVERNMENT/BUSINESS/ADVERTISING
OP-ED: The stuff of Dreams — MLK goes right on marching
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Mathew Ahmann at the Civil Rights March on Washington, D.C. (National Archives)
More than 50 years later and still so much to be done By Ray Curry, Secretary-Treasurer, UAW “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” — Martin Luther King Jr. The citizens of this country are in the midst of a battle that we have been fighting for a very long time. A battle of racial inequality, systemic abuse, and injustice. It is time to win this battle once and for all. Across the nation over the past weeks, protesters are saying they have had enough. They are weary of the ongoing struggle for equality and equity, of the battle against systemic injustice, and the fear of being a person of color in America. The horrific, needless death of George Floyd on May 25 at the hands of four police officers in Minneapolis is tragically all too familiar. And we are seeing our nation cry out in pain. It is the pain of generations of inequality and the pain of a nation divided. It is shocking that in 2020, mothers in African American and minority communities still have to worry about the safety of their sons and daughters when simply going off to the store, going out for a jog and or being stopped at a traffic light. This must end. Generations of misery George Floyd is sadly one of many, many African Americans who have been the victim of racial profiling and brutality. The larger tragedy of our society is that this criminal activity did not start with Mr. Floyd. Or with Breona Taylor or Tony McDade, who also lost their lives in the past month for similar reasons. Nor did it start with Eric Garner, killed in 2014 due to a police strangle hold — or Rodney King’s brutal beating in 1991. The names and stories
stretch back generations and are part of the ongoing racial disparity and injustice that permeates our system. A product of 400 years of oppression, prejudice and fear. How many stories like George Floyd’s must we hear? How many lives cut tragically, brutally short? At the UAW, we have been fighting for generations against systemic racism. Think back to August 28, 1968, when more than 200,000 demonstrators took part in the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in the nation’s capital. Two men participating in that march — Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and UAW President Walter Reuther — were dedicated to breaking the color lines and fighting for equality in wages, opportunities, housing, healthcare and fair societal treatment. A wound that will not heal The 1968 March on Washington succeeded in getting those in power to sit up and take action. It was successful in pressuring the administration to initiate a strong federal civil rights bill in Congress. It was a time that gave Americans — especially minorities — hope. But how far have we come since then if we still are marching, if we are still protesting? Not nearly far enough. It is time for this country to transform from the ways of the past. To turn our backs on the prejudices, fear and hate of our past. To vote in local and federal elections for leaders that will represent men and women of this country and no longer their selfinterest. I truly worry if we cannot do this, this wound will continue to tear our nation apart. (continued in next 2 columns)
Immigrants in California: A Demographic and Economic Profile Government News
WASHINGTON, June 8, 2020— The American Immigration Council released new data on California’s immigrant population and their contributions to the state. The California state fact sheet includes data on population size, occupation, and tax contributions, as well as data on undocumented immigrants and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients in the state. While the COVID-19 pandemic exposed the critical role immigrants are playing on the front lines and stimulating our economic recovery, it remains crucial for the public to understand the broad range of contributions immigrants make to communities in California. The Council’s fact sheet, Immigrants in California, shows that immigrants account for over one quarter of California’s population and comprise a staggering 33% of the labor force. Approximately 74% of all workers in farming, fishing, and forestry are immigrants, as are 59% of building and grounds cleaning and maintenance employees. The fact sheet also reveals that in 2018 at least one-third of business owners in the state's six major metropolitan areas was an immigrant. Immigrant
entrepreneurs in California generated $24.5 billion in business income. In 2018, immigrants in the state paid $80.8 billion in federal taxes and $38.9 billion in state and local taxes. As consumers, immigrants spent $290.9 billion on California’s economy. As of 2019, approximately 186,120 active DACA recipients lived in California, and 47% of DACA-eligible immigrants in the state had applied for DACA. California DACA recipients and DACA-eligible individuals paid an estimated $497.6 million in state and local taxes in 2018. Undocumented immigrants comprised 6% of California’s total population and 9% of the state’s workforce in 2016. Undocumented immigrants in California paid an estimated $4.5 billion in federal taxes and $2.5 billion in state and local taxes in 2018. Drawing from U.S. Census data and other sources, the Council developed 50 state fact sheets that provide the latest demographic and economic contributions of immigrants in each U.S. state and can be accessed herehttps:// www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/ topics/state-by-state.
OP-ED: The stuff of Dreams — MLK goes right on marching...continued In today’s marches across the country, we are seeing history repeating itself. Again, our community members are joining together, young people especially, and taking up the cause to demand change. And the UAW, with its long history of supporting and fighting for civil and human rights, is right beside them. It is not just police brutality that affects the African American community. Because of socioeconomic and environmental factors — many due to continued disparity in opportunities — when COVID-19 struck this country it hit people of color especially hard. Currently, the UAW is working with Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s office serving on the Michigan Coronavirus Task Force on Racial Disparities. The task force will act in an advisory capacity to the Governor and study the causes of racial disparities in the impact of COVID-19 and recommend actions to immediately address such disparities and the historical and systemic inequities that underlie them. We need real change But we cannot just talk about it. We must DO something about it. Just like we saw civil rights legislation that came out of the demonstrations in the past, this tragedy and these demonstrations and clashes will need to result in legislation and reforms passed. PASSED and ENFORCED.
And while I do not want to vilify all men and women in blue — we cannot not turn away from the horror of George Floyd’s death. An American citizen begging for his life on an American city street for 8 minutes and 46 seconds. This is not an on-the-sidelines hurt for me. I am an African American man born in raised in the south and now living in an urban center, but I am speaking here as an American, as a union member, and I am speaking to all of us. When we look at the many tragic incidents over the past decades, most recently Mr. Floyd’s horrific death, I can only think that we as a nation failed this young man, as we have failed so many others. This cannot continue. As Americans, we need to serve a warning to all who have the power — our representatives, our law enforcement officers, our leaders, our detractors — we are watching. And we are all committed to the safety and personal rights of ALL Americans. We will hold those accountable, regardless of who they are, if they put any of us in peril. While doing so we must remember the legacy of two men, two friends, who worked tirelessly for so many years. We must honor that relationship, as well as our fellow men and women, as we address the challenges that we still face today. But we must take action now — and we must make permanent change — for all of us.
Black Enterprise CEO: "I Am Tired...The Pandemic Of Racism Must End" ...continued from page 1 across this country and around the world to be a full mix of young white, black, yellow, and brown people. I have great hope for the next generation because they are fed up with the nonsense and determined to do something. Corporate America is uniquely positioned to be true leaders in this discussion and to drive lasting change - especially those companies that sincerely are committed to inclusion and equity. As it has done throughout history, American business can
offer viable solutions while helping set the tone for our nation and world. It starts with being intentional, accountable, vocal, and fully engaged. I am truly optimistic about the initial response I have seen from fairminded CEOs and other corporate leaders. I now challenge all of Corporate America to make an effective strategic plan to unlock the greatness that America can become, and to embrace everyone equally with fairness, love, and compassion.
Torres Signs onto Justice in Policing Legislation Government News WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35) today became an original co-sponsor of the Justice in Policing Act of 2020, legislation to address systemic racism in law enforcement and protect black and brown communities from discriminatory police practices. Congresswoman Torres, who spent 17.5 years as a 9-1-1 dispatcher for the Los Angeles Police Department, released the following statement: “It is time for transformational change in America,” Rep. Torres said. “George Floyd is far from the first unarmed black man to die in police custody – it’s up to each of us to make sure that he is the last. “As someone with longstanding ties to the law enforcement community, I know the badge comes with daunting challenges, and I know many who serve faithfully want nothing more than to keep their community safe,” Torres continued. “I also recognize that many agencies have failed to provide updated rules and training to help officers meet 21st century community policing needs. “But none of that changes the fact that police officers should abide by the laws they enforce, and practices that undermine good faith in law enforcement like racial profiling and no-knock warrants have no place in our society,” Torres added. “To be a public servant is to be accountable to the community at large, including transparency into data about misconduct and use-of-force. “Justice for the black and brown communities who’ve faced discrimination and racism since this nation’s founding starts with
the systemic reforms I am cosponsoring in Congress, but it won’t end there. To address a wound that cuts back for generations, we must invest in programs that help communities of color advance right now. From equity in education, to access to healthcare, to fair housing practices, the true test of this moment is about recognizing that these are all forms of discrimination and violence too. We can’t end just one of these injustices and expect to succeed – we must end them all.” The Justice in Policing Act of 2020 will: Hold police accountable in our courts by: Amending the mens rea requirement in 18 U.S.C. Section 242, the federal criminal statute to prosecute police misconduct, from “willfulness” to a “recklessness” standard; Reform qualified immunity so that individuals are not entirely barred from recovering damages when police violate their constitutional rights; Improve the use of pattern and practice investigations at the federal level by granting the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division subpoena power and incentivizing state attorneys general to conduct pattern and practice investigations; Incentivize states to create independent investigative structures for police involved deaths through grants; and Create best practices recommendations based on the Obama 21st Century Policing Task force.
Torres Signs onto Legislation...continued Improve transparency into policing by collecting better and more accurate data of police misconduct and use-of-force by: Creating a National Police Misconduct Registry to prevent problem-officers from changing jurisdictions to avoid accountability; and Mandate state and local law enforcement agencies report use of force data, disaggregated by race, sex, disability, religion, age. Improve police training and practices by: Ending racial and religious profiling; Mandating training on racial bias and the duty to intervene; Banning no-knock warrants in drug cases; Banning chokeholds and
Justice
in
Policing
carotid holds; Changing the standard to evaluate whether law enforcement use of force was justified from whether the force was reasonable to whether the force was necessary; Limiting the transfer of militarygrade equipment to state and local law enforcement; Requiring federal uniformed police officers to wear body cameras; and Requiring state and local law enforcement to use existing federal funds to ensure the use of police body cameras. Make lynching a federal crime by: Making it a federal crime to conspire to violate existing federal hate crimes laws.
Bill Banning Police From Using Deadly “Sleeper Hold” Introduced in California Assembly Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media Last week, reacting to the violent death of George Floyd, an unarmed African American man in Minnesota, California Assemblymember Mike A. Gipson (D-Carson) introduced a new bill. The legislation, AB 1196, bans law enforcement officers in the state from using carotid artery restraints to subdue and detain suspects. The chokehold — commonly called the “sleeper hold” among wrestling fans — is supposed to render victims unconscious, but it has proven to be deadly. “The world watched as the 200pound weight of a police officer was leveraged on the neck of George Floyd for over 8 minutes. Two other officers held him down and another watched as his body succumbed to the attack and went limp before expiring,” said Gipson, who co-authored the bill with other legislators who are members of California’s Black,
Assemblymember Mike Gipson (DCarson) speaking at a press conference June 8, at the State Captiol. Photo By Antonio Harvey
Latino, Asian & Pacific Islander, and LGBTQ caucuses. At a ceremony held at the state Capitol to unveil the bill Monday, Gipson said, “My bill creates a unified policy across law enforcement departments so that these methods can no longer be used here in the state of California. “I also want to point out,” he continued, “Congresswoman Karen Bass, on the federal level, (continued on page 5)
OneUnited Bank, America's Largest Black Owned Bank, Supports Blackout Day 2020 Recognizes Power of $1.2 Trillion in Black Annual Spending Business/Consumers News
LOS ANGELES, June 8, 2020 / PRNewswire/ -- OneUnited Bank, the largest Black owned bank in the country, is proud to support #BlackOutDay2020, a national financial movement happening on Tuesday, July 7, 2020. The movement recognizes the need for economic solidarity and requests that not one Black person in America spend a dollar outside of black owned businesses on July 7th. OneUnited Bank logo. (PRNewsFoto/OneUnited Bank) In 2016, the #BankBlack and #BuyBlack Movement began with a simple text and call to action from Killer Mike to Black America to move its money to Black owned banks. Since that time, while corporate America remained silent, OneUnited Bank actively supported social justice movements including #BlackLivesMatter, #TakeAKnee and the #1619Project. The Bank has consistently encouraged the Black community to use its $1.2 trillion in annual spending more purposefully to send a message that is part protest, part progress. Today with the backdrop of proven systemic racism, the Black community is facing another pivotal moment in time. Across the nation, America is mourning the deaths of George Floyd, killed by Minneapolis police, Ahmaud Arbery, killed while jogging in Brunswick, Georgia, and Breonna Taylor,
killed by police while sleeping in her home in Louisville, Kentucky. Their murders are added to a long list of Black lives lost, including Trayvon Martin, who ignited the #BlackLivesMatter movement, and present more evidence that Colin Kaepernick was right for taking a knee. Today, peaceful protesters, including diverse ethnicities and generations, are fighting for justice for George Floyd and the many lives lost to police brutality and violence at the hands of vigilantes. Yet, most of corporate America continues to remain silent. "As the largest Black owned bank in America, we're compelled to play a leadership role to galvanize our community and allies in support of #BlackOutDay2020 and to fight for social justice," says Kevin Cohee, Chairman & CEO of OneUnited Bank. "We need to use our power – both our spending power, our vote and our voice – to demand criminal justice reform and to address income inequality." OneUnited Bank is promoting #BlackOutDay2020 to its over 300,000 supporters, shining a light on the movement through social media and providing support to the organizers. Media Inquiries: Suzan McDowell, Circle of One M a r k e t i n g , suzan@circleofonemarketing.com, or by phone at 305-576-3790.
The San Bernardino AMERICAN News Staff Samuel Martin Sr.-Founder Clifton Harris/Editor in Chief/Investigative Reporter Mary Martin-Harris/Editor Clifton B. Harris/Audio Engineering Editor Legal /Display Advertising & Sales (909) 889-7677 The San Bernardino American News was established May 8,1969. A legally adjudicated newspaper of general circulation on September 30, 1971, case number 153913 by the Superior Court, of San Bernardino County. The San Bernardino AMERICAN News, a division of Don Roberto Group, Inc. is published every Thursday by Mary Martin-Harris and Clifton Harris P.O. Box 837 Victorville, CA 92393, Telephone (909)889-7677, Emails: msbamericannews@gmail.com sbamericannews@gmail.com The San Bernardino AMERICAN News subscription rate is $58.00 per year. The San Bernardino AMERICAN New is committed to serving its readers by presenting news, unbiased and objective, trusting in the mature judgment of the readers and, in so doing strive to achieve a united community. News releases appearing in the San Bernardino AMERICAN News do not necessarily express the policy nor the opinion of the publishers.
(continued in next 2 columns)
The San Bernardino AMERICAN News reserves the right to edit or rewrite all news releases.
Visit Us Online: www.SB-American.com
PAGE 4
June 11, 2020
HEALTH/FITNESS/SENIOR NEWS
ASK DR. KEVIN: An Unfamiliar, Rare Disease Associated Dr. Fauci Says We’ll Have 100 Million Vaccines By End Of This with Heart Failure in African Americans condition and the misunderstood symptoms that often delay diagnosis. Who is Affected By ATTRCM? There are two sub-types of ATTR-CM, wild-type and hereditary. Wild-type ATTR-CM is thought to be the most common form of ATTR-CM, is mostly associated with men over the age of 60 and is not caused by a
highly underdiagnosed. Many people with ATTR-CM present with symptoms similar to those of more common causes of heart failure - such as fatigue, shortness of breath and swelling in the lower legs - or have symptoms that are not commonly perceived to be linked to a heart condition, like carpal tunnel syndrome (numbness, tingling, or pain in the fingers), bicep tendon rupture, gastrointestinal issues
Year BlackDoctor.org
(Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) With the disproportionate rates of heart failure, heart attacks, and other serious heart conditions in the African American community, it’s important to fully explore the underlying cause of these conditions with the help of a cardiologist. (Photo: iStockphoto / NNPA) By Dr. Kevin Williams, the Chief Medical Officer for Rare Disease at Pfizer The “Ask Dr. Kevin” series is brought to you by Pfizer Rare Disease in collaboration with the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) to increase awareness and understanding of ATTR-CM, or transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy, and the risk to African Americans. As you may already know, heart disease is a leading cause of death for all Americans, but certain minority groups face a greater risk than others. In fact, according to one study, African Americans were 45 percent more likely to die as a result of heart failure-related hospitalization compared to Caucasian populations in the United States. With the disproportionate rates of heart failure, heart attacks, and other serious heart conditions in the African American community, it’s important to fully explore the underlying cause of these conditions with the help of a cardiologist. As the “Ask Dr. Kevin” series
Dr. Kevin Williams, the Chief Medical Officer for Rare Disease at Pfizer enters its fourth year, I want to turn my focus to a rare, but very serious form of heart disease known as ATTR-CM. ATTR-CM is a life-threatening, underdiagnosed disease associated with heart failure, but many people have never heard of it or don’t know what it is. In this article, I’m going to explain more about ATTR-CM, and answer some of the most commonly asked questions in hopes it will help raise awareness of the
mutation in a person’s genes. Most wild-type patients are white. Hereditary ATTR-CM is inherited from a relative and is due to genetics, affecting both men and women. In the United States, the most common genetic mutation associated with hereditary ATTR-CM is found almost exclusively in people of African or Afro-Caribbean descent. Symptom onset can occur in people as early as their 50s or 60s; however, people who have the mutation may never develop symptoms of the disease. What Are the Symptoms of ATTR-CM? Since many patients and even some doctors are unfamiliar with ATTR-CM, the condition is
(constipation, diarrhea and nausea) and lumbar spinal stenosis (a narrowing of the open spaces in the lower spine). All of these factors can lead to delays in diagnosis or misdiagnosis. If you’d like to learn more about hereditary ATTR-CM, including signs and symptoms, visit YourHeartsMessage.com. *Dr. Kevin Williams is the Chief Medical Officer for Rare Disease at Pfizer. He pursued medicine after being inspired by his father’s work as a general practitioner in his hometown of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Dr. Kevin is passionate about raising awareness and increasing understanding of ATTR-CM in the African American community. You can follow Pfizer on Facebook and Twitter.
Black-Owned Laboratory Uses Artificial Intelligence-Based Drug Discovery Platform to Develop Treatment for COVID-19 By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior Correspondent @StacyBrownMedia with two targets.” The in-silico drug discovery platform applied state-of-the-art codes by combining virus targets and a wide range of libraries of compounds, Harrison added.
According to the CDC, over 6.3 million people across the globe have been diagnosed with the coronavirus COVID-19, the new respiratory virus. The actual numbers are believed to be much higher due to testing shortages, many unreported cases and suspicions that some governments are hiding the scope of their nations’ outbreaks. With that said, the world, including pharmaceutical companies and businesses, are scrambling to create a vaccine. Currently, vaccines in development around the world are in various stages of testing. Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said that even though a vaccine hasn’t been proven yet, it’s not going to stop the production of what could be the vaccine. “We’re going to start manufacturing doses of the vaccines way before we even know that the vaccine works, so that by the end of the year the prediction of the statistical analysis and the projection of cases indicate that we may know whether its effective, efficacious or not by maybe November, December, which means that by that time we hopefully would have close to a 100 million doses,” Fauci said in early June during a live video interview with the Journal of the American Medical Association. “And by the beginning of 2021, we hope to have a couple of hundred million doses,” he
Covered California Providing Health Care Coverage During COVID-19 Pandemic to Affected Californians Health News
Computational steps include:
Darnisha Harrison, Louisiana State University grad and founder and CEO of Georgia-based Ennaid Therapeutics, LLC The novel coronavirus has ravaged most of the globe, but in the U.S., African Americans and other communities of color have disproportionately born the lethal impact of the pandemic. Darnisha Harrison, a Louisiana State University grad and founder and CEO of Georgiabased Ennaid Therapeutics, says that scientists working for her company are developing a drugbased therapy whose laboratory tests continue to show promise. If successful, her scientists’ solution could be instrumental in blocking the continued spread of COVID-19. Ennaid Therapeutics uses artificial intelligence (AI)-based drug discovery platforms to develop antiviral drugs. The drug that shows so much promise has been labeled ENU200, a repurposed, patentpending, and orally deliverable antiviral drug that was previously approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for a different indication. The development of ENU200, as a therapeutic, is targeted to treat the up to 80% of asymptomatic, mild to moderate cases of COVID-19 viral infections. “Our science strongly suggests that ENU200, a repurposed drug with a well-established clinical and safety profile, has the
potential to be a broad solution to address the COVID-19 pandemic and, specifically, the near 80 percent of coronavirus cases that are asymptomatic, mild to moderate,” said Harrison. “Key to ENU200 is its target of two proteins on the SARS-CoV-2 virus that interfere with the virus’ ability to enter healthy cells and its replication. Additionally, unlike other COVID-19 drugs in development, which must be administered via injection or intravenously under the care of a physician, ENU200 can be administered orally, thus enabling in-home treatment for COVID-19 infections.” “The FDA has been very supportive at fast-tracking review every step of the way, and that is true around the world,” Harrison told WBRZ-TV in Baton Rouge. “We anticipate the clinical trials could start within 90 days. The clinical trial itself could take a month. We feel quite optimistic that in the 120-day window, when our clinical material would be ready, we could have a drug that could be safe and effective at treating COVID-19.” In a statement posted on the company’s website on Monday, April 27, Harrison noted that the rationale for developing ENU200 arose from a bioinformatic search for in-silico identification of prior-
approved chemical compounds blocking the CoV proteins, spike S glycoprotein and Mpro. A Mpro is a key CoV enzyme. The results suggest the use of ENU200 as a current, viable treatment for COVID-19 and other CoV infections, Harrison stated. “ENU200 blocks the S glycoprotein of CoV, which is responsible for host cell attachment and mediating host cell membrane and viral membrane fusion during infection.” “The in-silico predictions hint that ENU200 matches the receptor-binding domain (RDB) by simultaneously blocking the key residues for binding to ACE2, e.g., Gln493 and Asn501. This function is key to the viral life cycle and a major target for antiviral drugs, such as ENU200 and vaccines,” said Harrison. All available data demonstrate that Mpros are largely conserved structures, Harrison added. “The combination of such unique features reveals that ENU200 blocks COVID-19 and other coronavirus action by specifically targeting the Mpro active site. Before showing specific blocking/antiviral activity against S glycoprotein and Mpro of COVID-19, ENU200 had previously shown protease inhibition of a different virus, indicating that ENU200 interacts
A first geometrical and electronic optimization of the drug-candidates based on quantum chemistry within density functional theory (DFT) methods. The resulting refined structures were next implemented in blind docking calculations, an approach that allows to scan the whole protein surface in the search of main binding pockets. Only the best poses are retained for the analysis, so that the provided structures correspond to the drug-target interaction with the largest affinity. Harrison said in vitro work is now being completed. “Currently, we have in vitro and in vivo data supporting ENU200’s inhibition of a viral protease in a different viral infection. Both viruses are RNA viruses. We think it is noteworthy to mention as proof that ENU200 is indeed an antiviral,” she stated. Since ENU200 has a welltolerated safety profile, Ennaid is confident that being allowed to treat the up to 80 percent asymptomatic, mild/moderate cases of COVID-19 infections will reduce COVID-19 viral shedding and severity, Harrison noted. Ennaid believes it can quickly bring ENU200 to market by treating patients with COVID-19 in a Phase 3 in-home, self-dosing clinical trial of patients with asymptomatic, mild to moderate coronavirus infections utilizing their iClickCare®? secure clinical reporting software service to monitor the in-home trials. “ENU200 would also reduce worldwide fear and allow continued economic and operational development worldwide. ENU200 can mitigate COVID-19 and may even cure coronavirus,” she said.
added. “So it isn’t as if we’re going to make the vaccine show its effective and then have to wait a year to rev up to millions and millions of doses. That’s going to be done as we’re testing the vaccine.” This statement is not sitting well with some and others say it’s taking too long. In a recent poll among Black American health enthusiasts, over 70% of respondents say they will not take a COVID-19 vaccine if one becomes available. But Dr. Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health, confirms Dr. Fauci’s statement: “If all goes well,…maybe as many as 100 million doses by early 2021? would be possible, Collins said. The third and final phase of trials testing an experimental vaccine developed by Massachusetts-based biotech firm Moderna will begin in July. A few other vaccine candidates, including one developed by U.K.-based pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca, are also showing promise, according to Fauci. Dr. Greg Poland, director and founder of Mayo Clinic Vaccine Research Group, said natural immunity from coronaviruses SARS-CoV-1 and MERS can be detected two to three years after recovering from infection. However, immunity for seasonal coronaviruses can last as little as 80 days to several years in some people.
Credit Covered California Over 123,000 Californians have enrolled for health care coverage through Covered California since the COVID-19 pandemic crisis began in March. Erik Wolford enrolled in earlyApril, and he got covered just in time. Wolford, 49, is a cinematographer in Hollywood, enrolled right after coming back from filming a documentary in Africa. A few days after his return, he tested positive for COVID-19. “I got diagnosed with COVID and had mild symptoms, which means I did not need to be intubated,” Wolford said. “This is not like the regular flu or a cold. I felt like a dump truck ran me over and when it saw I was alive, it came back to run me over again. Make no mistake: This is serious.” The enrollment data covers the period from March 20, when Covered California opened the health insurance exchange to any eligible uninsured individuals who need health care coverage amid the COVID-19 emergency, through May 20. The pace of sign-ups during this eight-week period has been more than 2.5 times the level that Covered California saw during the same period in 2019. “During this challenging time, Covered California continues to see tremendous interest, with thousands of people signing up for quality health care coverage each day,” said Peter V. Lee, executive director of Covered Cali-
fornia. “We want to remind consumers that if they lost their health insurance, or were uninsured when this crisis began, there is a path to coverage for them through either Covered California or Medi-Cal.” Wolford considers himself very lucky, as his doctor told him to stay home and monitor his symptoms. If his fever stayed under 104 degrees, and his oxygen levels were OK, he did not need to go to the hospital. Wolford got an O2 meter, or “finger pulse oximeter.” He learned that if his oxygen levels were between 95-100 he was fine, but if it dropped between 90-94 or lower it was a concern. If his lips turned purple or blue and if he was not completing his sentences, he needed to call 911. “I think I got COVID-19 on the plane,” Wolford said. “I was in Africa, shooting a feature in Tanzania. When I got back home to L.A., the first thing I did was to enroll in Covered California.” He reached out to a certified Covered California agent because he had been enrolled previously in 2018. Wolford left the state marketplace when he got health insurance through his union, but he returned in time to be covered during this harrowing ordeal. “Covered California allows me to take on passion projects where I am able to make a difference and to contribute to the world like filming wild animals in Africa, instead of staying in a union job because I need health insurance,” he said. Wolford plans to stay with Covered California. He said he doesn’t know what the aftermath of COVID-19 will be on his health. He still looks a bit frail, even though he got a letter from the Health Department stating that he is now clear of COVID-19. In May, he started working on (continued on page 7)
Visit Us Online: www.SB-American.com
PAGE 5
June 11, 2020
LEGALS/CLASSIFIEDS/NEWS FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20200004913 Date Filed: 05/28/2020 Filing Expires On: 05/28/2025 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME (as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.): HELPING MINDS County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY Street Address of Principal Place of Business: 14499 BEGONIA RD. #69 VICTORVILLE, CA 92392 Name of Individual Registrant: SANDY G. MENDOZA Name of corporation or limited liability company as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.: State of Inc./Org./Reg.: Inc./Org./Reg. No.: Residence Street Address: 14499 BEGONIA RD. #69 VICTORVILLE, CA 92392 This business is/was conducted by: An Individual Registrant has commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: May 26, 2020 Sandy Mendoza, Owner, declares that all information in this statement is true and correct. NOTICE - IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION (a) OF SECTION 17920, A FICTITIOUS NAME STATEMENT GENERALLY EXPIRES AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE ON WHICH IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK, EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 17920. WHERE IT EXPIRES 40 DAYS AFTER ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORT IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 OTHER THAN A CHANGE IN THE RESIDENCE ADDRESS OF A REGISTERED OWNER. A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION. THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT OF ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411 ET. SEQ., BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE.) Published in the San Bernardino American Newspaper June 11, 18, 25, July 2, 2020.
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20200004546 Date Filed: 05/14/2020 Filing Expires On: 05/14/2025 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME (as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.): SHINE BRIGHT CELEBRATIONS County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO Street Address of Principal Place of Business: 12843 CAESAR LANE VICTORVILLE, CA 92392 Name of Individual Registrant: DOMINIQUE K. ENGLISH-LOGAN Mailing Address: 12843 CAESAR LANE VICTORVILLE, CA 92392 Name of corporation or limited liability company as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.: State of Inc./Org./Reg.: Inc./Org./Reg. No.: Residence Street Address: 12843 CAESAR LANE VICTORVILLE, CA 92392 This business is/was conducted by: An Individual Registrant has commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: Not Applicable Dominique K. English-Logan, Owner, declares that all information in this statement is true and correct. NOTICE - IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION (a) OF SECTION 17920, A FICTITIOUS NAME STATEMENT GENERALLY EXPIRES AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE ON WHICH IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK, EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 17920. WHERE IT EXPIRES 40 DAYS AFTER ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORT IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 OTHER THAN A CHANGE IN THE RESIDENCE ADDRESS OF A REGISTERED OWNER. A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION. THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT OF ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411 ET. SEQ., BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE.) Published in the San Bernardino American Newspaper June 4, 11, 18, 25, 2020.
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20200004843 Date Filed: 05/26/2020 Filing Expires On: 05/26/2025 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME (as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.): SOLUTIONFINDERS8 County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO Street Address of Principal Place of Business: 11755 MALAGA DR. UNIT #1282 RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA 91730 Name of Individual Registrant: GLORIA A. MONDRAGON Name of corporation or limited liability company as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.: State of Inc./Org./Reg.: Inc./Org./Reg. No.: Residence Street Address: 11755 MALAGA DR. UNIT #1282 RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA 91730 Name of Individual Registrant: IRMA VARGAS ORTEGA Residence Street Address: 11755 MALAGA DR. UNIT #1282 RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA 91730 Name of Individual Registrant: DENISE O. URRUTIA Residence Street Address: 11755 MALAGA DR. UNIT #1282 RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA 91730 This business is/was conducted by: A General Partnership Registrant has commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: May 21, 2020 Gloria Mondragon, Partner, declares that all information in this statement is true and correct. NOTICE - IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION (a) OF SECTION 17920, A FICTITIOUS NAME STATEMENT GENERALLY EXPIRES AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE ON WHICH IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK, EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 17920. WHERE IT EXPIRES 40 DAYS AFTER ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORT IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 OTHER THAN A CHANGE IN THE RESIDENCE ADDRESS OF A REGISTERED OWNER. A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION. THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT OF ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411 ET. SEQ., BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE.) Published in the San Bernardino American Newspaper June 4,11, 18, 25, 2020.
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20200004532 Date Filed: 05/14/2020 Filing Expires On: 05/14/2025 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME (as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.):BIO-TECH ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO Street Address of Principal Place of Business: 13581 SHAWNEE RD. APPLE VALLEY, CA 92308 Name of Individual Registrant: TARA R. TORRES Name of corporation or limited liability company as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.: State of Inc./Org./Reg.: Inc./Org./Reg. No.: Residence Street Address: 13581 SHAWNEE RD. APPLE VALLEY, CA 92308 Name of Individual Registrant: ROBERT C. TORRES Residence Street Address: 13581 SHAWNEE RD. APPLE VALLEY, CA 92308 This business is/was conducted by: A Married Couple Registrant has commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: December 22, 2008 Tara Torres,Owner, declares that all information in this statement is true and correct. NOTICE - IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION (a) OF SECTION 17920, A FICTITIOUS NAME STATEMENT GENERALLY EXPIRES AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE ON WHICH IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK, EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 17920. WHERE IT EXPIRES 40 DAYS AFTER ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORT IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 OTHER THAN A CHANGE IN THE RESIDENCE ADDRESS OF A REGISTERED OWNER. A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION. THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT OF ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411 ET. SEQ., BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE.) Published in the San Bernardino American Newspaper May 28, Correction June 4, 11, 18, 2020.
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20200004434 Date Filed: 05/11/2020 Filing Expires On: 05/11/2025 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME (as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.): BASKIN ROBBINS #99 County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO Street Address of Principal Place of Business: 405 E. STATE ST. REDLANDS, CA 92373 Mailing Address: Name of Individual Registrant: NEENA BAKSHI Name of corporation or limited liability company as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.: State of Inc./Org./Reg.: Inc./Org./Reg. No.: Residence Street Address: 405 E. STATE ST. REDLANDS, CA 92373 This business is/was conducted by: An Individual Registrant has commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: December 11, 1997 Neena Bakshi, Owner, declares that all information in this statement is true and correct. NOTICE - IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION (a) OF SECTION 17920, A FICTITIOUS NAME STATEMENT GENERALLY EXPIRES AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE ON WHICH IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK, EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 17920. WHERE IT EXPIRES 40 DAYS AFTER ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORT IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 OTHER THAN A CHANGE IN THE RESIDENCE ADDRESS OF A REGISTERED OWNER. A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION. THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT OF ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411 ET. SEQ., BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE.) Published in the San Bernardino American Newspaper May 21, 28, June 4, 11, 2020.
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20200004839 Date Filed: 05/26/2020 Filing Expires On: 05/26/2025 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME (as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.): ESSENTIAL PEACE OF MIND THERAPY County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO Street Address of Principal Place of Business: 9650 MILLIKEN AVENUE, APARTMENT 4211 RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA 91730 Name of Individual Registrant: SHARI L. MOSLEY Name of corporation or limited liability company as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.: State of Inc./Org./Reg.: Inc./Org./Reg. No.: Residence Street Address: 9650 MILLIKEN AVENUE, APARTMENT 4211 RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA 91730 This business is/was conducted by: An Individual Registrant has commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: 04/01/2020 Shari L. Mosley, Owner, declares that all information in this statement is true and correct. NOTICE - IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION (a) OF SECTION 17920, A FICTITIOUS NAME STATEMENT GENERALLY EXPIRES AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE ON WHICH IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK, EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 17920. WHERE IT EXPIRES 40 DAYS AFTER ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORT IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 OTHER THAN A CHANGE IN THE RESIDENCE ADDRESS OF A REGISTERED OWNER. A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION. THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT OF ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411 ET. SEQ., BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE.) Published in the San Bernardino American Newspaper June 4, 11, 18, 25, 2020.
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20200004725 Date Filed: 05/20/2020 Filing Expires On: 05/20/2025 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME (as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.): JR & SONS LEGACY TRUCKING County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY Street Address of Principal Place of Business: 16639 DON QUIJOTE LN VICTORVILLE, CA 92395 Name of Individual Registrant: MARCOS G. MUNOS Name of corporation or limited liability company as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.: State of Inc./Org./Reg.: Inc./Org./Reg. No.: Residence Street Address: 16639 DON QUIJOTE LN VICTORVILLE, CA 92395 This business is/was conducted by: An Individual Registrant has commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: Not Applicable Marcos Munos, declares that all information in this statement is true and correct. NOTICE - IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION (a) OF SECTION 17920, A FICTITIOUS NAME STATEMENT GENERALLY EXPIRES AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE ON WHICH IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK, EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 17920. WHERE IT EXPIRES 40 DAYS AFTER ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORT IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 OTHER THAN A CHANGE IN THE RESIDENCE ADDRESS OF A REGISTERED OWNER. A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION. THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT OF ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411 ET. SEQ., BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE.) Published in the San Bernardino American Newspaper May 28, June 4,11, 18, 2020.
$40 to publish FBN Statement Mondays by 5pm is Deadline For Legal Publications & News Releases Please Email To:
Bill Banning Police From Using Deadly Families, Rights Groups Demand U.N. “Sleeper Hold” Introduced in California Investigate U.S. Police Brutality, Protest Suppression...continued from page 2 Assembly...continued from page 3 along with Speaker Nancy Pelosi, introduced a similar piece of legislation.” Carotid artery restraints are choking maneuvers that prevent blood from reaching the brain of the victim by compressing arteries in the neck. In 2014, New York City police officers used the tactic to kill Eric Garner, another unarmed African American man, on Staten Island in that city. Last Friday, Gov. Newsom announced that he has ordered the state Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training to stop using carotid artery restraints. “Across this country, we train techniques on strangleholds that put people's lives at risk. Now, we can argue that these are used as exceptions, but at the end of the day, a carotid hold, that literally is designed to stop people's blood from flowing into their brain, that has no place any longer in the 21st-century practices and policing," Gov. Newsom said during a news conference held at the California Museum’s Unity Center in Sacramento. There are nearly 600 law enforcement agencies in California, including police stations, and almost 80,000 police officers, according to the United States Bureau of Justice Statistics. Since Minneapolis Police Department officers killed Floyd on Memorial Day, protests calling for racial and economic justice have erupted in cities and towns in California, across the country and around the world. “The deadly use of force technique can be performed using any object and can easily
go wrong. This time it was a knee,” Gipson said, commenting on the legislation he authored. Right after Floyd’s death, the San Diego, Davis, and Sacramento police departments officially announced that the agencies would immediately refrain from using the carotid artery restraint, also known as the “chokehold.” Under California Senate Bill 1421, which went into effect in January 2019, the carotid artery restraint method is one of the practices law enforcement agencies are required to disclose in officers’ misconduct cases to increase accountability. Sen. Nancy Skinner (DBerkeley) authored SB 1421. The city of San Francisco has also taken steps to prohibit the use of the deadly-force technique. Dr. Lee T. Snook, one of the speakers at AB 1196 introduction in Sacramento, said various medical associations across the country have been asking, “What more can we do to end this systemic racism in the house of medicine and justice?” Snook, is the president-elect of the California Medical Association (CMA), a professional organization founded in 1856 that currently has nearly 50,000 members. CMA supports Gipson’s bill. “We believe this bill is small, but a significant step in that effort,” Snook said. “Carotid restraints have been routinely misused, abused, and have proven fatal. We see it in dozens of cases that go unnoticed by the press every single year.”
United States obligations under international law. They call on the U.N. to mandate an independent inquiry into the killings and violent law enforcement responses to protests, including the attacks against protesters and journalists. The letter also calls for a U.N. investigation into the firing of tear gas by President Trump in violation of international standards on the use of force. “It is time the United States face the same scrutiny and judgment it is quick to pass on to other countries,” said Jamil Dakwar, director of the ACLU’s Human Rights Program. “This accountability appeal to the United Nations follows the legacy of great Black leaders such as W.E.B. Du Bois, Martin Luther King Jr., and Malcolm X, who believed in internationalizing the struggle for human rights and racial justice in the United States. As communities in the United States call on their leaders to divest from policing and end structural racism, the United Nations must support these domestic demands by holding the United States accountable for its human rights violations.” Within the United States, the ACLU is calling on governments to divest from police and reinvest in the Black and Brown communities the police unjustly target. At the same time, the ACLU is working in cities and states across the country to respond to escalating law enforcement attacks against journalists and protesters, including by suing President Trump for firing tear gas and other weapons at protesters on June 1. The United Nations Human Rights Council is the world’s highest multilateral human rights body. It is mandated to strengthen the global promotion and protection of human rights, and to address human rights violations. The council may hold special sessions to address human rights violations and emergencies if at least one-third of its member states demand.
Below is additional comment from: Professor Gay McDougall, codrafter of the letter and former member of the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination: “The movement in the U.S. is resonating around the world, as minority groups in other countries are fighting common struggles against racism and exclusion.” Salimah Hankins, executive director of the U.S. Human Rights Network: “Police violence and repression are experienced by Black people all over the world as a result of experiencing and witnessing anti-black violent racism at the hands of law enforcement and racist vigilantes. We believe it is important to move this issue to the international stage to highlight the hypocrisy of the U.S. government's stance, where it calls out human rights abuses abroad, but ignores government-sanctioned violence at home.” Ben Crump, attorney for George Floyd’s family: “The United States has a pattern and practice of condoning the torture and extrajudicial killing of African Americans. We have exhausted our domestic legal remedies on prior countless occasions to no avail. The George Floyd family appeals to the United Nations to intervene in his murder. Now, even though the murder of Black people is consistently captured on camera, we have yet to capture the minds and hearts of legislatures and jurors, and we have yet to capture the justice and equality promised in our Constitution and inherent in our human rights.” The letter, and full list of signatories, is here: https:// www.aclu.org/letter/coalitionletter-request-un-independentinquiry-escalating-situationpolice-violence-and. This release is here: https:// www.aclu.org/press-releases/ families-rights-groups-demandun-investigate-us-policebrutality-protest-suppression.
Need to publish your legal? FBN, Name Change, Summons, Probate, Bids, Proposals, etc. Go to our website: sb-american.com to upload your legal and make payment through our Paypal account You don’t have to worry about social distancing.
msbamericannews@gmail.com
or go to our website sb-american.com
to upload your legal publication
It’s that easy!
Email: msbamericannews@gmail.com
Visit Us Online: www.SB-American.com
PAGE 6
June 11, 2020
ENTERTAINMENT/RELIGION/LOCAL/NATIONAL NEWS
"1 ANGRY BLACK MAN" releases to worldwide audiences Award-winning feature film stirs conversations of racial, gender and political equality across America Entertainment News
RICHMOND, Va., June 4, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -Soulidifly Productions, a film company with a mission to produce meaningful, uplifting stories that are entertaining and beautifully told, has partnered with Freestyle Digital Media to release 1 Angry Black Man, available to audiences everywhere on DVD and ondemand starting June 5, 2020. "1 Angry Black Man" tells the story of Mike Anderson, a senior at a New England liberal arts college. After an erroneous
arrest for a crime he did not commit, Mike’s story transitions to an existential conversation about gender dynamics, racism, and class, as well as an empirical study of the works of four iconic Black intellectuals. The film releases to audiences everywhere on DVD and on-demand starting June 5, 2020. A link to the trailer is here: https://www.soulidifly.com/1angry-black-man-1. "The COVID-19 pandemic (continued in next 2 columns)
"1 ANGRY BLACK MAN" releases to worldwide audiences...continued
“Vengeance is Mine, I Will Repay, Says the Lord!”...continued
has forced us to amplify our film distribution in video-on-demand formats," said BK Fulton, founding CEO of Soulidifly Productions. "We look forward to one day soon returning our films to theaters as well. Transformative films like this one need to be seen by all, especially with what is going on in the world right now. Major city streets are on fire after the tragic death of George Floyd on national TV. 1 Angry Black Man explores the racial, gender and political tensions that lead to anger and protests. It's like the plot of the film was pulled out of today's headlines." Written and directed by Menelek Lumumba and coproduced by Soulidifly Productions and Align Pictures, 1 Angry Black Man tells the story of Mike Anderson, a senior at a New England liberal arts college. After an erroneous arrest for a crime he did not commit, Mike's story transitions to an existential conversation about gender
characterizes so much of the world. “Oh Lord, God of vengeance, shine forth! Rise up Oh judge of the earth; repay to the proud what they deserve! Oh Lord, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked exult? They pour out their arrogant words; all the evildoers boast. They crush your people, Oh Lord, and afflict your heritage. They kill the widow and the sojourner, and murder the fatherless; and they say, “The Lord does not see; the God of Jacob does not perceive.” [Psalm 94: 1-7]. We see man's hatred and violence for his fellow man again and again as in Scripture. Think of Pharaoh who drowned the Hebrew boys in the River Nile. Think of Haman who plotted to kill all the Jews in the kingdom of Persia. Think of King Herod who killed the baby boys of Bethlehem. Think of David – a man after God's own heart. Yet, what did he do? He killed one of his own soldiers – a loyal man – to cover up the sin of adultery. What did the Pharisees at the time of Jesus do? They hated Jesus and quickly sought His destruction. In the book of Acts we see that same hatred was transferred to the apostles and the church. Oh Lord, how long how long before you avenge your people? How long Oh, Lord? Hard broken, looking for an answer as Habakkuk, who spirit was wounded, and who finally couldn’t take it any longer. I too threw up my hands to heaven looking for an answer from God. As he said to Habakkuk, he said to me: You may not understand it, Lou. You may
dynamics, racism, and class, as well as an empirical study of the works of four iconic Black intellectuals. As he heads to his African-American literature class, Mike continues to grapple with his unconscionable arrest. Mike's emotions threaten to boil over during a class discussion covering several prolific authors and activists, from James Baldwin to Zora Neale Hurston. The film features Miguel A. Núñez, Jr. ("Life"), Amanda Jane Stern ("Amish Witches: The True Story of Holmes County"), Tim Moriarty ("Manifest"), Ramon Nuñez ("New Amsterdam," "Bull"), Daphne Danielle (upcoming "God The Worm") and introduces Keith Stone as Mike. About Soulidifly Productions Founded in 2017, Soulidifly tells the stories of multiethnic, multigenerational people across various segments of life, experiences and eras. https:// www.soulidifly.com/
SUBSCRIBE TO THE SAN BERNARDINO AMERICAN NEWS AND GET YOUR
The Black Church Faces an Atypical Crisis
NEWSPAPER WEEKLY! Email: msbamericannews@gmail.com
Lisa Olivia Fitch, Editor in Chief, Our Weekly News
Uproar As Government Officials Tell Church ‘Hand Over Names, Addresses, Donation Details of Congregation’ Legal team for Pastor Jim Bakker moves to block ‘extremely disturbing’ government demand; ‘very dangerous overstep’ Religious News
“It speaks to the power of the pulpit,” said Dr. Erica Holmes, executive director of the Champion Counseling Center at Faithful Central Bible Church. “It’s important for the church to have accurate information to keep their congregations safe. How are those individuals who visit the pews one, two, or three times a week impacted?” (Photo: iStockphoto / NNPA) If a Tsunami happens on the other side of the world, some may be unaware and unaffected. Others may hear the news and be aware of the disaster, but still be unaffected. Still others may be aware and only inconvenienced by the tsunami, cancelling plans to visit that part of the world. But then there are those affected by the crisis and those who are deeply impacted. Relatives are lost, homes are lost, friends are lost, income is lost. During the coronavirus crisis, essentially everyone in the entire world has been affected. Blacks in the U.S. have been disproportionately affected during the pandemic. Although African Americans only compose 6 percent of the population in the state of California, Blacks comprise 10.6 percent of the COVID-19 deaths. This has been attributed to the fact that a number of Blacks have underlying and sometimes untreated conditions — cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, etc. — which compound problems, when paired with the coronavirus. “Some of us are only two degrees away from a COVID death — we know someone who knows someone,” said Dr. Erica Holmes, executive director of the Champion Counseling Center at Faithful Central Bible Church. “The church is now being called back into the role of meeting the needs of the entire church body.” During a recent meeting organized by Anchor of Hope Ministries, a local, faith-based nonprofit assisting the formerly incarcerated, Holmes stated that the Black church has historically been centered to meet the community’s needs in a variety of ways. “Often, Blacks could not access governmental services,” Holmes said. “The church was the entity in the black community that met the needs of the oppressed.” After slavery and during the civil rights era and beyond, Black churches gave rise to community businesses, schools, banks insurance companies and the like. “Black churches were ‘one-stop
shops’ because other means of access to community services were off limits,” Holmes said. Holmes pointed to a recent Pew Research Center study that concluded that Blacks still have close ties to churches, as 47 percent of Black adults surveyed said that they attended religious services, compared to 39 percent of Latinx and 34 percent of Whites. An additional Pew poll showed that 43 percent of Black adults say they look to their religion for guidance on right and wrong. “It speaks to the power of the pulpit,” Holmes said. “It’s important for the church to have accurate information to keep their congregations safe. How are those individuals who visit the pews one, two, or three times a week impacted?” “They are looking to you to help them understand,” Holmes said. “Maybe they need to hear that the governor of California said it’s not safe yet, so sit back. You must be able to address the realities of life right now.” Holmes also noted a silver lining, in that the crisis brought technology to some churches. “With this pandemic, there has been a major reorganization, but we must see the opportunities as well,” she said. “Like being able to use things like zoom, Facebook and telephone trees, where members are calling at least two other members per day. Those people are interacting with people they hadn’t interacted with in the sanctuary.” Additionally, persons who already had difficulties surviving day-to-day before the crisis, may have those difficulties exacerbated, Holmes explained. “Because their equilibrium is thrown off, they can’t usually find a way of coping and dealing with these new feelings,” she said. “It’s important for us in the faith community to pay attention to things we might see.” Holmes explained that even though church leaders are not face-to-face with members, they should still be on the watch — via phone calls or internet services — for any signs of abuse
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -Attorneys for one of America’s best-known pastors moved Friday to block “disturbing” government efforts to force his church to hand over the personal details of his congregation -- calling it “a very dangerous overstep.” The “heavy-handed” demand by government officials could have broad and “sinister” repercussions for churches across America, warned Pastor Jim Bakker’s lawyers Friday, as they filed a lawsuit in federal court to stop the move. Bakker’s legal team is also concerned that government agencies seek to “test Pastor Bakker’s sermons for truth or falsity” -- a potential religious freedom lightning rod. Three California jurisdictions and the State of Arkansas have demanded Bakker’s Morningside Church hand over its records -including names and addresses of the congregation and details of their financial contributions. ‘Your Church Next’ “It’s extremely disturbing that this is happening in America,” said Bakker’s attorney Jay Nixon, former governor and attorney general of Missouri. “It’s a very dangerous and sinister overstep when the government demands the names, addresses and personal financial information of church members. It could be your church next. “Which ministry you donate to and how much you put into a church offering plate is your business -not the government’s.” A separate lawsuit filed in April in Missouri alleged Bakker and a guest made false claims on an episode of Morningside’s The Jim Bakker Show that a silver solution health supplement offered by the
ministry could cure COVID-19. Bakker and Morningside strongly deny the allegations and have moved to have the lawsuit dismissed. Similar supplements are sold by Amazon, Walmart, GNC, CVS, and other national retailers. In the latest development, Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge, the City of Los Angeles, and two California counties -- Merced and San Joaquin -- are seeking the names, addresses and financial records of Bakker’s congregation so they can probe deeper.
‘Attack’ on Religious Freedom The latest move was a direct attack on Bakker’s First Amendment religious freedom rights, and the “right of any minister to talk freely to their congregation, without fear that the government will muscle in because they don’t like something the minister says,” said Nixon. Bakker’s lead attorney Derek Ankrom, a partner in the Springfield, Missouri, office of the Spencer Fane law firm, called it “an affront to religious freedom and the right of church members to freely associate without fear of heavy-handed intrusion or harassment” by government officials. “It’s appalling that government officials would attempt to violate a church’s constitutional rights, and the privacy rights of its congregation, in such a blatant manner,” Ankrom said. Last month, Bakker’s wife and co-host Lori Bakker told viewers the 80-year-old pastor had suffered a stroke and would be taking a break from The Jim Bakker Show while he recovers.
“Vengeance is Mine, I Will Repay, Says the Lord!” By: Lou Yeboah
Lou Yeboah With our television screens filled with pictures of rioting, looting, killing and violence in various American cities -- just
as it wounded the spirit of Habakkuk who couldn’t take it any longer and threw up his hands in desperation, to let heaven know exactly how he was feeling. Heart broken, looking for an answer from God, so are many people today. Crying from their heart about the rampant injustice and brutally inflicted pain that (continued in next 2 columns)
not see the full picture. You’ll have to trust Me on this one. As you shake your hands in bewilderment at the scope of injustice and atrocity that you witness far too regularly. Have faith that I am still in control. That My sovereignty remains intact. That the final word still belongs to Me. Evil and injustice will NOT have the final word over their lives! For “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings. I WILL REPAY, says the Lord! I’m not going to just give them what they deserve, but I’m going to make the enemy pay. It may not happen overnight, but I will settle the case. Trust Me! I am a God of justice. I’ve seen it, now I’m going to do something about it. [Hebrew 10:30]. I’m going to send My angels, and they will gather out of My kingdom all causes of sin and all lawbreakers, and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Matthew 13:41-49]. Never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God. These are the words from the book of Deuteronomy that Paul references in Romans 12. “See, the LORD is coming out of his dwelling to punish the people of the earth for their sins. The earth will disclose the blood shed upon her; she will conceal her slain no longer.” [Isaiah 26:21]. The wrath of God will be deserved — totally just and right. Exhale with me!
Witness for Justice #998
Adapting to the New Normal Trayce Potter Minister for Youth and Young Adult Engagement
Many of us were looking forward to the new year because it was to usher in a fresh start and new possibilities. We came up with fancy slogans and prepared for the best year of our lives to date. Little did we know that the coronavirus which ravaged Wuhan, China was slowly making its way to nearly every country in the world. Here in the United States many of us have been sheltering in place to various degrees while balancing work, care for families, homeschooling and tending to ourselves with little resources from the places we traditionally relied upon. With schools across the country being closed for the remainder of this school year and many extracurricular activities being cancelled or having severe restrictions, children are spending more time at home than they have in recent years. This can seem like a great concept and for many children it is. However, there has been an alarming statistical pattern that has emerged during our country’s sheltering in place. There have been significant drops, often double-digit percentages, in the number of reported child abuse cases. Teachers, coaches, pastors, and other adults are oftentimes the ones who notice signs of abuse and provide escape and support in addition to being the ones who report suspected child abuse. With these adults removed or interacting through social media and other virtual offerings at best, the signs of abuse will oftentimes go unnoticed. Children rely upon adults for support, encouragement, and
safety. I believe most adults can offer those things and so much more when they are whole and healthy. Covid-19 has taken so much from everyone of us and put us in a precarious position of feeling overwhelmed, overcommitted, and exhausted. As the mother of a young son I now understand desperation. I have had to become creative in the ways I find outlets for myself and my son. I want to offer a few resources that have been shared with me that will help parents slow themselves down and give alternative ways to be present with children ranging from young children to teenagers. In Praise of Walking: A New Scientific Exploration, Shane O’Mara, uplifts the importance of exercise, and simply walking. While the book is not yet published, you can google all the benefits for those who are able to engage and why it is important during times like these. First Aid for Feelings: This is a wonderful resource for parents developed in part by Scholastic Books. Click here to visit. Downdogapp.com: A great app for doing a relaxing meditation suitable for beginners and those with more of a mindfulness background. I am fully convinced that things will slowly get better and we will be returning to places outside of our homes, although cautiously. As we wait for “normal”, take care of yourself and those you love. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Trayce Potter is the Minister for Youth and Young Adult Engagement for the United Church of Christ.
Our Values, Mission, & Vision Statement Our Values: Treat all people with care, respect, honor, and dignity. Tell it as it is with love, truth and integrity. Promote the interests of advertisers and sponsors along their strategic interest for the betterment of the community and beyond. Speak truth to power. Our Mission: To continuously improve communication between all people of the world. Our Vision: To be the best community newspaper in our region and the nation. Provider of: A voice for the poor, the underserved, those that are marginalized, Positive and edifying news about people, places and businesses. Keep San Bernardino, Riverside, and Los Angeles Counties informed about global trends while retaining the consciousness of local events and processes. Memberships and Associations: The San Bernardino American Newspaper is a member of the California Newspaper Publishers Association, National Newspaper Association and addociated with California Black Media.
Visit Us Online: www.SB-American.com
Page 7
June 11, 2020
LIFESTYLE NEWS/ADVERTISING
Congresswoman Karen Bass Says CBC Wants Federal Dollars Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior Correspondent to Aid the Black Press By @StacyBrownMedia
Congressional Black Caucus Chair Karen Bass (D-Calif.) joined the Black Press of America for a live interview to discuss the plight of African Americans during the coronavirus pandemic. Congresswoman Bass, the chair of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), called the pandemic a “double-punch” to African Americans. She also called out President Donald Trump for what she stated was his lack of leadership as the virus has claimed more than 100,000 lives, including as many as 40,000 black people and the deaths of Ahmaud Arbery and George Floyd.
Arbery, an African American Georgia resident, was shot and killed while jogging by a former law enforcement officer and his son. Floyd died after a police officer inexplicably and aggressively pressed his knee into the handcuffed Minneapolis resident’s neck. Bass also warned that Republicans led by Lindsay Graham (R-SC) are trying to get certain federal judges off the bench so that the GOP can shape the judicial branch for generations to come. She said the Trump
administration’s failure to act and to lead during the pandemic has damaged America’s reputation on the world stage and the president’s obsession with former President Barack Obama is in large part because Obama was superior in every way. “The man [Trump] has a very serious inferiority complex, I think he knows that President Barack Obama is superior to him intellectually, morally, physically, and I think that’s very troubling to him,” Bass stated. “How dare this black man be better than him. Obama’s popularity around the world is off the charts. Trump has never been able to arrive at the same standard, quality, effectiveness, honesty, moral character of Barack Obama.” During the 30-minute exclusive interview, Bass said the Black Press and local newspapers were essential, and she and the CBC continue to press for a financial set-aside for publishers. “It’s not only discussions, and it was on our priority list. It still is,” Bass said of efforts to assist
struggling African American newspaper publishers financially. “The best way to come at it is that the CBC has been calling for specific intervention in areas where COVID-19 specifically is killing black people,” Bass stated, adding that it’s a four-pronged effort. “One is testing, one is treatment, one is tracing, and one is a public education campaign,” she said. “The way we have packaged this; we think the public education campaign should provide direct resources to black newspapers, and that’s part of our plan. The Census needs to invest in our (black-owned) newspapers heavily. There’s no reason the federal government doesn’t do business with our newspapers. Of the billions of dollars they spend in advertising, some of it should be spent with our newspapers,” Bass stated. Click here to watch the full interview with Congresswoman Bass: https://www.facebook.com/ dr.bchavis/videos/ 1188347158190024/
Covered California Providing Health Care City of Corona Pays Settlement to Man Turned Coverage During COVID-19 Pandemic to Over to Border Agents...continued Affected Californians...continued from page 4 another feature. This time he is staying in Los Angeles and as a sign of the times – his crew will be just one other person. For Covered California’s current special-enrollment period, which allows any eligible individual who needs health insurance amid the COVID-19 emergency to sign up for coverage, the eligibility requirements are similar to those in place during the annual open-enrollment period, and consumers can sign up for coverage through June 30. Consumers can visit CoveredCA.com and find out if they are eligible for Covered California or Medi-Cal, and see which plans are available in their area, by using the Shop and Compare Tool and entering their ZIP code, household income and the ages of those who need coverage.
People who sign up through Covered California will have their coverage begin on the first day of the following month. Also, when applying, those found eligible for Medi-Cal can have coverage that is effective retroactively to the first day of the month from when they submitted their application. In addition to enrolling online, consumers who need health care coverage can visit Covered California’s Find Help page to get assistance over the phone from one of Covered California’s thousands of Certified Insurance Agents like Wolford did. Also, Help on Demand allows consumers to get a call back from a certified enroller. Those interested in learning more about their coverage options can also call Covered California at (800) 300-1506.
CBCF Launches New Initiatives To Support Social Justice Reform In America HBCU scholarships and research initiative included in new programming to advance human rights; and educational and economic opportunities for African Americans National News
WASHINGTON — The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc. (CBCF) announced today it will launch three key initiatives to support social reforms and education needed to advance the global Black community. Created in response to the historically unleveled playing field for minorities, and the recent protests and police killings of unarmed African Americans, CBCF will place Social Justice Policy Fellows in the U.S. Congress for two years; establish social justice scholarships for students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities; and advance racial equity and human rights in research, data, analysis, and public policy related to criminal justice reform via the newly formed National Racial Equity Initiative for Social Justice (NREI). “CBCF is answering the global call for action to honor George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and countless others in our country’s past—even predating Jim Crow—who have reached their demise at the hands of law enforcement or imprisonment due to a failed justice system,” said Rep. Cedric L. Richmond, chair, CBCF’s board of directors. “Our new initiatives will advance educational opportunities for Black students and explore reform through the policy lens of
education, economic opportunity, incarceration, the courts, and law enforcement, and ultimately, propose policy solutions.” Housed in CBCF’s Center for Policy Analysis and Research, the new initiatives will be rolled out over the next 90 days. According to The Sentencing Project, people of color make up 37 percent of the U.S. population, but 67 percent of the prison population. CBCF’s NREI racial equity framework will have an evidence-based approach to developing solutions-driven policies targeted to reduce racial disparities evoked by racism and discrimination. “We have always envisioned a society where African Americans can realize basic human rights,” said Tonya Veasey, CBCF’s interim president and CEO. “Our nation is hurting and longing after much-needed reform. With the injustices that have plagued this country and have disproportionately affected people of color, it is important that CBCF be on the right side of history to help nurture the global Black community, and continue to develop leaders, inform policy, and educate the public.” To receive updates on CBCF’s social justice initiatives as they are rolled out over the summer, subscribe to receive the enewsletter and follow @CBCFinc on Twitter and Instagram.
City of Corona Pays Settlement to Man Turned Over to Border Agents Local News CORONA, CA — The city of Corona in Riverside County has paid Daniel Valenzuela $35,000 in response to an official complaint filed by the American Civil
Liberties Union Foundation of Southern California. In January 2019, Corona police officers detained Valenzuela on (continued in next 2 columns)
the side of the road after a traffic stop, allegedly for speeding. But instead of giving him a ticket, they asked him a series of questions about his immigration status and then contacted the federal Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency. The police officers continued to detain Valenzuela until transferring him to CBP agents. The police officers’ actions were clear violations of the California Values Act — also known as the “sanctuary state law” — that prohibits local law enforcement officers in most cases from notifying federal officials of a person’s immigration status. In addition, the detention violated Valenzuela’s due process and other constitutional rights. The payment is a settlement of the ACLU SoCal official complaint filed against the city in June 2019. “This settlement shows that we will hold law enforcement agencies accountable if they fail to comply with the California Values Act and the Constitution,” said Eva Bitrán, staff attorney at the ACLU SoCal. “We are all safer when police departments stay out of the business of immigration enforcement. Nobody in this country, regardless of race, national origin, language ability, or immigration status can be detained or arrested without cause.” Valenzuela was pulled over by
Corona police officers shortly after he dropped his children off at school. He was not arrested by the police, and no ticket was issued. But he was not allowed to leave or even make a phone call, and the officers kept him waiting until CBP agents arrived. The California Values Act that states local law enforcement agencies cannot, with few exceptions, use its “personnel to investigate, interrogate, detain, detect, or arrest persons for immigration enforcement purposes.” Valenzuela’s arrest by the CBP led to him being returned to Mexico, away from his wife and children. Although not a formal part of the settlement, the Corona Police Department implemented two changes concerning immigration enforcement since the Valenzuela detainment. The department issued a memo to all staffers requiring them to speak with supervisors prior to contacting immigration authorities. The department has re-trained officers to make certain they know it’s permissible to drive on a foreign license and improper for officers to contact immigration authorities to inquire about a driver’s immigration status. Read the settlement here: https:/ / w w w. a c l u s o c a l . o r g / s i t e s / d e f a u l t / f i l e s / aclu_socal_valenzuela_20 200225_settlement_agreement.pdf
There’s No Way Around It, California. You Owe Descendants of Enslaved Black Americans Hardy Brown| Founder, California Black Media Special to California?Black Media Partners
Last year, I read a book titled “The Color of Law.” “Every Californian should read it, too— especially if you truly care about Black lives. “A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America,” the book subtitle reads. It is written by Richard Rothstein, a fellow at the Haas Institute in Berkeley. I’ve made a note to myself to write the publisher. I’ll ask them to swap the word “forgotten”in the subtitle with “unacknowledged.” That switch in the book’s name would reflect just how little most of us Californians really know about our shared American and state history, and the state created discrimination African Americans have endured. Black
people suffering is central to our collective American story. I was convinced of this when some tone-deaf comments a handful of elected officials/made about African Americans and Affirmative Action reached my ears. The lawmakers going around bandying those hurtful, racially-coded and untrue opinions, so far, have been mostly White and Asian American politicians who are opposed to Assembly Constitution Amendment (ACA) 5, not realizing the benefits they themselves have gained from Affirmative Action programs. They repeat that worn-out, beat-up and shortsighted line you’ve heard too many times. Any policy in California, they argue, that would consider race in college admissions, employment or contracting is itself racist, and it would, by design, reward benefits to people who don’t deserve them based on nothing more than the color of their skin. That’s where their argument falls short. Yes, Affirmative Action is about race but it is also (continued in next 2 columns)
There’s No Way Around It, California. You Owe Descendants of Enslaved Black Americans...continued about much more than skin color. It is about deplorable current circumstances that grew directly out of specific historical experiences. It is about equaling opportunity for descendants of enslaved Africans in the United States who were denied access to full citizenship rights both by law and custom. It is about compensation for unpaid labor and explicit discriminatory antiBlack, anti-former slave laws cooked up for nearly four centuries in city halls and state Capitols across this great country, including Sacramento. If the Assembly and Senate vote yes on ACA 5, the measure will appear on the California ballot in November. If voters approve ACA 5, it will once again make it legal in California to consider race in public employment, education, contracting and even in state data reporting. “The Color of Law” documents in clear and unsparing detail how city councils, state legislatures and the federal government crafted law after racist law, and adapted other public policies with built-in racial biases. These policies were created to intentionally exclude Africans and rob them of economic opportunity afforded others/for centuries. This is not make-believe. This troubling history is all documented. Those same governments,/here
in California and around the country, extended hand-up after hand-up, using all of our tax dollars, exclusively to White Americans. These targeted economic programs improved the financial standing of millions of White Americans and contributed to the establishment of a strong and expansive White middle class in the country by the 1950s. Some of those same policies, way too many to list here, also contributed to thegeographical segregation, by race and rail track, that persists in our cities and towns across the country. And, no, “The Color of Law” is not only about states located below the Mason-Dixon Line in the old Confederate South—that all-too-notorious region of our country where slavery’s most infamous profiteers and their surrogates degraded, beat and slaughtered African Americans while whole families of us toiled in the fields without pay for centuries harvesting tobacco, cotton and rice. “The Color of Law” also includes numerous examples of racist legislation right here in California. Our state and its cities and towns—from our founding in 1850 to the minute you’re reading this sentence — have passed minorlocalordinancesand sweeping state laws on (continued on page 8)
Can We Move Beyond ‘Wash, Rinse, Repeat; Cycle Of Protests?...continued from page 1 were one of the early departments to start implementing all those interventions and it didn’t solve the problem. I think we’re coming to the realization that there’s not a technological fix,” said Armour. Armour, along with three other speakers, called for cities to defund their law enforcement budgets and re-route the money to social services, with an aim to staunching the numbers of African American hostile encounters with police and addressing structural racial and ethnic inequities. He encouraged cities like New York, where 200 police officers actively arrest subway turnstile jumpers, to re-focus on highlevel crimes. Dr. Tung Nguyen, an internal medicine specialist at the University of California, San Francisco, described racism as both a social determinant of health and as a disease itself. “Police brutality is a disease vector,” Tung said. “Chronic exposure to racism causes the body to change adversely to the release of stress, hormones, and neurotransmitters,” said Nguyen, adding: “We also know that acute exposure to racism can lead to death, as in the case of the recent killings of George Floyd, Breona Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery.” An expert on health disparities, Tung noted that one out of 2000 black Americans have died in the pandemic, and their mortality rate is two to three times more than white people. “The pandemic has severely stretched all of our dysfunctional systems — health, economic, legal, and political — to their limits and broken them. We can no longer pretend that they were good enough. They were never good enough, except for those of us who enjoy privilege,” stated Nguyen. Nguyen noted the absence of data for minority communities needs to be corrected but added that “I’m not a typical academic research who only asks for more data. At my university, it seems like every single black man, from the janitor to the tenured professor has a police encounter story. To me, that’s data.” Nguyen reiterated the point in his final statement. “One out of 1000 black men can be expected to be shot by the police in their lifetime. We don’t need more data.” Thomas A. Saenz, President and general counsel for the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund, expressed his hope that the nationwide rage against Floyd’s brutal death,
would result in some tangible interventions. “It’s ironic that today we are experiencing these crises under perhaps the most openly racist and exclusionary president,” said Saenz. Saenz warned against “perpetuating and even facilitating discriminatory disparities which our underlying culture still accepts… if we cannot attribute them directly to intentional and openly-expressed racial discrimination.” As the nation begins to recover, Saenz predicted that people of color will be the last to be hired. The civil rights advocate noted that most undocumented people have Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers and pay taxes but did not receive $1,200 stimulus checks. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos has stated that immigrant students are ineligible for emergency financial aid. Saenz also warned that the pandemic has already impacted the 2020 Census and will likely lead to an under-count of African Americans, Asian Americans and Latinos. “This will have long-term impacts throughout the decade, not only on political representation of those groups, but on funding for services to those communities,” he said. John Yang, president and executive director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAJC) noted that Asian Americans have had a history of both implicit and explicit bias against African Americans. “Asian Americans have not always stood up for the African American community, and that has to change,” stated Yang, adding: “I do think that this moment with George Floyd has caused us to see things differently.” “The community, I think, has responded with more solidarity that have, I have seen than in past incidents,” he said. Many Asian American civil rights organizations have lambasted former Minnesota officer Thao for standing by as Chauvin pressed into Floyd. In the video, Thao can be seen trying to shoo away bystanders. “We recognize that there was racism within our own community, and we recognize that has to be addressed,” said Yang. “Part of the answer is having those hard conversations with our own community, recognizing our own biases and tying to come up, developing a path forward from there,” he said.
PAGE 8
Visit Us Online: www.SB-American.com
June 11, 2020
NEWS/ AD VER TISING ADVER VERTISING
COMMENTARY: NFL Comments on George Floyd and Gets Roasted on Kaepernick By Lauren Victoria Burke, NNPA Newswire Contributor
NFL Quarterback Colin Kaepernick, 32, hasn’t played in the NFL since the 2016 season. He was blackballed by the NFL after silently protesting police brutality by silently taking a knee on the sidelines during the national anthem at the start of NFL games. Kaepernick became a free agent after the 2017 season but was not signed. In November 2017, he filed a grievance against the owners of the NFL and accused them of colluding against him. In Feb. 2019, Kaepernick withdrew the grievance after reaching a confidential settlement. On the night of May 30, after three nights of protest around the country following the death of George Floyd, 47, recorded on video showing former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin kneeing him in the neck — the NFL released a statement. “The NFL family is greatly saddened by the tragic events
across our country,” stated NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. “The protesters’ reactions to these incidents reflect the pain, anger and frustration that so many of us feel. Our deepest condolences go out to the family of Mr. George Floyd and to those who have lost loved ones, including the families of Ms. Breonna Taylor in Louisville, and Mr. Ahmaud Arbery, the cousin of Tracy Walker of the Detroit Lions,” the NFL statement continued. “As current events dramatically underscore, there remains much more to do as a country and as a league. These tragedies inform the NFL’s commitment and our ongoing efforts. There remains an urgent need for action. We recognize the power of our platform in communities and as part of the fabric of American society,” the NFL statement also read. The reaction that followed,
Board of Supervisors Will Discuss Racism as a Public Health Issue SB County News After hearing from a number of speakers about the death of George Floyd last week, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Black community, and other racerelated issues and concerns, the Board of Supervisors today directed County staff to draft a resolution declaring racism as a public health crisis and outline plans for a Countywide Vision element group that would address racism for the Board’s consideration at next week’s meeting. “The desire to change is now at the critical point and I hope
we don’t miss this moment in time to make change,” said Supervisor Janice Rutherford, who proposed a discussion about a Vision element group. “The first line of the Vision is, ‘We envision a complete county that capitalizes on the diversity of its people.’ Our diversity is our strength. Through an element group we could discuss those conversations about this tough issue, address potential policy issues, come up with programs and have conversations about these issues.”
which recognized the deep irony of a league that ostracized and blackballed a player protesting police brutality and the statement was not lost. Kaepernick often made the point that his protest was focused on police brutality and racism in America. Other players joined Kaepernick in protest during his last year in the league and his momentum was building “Wow I can’t believe all the NFL owners turned out to be colluding racists and Kaepernick was right the whole time. It’s almost as if this is a systemic issue in America,” wrote Justin Horwitz on twitter. “Where were you when Colin Kaepernick was peacefully protesting racial injustice by taking a knee? Oh, that’s right your entire league and its racist owners were conspiring against him,” wrote Ryan Knight on social media.
“Michael Vick served more time in jail for killing a dog than all the cops combined who have killed the last 493 unarmed black MEN. Let that sink in,” wrote Adam Webber on twitter. On May 28, Kaepernick wrote the following from his twitter account: “When civility leads to death, revolting is the only logical reaction. The cries for peace will rain down, and when they do, they will land on deaf ears, because your violence has brought this resistance. We have the right to fight back! Rest in Power George Floyd.” “Two knees. One protesting in the grass, one pressing on the back of a man’s neck. Choose. You have to choose which knee you will defend. There are no half choices; there is no room for indifference. There is only the knee of protest or the knee on the neck,” wrote Sally Jenkins in The Washington Post in a widely read article. A GoFundMe for Floyd’s family reached $4.4 million as of the night of May, 30 as protests raged across the nation. Lauren Victoria Burke is an independent journalist for NNPA and the host of the podcast BURKEFILE. She is also a political strategist as Principal of Win Digital Media LLC. She may be contacted at LBurke007@gmail.com and on twitter at @LVBurke Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of BlackPressUSA.com or the National Newspaper Publishers Association.
Doctors and Mothers address the Maternal Mortality and Health Crisis at the 10th Annual Black Physicians Forum Local/National News
Doctors and Mothers address the Maternal Mortality and Health Crisis at the 10th Annual Black Physicians Forum....continued Americans". As we are in unchartered waters of the COVID19 era, it has become crucial for the Sac Cultural Hub Media Foundation to continue the conversations on Black women and the maternal mortality crisis as well as birthing Black babies during a pandemic. This year’s platform includes keynote speaker - Aletha Maybank, MD, MPH, Chief Health Equity Officer & Vice President, American Medical Association with our Moderator - Flojaune Cofer, PhD, MPH, Women’s Health Epidemiologist & Senior Director of Policy at Public Health Advocates and guest presenter Dr. Olivia Kasirye, Sacramento County Public Health Officer & Public Health Officer of City of Elk Grove. Special guests who will share testimonials include Allyson Felix, Olympic Gold Medalist-American track and field sprinter and Shonda Moore, Marketing Director at Fortune Schools. In February 2020 Pleshette Robertson, CEO and Founder of Sac Cultural Hub Media Foundation attended the Black Maternal Health Roundtable in San Francisco where U.S. Senator Kamala Harris stated: “When we are talking about black maternal mortality, we are talking about the fact that black women die at three to four times the rate of other women in America in connection with childbirth.” This issue has two parts: racial bias and unique stressors that black women in America face: housing, pay and childcare inequity. This is not just about bias among medical health professionals, but also bias in every system that exists. These various issues, when combined, contribute to the mortality rate of black women. Allyson Felix testified on Capitol Hill May 2019, not as an athlete, but as a mother and advocate for overcoming racial disparities in the nation’s maternal health and mortality
crisis. For the past 9 years UC Davis Health Office for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion has been a valued partner in making it possible to present the Black Physicians Forum. Dr. Hendry Ton (Assoc. Vice Chancellor for Health Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion) stated, "We recognize that there is much work that needs to be done to address the structural racism within our health care systems and in society. This requires collective and determined effort. One of the ways that UC Davis hopes to address these structural inequities is through our AIM (Anchor Institution Mission) for Community Health Initiative. We plan to leverage the health system’s economic weight to address the structural factors such as poverty, unemployment and education barriers that are behind racial violence and health inequities. And, we will work to broaden our partnerships with local minority- and women-owned businesses, enhance recruitment and development of our local and diverse workforce, and bring down barriers that prevent minority communities from accessing quality education." Corporate and Community Contributing Partners include: One Community Health, Black Child Legacy Campaign, The Center @ Sierra Health Foundation, Rex & Margaret Fortune School, The SOL Project – Saving Our Legacy, African Americans for Smoke Free Safe Places, VisionStep, Leatherwood Marketing, Coleman Communications, The Gospel Vine, THE HUB Magazine, and Weave. Registration is open to all residents, mothers, health care public health professionals, physicians, and medical students. RSVP online at http:// bpf2020.eventbrite.com. For more information call (916) 234-3589 or emailcontact@sacculturalhub.com.
There’s No Way Around It, California. You Owe Descendants of Enslaved Black Americans...continued from page 7 SACRAMENTO (June 9) – The 10th annual Northern California Black Physicians Forum (BPF) will take place on Friday, June 12, 2020 broadcasted via Zoom/ Facebook Live from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm PST presented in partnership by Sac Cultural Hub Media Foundation and UC Davis
Health Office for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. From the comfort of your home or office, join us as we bring together doctors and mothers to address: "The Impact of Racial Disparities in Maternal Childhood Health for African (continued in next 2 columns)
everything from public housing to the War on Drugs that have negatively impacted the pockets and peace of Black Americans. In fact, so many of our cities created adjacent “unincorporated areas” where a majority of African Americans lived and received no municipal services for their tax dollars. Today, African American Californians have the least household income and wealth among all other races, including many new immigrants, who have come and joined our multiracial American family, and benefited from the civil rights advances Blacks have shed blood and died to make available to all in this country and state. Our children perform the worst on the state’s standardized tests among their peers of other races and ethnicities. We are arrested, convicted and sentenced to prison more than any other group in California, and we make up the lion’s share of the state’s homeless population. By every study, we are stigmatized, racially profiled and discriminated against the most. This happens in every arena from hiring and hairstyles to apartment hunting and home buying. In our UC and CSU schools, African American college students are the only group whose percentage of students enrolled is less than our representation in the state’s population. Yet, so many of our fellow Californians of other races deny the impact state-created, sanctioned and implemented antiBlack policies have had on our lives and living conditions. By the time I got to the last page of ”The Color of Law,” I can’t say the book opened my eyes to the brutal history of antiBlackness, enforced segregation, and legalized discrimination in California and around this country. I was born and raised in Jim Crow America in a former
slaveholding state, North Carolina, where local elected officials always kept steps ahead of the federal government, rolling out their own counterforce laws to pull back on any national legislation that attempted to advance the rights of the descendants of slaves. I have plenty of anecdotal evidence. The book did supply, however, a trove of concrete examples that confirm just how deliberate, deep-seated and un-American those policies that excluded African Americans for centuries have been. So how can some of our fellow Californians turn a blind eye to our state and country’s role in contributing to the desperate and disparate conditions from which Black Californians have yet to recover? This week, as our state’s lawmakers of all races and backgrounds prepare their hearts and hands to vote on ACA 5 in our state legislature, I urge each one of you to take an honest look at the cruel under-told and understudied history of American policies that have negatively contributed to the current economic and social conditions of Blacks here in California and across the United States. I ask each one of you to pose some questions to yourself: Why do we keep confronting the same untreated racial problems decade after decade in our beloved Golden State? Why does it take the violent beating or murder of a Rodney King, Tyisha Miller, Oscar Grant, Stephon Clark or George Floyd to shock us out of our complacency? Why don’t we seek lasting solutions from the same hallowed chambers of representative government that have for centuries now too often been the birthplace of policies that have limited the rights of Blacks as Californians and American citizens.