Latest Juneteenth News | 91��

Obama Presidential Center wants 100 unpaid volunteers while Valerie Jarrett makes $740K

Sat, 14 Mar 2026 14:21:04 -0400

The Obama Foundation is looking for 100 unpaid volunteers to work alongside the former president's highly paid cronies at the $850 million Obama Presidential Center in Chicago when it opens in June.

Officials are pitching the no-paycheck gigs as rooted in former President Barack Obama’s legacy of civic engagement. The recruitment campaign comes after 91�� Digital reported that the organization’s CEO, former top Obama aide Valerie Jarrett, was paid $740,000 in 2024.

Foundation officials told 91�� Digital the volunteers will complement about 300 full- and part-time employees at the long-delayed center, which the organization is promoting as a $3.1 billion economic catalyst for the Windy City's South Side.

TAXPAYERS ON THE HOOK FOR LAWN CARE, FIXING HINGES AT PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARIES. TRUMP-LED REFORMS AIM TO STOP IT

The new program will have 75 to 100 volunteers, known as "ambassadors," greet and direct visitors around the campus and share information about exhibits at the 22-story museum tower, athletic center and Chicago Public Library branch, among other amenities. It is expected to expand in the future.

The foundation describes the volunteer program as a key component of its mission, saying volunteers represent its values both onsite and in the community.

It is unclear what the salary range for those paid workers will be. However, the foundation’s most recent tax filings provide insight into compensation at the organization’s senior levels.

Federal filings viewed by 91�� Digital show Jarrett made $740,000 in 2024, 2023 and 2022, while several former Obama White House officials have collected six-figure salaries as foundation executives.

Total salaries and benefits at the foundation climbed from $18.5 million in 2018 to $43.7 million in 2024 as staffing expanded to 337 employees and annual revenue reached nearly $210 million, according to the filings. The foundation’s main office is located in Chicago’s Hyde Park, where it runs leadership and community programs in the U.S. and abroad.

OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL CENTER BREAKS SILENCE OVER CONTROVERSIAL BUILDING DESIGN

Still, the foundation is looking to have a cohort of unpaid volunteers help out at the new presidential center. It's common for presidential libraries, museums and nonprofit cultural institutions to employ unpaid volunteers.

"Volunteerism has been central to President Obama’s vision of civic life since his earliest days as a community organizer on Chicago’s South Side," the foundation said in a press release.

Jarrett, one of the Obamas’ closest advisors, said in a statement that the center will be "a place where the world meets the best of the city of Chicago, and our volunteers will help bring that vision to life every day."

She became CEO in 2021 and is overseeing development of the 19.3-acre campus in Jackson Park.

OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL CENTER SLAMMED FOR PROMOTING ‘FAR-LEFT' AGENDA ON PUBLIC LAND

The foundation has promoted the center as a catalyst for economic revitalization on Chicago’s South Side, citing $3.1 billion in projected economic activity over 10 years and 5,000 construction jobs tied to the $850 million campus. Those figures come from an economic assessment conducted by Deloitte Consulting LLP.

According to the foundation, more than 50% of construction contracts have been awarded to diverse firms, 33% of the construction workforce has come from South and West Side communities and 798 residents have enrolled in construction pre-apprenticeship programs.

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The center is scheduled to open on Juneteenth, the federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States.

Other former Obama administration officials have also earned substantial compensation at the foundation in past years, including former White House political director David Simas, who made more than $600,000 annually while leading the organization from 2017 to 2020, and Adewale Adeyemo, who later became Biden’s deputy Treasury secretary and made roughly $540,000 during his tenure.

Several other senior leaders with Obama administration ties have earned between roughly $300,000 and $400,000 annually, according to tax filings.

Newsom defies Trump administration, declares free parks for MLK Day

Sun, 18 Jan 2026 18:14:49 -0500

A month after President Donald Trump scrapped free national parks entry on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Gov. Gavin Newsom is responding – opening more than 200 California state parks for free to honor Dr. King while calling out Trump’s move.

Last month, the Trump administration reshaped when Americans can enter national parks for free, scrapping Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Juneteenth and National Public Lands Day from the 2026 calendar.

In their place, the administration added a slate of historically themed or presidentially themed dates. Flag day – which also happens to be Trump's birthday – becomes a fee-free day for the first time, along with Constitution Day, the 110th anniversary of the National Park Service and the birthday of Theodore Roosevelt.

Newsom announced Friday that, ahead of the 100th anniversary of Black History Month, he is directing California State Parks to offer free admission at more than 200 participating parks on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Monday, Jan. 19, 2026.

ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP SUES TRUMP FOR REPLACING NATIONAL PARK PASS PHOTO WITH HIS OWN IMAGE

"While Trump works to erase Dr. King’s legacy, California will honor it," Newsom said in a press release. "Dr. King taught us that ‘darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.’ While the Trump administration tries to erase his legacy and turn national parks and monuments into places of exclusion and fear, California answers with light."

"That’s why I’m announcing free entry at California State Parks on Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2026 – because Dr. King’s legacy deserves to be honored, not erased," Newsom continued. "I’m encouraging all Californians to get outside on MLK Day, spend time in nature, reflect on Dr. King’s legacy, and reaffirm our commitment to advancing civil rights for all."

Free entry applies to vehicle day-use fees only and is available at more than 200 participating California state parks statewide, according to the governor’s office.

NATIONAL PARK GIFT SHOPS ARE ORDERED TO PURGE BIAS-DRIVEN DEI AND WOKE MERCHANDISE

Free vehicle entry is being made possible by the California State Parks Foundation rather than taxpayer dollars. The foundation’s investment is intended to keep the state parks running while also planting seeds for a lifetime of connection to the state’s "natural and cultural treasures," Newsom’s office said.

Democratic leaders framed the move as a direct rebuke of the Trump administration’s actions.

TRUMP ADDS HIS BIRTHDAY AS FREE NATIONAL PARK DAY WHILE AXING MLK DAY AND JUNETEENTH

"As the federal government eliminates fee-free park days for holidays that celebrate Black history, California continues to revel in the glory of our civil rights pioneers," state Sen. Akilah Weber Pierson said. "Opening our parks for everyone to enjoy encourages loved ones to come together, give back, and honor Dr. King’s legacy while enjoying the natural beauty of the Golden State."

Some of the parks offering free entry include Big Basin Redwoods, Half Moon Bay, Sugarloaf Ridge, Doheny, Wildwood Canyon Park Property, Folsom Lake, Bidwell Mansion and Lake Oroville.

Some parks will still require a fee, including off-highway vehicle recreation areas, parks with per-person or tour fees such as Hearst Castle and locations operated by partner organizations.

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A full list of participating parks is available at parks.ca.gov/MLKDay2026.

National Park Service announces it will restore, reinstate statue honoring Confederate General Albert Pike

Mon, 04 Aug 2025 21:30:33 -0400

The National Park Service announced Monday that it will be restoring and reinstating a statue of Confederate General Albert Pike.

"The National Park Service announced today that it will restore and reinstall the bronze statue of Albert Pike, which was toppled and vandalized during riots in June 2020," the Monday announcement from the National Park Service read.

"The restoration aligns with federal responsibilities under historic preservation law as well as recent executive orders to beautify the nation’s capital and re-instate pre-existing statues," it added.

REP. WESLEY HUNT DEFENDS TRUMP'S MOVE TO RESTORE ROBERT E. LEE'S NAME TO MILITARY BASE

On June 19, 2020, also known as Juneteenth, the day that recognizes the end of slavery in the United States, protesters toppled the statue of Pike and set it on fire.

Pike, who was a Confederate general in the Civil War, also served as an associate justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court.

The vandalization occurred during the anti-racism riots that erupted across the country after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

TRUMP ANNOUNCES HE IS 'RESTORING' THE NAMES OF SEVERAL BASES CHANGED UNDER BIDEN

The announcement pointed to President Donald Trump’s executive orders on "Making the District of Columbia Safe and Beautiful," and "Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History."

The orders call for the protection of American monuments, preservation of American history and heritage, and combating the "revisionist movement."

In a statement to 91�� Digital, White House official Lindsey Halligan said, "Thank you to the National Park Service for announcing the restoration of the Albert Pike statute after it was unlawfully toppled and vandalized."

Halligan added, "Erected in 1901 and funded entirely by private Masonic organizations, the statue stood for over a century as a tribute to Pike’s contributions as a scholar and Masonic leader. Such action aligns with President Trump’s Executive Order 14253, which calls for reinstating monuments removed under ideological pressure. It’s encouraging to see our National Park Service stand up for historical preservation, due process, and the rule of law."

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On Juneteenth, Alabama's new National Monument to Freedom dedicated to those who endured slavery

Thu, 20 Jun 2024 09:11:11 -0400

The Equal Justice Initiative, a criminal justice reform nonprofit, dedicated its National Monument to Freedom on June 19, 2024, in the new Freedom Monument Sculpture Park in Montgomery, Alabama.
The National Monument to Freedom stands four stories tall. It is inscribed with 122,000 surnames that formerly enslaved people chose for themselves, according to the 1870 Census, after being emancipated at the end of the Civil War. Those last names represent the more than 4 million enslaved people who were emancipated.
The Equal Justice Initiative invoked Juneteenth in its dedication. Juneteenth is a holiday celebrating the end of slavery. More specifically, it commemorates June 19, 1865, the day enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, found out they were free two months after the Civil War.

Thousands of surnames grace the towering monument, representing the more than 4 million enslaved people who were freed after the Civil War.

The Equal Justice Initiative, a criminal justice reform nonprofit, invoked the Juneteenth holiday — the day that commemorates the end of slavery in the U.S. — on Wednesday as it dedicated its National Monument to Freedom.

The monument, which honors the people who endured and survived slavery, is the centerpiece of the new Freedom Monument Sculpture Park in Montgomery, Alabama, where art and historical artifacts tell the story of enslaved people in the United States.

JUNETEENTH IS A CELEBRATION OF ETHNIC HARMONY

During the dedication ceremony, Equal Justice Initiative founder Bryan Stevenson recounted how enslaved people endured unspeakable horrors, but also left a legacy of perseverance and strength.

"Enslaved people in this country did something remarkable that we need to acknowledge, that we need to recognize and that we need to celebrate. Enslaved people resisted. Enslaved people were resilient. Enslaved people found ways to make a way," Stevenson said.

Juneteenth is a day to confront the brutality of slavery and its impact, but he said it is also a day to celebrate the dignity and strength of people who managed to love and survive despite what they faced.

"They never stopped believing. The never stopped yearning for freedom. This morning, as we leave here this Juneteenth morning, I hope we will be hopeful," Stevenson said.

Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, the day enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, found out they were free after the Civil War. The news came two months after the end of the Civil War and about 2 1/2 years after the Emancipation Proclamation.

Stretching four stories into the sky, the National Monument to Freedom is inscribed with 122,000 surnames that formerly enslaved people chose for themselves, as documented in the 1870 Census, after being emancipated at the Civil War’s end. Those last names represent the more than 4 million enslaved people who were set free after emancipation.

The Equal Justice Initiative created the park to tell the story of enslaved people with honesty. The sculpture park is the third site created by the organization. The first two sites — the National Memorial for Peace and Justice, a memorial to people slain in racial terror killings; and The Legacy Museum: From Enslavement to Mass Incarceration — opened in 2018.

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Dr. Michele R. Williams and her mother, Barbara Y. Williams, scanned the rows of names on Wednesday morning, looking for their family surname, Murdough.

"There’s a story connected to every single name and the families that they represent," Michele Williams said. Their ancestor, a man named Moses, is believed to have lived in one of the two slave cabins that were taken from an Alabama plantation to become an exhibit at the sculpture park.

"It was just heart-wrenching, but also super-moving," Michele Williams said of seeing the cabin.

20 books by Black authors you should read this Juneteenth

Wed, 19 Jun 2024 08:00:07 -0400

Juneteenth commemorates the day Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas on June 19, 1865, and announced that the more than 250,000 enslaved black people in the state were free. Even though the Emancipation Proclamation was made effective in 1863, not all enslaved people were immediately freed, as it could not be implemented in Confederate-controlled areas.

To mark the holiday, which commemorates the end of slavery in the United States, consider supporting Black authors by reading one of these books. Many of the stories Black authors write are bound in heartache and triumph, making them truly unique reads. We’ve lined up fiction and non-fiction works to give you a wide range of stories to choose from.

You can find most of these books on Amazon, and can get them shipped to your door within 24 hours when you become an Amazon Prime member. You can join or start a 30-day free trial to start your

Fiction

"The Color Purple," Alice Walker

If you recognize the name of this book, you’ve likely seen the 1985 movie by the same name. The Color Purple book inspired the movie, and follows two sisters — a missionary in Africa and a young wife trapped in a terrible marriage in the South.

A tough but important read, the novel solidifies why Walker has become one of the most prolific Black writers to date.

Find a copy on Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

"Giovanni’s Room," James Baldwin

A classic, Giovanni’s Room is one of Baldwin’s most memorable books. It’s set in the 1950s in Paris and follows David, an American expat who recently proposed to his girlfriend. However, he soon meets Giovanni, a bartender. The two embark on a heated relationship that ultimately ends in tragedy when David’s girlfriend returns to Paris.

Find a copy on Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

"The Bluest Eye," Toni Morrison

Everyone should read at least one Toni Morrison book in their lives. The Bluest Eye is the perfect place to start, as it's Morrison’s first novel.

In the book, Pecola Breedlove is an 11-year-old Black girl with a fascination for blond, blue-eyed children who wants nothing more than to have blue eyes herself. A dark, deep and beautiful book, it’ll get you hooked on Morrison.

Find a copy on Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

"Black Leopard, Red Wolf," Marlon James

Black Leopard, Red Wolf follows Tracker, well-known for his ability to track people. In the opening pages, he’s hired to find a missing boy. As the books goes on, Tracker uncovers a conspiracy he’ll have to deal with head-on.

This is the first book in James’ planned trilogy. It honors African mythology, and isn’t for the weak of heart, as there’s a hearty amount of violence.

Find a copy on Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

"My Sister, the Serial Killer," Oyinkan Braithwaite

Readers looking for a good mystery will find everything they love in My Sister, the Serial Killer. It’s a dark but hilarious novel set in Lagos. It explores the relationship between two sisters, but mainly focuses on one’s unfortunate habit of killing her boyfriends.

Find a copy on Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

"Freshwater," Akwaeke Emezi

Readers that like unique, somewhat odd reads should pick up Freshwater. It’s Emezi’s debut novel that follows Ada, a Nigerian child who is prone to fits of violence and eventually develops separate selves as she grows up. It all culminates when she goes to America for college, and is struck by a tragic event.

Find a copy on Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

"The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store," James McBride

A popular book on BookTok, McBride writes about a small town with big secrets in The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store. It begins in 1972 in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. A crew is digging the foundations for a new development, only to find a skeleton at the bottom of a well. The residents of Chicken Hill, a neighborhood filled with Jewish and Black Americans, have long held the secret of whose body it is.

Find a copy on Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

"Ring Shout," P. Djèlí Clark

Readers who want a truly horrifying, quick but important read, should pick up Ring Shout. It’s a dark look into what the KKK could have become.

The pages turn 1915 America into a sci-fi landscape where Ku Kluxes, vampire-like creatures that consume the darkest thoughts of white Americans reign. The book follows the resistances fighters who hunt these creatures.

Find a copy on Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

"Sing, Unburied, Sing," Jesmyn Ward

Sing, Unburied, Sing is a look at a contemporary American family, struggling with their demons in various ways. It follows Jojo, a thirteen-year-old boy with a Black mother who is an addict and an absent white father, just being released from prison.

Find a copy on Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

"Such a Fun Age," Kiley Reid

A fun, easy read, Such a Fun Age addresses race and privilege in America. It revolves around a young black babysitter and her white employer. One night, while at the grocery store with the child she cares for, a woman calls the cops, claiming the child was being kidnapped. From there, a complex story unfolds, with unique twists and turns.

Find a copy on Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

Non-fiction

"You Can’t Touch My Hair," Phoebe Robinson

Comedian Phoebe Robinson covers the very real prejudices black women face in the world in her book You Can’t Touch My Hair. Using her unique brand of comedic writing that led to her podcast, 2 Dope Queens, Robinson talks about casting calls, Lisa Bonet, Jesus and the NFL, among other pop-culture references.

Find a copy on Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

"The Autobiography of Malcolm X," Malcolm X

Malcolm X narrates his own life in The Autobiography of Malcolm X. A leader of the Black Muslim movement in America, everyone should consider reading his biography. He discusses the limitations of the American Dream and the deep threads of racism that run through society.

Find a copy on Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

"I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings," Maya Angelou

If you didn’t read I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings in high school, grab a copy now. It’s the biography of one of America’s most famous writers, Maya Angelou. You’ll learn about her life growing up in the South where she endured a horrible attack by an older man, and how that affected her the rest of her life.

Find a copy on Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

"Temple Folk," Aaliyah Bilal

The ten stories that make up Temple Folk follow Black Muslims in America. You’ll find stories that address race, religion, politics and sexuality and the diverseness that makes up our country.

Find a copy on Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

"Legacy," Uché Blackstock, MD

Dr. Uché Blackstock always knew that she would be a doctor. Her mother headed an organization of Black Women physicians, so becoming a doctor was a path she’d always known. Unfortunately, the healthcare education system isn’t designed for Black women.

Blackstock’s memoir, Legacy, follows her journey through the medical system and eventually as a health equity advocate during the Black Lives Matter movement.

Find a copy on Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

"The Ugly Cry," Danielle Henderson

The Ugly Cry is a look into Henderson’s life, which was anything but easy. She was abandoned at ten by her mother, who chose to stay with her drug-addicted boyfriend and left with her strong-willed, foul-mouthed grandmother.

Henderson grew up as one of the few Black kids in an upstate New York town where she obsessively watched horror movies while she learned to deal with the aftermath of her mother leaving.

Find a copy on Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

"Zami: A New Spelling of My Name," Audre Lorde

Labeled a biomythography, Zami: A New Spelling of My Name reveals how Audre Lorde became the Black, feminist lesbian and poet she is today. You’ll be led through Lorde’s early life through her coming of age in the 1950s. Beautifully written, this book will be hard to put down for any type of reader.

Find a copy on Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

"I’m Still Here," Austin Channing Brown

In I’m Still Here, Brown lays out various essays about being Black in America. Mostly focusing on Black womanhood, the book deals with faith, race and how white supremacy affects the self-worth of Black individuals.

Find a copy on Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

"All That She Carried," Tiya Miles

In All That She Carried, Tiya Miles lays out the history of an enslaved woman named Rose whose daughter, Ashley, was sold, separating them for life. Eventually, Ashley’s granddaughter found some of her great-grandmother’s belongings and the story of the family's past began to unfold. Miles uses archival data, art and other objects to tell the family’s story and other forgotten stories from slavery’s history.

Find a copy on Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

"Civil Rights Queen," Tomiko Brown-Nagin

Learn about one of the most influential legal minds America ever saw. Brown-Nagin writes all about the life of Constance Baker Motley in Civil Rights Queen. She was a NAACP lawyer who was the first Black woman to argue a case in front of the Supreme Court. She defended Martin Luther Kind, argued in Brown vs. The Board of Education, and helped eliminate Jim Crow laws in the South.

Check out Amazon or Barnes & Noble to find a copy.

Juneteenth is a celebration of ethnic harmony

Wed, 19 Jun 2024 05:00:36 -0400

As Black Americans across the country celebrate Juneteenth with friends, family and loved ones, we celebrate the magnificent achievement that could only be possible in our beloved homeland.

As many of you may know, Juneteenth – sometimes called "America’s second Independence Day" – marks the moment when Union troops reached Galveston, Texas, and finally liberated the last remaining enslaved Black Americans from their chains of slavery.

Every leap toward freedom should be celebrated in every generation, decade and era. Some people ask why Juneteenth is necessary and suggest that it stirs up old wounds. Nothing could be further from the truth. Juneteenth celebrates the victory of emancipation in the United States of America.

In many ways, our development of ethnic harmony reminds me of the Book of Galatians: "There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all on in Christ Jesus."

WHAT IS JUNETEENTH? THE HISTORY BEHIND THE OLDEST COMMEMORATION OF THE ABOLITION OF SLAVERY IN THE US

The Bible teaches us that by God’s grace, we are all one — and I think that America’s founding principles of liberty and equality offer that same message. As our Declaration of Independence says, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness..."

My uncle, Martin Luther King Jr., knew how significant this proclamation was; in his famed "I Have a Dream" speech, delivered from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, he said that when the "architects of our republic" wrote the "magnificent words" of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were "signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir." He went on to say that this note was "a promise that all men — yes, Black men as well as white men — would be guaranteed the unalienable rights" that are enshrined in our founding documents.

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But compare these messages to the many voices of division we hear in popular culture today. From the media and entertainment to politics and education, we are constantly reminded of our differences. We are divided along the lines of race, class, sex, faith and even political persuasion. These voices pit us against each other and tell us that we should be each other’s enemies.

It hasn’t always been easy, but through the sacrifice of Civil Rights heroes like my uncle, equality under the law has finally been achieved. Juneteenth is a historically significant day because I believe in the adage: If you don’t learn your history, you will be doomed to repeat it.

Let’s use this Juneteenth as a chance to strive to hold onto the good and correct the bad. The goal for humanity should be to learn to live together as brothers and sisters in Christ because if we cannot learn to do so, as the Bible teaches, we will indeed perish as fools.

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Juneteenth provides us with the perfect opportunity to reflect on this Christian principle of ethnic harmony. While we certainly have more work to do in our everyday lives, we should also use this day to look back on the progress that we have made and celebrate with joy the blessings that America has brought to all of God’s children.

We are the one-blood human race, united as children of our shared Creator.

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Deadly Texas Juneteenth mass shooting suspect description released by police

Mon, 17 Jun 2024 09:47:28 -0400

Police in an Austin, Texas suburb have released a suspect's description following a mass shooting at a Juneteenth celebration over the weekend.

Two people were killed, and 14 others were wounded at about 10:50 p.m. Saturday in Round Rock, police said. A search is on for a man described as a Black male with a thin build, approximately 5 feet, 7 inches tall with short dreadlocks. He was wearing a white hoodie at the time of the incident.

The suspect is 19 to 20 years old and should be considered armed and dangerous, local FOX 7 Austin reports.

"It breaks your heart for a family that was coming out to enjoy their evening, and now their life is forever changed as a result of somebody who could care less about somebody else's life," Round Rock Police Chief Allen Banks said at a press briefing. "That's so disappointing. Our goal is to put those folks behind bars and our goal is to get them put away for life."

TEXAS SHOOTING LEAVES 2 DEAD, MULTIPLE WOUNDED DURING JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION

Banks said two groups began fighting with each other near the vendor area during the Round Rock Juneteenth Festival at Old Settler's Park when the shooting began. During the fight, at least one person pulled out a gun and opened fire.

Police officers and fire department personnel present at the event immediately began providing emergency medical care to the wounded, who were then taken to hospitals, Allen said.

TEXAS DEPUTY CONSTABLE 'AMBUSHED,' SHOT BY ROBBERY SUSPECT: 'PLEASE PRAY'

The injured people's ages range between 10 and 62, according to FOX 7. Most of those taken to hospitals have been released, Banks said. The remaining are in stable condition and are expected to be released in the next couple of days.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the suspect's arrest.

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Anyone with information is asked to contact Round Rock Police Department's Detective Maio at 512-341-3135 or email rmaio@roundrocktexas.gov.

91��' Landon Mion and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Texas shooting leaves 2 dead, multiple wounded during Juneteenth celebration

Sun, 16 Jun 2024 05:11:46 -0400

Two people were killed, and multiple others were wounded in a shooting Saturday night in Texas during a Juneteenth Celebration.

The shooting happened at about 10:50 p.m. in Round Rock, Texas, Round Rock Police Chief Allen Banks said at a press briefing.

Police are still searching for suspects. The number of shooters is unclear.

"It breaks your heart for a family that was coming out to enjoy their evening, and now their life is forever changed as a result of somebody who could care less about somebody else's life" Banks said. "Thats so disappointing. Our goal is to put those folks behind bars and our goal is to get them put away for life."

TEXAS DEPUTY CONSTABLE 'AMBUSHED,' SHOT BY ROBBERY SUSPECT: 'PLEASE PRAY'

At least six people were transported to hospitals with "potentially serious" injuries, emergency response officials said, ABC News reported.

The Austin-Travis County EMS said four adults and two children were transported to local trauma facilities.

MULTIPLE INJURED, INCLUDING 2 CHILDREN, IN MICHIGAN SPLASH PAD SHOOTING; SUSPECT DEAD BY SUICIDE: AUTHORITIES

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Police officers and firefighters working at the event quickly responded to the shooting. They applied tourniquets to the wounded and performed CPR.

A description of the suspect was not released by police, as Banks said there were multiple descriptions of the suspect and different accounts of what happened during the shooting.

Banks said activities scheduled at the park for Sunday morning have been canceled, but should be opened again by the afternoon for Father's Day activities.

Conserve the Culture founder calls out Biden after blank stare at Juneteenth celebration

Sat, 15 Jun 2024 06:00:33 -0400

Conserve the Culture founder Michaelah Montgomery reacted to President Biden’s Juneteenth celebration, calling into question his cognitive ability and saying she's "never seen a more lackadaisical celebration" of the day than his.

Biden appeared to freeze at a Juneteenth celebration at the White House on Monday. Video showed the commander-in-chief's blank stare and still posture before Philonise Floyd, the brother of George Floyd, put his arm around the president.

"I'm definitely worried about the president's cognitive abilities to lead this country," Montgomery told "Jesse Watters Primetime." "When you look at everything that's going on internationally, I don't know how I could feel safe living in a country where my president doesn't seem to even know where he is, let alone be able to keep track of everything that's going on in the world."

‘THE ARTICLE WAS BS’: BIDEN'S CABINET FIRES BACK AT SCATHING REPORT EXPOSING DECLINING MENTAL ACUITY

Montgomery also took a hit at Biden’s previous messaging to the Black community.

"Joe Biden telling us we're not Black if we don't vote for him, that had a lot of us like, 'What you mean, I'm not Black?'" she told Watters. "So that started to raise a lot of questions, but then, of course, the current state of the economy is not helping. Everybody's really frustrated with the fact that they need three jobs to pay one mortgage."

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The Conserve the Culture founder said she "never thought the Defund the Police movement made sense" as polling shows Black Americans do not believe police do enough to keep guns and drugs out of the community.

"There's no reason why the hood was the hood when your grandma was a child, and it looks like it's still going to be the hood when your kids have kids," she said. "You know, these people are tired of seeing their communities being run down. They're tired of seeing addiction take over their loved ones. So, yeah, they would encourage that the taxes that they pay go to better law enforcement, to better policies and to better community relations."

91�� Digital's Chris Pandolfo contributed to this report.

President Biden appears to freeze at White House Juneteenth event

Tue, 11 Jun 2024 07:08:33 -0400

President Biden appeared to freeze during a Juneteenth celebration at the White House on Monday.

Biden, 81, was filmed standing still as stone while those around him, including Vice President Kamala Harris, clapped and danced to a concert featuring gospel singer Kirk Franklin.

Video shows Biden staring blankly and not moving an inch for about 30 seconds before Philonise Floyd — the brother of George Floyd, whose murder triggered nationwide riots in 2020 — noticed the president and put his arm around him. Biden then smiles as Floyd leans in to say something, and they bump fists after exchanging a few words.

Republicans, who have sought to make the president's advanced age an issue in the 2024 election, were quick to deride the president. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

EX-BIDEN STAFFER CALLS OUT DEMOCRATS FOR ‘FAUX OUTRAGE’ OVER WSJ ARTICLE ABOUT PRESIDENT'S MENTAL SHARPNESS

"Why isn't Biden moving?" the Republican National Committee's rapid response account questioned on X.

"Lights are on but no one's home," former President Trump's campaign posted.

"Who said Biden's got no rhythm?" quipped Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah.

The incident echoed two occasions last year when Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. froze in front of reporters at the Capitol and at an event in Covington, Kentucky. McConnell, who was 81 at the time, later announced he would step down from leadership after the election and would not seek re-election when his current term expires in 2027.

Critics say Biden is declining in his old age and can't handle the responsibilities of the presidency. Last week, the Wall Street Journal published a report detailing instances in which the president has demonstrated a lack of clarity in private meetings with staff and members of Congress.

But the White House and Cabinet members have vigorously pushed back against these claims, and defended the president's mental acuity and ability to perform on the job.

‘THE ARTICLE WAS BS’: BIDEN'S CABINET FIRES BACK AT SCATHING REPORT EXPOSING DECLINING MENTAL ACUITY

"Congressional Republicans, foreign leaders and nonpartisan national-security experts have made clear in their own words that President Biden is a savvy and effective leader who has a deep record of legislative accomplishment," White House spokesman Andrew Bates said. "Now, in 2024, House Republicans are making false claims as a political tactic that flatly contradict previous statements made by themselves and their colleagues."

Earlier this year, a report from Biden's own Department of Justice's special counsel called him an "elderly man with a poor memory" at the end of an investigation into his mishandling of classified documents dating back to his Senate tenure, which ultimately saved him from having charges brought against him by Special Counsel Robert Hur.

Biden has been prone to gaffes going back to when he was vice president, but the frequency and nature of his verbal missteps in recent years appear to be more significant.

In May, Biden seemed to have a break with reality when he confused the timing of the COVID pandemic by a factor of years when he said, "And when I was vice president, things were kind of bad during the pandemic, and, what happened was Barack said to me: ‘Go to Detroit — and help fix it.’" The pandemic happened years after Biden's time as vice president.

TRUMP RIPS BIDEN AS ‘INCOMPETENT TO STAND TRIAL’ IN DOCUMENT PROBE: DON'T WANT ‘THAT KIND OF EXONERATION’

The president has, on several occasions, referenced dead people as being alive. In 2022, at a White House event, Biden called out former Rep. Jackie Walorski during a speech, "Jackie, are you here? Where’s Jackie?" Walorski had died in a car crash the previous month.

At a campaign rally in February, Biden told the audience, "Right after I was elected, I went to a G7 meeting in southern England. And I sat down and said, ‘America is back!’ and Mitterand from Germany — I mean France — looked at me and said, ‘How long you back for?'" Mitterand was president from 1981 to 1995 and died in 1996.

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In 2021, Biden claimed he had spoken with the late German Chancellor Helmut Kohl, who had died in 2017, while recalling past conversations during fundraising events.

At 81, Biden is the oldest man to serve as president in U.S. history. If he is re-elected in November, he will be 86 when his second term ends. The presumptive Republican presidential nominee, former President Trump, is just four years younger at 77.

91�� Digital's Jeffrey Clark and Matthew Richter contributed to this report.

Kansas Gov. Kelly announces Juneteenth will become state holiday

Tue, 10 Oct 2023 16:02:23 -0400

Kansas will designate Juneteenth as a state holiday, joining 28 other states and the District of Columbia, Gov. Laura Kelly said Tuesday.

KANSAS HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE HEAD TO STEP DOWN

Kelly, a Democrat, said in a news release that establishing the state holiday "provides Kansans an opportunity to celebrate our state's diversity and honor the ongoing struggles for racial equality."

Juneteenth marks the day in 1865 when the last enslaved people in the United States learned they were free. For generations, Black Americans have recognized the end of one of the darkest chapters in U.S. history with joy, in the form of parades, street festivals, musical performances or cookouts.

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In 2021, President Joe Biden signed a bill passed by Congress to set aside Juneteenth, or June 19th, as a federal holiday.

What is Juneteenth? The history behind the oldest commemoration of the abolition of slavery in the US

Sun, 14 Jun 2020 08:53:22 -0400

Juneteenth, observed on June 19, commemorates the end of all slavery in the United States and is celebrated across the country.

It now is on the list of federal holidays in the United States. Here is a dive into the history of the day, when it became a federal holiday, how it is celebrated throughout the country and more.

What is the history of Juneteenth?
Why is the day called Juneteenth?
Is Juneteenth a federal holiday?
How is Juneteenth celebrated in the United States?
Why is Juneteenth controversial?

JUNETEENTH: A PERFECT DAY TO CHEER BLACK SUCCESS

1. What is the history of Juneteenth?

Black Americans began to celebrate Juneteenth to mark the anniversary of June 19, 1865, the day when Texas – the last rebel state – officially abolished slavery.

On that day, Union Major Gen. Gordon Granger shared the news in Texas about the Emancipation Proclamation. Slaves in the remaining rebel state were unaware that President Abraham Lincoln had issued the 1863 proclamation that freed slaves in Confederate states.

Slavery remained in effect after Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee’s surrender to the Union’s Ulysses S. Grant in Virginia on April 9, 1865, and Lincoln’s death on April 15, 1865, according to historians. Approximately 250,000 slaves were freed in Texas following the army’s announcement.

President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation – which went into effect on Jan. 1, 1863. The 13th Amendment was passed by Congress two years later, officially abolishing the institution of slavery.

Texas was the last state in rebellion following the end of the Civil War and the Emancipation Proclamation had little impact in the Lone Star State due to the minimal number of Union troops to enforce it.

NEVADA RECOGNIZES JUNETEENTH AS STATE HOLIDAY

However, following the surrender of Lee in April 1865, and the arrival of Granger’s regiment, the Union forces were strong enough to enforce Lincoln’s executive order.

"The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired labor. The freedmen are advised to remain quietly at their present homes and work for wages. They are informed that they will not be allowed to collect military posts and that they will not be supported in idleness either there or elsewhere."

The above order was issued by Granger on June 19, 1865, and it was met with a range of reactions, from pure shock to immediate jubilation. That celebration has been coined "Juneteenth" and, for decades, freed men and women and their descendants have annually commemorated the anniversary.

2. Why is the day called Juneteenth?

Juneteenth combines the words June, (the month when it takes place) and the number 19, (the exact date).

Before the name Juneteenth was used to title the day, other names used were Emancipation Day, Jubilee Day, Freedom Day and Black Independence Day.

3. Is Juneteenth a federal holiday?

Juneteenth was made into a federal holiday during the first year of President Joe Biden's administration. The House of Representatives voted 415-14 in June 2021 to make Juneteenth a federal holiday. President Biden then signed the bill into law the next day.

"Juneteenth marks both a long hard night of slavery subjugation and a promise of a brighter morning to come," Biden said in a statement at the time. He called the day a reminder of the "terrible toll that slavery took on the country and continues to take."

MURDOCK: JUNETEENTH IS A GREAT DAY TO FOCUS ON BLACK ACHIEVEMENTS

The other federal holidays that are observed in the United States each year are New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.

The addition of Juneteenth as a federal holiday means that all federal workers get a paid day off on the day.

4. How is Juneteenth celebrated in the United States?

The celebrations typically feature music, BBQs, prayer services, parades, festivals and other activities. These celebrations continued to spread as Black Americans migrated from Texas to other parts of the country. However, economic and cultural forces in the early 20th century provided a decline in Juneteenth celebrations – at least outside of Texas.

Meanwhile, in classrooms and history books, little or nothing was mentioned of Gen. Granger's order as Lincoln’s proclamation on Jan. 1, 1863, became the date signaling the end of slavery. Juneteenth received a resurgence during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s – particularly after the Poor Peoples March to Washington, D.C., in 1968, which was cut short on Juneteenth of that year.

Observers of the day state that the annual acknowledgment of this point in history serves as a reminder that slavery wasn’t actually abolished with the Emancipation Proclamation.

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In the years that followed, interest in Juneteenth continued to grow as Blacks in the United States sought to make sure the events of 1865 were not lost to history. In 1980, Texas became the first state to make Juneteenth an official holiday through the efforts of Al Edwards, an African American state legislator.

5. Why is Juneteenth controversial?

The date became a point of contention in 2020 when the Trump administration announced it would hold a major campaign rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on June 19. The announcement sparked a furor among Democrats and the president's critics for both the date and the location.

Tulsa was the site of a 1921 massacre of Black residents and the destruction of Black-owned businesses. Trump soon announced he was moving the rally to June 20 "out of respect." Today nearly every state, and the District of Columbia, holds Juneteenth observances.

Moreover, Juneteenth was celebrated in 2020 by members of the Black Lives Matter movement during protests over the death of George Floyd. Activists advocating to defund the police did so on Juneteenth on June 19, 2020, in St. Louis following Floyd's death, which was met with nationwide protests and outrage.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Nevada recognizes Juneteenth as state holiday

Fri, 09 Jun 2023 06:48:30 -0400

Juneteenth is now a state holiday in Nevada, which is joining a growing number of states including Texas, New York, Virginia and Washington that honor the day when the last enslaved people in the United States learned they were free.

Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo signed the bill into law on Thursday, elevating the June 19 holiday from a day of observance to a state holiday, meaning many state employees can take the day off. It now joins holidays including New Years’ Day, Veterans Day, July 4, Labor Day, Nevada Day and Christmas.

The measure passed by votes of 40 to 1 in the state Assembly and 19 to 2 in the state Senate.

MINNESOTA GOV. WALZ MAKES JUNETEENTH STATE HOLIDAY, BANS 'HAIR DISCRIMINATION'

"As the first state to ratify the 15th Amendment, which gave African Americans the right to vote, Nevada has a long and proud history of supporting civil rights," said Democratic Assemblywoman Claire Thomas, one of the bill sponsors. "By designating Juneteenth as a state holiday, Nevada continues to honor that legacy and celebrate the progress that has been made in the fight for equality."

The celebration stems from when news of the slavery abolition reached Galveston, Texas, in 1865 — two years after President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation ended slavery in the U.S. and five months after the 13th Amendment's signing, which declared all enslaved people free.

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The annual celebration started in Texas but spread as Black Texans moved elsewhere. Hundreds of companies also give employees the day off.

In 2021 President Joe Biden signed a bill passed by Congress to make Juneteenth as a federal holiday.

Juneteenth event banner featuring White couple in South Carolina sparks outrage: 'I was appalled'

Mon, 29 May 2023 09:00:56 -0400

South Carolina locals and activists were appalled at the image of a smiling White couple on a banner promoting an upcoming Juneteenth event.

Greenville citizens noticed last week that new banners were being hung across Main Street in honor of a three-day event celebration hosted by the nonprofit organization Juneteenth GVL Inc. The banners quickly spread across social media after people noticed one that featured only a White couple with no Black people.

Greenville’s Fighting Injustice Together activist Bruce Wilson publicly declared his disappointment with the banner to local news, calling it a misrepresentation of the holiday.

"I was appalled. I was saddened, I was angry," Wilson said.

CIVIL RIGHTS LEADERS, SCHOLARS, DESCENDANTS OF SLAVES SPEAK OUT ON REPARATIONS FOR BLACK AMERICANS

Wilson staged events for Juneteenth events in Greenville since 2020. He stated that he was informed one month prior that his organization would not be able to use the Peace Center to plan an event in favor of another group.

Despite remarking that "White America" can celebrate Juneteenth, he called on Greenville locals to boycott the event.

"I'm the first to say that White America can celebrate Juneteenth, I just don't think White America should be the face of Juneteenth. And I think that's where the disconnect is. One, I'm asking this event be boycotted if they do not feel the need to remove this banner. Secondly, I'm asking everyone to call the city manager and voice your concerns about this particular banner," Wilson said.

Rueben Hays, the CEO of Juneteenth GVL Inc., remarked that the intention of the banner was to promote unity for the event and that there were nine other designs which included Black, Asian and Hispanic residents. The idea, he also said, came from his all-Black board with no pressure from the city to diversify the promotion.

After the backlash, however, Juneteenth GVL Inc. later wrote an apology with plans to remove the flags.

BLACK CONSERVATIVES WARN REPARATIONS ARE A ‘SCHEME’ TO GAIN VOTES: ‘PROMISE THE MOON’ THEN ‘DELIVER NOTHING’

"We would like to offer an apology to the community for the presence of non-black faces being represented on two flags representing Juneteenth. We acknowledge this mistake having been made and will correct the error quickly. This error was an attempt at uniting all of Greenville and thereby a slight oversight on one individual's part that prevented us from fully embracing the rich potential and celebrating the depth of the black culture through the message and meaning of Juneteenth, and for that we apologize to you the entire community," the post read.

It continued, "The flags in question will be removed as soon as possible."

In response to the backlash, city officials remarked that they do not approve of the designs of banners for private events like the Juneteenth celebration.

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Juneteenth marks the day that Black slaves were freed after the Civil War following the Emancipation Proclamation. It was originally a holiday in Texas back in 1980 with other states following suit over the past few decades. President Biden officially signed a bill in June 2021 making Juneteenth a national holiday.

Minnesota Gov. Walz makes Juneteenth state holiday, bans 'hair discrimination'

Fri, 03 Feb 2023 17:57:04 -0500

Juneteeth will become a state holiday in Minnesota, under a bill signed by Gov. Tim Walz on Friday in a state where it's now illegal to discriminate on the basis of hair texture or style.

The Democratic governor made Minnesota the 26th state to recognize June 19th as a holiday. It’s the date in 1865 viewed as the final abolition of slavery in the U.S. even though it came two years after President Abraham Lincoln’s 1863 Emancipation Proclamation. It became a federal holiday in 2021, and many local governments and companies already observe it.

WHAT IS JUNETEENTH? THE HISTORY BEHIND THE OLDEST COMMEMORATION OF THE ABOLISHMENT OF SLAVERY IN THE US

Walz also held a ceremonial signing Friday of a bill known as the CROWN Act, which he formally signed Wednesday. It stands for "Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair," and explicitly prohibits racial discrimination based on natural hair texture and hairstyles such as braids, locs, and twists.

Flanked by a crowd of mostly female Black lawmakers and community leaders, Walz joked about "the irony of an older white bald guy signing this bill," but said it addresses a real problem.

The lead House author, Democratic Rep. Esther Agbaje, of Minneapolis, said the legislation was necessary because the U.S. Supreme Court in 2017 "declined to weigh in on whether natural hair was an immutable part of race."

CONNECTICUT PASSES CROWN ACT TO BAN DISCRIMINATION AGAINST NATURAL HAIR

Nineteen other states and several cities have enacted similar protections since 2019.

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"With this law we are saying that we will not allow hair discrimination as a proxy for race discrimination," Agbaje said. "We are also saying it is perfectly fine to show up as you are."

'The View's' Joy Behar says voting rights are being 'systematically taken away' from Black Americans

Mon, 20 Jun 2022 15:02:47 -0400

"The View" host Joy Behar claimed Monday that Juneteenth, the holiday celebrating the end of slavery, was a good day to remember that Black Americans’ voting rights were being "systematically" stripped away.

Sara Haines admitted to feeling "silly" about being ignorant about the holiday until recent years and said she now felt that Juneteenth was a more important day for all Americans to celebrate than Independence Day.

"We were celebrating Fourth of July which was freedom of America, when freedom of American people didn't happen until Juneteenth, so in some ways the celebration feels more authentic on Juneteenth," she argued.

THE VIEW CO-HOST JOY BEHAR: GUN LAWS WILL CHANGE ‘ONCE BLACK PEOPLE GET GUNS IN THIS COUNTRY’

Joy Behar agreed, blaming their lack of knowledge on American education.

"Well, I didn’t know about it either. I mean, I confess I was unaware of it. Which shows you, how lacking our history is in this country," she started to say.

The host went on to claim, without offering any proof, that this day was a good reminder that voting rights were being "systematically taken away" from African-Americans and other people groups in this country.

"You know, we should be aware on a day like this that voting rights are being systematically taken away from African-Americans and other people too in this country," she claimed.

‘THE VIEW’ HOSTS CLASH OVER ‘RIGGED’ ELECTORAL COLLEGE, SOME CLAIM SYSTEM ‘BASED IN SLAVERY’

"You got to be very, very careful. You can celebrate the day, which we do, but there are very important issues at stake here, this year. So it’s a good day to reflect on that, I think," Behar offered.

Despite expressing concern about voting rights and democracy being threatened, Behar and her colleagues have repeatedly attacked any opposition to the Democratic Party agenda.

Last September, Joy Behar complained that Sens. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., and Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., were "enemies" of democracy for sometimes voting with Republicans.

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Two weeks ago, the hosts attacked the Electoral College as a "rigged idea" "based in slavery."

"The View" hosts have also repeatedly called for "getting rid of" the Republican Party.

This Juneteenth, parents need the right to speak up about school curriculum

Mon, 20 Jun 2022 05:00:59 -0400

A father has sued his daughter’s posh L.A. Brentwood School, alleging "bait and switch" and civil rights violations. The school had responded to George Floyd’s murder by ditching its values – its traditional curriculum – in favor of an anti-racist perspective. Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird was out. Ibram X. Kendi’s Stamped was in. Brentwood responded to Jerome Eisenberg’s concerns by throwing his daughter out of the school, presumably to advance the school’s goal of being "more inclusive."

At first blush, this case appears to challenge well-intended if heavy-handed educational practices at an enlightened, progressive institution. In fact, it is not what it seems. Not because the administration denies the claims, as one would expect, but because the reforms are not as they seem.

It hardly need be said that Brentwood, like its peers, is all about exclusivity, not inclusivity. The irony, in the current climate, is that such institutions preserve the former by preaching the latter. That is to say, they protect their place in the cultural elite by maintaining appearances. The school’s curricular overhaul communicates the school’s faddish resolve to stay current with fashionable progressive orthodoxies.

Brentwood’s new curriculum was birthed out of shame, not hope. Last June, eight days after George Floyd’s killing, the school posted a black square on Instagram. This was part of the #BlackoutTuesday social media campaign. Many institutions were engaging in anodyne virtue-signaling. Brentwood’s posting, however, provoked a different response than most.

LOS ANGELES HIGH SCHOOL SUED OVER ‘RACIALLY DIVISIVE, ANTI-SEMITIC’ IDEOLOGY

"Brentwood is a toxic racist cesspool for students of color, but an ivory tower for the wealthy, white elite," read one comment, reflecting the widespread denigration Brentwood received for a history of behavior that many considered racist.

The black square highlighted racial tensions at Brentwood. Former baseball slugger Barry Bonds had responded angrily to a 2016 video of several white Brentwood students using a racial slur while rapping to a popular song. "I am sad that i had to see this at my daughters school…," he tweeted. His ex-wife asked, "Is this what $40k worth of private education gets you?"

On Juneteenth 2020, Brentwood’s Black Family Association wrote to the school’s administration and trustees, saying that "Juneteenth, 2020 should commemorate the date that Brentwood School committed to leading, instead of catching up." Brentwood’s Black Family Association demanded that the school educate their children in "an environment that honors their full humanity." Instead, the school did the opposite.

Beyond racially segregating its students, Brentwood indoctrinated its students on "becoming anti-racist." This is very different than urging them to become "not racist." As Kendi teaches, "The only remedy to past discrimination is present discrimination. The only remedy to present discrimination is future discrimination." In teaching anti-racism, Brentwood traded its previous, unfashionable racism for a more socially acceptable version.

Brentwood could hardly have more to dishonor the "full humanity" of its students than to reduce them, in the fashion of anti-racism, to mere representatives of their race. In fairness, other tony private schools have done similar. As a lawsuit filed last month against the Los Angeles School District’s Liberated Ethnic Studies curriculum underscores, some public school districts are just as bad.

In this coal mine, the role of canary is played, as is often the case, by the Jew. Sickness within the culture of a school, as in that of a society, can be seen in the spread of anti-Semitism. Eisenberg alleges that Brentwood held racially segregated meetings and encouraged students to treat Jewish people as "oppressors" and barred Jewish parents from participating in policy-making decisions. The complaint against Los Angeles’s public schools similarly alleged that system’s progressive efforts to address ethnic conflict had also degenerated into anti-Semitism.

Elsewhere, anti-racist educators have whitewashed Jewish identity, ignoring anti-Semitism and treating Jews as powerful, conspiratorial supporters of white supremacy. This is why the Jewish community fought so hard against California’s earliest ethnic studies proposals. While the finalized California ethnic studies statute resolved numerous problems, Liberated Ethnic Studies continues to contain many of them.

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The answer is not to stop talking. Parents like Jerome Eisenberg should not be muzzled even when they raise discomforting concerns. But the answer is not to ignore an institution’s own history of bias either. One can speak frankly about race without resorting to the fashionable nonsense of contemporary anti-racism.

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Now Juneteenth is here again. And again educators have a choice. If their goal is "leading, instead of catching up," they can best honor their students’ humanity by returning to their own values, recommitting to traditional education and Western Civilization. This need not mean ignoring their own biases. It means correcting them – as they would know if they hadn’t stopped reading Harper Lee.

Juneteenth: What is it and why do we celebrate it?

Sun, 19 Jun 2022 13:32:06 -0400

Juneteenth National Independence Day, June 19, commemorates the day that U.S. General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865 — and shared the news that the Emancipation Proclamation had been passed two years earlier. The Civil War had ended two months before June 1865.

Last year, Juneteenth became the nation’s 12th federal holiday through a 415-14 vote in the House of Representatives.

President Biden signed the bill into law on June 17, 2021.

As of recently, the day is colloquially known as Juneteenth — a contracted word that combines the month of June with the number 19. The federal acknowledgment happened two days before Juneteenth’s 156th anniversary.

NYC MAYOR ERIC ADAMS ANNOUNCES JUNETEENTH AS A PAID CITY HOLIDAY

Observers of Juneteenth pay tribute to the day with parades, festivals, speaking engagements, social justice gatherings and charity work.

This year, for the first time, U.S. stock markets will be closed on Monday, June 20, in observance of Juneteenth. Federal workers get a paid day off for Juneteenth.

More history and background

When General Granger shared the news in Texas about the Emancipation Proclamation, slaves in the remaining rebel state were unaware that President Abraham Lincoln had issued the 1863 proclamation that freed slaves in Confederate states.

The slave trade remained in effect after Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s surrender to the Union’s Ulysses S. Grant in Virginia on April 9, 1865, and Lincoln’s death on April 15, 1865, according to historians.

Approximately 250,000 slaves were freed in Texas following the army’s announcement.

LONGTIME TEXAS TRADITION CELEBRATING MISS JUNETEENTH BRINGS HOLIDAY INTO FOCUS

It’s not known why news of emancipation didn’t reach all the 34 states that made up the warring nation. Theories about what could have led to the delayed announcement have circulated for more than a century.

The Library of Congress names three theories that have been discussed among historians and Juneteenth observers.

These include the chance that the messenger carrying the Emancipation Proclamation announcement to Texas might have been killed mid-journey; that slave owners might have deliberately withheld the news; or that federal troops might have held off on enforcing the proclamation until slave owners were in a position to harvest their final cotton crops through slave labor.

JUNETEENTH CELEBRATIONS BEGIN ACROSS AMERICA: 'TRULY REMARKABLE, INCREDIBLY SPECIAL'

Despite the uncertainty about the delay, freed slaves went on to commemorate the day in Texas and throughout the U.S.

Early observances acknowledged June 19 as Emancipation Day, Jubilee Day, Freedom Day and Black Independence Day.

Observers of the day state that the annual acknowledgment of this point in history serves as a reminder that slavery wasn’t actually abolished with the Emancipation Proclamation — which was passed on Jan. 1, 1863.

Slavery was formally abolished through the nation’s 13th amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which was ratified on Dec. 6, 1865.

That took place six months after Juneteenth.

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Though General Robert E. Lee surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant in Virginia on April 8, 1865, marking the beginning of the end of the four-year-long Civil War, the Civil War was proclaimed as officially over on April 2, 1866, by President Andrew Johnson.

Lawrence Jones on Juneteenth, Father's Day and the greatness of America

Sun, 19 Jun 2022 00:08:27 -0400

91�� host Lawrence Jones reflected on Juneteenth and Father's Day in America, and the significance it holds for him on "Lawrence Jones Cross Country."

WHAT IS JUNETEENTH? THE HISTORY BEHIND THE OLDEST COMMEMORATION OF THE ABOLISHMENT OF SLAVERY IN THE US

LAWRENCE JONES: I want to take a moment to reflect on a few of the most important holidays of the year.

So first, you got Juneteenth, a national holiday that marks the emancipation of slaves in America. No question about it: President Lincoln took steps years earlier to set freedom in motion. He's a hero of mine for his efforts.

Juneteenth, however, means a lot to me because this historic moment happened in my home state of Texas. As you know, I'm a proud Texan. Tomorrow, June 19, we remember the day that Texans got the word that once and for all, all slaves must be freed. The U.S. military took the lead.

Galveston holds a special place in my heart because it is where this overdue right and just action took place.

91-YEAR-OLD GRANDPA SENDS LOVINGLY HILARIOUS TEXTS TO HIS SINGLE GRANDDAUGHTER

As I go across country, I get to meet folks from all walks of life, I call them, "my fam" and I mean it. And my fam would not be complete tonight if I could not celebrate Father's Day tomorrow with my daddy.

Juneteenth is why it is possible, there are heroes to thank, President Lincoln and others I speak of often, Frederick Douglass and Booker T. Washington, just to name a few. Some paved the way and others picked up the noble cause they risked their lives for. And tonight, I want to close by thanking the brave men and women who made tomorrow possible.

Juneteenth is not in competition with the 4th of July, because none of us are free until all of us are free. Juneteenth reminds me of the greatness of America.

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And again, happy Father's Day to my daddy and all those that are watching.

WATCH THE FULL SEGMENT HERE:

NYC Mayor Eric Adams announces Juneteenth as a paid city holiday

Mon, 11 Apr 2022 11:15:08 -0400

New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced Monday morning via a press release that Juneteenth would be recognized as a city-wide paid holiday.

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"As the second Black mayor of New York City, I know that I stand on the shoulders of countless heroes and sheroes who put their lives on the line to secure a more perfect union. Now is the time for me to do a small part and recognize one of our nation’s greatest wrongs," Adams said in the statement.

Adams also shared his statement on Twitter, writing, "It’s time for our city to finally do what’s right and officially designate Juneteenth as a city holiday. This decision is long overdue…"

New York City will see its first paid Juneteenth this year on June 19.

The Biden administration designated Juneteenth as a federal holiday in 2021. The holiday marks the anniversary of federal troops announcing the freeing of all enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, in 1865.

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The 1865 announcement came nearly two months after the Civil War ended and two years after Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation.

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New York City joins several other major U.S. cities in recognizing Juneteenth as a paid city holiday, including Chicago, Illinois, and Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Oakland crowd twerks on ambulance, blocks responders after deadly shooting

Tue, 22 Jun 2021 22:00:40 -0400

Partiers celebrating Juneteenth in Northern California were seen blocking an ambulance, with a woman twerking atop the vehicle, despite responders trying to navigate through the scene to transport victims of a shooting in which one person was killed and several others were injured.

The Oakland Police Department believes Saturday's shooting at Lake Merritt was gang-related and multiple shooters are being sought, the department said Monday. An estimated 5,000 people were gathered near where the incident occurred in the 2200 block of Lakeshore Avenue just after 6:20 p.m., police said.

A 22-year-old San Francisco man was killed and seven people were injured, police said. The victims range in age from 16 to their mid-60s and are in stable condition, Oakland Police Chief LeRonne Armstrong told reporters Monday.

Most of those involved are not from Oakland, he said.

WARNING: GRAPHIC LANGUAGE

As first responders were trying to make their way through the scene following the shooting, several people began dancing and twerking against and on top of their ambulance, while a large crowd watched and cheered, according to footage of the incident posted online. At one point, someone climbed on top of the vehicle and a woman danced while standing on the hood.

"The fact that we had several people shot and injured, we had people who continued to dance on and around ambulances, preventing the ambulances from leaving the area to get people to hospitals so that they can be treated," Armstrong said.

He noted that some people helped the responders make their way through the crowd.

"We also had some people that stood up, that actually helped out and helped open up traffic," he said. "We thank them for their efforts."

In a statement, Mayor Libby Schaaf condemned the latest act of gun violence.

"It’s heartbreaking a joyous occasion at Lake Merritt was marred by violence," she said.

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91�� has reached out to the ambulance company and the police department but has not heard back.

Investigators believe the shooting stemmed from a gang feud in San Francisco. Two men spotted running from the scene were arrested and two firearms were recovered. Investigators said it was unclear if they are connected to the shooting.

"There were a large number of firearms at the lake on that day," Armstrong said. "People continue to come to the city of Oakland armed with firearms."

Michigan woman who ambushed police officer at Juneteenth parade dies after struck by return fire: police

Mon, 21 Jun 2021 12:45:30 -0400

A woman in Michigan who authorities say shot at a Flint police officer at a traffic checkpoint during a parade on Juneteenth and was struck when the officer returned fire has since died at the hospital.

Michigan State Police is investigating following the officer-involved shooting that happened at approximately 2:14 p.m. Saturday in the city of Flint. Officials identified the woman as Briana Sykes, 19, of Flint.

A preliminary investigation revealed that an officer working a traffic point for the Juneteenth Celebration Parade "was fired upon by a lone occupant of a vehicle who drove up to him," the Flint Police Department said in a press release.

The officer returned fire, striking the suspect, who was transported to a local hospital, police said.

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Sykes was taken to Hurley Medical Center later and died from her injuries, according to local media reports.

The incident happened by a gas station on Saginaw Street near Leith Street, Michigan Live reported. Poor quality video circulating online purportedly captured the officer exchanging gunfire with the driver of a silver car in the gas station of the parking lot, WJRT-TV reported.

"I saw an officer maybe 10 feet to the left of me in front of a car with his gun out," a witness, who wished to remain anonymous, told WJRT-TV. "I didn’t see if anybody shot out of the car but I did see the officer shoot into the car. I could tell that he, from his look, like he mortally wounded somebody. He instantly fell to the ground crying because, I felt, like he didn’t want to do whatever he had to do."

Neither the officer nor any bystanders was injured. Michigan State Police has taken over the investigation at the request of the Flint Police Department.

The officer, whose name has not been released, was placed on administrative leave, Fox 66 reported.

The Champion’s Parade, which honors the city’s athletic greats and community leaders, began at noon in front of City Hall and was to proceed north on Saginaw Street. Held in coordination with Juneteenth, the newly deemed federal holiday commemorating the emancipation of enslaved people in the U.S., the parade was to end at the Bernston Field House, a historic hub for Flint’s African American community, according to Michigan Live.

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The parade was rerouted to avoid the scene of the shooting, which saw a heavy police presence and the gas station was later cordoned off with tape.

Illinois city cancels July 4 parade over COVID-19 concerns but allows Juneteenth and Pride celebrations

Sat, 19 Jun 2021 18:23:10 -0400

The city of Evanston , Illinois, located just north of Chicago, joined communities across the U.S. in celebrating their first in-person Juneteenth parade Saturday, but some have been left wondering why celebrations for the nation’s Independence Day have been canceled.

The Evanston Fourth of July Association voted to cancel the town’s Independence Day events earlier in 2020 and opt for a virtual celebration instead -- citing concerns over the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

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"Based on concern for public health due to the unpredictability of the pandemic’s impact, vaccination rates, and in cooperation with our local authorities, the Trustees…voted to cancel the Fun Run, Parade, Palatine Concert Band performance and Lakefront Fireworks show on July 4, 2021," the board wrote in a statement.

But some took to social media to voice their frustration over the decision.

"My home town of Evanston, Illinois is having a Juneteenth Parade and a Gay Pride Parade, but is canceling the 4th of July Parade & Fireworks," Tom Bevan, co-founder and president of Real Clear Politics, wrote on Twitter.

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The board argued they were limited by time restraints and an unclear future during the pandemic.

"We made the decision in March based on the information that we had at that time," Trustee and Celebration Manager Jamie Black told 91��. "There are deadlines for permits and to secure the fireworks, as well as taking applications for the parade that happen early in the year."

"We erred on the side of caution. If things weren’t better, we would have been criticized for being a super spreader event," he added.

91�� could not immediately reach the mayor’s office for comment on the decision to cancel the Fourth of July celebrations.

But in partnership with Evanston Present and Future -- a nonprofit that supports community development and education surrounding Black history -- the city of Evanston helped promote a Juneteenth parade followed by community-wide celebrations.

The Juneteenth parade – a celebration of the nation’s newest holiday recognizing the complete emancipation of enslaved people on June 19, 1865 – is not the only community-based celebration happening this summer.

Evanston Pride will host a car parade and community picnic later in June to celebrate LGBTQIA individuals -- though attendees are encouraged to bring their own food as an extra health precaution.

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For the first time since the pandemic began, Evanston has reported zero new COVID-19 cases over the last week.

City data also show that nearly 87 percent of all residents ages 12 and up have received at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccine.

Ilhan Omar renews call for reparations in Juneteenth tweet

Sat, 19 Jun 2021 14:19:37 -0400

Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., on Saturday renewed the call for reparations as the country recognized Juneteenth as a federal holiday for the first time.

President Biden made June 19, or Juneteenth, a federal holiday on Friday to celebrate the emancipation of Black slaves after the Civil War,

"Proud #Juneteenth is now a federal holiday," Omar wrote. "As we reflect on the significance of what this day symbolizes, let’s keep fighting to address the lasting consequences of slavery. Next step: reparations."

Omar is a member of "the Squad" — a group of progressive, female lawmakers including Democratic Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts, who previously called for reparations after George Floyd's May 2020 murder.

While the idea of paying reparations to the descendants of Black slaves in the U.S. or people wronged by the criminal justice system is not new, federal and local lawmakers worked to introduce new legislation focused on reparations in the aftermath of Floyd's death as the country faced a cultural reckoning.

Evanston, Illinois, in March became the first state to approve a plan to make reparations available to Black residents over past discrimination and the lingering effects of slavery.

The plan, which would be the first of its kind in the U.S., is to distribute $400,000 to eligible Black households. The Associated Press reported that qualifying households in the city of 73,000 would be eligible to receive $25,000 for home repairs or down payments on property.

California in June launched a task force to study reparations for the descendants of slaves.

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Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, committed $2 million toward a reparations-like equity program to help Black residents buy homes and get small business grants. Asheville, North Carolina, also committed more than $2 million toward a similar program in June, according to Axios Charlotte.

Critics argue that reparations may be ineffective in creating meaningful change.

Utah Rep. Burgess Owens — a Black, Republican lawmaker and former NFL player — has likened reparations to a "redistribution of wealth, or socialism" and argued that the idea "is not the way to right our country's wrongs."

91��' Edmund DeMarche contributed to this report.

CNN's Don Lemon, Chris Cuomo blasted for criticizing parents opposed to teaching CRT: 'Such a pitiful canard'

Fri, 18 Jun 2021 16:13:57 -0400

CNN anchors Don Lemon and Chris Cuomo were the focus of intense criticism Friday after the pair went after parents opposed to teaching critical race theory in schools.

During the Thursday handoff between their shows, the left-wing hosts questioned why parents wouldn't want the controversial subject taught to their children and inferred that they were showing their "privilege" by not wanting their "pleasure" interrupted by the change.

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The pair, along with their network, were lambasted on social media following the interaction. One critic referred to the hosts' approach to the topic as "such a pitiful canard," while another said that parents "should absolutely have the privilege of not being compelled to send their kids to schools that teach pseudohistory and identitarianism."

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91�� host Kayleigh McEnany specifically called out Lemon during Friday's broadcast of "Outnumbered," blasting him for his "insidious" criticisms against parents, and arguing that parents might not want their children taught they're automatically oppressed if they're Black and automatically an oppressor if they're White.

"We also need to speak to … the people who didn’t want to commemorate this or don’t think that the full history of our country should be taught in schools," Lemon said Thursday, referring to people opposed to teaching critical race theory and making Juneteenth a federal holiday. "All of it should be taught. There were many more people who contributed to the beginnings, the starting of this country, to making this country what it is, than just one group of people."

Cuomo questioned why people would assume the teaching of critical race theory would lead to their children being lectured on why they're bad if they're White. "That’s the only problem, is your perception," he added.

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"Why wouldn’t you want your kid to understand the roots of slavery and the legacy of slavery? How it has played out for enslaved people, as a culture, throughout the years. Why wouldn’t you want that?" Cuomo asked.

"That’s the whole thing about what privilege is, is that … people don’t like to have their pleasure interrupted, their peace interrupted," Lemon said. "And so, people think that it should be the way that it should be, because they have been taught that in this country. "

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"But, you know … having people come to the realization, especially ancestors of slaves, that they were enslaved, and that they were beaten, that they were sold, that they weren’t able to accrue wealth, they weren’t able to go to school, they weren’t able to go vote," he added. "You think that makes them feel good? So, the folks on the other side, stop making it about you, and be curious instead of judgmental."

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