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Letter to the Editor: Najee Ali Ousted From National Action Network After Wife Says He Beat Her

Jasmyne A. Cannick

Jasmyne A. Cannick

By Jasmyne A. Cannick

Ronald Todd Eskew, better known as Najee Ali is out as the National Action Network (NAN) Los Angeles Chapter’s political director after his current wife came forward about being physically abused by him. In the wake of the allegations, NAN both locally in Los Angeles and nationally under the leadership and direction of Rev. Al Sharpton have cut all ties from Ali.

Ali, who is frequently called on by the news media as a spokesperson for Black people in Los Angeles and is known to be a trusted confidant of L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti and an ally for police chief Charlie Beck on Black issues, most recently criticized Tavis Smiley after PBS said an investigation found “troubling allegations” of misconduct by the radio and TV host.

Ali recently told the Electronic Urban Report, “Smiley is just the latest sexual terrorist that the #Metoo campaign has taken down and brought to justice…This is the nail in the coffin for Smiley. Black woman are rising up and refusing to be silenced.”

But NAN Western Regional Director and Los Angeles Chapter President Pastor K.W. Tulloss said that Najee Ali has his own skeletons in the closet–skeletons that include recently beating his wife and possibly using crack again.

Tulloss said that while he’s been told over the years about Najee Ali’s history of verbal and physical abuse of women in the community and his spouses that it wasn’t until Ali’s current wife came to him for help after he beat her that he said enough was enough.

I’ve heard allegations,” Tulloss explained. “I’ve never heard from the victims directly. But this is his wife who reached out to me and I just can’t have that. It was a process. Najee–we’ve been friends for 13 years. He introduced me to Reverend Sharpton 13 years ago. And so I’ve already had a sense of loyalty and brotherhood. His wife is a wonderful person. She doesn’t deserve none of the things that she claims are happening to her. Him pulling her hair, putting his fist across her face, throwing her across the room, punching her in front of her daughter.”

Tulloss explains Najee Ali’s wife reaching out to him.

“Around the end of October we had a dinner with representatives from R.J. Reynolds to discuss the dialogue that we’ve been having when I received a call late that night from his wife. She began to tell me that she was involved in domestic abuse by him. That he put his hands on her, pulling her hair in front her daughter and she just didn’t know what to do. I advised her to call the police and to make a report and get out of there. She agreed and said that he had a drug problem. I said that I know he’s had problems in the past that other have shared with me and so it might be crack again–and really those are the symptoms that she described to me in phone conversations and via text messages. I encouraged her to go to the authorities and she told me that she was in fear of her life. I told her that since she’s in fear of her life that she had the ability and support to make this stop by going to the police.”

Reverend Sharpton backed up Tulloss’ claims by adding, “ I know that she made a disturbing call to Rev. Tulloss and that he called me and told me that he could not condone this. Tulloss knows that I go back many years with Najee Ali but I said that we can’t condone that so you have to do what you have to do.”

Tulloss said that he called Najee Ali and told him that he was no longer a part of NAN.

“Our parting from Najee Ali had to do with him putting his hands on his wife. He’s out of control, his mind is not right. He’s battling with whatever he’s battling with. I just fear for his wife. I didn’t want to make it public but I was convinced the truth had to be made known after he made comments about Tavis Smiley and others. He’s just as worse as them.”

Estrangement from NAN

Tulloss says that Ali has been estranged from NAN for several

Ali's wife

Ali’s wife

months following Tulloss’ refusal to testify against Skid Row activist General Jeff for allegedly assaulting Ali.

Homeless activist Jeffrey Page, better known as General Jeff or the Mayor of Skid Row was convicted of assault on Najee Ali last month after Ali testified Jeff punched him the face.

The case centers on a November 10, 2015 meeting of the Los Angeles Police Commission where according to court papers Najee Ali told the police that General Jeff was an “activist with the Black Lives Matter Movement.” Shortly afterwards, in the lobby of LAPD headquarters, Ali was allegedly heard by officers yelling, “What the hell!” before pointing out General Jeff to the police and asking if he could have him arrested for punching him in the face.

General Jeff, a well known advocate for the homeless and Skid Row, denies being a member of Black Lives Matter or punching Najee Ali.

According to court documents, officers overheard General Jeff yell, “Don’t disrespect women!” 

Witnesses say that General Jeff, in defending Dr. Melina Abdullah, an organizer with Black Lives Matter’s Los Angeles chapter, from Ali’s verbal attacks and to make him stop, made a flinching movement toward Najee Ali to which Ali seemingly got scared before ducking and going over to the front desk to report to the police that he’d been allegedly punched in the face.

“Najee became very angry with me when I refused to testify against General Jeff,” Tulloss said. “I got subpoenaed. I went down there and I told them that I didn’t remember anything that happened. He was furious in reference to that. So Najee hasn’t been a part of NAN for a while besides him writing articles saying that he’s our political director.”

R.J. Reynolds Meeting

Once Ali was aware that Tulloss and other members of the community knew about his recent domestic violence against his wife, Tulloss says that Ali has been on a public relations rant to try and smear NAN, Tulloss and Reverend Sharpton in an attempt to try and save his public image and keep the truth from coming out.

A recent article in the Compton Herald claimed that Ali’s ousting from NAN was over a disagreement with tobacco giant R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company’s attempt to fight efforts by public health advocates to restrict its menthol sales. Ali says that he took money from Reynolds to his a meeting of Black leaders in South Los Angeles but later had a change of heart.

“I was paid a small sum to invite a group of leading South L.A community leaders for a private presentation on the tobacco issue a few weeks ago,” he told the Compton Herald. “But after listening to the presentation, I realized that I didn’t want an association with a corporation responsible for so much death, disease, and suffering. [Afterwards] I apologized to all my colleagues I had invited.”

Reverend Sharpton sharply contradicts that narrative.

“Whatever the difference are with the Los Angeles Chapter of NAN and Najee Ali it had nothing to do with no tobacco position because we haven’t taken a position. Our position has been that since a former congressman came to us–because Eric Garner was choked to death for selling loosies–saying that this could potentially happen again if there was a ban of menthol because it could give police the right to deal with people selling loosies in the same way–we let them come before our convention. Some of our chapter leaders were for it–some against it. They voted and agreed to do a series of forums around the country if they would pay for the travel and all for it and that was the agreement. But we didn’t take a position for or against the ban. I did one myself. I did one in Watts where I listened to those who were for the ban and those who were against it as did Reverend Tulloss. It is not true that there were differences over that. It was because when Reverend Tulloss shared with us the disturbing phone call he’d gotten from Najee’s wife and when he shared about the whole situation around Najee wanting Tulloss to testify at some police hearing that’s when there was a disagreement. It had nothing to do with tobacco.”

NAN’s L.A. Chapter President Pastor Tulloss agrees and says that the narrative Najee Ali is trying to paint is patently false and that Ali was barred from further participation with the group because of his domestic violence against his wife.

“Two years ago ex-Florida Congressman Kendrick B. Meek attended NAN’s national convention and we had a discussion in reference to the ban on menthol,” Tulloss explained. “Our group at the urging of Eric Garner’s mother decided that we were going to have these conversations across our chapters around the country. We didn’t take a position on the ban. We didn’t a stance in regards to the ban. We simply said we’d have a discussion and so that’s what we’ve been doing the last few years–having these discussions. We had one in South L.A. in January of last year and we had one in Watts during that same time period. We have still not taken a position. We just wanted to make sure we heard from everyone and got their input. So this is something we’ve been working on for a little while. So fast forward to most recently, R.J. Reynolds was coming back to the city [Los Angeles] and they asked if we could get a group of leaders together and have another discussion and we did it at the Buffalo Wild Wings where Najee Ali works in the kitchen. So they did it there and they had a discussion. We just had dialogue with community leaders–not that we’re supporting any of that stuff. We just had a conversation.”

Tulloss says that his group was not paid to host the meeting.

“I think they [R.J. Reynolds] made donations to a lot of the organizations. We [NAN] decided to do it on the basis of Eric Garner’s mother asked us to do it and that’s why we did it. But our chapter was not given any money to do it.”

Eric Garner died in in 2014 in New York City after a New York City Police Department (NYPD) officer put him in what has been described as a chokehold for about 15 to 19 seconds while arresting him. The New York City Medical Examiner’s Office attributed Garner’s death to a combination of a chokehold, compression of his chest, and poor health. NYPD policy prohibits the use of chokeholds. Garner was alleged at the time of his death to have been selling “loosies” (single cigarettes without a tax stamp) in violation of New York state law. His death spawned nationwide protests against police brutality.

A History of Violence Towards Women

“We stood by Najee Ali when he got into physical confrontations with everyone from the Nation of Islam representatives there [Los Angeles] going back a few years and they wanted us to severance ties and we said no we stand by him,” said Reverend Sharpton. “He got into a whole shouting match with Maxine Waters and we stood by him. So to reduce Reverend Tulloss and them to this now when’s he defended him against Congresswoman Waters, the Nation of Islam and everyone else and then to distort it I think is unfair.”

In 2006 Democratic Congresswoman Maxine Waters accused Ali of stalking her and was issued a temporary restraining order against him. 

According to the Los Angeles Times, in the court filing, the congresswoman said Ali has “confronted me on several occasions.” She said she believes he is attempting to “set me up” and accused the activist of having a “long history and reputation for confrontation.”

The restraining order also stated that Ali “threatened ‘to get me some day.’ “

Ali is “attempting to create a situation that will appear to be harassment in order to sue me,” the order said. “He will stalk me. I’m very public.”

In 2008, the Los Angeles Sentinel newspaper documented one of the multiple restraining orders filed against Najee Ali by various women.

Ali has had confrontations with many well-respected elected officials and community leaders including Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Supervisor Yvonne B. Burke, Councilman and former police chief Bernard Parks, Brother Tony Muhammad of the Nation of Islam, Laura Hendricks, a merchant in Leimert Park and even his former father-in-law, Imam Warith D. Muhammad. He has a reputation of antagonizing members of the community, forcibly intervening in the affairs of families during their time of crisis, and showing up and/calling press conferences to promote himself. Some of the mainstream media are complicit in Ali’s less-than-honorable behavior; they seem to parade him as a leader which actually insults the community where he is generally considered a person non-grata and a predator.

Hendricks is one of the individuals whom Ali has intimidated to the point that she had to get a restraining order against him. When told that he had been sent to prison, she said, “I think it’s about time that some of these things he has been doing catch up with him because he’s been slipping and sliding all through the system …. So it’s about time, that’s the way I feel.”

The slipping and sliding through the system that Hendricks referred to are the numerous encounters Ali has had with the law. He was arrested for hit-and-run for leaving the scene of an accident while he was on bail for another charge of purchasing false documents to be able to get two drivers licenses from the Department of Motor Vehicles.”

More recently after the 2015 LAPD shooting death of 43-year-old Charly “Africa” Leundeu Keunang on Skid Row, Najee Ali took to Facebook to attack and “gang bang” on well-known civil rights attorney Nana Gyamfi. Najee Ali said, “That’s on my hood. I’m easy to find,” before claiming South L.A. gang “73 (Seven Tray) Gangster Crips.”

In 2016, Najee Ali was recorded on video at a meeting of the Los Angeles Police Commission verbally assaulting Black Lives Matter Los Angeles organizer and Cal State L.A. Pan African Studies Chair Dr. Melinah Abdullah and Black Lives Matter Pasadena founder Jasmine Abdullah.

Ali, whose most recent stint in prison came after he was found guilty in 2008 of trying to tamper with a witness outside his daughter’s preliminary hearing on two counts of assault with a deadly weapon and one count of leaving the scene of an accident, called Jasmine Abdullah a felon after she was recently convicted of felony lynching stemming from a Black Lives Matter protest.

This happened right before he attacked Marcus Vaughn, the husband of Redel Jones—a Black woman killed in South L.A. by the LAPD in 2015. When Mr. Vaughn tried to defend the two women from Ali’s attacks, Ali told him taunted him by repeating “you ain’t gone do nothing” before adding “that’s why she was killed.”

No word on if Ali will continue to enjoy his access to L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti and Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck in the wake these allegations. 

Earlier this year on the subject of domestic violence Garcetti said, “No one should ever be afraid to go home, or live under the constant threat of physical harm. We’re bringing more resources to this work — so that victims can become survivors, and more Angelenos can break free of the cycle of violence.”

NAN is currently trying to work with Najee Ali’s wife to provide her with the resources and support she needs to file criminal charges against Ali and to remove herself and daughter to a safe location away from him.

Tulloss concluded with, “At the end of the day he needs help and the only way he’s going to get help is if those within the community who say they love him really push him to get the help that he needs. That includes Mayor Garcetti, Chief Beck, Karen Bass–those that support him. The only way he’s going to get help is if us that claim that we love and appreciate him get him the help that he needs. He needs some help.”


Jasmyne Cannick is a nationally known writer and commentator on political, race and social issues. She was selected as one of ESSENCE Magazine’s 25 Women Shaping the World, one of the Most Influential African-Americans in Los Angeles Under 40, one of Los Angeles’ Most Fascinating Angelenos by the L.A. Weekly and one of 40 People Under 40 by the Advocate. She’s worked in the U.S. House of Representatives and at all levels of government helping to shape public opinion and encourage civic engagement while advocating for underrepresented and marginalized communities in the political arena. Learn more here.

NAACP Helps Mobilize Black Voters in Alabama Special Election

BALTIMORE-African American voters mobilized in part by the NAACP, turned out in huge numbers and played a decisive role in a special election, which elected the first Democratic Senator in Alabama in decades.

“The African-American community played a major role in this most-crucial special election,” said Derrick Johnson, NAACP President and CEO. “Our vote is reflective of the values of a nation refusing to exchange its integrity and character for the sake of selfish partisan politics. As a native Alabamian said, Black Folks saved the soul of Alabama. This vote shows that unifying interracial politics, coalition building and inspirational rhetoric can win in the South.”

Alabama State Conference and Branches working with the NAACP’s national office and partners throughout the nation was able to make over 40,000 calls to voters throughout the state and persuade them to exercise their right to vote.  The Alabama State Conference and partners conducted an unprecedented texting campaign that reached nearly 160,000 African-Americans and women throughout the state. Of the voters reached, over 90 percent informed the NAACP that they would go to the polls and vote.

“We knew it would be a hard fight to mobilize voters, but we also had an idea of the consequences if the Black vote in Alabama stayed silent,” said NAACP Alabama State President Benard Simelton. “Those of us who know the history of Alabama with its Jim Crow and segregationist attitude, understand the importance of the vote and why not only have we got to ensure that we use it, but that we continue to protect it from any attempts at suppression,” added Simelton.

In the special election, Democrat Doug Jones garnered a reported 49.9 percent of the vote compared to 48.4 percent for Republican challenger Roy Moore to win the seat vacated by former Senator and current U.S. Attorney General Jefferson Sessions.

Alumna Named Cal State San Bernardino’s New Director Of Alumni Affairs

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- Crystal Wymer-Lucero, who has worked on the Cal State San Bernardino campus for more than 12 years, rising through the ranks at the university, most recently serving as the Alumni Engagement director, has been named the CSUSB Alumni Affairs director. 

Wymer-Lucero’s appointment will begin on Jan. 1, 2018. Wymer-Lucero, ’07, previously served as the Development and Special Events coordinator in Intercollegiate Athletics as well as the Information Security Awareness coordinator in the Division of Information Technology Services.

During her time in Alumni Relations, Wymer-Lucero was part of the team that increased the number of unique alumni volunteers by nearly 400 percent since 2015. She also helped create the CSUSB Alumni Workshop Series, which has reached more than 400 unique alumni since its inception.

“I’m delighted to have one of our alumni leading Alumni Relations,” said Ron Fremont, vice president of University Advancement. “Crystal brings enthusiasm and dedication to her role in leading the department, and her knowledge of CSUSB as a student, an alumna and as a staff member give her a unique insight of the university that will ultimately benefit our alumni and engage new generations of alumni.”

Over the past two years Wymer-Lucero and her colleagues have grown the Alumni Mentor Program by nearly 200 percent and established a new Alumni Association Board of Directors. During that same span, the Alumni Association has welcomed thousands of alumni back to their alma mater through homecoming celebrations and special events, and contributed to doubling the growth of alumni association memberships.

In September 2017, Alumni Relations celebrated CSUSB’s inaugural graduating class with a special reunion of Golden Grads, who were honored at Convocation.

“I am excited and honored to have been selected to serve as the Director of Alumni Relations at my alma mater,” said Wymer-Lucero. “CSUSB has a vibrant, talented, and diverse alumni community in all 50 states and 43 counties, and working to strengthen ties to CSUSB no matter where our alumni reside will truly be fulfilling and rewarding.”

Wymer-Lucero will oversee the operations of the Office of Alumni Relations, including the CSUSB Alumni Association and its chapters, and the Student Ambassadors Society. In addition, she will serve as a key member of the University Advancement leadership team, collaborating with our alumni, our division and the campus community.

Wymer-Lucero was awarded a bachelor’s degree in communication studies with an emphasis in mass media and working toward a master’s degree in communication studies integrated marketing track.

For more information about Cal State San Bernardino’s Alumni Affairs, visit www.csusb.edu/alumni.

 

What It Do with the LUE: Michael Angelo Newell

Michael Angelo Newell

Michael Angelo Newell

By Lue Dowdy

Writer, rap artist, and producer Michael Angelo Newell is What It Do!

Performing and music is a passion of Michael’s. I’ve had the opportunity to see this dude rip the MIC on several occasions. His energy level is through the roof.

Michael Angelo Newell has a way of commanding the audience. He keeps the crowd engaged whether it’s him performing or someone else. Majoring in Audio Production from the Arts Institute of San Bernardino, Micheal would like to use the skills gained to further his music career and to help other artists. He has collaborated on several projects with artists from the Inland Empire and beyond.

 Currently, he’s working on his new project titled, “Highly Seasoned,” which is scheduled to drop soon.

 “I love working in my community and with the youth,”  Micheal states.

 Having many talents he took runner up in LUE Productions 2017 Big Sexy Man Competition. Please be on the lookout for this artist because there’s more to come. For a sneak peek of the new music please contact him directly at Micangelw14@gmail.com.

Until Next week L’s!

 

CAPS Brings Holiday Cheer and Bikes to Over 75 Riverside Children.

Children received free bicycles as Christmas presents on Tuesday, December 19 at an event in Perris. Riverside County’s Community Action Partnership and Bicycles for Children, a non-profit based in Corona, is teaming up this year to provide 75 bicycles to children across the county who met the agencies’ gift guidelines.

Children received free bicycles as Christmas presents on Tuesday, December 19 at an event in Perris. Riverside County’s Community Action Partnership and Bicycles for Children, a non-profit based in Corona, is teaming up this year to provide 75 bicycles to children across the county who met the agencies’ gift guidelines.

RIVERSIDE, CA-Few things will light up a child’s eyes at Christmastime more than a shiny new bicycle.

On Tuesday, December 19, Community Action Partnership (CAP) and a Corona-based non-profit organization, surprised 75 Riverside County children who will be riding a new bike just in time for the holidays. The Holiday Bike Giveaway is handing out the bicycles this week to children from each of the county’s five supervisorial districts.

“It is such a wonderful feeling to see the smiles and laughter when the kids ride the bicycles for the first time knowing they will be able to take the bikes home,” said Third District Supervisor Chuck Washington.

The first batch of bikes was handed out on Tuesday in Perris and others will be given out Wednesday, December 20 in Palm Desert and Thursday, December 21 in Riverside.

“The holidays are a special time of year for our children and families. I am pleased to join with Community Action Partnership of Riverside County to put a smile on the faces of so many children during the holidays,” said Fourth District Supervisor V. Manuel Perez.

The children were selected by a committee made up of CAP staff after being recommended by parents, community members and others. Financial need is a key factor in the selection, CAP officials said. CAP is part of Riverside University Health System-Public Health.

The CAP program started in 2015 and scores of bicycles have been given out over the years. Bicycles for Children, a non-profit based in Corona, was a key partner, and John White, peer assistance and leadership teacher at El Cerrito Middle School, is the program coordinator, said Brenda Salas Freeman, executive director for CAP.

“The program continues to grow which shows there is a need in the community,” said Salas Freeman. “It is worth it to see the joy the bicycles bring to the children.”

 

Stater Bros. Raises $20,000 to Combat Hunger for the Holiday Season

SAN BERNARDINO, CA-Stater Bros., in conjunction with its charitable arm Stater Bros. Charities, presented a check for $20,000 to Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino County Food Bank to help local families struggling with hunger.

Throughout the months of November and December, all 171 Stater Bros. supermarket locations participated in their annual “Harvesting Hope Campaign” providing convenient ways for customers and employees to help their friends and neighbors in need this holiday season. 

“Stater Bros. is proud of our longstanding relationship with Community Action Partnership,” said Stater Bros. Charities Chairman and President Nancy Negrette.   “We are honored to provide support to an organization that is committed to promoting healthy communities and eliminating hunger.” 

“Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino County is honored to be chosen as one of the many worthy non-profits of the Harvesting Hope funds.  Our deepest appreciation to Stater Bros. Markets, Stater Bros. Charities and Stater Bros’ customers for their generosity and support of our mission to help those in need.  We value our longstanding partnership with Stater Bros. over the past thirty-three years which has resulted in over 33 millions of pounds of food being distributed to nearly 400,000 individuals and families annually who are food insecure” stated Patricia Nickols-Butler, President and CEO of CAPSBC.

If you would like to make a donation to CAPSBC to further support the mission to help people and change lives, please make a check payable to CAPSBC, and mail to: CAPSBC, Attn: Administration, 696 S. Tippecanoe Ave., San Bernardino, CA. 92408, or a secure donation can be made on our website at www.capsbc.org/donate If you would like to volunteer at CAPSBC, please fill out an interest form at www.capsbc.org/volunteer.

“Have the Jury Reached a Verdict?”

Lou

Lou Coleman-Yeboah

By Lou Coleman-Yeboah

Yes, we have your Honor. We, the jury find the defendant, [insert your name], Guilty as Charged! To count one… Selfish ambitions…  Guilty… Count two… Idolatry… Guilty. Count three… Adultery… Guilty. Count four… Lewdness… Guilty. Count five… Fornication… Guilty. Count six…Murder… Guilty. Count seven…Hatred…Guilty. Count eight…Contentions…Guilty. Count nine…Jealousy… Guilty. Count ten…Uncleanness… Guilty. Count eleven… Outbursts of wrath… Guilty. Count twelve…Envy… Guilty. Count thirteen…Sorcery…Guilty. Count fourteen…Drunkenness…Guilty. Count fifteen…Heresies…Guilty. Count sixteen…Dissensions…Guilty. [Galatians 5:19-21]… Sentence imposed…Life in Hell! Imagine that! It has happened to you according to the true proverb: “A dog returns to his own vomit,” and, a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.” [2 Peter 2:22]

You see, the Bible warned, “… be sure your sins will find you out” [Numbers 32:23]. That proves that you cannot get away with sinning.  The NEED FOR THE LESSON. Consider the seriousness of sin and man’s foolish self-deception.  Sin is the transgression of God’s law [I John 3:4], and punishable by death [Romans 6:23]. The DOCTRINE OF THE LESSON. Whatsoever a man sows, that shall he reap, and you may count on this law [Galatians 6:7].

Listen, it is essential that you examine yourself with God’s help and turn from any wickedness in your life [Psalms 139:23-24]. If the sinners in Zion are afraid,” as scripture declares, and “fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. [Leviticus 18:26-30]. How can you escape? You can’t!  For scripture declares…. the soul that sinneth, it shall die.” [Ezekiel 18:4]

Hear Jesus in [Mark 9:43-45]: “If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. . . . And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, ‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.” [Revelation 20:15; Luke 16:22; Matthew 22:13; 2 Thessalonians 1:9].

Repent, Repent, Repent! Before your soul is required and “your spirit shall return unto God Who gave it.” Before suffering and evil come upon you, while it is yet day and there is still time to repent. “ For [Revelation 14:10] says, “The wicked shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of His indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb.”

Don’t delay! “…Repent and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out…” [Acts 3:19]

What It Do with the LUE: Riisha Shelby, Diva Outlaw

Riisha

Riisha

By Lue Dowdy

Fashion Consultant and Stylist, Riisha Shelby of DIVA OUTLAW is WHAT IT DO!

Have you ever notice the how good the stars look when dressed? Or maybe you’ve notice how good certain mainstream artists and performer’s t look in music videos or on the red carpet? The majority of them have a team of personal stylists or image consultants. It’s their job to help clients develop and enhance their professional and/or personal images. They help clients choose clothes for a variety of occasions and help them decide which styles are flattering and communicate the appropriate message.

My girl ‘Riisha Shelby’ is with the business when it comes to styling you. From her color popping lipsticks, to her many stylish hair styles, sexy footwear, flashy accessories, and edgy clothing. It was no surprise that she would be in high demand as a fashion consultant. 

I fell in love with her style and spirit from the moment I met her. Riisha is a talented individual with a heart of gold. She desired to help and share her gift with others, so in 2014 she created her own brand ‘Diva Outlaw’ clothing for the plus size divas.

Diva Outlaw Fashions, carries beautiful, unique, and affordable pieces. When asking Riisha why plus size clothing, she had this to say, “The goal is to help style plus size women in clothing that makes them feel sexy and confident.”

Not forgetting about those ladies with less meat, LOL, she also created ‘Diva Outlaw Mystique’ which will officially kick off in 2018. Diva Outlaw Fashions was showcased in LUE Productions ‘Big Sexy Men Competition’ and LUE Productions 2018 Plus Size Calendar Shoot. 

Riisha also participated in LUE Productions Annual ‘Hot Meals’ feeding the homeless. She pulled together her team and other community members to help feed 400 homeless people in downtown San Bernardino during Thanksgiving. Like I said, A HEART OF GOLD.

Ladies if you’re in need of something sexy, different, and unique please don’t hesitate to contact Riisha Shelby (Divaoutlawapparel@gmail.com or (562) 991-0664). You can see her fashions on the Diva Outlaw Facebook page and Instagram. Until next week my peeps L’s!!

Kaiser Permanente Medical Center Opens in Murrieta

Kaiser Ribbon Cutting.jpg

On November 2, Kaiser opened its first phase in Murrieta with a Grand Opening Ribbon Cutting. This 82,000-square foot medical office building offers a state of the art healthcare experience. Mayor Rick Gibbs addressed the crowd that gathered for the celebration and announced that this facility will be a great benefit to the over 100,000 Kaiser members in the region. Kaiser is approved for 825,000 square feet of development, so phase two will be coming soon!

Letter to the Editor: My Best Friend

By Jasmyne A. Cannick

After calling to order a standing room only crowd of democrats at the Winter meeting of the California Democratic Party’s African American Caucus, near San Francisco on the evening of November 18, longtime chair Darren Parker made a startling admission that he was battling stage 3 esophageal cancer. 

Remarking that many in the room might have noticed his dramatic weight loss since their last meeting, Parker explained that two months ago he began to drop weight and was having issues with that he thought was just acid reflux and indigestion. 

“What started as a simple doctor’s appointment to pinpoint the problem and find a solution has evolved into a diagnosis of stage 3 esophageal cancer,” he said. 

Parker says that immediately after his diagnosis he began to withdraw and had begun to mope around until a colleague said to him, “Don’t cancer know they can’t kick your ass? Don’t cancer know that Parker can kick cancer’s ass?” 

Parker credits those very words with putting the fight back into him. 

“It brought me back to ‘I’m from Compton’,” he said. “I got in my car and I turned my music back up and I was back to myself because the news had really started to take me out of who I was. And because my friend said that, I was able to put back on my music and it helped to me to change my perspective back into who I was. Being here in San Francisco for the meeting of the African American Caucus was very important to me because it is part of the healing process more than the medication, more than anything else because I am finishing a journey that the Lord put me on originally. I think that’s the reason why I’ve been a Party officer for this long is that the Lord gave me a task and my task was to guide and build this Caucus into what it is today.” 

Parker has been elected to chair the African American Caucus of the California Democratic Party for the past 10 years–5 consecutive terms. He served as an active member in the Communication Workers of America Union–including as their political director, during his 30-year career at AT&T. He has worked for three Assembly Speakers during his tenure, including John Perez, Toni Atkins and the current Speaker Anthony Rendon. 

“When I became chair, there were literally ten of us in the room and five of us were officers,” Parker remembers. “It was Reggie Jones, who said to me that it was my time to step up. Little did I know that when I stepped up, that there wasn’t going to be any members and there wasn’t going to be any money. But he had been grooming us to make sure that at anytime we were ready to step up to the opportunity to serve, not just the Party, but to serve our people in the Party. So when I stepped up and saw that there were 10 people and $29.75 in the account, it inspired me to build as we’ve done my whole life.”

A longtime Antelope Valley resident by way of Compton, Parker says that he got his start in politics at the age of eleven with his brother and three cousins by starting a club in his grandmother’s house in Compton called One Hundred Thousand Students for the Freedom of South Africa. 

“Very early in life, we were creating organizations in the backyard and had meetings about how do we help the students over there that we can’t see and can’t touch, but yet, want to be a part of stopping the struggle that they’re in.” 

Parker says that his early organizing to help Black South African students was akin to the struggle he faced coming on as chair of the African American Caucus. 

“I literally used the things that I had learned back then and in my adult life and which led to inspiration to build the Caucus one member at a time.” 

Congresswoman Maxine Waters was a huge source of inspiration to Parker in his early days. 

Remembering a Democratic Convention where Waters took the extraordinary step of calling a meeting of the African American Caucus during the middle of the convention on the floor, during session after no Blacks were on agenda. 

“She did it for two reasons: One, that she had something to say and this wasn’t right and that we all knew it; and the second reason was to get the attention of the leadership of the state party.” 

Parker says that Congresswoman Waters’ bold leadership during that convention showed him that when you have the power of delegates, you have the power of change in the Democratic Party. 

“So not only did I go out to recruit African Americans but I went out to recruit delegates, because I figured if I had one-third or two-thirds of the delegates of the state party–and there’s 3,000 people–if I could get 1,500 or 2,000 people, we would ultimately have power no matter who is in charge or what was going on, because we could always pull our delegates in and make action happen.” 

Today, the African American Caucus has over 1,300 delegate members under Parker’s leadership and is one of the largest member groups of the California Democratic Party. While he laments that not all of the members of the Caucus are Black, he does point out that the state party has not done a good job of reaching out to Blacks at the Assembly Democratic process level to get involved. 

As word spread throughout California’s Black Democratic community, many offered words of praise for Parker and his leadership. 

Los Angeles County Democratic Party Vice-Chair Bobbie Jean Anderson said, “This news is overwhelming for me;?I have known Darren and his mother for many years. In fact, he refers to me and Congresswoman Waters as his play moms because of our relationship with his mother and the impact we had on his life. He confided in me about politics and life in general. We have and still work together in Democratic politics. I am a strong supporter of him and he of me. 

We have served together on the California Democratic Party’s African American Caucus under his outstanding leadership as chair and with the Los Angeles County Democratic Party, for more than twenty years. My prayer is for God’s intervention and healing power. I love and respect Darren to the utmost.” 

“When I was in a black hole suffering from PTSD and ADHD and had just finished spending 13 months being incarcerated for a mistake I made–Darren Parker was the only person to physically take my hand and walk me up the steps of the State Capitol,” shared Basil Kimbrew “He said, ‘let’s do this,’ when no else would touch me or work with me back in the day.” 

Kimbrew continued, “Because of that one day with Darren Parker, I am now where I am today–known as America’s Top Chef, feeding homeless veterans because I used to be homeless. Darren Parker made calls for me, got me back in the political game to where I am the largest political e-blast blogger going out to 43 million people every day. That’s what Darren Parker did for me. He helped me get my respect and dignity back”. 

Parker maintains that the Caucus will continue on with it’s goals of getting more Blacks involved–including educating and encouraging Black Democrats in traditional and non-traditional Black areas on how to become a delegate. 

“My biggest challenge now is making sure that the leaders who come behind me continue challenge the Party’s leadership and push back,” Parker reflects. “No one in a race can get elected without the vote of the African American community. No one can win a race without us. It’s time for us to exercise that. The siege that this country is under with 45 (President Donald Trump), if we are not consistent in standing up, we will be at the bottom of the totem pole when it comes to fixing things in our community based on what this one president can do with the power of the pen.” 

The father of five daughters and a grandfather is facing a long road ahead of him, including chemotherapy, radiation and invasive surgery to move a portion of the tumor. A Go Fund Me account has been set up to help assist him with the costs of his cancer treatments at gofundme.com/DemsforDarren.