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By Aldon Thomas Stiles | California Black Media

After the State Legislature’s Sept. 14 deadline to pass bills introduced this year, eleven education bills found their way to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk for his signature.

The bills, sponsored and co-sponsored by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, fall into three categories: promoting inclusivity in the schools, building the teacher pipeline, and ensuring the well-being and success of California’s students.

“This is an important step in building a brighter future for all of California’s students,” Thurmond said. “I applaud the efforts of our legislators, and everyone involved who worked on these important pieces of legislation.”

The bills in the inclusivity category, all signed by Gov. Newsom on Sept. 23, focused primarily on the protection and rights of LGBTQ+ students.

“A small group of extremists has sought to divide communities by advancing policies to ban books related to civil rights for communities of color and the LGBTQ+ community, to force school districts to ‘out’ LGBTQ+ students, and to restrict inclusive curriculum,” Thurmond said.

Authored by Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur (D-Santa Monica), Assembly Bill (AB 5) requires staff training for schools with students from the seventh to the twelfth grade to better support LGBTQ+ students.

Senate Bill (SB) 760, authored by Sen. Josh Newman (D-Fullerton), requires California’s K–12 schools to ensure that students have access to all-gender restrooms.

SB 857, authored by Sen. John Laird (D-Monterey), creates a task force to assess the needs of LGBTQ+ students and provide policy to meet those needs.

“California is proud to have some of the most robust laws in the nation when it comes to protecting and supporting our LGBTQ+ community, and we’re committed to the ongoing work to create safer, more inclusive spaces for all Californians,’ Newsom stated in a press release. “These measures will help protect vulnerable youth, promote acceptance, and create more supportive environments in our schools and communities.”

The following bills have been enrolled and presented to the Governor for his consideration.

Bills aimed at enhancing and expanding employment opportunities for teachers are the following:

SB 765, authored by Senator Anthony Portantino (D-Glendale) provides a way to expedite the process for members of the California State Teacher’s Retirement System (CalSTRS) looking to return to the field of education.

SB 765 would also raise the income cap from 50 percent to 70 percent.

AB 1127, authored by Assemblymember Eloise Gómez Reyes (D-San Bernardino), would reestablish the Bilingual Teacher Professional Development Program, which provides language learning opportunities for teachers and school staff to produce more bilingual and multilingual educators.

“At the heart of the work of our schools is caring for the safety, well-being, and success of our students,” Thurmond said. “Providing resources and support to ensure the health and safety of our teachers, school staff, and students is paramount to achieving successful student outcomes.”

Bills sent to Newsom for his signature concerned with the success and well-being of the state’s students are the following:

AB 483, authored by Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi (D-Torrance), is designed to increase student engagement with school-based health and mental health services by reforming elements of the Department of Health Care Service’s auditing process of claims made by schools.

SB 88, introduced by Sen. Nancy Skinner (D-Oakland), requires drivers and vehicles involved in student transportation, with compensation by a local educational agency, to meet certain safety requirements.

Another bill introduced by Skinner, SB 274, would ban schools from suspending students between the sixth and the twelfth grade for behaviors that fall under the disruption or defiance category.

SB 348, also authored by Skinner, would provide students with enough time to finish their meals during lunchtime.

It would also require the California Department of Education (CDE) and the California School Nutrition Association to create guidelines to regulate sodium and sugar in these meals.

Authored by Sen. Dave Cortese (D-Campbell), SB 10 would widen the scope of California’s efforts to provide education about fentanyl-related overdose prevention in schools.

Lastly, SB 502, authored by Sen. Benjamin Allen (D-Redondo Beach) would allow the state to access federal funds to provide vision services for California students categorized as low-income.

The funds needed for these potential additions to California laws are covered by the 2023–24 education budget which totals $108.3 billion.

By Greg Wright, CEO, Medicare & Retirement California for UnitedHealthcare of California

As inflation in the U.S. remains high, you may be looking to adjust your lifestyle and spending habits. But when it comes to health care, it’s important to keep your budget and well-being in mind.

This year’s open enrollment season is a good chance to review how you’re using health services and decide whether you’ll stick with the plan you’ve got or switch to another being offered. It’s also an opportunity to assess your overall care costs to help ensure you choose a plan that will work best for next year’s budget.

Enrollment timing: For people with coverage from their employer, open enrollment typically happens during a two- or three-week period between September and December. For those eligible for Medicare, the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period runs from Oct. 15- Dec. 7 each year. Coverage selections made during the fall will take effect on Jan. 1, 2024.

Here are seven tips to consider when choosing a plan that may help lead you to better health and cost savings:

1. First, consider all your options. Take time to understand and compare the benefits, services and costs of each plan available to you, so you can figure out which will be the best fit. Pay attention to more than just the monthly premium – like what out-of-pocket costs, including the deductible, copays and coinsurance, you may be responsible for. Medicare members and caregivers: As you weigh your options, ensure you’re familiar with the difference between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage. If you need a review, visit MedicareEducation.com — an online resource with answers to questions about eligibility, plan choices, cost basics, prescription coverage and more.
2. Learn the language. If you’re overwhelmed by or unsure about certain health care terms, there are resources to help. As a start, check out UnitedHealth Group’s Just Plain Clear Glossary (in English, Spanish and Portuguese) to help you make informed decisions. Medicare members and caregivers: There’s a lot to learn about Medicare and Medicare Made Clear can help you understand the basics, the complexities and everything in between.
3. Help prevent financial surprises. Visiting doctors that are in-network is one way to help keep your costs lower. So before selecting a plan, check to see if your doctor is in your health plan’s provider network. Also, make sure your medications will be covered by the plan you choose next year – even if you don’t expect to change plans. Look into filling your prescriptions at a participating network pharmacy or with home delivery by mail — two more potentially money-saving options. Medicare members and caregivers: You may be surprised to learn Original Medicare doesn’t generally cover prescription drugs. Consider adding Part D or enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan with prescription drug coverage to help keep your medication costs in check.
4. Check for mental health coverage. In addition to in-person mental health care, you may have access to a large virtual network of therapists and psychiatrists. Some health insurers also offer advocacy services to help you find the right type of behavioral health care. Medicare members and caregivers: Look for plans that offer virtual mental health care with a $0 copay.
5. Don’t forget about specialty benefits. Additional benefits, such as dental, vision, hearing or critical illness insurance, are often available and may contribute to overall well-being. Medicare members and caregivers: You may be surprised that Original Medicare doesn’t cover most dental, vision and hearing services, but many Medicare Advantage plans do.
6. Look into wellness programs. Many health plans offer incentives that reward you for taking healthier actions, such as completing a health survey, exercising or avoiding nicotine. Medicare members and caregivers: Many Medicare Advantage plans also offer gym memberships and wellness programs for members at no additional cost.
7. Explore virtual care services. If you’re busy or just prefer connecting with a doctor from the convenience of your home, consider choosing a plan that includes 24/7 virtual care. You may have access to virtual wellness visits, urgent care and chronic condition management. Medicare members and caregivers: Most Medicare Advantage plans provide access to virtual care, which can be an easier, more affordable way to talk with doctors about common health issues on a smartphone, tablet or computer.

For more helpful articles and videos about open enrollment, visit UHCOpenEnrollment.com.

By Antonio? ?Ray? ?Harvey? |? ?California? ?Black? ?Media?

Before Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill (AB) 1078, legislation prohibiting book bans in California, he told Assemblymember Corey Jackson (D-Riverside), who authored the bill, “I appreciate you and your leadership.”

“Remarkable,” continued the Governor. “We’re living in a country right now in this banning binge, in this cultural purge that we’re experiencing, all throughout America, and now increasingly here in the State of California, where we have school districts, large and small, banning books, banning free speech, criminalizing librarians and teachers.”

Newsom said codifying AB 1078 into law shows that California isn’t just “pushing back rhetorically” against what he describes as a “banning binge” happening across America.

AB 1078 also makes it illegal to censor instruction material and it mandates schools to provide access to textbooks that educate students about diverse cultures and people, according to Jackson, who was with the Governor when he signed the bill,

Newsom said Illinois passed a similar bill that takes effect in January. California is the second state in the nation to make it illegal to ban books or restrict learning material that includes information about the LGBTQ+ community, or specific races or ethnic groups. However, AB 1078 takes effect immediately because the Legislature passed it with an urgency clause.

On Sept, .7, AB 1078 passed in both the Assembly (61 to 17) and the Senate (31 to 9).

“We’re taking a firm stand against book banning in California’s schools, ensuring that our students have access to a broad range of educational materials that accurately represent the rich cultural and racial diversity of our society,” said Jackson, a member of the California Legislative Black Caucus, that day.

AB 1078 requires school boards across the state to receive approval from the state Board of Education before stripping any instructional materials or books from classrooms and school libraries or “ceasing to teach any curriculum.”

AB 1078 now extends to cover school libraries, prohibiting any censorship or removal of books, instructional materials, or curriculum resources that state law requires be reflected in instructional materials.

The bill’s passage in both legislative houses demonstrates California’s commitment to preserving academic freedom, fostering diverse perspectives, and discouraging the practice of book banning, Jackson observed in an Aug. 21 statement.

Jackson introduced the bill after Temecula Valley Unified School District attracted attention when most of its schools barred a state-approved history textbook that features renowned politician and gay rights activist Harvey Milk.

Milk was assassinated along with San Francisco Mayor George Moscone on Nov. 27, 1978, 11 months after he won a seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.

On Aug. 14, parent groups opposing AB 1078 voiced their opinions about Jackson Bill and AB 5, the “Safe and Supportive Schools Program” at a rally held on the southeast lawn of the state capitol.

“This is not about your rights as a parent. There is no such thing as a parental right,” said Nicolette Vochelle from Southern California and a member of BLEXIT, a conservative community organization co-founded by Candace Owens. Vochelle was one of the speakers that participated in the rally.

“This is about our decisions as parents to raise our children as best as we possibly can and to choose the village and environment that they are raised in,” said Vochelle, expressing her opposition to AB 1078 and AB 5.

AB 5, which Newsom signed into law on Sept. 23, requires the State Department of Education to finalize the development of an online training delivery platform and an online training curriculum to advance LGBTQ “cultural competency” training for teachers.

According to BLEXIT’s website, the organization promotes economic independence, individual freedom, strengthening the nuclear family, and fostering a deeper appreciation for patriotism in Black American culture.

Vochelle told California Black Media that “Gov, Newsom, (Attorney General) Rob Bonta, and (Superintendent of Public Instruction) Tony Thurmond have zero rights to our children and it is beyond time that we remind them of that fact. We don’t give them another inch or second of our time to strip our children’s innocence. They will not be victims and they will not be confused. They will be protected.”

Jackson disagrees with Vochelle and other opponents of the legislation.

The lawmaker, who is openly gay, said AB 1078 will keep the path open to understanding, trust, equality, and knowledge in the classrooms. He believes that the bill will build a strong bond between schools and parents.

 “California is the true freedom state: a place where families — not political fanatics — have the freedom to decide what’s right for them. With the passage of this legislation that bans book bans and ensures all students have textbooks, our state’s Family Agenda is now even stronger. All students deserve the freedom to read and learn about the truth, the world, and themselves,” Newsom said after the Legislature approved AB 1078.

SEA OF JAPAN— Lt. Giovann Lopez, from Chino Hills, California, oversees the launch of an MH-60R Sea Hawk attached to the Warlords of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HMS) 51, from the recovery assist, secure and traverse control station aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Shoup (DDG 86) while conducting routine operations in the Sea of Japan, September 27. Shoup is assigned to Commander, Task Force (CTF) 70, and is forward deployed to Yokosuka, Japan in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific.

By Antonio Ray Harvey, Tanu Henry and Joe W. Bowers Jr. | California Black Media

Last week, Assemblymember Reggie Jones-Sawyer (D-Los Angeles) and former Compton city councilmember Michelle Chambers received key endorsements from powerful California unions in their respective candidacies for elected office.

Teamsters Joint Council 42, which represents 250,000 members in 23 local branches across Southern California, Southern Nevada, Guam, Saipan and Hawaii, endorsed Jones-Sawyer his run for L.A. City Council.

The Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO is supporting Chambers, who is a former AFSCME member and the former external affairs manager for California Attorney General Rob Bonta. Chambers is running to represent Senate District 35, currently being represented by Sen. Steven Bradford (D-Inglewood), who terms out next year.

Jones-Sawyer, who is termed out from his Assembly seat, has received the support of more than 20 unions and professional organizations in his bid to represent Council District 10 in California’s largest city.

“Teamsters Joint Council 42 is proud to support Reggie Jones-Sawyer for Los Angeles City Council because as a state lawmaker, he has been a champion on behalf of our members and all of California’s working families,” said Teamsters 42 President Hector Delgado in a statement.

“Throughout his decades-long career in public service, Reggie has fought tirelessly for better conditions, wages, and benefits for working families time and time again, while demonstrating a profound commitment to social and economic justice,” Delgado continued.

Yvonne Wheeler of the LA County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO said she looks forward to partnering with Chambers when she is a lawmaker in Sacramento.

“On behalf of over three hundred affiliated union and labor organizations representing more than 800,000 members, I am excited to announce that the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor has endorsed Michelle Chambers for State Senate, said Wheeler. Michelle proved her support for workers as an elected official, and as a former union member she understands the issues facing California.”

By Antonio Ray Harvey, Tanu Henry and Joe W. Bowers Jr. | California Black Media

On September 26, California Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) Tony Thurmond released a video announcing that he is running for governor in 2026.

In the video, Thurmond, 55, said his candidacy is “about people.”

“California has had a lot of governors,” Thurmond states in the introduction of his announcement. “My story is nothing like theirs.”

“I didn’t come from money, power or influence,” he continued. “Mom emigrated from Panama and became a classroom teacher, but died when I was six years old. My dad served the nation but left us after the Vietnam war.”

Raised by his mother’s cousin, Thurmond, who represented Richmond in the State Legislature from 2014 to 2018, shared the many lessons he learned from his childhood — about the value of hard work, pushing through adverse circumstances and focusing on success.

Also in the race for governor are Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounilakis and former California state Controller Betty Yee.

By Joe W. Bowers Jr. | California Black Media

Recently, Gov. Gavin Newsom conducted press briefings at Sacramento area public schools to talk about the initiatives he’s supporting to reform and revolutionize public education in California.

At the Miwok Village Elementary School in the Elk Grove Unified School District, Newsom promoted his “California’s Family Agenda,” a public-school initiative that aims to provide students with the right environment and opportunities for growth, learning, and success.

At River City High School in the Washington Unified School District, Newsom signed an executive order that initiates the development of a Master Plan on Career Education to prepare students for future careers, including those that don’t require college degrees.

Newsom has made K-12 education a top priority. Among his accomplishments are increased funding to reduce class size, the hiring of more teachers, providing more resources for students; and universal transitional kindergarten. The Governor has also expanded afterschool and summer programs, especially support for student tutoring; universal free school meals; full-service community schools; and ethnic studies in high school.

While Newsom has tried to improve equity and outcomes for all students, a comprehensive survey titled “California Black Voters Perspectives on the Quality of Education for Black Students” commissioned by the Black in School Coalition (BISC) found that only 27% of Black voters agree that Newsom is doing enough to improve educational outcomes for Black students.

The BISC is a statewide organization dedicated to enhancing academic and social outcomes for Black students in California. Their statewide survey of 1,200 Black voters gauges Black voter viewpoints on education funding, school performance, and major challenges confronting Black students. Insight from the survey provides valuable information for policymakers, educators, and other stakeholders to develop more effective programs to enhance the educational experience of Black students.

Newsom’s Family Agenda is centered around four freedoms: Freedom to Decide, Freedom to Thrive, Freedom to Learn, and Freedom to Succeed. It includes initiatives to invest in community schools and high schools with specialized career and trade pathways. It provides parents and students with access to high-quality instruction, wraparound services, and social assistance.

“We believe in parents’ rights to decide and support their kids. We believe that kids have the right to learn and the right to succeed. And that’s what our agenda lays out,” Newsom said.

Newsom’s Master Plan on Career Education aims to strengthen career pathways, prioritize practical learning, and promote universal access and affordability through collaboration across government and the private sector.

“California is leveraging billions of dollars in investments to prepare students and workers for good-paying, long-lasting, and fulfilling careers,” Newsom announced.

Attending the press conference in support of the Career Education Master Plan were State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, University of California President Michael Drake, Cal State Chancellor Mildred Garcia, CA Community College Chancellor Sonya Christian, and other state officials and legislators.

But Newsom failed to highlight in the press conferences how his education initiatives will tackle concerns Black voters have regarding the quality of education Black students are receiving.

Black students remain the lowest performing academic subgroup in California public schools despite Newsom’s efforts. Seventy percent of Black students are not meeting English language arts standards, and 84% are not meeting math standards. Black students are disproportionately suspended and expelled from school. In the 2021-22 academic year, Black students, who made up 10.7% of the student population, accounted for 23.3% of suspensions and 19.1% of expulsions. The disparity is most pronounced in early childhood education, where Black male students are 6.2 times more likely to be suspended than their peers of other races.

Despite the ongoing challenges, there have been encouraging advancements for Black students under Newsom’s leadership. This year’s budget includes an ongoing funding of $300 Million called the Equity Multiplier to fulfill a commitment he made to Assemblymember Akilah Weber (D-La Mesa) who introduced a bill which would have provided more money for Black K-12 students.

Margaret Fortune, the President and CEO of the Fortune School of Education and a leader of BISC, has expressed concerns about Newsom’s plan for distributing Equity Multiplier funds. She argues it deviates from Weber’s bill intent by directing the funding towards high-poverty schools instead of specifically towards Black students. The funding protocol appears to undermine the bill’s intent, with BISC analyses showing that only 11% of the funds are benefiting Black students.

Seventy-nine percent of respondents in the BISC survey supports a legislative proposal to change the public-school funding formula by creating a new grant for California’s lowest performing subgroups, including Black students.

Fortune told California Black Media (CBM) that she will be pushing in for the Equity Multiplier in future state budgets to be based on academic achievement, not on income. “It is a permanent part of our funding mechanism in California, there’s an opportunity to have that conversation,” Fortune said.

Newsom’s office told CBM that it would not comment on the BISC poll because it has not obtained access to its underlying methodology and a breakdown of its results. They stated, “The Governor’s sweeping initiatives to improve equity in education and ensure Black children and families succeed have received strong praise and wide recognition from Black leaders across the state – including the California Legislative Black Caucus and academic leaders including the California Association of African American Superintendents and Administrators.”

In the BISC survey, 48% of respondents do not believe that the California Legislature is working hard to improve education for Black students.

While Newsom and the Legislature, especially the California Legislative Black Caucus, have supported initiatives aimed at improving educational outcomes for Black students, Black voters and Black education advocates believe they are not specific enough and fail to consider the unique needs of Black students.

About the Author

Joe W. Bowers Jr. is a contributing editor to California Black Media. He is a graduate of Stanford University.

IMPORTANT UPDATE: Subsequent to the publication of this editorial I learned that on Sunday,  September 17, 2023,  another Riverside corrections officer was arrested for allegedly transporting 44 pounds of narcotics while armed and traveling along Interstate 10. This was followed on Monday, September 18, 2023, with the report of yet another in-custody death involving an inmate housed at the Cois Byrd Detention Center in Riverside County. The saga continues….

A 2023 California Democratic Party Resolution states, “Whereas recent incidents and concerns regarding the conduct of some law enforcement personnel have demonstrated the necessity of independent oversight…not all counties have established an oversight board.”

The resolution calls for the creation of the Office of Inspector General and Oversight Committees for Law Enforcement Agencies in counties of California that have not established oversight boards under existing California law–including here in Riverside County where in-custody deaths continue to mount.

The need for such oversight in this county is more than warranted. With a record number of 19 in-custody deaths in 2022 and the number of in-custody deaths climbing again this year––two additional in-custody deaths were recorded in the last 30 days—-the sheriff and the county’s Board of Supervisors seem hesitant to do anything different whether it is reviewing policy or establishing oversight to put brakes on the recurring loss of lives.

Despite an ongoing Patterns and Practices Civil Rights investigation of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department by California Attorney General Rob Bonta that was triggered by  the increased number of deaths in Riverside County jail facilities last year, Sheriff Chad Bianco seems unable to direct his disheveled corps of deputies to protect the lives of those entrusted to their care.

“Any death in custody is potentially unlawful. The duty to properly investigate all deaths in custody is not an option, but an obligation under international law.” – Morris Tidball-Binz, UN Special Rapporteur

Although sheriff departments in  both Los Angeles and San Diego Counties have acquiesced to oversight and despite Bianco’s promise when under pressure last year to acquiesce to a mere review of sheriff department policies  that he would  would set up a sheriff’s advisory council–he has made zero visible effort in that regard.

Bianco’s resistance to oversight is evident and he does so with the full throated support of his puppeteer, Riverside County Sheriff’s Association President Bill Young. This included pushback against efforts by the Board Supervisors for any type of transparency related to the sheriff’s department.

As noted above, in 2020, following the death of George Floyd, Riverside County Supervisor V. Manuel Perez proposed a measure calling for a review of the sheriff department policies that regulate  the use of force, mass demonstrations, consent before searches, racial profiling, gender identification, community policing and crime reduction. Although the measure did not include a recommendation for the establishment of an oversight committee/commission, this simple request for a mere review of policies was roundly rejected by Young who declared,  “While we understand the current spotlight on policing, we do not believe that it is constructive to have a political body demand full-scale policy reviews when they do not have the legal authority to set or change any policy that is reviewed.” And in response, as to be expected by those who depend on police union support for their reelection campaigns, board members backed away from the measure and it has yet to resurface for consideration.

With this history it is no surprise that even with the aberrant number of deaths in Riverside County’s jail facilities in 2022, and a Patterns and Practices Civil Rights investigation into the sheriff’s department in 2023, the Board has failed to move on  any measure aimed at reviewing sheriff department policy, holding the sheriff’s department accountable or providing even limited oversight.

Of course, because sheriffs are elected and not appointed like city police chiefs, the Board  has limited legal power and authority over the sheriff and how he manages the department as he arrogantly reminded them last year.

“It’s not your job to tell me what to do,” Bianco proclaimed in response to the Perez  measure. This is when he shared his intent to form an advisory council making it clear however, that he alone would decide who should participate in it. As previously noted, he never delivered on that proclamation.

There are, however, other options. AB1185 signed by Governor Gavin Newsom in 2019, authorized but did not mandate, counties to establish a sheriff oversight board to assist boards of supervisors with duties related to the sheriff. The law provides this can occur either by action of the Board or through a vote of county residents.

This is another example of well-intended legislative reform related to criminal justice that falls short of its mark because as we see here in Riverside, without a mandate the measure is powerless as board members appear powerless or unwilling to push back against the pressures and influence of police unions who were adamantly opposed to the bill.

There is a caveat however, if the supervisors fail or refuse to act,  a local measure can be placed on the ballot thereby giving voters an opportunity to decide for themselves.

In the meantime, the attorney general continues his civil rights investigation, while inmates (most still awaiting trial) continue to die in-custody.

Without some sort of oversight, I question how will we ever know the truth about inmate deaths since the  Coroner, who investigates and reports on all violent, sudden or  unusual deaths of those within the county including those in-custody, is under the auspices of the sheriff.

“Politics is killing our country and this is an example,”  said Bianco in response to the 2020 measure proposed by V. Manuel Perez.

To that I say, “No, Chad,” it is your ineffective leadership and band of misfits currently operating as officers in our jail facilities that are killing members of this community.

And when I say misfits I mean exactly that. On Wednesday, Sept. 13 a Riverside correctional deputy was arrested when it was determined he was under the influence of a drug and in possession of it inside a jail. And we wonder why inmates are dying of overdoses.

A few days later, on Saturday, September 16 another corrections deputy was arrested this time the charges were even worse. He is suspected of extorting female inmates for sex and sexually assaulting one of them.

While the community sits back waiting for the completion of the Civil Rights investigation, people continue to die on Bianco’s watch. It seems apparent the Board of Supervisors is frozen and will not act against Bianco.

Is the community willing to settle for such inaction or will it take it upon themselves to force a measure onto a future ballot calling for the establishment of a sheriff oversight board as authorized under AB1185?

I think it is passed time for citizens to act on this issue.

Of course this is just my opinion. I’m keeping it real.

By Sunita Sohrabji, EMS | Special to California Black Media Partners

Voting and elections have become the targets of threats and intimidation as the nation faces a proliferation of guns, more frequent gun violence, and fewer legal protections, noted Brennan Center for Justice and the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence in a report released this week.

The proliferation of guns in American homes has increased dramatically since 2008, when the Supreme Court ruled for the first time that the 2nd Amendment allows US residents to possess an operable handgun in the home for self-defense.

“This was a considerable change from what the court had long held, which was that possessing a firearm had to be related to militia service,” Robyn Sanders, Counsel for the Voting Rights and Election Reform Democracy Project at the Brennan Center, told Ethnic Media Services.

The Supreme Court did caution that the rights secured by the Second Amendment are not unlimited; it identified laws that would forbid firearms in sensitive places, such as schools and government buildings. “And so there, while the Supreme Court handed down what was a dramatic decision at that time, it did specify that regulations are still permissible in places that are sensitive,” said Sanders, who co-authored the report.

But the Supreme Court further weakened gun restrictions last year in its ruling on the New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. vs. Bruen case. The opinion, written by Justice Clarence Thomas, stated that the American public has the right to carry guns in public for self-defense, and that states cannot require applicants to demonstrate a need for owning a gun.

“The decision in Bruen has invited more legal challenges to gun regulations. But the court also explicitly states that sensitive places are places where states can regulate where guns can be carried, and they were unequivocal about polling locations being one of those,” said Sanders.

In a Sept. 20 interview with EMS, Sanders discussed the threat gun violence poses for US elections. “We believe this report served a significant purpose in alerting states that there are ways that they could help to maintain the confidence that voters historically had in our elections as being safe and secure from violence and intimidation,” she said.

Excerpts of Conversation with Sanders:

What types of justifications are states using to allow concealed guns at polling sites and drop-off boxes?

The Supreme Court was unequivocal in its decision in Bruen that prohibiting firearms in polling places is constitutional. And so, while I can’t speak for why states have not filled the voids that we recognize in our report, what I can say is that we are offering policy proposals for states to enact laws that would better protect voters and election officials and workers from threats and help voters and the public remain confident that our elections will continue to be by and large peaceful.

Older adults traditionally account for the majority of election workers. Have you seen a drop-off of older adults choosing to work at the polls, given the uncertainty of protection from violence at those sites? 

We were experiencing a global pandemic in 2020. And so there was a downturn in retired or elderly folks serving as election workers due to the vulnerabilities related with COVID -19. But it is true that election officials have reported that it’s been harder to recruit the more elderly folks to serve in that capacity.

Compared to anything prior, there was dramatically more harassment and threats lodged at election officials and poll workers over the last two election cycles. Poll workers have reported experiences of harassment and threats of abuse in recent years.

Are election workers of color more likely to face harassment, violence and intimidation?

We found that election officials serving what’s known as majority minority jurisdictions were more likely than election officials overall to report having been threatened, having been harassed or abused because of their job. And they were also considerably more likely to be concerned about being assaulted.

This is alarming, it’s concerning, and it’s unacceptable in a democracy.

One out of every 3 election workers have reported harassment or threats, according to the report.

As a result of the shifts in how our electoral process was being carried out, we started to observe trends in elected leaders and others who were spreading disinformation and misinformation about our elections as it relates to various methods of voting, including voting by mail and the use of drop boxes as a result of the uptick in mail voting.

And so based on that climate, we started to see an increase in threats and intimidation and threats of violence being lodged at election workers and officials. And that was also tied to the election denial movement that took hold at the time as well, where various elected leaders were sowing disinformation and misinformation about our elections and raising conspiracy theories about various methods of voting and really increasing the fear among the electorate that the voting process was insecure and was not fair. So, we think that’s what inspired this increase in the climate of threats and intimidation against election officials.

Could you talk about some of your policy recommendations? 

One of the key findings in our report is that only 12 states and Washington, D.C. have laws prohibiting open carry and concealed carry at polling places. And even fewer states have laws that prohibit guns where other sensitive election activity occurs drop boxes as well as places like election counting facilities.

And while it is illegal to intimidate voters in all 50 states, neither federal law nor any state law explicitly acknowledges that guns in or around places where people are engaged in voting or conducting election activity can constitute illegal intimidation.

In our report, we offer two main policy proposals. One: we recommend that states enact laws to prohibit guns at and around all sites of voting and vote counting. And we recommend that states strengthen their laws, protecting voters and election workers and officials from intimidation and violence, but explicitly addressing the void that is currently present and addressing the intimidating effect of guns.

I would reiterate to voters that — because our elections have remained by and large peaceful — the proposals that we offer in our report are simply action items that states can take to further strengthen legal protections that are already in place

Tedashii releases “Dead Or Alive Pt. 1,” the first EP of a series he intends to rollout over the coming months.

Listen to “Dead Or Alive Pt. 1” here.

Throughout his life and this rollout, Tedashii has been vocal about the various trials and tribulations he’s endured from losing his 1 year old son, Chase, to more recently, the serious fall he took backstage on the We Are Unashamed Tour. He’s always felt attacked by the enemy in a spiritual and in many cases literal way and through that journey has learned to survive.

“Dead or Alive Pt. 1,” is the first of a series of EP’s where Tedashii’s vulnerably sharing the various ways he has “fought for his life” and what he has learned in that process. With features from Aha Gazelle, Richdanfamous, Lecrae, Trip Lee and more, this project is a lyrically introspective and sonically ground shaking offering from Tedashii speaking to the hardship he’s lived through and the desire that remains in him to keep going and obtain all that God’s has for his life.

“At several points in my own life, I’ve felt crushed under the weight of so many hardships and I’ve even attempted to end it all. It was in that moment I was faced with a choice, to live or die. Dead Or Alive is my journey of choosing to live, while saying to the listener what I said to myself: Dead or Alive, you decide,” says Tedashii.

On Monday of this week he released this video, symbolizing the struggle he’s endured. This video was a visual representation of the artwork for his new EP showing the dichotomy of Life and Death. Designed by Kevin Hackett, you see an illuminating white light on one side of Tedashii’s face amidst darkness and laser sights aimed at his head from another.

Alongside the release of the new EP, Tedashii posted this performance video on his social media to the single “VICTORY LAP” leaning into the imagery of the lap a nascar driver takes after winning a race and symbolizing the victory Tedashii feels at this moment in his life. “Life is a choice you must choose. The victory I feel after having consecutive days of choosing life is indescribable. Even in the midst of facing so much hardship and enemies I feel victorious, because I choose to live,” says Tedashii.

Consisting of mostly raps and hard hitting 808s, this project shows Tedashii in a bag that his fans haven’t seen from him in a minute. He is very much the rapper that people grew to know him as in his earlier days as an artist, and this is just the start. See the full track-list for the EP below:

Whether it was on “Below Paradise” or more recently on his latest EP, “This Time Around 2,” Tedashii has always been vulnerable about everything he’s gone through in the hopes that it would become someone else’s song. He has become a beacon of hope for those going through tough times themselves and continues to do the same walking into this new season.

To stay tuned in on more from Tedashii, follow him on socials below:

Facebook

Instagram

For more information on Reach Records, please visit www.reachrecords.com and on social media @ReachRecords.

About Tedashii:

Tedashii is a tenured artist, musician, public speaker, writer, and communicator burdened to see people become who they were born to be. Growing up in Texas on the fringes of society, family and football were everything – then he found faith. With this faith, he ventured into vocational ministry and eventually artistry as a member of the 116 on Reach Records. He graduated from the University of North Texas with a duel Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology and Sociology to further his ambitions to reach those beyond his city limits.

For the last twenty years he’s devoted his life to encouraging others to find their identity in God and leading a movement of unashamed believers who desire to engage the world for His glory. He is the founder of the Chase Foundation—an organization to serve families who have lost children by being a present help for future hope, the originator of Chase Wellness, the CEO of Unashamed Ministries, and the host of his podcast The Dash. Tedashii and his wife (Danielle) live in Atlanta, GA and are the proud parents of four amazing boys.

About Reach Records:

Reach Records is an Atlanta based independent hip-hop label founded in 2004 by Lecrae and Ben Washer. Long before acclaim, awards, plaques, chart positioning, and radio play, the two started the label because they both love hip-hop and Jesus. Reach Records was launched with no strategy, no funds, no big players, but they made big moves! Today Reach Records is a trailblazing label with a roster of nearly 10 artists and a staff of 20 who are unashamed about sharing their faith and passionate about hip-hop. Reach Records is committed to building a movement that combines faith with music and popular culture.