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“Picket Lines and Picket Signs, Don’t Punish Me with Brutality…”

By Lou Yeboah

“Talk to me, so you can see, Oh, what’s going on?  Yeah, what’s going on? Tell me, what’s going on?” [Marvin Gaye – What’s Goin On]. For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity: your lips have spoken lies, and your tongue hath murmured iniquity. No man calleth for justice: no man contendeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak vain things: they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity…Their feet turn to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are wicked thoughts: desolation and destruction is in their paths. The way of peace they know not, and there is none equity in their goings…” [Isaiah 59:3-5; 7-8]. “Picket lines and picket signs, don’t punish me with brutality, talk to me, so you can see, Oh, what’s going on? Tell me what’s going on?”

“Enough of this,” declares the Lord. Put away violence and destruction and do justice and righteousness; revoke your acts of dispossession from upon my people!” [Ezekiel 45:9]. No uniform should get in the way of common sense and common humanity. You do not have the right to take the life of another person; there is no law that is above this, no matter the land or the people.

I tell you, it’s interesting that history repeats itself.  As you read through the prophecy of Habakkuk you will discover that the exact problem that you and I wrestle with today, Habakkuk wrestled with as well.  The prophet lived in a time very similar to our day. A time when everything was going wrong. He lived when there was great national corruption and distress, when the nation and land was filled with violence, hatred, injustice, unrest, and oppression. He lived in a land where there were outbreaks of all kinds of evil.  Perplexed in his heart, as we are, in bewilderment he cries out, “Lord, how long do I have to keep this up, crying out to you like this? How long must I CONTINUE?” Finally, God answers Habakkuk. “Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told.” [Habakkuk 1:5-6] “I am behind this. These people are a very strange people. They are bitter, hostile, ruthless and cold-blooded. They are going to be as powerful as any nation on earth has ever been and they will sweep through lands conquering everything, and it will LOOK as though nothing can stop them. These people will not have any god at the center of their life. They believe that their own might is their god, and they trust in their own strength.

Astound, Habakkuk did not know what to make of this. This is what bothers many people as they look at what is happening in the world. Why does God allow things to happen the way they do? Why does he permit such terrible events to occur in human history? “How can a just and loving God allow men to suffer? Why would God create us and then allow terrible things to happen?” After pondering, Habakkuk went back to what he knew of God through revelation and experience.  Then immediately he  added these words, “We shall not die.” God promised Abraham that he would rise up a nation that would forever be His people and that He would never allow them to be eliminated from the earth. The prophet reminded himself of that, in the face of this fearsome threat. They would not be eliminated. God’s faithfulness remains. He is unchangeable.

In concluding, God said to the prophet, “Now Habakkuk, don’t you worry about the Chaldeans; I will judge the Chaldeans. The very thing in which they trust will prove to be their downfall. Their very gods will overthrow them.” Then He pronounces woes on these people…. Woe to him who builds a town with blood, and finds a city on iniquity [Habakkuk 2:12]… Woe to those who trust in violence to achieve what they want. [verse 15]… Woe to the man who creates fear in those around him in order to rule over them, and to gain from them [verse 19]. Woe to you, O destroyer, you who have not been destroyed! Woe to you, O traitor, you who have not been betrayed! When you stop destroying, you will be destroyed; when you stop betraying, you will be betrayed. [Isaiah 33:1]. Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees, to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people, making widows their prey and robbing the fatherless. What will you do on the day of reckoning, when disaster comes from afar? To whom will you run for help? Where will you leave your riches? Nothing will remain but to cringe among the captives or fall among the slain.[Isaiah 10:1-4]. Woe! Woe! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the trumpet blasts about to be sounded by the other three angels!” [Revelation 8:13].

““Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” [Galatians 6:7-9]

Once falsely accused of gun crime, tattooed alderman leads cleanup in Lincoln’s hometown

One ping-pong ball decided the contest that made Willie “Shawn” Gregory alderman of Ward 2 in Springfield, Illinois.  But it wasn’t the first time fortune smiled upon him.

Beginning his second year of service, during a demanding “Black Lives Matter” environment, Gregory hopes those blessings extend to his low-income community of approximately 8,000 on Springfield’s east side.

Sporting tattoos and earrings, Gregory, 36, describes himself to Zenger News as “a different alderman.” Known for his bluntness in representing his constituents, Gregory spearheads cleanups in order to attract businesses to the community. Gregory’s candor manifested itself during the tumult after the April 2, 2019, election that initially declared him victor by one vote over Gail Simpson, who represented Ward 2 from 2007 to 2015.

A monthslong recount battle ended with a 464-464 tie decided by a random drawing using two ping-pong balls. In a July 18, 2019, special meeting of the Springfield City Council, Gregory’s No. 1 ball was drawn from the bag as the winner. Simpson declined to comment on the outcome.

In the year since Gregory was sworn in, he’s learned that being an alderman is “a lot rougher” than he expected because of the difficulty getting things done due to trying to secure resources and grants.

Then again, Illinois’ capital, Springfield is known as Abraham Lincoln’s hometown—but also site of a deadly 1908 race riot that helped give birth to the NAACP. Gregory embraces that duality.

“I always say, ‘To know me is to know Black America.’ I can give you a great picture of what we go through every day and also trying to encourage our young people and create the picture of how they can overcome through many of my life experiences.”

Willie “Shawn” Gregory, alderman of Ward 2 in Springfield, Illinois, directs a cleanup. (Tamara Browning/Zenger)

 

Willie “Shawn” Gregory, alderman of Ward 2 in Springfield, Illinois, greets kids. (Tamara Browning/Zenger)

Gregory has had to engage police from both sides. At age 8, he called the police after his mother left for an extended time, leading to he and his siblings spending time in foster care.

Ten years later, on the other side, police showed up to accuse him of brandishing a weapon during a parking lot encounter two months before.

Gregory, however, recognizes his fortunate circumstances as opposed to other young black men in similar circumstances.

A few years earlier, he had been adopted by the Rev. Ernest McNeil and his wife. McNeil’s brother Frank was the first black alderman of Ward 2 from December 1987 until May 2007.

That adoption benefited him greatly in his encounter with the law.

“If I had not been blessed to be adopted later on in my life by people with some money to pay $10,000 for a lawyer, $5,000 to get me out, or whatever it was, I was toast. I was going to jail for 5–10 years for sure for nothing,” Gregory said.  “We got a good lawyer, and we fought it. Took it to trial. They tried to make me a deal before the trial came to go to a bench trial, and I took that because I felt like it was easier to convince one guy in this county (Sangamon) of these facts that this guy didn’t know what he was talking about, trying to say I had a gun. I didn’t. I was on my way to work at Hardee’s.” He was found not guilty in a bench trial.

Gregory reflects on that moment. “This is what brothers go through out on the street, so I’m trying to help… use some of my life experiences to really shine a light on injustice because they are there…”

Ward 2’s need for an “injection of youth,” was the main reason Frank McNeil supported Gregory’s candidacy for alderman. Many of the ward’s young people now believe that voting is “not all for naught,” McNeil said. “Young people now have a voice. They see Shawn as their voice,” McNeil said.

Several youth were among the more than 100 people who helped with the “Ward 2 Clean Up Day” Gregory hosted July 11.

Gregory greeted Khoran Readus, co-founder and vice president of Black Lives Matter Springfield, saying, “What’s up, girl?” Black Lives Matter supports Gregory and shows up “when he reaches out,” Readus said.

“Our community’s appearance (is) just like if you dress up in the morning—dress up, you feel good,” Readus told Zenger. “It would be uplifting to clean (our community) up and just give us that feel of importance.”

Gregory offered a black woman and a black man $5 to help clean up around the boarded-up house near where they were sitting on crates. A white man bicycling by asked Gregory when the nearby liquor store opened. “I think like 10 o’clock, bro,” Gregory said.

The myth is that Ward 2 is “all black folks,” Gregory said. “We have black folks and white folks because that’s how our world is going. Like it’s about rich and poor almost.”

Springfield’s special history puts it in the unique position to be a leader in the U.S. in “putting a dent in inequality and injustice,” said Gregory, the father of four children, ages teen to toddler.

“Our kids are going to have to tackle this thing and take the step forward. This generation is primed to do their job, and I just ask everybody to stay tuned because we’re pushing.”

(Edited by Robert George and Allison Elyse Gualtieri.)



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Cooking with the Church Ladies

A new cooking show is gearing up for production.  A program influenced by religion will be coming to YouTube by September.

For decades, church ladies have lovingly prepared their prized potluck recipes to share with members of the congregation, which is the premise for this series. 

In keeping with that custom, a communal meal will be served to parishioners following grace by the Pastor.

Church Ladies’ Potluck is a half-hour, 13-week cooking show based on heritage recipes passed down through the generations. It is our desire to preserve these homemade dishes from the past.

Filmed in local church kitchens Church Ladies Potluck will embrace heirloom recipes to be prepared by the family members that treasure them.

Each episode will include a four-course menu: appetizer, salad, main dish, and dessert.

Only heirloom recipes will be used. Ideally each congregation will also have a cookbook, for it is these old-style often times, quirky, recipes we are seeking.

Programing is nondenominational, nonsectarian, and all inclusive. Every organized religious group is eligible that has a kitchen. 

We are requesting interested church groups to reach out and set up an interview. Everyone will be considered.

Even though church services may still be closed, we can meet the criteria for gatherings under 10 with our small crew while maintaining social distancing.  

If your church wishes to participate, or you know of one, kindly contact me, Elizabeth, at  e.y.westlphal@gmail.com or text or call 442.444.1664.   

Congress lets Fauci slide on his own mask use

Lawmakers did not address one topic of popular debate while questioning Anthony Fauci on Friday: Why did you take your mask off?

Fauci, the federal government’s top infectious disease expert, was photographed July 23 sitting in the empty stands at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., with his mask below his chin. Fauci had thrown out the opening pitch at the game between the Washington Nationals and the New York Yankees, then took a seat alongside his wife and a friend.

Lawmakers on the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis never asked Fauci why he photographed talking with his friend while not covering his mouth and nose.

The National Institutes of Health did not respond to a request for comment, though Fauci has previously said he lowered his mask to drink water while seated outdoors at the ballpark.

Fauci, who advised Americans early on in the pandemic that there didn’t need to be widespread mask use, has since shifted his guidance, urging everyone to wear them when around others outside their homes. Fauci has also encouraged the use of goggles or eye shields to prevent the spread of the virus.

Republican Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio got into a contentious exchange with Fauci at Friday’s hearing.

“Mr. Fauci, do protests increase the spread of the virus?” Jordan asked.

“Crowding together, particularly when you’re not wearing a mask, contributes to the spread of the virus,” Fauci said.

Jordan repeatedly asked Fauci whether the government should limit the nationwide protests, which have been ongoing since the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who died after a police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes in May.

Fauci declined to directly say that protests should be limited.

“Avoid crowds of any type, no matter where you are, because that leads to the acquisition and transmission. I don’t judge one crowd versus another crowd. When you’re in a crowd, particularly if you’re not wearing a mask, that induces the spread,” he said.

Mask-wearing has become a partisan issue in the U.S., with some Americans protesting state and local leaders requiring the public to wear facial coverings when they leave their homes and are unable to social distance.

President Trump has been reluctant to wear a mask in public until recently. Trump wore a mask in public for the first time during his July 11 visit to Walter Reed National  Military Medical Center in Maryland on July 11. Since then, he has promoted mask-wearing as “patriotic.”

(Edited by Allison Elyse Gualtieri.)



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Bernell Trammell supported Black Lives Matter and Trump. Police are looking for his killer

Bernell Trammell, a local personality of Milwaukee’s Riverwest neighborhood who was known for his political activism and religious proselytizing, was shot and killed in broad daylight. 

Trammell, a vocal Rastafarian sometimes nicknamed “Ras,” was best known to his neighbors as a “Rasta street preacher” who would frequently quote Biblical scripture to passersby. He said in one video interview that his support of Donald Trump was a result of religious prophecy and a “sign of the times.”

And Wisconsin Republican Party chairman Andrew Hitt has called for an investigation into whether Trammell’s murder was politically motivated. Trammell was well-known for his support of President Donald Trump, frequently carrying and displaying signs reading “Vote Donald Trump 2020.” But he was also a supporter of Black Lives Matter and Democratic mayoral candidate Lena Taylor.

“Because of Trammell’s well known political activism and the possibility that his murder could be politically motivated, I respectfully request that United States Attorney Matthew Krueger open an investigation into this heinous crime,” Hitt said in a statement. “No American should fear for their personal safety because of where they live or their political affiliation.”

The 60-year-old was killed at 12:30 p.m. last Thursday outside the office of eXpressions Journal, a business he owned and ran that published political and religious materials. Police described the suspected shooter, who was captured on closed-circuit video, as a man in his 30s, approximately 6 feet tall and weighing roughly 200 pounds. Screen captures released by police showed the suspect wearing a black mask that covered part of his face, a red-and-white baseball cap, a black-and-red long sleeve shirt with white text on the front, light-colored pants and black shoes.

An image of the suspect on a bike. (Courtesy: Milwaukee Police Department)

 

An image of the suspect. (Courtesy: Milwaukee Police Department)

Despite his eccentric politics and presentation, Trammell was respected and liked by many in his community.

Vaun Mayes, a community activist who has been involved in recent anti-racism and anti-police brutality protests, called Trammell “a community elder and beloved figure” and organized a vigil for him outside the eXpressions office.

Kevan Penvose, a local pastor and activist, wrote on his Facebook page:

At the community vigil today I didn’t see any of these GOP officials who are now trying to use my neighbor’s tragic death as a wedge issue. But black community leaders were there to pay respects to the man known as Ras and Halo, because Black Lives Matter means All Black Lives Matter, which has nothing to do with partisanship as we strive for justice in unity. … Ras Trammell was a man with whom I hardly ever agreed about anything he wrote on his signs, but also, as a Rasta street preacher, he was one of the people that make my neighborhood so uniquely wonderful.

Any information regarding Trammell’s murder can be relayed to Milwaukee Police via phone at 414-935-7360, or via Milwaukee Crime Stoppers at 414-224-TIPS. Sgt. Sheronda Grant, a spokesperson for the Milwaukee Police Department, said the department has yet to identify a motive and is still seeking a suspect.

(Edited by Emily Crockett and Allison Elyse Gualtieri.)



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WATCH: Obama eulogizes John Lewis

Rep. John Lewis was “forceful vision of freedom,” said former President Barack Obama in the eulogy he gave at the Democratic congressman and civil rights activist’s funeral on Thursday.

The funeral was held in Atlanta, Georgia at Ebenezer Baptist Church, a historical African American sanctuary that dates back 134 years and where the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s funeral was held in 1968. In addition to Obama, former U.S. presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush as well as hundreds of mourners attended to pay their respects to the son of Alabama sharecroppers who become a civil rights icon.

As a teenager having experienced firsthand the indignity of legalized segregation, Lewis was inspired to join the civil rights movement after hearing King speak on the radio. In 1960, Lewis took part in a sit-in at a “whites-only” lunch counter in Nashville, Tennessee, which led to the first of his many arrests for protesting segregation. Lewis spent his 21st birthday in jail the following year for protesting the segregation of a local movie theater.

President Barack Obama hugs Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga. after his introduction during the event to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of Bloody Sunday and the Selma to Montgomery civil rights marches, at the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Ala., March 7, 2015. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Soon after, the young activist helped found the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, a reflection of his nonviolent principles regarding civil disobedience. Lewis rode on the buses of the 1961 Freedom Rides, an organized movement that carried out the Supreme Court decision to desegregate interstate transportation. Two years later, he joined the Big Six, a group of men leading the March on Washington to advocate for the civil and economic rights of African Americans. Lewis suffered many injuries from objectors and law enforcement during demonstrations including during “Bloody Sunday” in Selma, Alabama, when state troopers brutally attacked protesters on the Edmund Pettus Bridge. Lewis suffered a cracked skull and a concussion and nearly died.

Lewis first ran for Congress in 1977, but was unsuccessful. In 1981, Lewis ran for the Atlanta City Council and won by a large majority. In 1986, he ran again for the House of Representatives, where he served Georgia’s Fifth District for 34 years. He quickly became one of the most liberal voices in Congress, but encouraged political realignment by working with prominent Republicans on various civil issues. His most recognizable achievements include the reauthorization of the 1965 Voting Rights Act and the induction of the National Museum of African American History and Culture on the National Mall. Lewis was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Obama in 2011.

Lewis died on July 17 at the age of 80 from pancreatic cancer. He is survived by his son and six brothers and sisters.



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Thousands of Californians Face Homelessness with Eviction Freeze Set to End

With the federal COVID-19 rent protections provided in the CARES Act about to expire, any plan to assist tenants who have fallen behind on their payments due the COVID-19 pandemic, would have to be drawn up by state or local governments. 

In California, Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye, chair of the Judicial Council, said, during a public meeting June 24, that the council would “very soon resume voting to terminate the temporary orders having to do with unlawful detainer evictions and foreclosures.” 

The Judicial Council, which regulates the state’s court system, placed a temporary emergency rule on April 6, which stops judges from processing evictions for non-payment of rent during the COVID-19 state of emergency. If the court votes to terminate the rule, it would be rescinded effective Aug. 14. 

Nisha Vyas, Senior Attorney at the Western Center on Law and Poverty, spoke at a press conference held by Ethnic Media Services. In her presentation she detailed some mechanics of the Judicial Council’s rules, and she explained how its rescission would hurt California renters. 

“We’re extremely concerned about this, as the Legislature and Governor have not yet acted to put something in place that will prevent the massive wave of evictions that will begin when this rule is lifted,” Vyas told California Black Media over email. 

“When the rule is withdrawn and the moratorium lapses, we expect this massive eviction crisis, and if we allow the evictions to simply start again without any long-term assistance, it’s going to have a devastating impact on renters, and in particular communities of color.” 

Lifting the statewide eviction moratorium would disproportionately affect Black Californians. According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2015 American Housing Survey, 64.4% of African Americans in California are tenants. Also, 57% of Black renters have lost income since mid-March this year, according to the Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey. 

According to another U.S. Census Bureau Housing Pulse Survey conducted in June, only about 46 % of Black renters in California were confident that they could pay July’s rent. The other 54% – which accounts for hundreds of thousands of African American households – have no to moderate confidence that they will be able to keep a roof over their heads. 

During the public meeting, Chief Justice Cantil-Sakauye also said that the Aug. 14 deadline would give the state legislature the chance to pass legislation regarding tenant protections. 

AB 1436, authored by Assemblymember David Chiu (D-San Francisco) protects tenants from eviction due to non-payment of rent during the COVID-19 pandemic; allows landlords and tenants to work out payment arrangements for no more than the amount the renter owes; shields the tenant from negative credit reporting and protects his or her ability to rent in the future; and places the eviction process under the authority of civil courts; among other provisions. It also gives a 15-month grace period for unpaid rent after the COVID-19 state of emergency ends. 

The bill passed the Assembly unanimously in May 2019 and is currently under review in the Senate Judiciary Committee. It is sponsored by multiple housing justice organizations, including the Western Center, PolicyLink and Housing NOW California. 

According to Vyas, solving past due rent disputes in civil court rather than through the evictions process would be better for renters. Eviction proceedings are typically fast-tracked, with nearly 75% of eviction cases resolved within 45 days of filing, and many low-income tenants cannot afford an attorney. 

“The advantage is that tenants would be able to remain in their homes. They could handle the rent payment dispute with the landlord in a proceeding that doesn’t put them at risk of homelessness. It would also prevent unnecessary and harmful interactions with law enforcement, since lockouts are performed by sheriffs,” said Vyas. 

Over email, Vyas also pointed out that Californians would need assistance on the federal level as well, preferably through monetary rental assistance. But on the state level, Vyas said, AB 1436 is a necessary step. 

“AB 1436 is a chance for communities and individuals to tell their state legislators here in California to stop the new wave of evictions to keep us all safe and housed. It is, I want to stress, the first step of many that we need to take to bring more equity into housing in California. But this is a great way for people to become engaged.”

Letter to the Editor: Biden is Going to Win

Just like about every other fretful Democratic/liberal/progressive person in America, I’ll admit I’ve had a mild case of political PTSD left over from 2016 (and from 2000 & 2004 for that matter).  However, these days the national political opinion polls are truly glorious.  There is no doubt about it, folks.  Joe Biden is going to win one of the largest, overwhelming landslide victories in American presidential election history!

This impending political news is outstanding if you’re a Democrat.  The polls in the usual swing states are also quite clearly in Biden’s favor as well, not to mention the numerous traditionally Republican-controlled states now on the verge of finally becoming swing states thanks to demented Donald Trump’s ongoing, internationally televised mental breakdown and political self-destruction taking the entire racist, fascist Republican Party down with him in flames on November 3. 

And of course that’s what we’re all watching in real time right now – diabolical Donald Trump’s farcical, full-blown maniacal meltdown both politically and psychologically speaking.  Haven’t you noticed that President Trumptanic is literally sweating almost as much as tricky Dick Nixon did back in the day?  Some in the American media are pointing out the obvious (that the metaphorically buck naked, morbidly obese Orange Emperor has no brain and is completely insane), but most reporters are apparently, for some strange reason (could it be cowardice?), still too afraid to tell the terrible truth about traitor Trump the tangerine tyrant.  Why?  What is the so-called free press so afraid of?

What ever happened to our fearless, heroic, patriotic profession of journalism that actually, once upon a time, had the respect and admiration of the American people?  How did we go from The Washington Post’s Woodward & Bernstein bringing down sweaty Richard Nixon’s paranoid presidency (which wasn’t nearly as criminal and nowhere near as treasonous as traitor Trump’s Russian-controlled Republican regime) to this current situation (with some notable exemplary exceptions) where most American journalists voluntarily choose to act like they’re living in an authoritarian country without a First Amendment?  

Freedom of speech doesn’t mean much if everyone is too terrified of consequences (or too satisfied with their paychecks) to speak truth to power.  Allow me an attempt, if you will, to lighten the mood of my fellow Democrats/liberals/progressives with some good news for a change!  Yes, folks, it’s true:  Trump’s foolish fascist regime is finished, and his much-deserved political execution is right around the corner.  USA!  USA!  USA!

In fact, despicable Donald Trump is the pathetic political equivalent of a “Dead Man Walking” (all apologies to Sean Penn & Susan Sarandon).  As a long-time observer of American elections, I have no doubt at all at this point as to what the outcome will be.  And nothing that I have to say about it is going to decrease voter turnout in the least.  Democratic voter turnout wasn’t a problem at all during the primaries, and the anti-Trump turnout will be massive in November.  

Unlike 2016, Trump’s psychotic sales pitch is falling on deaf ears, since he is a disastrously failed incompetent incumbent who can’t even come up with a reason as to why he should be given a 2nd term, other than the fact that Trump the plump chump is a ridiculous racist who is in love with the Confederate flag and sacrilegiously worships statues of Confederate traitors.  And as poorly as these clueless conservative Republican politicians did in 2018, what possible reason would there be to believe the GOP’s chances could improve in 2020?        

This election really is all over but the shouting, and we should stop playing defense politically, stop living in fear of what happened in the previous election(s), and go on the offense unreservedly in the remaining 3 months of this one. Our cause is righteous and we will be victorious, because the racist Republican Party is doing everything possible at this point to lose.  We the people are going to win in 2020 in a landslide!  Let’s win this one for the late, great John Lewis.

Believe it or not, there actually is light at the end of this particularly long, dark, terrible tunnel of lies and treason otherwise known as the Trump Administration.  Traitor Trump (otherwise known as the Confederate flag-loving racist Moscow-loving moron) can’t lie his way out of this one, and his big daddy Vlad can’t steal this one thanks to Trump having effectively (and perhaps only temporarily) turned many highly-skilled, tough-as-nails, patriotic operatives in our military and intelligence communities into hardcore partisan Democrats.  The so-called “deep state” is in fact watching this one very closely, and Trump’s corrupt Russian war criminal benefactors know it.  Trump is done.

Calling the CIA “Nazis” as one of his first official statements as president was actually the end of Trump’s “re-election” chances.  (And, after all, Trump wasn’t legitimately elected the first time around according to irrefutable statistical analyses of the official vote totals in 2016 from the swing states under Republican control, which show unmistakable signs of the statewide vote totals having been altered to give Trump margins in those states just above the automatic recount thresholds.)  

So to sum up, there is no need to worry about winning in 2020, if they let the people vote.  And we the people will vote for Joe Biden for President and for other Democrats down-ballot this Nov. 3rd in historically impressive numbers.  God Bless America!  And God Bless our soon-to-be 46th President of the United States, Joe Biden.  

AHF Pays Tribute to their ‘Good Friend’ Congressman John Lewis, Civil Rights Icon

Global AIDS organization salutes Georgia congressman, a leader and icon in the civil rights movement and one who also pushed for funding for global access to HIV/AIDS care and treatment 

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) today sadly mourns the death of United States Representative John Lewis (D-GA), an icon in the civil rights movement. His family announced his passing in a statement Friday, July 17, noting Congressman Lewis was “…honored and respected as the conscience of the US Congress and an icon of American history, … a stalwart champion in the on-going struggle to demand respect for the dignity and worth of every human being.  He dedicated his entire life to non-violent activism and was an outspoken advocate in the struggle for equal justice in America.  He will be deeply missed.”

According to CNN, Lewis “…died after a six-month battle with cancer. He was 80.”

“We mourn and thank Congressman John Lewis today for his tireless, lifelong work—on civil rights, social justice, health care and more—far beyond the reach and accomplishment of most men,” said Michael Weinstein, president of AHF, the largest global AIDS organization. “In tribute to this powerful but humble man, I share a photo of Congressman Lewis meeting with several of AHF’s medical providers, staff and patients from Africa when they came to Washington years ago to join us in lobbying Congress to reauthorize PEPFAR, the President’s Emergency Fund for AIDS Relief. Congressman Lewis graciously invited us into his office—not a staffer’s, but his own—and listened intently to our stories and shared his own. He was an American, but truly a man for all seasons—and all nations—truly irreplaceable. Rest in peace kind sir.”

“I am saddened and want to send my condolences to Congressman Lewis’ family and close friends. The African American community and country have lost a stalwart from the ‘Civil Rights Movement and A Giant Among Men.’  Congressman Lewis was a good friend of AHF. I remember meeting him when AHF held the ribbon-cutting ceremony at our new medical clinic in Washington D.C., on K Street, in the mid-2000s. He was so gracious, down-to-earth, unassuming and his presence was awe-inspiring. May his passion for civil rights, social justice and health equity live on and continue to affect the hearts and minds of a new generation of social and political activists.” said Cynthia Davis, MPH, Chair of AHF’s Board of Directors.

“Congressman Lewis was beyond a politician, he was a servant-leader,” stated Imara Canady, Chair of AHF’s Black Leadership AIDS Crisis Coalition, based in Atlanta. “I was blessed to personally know the Congressman and have directly witnessed the impact that his leadership had on the constituents of metro Atlanta. No matter the issue, no matter your sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic status, he represented all people. Even with all that was on his plate, he never missed an opportunity to be with his constituents and had a unique ability to make everyone he encountered feel Important.  He was relentless in the ongoing fight for justice for all people, stood up against foolery and gave new meaning to the transformative impact of fearless advocacy.”

“I had the honor to participate with Congressman John Lewis in a panel discussion in Atlanta on the impact of HIV in communities of color at a forum for the faith-based community. I shared my profound admiration for him, and he then told me how important my own advocacy was as a man of color living with HIV. It meant so much to me coming from a living legend. I spoke first and he followed with such a passionate call out to the pastors and audience members to embrace the fight against HIV as a ‘moral and civil rights issue’ where lives are valued, free of stigma, free of judgement and access to treatment is prioritized over greed—remarks that were greeted with standing ovation. Rest in Power, Mr. Lewis,” added Joey Terrill, Director of Global Advocacy & Partnerships for AHF.

About AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the largest global AIDS organization, currently provides medical care and/or services to over 1.4million people in 45 countries worldwide in the US, Africa, Latin America/Caribbean, the Asia/Pacific Region and Eastern Europe. To learn more about AHF, please visit our website: www.aidshealth.org, find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/aidshealth and follow us on Twitter: @aidshealthcare and Instagram: @aidshealthcare.

“Thus Saith the Lord!”

By Lou Yeboah

“You have neither heard nor understood; from of old your ears have not been open. Well do I know how treacherous you are; you were called a rebel from birth.” [Isaiah 48:8]; “Hear this, you foolish and senseless people, who have eyes but do not see, who have ears but do not hear.” [Jeremiah 5:21]; “To whom can I speak and give warning? Who will listen to me? Their ears are closed so they cannot hear. The word of the Lord is offensive to them; they find no pleasure in it.” [Jeremiah 6:10);] “Son of man, you are living among a rebellious people. They have eyes to see but do not see and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious people.” [Ezekiel 12:2].

In these passages, we see God lamenting the hardness of a rebellious people, His chosen people, to His wisdom and advice, given to them through His prophets. They have ears, but their ears [of hearing] are not open, and so they do not hear [comprehend, take to heart, heed] what God has to say to them.

“He said, “Go and tell this people: “‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving. [Isaiah 6:9-10]. “With your own eyes you saw those great trials, those signs and great wonders.  But to this day you have not paid attention, taken heed. I am fed up with your hardness of heart, and so He says, in effect, “Have it your way, then. I will close your ears myself, so that you will not be able to hear, to repent and to be healed until I restore your hearing to you when the time is right.

Listen, Jesus is calling for us to “Listen up! Pay close attention!” Jesus told his disciples that the past is the key to the future. [Matthew 24].  For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage. They were buying and selling and continuing in all the usual activities of human life. Business as usual.  They paid no attention to Noah as he warned them of impending judgment; they paid him no mind whatsoever until the day that Noah entered the ark. One translation said, “They did not know.” What a damning indictment. It was an age of enlightenment. But they did not know. It was an age of great progress. But they did not know. It was an age of military might. But they did not know. It was an age when mighty men roamed the earth. But they did not know. They knew so much but understood so little. They knew more and more about less and less until they knew everything about nothing and nothing about what really mattered. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools. They had no time for God until it was too late. That is the world of Noah’s day. They were wise fools who did not heed the warnings of the preacher of righteousness. Then the flood came and took them all away.  For those that have ears, let them hear what the Spirit is saying.

The day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision. Where do you stand?” Pardon or Punishment. The Book of Haggai, the second shortest in the Old Testament, has a potent message. It tells us to put first things first in our lives. It was written to people, like us, who would have told you that God must be first. They believed that; but, they had drifted into a way of life where their intellectual belief in the supremacy of God was not reflected in the way they were living. They gave lip service to the priority of God, but in fact they lived with other priorities. God sent this prophet to help His people get their priorities in line with what they knew they should be. Putting first things first [Haggai 1:1-15]. Kingdom First [Matthew 6:33].  Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. Live in light of Eternity. Your very salvation depends upon the priorities you set in your life as a Christian.

Let us be wise in light of the brevity of life and the fact that we will one day stand before Jesus Christ and give an account for what we have done in our body, whether good or bad (2 Corinthians 5:10;  Ecclesiastes 12:14).  Now is the time to establish our priorities and stay with them in the coming days, months, and years.

 “Be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil” [Ephesians 5:15-16]. 

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