WSSN Stories

By Stacy M. Brown | NNPA Newswire

Members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) firmly stated that Black Americans are being attacked in various ways nationwide, with Republicans leading these efforts.

“We refuse to be victims, and we will not be silenced,” declared CBC Chairman and Representative Steven Horsford (D-Nev.) during a State of Black America press event held at the Capitol.

“Our fundamental rights are under siege, and our history is being denied.

“But we will not passively witness these actions. Too many people count on us to fight for them.”

Recent GOP-led state actions

Recent events in several GOP-led state legislatures have intensified concerns within the CBC.

Despite a Supreme Court order, Alabama and Louisiana legislatures refused to create an additional district with a majority of Black residents.

The Florida State Board of Education has approved new education guidelines that downplay the harsh history of slavery. Instead, they emphasize the perceived benefits gained from the skills of enslaved people.

Rep. Maxwell Frost from Florida, the youngest member of the House, expressed frustration with his state’s guidelines.

He said these guidelines aim to erase and indoctrinate this generation with white supremacy.

However, Frost warned that Florida officials should not underestimate Black America’s determination to organize and resist.

Members of the CBC said that statements made by their GOP counterparts at the Capitol have deeply disturbed them, adding to the mounting discontent.

Rep. Eli Crane from Arizona made an offensive comment during a House floor debate by referring to Black people as “colored people.”

Meanwhile, Sen. Tommy Tuberville from Alabama defended a controversial statement by denying the racism of white nationalists.

Horsford acknowledged that expectations from Republican leaders are minimal at this point, but Representative Troy Carter (D-La.) demanded that the party’s leaders take a stand against such bigotry.

“The silence from Republicans and others in the face of such egregious statements is deafening,” Carter said.

“We will not condone the erasing of history. We must stand together to put an end to this.”

Recent CBC actions

The CBC has issued a list of demands, calling on the Department of Justice and the Department of Education to launch investigations into education policies. The caucus recently met with Education Secretary Miguel Cardona to discuss policies about Black history.

They also sent formal letters to Cardona and Attorney General Merrick Garland, urging for a “strong legal strategy.”

“Black people did not benefit from slavery; we built this country,” emphasized Horsford.

“Our toil, sweat, and tears went into constructing the very foundation of this nation. Elevating Black America is an elevation for all. We will not tolerate this assault on our rights.”

CHICAGO – In two historic filings, housing advocates are challenging policies of two large landlords in Cook County, Illinois that automatically reject applicants who have any prior connection to an eviction case, alleging the policies discriminate against Black renters, especially Black women, in violation of the 1968 Fair Housing Act. These “No-Evictions” policies shut out families from housing opportunities even when the eviction case was dismissed or was filed years ago.

Legal Aid Chicago filed a federal lawsuit today against Hunter Properties, Inc., arguing that Hunter’s “No-Evictions” policy has a disparate impact based on race, as well as on race and sex. Hunter’s website makes clear that “Prior eviction filings will result in denial” of housing applications, resulting in discrimination against Black renters, especially Black women. The lawsuit also claims that Hunter’s practice of excluding potential tenants based on sealed eviction records violates Illinois state law prohibiting unfair residential leasing practices.

While Black people of all genders make up just 33 percent of Cook County renters, Black people were approximately 56 percent of the individuals from September 2010 to March 2023 either served with an eviction case by the sheriff’s office or evicted by the sheriff’s office. Black women alone accounted for approximately 33 percent of those served or evicted despite making up just 22 percent of all renters in Cook County. Black renters faced nearly triple the likelihood of experiencing an eviction case than non-Black renters.

“It’s time that we take the stigma out of eviction filings,” said Dennericka Brooks, director of the Housing Practice Group at Legal Aid Chicago. “Blanket policies of housing providers that deny housing to, or prevent families from even applying for housing, have a cascading negative impact on families of color. These policies lock families out of housing while simultaneously ushering in opportunity to abuse, harass, or intimidate families with the mere threat of having an eviction filed against them. No family should be denied real housing choice because of a mere court filing against them. It’s time that we start demanding that housing providers see people as people and remove policies that are known to disparately impact women of color and perpetuate segregation.”

In addition, HOPE Fair Housing Center (HOPE) filed a civil rights complaint with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development against Oak Park Apartments, one of the largest operators of rental housing in Oak Park, Illinois. The complaint argues that Oak Park Apartments’ “No-Evictions” policy both discriminates against Black renters and Black women renters and perpetuates and reinforces residential segregation.“For over 50 years, Oak Park has worked hard to intentionally develop and grow an inclusive, integrated community,” said Michael Chavarria, HOPE’s executive director. “Landlords obstructing that hard work by placing barriers to housing for its residents, specifically for Black women, should be held accountable for their actions.”

The two cases are among the first in the nation to challenge eviction screening policies as discriminatory. Legal Aid Chicago is represented in the suit by the American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Illinois, Mayer Brown, and the National Housing Law Project (NHLP). HOPE Fair Housing Center is represented in its complaint by the ACLU, the ACLU of Illinois, and NHLP.

“The law needs to recognize how use of these screening policies uniquely harms Black women as they seek housing for themselves and their families,” said Emily Werth, Senior Staff Attorney at the ACLU of Illinois. “Given the pernicious history of housing discrimination in Chicago and across Cook County, it is critical to address this continuing driver of discrimination and segregation.”

“Fair housing is a pillar of our fight for systemic equality, and eviction screening policies are an active threat to that equality,” said Sandra Park, senior staff attorney at the ACLU’s Women’s Rights Project. “These blanket bans lock out millions of renters because they were connected to an eviction case, even when they won or it occurred years ago. They prolong the trauma of eviction and especially destabilize Black women and families by trapping them in poverty. Communities are safer and stronger when everyone has equal access to housing, and we’re determined to oppose these harmful policies in Cook County and across the country.”

“Once the CDC’s nationwide eviction moratorium ended, an estimated 30 to 40 million people, who were disproportionately Black households and Black women, were at risk of eviction due to the COVID-19 housing crisis,” said Shamus Roller, executive director of the National Housing Law Project. “Those disparities serve as another potent example of the stark racial inequities and racial wealth gap in this country. That these evictions are used in a blanket way to exclude individuals and families from housing is both unjust and unlawful.”

“Mayer Brown is proud to represent Legal Aid Chicago and to work alongside the ACLU and the National Housing Law Project to advance this federal litigation challenging the discriminatory and devastating impact that having an eviction record imposes on Black people, and particularly Black women, in Cook County,” said Brian Massengill, a partner at Mayer Brown LLP. “Housing and economic stability is a core pillar of the firm’s Project Equity initiative—we will continue to handle matters that ensure fair and equitable housing for all.

Contracting Rabies is Almost Always Fatal and All Human or Pet Contact with Bats Should be Reported

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) advises the public to never touch a bat with bare hands, and to report injured, sick, or dead bats. Summer and early-fall months are when rabid bats are most often found in Los Angeles County, especially during July, August, and September.

Healthy bats, which are good for the environment, typically hide and sleep during the day and emerge at dusk to fly and eat insects. Only about 1% of bats in nature have rabies, however, about 15% bats found near people and pets in LA County test positive for rabies. In 2022, 50 rabid bats were identified. So far this year, six rabid bats have been found, including three in Santa Clarita and one each in Altadena, Glendale and Los Angeles (zip code 90027).

Bats with rabies are more likely to fly in daylight, appear on the ground, or be found resting for long periods in highly visible areas, such as on the side of a wall. Bats with rabies may be found alive or dead and you cannot confirm if a bat has rabies just by looking at it.

Rabies is a fatal disease to humans and pets, including dogs and cats, if preventative medical treatment is not given before symptoms appear. Rabies is transmitted by the bite, or scratch from a tooth of a rabid animal. Many of our local bats have very small teeth. Bites from bats can be too shallow and small to be easily detected and can heal over quickly. Bats found inside of a house with any access to people sleeping, children, or pets may have bitten a person or pet without waking them or leaving a visible bite wound. After an exposure to rabies, a person must get urgent treatment to prevent illness.

Follow these simple steps if you encounter a bat:

• Never touch a bat with bare hands.
• Know that bats are protected wildlife, that they are beneficial for our environment, and that it is illegal for the public to kill, harm, or keep them. However, any bat that may have exposed a person or pet to rabies needs to be tested.
• Do not release a bat outside if it was found indoors or if it was handled with bare hands – cover it with a box and call animal control to request that it be tested for rabies. Any bat that may have bitten, or had contact with, a person or pet should be collected by animal control and tested by Public Health for rabies.
• If a bat is found outside that is sick, not moving, or dead, place a box or bucket over it. Then call the local animal control office to retrieve it for rabies testing.
• Seek rabies help quickly if you may have had an exposure. After a bat bite or bat encounter, call (213) 288-7060, or email vet@ph.lacounty.govto discuss the risk of rabies exposure. Office hours are Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.  To report bites in Pasadena, call the Pasadena Humane Society (626) 792-7151. For Long Beach call Long Beach Animal Control at (562) 570-7387 and for Vernon call its health department at (323) 583-8811.
• Keep pets safe from rabies by keeping them up to date with their rabies vaccination. Indoor-only cats and dogs should be vaccinated against rabies, as some rabid bats are found indoors almost every year in Los Angeles County.  Rabies vaccinations for pets are available at veterinary offices and low-cost veterinary programs throughout the county.
• Read and share our flyer on What To Do If You Find A Bat, available in English and Spanish: http://ph.lacounty.gov/vet/docs/WhatToDoIfYouFindABat_2021Outreach.pdf

For more information on bats and rabies visit: publichealth.lacounty.gov/vet/rabies.htm

By Lou K Coleman

Many people, having heard all their lives about the grace and mercy of God, take His grace for granted. They decide on courses and actions which they know are contrary to God’s will, but figure that “God will forgive me anyway” and plunge foolishly into their rebellious way. They assume there will be no lasting damage once they are forgiven. These people exhibit the spirit of Esau — and unfortunately may well discover his end as well. For Hebrews tells us that when “later” came, and Esau wanted to repent of his actions, it was too late. “He found no place for repentance, though he sought for it with tears.” [Hebrews 12:17].

This sad story should be a warning to each of us, not to take for granted the grace of God, as well as to realize that there are irreversible decisions in life. As devastating as the loss of such things on earth can be, the weightiest application here is that one day it will be too late for repentance. As [Hebrews 9:27] says, “It is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment.” When death comes, it will be too late for repentance. The Rich Man in [Luke 16] discovered that too late. His destiny was now fixed and like in Esau’s case “there was no place for repentance.” May each of us learn from him, and from Esau, and not wait until it is too late to consider the cost of our decisions and actions.

Be as the wise man who said, “Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, before the difficult days come, and the years draw near.” [Ecclesiastes 12:1].

“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid! Repent now before it’s too late!

General President Lonzer’s Announcement Amplifies Current Convention Theme of Strengthening the Brotherhood and Standing for Social Justice

DALLAS, TX – Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. General President Dr. Willis, L. Lonzer, III announced the relocation of the Fraternity’s 99th General Convention and 119th Anniversary Convention from Orlando, Florida, scheduled to take place in 2025, due to Governor Ron DeSantis’ harmful, racist, and insensitive policies against the Black community. Today’s announcement, on the first day of its 97th General Convention and 117th Anniversary Convention in Dallas, Texas, amplifies the Fraternity’s convention theme, “Strengthening the Brotherhood and Standing for Social Justice.”

“Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. has an unmatched legacy of social justice, advocacy, and leadership for the Black community,” said General President Dr. Willis L. Lonzer, III. “In this environment of manufactured division and attacks on the Black community, Alpha Phi Alpha refuses to direct a projected $4.6 million convention economic impact to a place hostile to the communities we serve. Although we are moving our convention from Florida, Alpha Phi Alpha will continue to support the strong advocacy of Alpha Brothers and other advocates fighting against the continued assault on our communities in Florida by Governor Ron DeSantis.”

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Conventions generate approximately $4.6 million in economic impact.

Earlier this week, the Florida Board of Education approved a controversial new K-12 curriculum for African American history, which erase Florida’s role in slavery and oppression, blames the victims, and declares that African Americans who endured slavery benefitted from the horrific and torturous institution.

The Fraternity joins a broad coalition of organizations protesting Florida’s barrage of harmful and discriminatory policies on protests, voting rights, education, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. In May, the NAACP issued a travel advisory, calling Florida “openly hostile” to African Americans.

In Dallas this week, General President Lonzer and Fraternity leadership are dedicating much of its current convention to highlight the continued fight needed for social justice on behalf of African Americans and other marginalized communities. On Monday, Fraternity leadership joined Dallas-Ft. Worth area Alpha Phi Alpha Chapters as well as other Divine 9 Dallas Chapters in a protest march that culminated with a rally of hundreds at City Hall.

The newly appointed President & CEO of The Rainbow Push Coalition, Alpha Brother, Rev. Dr. Frederick D. Haynes, III, also helped lead the march and delivered rousing remarks at the rally.

OAKLAND – California Attorney General Rob Bonta today joined a bipartisan coalition of 24 attorneys general in submitting a letter to Congress in support of H.R. 1255, the Sgt. Isaac Woodard, Jr. and Sgt. Joseph H. Maddox GI Bill Restoration Act of 2023. Authored by Congressmen Seth Moulton (D-MA) and James Clyburn (D-SC), the federal legislation would extend eligibility for certain housing and educational benefits to Black World War II veterans and their families. The original GI Bill signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1944 — known as the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act — was race neutral, but its implementation was marred by racism.

“Exactly 75 years ago, President Harry S. Truman mandated the desegregation of our Armed Forces. Today, we cannot lose sight of a harsh reality: Black World War II veterans and their families were systematically denied the GI benefits they had rightfully earned,” said Attorney General Bonta. “H.R. 1255 would fix that terrible injustice, and I join my fellow attorneys general in urging Congress to pass it. We must continue to make progress toward a more perfect union.”

The original GI Bill provided a range of benefits to World War II veterans, including low-cost mortgages, low-interest loans to start a business or farm, and funds to pursue a college education. However, these benefits were regularly denied to Black World War II veterans and their families solely because of the color of their skin. For example, institutions adopted the Federal Housing Administration’s racial exclusion programs, known as redlining, which excluded Black World War II veterans from accessing the housing loan guaranty program. The consequences of such acts have had longstanding impacts: according to a report from the Consumer Federation of America, homeownership between white Americans and Black Americans stand at 74.50% and 44.10%, respectively, as of 2020.

If passed, the Sgt. Isaac Woodard, Jr. and Sgt. Joseph H. Maddox GI Bill Restoration Act of 2023 — named after two Black World War II veterans who experienced life-altering injustices — would among other things:

• Extend access to the VA Loan Guaranty Program to surviving spouses and certain direct descendants of Black World War II veterans.
• Extend access to the Post-911 GI Bill educational assistance benefits to surviving spouses and certain direct descendants of Black World War II veterans.
• Establish a panel of experts to make recommendations on addressing inequitable access to benefits for female and minority members of the Armed Forces.

In sending today’s letter, Attorney General Bonta joins the attorneys general of Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin.

A copy of the letter is available here.

The Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. strongly condemns the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling which strikes down race-based admissions at colleges and universities.  This majority decision overturns decades of legal precedent and will likely have a crippling impact on the racial diversity of colleges and universities for generations to come.

Today’s landmark ruling undermines Fourteenth amendment protections, reduces opportunities in higher education, further disenfranchises students of color, and may lead to more acts of discrimination and racism at predominately white institutions (PWIs).

The consequences of this ruling will be far reaching within American society.  A less diverse student population at some of the nation’s best colleges and universities may lead to a less racially diverse candidate pool for career opportunities.  This will likely exacerbate inequalities in housing, healthcare, and other critical areas of need.

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. refuses to remain silent on these trends to roll back hard-fought civil rights gains and to disenfranchise Black and marginalized communities.

Elections have consequences, and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. will continue to develop leaders and advocates to engage in all levels of our Democracy.  Alpha Phi Alpha will also continue its investment in the youth to minimize the damaging effect of this ruling.

About Alpha Phi AlphaThe Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., headquartered in Baltimore, MD, was founded on December 4, 1906, at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY. The Fraternity has long stood at the forefront of the African-American community’s fight for civil rights through Alpha men such as Martin Luther King, Jr., Adam Clayton Powell, Thurgood Marshall, Paul Robeson, Andrew Young, Edward Brooke and Cornel West. The fraternity, through its more than 720 college and alumni chapters and general-organization members, serves communities in the United States, Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Caribbean. Visit and follow on Twitter @apa1906network.

By Joe W. Bowers Jr. and Edward Henderson | California Black Media

The California African American Chamber of Commerce (CAACC) has unanimously added Derek Smith to its Board of Directors. Smith is the founder and managing member of Marinship Development Interest, a California African American Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) leading heavy building and construction innovation for civil and energy infrastructure projects.

CAACC Chairman Timothy Alan Simon, announced that Smith’s experience, leadership skills, resourcefulness, professional achievements, and ability to approach strategic solutions will prove useful to CAACC’s leadership team and objectives.

Smith said he will help the largest African American, statewide-business organization expand exponentially, increase its professional capacity, and enhance its image. He will operate as CAACC’s “spokesperson” and is looking forward to elevating the profile of the organization in California and throughout the country.

By Joe W. Bowers Jr. and Edward Henderson | California Black Media

On July 13, the Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners (BOAC) unanimously elected Karim Webb as the group’s President.

Webb is an Entrepreneurial Activist and CEO of 4thMVMT, a Los Angeles-based firm that partners with individuals from underserved communities to own and operate competitive retail businesses.

“It is an incredible honor to serve as President of Board of Airport Commissioners,” said Webb. “An extraordinarily talented group of Commissioners have been assembled to ensure the benefits of Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) are realized equitably across our region.

“Collectively, we’ll work to support the LAWA team complete the transformation of LAX while centering the interests of all Angelinos in all we do,” said Webb, who is the son of Reggie Webb, a philanthropist and owner of McDonald’s franchises in Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass congratulated Webb on his election to BOAC President.

“I am confident that LAWA will continue to innovate and grow its impact in the region under the leadership of President Karim Webb and Vice President Matt M. Johnson.”

Bass also congratulated Courtney La Bau and Victor Narro on their appointments as new commissioners of BOAC.

By Lou K Coleman

The sirens are sounding, blaring, warning that catastrophic impact is about to take place. Wake up! Because there is a storm on the horizon, that will come suddenly, and unexpectedly. This is a storm that cannot be compared to any storm of nature in its power and intensity. This storm will be the greatest storm to every hit mankind since Creation.  This storm, the approaching storm of the wrath of God will bring judgment upon the heart of every man and woman remaining in the earth and none will escape its power. I ask you; can you hear what I hear? The sirens are blaring, that catastrophic impact is about to take place.

Please don’t wait until the storm falls on you. Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior today, for He is the only source of refuge from this coming storm. As [Zephaniah 1:14-18] tells us, “The great day of the Lord is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly… a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness. A day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high towers. A day when I, the Lord, will bring distress upon you, that you shall walk like blind men, because you have sinned against Me: your blood shall be poured out as dust, and your flesh as the dung. For neither your silver nor your gold shall be able to deliver you in the day of My wrath; for the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of My jealousy: for I, the Lord shall make even a speedy riddance of all you that dwell in the land.

Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near: So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done. Heaven and earth shall pass away: but My words shall not pass away. But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. Therefore, take ye heed, watch and pray for ye know not when the time is. For the Son of Man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.”  Be sober, be on guard, keep awake! [Mark 13:28-37].

God has promised that the storm is coming. [John 3:36, Romans 2:5, the whole book of Revelation]. Hasten your escape from the windy storm and tempest before it is too late [Psalms 55:8] knowing that the Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness. [2 Peter 3:9]. For when they shall say, peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. [1 Thessalonians 5:3].

Why should you die? Heed the warnings and obey the call. Don’t sit idly by and be caught unaware and unprepared.  You’ve Been Warned! Repent before it’s too late!