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Hillary Clinton Pivots From Her Husband’s Stance on Mass Incarceration
It was 20 years, 7 months and 16 days ago when first lady Hillary Clinton stood clapping in the Rose Garden of the White House a few feet away from her husband, President Bill Clinton, as he signed the largest piece of crime legislation in American history—the $30 billion Violent Crime Control Act of 1994—known…
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Confirmation Vote on Loretta Lynch Expected Today
After 166 days of waiting—longer than the last seven nominees for U.S. attorney general combined—Loretta Lynch is expected to finally receive a confirmation vote by the U.S. Senate this afternoon. If she is confirmed, Lynch, 55, would be the first female African-American attorney general in history, and only the second woman to serve as…
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March2Justice Brings Fight Against Police Brutality to US Capitol
It was a march for the people when Justice League NYC’s March2Justice arrived in Washington, D.C., Tuesday, attracting activists, everyday citizens and even an actor from the hit Fox TV series Empire. Hundreds had set out from New York City to call for justice for those affected by police violence. “I feel like it’s my…
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Change Comes to Ferguson: 3 African Americans to Sit on City Council
After Tuesday’s vote, the city of Ferguson, Mo., will have three black members on its City Council for the first time in Ferguson’s history. Although it rained for much of election day, voter turnout was close to three times higher than what it was for the last City Council election in 2013. Many are saying that Tuesday’s…
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Ferguson Is Having an Election, but Will Ferguson Vote?
“When people on the left get mad, they march. When people on the right get mad, they vote. From the standpoint of influencing government, voting beats marching,” said former Massachusetts Rep. Barney Frank during a TV interview March 28. In that interview, Frank was talking about the Occupy movement, but the sentiment could easily…
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Higher Heights Works to Harness the Rising Political Clout of Black Women
Power, policy and mobilizing the political influence of African-American women. That was the focus of a lunchtime meeting of influential black women in Washington this week. In the ornate parlor of the Dorothy Height Building, between the Capitol and the White House, more than 40 women met to discuss the role of black women…
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Black Women March to Senate Leader’s Office in Protest Over Loretta Lynch
“We will not be moved, we will not go back, we will not stop,” said Dr. Barbara Williams-Skinner as she led a prayer outside the door of the U.S. Capitol office of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) as staff and U.S. Capitol police officers stirred nearby. About 20 prominent black women arrived at…
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CBC Members React as Jesse Jackson Jr. Gets Out of Prison
Today, former Illinois Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. is scheduled to leave an Alabama federal prison after serving time for misusing $750,000 in campaign funds for personal use. The 50-year-old former congressman and son of the Rev. Jesse Jackson received a sentence of 30 months in prison in 2013. Jackson Jr.’s sentence was shortened by three months because he completed a substance-abuse program, and…
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2 Mo. Congressmen Offer Reward in Ferguson Cops’ Shooting
Rep. Lacy Clay (D-Mo.), whose district includes Ferguson, and Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.) are offering a reward for the capture of the individual or individuals involved in the the shooting of two police officers in Ferguson early Thursday. Clay and Cleaver are offering $3,000 for information leading to the capture of the person or persons.…
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Secretary Moniz’s Energy Department Joins With Johnnetta Cole’s Art Museum to Focus on Minorities in STEM
President Barack Obama’s administration is continuing a focused push to get more African Americans into the technology and energy sectors. The Department of Energy launched the Minorities in Energy Initiative in 2013 during National Hispanic Heritage Month, and on Wednesday the department sponsored a Minorities in Energy Initiative event at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum…
