news
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DC Police Now Have to Learn Black History. Will It Curb Brutality?
On Friday morning, on the steps of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel E. Bowser announced that D.C. police officers will be required to take a critical-race-theory program. “We are committed to accountability,” Bowser told reporters, “to strengthen the bonds of trust between MPD and our residents.” As…
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Washington, DC, May Give 16-Year-Olds Right to Vote for President
In the three years that I taught Intro to Journalism at the City College of New York, we’d have the most fun during our “Op-Ed” lesson, where students would have an in-class debate. Whenever we argued the question, “Should the drinking age be lowered to 18?” the pro side would inevitably argue that if kids…
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Michigan Man Faces Attempted-Murder Charges for Shooting at 14-Year-Old Who Asked for Directions
Jeffery Craig Zeigler, a 53-year-old retired firefighter, was charged with assault with intent to murder and possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony on Friday. Zeigler was charged after authorities say he shot at a 14-year-old, Brennan Walker, who was trying to get directions to get to school after missing his bus.…
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Starbucks CEO Apologizes, Says He Wants to Meet With the Black Men Arrested in Philly
Remember Starbucks’ “Race Together” idea a few years back? The since-destroyed concept was that baristas at the high-priced coffee chain were to openly engage customers on race relations in the United States. Ironic, then, that the company is once again feeling the social media flames and calls for a boycott over an incident at a…
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Philly Police Chief Cop-splains Why 2 Black Men Were Cuffed in Starbucks Viral Video Incident
Police across the country just can’t seem to break out of their M.O. of enforcing and reinforcing this country’s long-standing, irrational fear of black bodies. As noted in a recent VSB column, black people are pretty much criminalized for breathing in the United States (that, and standing, sitting, sleeping, walking and 45 some other odd…
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Head of Russia Probe Says He’s Ready to Go if the President Gives Him the Boot
President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly shown his utter disdain for the rule of law, the FBI and the Justice Department, has clearly put a big-ass target on Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein’s back. Rosenstein, however, says he is ret to go should that fateful day come. The career prosecutor is, of course, overseeing the…
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Thousands of South Africans Say Farewell to ‘Mama’ Winnie Madikizela-Mandela in Soweto
In a ceremony befitting a head of state, tens of thousands of South Africans gathered in the dazzling colors of liberation to pay their respects to Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, a fierce anti-apartheid activist and the undisputed mother of the South African nation. Mourners poured into the 40,000-seat Orlando Stadium in Johannesburg’s Soweto township, where “Mama Winnie”…
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April Ryan Receives Fresh Death Threats After Asking if Trump Will ‘Step Down’
Veteran White House correspondent April Ryan says that the Trump administration is “ginning people up” to harm her simply for doing her job. Ryan has publicly tangled with the Trump White House and its press secretaries before, but this week she says that after she asked if the president was going to step down, she…
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Trump Orders Retaliation Strikes Against Syria
On Friday evening, Donald Trump announced that there would be precision missile strikes conducted against Syria in retaliation for alleged chemical weapons attacks that occurred on April 7 in Douma. The White House called for the press pool to gather shortly after 8:30 p.m. on Friday, and the president made his announcement from the White…