Derek Chauvin, the ex-Minneapolis police officer convicted of murdering George Floyd, was seriously injured after being stabbed by another inmate at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) in Tucson, Arizona. The incident occurred on Friday at approximately 12:30 p.m. local time within the confines of the medium-security prison.

FCI Tucson, known for its security lapses and staffing shortages, has faced challenges in maintaining a safe environment. The Bureau of Prisons verified that an incarcerated individual was assaulted, and in response, prison employees contained the situation and administered “life-saving measures” before transferring the unnamed assailant to a local hospital for further treatment and evaluation. The FBI has been informed of the incident, and visiting privileges at the facility, housing around 380 inmates, have been temporarily suspended. Fortunately, no staff members were injured during the altercation.

Messages seeking comments from Derek Chauvin’s legal representatives and the FBI have been left unanswered as of now.

This marks the second high-profile attack on a federal prisoner in the past five months. In July, former sports doctor Larry Nassar, notorious for sexual abuse scandals, was stabbed by a fellow inmate at a federal penitentiary in Florida.

The incident involving Chauvin is the second major security breach at the Tucson federal prison in just over a year. In November 2022, an inmate at the facility’s low-security prison camp attempted to shoot a visitor in the head. Fortunately, the weapon misfired, and no injuries were reported.

The recent stabbing raises questions about the safety and security measures at federal prisons, with concerns over inmate-on-inmate violence and the effectiveness of protective protocols within the correctional system. Authorities are expected to conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the attack on Derek Chauvin.

Watch the video below.

The post Former Officer Derek Chauvin Stabbed in Federal Prison first appeared on The Source.

The post Former Officer Derek Chauvin Stabbed in Federal Prison appeared first on The Source.

It’s been almost two months since the viral brawl at Riverfront Park in Montgomery, Alabama. Now Dameion Pickett, the dock worker who was attacked in the violent melee by a group of boaters, spoke out about the incident in an exclusive interview with “Good Morning America.”

Pickett, who is the lead deckhand of the Harriot II, reflected on what led up to the altercation and told “GMA” co-anchor Robin Roberts that he was just “just doing my job” and was “just in shock” when he was violently attacked.

“I didn’t expect this to happen at work today,” Pickett said. “I was just expecting another peaceful, nice cruise.”

According to Pickett and witnesses aboard the Harriett II who spoke with ABC News, crew members made several attempts to ask the owner of the pontoon boat to move it, but their calls were ignored.

“Everybody was yelling, “Could y’all move y’all boat?” Pickett said.

Then, Pickett said he got off the riverboat “by the captain’s orders” and went to move the pontoon boat himself.

“Really just moved it about one, two, four– four steps to the right, that’s it,” he said.

“I was, like, ‘I’m just doing my job … After we dock, we don’t mind y’all staying there but not at this time while we’re trying to dock,'” he added.

Moments after Pickett moved the boat, videos show a man punched him before others attacked him and were later identified by police as the boat owner and his family.

Pickett said that after he was assaulted, he had to defend himself.

“This man just put his hand on me. I was, like … it’s my job, but I’m still defending myself at the same time. So when he touched me, I was, like, ‘It’s on,'” Pickett said.

As the incident grew out of control, the fight led to a huge brawl that started between the individuals who attacked Pickett, all of whom were white, prompting several Black eyewitnesses to join a fight in an apparent attempt to defend Pickett, including a viral video of a teenager later identified as Aaren Hamilton-Rudolph swimming to the dock to defend him.

Hamilton-Rudolph, a 16-year-old who was only on his second week on the job, reflected on what made him swim to Pickett’s defense in an interview with “GMA.”

“Everybody was just recording. No one helped,” Hamilton-Rudolph said. “So I couldn’t just watch and sit around and just let him get beat on while everybody else is just recording and watching.”

Roshein “RahRah” Carlton, Pickett’s coworker and friend, also rushed to his defense.

“It’s our duty as– as our coworker, as a team, to go and aid and assist him,” Carlton told “GMA.”

Pickett said that “some nasty words” were directed at him when he got attacked, while Carlton claimed that he heard “a lot of racial slurs” being used during the incident.

The incident was investigated by the Montgomery Police Department, leading to misdemeanor assault charges against four white individuals, all of whom are now out on bond and set to appear in court for a hearing this week.

Pickett told Roberts that all he wanted to do was make sure that the Harriott II, which was carrying more than 200 passengers at the time, could dock safely.

“I had a responsibility,” he said. “I was still trying to get that boat in while the fight was still going on. I’m still telling the captain, ‘We gotta get these folks here safely to this dock.'”

Pickett asked how he was doing after the incident, saying, “I’m just a little– a little sore, little bumps and bruises here and there. But I’m here by the grace of God.”

Watch the video below.

The post [WATCH] Dock Worker Assaulted In Montgomery Brawl Breaks Silence first appeared on The Source.

The post [WATCH] Dock Worker Assaulted In Montgomery Brawl Breaks Silence appeared first on The Source.

Finally! Hollywood can bring back our shows.The WGA and major studios and streamers have reached a tentative agreement on a new three-year contract that promises to end the 146-day strike that has taken a heavy toll across the content industry.

Negotiators for the Writers Guild of America and Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers reached the finish line Sunday after five consecutive days of negotiations. Day 4 on Saturday mostly involved lawyers for the guild and AMPTP hashing out the fine print of language around complicated and groundbreaking additions to the WGA’s Minimum Basic Agreement. The details of language around the use of generative AI in content production was one of the last items that the sides worked on before closing the pact.

“We can say, with great pride, that this deal is exceptional – with meaningful gains and protections for writers in every sector of the membership,” the WGA’s negotiating committee wrote in an email to sent to members at 7:10 p.m. PT

The strike itself will still be in force through the guild’s contract approval and ratification process. But picketing has been suspended as of Sunday night. Guild leaders are expected to vote on Tuesday on whether to formally lift the strike order against AMPTP signatories.

“To be clear, no one is to return to work until specifically authorized to by the Guild. We are still on strike until then,” the message to members stated.

Details of the contract agreement won’t be released until the final language is completed over the coming days. WGA leadership expects to vote on Tuesday on the final pact. First the negotiating committee will vote on whether to recommend that the deal go to a vote of the board of the WGA West and council of WGA East. Assuming both of those votes approve the pact, the contract will be sent out for ratification by WGA’s 11,000 members.

“Though we are eager to share the details of what has been achieved with you, we cannot do that until the last ‘i’ is dotted,” the message to members stated. “To do so would complicate our ability to finish the job. So, as you have been patient with us before, we ask you to be patient again – one last time.”

Your 2023 @WGAWest @WGAEast Negotiating Committee: pic.twitter.com/DwEKthnvz6

— Eric Haywood (@EricHaywood) September 25, 2023

The post WGA, AMPTP Reach Historic Contract Agreement To End 146-Day Writers Strike first appeared on The Source.

The post WGA, AMPTP Reach Historic Contract Agreement To End 146-Day Writers Strike appeared first on The Source.

King Harris is catching flack again on social media. This time the son of rapper Tip “T.I.” Harris and R&B singer Tameka “Tiny” Harris offered a homeless man $50 to try the Paqui “One Chip Challenge” following the death of a 14-year-old boy.

Harris Wolobah, 14, of Massachusetts, died hours after eating one of the chips dipped in the world’s hottest peppers: Carolina Reaper and Naga Viper. Harris allegedly died from a severe allergic reaction to capsaicin, a component of chili peppers.

The maker of the One Chip Challenge has since removed the chips from store shelves. In a video that is now going viral, King offered a homeless man $50 to try one of the chips.

King told the man he couldn’t drink water for 5 minutes after eating the chip.

Watch the video below, Thoughts?

TI son King Harris makes a homeless man do the one chip challenge with no water for 5 minutes even after the chip was removed from stores after a 14 year old died doing the challenge.https://t.co/jld78Sc1ql pic.twitter.com/T5DduwW47p

— Trap Money Kobe (@TrapMoneyKobe_) September 9, 2023

The post T.I.’s Son King Harris Offers Homeless Man $50 To Take ‘One Chip Challenge’ Following 14-Year-Old’s Death first appeared on The Source.

The post T.I.’s Son King Harris Offers Homeless Man $50 To Take ‘One Chip Challenge’ Following 14-Year-Old’s Death appeared first on The Source.

When will these deadly trends and challenges stop?The creators of the Paqui One Chip Challenge tortilla snacks have removed their products from store shelves after a Massachusetts boy died attempting a social media challenge.

14-year-old Harris Wolobah tried the Paqui One Chip Challenge at school and immediately complained of abdominal pain, his mother, Lois, told NBC 10 Boston. Harris was a member of the Doherty Memorial High School boys basketball team. He also started up his own basketball league at St. Bernard’s Church, WCVB reported.

His family picked him up from school and took him home. He initially said he felt better, but his condition quickly deteriorated. Harris was rushed to a nearby hospital and pronounced dead.

According to the NY Post, the “One Chip Challenge” tests how long a person can go without drinking water or a beverage after eating one Paqui tortilla chip.

The company said their One Chip products were intended for adults only and were not intended for children, pregnant women, anyone with allergies to spicy ingredients.

“We have seen an increase in teens and other individuals not heeding these warnings,” the company said on its website. “As a result, while the product continues to adhere to food safety standards, out of an abundance of caution, we are actively working with our retailers to remove the product from shelves.”

Paqui is offering refunds on any of the company’s single-serve “One Chip Challenge” products. The flaming hot chips contain Carolina Reaper Pepper and Naga Viper Pepper, according to the company’s website.

Paqui also advised people to seek medical care if they experienced trouble breathing, fainting or prolonged nausea after eating the “extremely hot” tortilla chips.

“After touching the chip, wash your hands with soap and do not touch eyes or other sensitive areas,” the company states.

“Harris was one of the kids that consistently came to me and tried to stay and play an extra game,” Doherty coach Douglas Hill said. “He just loved the game of basketball and wanted to really improve.”

A GoFundMe account collected over $24,000 toward its $30,000 goal, as of Tuesday afternoon.

Thoughts?

The post ‘One Chip Challenge’ Products Removed From Stores After 14-Year Old Dies first appeared on The Source.

The post ‘One Chip Challenge’ Products Removed From Stores After 14-Year Old Dies appeared first on The Source.

Rapper-turned-philanthropist French Montana made a generous donation of 500 canoes to the community of Makoko, an impoverished community built on top of coastal waters in Yaba, Lagos Mainland. Makoko served as the site location for Montana’s latest music video “Wish U Well”. His decision to employ local craftsmen in his donation of 500 canoes will boost the local economy and support the livelihood of the community members. 

This continues Montana’s journey of giving back to communities in need after deeply connecting with the people, the culture, and understanding what is necessary to support the local ecosystem. Six years ago in Uganda, alongside the release of the diamond record “Unforgettable,” Montana embarked on a vision with the local community while filming the music video with Swae Lee to build the Suubi Health Center. His financial contributions, matched by others, opened the door to maternal healthcare for thousands of underserved mothers, women, and children across 55 remote villages accomplished in partnership with Global Citizen and Mama Hope. This still rings true today as Montana continues his global humanitarian and advocacy efforts giving back to those that don’t have the proper funding or resources.

Makoko serves as the backdrop for the “Wish U Well” music video, capturing the resilient spirit and vibrant culture that thrives within the city. The visuals serve as a love letter to Makoko for Montana and Swae, who spent time together there learning about the way of life and connecting with the people. But looking beyond its captivating visuals and resonant lyrics, the release of “Wish U Well” marks the catalyst for a groundbreaking philanthropic initiative that underscores Montana’s unwavering commitment to driving positive change.

Montana’s impact resonates profoundly as he collaborates with Swae Lee, gamma., and SALXCO to donate 500 wooden canoe boats to a community of 200,000 people who are endangered by critical flooding threats on a regular basis. Makoko, a suburb in Lagos, Nigeria, was once a vibrant “fishermen’s village” with homes built on stilts along the Lagos Lagoon, but now the community faces significant challenges due to pollution and sewage drainage complications. The lack of adequate sanitation systems adds to the challenging situation, but amidst these hardships, innovative projects are emerging to revitalize the community and strengthen its ability to cope with the impacts of climate change. To ensure the success of this initiative, the partners have outlined a clear plan with Montana at the helm: The large financial contribution for the project will fund the production of the 500 boats. With a production rate of approximately 6 boats per week, per contractor, the delivery of all 500 boats is projected to conclude within four months, by December, just in time for Christmas.

“I witnessed firsthand how water is both a lifeline and an obstacle in Makoko. These boats are essential tools transporting the residents of Makoko and goods and services,” said Montana. “As an immigrant from Morocco, giving back to communities in Africa, the place that raised me is so important. When I was filming, I met local leaders who talked about the daily struggles and aspirations of the wider community. I was moved by their spirit and positivity, which inspired me to get involved and to help impact change.”

Earlier this summer, Montana announced a partnership with “gamma.”, a multimedia platform that prioritizes artists, offering a range of creative and business services spanning various artistic and commercial mediums. In conjunction with the partnership came the release of Montana’s latest single and video for “Good Summer”, which blends the timeless allure of Wayne Wonder’s iconic hit “No Letting Go” with the irresistible groove of Nuskie’s “New Orleans Bounce.”

Watch the video below!

The post French Montana Donates 500 Canoes To Community Built On Stilts In Lagos, Nigeria first appeared on The Source.

The post French Montana Donates 500 Canoes To Community Built On Stilts In Lagos, Nigeria appeared first on The Source.

Ta’Kiya Young did not have to die.
When it comes to a black woman, no one ever stops to think of her story. Unlike ‘Karen’s’ who have the ability to cry and get a response with a phone call, black women’s feelings, conditions, marital status, or mental health is never considered at first sight.

The senseless shooting of the 21-year old black woman, Ta’Kiya Young led to protests and an investigation by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation into the use of deadly force by the police in Blendon Township. The pregnant mother was accused of stealing liquor when she was pulled over and killed in less than one minute.

Young was an aspiring social worker and mother of two boys, ages 6 and 3. She had been expecting a third child in November.

The Columbus branch of the N.A.A.C.P. has called for the officer, who, video shows, opened fire as Mr. Young drove forward, to be fired.

Ms. Young’s family said in a statement on Friday that the body-camera footage shows that her death was “not only avoidable, but also a gross misuse of power and authority.”

The police showed the video to Ms. Young’s father, grandmother and other relatives on Friday morning before it was released to the public, according to the family’s lawyer, Sean L. Walton.

According to the Blendon Police, two officers were in the parking lot of a Kroger supermarket on Aug. 24, helping a woman who had been locked out of her car, when a Kroger employee approached one of them and said that Ms. Young had stolen bottles of alcohol.

The video shows one of the officers walking up to Ms. Young, who was behind the wheel of a car in a parking spot, knocking on the window and telling her repeatedly to get out of the car.

“They said you stole stuff — do not leave,” the officer says.

Ms. Young remains behind the wheel and tells the officer that she did not steal anything, the video shows.

During the confrontation, the second officer walks directly in front of the car, commands her to get out and then draws his gun as she turns the wheel, the video shows.

As Ms. Young drives forward, and appears to hit the officer, he fires into the windshield, striking Ms. Young, whose car then rolls slowly forward and crashes into the wall of the shopping plaza, the video shows.

Ms. Young was taken to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead, according to Mr. Walton, who said that Ms. Young’s family believes her death should lead to an indictment of the officer who shot her.

In a statement released by Mr. Walton, Ms. Young’s family said, “As if the pain of losing Ta’Kiya isn’t enough, we must grapple with the knowledge that her unborn daughter was also robbed of her life in this hateful act.”

John Belford, the Blendon police chief, called Ms. Young’s death “a tragedy in our community.”

“Ms. Young’s family is understandably very upset and grieving,” he said in a statement. “While none of us can fully understand the depths of their pain, all of us can remember them in our prayers and give them the time and space to deal with this heartbreaking turn of events.”

Chief Belford said that he had placed both of the officers on paid administrative leave after the shooting, although the officer who did not fire his gun has since returned to duty.

Chief Belford did not release the names of the two officers, saying that they, along with Ms. Young, were “possible crime victims” whose identities cannot be released without a waiver under the Ohio Constitution and a state law known as Marsy’s Law, or the Ohio Crime Victims’ Bill of Rights.

The officer who shot Ms. Young was a “victim of attempted vehicular assault,” Chief Belford said.

The officer who was standing next to the car had his hand and part of his arm in the window when Ms. Young drove forward, making him “a victim of misdemeanor assault,” the chief said.

Chief Belford said he had asked the Bureau of Criminal Investigation to investigate the shooting.

A bureau spokesman said on Friday that the investigation was continuing and that the findings would be sent to the county prosecutor to determine if criminal charges were warranted.

The Blendon Police also released a version of the body-camera footage narrated by Russell Martin, a former sheriff of Delaware County, Ohio, and a former chief of police in Delaware, Ohio.

Chief Belford said he had asked Mr. Martin to “make observations and provide contextual comments” about the shooting without drawing conclusions about whether it was justified.

In that video, Mr. Martin says that the officer who shot Ms. Young was in “a clearly vulnerable position” directly in front of the car and adds, “Police officers are trained to draw their firearms when threatened with deadly force, which can be from a gun, a knife or a vehicle.”

Mr. Walton, the Young family’s lawyer, said that the officer had violated department policy, which states that officers should take reasonable steps to move out of the path of a vehicle instead of firing.

He also said that, according to a witness, Ms. Young had not stolen anything from the store.

The Blendon police referred questions about the theft accusation to the Bureau of Criminal Investigation, which declined to comment, citing the continuing investigation.

In the days since the shooting, protesters have gathered outside the Kroger to express outrage at Ms. Young’s death and to demand accountability.

“Whatever she did, it doesn’t warrant her being shot and her unborn baby being killed,” Nana M. Watson, president of the Columbus branch of the N.A.A.C.P., said in an interview on Friday. “It’s tragic, and it’s horrific for this community.”

Watch the videos below.

Thoughts?

The post [WATCH] Video Released Of Officer Fatally Shooting Pregnant Black Woman first appeared on The Source.

The post [WATCH] Video Released Of Officer Fatally Shooting Pregnant Black Woman appeared first on The Source.

The man who beat two people with a folding chair during the Alabama riverboat brawl has bonded out of jail.

Reggie Ray, 42, turned himself in on Friday and bonded out of jail on Saturday after hundreds of people donated nearly $270,000 to GoFundMe for his legal defense as of Monday afternoon.

“Funds raised here will be used to offset the cost of certain damages incurred by my clients and others involved in responding to the chaos at the riverfront,” the page reads. “These damages include but are not limited to medical bills, lost wages/earnings, professional services, travel, lodging and expenses.”

Ray became a viral hero when he defended a dock captain who thugs jumped. He was caught on camera whacking a man and a woman over their heads with a chair.

He was charged with disorderly conduct, a misdemeanor.

“Mr. Reggie Ray is out,” Civil rights attorney Lee Merritt wrote on social media. “He is in good spirits. He got a speeding ticket on the way home but he was relieved to discover the community showed up for him and others in such [a] strong way.”

Merritt said Ray had “involuntarily been roped into the disorderly conduct initiated by a violent white mob.”

The Aug. 5 incident occurred when a pontoon boat owner refused a request to move his boat so the riverboat Harriott II could dock in its reserved spot at Riverfront Park.

Charges filed against Combatants in wild boardwalk brawl

The boat owner and others attacked the Black Riverboat co-captain, Dameion Pickett, which sparked the brawl on the boardwalk. The video of the brawl went viral all over the world.

Montgomery Police Chief Darryl J. Albert announced assault charges against Richard Roberts, 48, Zachery Shipman, 25, Allen Todd, 23, and Mary Todd, 21. Roberts is charged with 2 counts of third-degree assault. The others are each charged with one count of third-degree assault.

Police and the FBI said there was insufficient evidence to charge the 4 with hate crimes.

Watch the videos below.

A brawl took place at Riverfront Park in Montgomery, Alabama.

Reportedly, a group of white men attacked a black dock worker after he asked them to move their boat. In response, a group of black men intervened to defend the worker.

Several were detained, and charges are pending. pic.twitter.com/4YhGGdB6IU

— BoreCure (@CureBore) August 6, 2023

Another POV of the brawl that took place at Riverfront Park in Montgomery, Alabama. pic.twitter.com/ekclNaSRoo

— BoreCure (@CureBore) August 6, 2023

The post Donations Hit $270K For Man Who Beat Alabama Boaters With Chair first appeared on The Source.

The post Donations Hit $270K For Man Who Beat Alabama Boaters With Chair appeared first on The Source.

According to several reports, 16-year-old basketball star in Los Angeles was killed in a drive-by shooting outside of a nightclub in L.A.

Quincy Reese Jr. was gunned down outside of the 77 Lounge nightclub around midnight. after being dropped off to attend a birthday party with his teammates.

Quincy’s best friend, Chris Halton, retold the series of events, saying that Quincy was hit by the initial gunshots that sent the crowd outside of the venue to run for cover. Chris says that he didn’t see Reese get shot, but instead noticed that he wasn’t nearby after the crowd dispersed from the lounge.

There has been no conformation behind the shooting’s motive, but Halton says that the shooter(s) “were just trigger happy” and Reese was not the intended target.

According to his basketball coach, Reese was being scouted by at least 50 colleges with a 3.4 GPA. In addition to putting up buckets for Crenshaw High, Reese played baseball and ran cross country for the school.

So far, there have been no arrests and no suspects in the shooting.

The post Crenshaw HS Basketball Star Killed In Drive-By-Shooting In L.A. first appeared on The Source.

The post Crenshaw HS Basketball Star Killed In Drive-By-Shooting In L.A. appeared first on The Source.

Numerous news reports have confirmed that seven people were shot, including a graduate and his father who succumbed to their injuries after a suspected lone gunman opened fire at a high school graduation in Richmond, Virginia.

It was reported that an 18-year-old graduate and his 36-year-old father were killed in the shooting at the Altria Theater, while the other victims of the shooting were also all Black males.

Six other people were injured unrelated to the gunfire, including a 9-year-old, who was hit by a car during the riotous confusion.

Police have arrested a 19-year-old man who they say was involved in the shooting. Acting Police Chief Rick Edwards says that he is expected to be charged with two counts of second-degree murder and numerous other charges.

The post 7 Shot, 2 Dead In VA High School Graduation Shooting first appeared on The Source.

The post 7 Shot, 2 Dead In VA High School Graduation Shooting appeared first on The Source.

Several reports have confirmed that a Black mother of four children, all under the age of 12, was shot and killed by white woman over a verbal dispute. The alleged shooter has yet to be identified, charged or arrested.

Ajike “AJ” Owens, 35, was approached by the unidentified white woman, who began hurling racial slurs at Owens and her children as they played in a field near their home in Ocala, Florida. According to reports, the children realized that they left an iPad near the field, which the white woman stole from the field. When the children went back to retrieve the iPad, the woman threw the iPad, breaking the screen. When Owens went to the home of the woman to talk to her to get her children’s iPad back, she was shot and killed through her neighbor’s door.

Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods refused to give the same account of what happened between the neighbors, saying that the shooting appeared to be the culmination of a feud between the neighbors. He also stated that sheriff’s deputies had to be called to the address six to eight times in less than three years.

“Somebody threw something at my child, I’d be pissed off,” he said. “What parent wouldn’t be? Who wouldn’t be upset at that, regardless of whether they intentionally threw it at them or not? I wish our shooter would have called us instead of taking actions into our own hands. I wish Mrs Owens had called us in the hopes we could have never got to the point in which we are here today.”

Sheriff Woods did not identify the shooter’s name, age or race, but added she was being “cooperative”.

Woods said the investigation, when complete, would be presented to the Marion County State Attorney’s office, which would decide if charges will be filed.

The post Black Mother Of Four Shot And Killed By Unidentified White Neighbor In Florida, No Arrest Made first appeared on The Source.

The post Black Mother Of Four Shot And Killed By Unidentified White Neighbor In Florida, No Arrest Made appeared first on The Source.

Several reports have confirmed that Black Lives Matter’s investment accounts lost over $10 million in value, forcing them to report a significant loss. BLM, a nonprofit organization, had a 88% drop in public donations and experienced an $11.75 million decrease in net assets.

The nonprofit’s latest Form 990 shows that a loss of just over $961,000 was logged on a securities sale of $172,000. The disclosures suggest a year of missteps for the foundation and a dramatic drop in donations.

In 2021, Patrisse Cullors resigned as executive director due to allegations that she and her team were pocketing donations. Now, the organization’s executive board is headed by Cicely Gay, a philanthropic strategist who has filed for bankruptcy seven times since 2005.

The Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation (BLMGNF) was started by organizers of the Black Lives Matter movement, which first emerged in 2013 following the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the killing of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin.

The post Is The Black Lives Matter Organization Going Bankrupt? first appeared on The Source.

The post Is The Black Lives Matter Organization Going Bankrupt? appeared first on The Source.

Actor Isaiah Washington shocked social media in a recent Instagram post where he shared he grew up in Texas around Klu Klux Klan members who were some of the best teachers and neighbors. He revealed that while his mother allowed their children in her home to eat, Washington wasn’t allowed to drink from their outside hose or allowed in their much smaller homes.

He wrote:

REPOST AFTER AN INSTAGRAM REMOVAL: I had some of the best elementary school teachers and even some neighbors that I knew were Klan Members back in Texas while growing up. I knew where They stood with me and They also knew where I stood with Them. The boundaries were verv, very clear and I still played with Their kids, I just couldn’t drink from Their outside water hose or come inside Their house to eat and Their houses were usually much smaller than what I grew up in. My mother never refused to let Their kids into her house to eat a summer lunch and drink from our vintage JFK water glasses. I can’t help but wonder today, if Their kids are vigorously supporting me as an actor today, simply because I showed Them love and respect as a true Texan and a true American. even when Their parents and grandparents forbid Them to reciprocate love and respect for me publicly to me back then, but I’m infamous now, I wonder…
Thoughts?

Check out his deleted Instagram post below.

The post Isaiah Washington Says The Ku Klux Klan Were Some of His Best Teachers In Elementary School first appeared on The Source.

The post Isaiah Washington Says The Ku Klux Klan Were Some of His Best Teachers In Elementary School appeared first on The Source.

A former Louisville police officer who fired the fatal shot that killed Breonna Taylor has a new job in law enforcement. This controversial hiring drew protesters to a rural Kentucky county northeast of the city.

The Carroll County Sheriff’s Office on Saturday confirmed the employment of Myles Cosgrove, who was fired from the Louisville Metro Police Department in January 2021 for violating use-of-force procedures and failing to use a body camera during the raid on Taylor’s apartment, according to media reports.

Investigators said that Cosgrove fired 16 rounds into the apartment after Taylor’s front door was breached during a narcotics raid on March 13, 2020. Thinking an intruder was breaking in, Taylor’s boyfriend fired a shot from a handgun at the officers. Officer Jonathan Mattingly was struck in the leg, and the officers returned fire, killing Taylor in her hallway.

An FBI investigation determined that Cosgrove and Mattingly struck Taylor, a 26-year-old Black woman and that Cosgrove likely fired the fatal shot. Neither officer was charged by a 2020 state grand jury in Taylor’s death, and a two-year investigation by the FBI also cleared Cosgrove and Mattingly of any charges.

The FBI probe found that other superior officers had crafted a faulty drug warrant that contained false information about Taylor. U.S. Attorney Merrick Garland said in August that the officers who went to Taylor’s apartment with the warrant “were not involved in drafting the warrant affidavit and were not aware that it was false.”

Robert Miller, chief deputy in Carroll County, pointed out that Cosgrove was cleared by the state grand jury when speaking of his hiring at the small Kentucky sheriff’s department.

The post Former Louisville Officer Who Fatally Shot Breonna Taylor Hired as Deputy in Rural KY first appeared on The Source.

The post Former Louisville Officer Who Fatally Shot Breonna Taylor Hired as Deputy in Rural KY appeared first on The Source.

Hulu has released a series, Tone Death: Loss & Hip-Hop recanting the recent slew of murders in hip hop. 
I remember the pain I felt when my mom woke me up to tell me Biggie Smalls had passed away. I was 17-years old and felt like my world came crashing down. Hip hop raised me. I deemed the Notorious B.I.G. the greatest by my standards. He was capable of steering the hip hop community with his flow, style and presence. I rode the train for hours that day with Gimme The Loot and Everyday Struggle blasting through my headphones. This monumental tragedy in hip hop forever changed how I judged hip hop, and I was never the same again.
Fast forward to today and not much has changed. It seems like rappers are still being murdered at a rapid rate.

In the new Hulu series, the mothers of slain rappers and rapper G Herbo talk about grief, trauma and why gun violence deaths are so prevalent in the rap community.

Since Tupac Shakur and Notorious B.I.G.’s death, more than 90 rappers have been murdered. Rapper Pop Smoke’s mother revealed she’s never been angry at the teens who took her son’s life.

“I was never angry at the 14-year old or the 17 and 16-year old , I was never angry at them….I don’t hate them. I can’t hate that little boy. Because his mom didn’t raise him to go kill Pop Smoke. She was probably a mother having issues trying to raise a 14 year old boy.”
Watch the clip below.

The post [WATCH] New Series Documents Over 90 Murders In Hip Hop first appeared on The Source.

The post [WATCH] New Series Documents Over 90 Murders In Hip Hop appeared first on The Source.

According to several confirmed reports, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors has been sifting through over 100 recommendations for slavery reparations for its Black residents. Some of the suggestions include eliminating personal debt and tax burdens, guaranteed annual incomes of at least $97,000 for 250 years, homes in San Francisco for just $1 a family, and even $5 million per eligible Black person.

On Tuesday, the Board accepted these suggestions from the reparations committee. However, the board received a slew of criticism from “liberal” San Franciscans that didn’t know about the traumatic impact of slavery in the U.S. as well as the new perceived form of slavery, mass incarceration.

“Those of my constituents who lost their minds about this proposal, it’s not something we’re doing or we would do for other people. It’s something we would do for our future, for everybody’s collective future,” said Supervisor Rafael Mandelman.

A final report is due from the committee by June.

The post San Francisco City Officials Consider $5M Per Black Person Reparations Proposal first appeared on The Source.

The post San Francisco City Officials Consider $5M Per Black Person Reparations Proposal appeared first on The Source.

Idris Elba is clapping back at critics who claim he denied his Blackness when he denounced the label, “Black actor.” The British actor explained to Esquire UK that referring to yourself as a Black actor can limit role opportunities and growth in Hollywood.

Elba shared, “I stopped describing myself as a Black actor when I realized it put me in a box. As humans, we are obsessed with race. And that obsession can really hinder people’s aspirations, hinder people’s growth. Racism should be a topic for discussion, sure. Racism is very real. But from my perspective, it’s only as powerful as you allow it to be, We’ve got to grow. We’ve got to. Our skin is no more than that: It’s just skin. As you get up the ladder, you get asked what it’s like to be the first Black to do this or that,” Elba continued. “Well, it’s the same as it would be if I were white. It’s the first time for me. I don’t want to be the first Black. I’m the first Idris.”

During a new interview with The Guardian, Elba added that he purposely lives a “sheltered life” because social media often chooses to contort the words of celebrities.

“It’s really difficult to have an opinion if you’re in the public eye because it gets overly scrutinized, taken out of context, and thrown into some sort of bullshit, zeitgeisty social media argument.”

The 50-year-old described social media as a “conflict incubator” and noted that his anti-Black actor label is his choice, and he’s sticking to it because it’s his prerogative.

“Me saying I don’t like to call myself a Black actor is my prerogative. That’s me, not you. So for you to turn around and say to me, I’m ‘denying my Blackness’. On what grounds? Did you hear that? Where am I denying it? And what for? It’s just stupid. Whatever,” he told The Guardian.

“There isn’t a soul on this earth that can question whether I consider myself a BLACK MAN or not. Being an ‘actor’ is a profession, like being an ‘architect,’ they are not defined by race. However, If YOU define your work by your race, that is your Prerogative [sic]. Ah, lie?”
Thoughts?

The post Idris Elba Slams Critics for Accusing Him of ‘Denying His Blackness’ first appeared on The Source.

The post Idris Elba Slams Critics for Accusing Him of ‘Denying His Blackness’ appeared first on The Source.

Sauce Walka has landed himself in trouble. According to Daily Loud, the Houston rapper was allegedly caught carrying 66 grams of marijuana inside his backpack. He is also said to have had a bench warrant for not possessing a driver’s license.

No Jumper reported that Sauce (real name Albert Mondane) has been charged with intent to sell, manufacture, and deliver cannabis. He just posted bail that was  set at $5,000.

Law enforcement believe the Pompano Beach native failed a drug test on February 8. The results showed traces of fentanyl, the highly potent synthetic opioid that has claimed the lives of fellow rappers Mac Miller, Juice WRLD and Lil Peep.

Sauce Walka’s recent arrest comes after several members of The Sauce Factory (TSF) were arrested on racketeering charges back in December.

According to FOX 26 Houston, a number of alleged members of TSF — founded by Walka — were taken into custody just before Christmas for various crimes following an investigation conducted by the FBI and Houston Police Department.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by No Jumper (@nojumper)

Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani said the crimes included drug trafficking, possessing a “Glock switch” and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

A total of 14 people were arrested as part of the investigation, including Anthony Ketchum (35), Anthony Yezeno-Hopkins (38), Brandon Milson (32), Hassani Mills (34), Jaylyn Pinson (29), Josue Rodriguez (32), Keith Moore (34), Michael Henry (32), Myles Smith (23), Robert Thomas (29), Sterling Brumant (26), Titus Baisey (35) and Toree White (27) and Julian Herrera (26). Sauce Walka was not among those arrested.

Each of the men (apart from Thomas and Rodriguez) have been charged with possession with intent to deliver meth, and face up to life in prison and fines of up to $10 million.

Thomas was allegedly taken into custody for unlawfully possessing a Glock auto switch, while Rodriguez is accused of possessing a Ruger 5.7 mm firearm.

Watch the video below.

Who remembers when he said dating a ‘Becky’ was better for him financially? Sauce once revealed that he only dates white woman because it’s good for business. In a candid interview about his personal life he shared, “I’m rich for real,” so he claims. “I got White b***hes who wash my dishes and clean my clothes, and dry my body off when I get out the shower.”

The post [WATCH] Rapper Sauce Walka Allegedly Arrested After Crew Is Hit With Rico Charges first appeared on The Source.

The post [WATCH] Rapper Sauce Walka Allegedly Arrested After Crew Is Hit With Rico Charges appeared first on The Source.

Today, we will come to the end of what would be the 47th year of celebrating Black History Month. The historical celebration began in 1924 after Dr.Carter G. Woodson believed that African Americans were not being taught enough about the history and accomplishments of their ancestors.

Woodson turned to his fraternity, Omega Psi Phi, to help him get the message of ‘Negro History Week’ out, spreading negro history and literature for a week in February of 1924. Out of all months in a year, Woodson chose February because of the birthdays of both Fredrick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln.

Schools and organizations across the nation took in Woodson’s initiative. However, Woodson had a hard time finding course materials and building a curriculum. This led Woodson to believe that a week of celebration was simply not enough to cut down the achievements of ancestors into. In the early 1940s, Woodson begins to make efforts to expand Negro History Week.

On April 3rd, 1950 Dr. Carter G. Woodson, died of a heart attack. With Black history still being prominent in the community, and civil rights and The Black Panthers coming to light in the 1960s, more people began to agree with the notion that Negro History Week should be expanded. On the 50th anniversary of the celebrated week, the Association for the Study of African American History would officially shift the week of celebration, to a month, giving February as we know today, Black History Month.

The post Carter G. Woodson Began Negro History Week, Later Known As Black History Month 97 Years Ago first appeared on The Source.

The post Carter G. Woodson Began Negro History Week, Later Known As Black History Month 97 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

Eleven years ago, during the NBA All-Star Game, 17-year-old Trayvon Martin was shot and killed by self-appointed Neighborhood Watch person George Zimmerman in his father’s neighborhood of Sanford, Florida, outside of Orlando. Martin only carried a can of Arizona Ice Tea and a pack of Skittles.

After Martin’s death and Zimmerman’s acquittal, an epidemic of young Black males dying at the hands of law enforcement and citizens alike hit the streets of America, such as Jordan Davis, Tamir Rice, Freddie Gray, Michael Brown, Akai Gurle and a host of others in which almost no one was held responsible for their deaths. In some cases, the municipalities of the cities where the deaths occurred sued the estates of the deceased.

If Trayvon would’ve lived the life of a normal teenager instead of being killed by an overzealous citizen, he would be 28 years old. Even President Obama declared at the time of Martin’s death saying, “Trayvon Could’ve Been Me,” which sent shockwaves across the globe. The death of Trayvon marks a dramatic turning point in the history of America and proves that racism is alive, well, and as American as an NBA All-Star Game.

The post #BHM: The Source Magazine Remembers The Trayvon Martin Tragedy 11 Years Later first appeared on The Source.

The post #BHM: The Source Magazine Remembers The Trayvon Martin Tragedy 11 Years Later appeared first on The Source.

Over the weekend Dwyane Wade and his wife Gabrielle Union received the prestigious Presidents Award from the NAACP at the 54th annual Image Awards.

Both gave moving speeches advocating for the Black LGBTQIA community

“I am intentional when I use my platform. I recognize what I have been given and it is my job to uplift the voices of others and share my access and resources,” Wade said.

Wade opened the speech by dedicating the award to his 15-year-old daughter, Zaya, who is transgender.

“Zaya, as your father, all I’ve wanted to do is get it right. I’ve sat back and watched how gracefully you’ve taken on the public scrutiny and, even though it’s not easy, I’ve watched you walk out of that house every morning as yourself,” Wade said.

The retired NBA star thanked his daughter for showing him “that there is more than just one way to communicate effectively.”
“You’ve taught me that communication with my mouth isn’t enough. I have to also communicate with my two ears and my two eyes,” Wade said.

Gabrielle joined by saying, “A new era that demands our collective answer to one simple question: Will we fight for some or will we fight for all of our people?” Even as we demand equality at the top of our lungs, we consistently fail to extend our advocacy to protect some of our most vulnerable among us.”

To an emotional crowd, Wade ended his speech saying that he was “proud to be chosen” as Zaya’s father.

“Zaya, you’ve made me a better human just simply by being who you were born to be, a baby girl, Zaya Wade,” he said. “So baby thank you for showing the world what courage looks like.”

Watch the full speech below.

The post Dwyane Wade Dedicates NAACP Award To Daughter Zaya: ‘All I’ve Wanted To Do Was Get It Right’ first appeared on The Source.

The post Dwyane Wade Dedicates NAACP Award To Daughter Zaya: ‘All I’ve Wanted To Do Was Get It Right’ appeared first on The Source.

Chance The Rapper just released an alternate video for his single “YAH Know” as a celebration of Black revolutionaries who have been trailblazers in history.

The new video opens with a message that reads: “This Black History Month we want to celebrate some of the most important progress we have made as a People. This video highlights some revolutionaries and their revolutions.”

Chance’s project places the spotlight on prominent figures in Black history such as Sarah Elizabeth Ray, Kwame Nkrumah and Nandi Azikiwe alongside Marcus Garvey, Fred Hampton and Mohandas Ghandi.

The video also offers fans the opportunity to unearth even more historical context by incorporating multiple clips from the PBS miniseries History of the Negro People: The New Mood, which first aired in 1965; the 1967 documentary Black Liberation; and The Warren Years: The Great Decisions, a film which examines the 1960s Supreme Court rulings brought on by the Civil Rights Movement.
The video also includes scenes from the Black Star Line Festival, which Chance The Rapper organized with Vic Mensa. 
The two Chicago natives announced the Black Star Line Festival in July 2022, explaining that the event’s name was a tribute to pan-African activist Marcus Garvey’s shipping company.

“Founded in 1919, and operated by Black people, the [Black Star Line] would link America, the Caribbean and Africa, to global shipping and tourism opportunities,” a press release for the festival explained. “The Black Star Line was a symbol of pride, not only for Africans, but also for Black people in all ports of call. After nearly 40 years, the Ghanian government launched their fleet with the same name, in homage to Garvey, and even added a black star to the country’s new flag.”

In addition to the concert at Black Star Square on Friday night, the Black Star Line Festival included a week’s worth of special events and panels, including a fireside chat between Chance The Rapper and Dave Chappelle, who discussed bringing new attention and business to local comedy clubs and his dream of one day living in Ghana, inspired by a conversation with JAY-Z.
Watch the video below.

The post [WATCH] Chance The Rapper Honors Black Revolutionaries In Powerful Black History Month Tribute first appeared on The Source.

The post [WATCH] Chance The Rapper Honors Black Revolutionaries In Powerful Black History Month Tribute appeared first on The Source.

Many people may have heard of the “Five Percenters” or the teachings that stem from this cultural phenomenon born in the ghettos of America, but there are very few who are familiar with the origins of the 5% Nation (also known as the Nation Of Gods and Earths) or that of the founder of the Five Percent, who is best known as Allah. Artists and athletes such as Jay-Z and Carmelo Anthony have shown either their allegiance or alliance to Allah’s 56-year-old Nation. Of all of the religious and nationalist movements of the revolutionary 1960s, his story is always left out of Black History Month recognition, even though Allah met the same treacherous fate as many of the Black leaders of that era.

Born on this date in 1928, the man known as Allah was born Clarence Edward Smith to Louis and Mary Smith in Danville, Virginia. He moved to Harlem, New York as a young adult and it was from there that he began his lifelong journey in establishing a legacy of pride, righteousness, and all-inclusivity among the youth that has expanded all over the globe.

In commemoration of Black History Month, TheSource.com brings you seven facts about Allah and what his 5% Nation has brought to the Black, Latino, Asian and white youth in the United States and around the world.

1. Allah fought in the Korean War; won several medals including the Silver Star and Purple Heart.
2. He was a member of Nation Of Islam’s Temple No. 7 under Minister Malcolm X, however, left the NOI in 1963 shortly before Malcolm’s departure.
3. Allah was given the “Street Academy” at 2122 7th Avenue(now known as Allah School In Mecca) by NYC Mayor John Lindsay in 1967.
4. Allah was proficient at martial arts, which he learned in Korea and was an instructor to the members of NOI security, Fruit Of Islam.
5. Allah was not anti-white and taught white 5%ers, including Mayor Lindsay’s assistant Barry Gotterher.
6. Allah was killed by unknown assailants on June 13, 1969, however, it was revealed in a document declassified by the FBI in 1981 that he was a target of J.Edgar Hoover’s COINTELPRO initiative aimed at Black leaders.
7. The message of the 5% is not a thing of Hip Hop’s past. Artists such as NYC’s Fame Labs, Detroit’s(D-Mecca) Njeri Earth and Allah Magnetic aka Mullah Don who carries on Allah’s tradition through their music.

The post #BHM Happy Born Day To The Man Named Allah! 7 Facts That You May Not Know About The Founder Of The 5% Nation first appeared on The Source.

The post #BHM Happy Born Day To The Man Named Allah! 7 Facts That You May Not Know About The Founder Of The 5% Nation appeared first on The Source.

Some say he was 50 Cent before 50 Cent. Some called him “the Robin Hood of The Ghetto,” while the establishment dubbed him “the crack city terminator.” In the hood, his solution is considered the only possible answer to an ongoing epidemic of police brutality. Some of your favorite rappers, from French Montana to Lloyd Banks to Jay-Z, have name-dropped him on their tracks. BET felt he was so important to American culture that their American Gangster series had to open with him. Still, only an educated few know why the name Larry Davis continues to ring bells more than three decades after that fateful night in November of ’86.

On February 20, 2008, Adam Abdul Hakeem, aka Larry Davis, was stabbed to death in Shawangunk State Prison in New York by a fellow inmate after serving 23 years for an illegal weapons charge. Most would say that people die in American prisons daily, so what’s the big deal about another dead prisoner? Well, it must first be explained why Mr. Davis was in jail for so long on a mere gun charge in the first place.

As he said on camera after his capture in 1986, “the police gave me the guns!”, that Davis was finally charged after being acquitted of shooting 6 NYPD officers. The then-21-year-old BX native’s defense was that he hit the officers in self-defense. Davis exposed that he sold drugs for these Bronx precinct officers, claiming that they wanted to kill him because of what he knew about the department’s drug operation, and a Bronx jury believed him. This case was the first and possibly the only time in American history that a civilian was cleared of all charges in the shooting of a police officer.

The NYPD and then-Mayor Edward Koch were outraged at the outcome. After Larry’s death, former Mayor Koch said, “The prison system did what the criminal justice system could not.” It’s safe to say that with the endless accusations against the NYPD and other police departments around the country for brutality against Black and brown people, the sentiment of sympathy for Larry Davis has been met with fierce opposition.

With the recent killings of Black youth by police and civilians becoming the norm, the question in the urban community is whether or not Larry Davis’ solution to police brutality is the only option left. With normal citizens being allowed to shoot first and ask questions later regarding Black youth and the prison industrial complex as the penalty for defending yourself, the bare truth is that it has become the only option for some. We’ve heard Larry’s name come from the mouths of everyone from ATCQ to Jay-Z. With landmark cases from Emmitt Till to Botham Jean, history reveals that people such as Nat Turner, Denmark Vesey, and even Larry Davis will always be heroes.

Check out Larry’s story on Troy Reed’s Street Stories Larry Davis: A Routine Typical Hit, BET’s American Gangster series and is also rumored to be in the hands of several filmmakers, which could spawn the story on the silver screen.

The post #BHM|Today In Hip Hop History: Larry Davis Killed in Shawangunk Prison 15 Years Ago first appeared on The Source.

The post #BHM|Today In Hip Hop History: Larry Davis Killed in Shawangunk Prison 15 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

Twenty years ago, “Real Sports” first featured Work to Ride, an extraordinary program that teaches the upper-crust sport of polo to at-risk inner-city youth in Philadelphia.

This past fall, Work to Ride held its inaugural Philadelphia Polo Classic that drew in thousands of spectators around the city to support the program. The program has now graduated over one hundred kids and equipped them with skills  to live better lives.

The post #BHM: Philadelphia’s Work To Ride Program Highlighted On HBO’s Real Sports first appeared on The Source.

The post #BHM: Philadelphia’s Work To Ride Program Highlighted On HBO’s Real Sports appeared first on The Source.

TV/movie mogul Tyler Perry is donating $750,000  to help low-income seniors in Atlanta not be forced out of their homes by rising property taxes.

With more people moving near Tyler Perry Studios, land values are rising and property taxes are rising. It is said to be the main reason longtime residents living on a fixed income are forced out of their homes and their lives are disrupted.
Tyler, who came in at No. 3 on the Forbes list of the Top 10 highest-paid entertainers of 2022 — raking in $175M last year — recently reached out to Atlanta mayor Andre Dickens to help keep these residents in their homes.

Sources say Tyler’s money will also effectively freeze property taxes for 100 low-income seniors for 20 years. This money will pay the difference between current property taxes and property tax increases over the next 20 years.

In addition to Tyler’s $750,000 allotted for 2023, he is said to contribute about $500,000 each year for the next four years… totaling about $2.75 million. It will reportedly be handled by the Invest Atlanta Partnership, the nonprofit arm of the development agency.

Tyler is the only black male among Forbes’ top 10 highest-paid entertainers…and his priority is said to be giving back to the community that means so much to him. .

Always helping out senior citizens, thousands of grocery shoppers were surprised during senior hours in Atlanta and New Orleans when Perry picked up their tabs at Kroger stores in Atlanta and Winn-Dixie stores. He also  gave $21,000 in tips at an Atlanta restaurant.

The post Tyler Perry Donates $2.75 Million To Save Seniors’ Homes From Rising Property Taxes first appeared on The Source.

The post Tyler Perry Donates $2.75 Million To Save Seniors’ Homes From Rising Property Taxes appeared first on The Source.

One of South Africa’s top rappers, known as AKA, was murdered outside a restaurant in the city of Durban.

Kiernan Forbes was killed along with his close friend, the chef and entrepreneur Tebello ‘Tibz’ Motsoane.The pair are thought to have been on their way to a nightclub for a performance as part of Forbes’ birthday celebrations when they were shot.

Forbes began his musical career as part of the rap group Entity before he launched his solo career, winning several awards in South Africa for his music.

He was also celebrated internationally, with several nominations for a Black Entertainment Television (BET) Award in the US and an MTV Europe Music Award.

Police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda has told the BBC that the rapper and his friend were walking to their car when they were approached by two armed men who shot them at close range.

The assailants then fled the scene on foot. Hours before his death, the 35-year-old posted about his upcoming album, Mass Country, which is set for release later this month.

South Africa has one of the highest murder rates in the world and recent shootings have been happening more often.

Celebrities Somizi, Nandi Madida, Tbo Touch, Thando Thabethe – as well as United States producer Swizz Beatz – have all taken to social media on Saturday to pay tribute to Fela in Versace rapper AKA. Swizz took to his Instagram story to remember his South African friend.

He wrote: “Damn King, rest easy. One of South Africa’s greats.”

American rapper Bas also paid tribute to AKA: “Damn this fu**in tragic as hell. South Africa, I’m so sorry for your loss. @akaworldwide always showed me love and hospitality every time we crossed paths. Always welcomed me with open arms. Rest easy king.”

The World Is Yours rapper Kiernan ‘AKA’ Forbes’ death has sent shock waves through South Africa, who woke up to the news that he had been killed in cold blood in Durban on Friday evening.

The Megacy, as well as celebrities such as Nandi Madida, Donald, Da Les and Black Coffee, flooded Twitter with condolence messages.

Nandi Madida wrote: “Rest my brother … this hurts. Thinking about your beautiful daughter and loved ones in general. Thank you for the good times and laughs … I always enjoyed working with you.”

The post Swizz Beatz And More Pay Tribute To Slain South African Rapper AKA first appeared on The Source.

The post Swizz Beatz And More Pay Tribute To Slain South African Rapper AKA appeared first on The Source.

Today marks the 28th birthday of a young man named Trayvon Martin, who not only in the United States but the rest of the world came to know because he chose to defend himself against his assailant George Zimmerman and his life was taken as a result.

George Zimmerman claimed that he saw Trayvon leaving a store and looked suspicious, so he decided to follow him. After following him, a physical altercation transpired between them, and an unarmed Trayvon took a bullet to his chest and died on the scene. Trayvon died two weeks after his 17th birthday on February 26, 2012. As for Zimmerman, he received a jury acquittal for second-degree murder and manslaughter charges in July 2013.

Trayvon didn’t get to tell his parents goodbye, attend prom, or do anything teenagers enjoyed. His parents, Sabrina Fulton and Tracy Martin, have to live with the burden that their child did not receive justice for what happened to him.

Almost nine years after his untimely death, Trayvon Martin’s legacy in the fight for human and civil rights for Black people in America is everlasting. His name still stands among the victims of gun violence by rogue police officers and overzealous citizens that came after him, such as Mike Brown, Tamir Rice, Ahmaud Arbery, Sandra Bland, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and countless others.

Happy Birthday, King! (RIP)

The post The Source Magazine Remembers Trayvon Martin On What Would’ve Been His 28th Birthday first appeared on The Source.

The post The Source Magazine Remembers Trayvon Martin On What Would’ve Been His 28th Birthday appeared first on The Source.

Twenty-four years ago on this date, a 23-year-old Guinean immigrant named Amadou Diallo was murdered by four plain-clothes NYPD police officers in his hallway after they unloaded 41 shots into Diallo in front of his Bronx apartment. The haphazard officers hit Diallo with only 19 shots; less than half of what was discharged from their weapons.

Amadou’s family filed federal and state charges of wrongful death and civil rights violations in 2001, which resulted in a 3 million dollar settlement from the city. All four officers involved were cleared of wrongdoing after a mixed jury in the Empire State’s capital city acquitted the officers. Claiming the impossibility of a fair trial in NYC, an appellate court ordered that the trial be switched to Albany.

Interestingly enough, the Justice Department decided that Diallo’s civil rights were not violated.

Artists such as Immortal Technique and Wyclef Jean have referenced the tragedy in their songs, which became one of the most pivotal cases in the fight against police brutality.

Deaths at the hands of law enforcement, such as George Floyd, Botham Jean, Eric Garner, and Breonna Taylor, will always be a reminder that the challenge of injustice against Black and Brown people must be confronted.

The post Today In Black History Month #BHM: Amadou Diallo Shot And Killed By NYPD 24 Years Ago first appeared on The Source.

The post Today In Black History Month #BHM: Amadou Diallo Shot And Killed By NYPD 24 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

As we wait to see the Kansas City Chiefs play the Philadelphia Eagles for the Super Bowl LVII crown, it is essential to remember Black History Month runs in tandem with this unofficial American holiday. Despite declining viewership due to the Kaepernick controversy, the NFL is still one of the most-watched sports in the country. It is dominated by African-Americans, who currently make up two-thirds of the league. With that much Black representation in the NFL comes a lot of Black History, including the first Black Quarterback to win a Super Bowl.

In 1988, it was Broncos legend and future Hall-of-Famer John Elway versus a then-unknown Redskins backup Quarterback Doug Williams.

Before the 1987 season, Williams had not played in multiple NFL games in a season since 1982 as a Quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Williams spent a period playing for the USFL team, the Arizona Outlaws, but following the folding of the USFL, Williams was picked up by the Washington Redskins.

For the 1988 championship, the Denver Broncos took on the Washington Redskins. Both teams took four losses in the regular season, but the Redskins had more wins thanks to a tie game the Broncos had during the season against the Green Bay Packers.

Elway was selected for the AFC Pro Bowl game and won the Most Valuable Player award that season. The Broncos had been to the Super Bowl the year before but lost to a different NFC East team, the New York Giants, so the city was thirsty for another shot at glory.

As for the Redskins, before there were thoughts of a Super Bowl, Williams was competing with ‘Skins quarterback Jay Schroeder throughout the regular season for the starting job. According to Redskins.com, a lackluster performance from Schroeder in the final game of the season and stud-level play in the same game from Williams became the deciding factor of who would be the starter going into the postseason.

Things started slow for Washington in the Super Bowl. The Denver Broncos got a quick start with a 10-0 lead, but Williams and the Washington Redskins rallied, scoring 42 unanswered points against the back-to-back AFC champions. Williams threw for 340 yards passing and four touchdowns, earning him Super Bowl MVP honors.

The post SOURCE SPORTS: #BHM: Doug Williams First Black QB To Win Super Bowl 35 Years Ago first appeared on The Source.

The post SOURCE SPORTS: #BHM: Doug Williams First Black QB To Win Super Bowl 35 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

February 2, 1862 Congress abolished slavery in the District of Columbia, an important step on the road to freedom for all Black Americans

1862 was a pivotal year toward ending slavery in America. The bill, S. 108, was referred to the Committee on the District of Columbia which reported it with amendments in February 1862. During the Civil War Charles Sumner, the senior senator from Massachusetts informed President Lincoln that he was the largest slaveholder. The abolitionist asked President Lincoln:

Do you know who is at this moment the largest slaveholder in the United States….holds all the slaves of the District of Columbia?

In his question, Charles Sumner was referring to the fact that the federal government was empowered in the US Constitution to “exercise exclusive legislation” over the federal district. Abolitionists used what’s known as The DC Compensated Emancipation Act, as a way to end slavery in the nation’s capital.

In December 1861, Henry Wilson, the junior Massachusetts senator, introduced a similar bill in Congress to end slavery in Washington, DC. despite opposition from slaveholders, and the bill passed. The Senate approved the bill on April 3, 1862, by a vote of 29 to 14, and the House of Representatives on April 12, 1862. President Lincoln signed the legislation on April 16, 1862.

The legislation was titled, “An Act for the Release of Certain Persons Held to Service or Labor in the District of Columbia”; it freed the 3,100 men, women, and children still enslaved in 1862. The act also allowed slaveowners to be compensated up to $300 for each individual they had legally owned. In addition, newly-freed African Americans could receive up to $100 if they emigrate to another country.

As we reflect on Black History this month, let us remember the great steps that have been taken toward the freedom of Black Americans today.

The post Today in Black History #BHM: Congress Abolished Slavery in the District of Columbia in 1862 first appeared on The Source.

The post Today in Black History #BHM: Congress Abolished Slavery in the District of Columbia in 1862 appeared first on The Source.

Last year on the first day of Black History month, at least a dozen Historically Black Colleges and Universities received bomb threats, causing the schools to either evacuate or dismiss classes for that day altogether, showing the relentless commitment to racism in this country, especially towards its specialized, secondary learning institutions.

**From the report dated Feb 1, 2022**

The FBI is actively investigating bomb threats at the following schools: Mississippi Valley State University, Morgan State University, Alcorn State University, Tougaloo College, Jackson State University, Kentucky State University, Fort Valley State University, Howard University, Xavier University, The University of the District of Columbia, Spelman College, and Edward Waters University.

According to the report, Morgan State closed their campus for the day(February 1) due to the alleged threat.

The FBI released a statement via USA Today about the bomb threats which read, “The FBI is aware of the series of bomb threats around the country and we are working with our law enforcement partners to address any potential threats. As always, we would like to remind members of the public that if they observe anything suspicious to report it to law enforcement immediately.”

The post On This Date In Black History Month: At Least A Dozen HBCUs Get Bomb Threats On First Day Of #BHM One Year Ago first appeared on The Source.

The post On This Date In Black History Month: At Least A Dozen HBCUs Get Bomb Threats On First Day Of #BHM One Year Ago appeared first on The Source.

Yikes! Kylie Jenner upset social media when she showed up wearing a noose necklace to Paris Fashion Week.

On Monday, the 25-year-old entrepreneur made headlines for wearing a stuffed lion’s head to the Schiaparelli Haute Couture Spring Summer 2023 runway show.

Now Kylie is back again, causing an uproar for wearing a noose necklace after attending the fashion show on Monday.

Paparazzi photos caught the Keeping Up With The Kardashians star wearing what appeared to be a white gold or platinum noose around her neck.

According to Radar Online, the noose-inspired necklace first appeared in Givenchy’s 2022 spring collection in October 2021.

Social media users accused Kyle of endorsing an item that would is offensive to Black people.

One Reddit user wrote: “This woman has black children. This is so disgusting. It’s not ok to just say ‘she probably doesn’t know’ — she needs to know, even if you took out the racial history of a noose, there’s the suicidal side of it. It’s wrong in so many ways.”

Thoughts?

The post [WATCH] Kylie Jenner Dragged For Wearing Givenchy Noose Necklace first appeared on The Source.

The post [WATCH] Kylie Jenner Dragged For Wearing Givenchy Noose Necklace appeared first on The Source.

In efforts to provide a platform for the student athletes on the Dove’s basketball team to play, Jaylen Brown will sponsor a match up against the Skill Factory in Atlanta.

According to the press release, Brown’s goal is to remind the children that they are important, seen, heard and that we stand with the children and encourage them to continue to have high spirits and positive mindsets leading into their basketball season.

The event that is taking place at a private location is curated solely by Jaylen Brown. It is not associated with any owners or spokespersons of the DONDA school, where the Dove’s basketball team attends. 

The purpose of Brown’s event is to ensure the children of the Dove’s basketball team are able to enjoy the sport they’ve worked so hard to play.

On Sunday, November 6, 2022 Brown is set to hold a press conference at 5:30P – 5:45P just before the game kicks off at 6:00P. 

This follows the news of the HBCU, Morehouse canceling the November 6 game between the DONDA Doves VS. the Skill Factory. Ye formally known as Kanye West has been under fire over his anti semitic statements.

The school canceled while saying it doesn’t support the rapper’s comments leaving the kids without a location for their first game. According to reports, Brown and Ye were both set to attend the game.

Continue the conversation on social media.

The post Celtics Star, Jaylen Brown To Host Donda Dove’s Basketball Game Vs. The Skill Factory In Atlanta first appeared on The Source.

The post Celtics Star, Jaylen Brown To Host Donda Dove’s Basketball Game Vs. The Skill Factory In Atlanta appeared first on The Source.

Recently news that Kanye West allegedly dumped a whole bunch of his ‘White Lives Matters’ shirts among the homeless population down on Skid Row in downtown Los Angeles. Apparently Ye can’t sell his shirts because two blackmen have trademarked the slogan. Capital B reports that two radio hosts — Ramses Ja and Quinton Ward, who helm the show Civic Cipher out of Phoenix, Arizona — are the owners of the “White Lives Matter” trademark.

Ramses Ja and Quinton were gifted the trademark from a longtime, anonymous listener of their show, Civic Cipher. The listener procured ownership of the phrase early last month to ensure it didn’t fall into the wrong hands, and offered to transfer the trademark to Ja and Ward in September. It officially entered their possession on Oct. 28, giving them sole ownership over the phrase and the ability to sue anyone who uses the saying for financial gain.

“The way the law works is either you’re owning phrases, or it’s up for grabs for people to make money off them,” Ja told Capital B. “This person who first procured it didn’t really love owning it, because the purpose was not necessarily to get rich off of it; the purpose was to make sure that other people didn’t get rich off of that pain.”

The anonymous owner believed that the social-justice-oriented radio hosts, whose show is nationally syndicated, would be able to leverage the phrase for Black causes, such as helping to inject funding into local chapters of Black Lives Matter and the NAACP. Coincidentally, just as the trademark was transferred into Ja and Ward’s hands, Ye began his weeks-long tirade promoting anti-Black and antisemitic beliefs.

Earlier in October, Ye and Candace Owens wore “White Lives Matter” T-shirts, which Ye claimed he would sell. A few days later, he dropped off dozens of the shirts at homeless encampments in Los Angeles’ Skid Row, home to the highest concentration of unhoused people in America. In the weeks since, Ye has lost more than $1.5 billion worth of partnership deals as a handful of groups have threatened to sue him for racist and bigoted comments, including the family of George Floyd. Ye publicly, and incorrectly, claimed that Floyd died from a fentanyl overdose and was not murdered by former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin.

Now Ja and Ward, whose radio show addresses the intersections of racial justice and hip-hop, are forced to face the fallout of owning one of the most recognizable racist phrases in contemporary culture.
Thoughts?

The post Kanye West Can’t Legally Sell His White Lives Matter T-Shirts first appeared on The Source.

The post Kanye West Can’t Legally Sell His White Lives Matter T-Shirts appeared first on The Source.

In an unprecedented act of solidarity, over two dozen major hip-hop and pop artists and industry insiders recently came together in an open letter aimed at “protecting Black art,” which would limit how artists’ lyrics can be used in court cases.

In an open letter that was published in both the New York Times and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, major hip-hop artists urged politicians and other policy makers to limit how creative expression (especially in the form of song lyrics) can be used against defendants on trial as confessions or proof of a crime. The letter cites the shocking statistic that states that “experts have found more than 500 cases involving rap as evidence in public records” while there have been just “four instances since the 1950s of non-rap lyrics being submitted as evidence – three of those cases were thrown out, and the fourth was overturned after conviction.”

The hip-hop artists included Drake, Mary J. Blige, 2 Chainz, 21 Savage, 50 Cent, Big Sean, Alicia Keys, the Black Eyed Peas, John Legend, Busta Rhymes, Camila Cabello, Fat Joe, DJ Khaled, Jadakiss, Megan Thee Stallion, Roddy Ricch, T.I., Future, J. Cole, Jack Harlow, Ice-T, Killer Mike, Lil Baby, Quavo, Joey Bada$$, John Legend, Lil Uzi Vert, Moneybagg Yo, Post Malone, Questlove, Tee Grizzley, Ty Dolla $ign, Yo Gotti, and the late Takeoff. Other major pop and country stars such as Morgan Wallen and Christina Aguilera also signed the letter as well as representatives from major record labels.

Julie Greenwald, Chairman & CEO of WMG’s Atlantic Music Group, made the following statement: “Throughout history, artists have created characters and forged narratives that reflect the culture around them. That freedom of expression is essential to the creative process and the role of art in society. The harsh reality is that Black artistic creativity is being threatened at an unprecedented level, and we must make every effort to stop this unethical, discriminatory approach to prosecution.”

The full letter can be read here.

The #ProtectBlackArt movement stems from a change.org petition that was launched earlier this year. Today, the petition has nearly 65,000 signatures.

The post Dozens of Hip-Hop Superstars Petition to “Protect Black Art,” Limiting Use of Lyrics in Court Cases first appeared on The Source.

The post Dozens of Hip-Hop Superstars Petition to “Protect Black Art,” Limiting Use of Lyrics in Court Cases appeared first on The Source.

Kanye West is in the news again. And again, it is not for his music or other artistic endeavors. During an episode of Revolt TV’s “Drink Champs,” Ye claimed that George Floyd died of an overdose from fentanyl as opposed to the actions of the four Minneapolis police officers who have been convicted of his murder or with their involvement in it.

In the show, Ye, who appeared wearing a hat that said “2024” on the brim, referenced the Candace Owens documentary, “Greatest Lie Ever Sold: George Floyd and the Rise of BLM,” as the basis for his claims. He begins with a vague mention of Floyd allegedly telling his roommates that “they”…”want a tall guy like me” before reportedly praying for eight minutes. West then alleges that “they” hit him [Floyd] with fentanyl. West said in reference to convicted former officer Derek Chauvin, “the guy’s knee “wasn’t even on his neck like that” before claiming that “mama” was in reference to Floyd’s girlfriend as opposed to his mother, which most had assumed to be the case.

He then ranted against Louis Vuitton and “the Jewish media” for allegedly “blocking me out,” before repeatedly saying “I’m lit.” He also rallied against JP Morgan Chase bank, who cut ties with West earlier this week, despite West’s point that he had not done anything illegal.

While the show’s host, N.O.R.E., appeared to agree with Ye on that final point, he has faced backlash for allowing West to make his claims regarding Floyd without interruption.

In response to West’s interview, civil rights attorney Lee Merritt tweeted the following on Sunday: “While one cannot defame the dead, the family of #GeorgeFloyd is considering suit for Kanye’s false statements about the manner of his death. Claiming Floyd died from fentanyl not the brutality established criminally and civilly undermines & diminishes the Floyd family’s fight.”

The full show can be seen here in its unedited entirety: https://drinkchamps.com/episodes/episode-337-w-ye-drinkchamps/.

The post George Floyd’s family Contemplates lawsuit after Kanye West Claimed Floyd Died of Overdose first appeared on The Source.

The post George Floyd’s family Contemplates lawsuit after Kanye West Claimed Floyd Died of Overdose appeared first on The Source.

It seems as if people have finally had enough of Kanye’s antics, and his latest stunt is receiving attention from members of the Black Lives Matter movement. Ahmaud Arbery’s mother, Wanda Cooper-James, recently called out Ye for his shirt that said “White Lives Matter” in a statement to Rolling Stones magazine.

James said in a statement through her attorney that Ye’s latest stunt is a mockery of the BLM movement and it legitimizes “extremist” behavior.

“As a result of his display ‘White Lives Matter’ started trending in the U.S., which would directly support and legitimize extremist behavior, [much] like the behavior that took the life of her son,” James’ attorney said.

“That is the thing that Wanda and families like hers continue to fight against. This mockery of the Black Lives Matter movement and his now denunciation of the movement as some sort of hoax flies directly in the face [of what he’s said]. It’s confusing for her, it’s confusing for the families to receive his support privately, but publicly to set us all back.”

Kanye has since doubled down on his position, calling the BLM movement a “scam” in now deleted IG posts. “Everyone knows that Black Lives Matter was a scam. Now it’s over. You’re welcome,” he wrote.

Kanye infamously wore the shirt during his YZYSZN 9 fashion show during Paris Fashion Week on Monday, Oct 3. West has been scolded by other celebrities, social media, and fashion critics for his polarizing and controversial t-shirt.

The post Ahmaud Arbery’s Mother Scolds Kanye For ‘White Lives Matter’ Shirt first appeared on The Source.

The post Ahmaud Arbery’s Mother Scolds Kanye For ‘White Lives Matter’ Shirt appeared first on The Source.

Jason Lee, owner of Hollywood Unlocked, parted ways with Kanye amid the public backlash over Ye sporting a “White Lives Matter” shirt in Paris.

According to Eurweb.com, Lee quit as Kanye’s head of media and partnerships on Monday.

Lee re-posted a photo of conservative pundit Candace Owens and Kanye wearing matching WLM shirts on his Instagram page on Monday.

Jason wrote:

“I love Ye as a person, and I support free speech. But this is gaslighting black people and empowering white supremacy,” Lee wrote in the photo caption.

“Not sure if he has any friends left to tell him but this is utterly disappointing.

I’m going to exercise free speech and say, nobody black has ever said that white lives don’t matter. But when black people do this it just screams the need for white validation.

Not to mention, adding Candace Owens to this photo is beyond reprehensible. I understand he believes in her right to free speech but her speech is typically embedded in self hate, a determination to promote white supremacy, and she lacks integrity.

This is sad.”

The post Jason Lee Parts Ways with Kanye first appeared on The Source.

The post Jason Lee Parts Ways with Kanye appeared first on The Source.

Elijah McClain’s autopsy has revealed his death was caused by ketamine injection after being forcibly restrained. The dosage was too much for his body size and it resulted in an overdose.

On Aug. 24, 2019, officers responded to a call about a suspicious person and put McClain, a massage therapist, in a chokehold and paramedics later injected him with ketamine, a powerful sedative. He died about a week later.

An amended autopsy report released Friday revealed Elijah McClain, a 23-year-old Black man who died after a confrontation with police officers, died because he was injected with ketamine by paramedics after being forcibly restrained.

“I believe this tragic fatality is most likely the result of ketamine toxicity,” the report said, adding McClain received a higher dosage of the sedative than he should have. “Simply put, this dosage of ketamine was too much for this individual and it resulted in an overdose.”

The original autopsy report, signed Nov. 7, 2019, said McClain’s cause of death could not be determined, but new information that emerged during a grand jury investigation prompted the state attorney general’s office to order a second autopsy.

The amended report comes one month after Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser announced that two police officers, one former officer and two paramedics in the Denver suburb of Aurora had been indicted and would be charged with one count each of manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide, among other allegations in the 32-count indictment.

“The opinions rendered were based on information available at that time. Since then, this office has received additional material for review including extensive body camera footage, witness statements, and additional records,” the report said. “It is worth noting that these materials had been requested prior to release of the initial autopsy but the material was either not provided to us or not provided to us in their entirety.”

The post [WATCH] Elijah McClain’s Shocking Cause Of Death Revealed first appeared on The Source.

The post [WATCH] Elijah McClain’s Shocking Cause Of Death Revealed appeared first on The Source.

Former Minneapolis police officer, Thomas Lane will serve three years in prison for his role in the death of George Floyd.  39-year-old Lane was sentenced virtually on Wednesday morning for a state charge of aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter. 

Thomas Lane pleaded guilty in May to the state charge. The ex officer held down Floyd’s legs while Derek Chauvin kept his knee on his neck for nine and a half minutes, which led to Floyd’s death.

READ MORE: Three Minneapolis Officers Found Guilty of Violating George Floyd’s Civil Rights

He’s currently serving two-and-a-half years in Federal Correctional Institution Englewood in Littleton, Colorado for violating Floyd’s civil rights by denying him medical care. Lane will serve his new state sentence in federal prison.

Share your thoughts and comments with us on social media.

The post Former Officer Receives State Sentence For His Role In George Floyd Murder first appeared on The Source.

The post Former Officer Receives State Sentence For His Role In George Floyd Murder appeared first on The Source.

There is new information involving a former Louisville officer indicted by a federal grand jury in the Breonna Taylor case.  Court records show Brett Hankison refused to comply with one of the conditions of his release. 

The U.S. Attorney’s Office told a judge yesterday that Hankison would not give a blood sample to his probation officer after he took a trip to Las Vegas.  

READ MORE: Ex-Louisville Detective To Plead Guilty To Lying On Breonna Taylor Search Warrant

Court officials are reviewing the terms of his release.  Hankison did not give any further details on why he did not give a blood sample.

Hankison was indicted August 4 along with three other former officers, Kyle Meany, Kelly Goodlett and Joshua Jaynes. The indictments were related to the botched raid that resulted in Taylor’s death on March 13, 2020.

Continue the conversation on social media.

The post Officer Indicted In Breonna Taylor Case Allegedly Refused Blood Sample first appeared on The Source.

The post Officer Indicted In Breonna Taylor Case Allegedly Refused Blood Sample appeared first on The Source.

Dawn Staley, South Carolina women’s basketball coach is explaining her decision to cancel a series of games with BYU.  Staley spoke for the first time on Sunday about the decision that was announced by the university on Friday.  

“As a head coach, my job is to do what’s best for my players and staff,” Staley shared in the statement. “The incident at BYU has led me to reevaluate our home-and-home, and I don’t feel that this is the right time for us to engage in this series.”

READ MORE: [WATCH] Dawn Staley Celebrates National Title Win During Appearance on ‘The Daily Show with Trevor Noah’

The 3x Olympic gold medalist said she made the decision on her own following a recent racist incident involving a Duke volleyball player who said a Cougars fan yelled racial slurs at her.

 Staley said she vetted all angles of what happened at BYU and talked to several people. She called her decision a “selfish” one and said she didn’t make it to “condemn” BYU.

“I slept on it a few nights, I woke up with the same gut feeling I should not put our players in that situation,” she cleared up. This was a selfish decision, I was only thinking about South Carolina women’s basketball.”

Staley also said the school and her players supported her decision.  

Continue the conversation on social media.

The post SOURCE SPORTS: Dawn Staley Details Decision To Cancel BYU Basketball Series Following Racial Slurs first appeared on The Source.

The post SOURCE SPORTS: Dawn Staley Details Decision To Cancel BYU Basketball Series Following Racial Slurs appeared first on The Source.

Kelly Goodlett, a former Louisville Detective is expected to plead guilty today to lying on a search warrant for Breonna Taylor’s apartment raid. 

More than two years after her murder the Justice department announced civil rights violation charges against former officers Joshua Jaynes, Brett Hankison, Kelly Goodlett, and Sgt. Kyle Meany due largely to Taylor’s family’s persistent advocacy for justice in her case.

Goodlett’s lawyer has said that she will plead guilty to a single count of conspiring to violate Breonna Taylor’s civil rights for helping falsify an affidavit for the search warrant.  

The federal court’s charging doc says Goodlett falsely claimed a postal inspector had verified that Taylor was receiving packages at her apartment for her ex-boyfriend, who was a convicted drug dealer.  

READ MORE: Ex-Detective Not Guilty Of Charges Connected To Breonna Taylor’s Deadly Raid

The 26-year-old emergency room tech was shot to death when police officers carried out a no-knock raid on her apartment in March of 2020.

Until this month, former detective Brett Hankison, who was one of three officers who shot at Taylor and her boyfriend while sleeping, was the only person to face charges in connection with the fatal raid. 

Share your thoughts and comments with us on social media.

The post Ex-Louisville Detective To Plead Guilty To Lying On Breonna Taylor Search Warrant first appeared on The Source.

The post Ex-Louisville Detective To Plead Guilty To Lying On Breonna Taylor Search Warrant appeared first on The Source.

A Minnesota county settled a racial discrimination lawsuit involving eight correctional officers of color and Derek Chauvin the ex-Minneapolis officer convicted of killing George Floyd.  

The lawsuit alleged the former Ramsey County Adult Detention Center superintendent blocked the eight minority officers from guarding and interacting with Derek Chauvin after he was arrested in 2020.  The officers, who identify as African American, Hispanic, Pacific Islander American and multiracial say the superintendent, Steve Lydon segregated them by reassigning them to different floors. 

READ MORE: Final Two Ex-Minneapolis Officers Sentenced To Feds Surrounding George Floyd’s Death

 The lawsuit also accused a white lieutenant of giving Chauvin special treatment.  On Tuesday, Ramsey County approved a nearly $1.5 million settlement for the eight officers.

Lydon reportedly told his superiors that he made the decision “to protect and support” the minority employees by keeping them away from the convicted cop, according to USA Today. 

Board Chairwoman Trista MatasCastillo apologized in a statement “for the trauma you experienced and the ongoing harm this racist incident caused.”

“The actions taken by the Sheriff’s Office leadership that day were more than just wrong, they were racist, heinous, highly disrespectful and completely out of line with Ramsey County’s vision and values,” she said. “No one ever should have questioned your ability to perform your job based on the color of your skin.”

Continue the conversation on social media.

The post $1.5M Settlement Reached In Jailer’s Racial Discrimination Lawsuit Involving Derek Chauvin first appeared on The Source.

The post $1.5M Settlement Reached In Jailer’s Racial Discrimination Lawsuit Involving Derek Chauvin appeared first on The Source.

Last week, a Mississippi grand jury decided not to indict Carolyn Bryant Donham, the woman whose false accusations led to the death of Emmett Till in 1955. The decision not to indict Donham on charges of kidnapping and manslaughter come after hearing 7 hours worth of testimony from investigators and witnesses. The jury decided that there was not enough sufficient evidence to indict.

News of this decision comes after a 1955 arrest warrant for Bryant was recently discovered by a group, consisting of Deborah Watts, Till’s cousin and her daughter Teri in the basement of a Leflore County courthouse in June.

Emmett Till’s cousin, and the last surviving witness that saw him abducted, Rev. Wheeler Parker, Jr. called the decision unfortunate, but predictable.”

“The prosecutor tried his best, and we appreciate his efforts, but he alone cannot undo hundreds of years of anti-Black systems that guaranteed those who killed Emmett Till would go unpunished, to this day,” Parker said.

“The fact remains that the people who abducted, tortured, and murdered Emmett did so in plain sight, and our American justice system was and continues to be set up in such a way that they could not be brought to justice for their heinous crimes.”

In an Donham’s unpublished memoir, she says that she did not know what her husband at the time and his half brother were going to do to Till, and denies having wanted him killed. She says that her husband and his half brother, Roy Bryant and J.W. Milam, brought Till to her for identification after abducting the 14 year old. She claims that she tried to help him by denying that it was him, but Till volunteered himself as the person they were looking for.

Till was then brutally beaten and shot in the head, tied to a metal fan and dumped in the river. He was found three days later.

As for Donham’s husband and his half brother, the two were acquitted of Till’s murder by an all white male jury, and later admitted to murdering Till in an interview. The reason why they could not be tried is due to double jeopardy.

The post Grand Jury Decides That Emmett Till Accuser Will Not Face Charges In The Murder Of 14-Year-Old first appeared on The Source.

The post Grand Jury Decides That Emmett Till Accuser Will Not Face Charges In The Murder Of 14-Year-Old appeared first on The Source.

Brianna Grier, who died while in police custody, has an autopsy confirmed for the reason of her death.

Reportedly Grier, 28, was having a mental health crisis when her family called  911 for help but the police didn’t bring the ambulance with them arriving alone. 

“When they used to come out to the house they’d call an ambulance service,” Grier’s father Marvin Grier said last month to CNN. “The ambulance service would come out and they would take her to the hospital to get some help.”

According to authorities Grier died after she fell out of a patrol car in Georgia. The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office had taken her into custody before the incident.

The autopsy reveals she was killed by blunt force trauma to her head.  The doctor who conducted an autopsy commissioned by her family confirmed it yesterday.  Dr. Allecia Wilson from the University of Michigan was asked by Grier’s family to conduct the review.  Grier fell from the moving vehicle and later died on July 21 after being in a coma for several days.

 Authorities previously revealed a rear door of the cruiser was never closed and she was placed in the backseat without a seat belt during her arrest.  Grier allegedly fell out of the car after a deputy drove a short distance.  

Acting representation for the family and civil rights attorney Ben Crump shared they were still seeking answers as to why Grier wasn’t secured in the patrol car with a seat belt and call for the release of any other body camera footage from that night.

Share your comments with us on social media.

The post Autopsy of Brianna Grier Confirms ‘Blunt Force Trauma’ To Head While in Police Custody first appeared on The Source.

The post Autopsy of Brianna Grier Confirms ‘Blunt Force Trauma’ To Head While in Police Custody appeared first on The Source.

All three Georgia White men involved in the murder of Ahmaud Arbery are being given additional prison sentences on federal hate crime charges.  Travis and Greg McMichael, the  father and son who killed 25-year-old Arbery as he was out for a jog, were sentenced Monday to life in prison. The third man William Bryan, who recorded the incident, was sentenced to 35 years. 

His mother, Wanda Cooper-Jones, says they have finally gotten justice. After an apology from one of the three men, Ahmaud Arbery’s mother said it was the first time she’s heard any one of them express that they were sorry.

Marcus Arbery, father of Ahmaud Arbery said  “They didn’t even give him a chance to finish his run… and you’re asking for the court to send you somewhere where you can be laid back?”

After his son’s killers claimed that they feel unsafe in state prison, “We don’t want no mercy,” Mr. Arbery added. 

READ MORE: Ahmaud Arbery’s Killers Sentenced To Life In Prison, Judge Calls For a “Minute of Silence”

The trio had already been convicted and sentenced on state charges. A jury convicted them in February saying they targeted an unarmed Arbery as he was jogging in a Brunswick neighborhood in 2020. 

Share your thoughts and comments with us on social media.

The post Ahmaud Arbery’s Parents React Following His Killers Hate Crime Sentence first appeared on The Source.

The post Ahmaud Arbery’s Parents React Following His Killers Hate Crime Sentence appeared first on The Source.

Four Louisville officers involved in the raid of the home where Breonna Taylor was sleeping and ultimately killed her were charged Thursday with civil rights violations. The Justice Department announced of the charged was a former detective who was fired for lying about the search warrant that sparked the raid leading to her death.

According to The USA Today, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland announced the charges against former officers Joshua Jaynes, Brett Hankison, Kelly Goodlett, and Sgt. Kyle Meany.

During the announcement, Garland said, “Breonna Taylor should be alive today.”

Taylor was killed by Louisville officers who knocked down the door of her apartment, executing a search warrant. Taylor’s unit was the wrong home. As officers entered the home, Taylor’s boyfriend fired a shot at the officers, who returned fire and killed Taylor with six shots. In total, 32 shots were fired by police officers.

In reaction to the news, civil-rights attorney Ben Crump stated the charges were a “huge step toward justice.”

Hankinson faces two civil-rights charges for “unconstitutionally excessive force during the raid on Ms. Taylor’s home” and acted “without a lawful objective justifying the use of deadly force.”

During the raid, bullets flew into the neighbor’s apartment. The participating officers state the officers participating in the raid did not know of the creation of the warrant.

The post Four Officers Charged in the Fatal Shooting of Breonna Taylor first appeared on The Source.

The post Four Officers Charged in the Fatal Shooting of Breonna Taylor appeared first on The Source.