Civil rights groups warn tourists about Florida in wake of 'hostile' laws
The NAACP over the weekend issued a travel advisory for Florida, joining two other civil rights groups in warning potential tourists that recent laws championed by Gov_ Ron DeSantis and Florida lawmakers are “openly hostile toward African Americans, people of color and LGBTQ+ individuals.”.
NAACP says Jackson's water problems are civil rights issue
The NAACP on Tuesday accused Mississippi of discriminating against Black residents by denying badly needed federal funds for drinking water infrastructure in Jackson and instead diverting money to largely-white communities that needed it less.
Curry, WNBA players receive Jackie Robinson award from NAACP
The NAACP has given him its Jackie Robinson Sports Award. And, for the first time, the nation's oldest civil rights organization is recognizing more than one person by honoring the WNBA Players Association. Ad“I am so proud of the WNBA players for this well-deserved recognition of their continued activism and advocacy for social justice and equality," WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said in a statement provided to the AP. Warriors coach Steve Kerr, outspoken on many issues himself, admires the WNBA players for their activism. “I love what the WNBA players have done.
Black woman becomes face of Missouri following NAACP warning
Nearly four years after the NAACP warned travelers that their civil rights may not be respected if they visit the state, a Black woman has become the face of Missouri's tourism campaign. (Missouri Division of Tourism via AP). – A Black woman has become the face of Missouri's tourism campaign, nearly four years after the NAACP warned travelers that their civil rights may not be respected if they visit the state. Pictures also show her posing as a Foodie Mo, Barbecue Mo, Lake Mo, History Mo and more. He said Visit Missouri, the tourism website that features Mo, “auditioned over 200 actors and actresses with strong ties to Missouri.
Black women persevere to lead in Vermont despite harassment
(AP Photo/Jessica Hill)Mia Schultz has watched three other Black women in Vermont leave leadership posts in the mostly white state because of harassment and threats. Democratic state Rep. Kiah Morris, who was the only Black woman in the Vermont state Legislature, resigned that year partially in response to harassment from a self-described white nationalist. Anyone holding public office or high profile advocacy roles takes on risks as a public figure, but Black women face harassment and threats of violence aimed at them for both their gender and race. It's a challenge Black women leaders across the United States face and coincides with a surge of women, and women of color, running for office. Just this week during Vermont's annual town meetings, at least three Black women won seats on town and school boards.
Jury: Black bikers' race was a factor, but city won't pay
COLUMBIA, S.C. – The city of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, was motivated by race when it created a traffic plan designed to “suck the fun” out of Black Bike Week, a federal jury has found. But the same jury sided against the bikers, saying the city probably would have imposed the plan anyway. The Black bikers have been particularly frustrated by a 23-mile (37-kilometer) one-way no-exit traffic chute that funnels them out of town during the peak nights of Atlantic Beach Bikefest, otherwise known as Black Bike Week. The NAACP has tussled in court with the city, as well as local restaurants and a hotel, over their responses to the Black bikers for nearly two decades. That settlement expired in 2015, when the new traffic plan was established.
Black bikers see racism in Myrtle Beach, SC, traffic plan
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Motorcycle clubs roar into Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, each May for separate week-long rallies, one mostly white, the other mostly Black. White bikers rolling in days earlier for Harley Week each May are treated differently, Black bikers say. In opening arguments last week to five Black and four white jurors, an NAACP lawyer said Myrtle Beach during Bikefest is “like a city under martial law," The Sun News of Myrtle Beach reported. The Atlantic Beach event soon sprawled into nearby towns, including Myrtle Beach, where most of the 35,000 residents are white. Myrtle Beach city and Chamber of Commerce officials refused to talk about the trial.
Sunday marked last chance for voters to cast their ballots until Election Day
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Sunday was the final day for South Florida voters to cast their ballots early, ahead of Election Day. “I believe that we’re going to have so many voters out on November the 3rd, that it will be hours in line before you’re able to vote. Souls to the Polls is a nationwide initiative to get people to go straight from church to the voting booth. Voters can return to the polls Tuesday on Election Day. ALSO SEE: Here’s how to maximize your election coverage on Local10.com
Tyler Perry's work honored with 2020 Governors Award
NEW YORK Tyler Perry has won awards from the NAACP and BET. Now he's getting a big one from the Television Academy: He and his foundation are the recipients of the 2020 Governors Award. Tyler Perry has changed the face of television and inspired a new generation of content creators. He pioneered a new brand of storytelling that engages people of color both in front of and behind the camera, and his shows have resonated with a global audience, said Governors Award selection committee Chair Eva Basler in a statement. The award honors an individual or organization in the television arts and sciences whose achievement is so exceptional and universal in nature that it goes beyond the scope of annual Emmy Awards recognition.Previous recipients of the Governors Award include Star Trek, American Idol, Masterpiece Theater and Comic Relief.
Activists try to take movement from the streets to the voting booth
MIAMI Weve heard it from protestors throughout the demonstrations for racial equity the call to channel engagement from the streets to the voting booth. Civic organizations like the NAACP, the Urban League of Broward County and Engage Miami are working to focus this activism into action ahead of the local and national elections later this year. Census data tells us that, historically, voter turnout is greater with older Americans. In 2016, the 18-to-29 age group was the only one to report an increased turnout compared to 2012 (+1.1 percent). FOR MORE INFORMATION:Engage Miami: engagemiami.vote and engage.miami/sign-upNAACP of Fort Lauderdale/Broward: naacpftlbroward.comNAACP of Miami-Dade: miamidadenaacp.comLocal 10 voter information guide: Local10.com/vote-2020/2020/01/09/local10com-2020-voter-information-guide/
This Week in South Florida Podcast - June 7, 2020
PEMBROKE PARK, Fla. Latoya Ratliff, a South Florida protestor that was hit by apparent rubber bullet, Ruban Roberts, president of the Miami-Dade County branch of the NAACP, South Florida Police Benevolent Association President Steadman Stahl, Florida State Rep. Shevrin Jones and Coral Gables Police Chief Ed Hudak join the This Week in South Florida podcast. Subscribe to the weekly TWISF Podcast on iOS or Android
5 things to know today - that aren't about the virus
John Perry III, president of the Brunswick, Ga., NAACP, addresses members of the media in front of old city hall. The people who call Brunswick home say its not the monstrous place it might appear to be in the wake of the slaying of Ahmaud Arbery after a pursuit by two armed white men. SPOTLIGHT ON CITY’S RACE LEGACY People who live in the small Georgia city where Ahmaud Arbery was slain say despite racial inequality, Brunswick is not the monstrous place it might appear. POP MUSIC MASTERMIND MARKS COMEBACK Dr. Luke’s career waned after Kesha claimed in a lawsuit he sexually and emotionally abused her, which he denies. Now the music producer has returned to the top of the charts with “Say So.”
Medley mayor meets with local NAACP president to discuss blackface photo
MEDLEY, Fla. - The NAACP met with the the mayor of Medley on Monday after a photograph of him posing with a man in blackface came to light. Mayor Roberto Martell spoke to Local 10 News about the photo, which was taken at an event held by the Medley Police Department. "In reality, I didn't know I was doing something wrong in the eyes of the people," Martell said. I didn't see it because I didn't know the background." Martell held a closed-door meeting with Ruban Roberts, Miami-Dade County's NAACP president.
Medley mayor apologizes for posing in photo with man in blackface
MEDLEY, Fla. - The mayor of Medley has apologized for posing in a photograph with a man in blackface at a police event. Local 10 News obtained the photos, taken during an annual fashion show for senior citizens hosted by the Medley Police Department. The man in blackface was also wearing a tribal-like costume and holding a spear when he posed with Mayor Roberto Martell at the African Safari-themed event. Medley Police Chief Jeanette Said-Jinete declined to answer questions but provided a statement to Local 10. "The Medley Police Department has been running our senior fashion show for 19 years," the statement read.
Man shows up in blackface to Medley fashion show for seniors
MEDLEY, Fla. - Photos obtained by Local 10 News show a man in blackface at an event held by the Medley Police Department. The man in blackface was also wearing a tribal-like costume and holding a spear. Smiling in a photo with the man was Medley Mayor Roberto Martell. "The Medley Police Department has been running our senior fashion show for 19 years," the statement read. Images on social media show a man in blackface dancing and being cheered on.
100 years ago, white mobs attacked blacks across the country
Over the next few days, white mobs stormed the streets attacking blacks indiscriminately. Scores of black men and women were killed that year in racial violence. "Overwhelmingly, it was whites attacking blacks," Krugler told CNN. "The Red Summer doesn't fit into the stories we tell ourselves about US history," Krugler says. Blacks across the country set up armed self-defense patrols to protect the communities the police failed to protect, Krugler says.