Delaware Governor: State Must Apologize For Its Role In Slavery

 

Delaware Governor Jack Markell, commemorating the 150th anniversary of the 13th Amendment outlawing slavery in the United States, announced on Sunday a resolution to officially apologize for his state's role in slavery.

"We must publicly and candidly acknowledge the lasting damage of past sins - damage that continues to reverberate more than 150 years after the abolition of slavery," Markell told worshippers at Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Wilmington, Delaware, his office said.

The ratification of the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution officially ended U.S. slavery on Dec. 6, 1865.

Markell made the comments at a time of heightened debate and protests in the United States over racial equality in response to police violence involving minorities.

Markell, a Democrat, unveiled a joint resolution on Sunday - which will be considered by the Democrat-controlled legislature in 2016 - to officially condemn and apologize for Delaware's role in slavery.

It is a pledge "to fix the long legacy of damage that continues to result in inequality and unfair obstacles for countless citizens because of their race," Markell said.

Delaware, which in the 1800s was a slave owning state although it remained in the Union, joins a handful of other states as well as the U.S. Congress in its modern day expression of regret for the legacy of slavery.

Markell unveiled the resolution a month after he issued a posthumous pardon for Samuel Burris, a free black man from Delaware who helped slaves escape in 1847 through the Underground Railroad.

One of the sponsors of the resolution, Senate Majority Whip Margaret Rose Henry of Wilmington, said expressing sorrow for past wrongs paves the way for doing right in the future.

"Who we can be tomorrow is predicated upon our ability to show empathy for each other today," Henry said. "An apology for slavery is just that: an act of empathy that won't undo the past, but will once and for all acknowledge the experience of so many Delawareans who still feel its harsh effects."

-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.

Delaware Governor: State Must Apologize For Its Role In Slavery
Chloe Angyal
Sun, 06 Dec 2015 19:51:28 GMT

DOJ Releases Final Report On Ferguson Unrest Detailing More Than 100 Lessons

 

Your browser does not support iframes.

The Department of Justice has released its final report on the 17-day period between the shooting death of Michael Brown and his funeral.

According to NPR:

The report, conducted by the Justice Department’s Community Oriented Policing Services office, focused on the 17-day time frame between Brown’s death and his funeral. The assessment does not provide a lot of new information, but it does provide greater insight into how policing tactics and strategy unfolded during that time when the atmosphere between law enforcement and demonstrators was especially tense.

There were a total of 113 lessons and a half-dozen themes that “permeated all aspects of the police response,” according to the report. Some of those included inconsistent leadership, lack of understanding of community concerns with law enforcement and use of “ineffective and inappropriate” tactics that escalated instead of diminishing tensions.

Thursday on NewsOne Now, Roland Martin and the Straight Talk Panel discussed the findings of this revealing report. NewsOne Now panelist Danielle Belton told Martin, “There has to be policy that comes out of this, because otherwise we’ll repeat this all over again in another suburban town in the United States.” She added the police in Ferguson “threw as many militarized police as they could at the problem as possible. They saw a bunch of people protesting and saw a lot of people upset. They just lost their minds for two weeks last summer and we can’t see a repeat of that.”

“We’ve already seen a repeat of it,” said Avis Jones-DeWeever. She added that one year after Mike Brown was shot in Ferguson, police are still “engaging in some of the same tactics. They have not really produced any change in Ferguson, much less anywhere else around the country.”

“So what is the difference?” she continued. “To have people just be able to resign and get their retirements and go on their merry way or get a job someplace else does not solve the problem. The root is still there and the horrendous outcomes are still there.”

Watch Roland Martin; Maya Rockeymoore, President and CEO of Global Policy Solutions; Danielle Belton, Associate Editor of TheRoot.com; and Avis Jones-DeWeever from the Exceptional Leadership Institute for Women, discuss the findings of the final Department of Justice report on the unrest in Ferguson in the video clip above.

Mark your calendars! TV One NewsOne Now moves to 7 A.M. ET starting Monday September 14th. Until then, be sure to watch “NewsOne Now” with Roland Martin, weekdays at 9 a.m. EST on TV One.

Subscribe to the “NewsOne Now” Audio Podcast on iTunes.

SEE ALSO: Photographic Proof Not Much Has Changed In Ferguson Since Michael Brown’s Death

Don’t Miss Our Hottest Stories! Get The NewsOne Flip App for iPhone: Flip, Skip — Or Send Us a Tip!

DOJ Releases Final Report On Ferguson Unrest Detailing More Than 100 Lessons
NewsOne Now
Thu, 03 Sep 2015 21:48:11 GMT

Donald Trump slams President Obama for neglecting blacks

 

Donald Trump said President Obama has done “nothing” for African Americans during an interview on Sunday.

Donald Trump slams President Obama for neglecting blacks
ADAM EDELMAN
Mon, 03 Aug 2015 12:51:12 GMT

You’re Right Rudy

Herman Badillo, Congressman and Fixture of New York Politics, Dies at 85

 

Mr. Badillo, whose political odyssey spanned from Kennedy liberalism in the 1960s to Giuliani conservatism in the 1990s, became the first Puerto Rico-born congressman.

Herman Badillo, Congressman and Fixture of New York Politics, Dies at 85
By ROBERT D. McFADDEN
Wed, 03 Dec 2014 20:37:40 GMT

Mayor de Blasio and Chirlane McCray Aren't Happy With the New York Post

 

On Sunday morning, the New York Post published a very Posty cover story about the recent resignation of NYPD chief of department Philip Banks III and Chirlane McCray's supposed reaction to it. According to the Post, "sources" said that a "furious" McCray yelled, "I told you we can't trust [Bill Bratton]!" upon learning that Banks had quit after disagreeing with the NYPD chief over the conditions of a planned promotion. The conservative tabloid also claimed that Banks "was [McCray]'s choice" for police commissioner, a job she "never wanted to see" Bratton do. (Bratton was, of course, appointed by McCray's husband, Mayor de Blasio.)  On Sunday afternoon, de Blasio and Bratton held a press conference to show that they were getting along and to deny the Post's claims. On her blog, McCray did the same, while also issuing some general criticism of New York City's press corps.

De Blasio and Bratton didn't explicitly name the Post, but it was clear what they were talking about. "Some of the falsehoods that have been reported...could not be more wrong," said de Blasio, who criticized "unnamed sources" who "make up entire conversations in their head." Bratton, for his part, accused certain reporters and pundits of "trying to damage" the NYPD and the de Blasio administration.

Meanwhile, on Tumblr, McCray wrote: 

This morning I woke up to a front-page news article that simply wasn’t true.

And it wasn’t the first time.
Reading through it was an astonishing and surreal experience. It’s like the reporters created a fictional character that happened to look like me and have the same name as me.
They put words into my mouth that I never said. They gave me opinions that have never crossed my mind. They made it sound like NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton is my sworn enemy, when in fact he has my full support.

McCray went on to blame the piece on "a small but stubborn group of people who adamantly oppose the efforts of Mayor de Blasio and Commissioner Bratton to create a more fair and equal policing system" and the "irresponsible reporters" willing to print their "lies."

"How do these lies make it through the editorial process and end up in a major newspaper? How do opinions leak out of the 'Editorials' section and onto the front page?" wrote McCray. "The answer to that question is more complicated, but I think it comes down to this: Too many city newsrooms do not reflect the population of NYC or the experiences of the majority of New Yorkers...We must demand newsrooms that are as diverse as the city they serve. And we must demand stories that are works of fact, not fiction." 

McCray's desire for more diverse newsrooms is one shared by many. It also might reflect McCray's interpretation of things like the Post's decision to twist her candid description of her adjustment to parenthood into a headline calling her a "BAD MOM" and the attention local reporters recently devoted to her chief-of-staff's failure to disclose that her longtime boyfriend has a criminal past. As for her call for stories that aren't made up? Well, that seems pretty straightforward.

Read more posts by Caroline Bankoff

Filed Under: chirlane mccray ,new york post ,journalism ,bill de blasio's new york ,bill bratton ,bill de blasio ,nypd

Mayor de Blasio and Chirlane McCray Aren't Happy With the New York Post
Caroline Bankoff
Mon, 03 Nov 2014 01:34:10 GMT

Developing: NYPD Chief of Department Stepping Down

 

The NYPD's Chief of Department, Philip Banks, who was expected to become first deputy commissioner, is stepping down.

Developing: NYPD Chief of Department Stepping Down
Fri, 31 Oct 2014 13:27:39 GMT

Share your opinion today. Vote November 4th.

Share your opinion today. Vote November 4th.

Tuesday, 16 September 2014

NYC Votes

In the election on November 4th, New Yorkers will head to the polls to shape the future of our city and our state. In addition to the candidates on the ballot, voters will have the opportunity to weigh in on three state proposals. 

NYC Votes invites you to share your statement on any of these proposals for inclusion in our non-partisan, online Voter Guide.

Do it today! The deadline to submit your 200-word statement is September 24th. Please read the instructions below before submitting your statement(s). 

The proposals on the Nov. 4, 2014 ballot in New York are:

1. Revising State’s Redistricting Procedure:
   • The proposed amendment to sections 4 and 5 and addition of new section 5-b to Article 3 of the State Constitution revises the redistricting procedure for state legislative and congressional districts. The proposed amendment establishes an independent redistricting commission every 10 years beginning in 2020, with two members appointed by each of the four legislative leaders and two members selected by the eight legislative appointees; prohibits legislators and other elected officials from serving as commissioners; establishes principles to be used in creating districts; requires the commission to hold public hearings on proposed redistricting plans; subjects the commission’s redistricting plan to legislative enactment; provides that the legislature may only amend the redistricting plan according to the established principles if the commission’s plan is rejected twice by the legislature; provides for expedited court review of a challenged redistricting plan; and provides for funding and bipartisan staff to work for the commission. Shall the proposed amendment be approved?
2. Permitting Electronic Distribution of State Legislative Bills:
   • The proposed amendment to section 14 of Article 3 of the State Constitution would allow electronic distribution of a state legislative bill to satisfy the constitutional requirement that a bill be printed and on the desks of state legislators at least three days before the Legislature votes on it. It would establish the following requirements for electronic distribution: first, legislators must be able to review the electronically-sent bill at their desks; second, legislators must be able to print the bill if they choose; and third, the bill cannot be changed electronically without leaving a record of the changes. Shall the proposed amendment be approved?
3. The Smart Schools Bond Act of 2014:
   • The Smart Schools Bond Act of 2014, as set forth in section one of part B of chapter 56 of the laws of 2014, authorizes the sale of state bonds of up to two billion dollars ($2,000,000,000) to provide access to classroom technology and high-speed internet connectivity to equalize opportunities for children to learn, to add classroom space to expand high-quality pre-kindergarten programs, to replace classroom trailers with permanent instructional space, and to install high-tech smart security features in schools. Shall the Smart Schools Bond Act of 2014 be approved?

For more information on the proposals, visit the CFB’s website or read the full abstracts published by the NYS Board of Elections.

Email your "pro" or "con" statement(s) to ballotproposal@nyccfb.info by Wednesday, September 24, 2014. Make sure to follow these simple instructions:

• Address only one ballot proposal in your statement (you may submit separately on each proposal).
• Clearly advocate a yes or no vote on that proposal.
• Include your full name (and your organization name, if you are submitting on behalf of an organization).
• Limit your statement to 200 words or less.

You may also fax your pro/con statement to (212) 409-1705, Attn: Ballot Proposals, or mail it to the CFB at 100 Church Street, 12th Floor, New York, NY 10007, Attn: Ballot Proposals.

Late submissions will not be accepted. The CFB reserves the right to edit or exclude statements that do not meet our criteria and follow the instructions above.

- See more at: http://fulldisclosure.nyccfb.info/blog/share-your-opinion-today-vote-november-4th#sthash.XNeuBjvR.dpuf

Grand Jury Delays Decision On Whether Or Not To Indict Darren Wilson

 

A grand jury has until January 7 to decide whether or not to bring criminal charges against Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson,  who shot unarmed teenager Michael Brown to death on August 9, reports STLToday.com.

St. Louis County Circuit Judge Carolyn Whittington extended the usual four month period, which expired last week, and now the grand jury has an additional 60 days to make a decision.

“She extended it to the full amount allowed by law,” said Court Administrator Paul Fox said.

Read more below:

The panel is hearing evidence in the Michael Brown case exclusively, and can meet whenever it needs to, Fox said.

The grand jury is 12 people selected from the standard jury pool to meet in secret, usually weekly, to hear evidence and decide whether criminal charges are warranted. It takes nine votes to issue an indictment, which sends a defendant to a public trial.

St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Robert P. McCulloch can bypass a grand jury and take a case to trial by filing a complaint that goes first to a preliminary hearing, a public proceeding in which a judge decides if there should be a trial. Often, his office files a charge first and then obtains an indictment to replace it, avoiding the preliminary hearing.

McCulloch chose to take the full investigation of Wilson’s use of deadly force to the grand jury. He announced weeks ago that he would present all the evidence gathered, leaving to grand jurors the decision of what to do.

As previously reported by NewsOne, Wilson shot Brown at least six times, including twice in the head.

According to the autopsy, the six shots produced numerous wounds with some of the bullets entering and exiting several times, including one that left at least five different wounds.

Wilson was not identified immediately and once he was, police revealed that he had been allowed to leave town.

Grand Jury Delays Decision On Whether Or Not To Indict Darren Wilson
NewsOne Staff
Tue, 16 Sep 2014 03:32:52 GMT

Poll: Views of NYPD Mostly Split by Race

Poll: Views of NYPD Mostly Split by Race

In the wake of Eric Garner's death in police custody, a new Quinnipiac University poll finds that New Yorkers have different views on the New York City Police Department.

Poll: Views of NYPD Mostly Split by Race
Thu, 28 Aug 2014 03:12:02 GMT

Stop-and-frisk and risk

Stop-and-frisk and risk

Warning signs are emerging that the dramatic cutback in the stop-question-and-frisk tactic — which candidate Bill de Blasio pledged to reform and which his Police Commissioner Bill Bratton has called “a basic, fundamental tool of police work” — may be feeding a rise in shootings in high-crime neighborhoods.

Stop-and-frisk and risk
Editorials
Sat, 16 Aug 2014 08:10:18 GMT

Mayor, Police Commissioner Examine Tactics in Wake of Arrest Death

Mayor, Police Commissioner Examine Tactics in Wake of Arrest Death

Mayor Bill de Blasio and Police Commissioner William Bratton on Monday said they are working to improve the relationship between police and citizens following the death of a Staten Island man earlier this month.

Mayor, Police Commissioner Examine Tactics in Wake of Arrest Death
Mon, 28 Jul 2014 19:43:14 GMT

NYCHA nightmare continues after de Blasio's promises

 

Six months ago, Mayor de Blasio took office promising big changes for public housing, but that means little to Blanche Moore, who still has to deal with sickening black mold in her bathroom. “It’s the same,” said Moore, 61, a retired home health aide, who lives in the DeWitt Clinton Houses in East Harlem. “I don’t have a problem talking to them or anything. I just can’t get anybody to come and do the work.” Moore is one of 17 tenants who sued NYCHA in June on behalf of DeWitt Clinton’s 1,700 residents, demanding that the authority address dozens of repairs that date back years.

NYCHA nightmare continues after de Blasio's promises
Greg B. Smith
Sat, 28 Jun 2014 22:19:07 GMT

Former Gov. David Paterson named new state Democratic party chairman

Former Gov. David Paterson named new state Democratic party chairman

A day after it was reported that Assemblyman Keith Wright put in for per diems for times he was not in Albany, Gov. Cuomo announced Wednesday morning that he is leaving as state Democratic party co-chairman. Wright is being replaced by former Gov. David Paterson.

Former Gov. David Paterson named new state Democratic party chairman
ken lovett
Wed, 21 May 2014 14:44:03 GMT

EXCLUSIVE: Free lunch for city public school kids in proposed budget

EXCLUSIVE: Free lunch for city public school kids in proposed budget

The City Council’s proposed budget to be unveiled Wednesday will push for two big priorities: free lunch for all public school kids and 1,000 new cops. The Council is asking for $24 million to provide lunches regardless of how much money kids’ families make.

EXCLUSIVE: Free lunch for city public school kids in proposed budget
ERIN DURKIN
Wed, 23 Apr 2014 06:30:50 GMT

Mayor de Blasio at National Action Network convention: Rev. Al Sharpton, you're "The Real Thing"

 

Kicking off the annual National Action Network Annual convention in Midtown, Mayor de Blasio on Wednesday heaped praise on its founder Rev. Al Sharpton as a “blessing” who lives by the “values” of Martin Luther King. De Blasio, speaking just days after revelations that Sharpton worked as a mob informant in the 80s, said that he was “proud” to stand with him and declared himself a huge “fan” of the reverend.

Mayor de Blasio at National Action Network convention: Rev. Al Sharpton, you're "The Real Thing"
jennifer fermino
Wed, 09 Apr 2014 19:28:34 GMT

Charter co-location: A phantom threat

Charter co-location: A phantom threat

Winters: Mayor de Blasio has announced a moratorium on new charter school co-locations — whereby charters make use of underutilized space in public school buildings — and has said that he plans to begin charging rent to charters currently operating within publicly owned facilities.

Charter co-location: A phantom threat
Marcus Winters
Tue, 25 Feb 2014 09:30:26 GMT

NYPD commish's wife ready for big supporting role

NYPD commish's wife ready for big supporting role

A former top trial attorney and CourtTV anchor who now provides legal analysis on CBS, Rikki Klieman said her connections will be an asset as Bratton seeks to mend relations with the black community by overhauling the NYPD’s controversial stop-and-frisk tactics.

NYPD commish's wife ready for big supporting role
ANNIE KARNI
Sun, 19 Jan 2014 10:43:54 GMT

Harlem Figure Looking to Challenge Rangel Doesn't Live in District

Harlem Figure Looking to Challenge Rangel Doesn't Live in District

Pastor Michael Walrond, one of the men looking to challenge Charles Rangel's congressional re-election bid for his Harlem seat, doesn't even live in New York, but Walrond tells NY1 that he will move to Harlem this month.

Harlem Figure Looking to Challenge Rangel Doesn't Live in District
Fri, 03 Jan 2014 01:57:43 GMT

Keep the bums out

 

Melissa Mark-Viverito is planning her coronation as the next City Council speaker, having apparently won the misguided support of a majority of her fellow members. Many of the 30 who signed on share her progressive agenda.

Keep the bums out
Editorials
Sat, 21 Dec 2013 09:15:36 GMT