By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia

A Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation grilled the CEOs of Facebook, Google, and Twitter about how their companies attempt to control the spread of hate speech and misinformation on their platforms.

“You are testifying to this committee right now that Twitter when it silences people when it censors people when it blocks political speech, that has no impact on elections?” Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz railed at Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, who appeared virtually alongside Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Google CEO Sundar Pichai.

“Twitter does not have the ability to influence elections because voters can find political information elsewhere,” Dorsey responded.

“We have policies that are focused on making sure that more voices on the platform are possible. We see a lot of abuse and harassment, which ends up silencing people and having them leave from the platform,” he continued.

Officials convened the hearing to examine Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act and other legislative proposals to modernize the decades-old law, increase transparency and accountability among big technology companies for their content moderation practices, and explore the impact of large ad-tech platforms on local journalism and consumer privacy.

In a news release before the meeting, officials at The Democracy Fund Voice noted that, overall, the hearing would provide an opportunity to discuss the unintended consequences of Section 230’s liability shield and how best to preserve the internet as a forum for open discourse.

Ranking Committee Member Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) also published a comprehensive report framing the crisis facing local journalism across the nation.

The report, titled, “Local Journalism: America’s Most Trusted News Sources Threatened,” sought to emphasize the role of a free press in a thriving democracy, define the challenges facing local news outlets, and encourage bipartisan support for both short and long-term federal interventions to level the digital playing field so local journalism can flourish.  

Cantwell argued that local journalism “is essential for healthy communities, competitive marketplaces, and a thriving democracy.”

Released on Oct. 27, Cantwell’s report predicts that by the end of 2020, newspaper revenue will be down 70 percent compared to 20 years ago, and broadcast revenues will dip more than 40 percent.

“The losses have created news deserts in 200 counties across the U.S. where there are no local newspapers covering their communities,” the Senator wrote.

According to the report, more than 400,000 newsroom employees have been laid off, 60 percent of the nation’s local journalism jobs.

“Local news has been hijacked by a few large news aggregation platforms, most notably Google and Facebook, which have become the dominant players in online advertising,” Cantwell wrote.

“These trillion-dollar companies scrape local news content and data for their own sites and leverage their market dominance to force local news to accept little to no compensation for their intellectual property.”

Despite the pandemic and other problems contributing to the decline of local news, Cantwell said big tech companies were complicit.

“They create a choke point for local news … and we have lost thousands of journalistic jobs that are important,” she declared.

“Local news has been hijacked by a few large news aggregation platforms, most notably Google and Facebook, which have become the dominant players in online advertising.”

Pichai offered that Google believes in raising news across its products because they realize the importance of journalism. He remarked that Google supports local journalism.

Cantwell proclaimed that local news needs to survive.

“The message from today’s hearing is the free press needs to live and be supported by all of us, and we look forward to discussing how we can make sure that they get a fair return on their value,” she said.

In 2016, I had a straightforward question for Black Americans: “What do you have to lose?

Black Americans don’t have to ask what they have to lose in 2020. Instead, the question should now be, “how much more do we have to gain?”

As your President, I’ve done more for the Black community than Democrats like Joe Biden have done in 47 years, and we are going to do so much more. As part of our efforts, we’ve unveiled my second term agenda called the “Platinum Plan” for Black Economic Empowerment, to ensure even more Black Americans have the opportunity to succeed over the next four years.

The plan is built around the pillars of opportunity, security, prosperity and fairness. I’ve committed to adding 3 million new jobs for the Black community, creating 500,000 new Black-owned businesses and increasing access to capital in Black communities by almost $500 Billion to create an era of new prosperity and to finally close the wealth gap.

We are increasing access to capital and economic empowerment for the Black community as a way to build Black generational wealth.

I knew that I could do more for Black America than the Democrat Party has ever done because I am about action. In fact, it’s the Democrats who exploit the sympathies and trust of Black Americans with false promises and empty rhetoric.

Since I became your President, I’ve fought for all Americans. Unlike the D.C. political establishment, which looked out for only a small group of elites at the expense of working families — my Administration is empowering all Americans with an agenda that puts you first, because I care.

The unemployment and poverty rates for Black Americans hit record lows just before we were attacked by the China Virus. Wages are now growing faster than they have in over a decade, especially for blue-collar workers.

My Administration is fighting to stop illegal immigration, which hurts Black communities, protect school choice, giving parents more options to access better schools for their children, create new and high-paying jobs, and increase investment in low-income areas — these initiatives create unprecedented opportunities for long-forgotten communities across the country.

I was also honored to work with U.S. Senator Tim Scott to create the Opportunity Zones program established through the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which has already attracted $75 billion in new private investments and created 500,000 new jobs in struggling, underserved communities.

When it comes to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), it was my honor to be the first sitting President to invite all HBCU leaders to the White House, address the HBCU Week Conference and permanently fund these important schools through the FUTURE Act.

I am proud that we also passed landmark criminal justice reform to undo the damage of mass incarceration. This is helping people, who in many cases have served harsh sentences for non-violent crimes, to have a second chance at their American Dream. This is widely viewed as one of the greatest bipartisan victories in a long time, and a testament to what we can achieve together.

When there was increased violence and deaths in Democrat-controlled cities, we started Operation Legend, after young LeGend Taliferro and we are seeing results. When lawless criminals kept looting, burning and destroying Black businesses and communities, I said we needed peace, law and order in these same cities to keep communities, and families safe.

In Black communities across the nation, there’s been a reckoning to the reality that the Democrats have failed them for generations. D.C. Democrats are happy to leave urban communities mired with failing schools, no jobs and lost hope while wasting time and taxpayer money on baseless and partisan politics.

The truth is this: Democrats despise my America First agenda because it broke up their taxpayer-funded gravy train that enriched their friends and families, shipped jobs overseas, supported illegal immigrants and continued endless wars while leaving Black American families high and dry.

I will continue to work with any and all Americans who want to Make America Great Again by bringing back American jobs, improving our schools, building safer and more prosperous communities and reuniting families through meaningful justice reforms.

When I promised to stand for the forgotten men and women of this country—whether they live in Chicago or Charlotte, Detroit or Dubuque, or if they are black or white—I meant it. And that’s exactly what I’ve done.

So, I ask you to examine my record and consider voting for me to continue to fight for you, as your President, for four more years.

By Joe Biden

There is injustice in America. There is discrimination. There is a legacy of racism and inequality that lives still in our institutions, our laws, and in too many people’s hearts that makes it harder for Black people to succeed. These are facts in the United States of America in 2020, and we must all do more to move our nation closer to the ideals inlaid at our founding—that all women and men are created equal.

This year has also brought us too many examples of the dangers Black people can face in the course of going about their lives. With grieving hearts, we learned to say the names of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Rayshard Brooks, and many more. I’ve spent time with the families of George Floyd and Jacob Blake, sharing their grief and anger and seeing the incredible resilience of communities that for too long have had a knee on their neck. And I was inspired by their commitment to turn their pain into purpose.

Photo by Adam Schultz / Biden for President

Today, there are Americans all across this country, especially Black Americans, who are exhausted and hurting. Who are disappointed by a system that never seems to deliver for your communities. Who are sick and tired of a cycle where, in good times, Black communities lag behind, in bad times they get hit first and hardest, and in recovery, they take the longest to bounce back.

We’re in the midst of four simultaneous crises—a pandemic that has claimed more than 200,000 lives, a disproportionate number of whom were Black; an economic crash that has hit Black workers and Black business owners especially hard; a long overdue reckoning on racial justice; and a climate crisis that is already hurting Black and Brown communities the most.

It is our job to do everything in our power to rip out systemic racism across our society, root and branch. It will be hard work in any case. But we will not succeed without a leader who understands our history and is ready to grapple with our challenges.

Photo by Adam Schultz / Biden for President

President Trump wants to paper over the living wound of racism. He’s issued Executive Orders and established a new national commission designed to whitewash our history—and deny the daily reality of being Black in America. He actively appeals to white supremacists and fans the flames of hatred and division in our country, because he thinks it benefits him politically. He ignores the most basic job of every president: the duty to care for all of us, not just those who voted for him.

It’s the polar opposite of what I will do as president. I was proud to serve for eight years alongside President Obama. I watched up close how he filled the Oval Office with dignity and compassion for others. And, together with Senator Kamala Harris as my vice president, we will restore honor, integrity, and competence to the White House.

We will build an administration that looks like America, including nominating the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court.

We will work to unite the country around solutions that will push our country forward, and most importantly, I will listen to those impacted by the long-standing inequities in our system—especially Black Americans, Latinos, Asian Americans, and Native Americans.

Photo by Adam Schultz / Biden for President

That’s how we will work together to deliver real, lasting change. Criminal justice and policing reforms, but also economic opportunity and financial stability. Building wealth for families of color and passing it down. Closing the racial wealth gap is one of the most powerful ways we can build real equity in our society, and it’s going to require a full-court press. That’s what my Lift Every Voice plan is—a comprehensive agenda to take on the range of issues that drive inequality in Black America.

We’ll tackle student debt and invest more in our HBCUs, so higher education is a pathway to wealth and opportunity instead of to debt that prevents you from owning a home or starting a small business.

My plan will empower Black-owned small businesses, with short-term relief to get you through this tough time and long-term investments to help you build back better — with access to new capital and financing and government contracts.

Critically, we’re going to tackle the racial homeownership gap head on. There is no greater vehicle for wealth creation than homeownership. That’s why my plan will restore the steps President Obama and I took toward eradicating housing discrimination, including redlining; end racial bias in how we judge which families are credit-worthy; and provide a $15,000 down payment tax credit to help millions of young Black families buy their first home.

Photo by Adam Schultz / Biden for President

We’ll fix our upside-down tax system to finally reward work, not wealth. Trump thinks billionaires deserve more tax cuts. But under my plan, I’ll make sure the super wealthy and big corporations pay their fair share, while ensuring that no one making less than $400,000 a year sees their taxes go up.

And I’m going to fight like hell to defend your family’s health care, just like I would my own. Right now, in the midst of a pandemic, Donald Trump is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn Obamacare—all of it. He wants to overturn the very law that expanded coverage to an additional 3 million Black Americans. If he succeeds, more than 20 million Americans will lose their coverage, and more than 100 million people with preexisting conditions will no longer be protected against their insurance companies charging them more, or denying them coverage all together.

I’ll defend Obamacare and build on it—adding a public option that will automatically enroll 4 million more people that Republicans shut out by refusing to expand Medicaid in their states. We’re going to get to universal coverage and lower health care costs. We’re going to give working families a bigger subsidy to lower their premiums. And we’re going to take on pharmaceutical companies, bringing down the cost of your prescription drugs by 60 percent.

As my friend John Lewis used his final words to remind us: “Ordinary people with extraordinary vision can redeem the soul of America.” We cannot be tired. We cannot be hopeless. The choice in this election couldn’t be more stark, and we must vote for the future we want for every single one of our children. I’m ready to fight for you and your families, and I hope to earn your vote.

By Sentinel News Service

Fewer people have been getting life-saving breast cancers screenings since COVID, according to a report released at an American Association of Cancer Research convening in July of this year. This erased any ideas of potentially cancelling the Annual Compton Walk for a Cure breast cancer awareness event.

“Cancer is not cancelled due to COVID, and neither is our fight to end it,” said CUSD Board of Trustees Vice President, Satra Zurita, who co-hosted the 9th Annual Compton Walk for a Cure with her sister, former Compton City Councilmember Janna Zurita. The event was hosted in partnership with the Compton Unified School District and St. John’s Well Child and Family.

Satra and Delores Zurita Courtesy Photo

Although held, as the tradition, at Centennial High School in Compton, this year the walk had to take on a different look in light of the COVID pandemic. “We couldn’t let this year go by without doing an event, continuing our work of creating awareness of the importance of screenings and early detections, and bringing people together—at least virtually—to celebrate,” said Janna Zurita.

The VIRTUAL walk began with a swag parade, in which almost 500 people lined up in cars, decorated with messages of hope and memorializing those who have both survived and lost their lives to the disease. They paraded through the center quad of the school, honking and celebrating.

First Car Coming through the SWAG Parade Courtesy Photo

“I come every year—my sister is a cancer survivor and we had to celebrate her courage and her fight. I am so glad they did this,” said one excited participant.

I’m more than proud to support this year’s event,” said President Micah Ali. “We cannot let COVID make us forget that cancer is real and taking steps to get screened is still an important message to get out. Plus, our Compton community of survivors and family members of those who have battled the disease, deserve this day.”

CUSD Board Member Alma Pleasant and Compton City Councilwoman Tana McCoy also participated in the social-distanced kick off celebration, which featured a testimony from a Cancer conqueror as well as a warm-up. Participants walked on their own and celebrated virtually in their own neighborhoods and walking spots.

Small group of volunteers and supporters engaging in social distance warm up. Courtesy Photo

“This event was always very important to my family and I, but it’s meaning became even greater for me personally after being diagnosed with breast cancer myself three years ago. I am deeply grateful to the sponsors and volunteers who made this day possible,” shared Satra Zurita. “Again, Compton proves that it has some of the most resilient, amazing people on this planet.”

In addition to St. John’s and Compton Unified School District, sponsors of the event included SEIU Local 99, Teamsters 911, UPS, Get Ahead Writing, Bulletin Displays, Family Business Tattoo, Bulletin Displays, and Graphic Prints. Photos enclosed. For a video recap: https://youtu.be/f5nxIOzPerc.

The post Breast Cancer Awareness Still Up Front in Compton Despite COVID appeared first on Los Angeles Sentinel.

By Antonio R. Harvey, Observer Staff Writer

NORTH SACRAMENTO – Sacramento City Councilman Allen Wayne Warren says he is publically reaffirming his commitment to serve the people of City Council District 2.

Warren,who is campaigning for reelection, says he remains a faithful servant to his community and believes strongly that much work remains to be done.

When 9-year-old Makaylah Brent was shot and killed on October 3 in Del Paso Heights’ Mama Marks Park, Warren immediately began the process of supporting the community. He also monitored the Sacramento Police Department’s investigation that has produced an arrest.

The criminal issue is now in the hands of the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office.

“I am relieved to hear the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office has charged Laise Burton Hands with murder in the drive-by shooting death of Makaylah ‘Kay Kay’ Brent,” Warren said in a written statement dated Oct. 21.

“I want to commend the Sacramento Police Department for their tireless investigation, culminating in the DA bringing charges against Laise. It is my hope justice will be brought to both Laise and the Brent family.”

District 2 and other parts of Sacramento have been saturated in gun violence for most of the summer and now early into the fall. Warren and other city officials are trying to help get a handle on the issue and suppress them in order to protect the community.

As for District 2, Warren has started with city parks and community centers. He enlisted the services of community organizations that have been working diligently in the 95838 and 95817 zip codes to enhance quality of life.

“Our work is not finished. As both I and my colleagues Mayor Pro Tem Angelique Ashby (District 1), Vice Mayor Jeff Harris (District 3), and Mayor Darrell Steinberg emphasized earlier this month; we must take steps for people to meet face-to-face without fear safely. The first step is an investment in our parks throughout District 2.”

In his written statement, Warren said that the City of Sacramento, in partnership with Verizon Wireless, deployed free Wi-Fi to three parks within District 2. Hagginwood, Robertson, and Johnston parks are the recipients.

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Youth, Parks, and Community Enrichment (YPCE) has continued youth programming at both the Joe Mims Jr. Hagginwood Community Center and Johnston Park.

YPCE also began the CLASS program at the Hagginwood Community Center to assist youth from both Twin Rivers Unified School District and Robla School District with their virtual studies, Warren stated.

Warren emphasized that “these are significant accomplishments,” though, the death of Brent “made us realize there’s more we can and should do to invest and improve our parks.”

Mama Marks Parks is one of the pillars of the Del Paso Heights community. It’s history is rich, soulful, and pays homage to a Black woman who was the “mama” of the neighborhood.

Del Paso Heights Park was dedicated on Dec 14, 1969. The park was later re-dedicated in 1992 to Margarette Bessie Mae Griggs Marks (Mama Marks), a leader of the Del Paso Heights community.

Mama Marks was known for feeding the hungry throughout Del Paso Heights, cooking every meal herself more than 20 years. “Mama” Marks had a special love for children, demonstrated through raising 50 foster children during her lifetime.

“I knew Mama Marks and witnessed the extraordinary work she did growing up in Del Paso Heights. Her daughter Kim was a classmate of mine,” said Warren, who grew up in Del Paso Heights. “Mama Marks’ leadership in the Del Paso Heights community is unparalleled, which is why we wish to begin our investments by renovating her park.”

Warren said the investments may include, but are not limited to, resurfacing the basketball court, updating the park furniture, providing new soccer fields, improving the baseball diamonds, and, most importantly, installing cameras to give families a sense of security when visiting the park.

He also wants to provide positive and life-enhancing programs for young people youth at the park, be it little league, basketball, or anything to reinforce our youth’s positive values.

Expansion of these enhancements and programs for all parks throughout District 2 are currently in progress based on the success at parks such as Hagginwood Park. Haggionwood has installed security cameras, amenities, and youth programs in place.

Robertson, Woodlake, Robla, Johnston, and all of the parks throughout the district are scheduled to ensure the youth may live healthy lives and reach their full potential, Warren said.

Below is a full list of investments, presented by Warren’s office:

• Additional Investments in all District 2 Parks, beginning with Mama Marks Park
  Mama Marks Park was dedicated in 1992 and is located in the heart of Del Paso Heights. Yet, it is in need of significant renovation. That is why we are going to invest in renovations to improve the park. We are also going to provide specific youth programs in the park.
• Cameras in all District 2 Parks
  We will be starting our camera lights policy in District 2 in Mama Marks Park.
• Provide Funding for a Regional Library in District 2
  Similar to Mama Marks Park, both the Del Paso Heights and North Sacramento-Hagginwood branches of the Sacramento Public Library are in need of significant improvements. We plan to improve libraries in District 2 to help improve the quality of life and bring new literacy programs for youth to reach their full potential.
• Provide Additional Resources for Prevention & Intervention Gang Force Activities
  Work with our City of Sacramento Police department and Office of Violence Prevention to create programs that strengthen community relationships, provide youth with after school activities, and deploy prevention and intervention services for gang-affected populations.
• Provide Funding to Community Organizations
  Our Community Organizations are essential in supporting our youth and ensuring they remain on a path to success. We plan to support community organizations such as Brother to Brother and many more which can guide our youth to maintain productive livelihoods, gain jobs, live law-abiding lives, and provide trauma counseling for events such as the tragedy at Mama Marks Park.

This article originally appeared in the Sacramento Observer.

By Sydney Melson, The Birmingham Times

Family, friends, neighbors and city officials gathered at the Tom Brown Village Community Center in the Avondale neighborhood for a memorial tribute to Kamille “Cupcake” McKinney, a three-year-old girl who was tragically murdered last year.

The somber ceremony marked the one-year anniversary of Cupcake’s body being discovered, a tragedy that shook the entire city of Birmingham.

Birmingham City Council partnered with Angels Arms Operation Exploited and Missing Persons to create the annual “Never Again” memorial for Cupcake, with speakers including Mayor Randall Woodfin.

“It’s really hard to find the words of comfort. On the other hand, it gives me strength to stand before you when I see this type of crowd that’s showing love and support,” Woodfin said. “[The community] cares not only about the memory of Cupcake and their family, but the unity of our city when so much has happened.”

City Council President William Parker, Councilor John Hilliard also spoke while law enforcement representatives from the sheriff’s and Birmingham Police Department were in attendance.

The memorial was made possible by the City of Birmingham, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, the Birmingham Police Department, the North Avondale Neighborhood Association, and the Housing Authority of the Birmingham District.

Jasmaine Deloach, an organizer with Angels Arms Operation, said Cupcake was being honored while also raising awareness to the issue of children being kidnapped, “a problem that is still very prevalent in our country,” Deloach said. “If we don’t keep speaking about this issue and raising awareness, then things will never change. But we’re here to say this will never happen again in Birmingham.”

Cupcake was abducted while attending a birthday party at Tom Brown Village on Oct. 12, 2019 and her body was found 10 days later.

This article originally appeared in The Birmingham Times.

Family and friends of Kamille “Cupcake” McKinney listened during a service for the 3-year-old who was kidnapped a year ago. (Sydney Melson, for The Birmingham Times)

Event organizers hand out balloons during ceremony to remember 3-year-old Kamille “Cupcake” McKinney in the Avondale community. (Sydney Melson, The Birmingham Times) 

Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin (at podium) addresses the crowd during a memorial tribute to Kamille “Cupcake” McKinney, a 3-year-old girl who was murdered in the Avondale neighborhood last year. City Council President William Parker (left) and City Councilor John Hilliard flank the mayor. (Sydney Melson, The Birmingham Times) 

During the first annual memorial tribute to Kamille “Cupcake” McKinney, community organizers held a school supply giveaway for the Avondale community. (Sydney Melson, For The Birmingham Times)