Hip-Hop Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick Granted Early Release From Prison

Former Detroit Mayor, Kwame Kilpatrick, has been granted early release and will be freed 21 years early next month to home confinement, according to the Detroit Free Press.  Kilpatrick, 49, was originally scheduled to be released in the year 2037 after being convicted on 24 counts of public corruption including bribery, racketeering and fraud.

William Barr, the U.S. Attorney General, has ordered the federal Bureau of Prisons to release as many inmates as possible to home confinement due to COVID-19.  The coronavirus has been seen to spread rapidly in prisons where the opportunity to social distance is severely limited.

The Ebony Foundation have been champions of freeing the former disgraced mayor, partnering with several other black leaders to petition for Kilpatrick’s release. The National Baptist Convention of America, the NAACP, the National Business League, and several pastors of Black churches across the country had petitioned President Donald Trump to grant clemency to Kilpatrick.

“He said that he was being released,” state Rep. Karen Whitsett, D-Detroit, who has been pushing for Kilpatrick’s freedom said, adding: “I’m elated for him. … An out is an out. … He’s done his time. And I think, ‘My God, when is long enough long enough.’ ”

Whitsett, also told the Detroit Free press, that she confirmed with the White House that Kilpatrick is among 3,000 inmates who will be released. Whitsett had previously tested positive for the coronavirus in March and has credited Donald Trump for promoting hydroxychloroquine which she believes saved her life.

Current Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan was asked during a press briefing for his thoughts on the situation.

“Known him since he was in high school. When he was teaching at Marcus Garvey and going to law school at night at DCL, he’d study in his father’s office which was next to mine and his twins would play on the floor in my office,” Duggan told Fox 2 Detroit.

Duggan said his connection to Kilpatrick is “very personal.”

“He has a lot to contribute and if, in fact, the reports [of his early release] are true, I’ll be doing anything I can to help him get a fresh start,” the mayor said.

 

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It’s True. When America Catches a Cold, Black America Gets Pneumonia

Just as 9/11 defined the new millennium, the novel coronavirus will certainly be the story of the decade. 

The global pandemic has caused a devastating public health crisis, initiated a global economic disaster, and in the United States, pulled back the curtain on the deep-rooted racial inequities that persist. Just as COVID-19 is a deadly virus, so is the disease of racism, particularly systemic racism.

We now have data to support what many of us already knew, when America catches a cold, black America gets pneumonia. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not suggesting that the coronavirus discriminates. It certainly does not. But the conditions that allow the disease to flourish have a 400-year history rooted in racism—inadequate housing, over-policed neighborhoods, limited access to fresh foods, uninsured or under-insured health needs, poor-quality schools, and low-wage (aka essential) jobs.

Essential workers are the people who make the world go around. For this writing, I’m not speaking of our front line healthcare workers (although we are truly indebted to their service and tireless and heroic efforts), but the other folks who work in designated essential roles. They are the people we take for granted until we can’t. They are the people who fight on the “front lines” and don’t have the option to shelter in place. They are the folks who work public transportation, process meat, ring up and bag groceries, make and serve our breakfast sandwiches, pick up our trash, sanitize and clean our offices, and the private security staff. They are the people for whom Dr. Martin Luther King marched and died.

The data is clear, African Americans are dying from the coronavirus at higher rates than other populations. As more data and anecdotal evidence became available and published it simply confirmed what I expected, black folks continue to get the short end of the stick. From the story of a young woman in New York who died from the virus because she couldn’t get tested, to the young man who was brutalized by the police in New York for not wearing a face mask, to the security guard who was shot for asking a patron to put on a face mask.

The real story is what are we going to finally do about these inequities. When are we going to correct these wrongs? When are we going to ensure that work pays, especially for essential workers?  When will we create a healthcare system that focuses on wellness, where physicians determine treatment, not insurance companies? When will our school systems be accepting of ALL children, have high expectations of ALL children, and teach all of them to succeed, not simply teach them to pass a test? When will the water in Flint’s majority African American community be as safe to drink as the water in Bloomfield Hills? And when will an African American man be able to jog through his community without fearing for his life?

Martin Luther King Jr. was wholly focused on the issues of poverty and labor before his assassination in 1968, 52 years ago. “With patient and firm determination we will press on until every valley of despair is exalted to new peaks of hope, until every mountain of pride and irrationality is made low by the leveling process of humility and compassion; until the rough places of injustice are transformed into a smooth plane of equality of opportunity; and until the crooked places of prejudice are transformed by the straightening process of bright-eyed wisdom.” 

Fifty-two years later we ask, how long is until? 

If this pandemic has not demonstrated the inequities that drive our system of capitalism and that none of us will be well until all of us are well, I’m not sure what it will take for us to get it. Black America has suffered the brunt of the ills of our society for far too long. Let us not waste this crisis. Let’s stop talking about equity and just do it!

---

 

This is an opinion piece that does not necessarily reflect the views of BLACK ENTERPRISE.

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7 Best Portable Grills (2020): Charcoal, Propane, Electric, Infrared

We barbecued for weeks to find the right charcoal and propane gas grills you can lug to the beach, park, or campsite.

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The Eerily Dark Willis Tower Tops This Week's Internet News Roundup

Last week, a flood knocked out power to the building formerly known as Sears Tower, creating an apt visual metaphor for 2020.

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Razer Opus Review: Magnum Opus for Gaming Audio

A challenger has appeared: the company's newest gaming headset takes aim at high-end headphones.

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Informal Transit Is Crucial for Some. Can It Weather Covid-19?

The pandemic highlights the vulnerability of workers for private transportation services, which are essential to mobility in global south cities.

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A Grad Student Solved the Epic Conway Knot Problem—in a Week

Lisa Piccirillo encountered the more than 50-year-old question by chance at a conference. Her solution relies on a classical tool called the knot trace.

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Eid al-Fitr celebrations in Africa - amid coronavirus

With mosques closed in some countries because of coronavirus, Eid felt a bit different this year.

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Now's The Perfect Time to Start Using a Password Manager

Time has no meaning, and we're all stuck in front of screens. You may as well secure your life while you're always online.

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Netflix’s Plan to Auto-Cancel Subscriptions Is Radically Sane

If you haven't used your account in two years, the streaming giant will stop charging you. Imagine that.

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Inside the NSA’s Secret Tool for Mapping Your Social Network

Edward Snowden revealed the agency’s phone-record tracking program. But thanks to “precomputed contact chaining,” that database was much more powerful than anyone knew.

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African solutions to the coronavirus crisis

African firms tell the BBC how they are solving problems caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

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The Egyptian couple trapped on never-ending honeymoon

A Dubai-based couple are still stuck at a deserted resort, more than two months after their wedding.

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Coronavirus and children: 'I can't hug my mum any more'

Life for children whose parents work on the frontline against Covid-19 has changed.

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HOT 97, WBLS, and Food Bank for New York City Donate Over 225,000 Meals to Those in Need

The ongoing coronavirus pandemic continues to wreak havoc on the world, putting the most vulnerable communities at risk for infection and economic hardship.

According to a poll published by The New York Times, 49% of New York City residents are concerned about how they will afford food during the pandemic. As a result, the number of people turning to the Food Bank For New York City’s emergency food network has increased by 50%. To help provide meals for New Yorkers in need, WQHT-FM HOT 97 and its sister-station, WBLS-FM 107.5, teamed up with the Food Bank For New York City to provide 225,000 meals to the hungry.

Last month, the organization launched two GoFundMe campaigns with the goal of raising funds to support 200,000 meals in total, reported NY1. However, the initiatives surpassed the goal.

“To see everyone come together and support in such an authentic way was really special. People want to help each other. We’re lucky to be able to make it happen,” said HOT 97 radio personality Ebro Darden in a statement. In addition, Grace Foods, the Caribbean’s leading food manufacturer and distributor, also donated 1600 lbs of food.

(Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for Food Bank For New York City)

“The WBLS listening family really rallied around this! We proclaimed it to be Food Bank Friday, got the word out on-air that we were close to the goal, and the donations came pouring in,” said longtime WBLS radio personality Shaila.

“We are so grateful for the outpouring of support from HOT 97 and WBLS, who rallied their listeners and supporters to ensure that our fellow New Yorkers have food on their tables,” said Dr. Camesha Grant, the Vice President, Community Connections & Reach. “Thanks to your support, Food Bank For New York City will be able to provide meals to many families in need through these very difficult times.”

Since the pandemic began, Food Bank says it distributed nearly 12.5 million meals throughout the state. The org has also partnered with the NYC Health + Hospitals network to provide food and emergency grocery bags for more than 30,000 healthcare workers

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What Pandemic? Billionaires Are Getting Richer During COVID While the Economy and Labor Force Tank

In spite of the global COVID-19 crisis, which has put 38.6 million Americans out of work and upended entire industries, the wealthiest people in the country are thriving.

According to a new report by Americans for Tax Fairness and the Institute for Policy Studies (IPS), the nation’s 623 billionaires saw their net worth increase by $434 billion in the first two months of the pandemic thanks in large part to tax cuts and loopholes. As a result, while much of the country was locked down, the wealth of the billionaire class grew 15% from $2.9 trillion to $3.4 trillion between March 19 to May 19.

The five richest billionaires — Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg, investor Warren Buffett, and Oracle founder Larry Ellison – had the biggest gains, with a 19% jump or a total increase of $75.5 billion. Tech magnate Elon Musk, however, had the largest percentage gain during the two months, seeing his net worth jump by 48% to $36 billion. Zuckerberg came in second as his net worth surged by 46%, giving him an added $80 billion. Bezos gained $34.6 billion, bringing his fortune to $147 billion.

On the other end of the spectrum, hip hop’s first billionaire Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter, gained just 4.2% of wealth during that time, while Kanye West reached the billionaire benchmark in April. Media mogul Oprah Winfrey saw an increase of 5.6% and black billionaire David Stewart, the founder of World Wide Technology, saw a 0.5% jump in his net worth. The two other African American billionaires, philanthropist Robert F. Smith and Michael Jordan, didn’t gain at all or saw their wealth take a slight hit, respectively.

The report comes as the economy and labor force continue to grapple with the worst economic crisis in recent history. Low-income workers and particularly those of color have been hit hardest over the last two months. Forbes reports that 40% of people earning less than $40,000 annually back in February have since lost their jobs.

The “Millionaires Giveaway”

Decades of tax cuts for the rich have fueled the growth of billionaires and their wealth, according to the ATF and IPS. The left-leaning think tanks argue that the wealthy received its most recent tax handout in the CARES pandemic relief law enacted in late March, which gives an average tax cut of $1.6 million this year to 43,000 millionaires and billionaires. Rather than what it calls the “Millionaires Giveaway,” the orgs say closing this loophole would raise $246 billion, which could be used for pandemic relief.

“While millions risk their lives and livelihoods as first responders and front line workers, these billionaires benefit from an economy and tax system that is wired to funnel wealth to the top,” said Chuck Collins, director of the IPS Program on Inequality, in a press release.

The wealth gap between the 1% on the economic ladder and the rest of the country was already immense before the coronavirus began to wreak havoc on the U.S. economy. Forbes reports:

That existing rift has increased over the last two months, as evidenced by the inverse relationship between employment numbers (particularly for low-income earners) and the composite wealth of America’s billionaire class. In addition to job losses, an estimated 16 million U.S. workers have likely lost employer-provided health insurance since the pandemic first began to impact America. Those with considerable wealth have benefited from the stock market’s recovery, after an initial crash in the early stages of the pandemic, rallying on promises of assistance from the Federal Reserve. Ultimately, the global economy, in a worst-case scenario, could take an $80 trillion hit, according to a recent study.

“The pandemic has revealed the deadly consequences of America’s yawning wealth gap, and billionaires are the glaring symbol of that economic inequality,” Americans for Tax Fairness executive director Frank Clemente said in the report. He added, “Post-pandemic, the rich and corporations must begin to pay their fair share of taxes so we can build a society that works for everyone, not just billionaires and others at the top.”

 

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There's a Jailbreak Out for the Current Version of iOS

The Unc0ver tool works on all versions of iOS from 11 to 13.5, the current release.

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Rwanda genocide: How Félicien Kabuga evaded capture for 26 years

Félicien Kabuga outwitted Rwandan genocide prosecutors by using 28 aliases and powerful connections.

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Nessa Diab calls out the NFL for ‘lying’ that Colin Kaepernick ‘retried’ on new website: ‘Tell them to stop denying him employment’

The NFL has updated its redesigned website after the league was called out on social media for mischaracterizing Colin Kaepernick‘s career status.

Nessa Diab, a TV host and Kaepernick’s partner, thanked Twitter users on Saturday morning for holding the professional football league “accountable for falsely reporting that Colin ‘retired’ on their website.”

“They heard you loud & clear bc the NFL put the accurate description that @Kaepernick7 is a Unrestricted Free Agent (UFA). Tell them to stop denying him employment,” she wrote in a post, sharing a screenshot of Kaepernick’s bio page.

Thank you to everyone who held the @NFL accountable for falsely reporting that Colin “retired” on their website. They heard you loud & clear bc the NFL put the accurate description that @Kaepernick7 is a Unrestricted Free Agent (UFA). Tell them to stop denying him employment. pic.twitter.com/klK7a6qRTY

— NESSA (@nessnitty) May 23, 2020

The NFL, the most popular sports league in America, launched its new website on Friday and the listing for former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Kaepernick, who hasn’t played a game in the past three seasons, drew ire from many.

Diab took to Twitter that day to set the record straight, calling out the league, NFL Players  Association and Commissioner Roger Goddell for “lying.”

“Colin did NOT retire,” she posted, along with a screenshot of the free agent’s profile that characterized him as “retired” at the time. “You cowards blackballed him bc (sic) he peacefully protested against police brutality. He’s a Superbowl QB & should be playing bc (sic) his stats show that.”

The @NFL @nflcommish @NFLPA lying on their NFL website claiming @Kaepernick7 “retired.” Colin did NOT retire. You cowards blackballed him bc he peacefully protested against police brutality. He’s a Superbowl QB & should be playing bc his stats show that. https://t.co/UmyD5VhYwP pic.twitter.com/eUJ7LMmaiR

— NESSA (@nessnitty) May 22, 2020

READ MORE: Colin Kaepernick launches COVID-19 relief fund for Black and Brown communities

Prior to that, Diab, who hosts NBC‘s “Talk Stoop,” shared a post from another tweeter who also took issue with Kaepernick’s characterization on the revamped site, while taking a hit at the NFL’s NFL’s Inspire Change initiative, which is a program backed by recording artist Jay-Z.

Hey @NFL & @nflcommish I just discovered some of your recent edits to your website. It states that Colin Kaepernick is "retired" and you have removed his image from his player's profile. I guess this is what you meant by #InspireChange by falsifying facts.https://t.co/swpMgpru4e

— Furious Styles (@Steady__Ready) May 22, 2020

The countless messages shared on social media about the situation seems to have reached the league. The page has since been updated as of Saturday morning, listing Kaepernick as a “UFA.”

Kaepernick, 32, filed a claim against the NFL in 2017, accusing the league of collusion to keep him off the field after choosing to take a knee during National Anthem at San Francisco 49ers games in protest of police brutality. The two parties settled out of court in 2019.

The silent protest proved divisive, drawing support from many and the ire of others, including condemnation from President Donald Trump.

READ MORE: Colin Kaepernick reveals details on his upcoming memoir

While the ex-49ers quarterback, who guided the team to Super Bowl XLVII in 2013, has become an acclaimed social activist, he’s been vocal about his desire to return to the NFL.

Kaepernick, who has gone unsigned since the 2016 season, put his skills on display at an open and highly publicized workout in November in efforts to show that he still has the talent to play. The events surrounding the workout, which was initially to be held by the NFL, also proved controversial.

Kaepernick, however, has stayed consistent with his desire to play the game.

“I’ve been ready, I’m staying ready, and I’ll continue to be ready,” Kaepernick told the media during the workout. “The ball’s in their court. We’re ready to go.”

"Ball is in their court, we're ready to go.”

Kap addressed the media after his workout 🙏

(via @DanWolken)pic.twitter.com/BKejw8xxfp

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 17, 2019

The post Nessa Diab calls out the NFL for ‘lying’ that Colin Kaepernick ‘retried’ on new website: ‘Tell them to stop denying him employment’ appeared first on TheGrio.

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NBA legend Patrick Ewing hospitalized with COVID-19: ‘This virus is serious’

Basketball legend Patrick Ewing announced on Friday that he has tested positive for coronavirus.

The basketball Hall of Famer, who is now the head coach of Georgetown University‘s men’s basketball team, made the statement as a way to let the public know how serious the disease is.

“I want to share that I have tested positive for COVID-19. This virus is serious and should not be taken lightly,” the 57-year-old stated on Twitter. “I want to encourage everyone to stay safe and take care of yourselves and your loved ones.”

Ewing, who was the first pick overall in the 1985 NBA draft, made the formal announcement through the private Washington, D.C., institution’s athletic department.

“Ewing has elected to share his diagnosis publicly to emphasize that this virus can affect anyone,” Georgetown included in the statement.

I want to share that I have tested positive for COVID-19. This virus is serious and should not be taken lightly. I want to encourage everyone to stay safe and take care of yourselves and your loved ones. pic.twitter.com/a2fMuhIZyG

— Patrick Ewing (@CoachEwing33) May 22, 2020

READ MORE: NCAA top doctor says resuming college sports this fall will depend on coronavirus testing

Ewing is currently isolated at a local hospital. He also made sure to give attention to all the essential workers helping to combat COVID-19, while also sharing optimistic words.

“Now more than ever, I want to thank the healthcare workers and everyone on the front lines,” he said in the statement. I’ll be fine and we will all get through this.”

Ewing, who played 17 years in the NBA, was in the midst of his third year coaching at his alma mater, Georgetown, where he was a three-time All-American center. In a recent interview with NBC Sports, he revealed how he keeps in touch with his roster using Zoom and Facetime.

“We’re talking to them, we’re Zooming them, Face-Timing them. We’re trying to do it all,” Ewing said.

In the battle of the big men, Patrick Ewing, #33 of the New York Knicks, wins over Shawn Bradley of the Philadelphia 76ers during the game at Madison Square Garden, New York City on Feb. 26, 1995.

Ewing also mentioned the challenge of recruiting new players during a pandemic.

“We can’t go out and sit in living rooms. We try to do it and figure out other ways to try and get the job done,” he explained.

Georgetown stated that Ewing is the only member of the men’s basketball program to test positive for COVID-19.

READ MORE: NFL’s Brandon Carr tackles youth literacy with virtual reading series

Ewing spent 15 of his 17 years in the NBA with the New York Knicks, where he was an 11-time all-star at center. Former teammate Charles Oakley tweeted a message of support:

I went to war with you for ten years. I won’t leave you on the battlefield now. Get well Patrick. More fights ahead. @CoachEwing33 #BrothersFight #PatrickEwing #GetWellBrother pic.twitter.com/1ZkR03bccc

— Charles Oakley (@CharlesOakley34) May 23, 2020

“I went to war with you for ten years. I won’t leave you on the battlefield now,” Oakley wrote. “Get well Patrick. More fights ahead.”

The post NBA legend Patrick Ewing hospitalized with COVID-19: ‘This virus is serious’ appeared first on TheGrio.

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