STATE NEWS BRIEFS FOR 06-25-20
SHAW CANCELS 2020 HOMECOMING ACTIVITIES
RALEIGH] As part of its response to ongoing health and safety concerns related to COVID-19, Shaw University will cancel all in-person Homecoming activities for 2020, with the exception of the Homecoming football game.
“Our primary concern is the health and safety of the Shaw University community, as well as all the supporters who participate in Homecoming every year. Choosing to forego a beloved tradition was difficult, and while we are disappointed, we recognize that this is absolutely the right thing to do for all involved,” said Dr. Paulette Dillard, president of Shaw University.
Homecoming typically sees thousands of alumni, students, and fans coming on campus and surrounding area venues for a week of activities. “This is a major event for the Shaw family each year, and we look forward to Homecoming 2021,” said Marilyn Baldwin Richards, vice president for Institutional Advancement.
The Office of Alumni Relations will provide information to the classes that would have been in reunion during Homecoming 2020. Richards shared that the University is considering options for virtual engagement of alumni and fans throughout the year, and will provide more information as plans are finalized.
Shaw’s Homecoming game versus Johnson C. Smith University is scheduled for Saturday, October 24. The Athletics Department will provide further information regarding plans for the game, related activities, and operational plans at a later date.
“Our primary concern is the health and safety of the Shaw University community, as well as all the supporters who participate in Homecoming every year. Choosing to forego a beloved tradition was difficult, and while we are disappointed, we recognize that this is absolutely the right thing to do for all involved,” said Dr. Paulette Dillard, president of Shaw University.
Homecoming typically sees thousands of alumni, students, and fans coming on campus and surrounding area venues for a week of activities. “This is a major event for the Shaw family each year, and we look forward to Homecoming 2021,” said Marilyn Baldwin Richards, vice president for Institutional Advancement.
The Office of Alumni Relations will provide information to the classes that would have been in reunion during Homecoming 2020. Richards shared that the University is considering options for virtual engagement of alumni and fans throughout the year, and will provide more information as plans are finalized.
Shaw’s Homecoming game versus Johnson C. Smith University is scheduled for Saturday, October 24. The Athletics Department will provide further information regarding plans for the game, related activities, and operational plans at a later date.
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Ed (updated) - STRONG CITIZEN POLICE REVIEW BOARD NEEDED
Monday evening, The Journal joined many other Port City residents in watching the “Community Leaders Virtual Forum on Racial Issues.”
Sponsored by the City of Wilmington, the event was an earnest attempt to have a strong discussion about longstanding issues of race that have consistently dogged our fair city, and it’s quality of life, especially for citizens of color.
The list of racial issues is long, and yet, a visitor from outer space, tuning in to the online program in search of a community in which to land his saucer in and make his new home, would understandably come away believing that our most pressing racial issue in Wilmington is the plethora of statues we have honoring rich, dead white supremacists.
Now don’t get us wrong…we’d like to see these statues uprooted and thrown in the Cape Fear River too, where they can be constantly observed and admired by small fish and old beer bottles…but there are other priorities we can think of that would immediately enrich the African-American community here, too.
Helping low-income and elderly residents to keep their homes, for instance. Assisting small black businesses access vital capital and loans to stay afloat and create more jobs, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Much needed affordable health care (and yes, Mayor Saffo…we agree that the county can, and should weigh-in to assist the city on some of this stuff).
Yes, among the 20, 30 (or was it 150) community leaders (we lost count) who participated in the event which took (believe it or not) a pure 27 minutes just for introductions, were one or two who indeed made the point that Wilmington now has the opportunity, just as other communities across the state and nation do in the aftermath of the police murder of George Floyd, to bring real, tangible equity to it’s black community.
The City Council made the first step towards that goal Tuesday night, by making Donnie Williams, a Wilmington native, our permanent police chief after four long months. There is no doubt that he is the right leader for the WPD, at the right time!
And that time is NOW!
And that time is NOW!
Secondly, Wilmington needs appoint a Citizens Police Review Board with subpoena power that can objectively investigate alleged police abuse incidents, compel testimony from witnesses and officers, and render binding recommendations.
We heard that Chief Williams supports a CPRB, and believe us, that’s half the battle, because police chiefs normally fight tooth-and-nail against them. They don’t normally like anyone outside the police culture looking over they shoulders.
CPRBs with real power are rare in North Carolina, if not across the country, so much so that in 2015, HB 193 was introduced by Wilmington native and former Rep. Rodney Moore (D- Charlotte-Mecklenburg) to give CPRBs all the requisite powers. Predictably, it went nowhere.
That could change here in Wilmington, with enough sustained, smart (meaning folks doing their homework) public pressure. It would certainly be a step in the right direction towards to a more just, and equal Wilmington.
Oh, by the way, in the interest of actually being more efficient, city leaders, develop a total list of participants, plan to have maybe five or six per broadcast discussing about three or four topics of racial inequities in Wilmington, and schedule the ONE HOUR broadcasts for every two weeks, instead of once a month with 150 people.
PLEASE!!!
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GREENSBORO FOUR STATUE IN GREENSBORO
ARE NC BLACK MONUMENTS NOW
AT RISK AFTER CONFEDERATE
STATUES REMOVED?
By Cash Michaels
Contributing writer
Are black monuments, statues, historical markers and museums across North Carolina now at risk for attack in the aftermath of the removal of confederate statues in Raleigh, and growing demands for the removal of monuments honoring historic white supremacists in other parts of the state?
When Republican state lawmakers Monday night decided to indefinitely “pause” any discussion about following the state Senate’s previous unanimous approval of $4 million in appropriations for funding black history monuments on state Capitol grounds and downtown Raleigh, it was clear they were sending a message to Gov. Cooper: “We don’t like that confederate statues were removed from Capitol grounds, and that you had a hand in it.”
We're just going to assess it this week," said House Speaker Tim Moore Monday. “I just know there's not an appetite right now to do much over there,” declared House Rules Chairman David Lewis.
The Raleigh incident is just part of a national wave of symbols representing a racist past were being removed acrid the country by local and state governments.
It was Friday night in the driving rain when demonstrators marched to the state Capitol, and pulled down two side statues from the 75-foot Confederate Monument to the Civil War’s dead, given to the state well over a century ago. Two days later, Gov. Cooper, citing concerns for public safety, ordered all other Confederate monuments and statutes at the Capitol removed.
A 2015 state law, passed by the Republican-led NC General Assembly, prohibits the removal of any state-owned statues or monuments.
House Republicans are livid with Gov. Cooper, who is on record for advocating the removal of the confederate statues, and at press time, were discussing exactly how to respond to the weekend’s events.
They also weren’t pleased that, for the most part, state Capitol police stood by and allowed protesters to pull down the statues.
There is little question they may use the delaying funding for the black monuments as leverage against Cooper per the Confederate statues.
Police have arrested and charged Conrad James of Raleigh with being involved in the toppling of the confederate statues. James is a black activist who once alleged that he was used by Russian operatives to stir up black opposition to Hillary Clinton in Charlotte during the 2016 presidential elections after a police shooting,
But in the meantime, are the black history statues and sites of interest like both Martin Luther King, Jr. statues in Raleigh and Rocky Mount; the statue honoring the Greensboro Four on NC A&T University’s campus in Greensboro, as well as the International Civil Rights Museum in downtown; the various official historic markers denoting important events and people in black history in cities like Wilmington and Charlotte, at risk for vandalism, or worse?
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NC DEMOCRATS LOOK GOOD
FOR NOVEMBER ELECTION
By Cash Michaels
Contributing writer
Right now, less than five months from the crucial November 3rd general election, new polling shows North Carolina Democrats with the wind at their backs towards victory on a ballot that could deliver victories for the Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court, the incumbent governor, and possibly the first African-American female lieutenant governor in state history.
The question is, can the Democrats keeping that momentum going into the fall?
According to Public Policy Polling, per it’s June 4th research, Democratic president candidate Joe Biden is leading incumbent Republican Pres. Donald Trump in North Carolina 49-45 percent. That margin pretty much mirrors Biden’s lead in other key battleground states, as Trump tries to gin up the pandemic-stricken economy, and stave off criticisms of racial insensitivity after the George Floyd police killing.
No doubt the other top Democrat on the November ballot is in a commanding lead in his race, and his coattails could easily bring other prominent Democrats with him.
Incumbent Governor Roy Cooper, according to the PPP poll of June 4th, has a commanding lead towards re-election as he’s challenged by the conservative Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Forest, who trails Cooper 50-39.
Key to Gov. Cooper’s success, thus far, is his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic in the state, and his positive response to the demonstrations in the aftermath of the George Floyd police killing. 55% of North Carolinians polled approve of Cooper’s coronavirus management, compared to 29% disapproval.
One of those in the disapproval category is opponent Dan Forest, who blasted the Democratic governor early in the crisis for ordering the closing of restaurants, bars and nonessential businesses. Forest also bashed Cooper for not being tougher on demonstrators, and as recent as last weekend, for ordering the removal of a confederate monument in Raleigh after protesters toppled two others at the state Capitol.
Forest is pouring on the negatives to have a fighting chance.
Another major statewide race Democrats are fighting to keep the lead in, according to PPP, is the contest for US Senate between Republican incumbent Sen. Thom Tillis, and Democratic challenger Cal Cunningham.
Cunningham has a slim lead over Tillis, 43-41%.
What is key in both the Biden, Cooper and Cunningham races is how the undecideds break in each contest, and right now, they’re leaning decisively Democrat with, according to PPP, “ The undecideds for President support Roy Cooper for Governor by 43 points and Cal Cunningham for Senate by 31 points and disapprove of Trump 11/73, suggesting that they’re Democratic leaning voters who might eventually be brought into the fold.”
If the undecideds maintain their support, in addition to a strong turnout by African-American voters, then not only will Biden, Gov. Cooper and Cal Cunningham win their races, but their strong Democratic coattails could give strong assistance to Cheri Beasley, Chief Justice of the NC Supreme Court in her reelection bid; and Rep. Yvonne Lewis Holley, vying for lt. governor.
A strong Democratic and Democrat-leaning undecided turnout would also make an impact in turning the NC General Assembly blue again, with Senate Democratic Leader Sen. Dan Blue becoming the Senate Majority Leader.
But, as always, the Black vote, which is critical to most Democratic Party victories, will be key.
Meanwhile, the NC House Democrats, who are also positioning to take back the majority back, have appointed Da’Quan Marcell Love as the first African-American political director for the NC House Democratic Caucus.
Love has been a part of the House Caucus team for several years, serving as the Digital Director and Deputy Finance Director.
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