BLACK VOTE MAKES
HISTORY IN GEORGIA
By Cash Michaels
Contributing writer
The first African-American U.S. senator in history from the state of Georgia was elected Wednesday morning, thanks to the brilliant voter registration and mobilization of Georgia organizer/activist Stacy Adams.
Rev. Raphael Warnock, a Democrat and the senior pastor of historic Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, Ga., defeated incumbent Republican Sen. Kelly Loeffler in a tight runoff to claim the seat. His race was called by the Associated Press and the major television news networks before 1 a.m..
Rev. Warnock’s Democratic running mate, Jon Ossoff, was leading his Republican opponent, incumbent Sen. David Purdue, by over 16,000 votes, Wednesday morning. Once Ossoff is officially projected to be the winner, and his victory certified, he will join colleague Sen.-elect Warnock in the U.S. Senate.
Rev. Warnock and Ossoff’s victories were immensely important to incoming Pre.-elect Joe Biden and Vice Pres.-elect Kamala Harris because not only does the double victory even up the U.S. Senate (50 Democrats vs 50 Republicans), but allows VP Harris to be the tie breaking-vote on important issues.
Warnock and Ossoff benefitted from the large statewide African-American voting coalition led by Stacey Abrams that helped Joe Biden win the state in November. Long early voting lines, and millions of mail-in ballots also marked the over 3.3 million total early votes.
“We were told that we couldn’t win this election. But tonight we proved that with hope, hard work and the people by our side, anything is possible,” Warnock said. “May my story be an inspiration to some young person who is trying to grasp and grab hold to the American dream.”
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FOX
BLACK LEGAL EXPERTS
BLAST TRUMP CALL &
JIM CROW CAUCUS MOVE
By Cash Michaels
Contributing writer
“So what are we going to do here folks? I only need 11,000 votes. Fellas, I need 11,000 votes. Give me a break!”
Pres. Donald J. Trump on leaked
telephone call to Georgia Sec. of
State Raffensperger Jan. 2nd, 2021
Irving Joyner, law professor at NC Central University School of Law, and chair of the NC NAACP Legal Redress Committee, was livid when he heard a recording of Pres. Trump’s Jan. 2nd phone call with Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, allegedly trying to illegally pressure the fellow Republican officeholder into “finding” 11,780 votes from the Nov. 3rd presidential election there so that Trump could officially claim Georgia’s already certified 16 electoral votes.
“Had you done what Donald Trump did with Brad Raffensperger or anyone else for that matter, you would have already been arrested, prosecuted, and executed or deported back to Africa,” Joyner exclaimed in an email, echoing other legal experts that Trump may have violated federal and state laws. “What the hell is going on in America?”
For the record, and history, Democratic challenger Joe Biden beat incumbent Trump by approximately 12,000 votes in Georgia, and over 7 million votes nationally. But that hasn’t stopped Trump, who is scheduled to officially leave office at the stroke of 12 noon on January 20th, from declaring that the 2020 election was “stolen” from him.
Problem is, after approximately 60 lawsuits, neither Trump nor any of his legal team have offered a shred of provable evidence in various courts or elsewhere to bolster his claims. His Jan. 2nd. telephone stunt is now seen as a desperate act, by a desperate man.
“This call is despicable and unprecedented!!!,” said retired Senior Resident Superior Court Judge, and former Orange County District Attorney Carl Fox in a Facebook post. “It should be investigated and submitted to a grand jury for its consideration. Rest assured, this call would be submitted to a grand jury if the caller was Mary Jo or John Q. Public. The president is NOT above the law!”
That feeling isn’t just limited to NC African-American law professors and former Superior Court judges.
Congresswoman Alma Adams [NC-12], just sworn-in Sunday for her fourth term, joined a congressional resolution along with North Carolina colleague Rep. G. K. Butterfield and over 90 other House members “censuring and condemning Pres. Trump for attempting to overturn the results of the November 2020 presidential election in the State of Georgia.”
But Rep. Adams didn’t stop there. She also later added, “Donald Trump belongs in prison. His actions justify it, the integrity of the Constitution necessitates it, and the sanctity of our Democracy requires it.”
However, approximately 140 Republican House colleagues of Adams disagree, so much in fact, they joined with what was expected to be at least 13 Republican U.S. senators yesterday who declared they would not except the Electoral College votes certifying Democrat Joe Biden as the new president-elect, instead demanding a 10-day period to appoint a commission to investigate allegations of “voter fraud.”
So why should African-Americans care? Because legal and political analysts say this is really about race, and discounting the votes of African-Americans.
In the six battleground states where Trump’s lawyers sought to overturn the election results, they targeted predominately Black areas where African-Americans won the state for Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. The courts in those states threw out those cases.
In Georgia, Trump claimed that thousands of votes were shredded in Fulton County, where 44 % of it’s one million population are Black.
Michael Steele, the Black former chairman of the Republican National Committee was blunt. “[Trump] tried to engage a conspiracy to violate the Constitution and the US Code by throwing out duly certified votes of citizens…by “attempting to deprive” Black voters in Georgia of their vote after “a fair and impartially conducted election.”
“In every jurisdiction that is presently being challenged by Donald Trump today is where African Americans eagerly used mail-in balloting to enlarge their participation in the voting process,” Prof . Joyner explained. “This enlarged and engaged participation by African Americans (because of the pandemic), in those Trump targeted jurisdictions, provided the overwhelming margin of victory for President-Elect Joe Biden.
“As such,” Joyner continued, “the attacks on voting that are being orchestrated by Donald Trump and his allies are directed at taking away votes which were cast by African Americans. When the Donald Trump gang rants about the casting of illegal mail-in ballots, they are referring to this large outpouring of African American political power and opposition that ousted him from office. In past elections, mail-in ballots have been primarily used by White voters.”
“Trump and his forces are outraged that they can’t identify any illegal or inappropriateness in these African American cast ballots to justify not counting them which has caused them now to focus on “outright” theft of the election in these targeted jurisdictions,” Joyner continued.
White moderate Republican “Never Trumpers ” like former strategists Stuart Stephens and Steve Schmit call the GOP Trump supporters in Congress pushing for the 2020 presidential election results to be thrown out “the Jim Crow Caucus.”
“The Jim Crow Senators are trying to throw away the votes of millions of Black Americans,” Schmit said on Twitter, noting that Trump’s current chief of staff, former North Carolina Congressman Mark Meadows was on that Jan 2nd. Georgia call with Trump.
“A man who cried crocodile tears at the death of a great man
@RepCummings is now seeking to toss out the votes of millions of Black Americans,” Schmit said. “Meadows has betrayed his country. His shame will be forever.”
Legal analysts note that if the Fulton County District Attorney wanted to charge Meadows as an accessory to violating Georgia election law, she could do it immediately.
“This represents the lowest of the lows,” former Judge Carl Fox says of the Republican effort to overturn the election. “So, the sore losers with no evidence whatsoever should be able to keep the legitimate winner of the election from taking office based upon their unfounded, unsubstantiated objections, feelings, or beliefs? January 20th cannot, CANNOT come too soon!”
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WHAT IS THE LATEST ON
VACCINE AVAILABILITY IN NC?
By Cash Michaels
Contributing writer
The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines for COVID-19 hav been out several weeks now, and just over 4. 5 million people across the nation have taken their first dose thus far.
But what is the status of vaccine treatment now in North Carolina, and how soon will it be before communities of color - which have suffered up to three times as much as their white counterparts from the coronavirus - receive their dose?
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as of Monday, January 4h, North Carolina is one of seven states that have vaccinated fewer than 1000 people per every100,000.
The CDC also notes that North Carolina ranked among the tenth lowest for vaccine distribution.
Part of the problem with both vaccination and distribution is the considerable degree of confusion associated. Some community health centers have designated those 75 and older to be the among the first to be inoculated. Some areas designate those in long-term care facilities to be the first to receive shots.
Confusion comes when those not sure of their status show up to receive shots, only to be turned away. Many say they try to call numerous times before coming, in many cases being able to reach anybody because of phone problems.
Local health centers are still trying to coordinate with doctors and health specialists as to how and when to schedule vaccinations.
There is general agreement that the frequency of vaccinations is nowhere where it needs to be if CDC goals are to be met for complete inoculation by this time next year.
And as for communities of color, the NC Dept. of Health and Human Services ‘…has a specific focus building trust with historically marginalized populations,” the agency says. “Longstanding and continuing racial and ethnic injustices in our health care system contribute to lack of trust in vaccines. The Department is partnering with trusted leaders and organizations to provide accurate information about the vaccine.
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SUPPORT THE WILMINGTON
JOURNAL’S ‘GOFUNDME’ CAMPAIGN
By Cash Michaels
Staff writer
Other than the Black church, no other institution in the African-American community has fought harder for freedom than the Black Press, and in Wilmington, that institution is The Wilmington Journal.
No matter what the cause, concern or story, if it affects the African-American community in the port city or surrounding areas, The Wilmington Journal covers it to ensure that Black people are properly informed and empowered, and has been doing so since 1927.
But today, with dramatic changes in the economy, not to mention the drastic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, The Journal is in desperate need for community support to maintain it’s high level of service and commitment.
It’s Seventh Street headquarters are in need of critical repair from years of storm and wind damage. Without needed repairs, the building will be auctioned, and The Journal will cease to exist.
Thus, members of the Wilmington community, led by Dorian Cromartie of the Black Leadership Caucus, and Deborah Dicks Maxwell, president of the New Hanover County Branch of the NAACP, have come together to kick off a GoFundMe page titled “Save The Wilmington Journal,” with the goal of raising $95,000.
As of January 7, 2021, $5,746 has been raised in the effort from 77 donors. Ms. Cromartie herself has raised $470 from nine donations. Ms. Maxwell has raised $1,725.00 from 20 donations.
“The Journal must continue to be a voice in our community as it has for the past 93 years,” she says. “It is time to support them as they have supported us in every battle for social justice in this area. “
“The New Hanover County NAACP will support with a $1,000 check towards this effort,” Ms. Maxwell continued.
“I believe in what the paper represents and the need it fulfills in the community,” says Robert Bayley, who donated $100.00.
The campaign runs until February 1st, 2021, so those who would like to contribute are urged to go to the ‘GoFundMe” website, and enter “Save The Wilmington Journal” in the search engine. That will take you right to the fundraising page.
On behalf of the organizers, thank you.
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STATE NEWS BRIEFS FOR 01-07-21
GOV. COOPER MOBILIZES NATIONAL GUARD TO DISTRIBUTE COVID-19 VACCINE
[RALEIGH] On Tuesday, Gov. Roy Cooper mobilized the NC National Guard in order to accelerate distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine. "Ensuring COVID-19 vaccines are administered quickly is our top priority right now," Cooper tweeted. "We will use all resources and personnel needed. I've mobilized the NC National Guard to provide support to local health providers as we continue to increase the pace of vaccinations." Approximately 50 National Gurd members will be utilized for the effort.
WAKE COMPANY SEEKS BLACKS, HISPANICS FOR NEW VACCINE TRIAL
[RALEIGH] A Raleigh company called Wake Research is seeking Black and Hispanic patients for a trial of the Novavax vaccine for COVID-19. Doses are administered three weeks apart. It is a two-in-one vaccine. According to Dr. Matthew Hong of Wake Research, the trial has about 40 participants thus far. Novavax is a two-year trial.
WILMINGTON FIRE DEPT. ASST CHIEF RETIRES
[WILMINGTON] After over thirty years, WFD Asst. Chief Rick Pearsall is retiring from the department this week. A former Marine. Pearsall joined the WFD in November 1990. He is also the second African-American to be appointed assistant chief with the department, the first being Lorenzo Edge. Pearsall is known and respected for being a leader who always looked after his men as long as they did their jobs.
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