January
Jan. 16
Raging fires in Pasadena and Altadena devastate Black families
The Eaton Fire has left a devastating mark on Southern California, including the Black and Brown communities of Pasadena and Altadena, where homeowners are grappling with unimaginable loss.
Among them is Ruth Hopkins, publisher of The Pasadena Journal, the area’s only Black newspaper. Hopkins lost her family home and with it, over 60 years of archives documenting the rich history, culture, and lives of Black residents in the Altadena-Pasadena area. Her son, Jamal Dominique Hopkins has set up a GoFundMe campaign for her and her grandson.
Six historically Black Churches in Pasadena and Altadena have been destroyed and the families of more than 200 of their members have lost their homes. Those churches are: Metropolitan Baptist Church (the Rev. Tyrone Skinner); Lifeline Fellowship Church (Bishop Charles Dorsey); Abounding Grace COGIC (the Rev. Thomas Burrell); Hillside Tabernacle City of Faith (the Rev. G. LaKeith Kennebrew); Community Bible Church of Greater Pasadena (the Rev. Jean Burch); and Morningstar Baptist Church (the Rev. W.H. Trotter).
The Eaton fire, sparked by faulty utility equipment was fueled by unseasonably strong winds of up to 70 miles per hour, has consumed over 10,000 acres, damaged and destroyed an estimated 7,000 structures, and claimed at least 16 lives. Black and Brown families, many with deep generational ties to the area, are now among the thousands displaced.
Historically, Altadena has had a significant African American middle-class community compared to other parts of California. Currently, its Black population is 17.9 percent.
Southern California has seen major fires, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or CAL Fire. The Pacific Palisades, Eaton, and Hurst fires started on Tuesday Jan. 7. The Lidia and Sunset fires began on Wednesday, and the Kenneth Fire ignited on Thursday.
Evacuation notices were issued, but a number of people decided to stay and fight for their homes.
Fund to help displaced Black victims of Eaton Fire, California’s two largest Black law firms unite
Attorneys for California’s two largest Black firms have united to create a fund to help displaced Black victims of the Eaton Fire. Attorneys James A. Bryant, Rodney S. Diggs, and Brian T. Dunn of The Cochran Firm and Ivie McNeil Wyatt Purcell, along with The Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge Free and Accepted Masons State of California Inc., have established an official and trusted GoFundMe campaign where 100% of the funds raised will be used to assist the victims impacted in the Pasadena/Altadena Community. Physical donations are also being accepted in South Los Angeles at Prince Hall, 9027 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles, CA 90003. Items needed include blankets and pillows, clothing of all sizes, undergarments, toiletries/essentials, children’s toys and games, phone chargers, extension cords, and adult and children’s diapers. The link to donate is gofund.me/73cc3321.
A large portion of the nearly 20,000 Black residents are displaced, with nowhere to go other than temporary shelters.
February
Feb. 6
City Council honors Black businessman, Bernie Wilkins
Abilene, Kan. native, 89-year-old Bernie Wilkins is the owner of Midway Barbershop in South Central Los Angeles. On. Jan. 24, Wilkins received a certificate of recognition from the LA City Council President and Representative of the 8th District, Marqueece Harris-Dawson, and other council members. Wilkins received the award for being a long-standing Black business owner for 60 years.Wilkins spoke about the honor. “I’m a person who doesn’t really like a lot of recognition, but…I appreciate them recognizing me and the shop. He continued. “I have some customers who tell me that I deserve this.”
Wilkins started barbering after he served in the U.S. Air Force and was in search of a new career path. Initially, he did not know where his career path would lead him after serving. Although he would cut hair occasionally during his downtime in the Air Force, he still had his eyes on being a basketball player.
After being discharged, Wilkins attended Kansas Industrial and Educational Institute in Topeka, Kan., a vocational school with various teachings such as carpentry, cosmetology, agriculture, domestic science, plumbing, nursing, tailoring, barbering, and auto mechanics. Established in 1895, the institution was referred to as the “Western Tuskegee” as it was a staple educational hub for the Black community of Topeka. Wilkins obtained his barbering license right before the institution was closed down in 1955.
Wilkins shared some advice for younger Black business owners. “You’ve got to be dedicated to what you are doing. I’ve been a barber, so I enjoy cutting hair.” Wilkins continued, “If I didn’t enjoy what I was doing, I could not have made it [this far]… for 60 years.”
Feb. 13
NNPA Launches National Public Education Campaign, in response to DEI rollbacks
The National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), representing the Black Press of America, has announced the planning and implementation of a national public education and selective buying campaign across the nation in direct response to those corporate entities that have dismantled their respective Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) commitments, programs and staffing.
“We are the trusted voice of Black America, and we will not be silent or nonresponsive to the rapid rise of renewed Jim Crow racist policies in corporate America,” stated NNPA Chairman Bobby R. Henry Sr. “The Black Press of America continues to remain on the frontline keeping our families and communities informed and engaged on all the issues that impact our quality of life.”
At a recent convening of NNPA member publishers and editors, a united resolve was reached that each member publication of the NNPA will begin a national public education campaign coupled with the release of research data on those American companies that are engaging in efforts to sanction racial injustice, inequitable polices, divisive leadership, and economic apartheid in America.
“We note forthrightly that Black Americans spend $2 trillion dollars annually as consumers of products and services throughout the United States,” NNPA President and CEO Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. emphasized. “We now must evaluate and realign to question why we continue to spend our money with companies that do not respect us,” Chavis continued.
Feb 27
Target Caught in DEI crossfire: boycotts ahead, lawsuits and actions mount
Target Corporation, which recently scaled back its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, is facing financial consequences, community backlash, and new legal challenges from both sides of the political spectrum. The retail giant’s decision to retreat from its DEI commitments and Pride Month merchandise has drawn conservative-led lawsuits while also fueling boycotts and economic pressure from civil rights groups.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier and America First Legal, founded by former President Trump adviser Stephen Miller, have filed a lawsuit against Target. The suit, brought on behalf of a Florida board overseeing state pensions, alleges the company failed to disclose the financial risks associated with its DEI programs and 2023 Pride Month collection. The legal action is the latest in a wave of conservative attacks on corporate diversity efforts, aligning with President Donald Trump’s push to dismantle DEI policies in both government and private sectors.
At the same time, Target’s DEI retreat has provoked backlashes from civil rights groups, Democratic leaders, and even the heirs of one of Target’s founders, who argue that diversity is good business and should not be abandoned under political pressure. The company’s decision to reduce minority hiring targets and discontinue reports to diversity-focused organizations led to an 8.7 percent drop in its stock value. Data from Placer.ai shows store traffic decreased by 4 percent following Trump’s executive order banning federal DEI initiatives, with an additional 9 percent decline the following week. Walmart experienced a dip of less than 3 percent during the same period.
Rev. Dr. Jamal Harrison Bryant, an Atlanta-based pastor of the New Birth Baptist Church, has reported a robust national turnout for his consumer boycott against Minneapolis-based retail giant Target. The fast-selective-buying campaign, which began during the Lent Season from March 5 to April 17, targets what Bryant describes as the company’s neglect of the Black community. According to Bryant, the boycott has mobilized over 150,000 participants and persuaded over 100 Black vendors to withdraw their products from Target. The movement has led to a $12 drop per share in Target’s stock and a $2 billion decrease in its overall value. “We just hit 150 thousand people who have signed up to be part of it, with over 100 black vendors that pulled out of Target, so the momentum is going steadily,” Bryant explained.
The NAACP and the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), representing the Black Press of America, have simultaneously announced the planning and implementation of a national public education and selective buying campaign in response to Target and other corporations that have dismantled their respective Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) commitments, programs and staffing. “Now is the time for the Black Press of America once again to speak and publish truth to power emphatically,” NNPA Chairman Emeritus Danny Bakewell Sr. explained.
March
Mar. 6
NNPA Launches ‘Missing & Black 2025’ Campaign, To spotlight disparities in media coverage of missing Black individuals
The NNPA World News app has unveiled the Missing & Black 2025 Campaign, a nationwide initiative aimed at addressing the glaring disparities in media coverage and law enforcement response to missing Black individuals. The campaign seeks to bring long-overdue visibility, resources, and justice to the thousands of missing Black children, women, and men whose cases are frequently overlooked. “With an alarming disparity in coverage and urgency between cases involving people of color and their white counterparts, this initiative calls for collective action to change the narrative and ensure that all missing persons in America receive the responsive attention that they deserve,” said Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr., President and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA).
Statistics from the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) reveal that Black people make up nearly 40% of all missing persons cases in the United States, despite representing just 14.4% of the national population, according to the Pew Research Center. Research consistently shows that cases involving missing Black individuals receive substantially less media coverage, resulting in fewer search efforts, diminished resources, and a lower rate of case resolution.
Mar. 20
Mayor Karen Bass says ‘I Would Never Quit on My City’, in the midst of massive recall effort
Facing mounting criticism and a recall effort over her handling to the Palisades Fire, Mayor Karen Bass declared, “I would never quit on my city.” The recall campaign is led by Nicole Shanahan, the former running mate of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. According to the recall website, the effort is also supported by some Palisades residents.
On Tuesday, during an interview with KNX News, the mayor reaffirmed she is “here now, and I’m running.”
“I would never quit on my city. This is where I was born and raised,” Bass told the radio station. “Did I know that it was a difficult job? Absolutely. Am I ready for the job? Most definitely.”
The mayor, who is up for re-election in 2026, has already launched her campaign. “I mean, anybody that runs for office — if you’re not emotionally ready to accept that — then you’re in the wrong business,” Bass told KNX.
June
June 5
Harvard reaches historic settlement, over earliest known photographs of enslaved Americans
Harvard University will relinquish ownership of the earliest known photographs of enslaved people as part of a historic legal settlement announced Wednesday by nationally renowned civil rights attorney Ben Crump. The agreement resolves a 2019 lawsuit filed by Tamara Lanier, the great-great-great-granddaughter of an enslaved man known as “Papa Renty,” whose image, along with that of his daughter Delia and five others, was captured in 1850 to support racist scientific theories promoted by a Harvard professor.
The 19th-century daguerreotypes, long held by Harvard’s Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, were commissioned by Swiss-born biologist Louis Agassiz, a Harvard professor who used the images in a campaign to promote polygenism—the debunked and deeply racist theory that different races have separate origins and that Africans and African Americans are inferior to whites. The photographs were taken in South Carolina, where Renty and Delia were stripped and posed under duress.
“This is a day of reckoning 175 years in the making,” said Josh Koskoff, co-counsel on the case. “This is not just an unlikely personal victory for the Lanier family; it is also a win for the importance of truth and the power of history at a time when both values are under unprecedented assault.” As part of the settlement, Harvard has agreed to fully relinquish the images to Lanier, who is advocating for their permanent display at the International African American Museum in Charleston, South Carolina—the same state where the pictures were initially taken.
A confidential financial agreement was also reached. “Since Black Americans were first brought to this country in chains, our pain and trauma have been exploited for capitalistic gain,” said Lanier. “Harvard played a role in the darkest chapter in American history. This is a small step in the right direction towards fully acknowledging that history and working to rectify it.”
The lawsuit accused Harvard of wrongfully seizing and profiting from the images, charging licensing fees for their use in books and promotional materials, and publicly dismissing Lanier’s well-documented genealogical claims.
June 3
Texas Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett announces run to lead Democrats, House Oversight Committee
On June 3, Texas Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett announced her run to lead the House Oversight Committee. Her colleagues in the House Democratic Caucus would have to vote her in over any other member who might run for the position. With Democrats out of power in the U.S. House and Senate, almost all messaging is opposition communications. “I know that we’re behind — the first thing that you have to do is accept it. I get it. I get it,” Crockett said on the Black Virginia News podcast from a Congressional Black Caucus pen and pad session on May 15 at the U.S. Capitol. The discussion centered around the party’s messaging strategy and general failure to break through.
What has also been made clear at town halls is that constituents want their elected representatives to act with urgency in a fight with a presidential administration that has mandated unprecedented job cuts, caused economic uncertainty, and cuts to the federal workforce. Rep. Crockett appears to have heard the message as shown in the letter to her Democratic colleagues announcing her run for Oversight ranking member.
On June 24 Crockett lost her bid for the top Democrat ranking member spot on the House Oversight Committee. She withdrew after coming in last with the initial vote. She remains on the committee as Vice Ranking Member with Robert Garcia taking the leadership role. She decided to step aside, citing differences in approach with leadership, even as she continues her focus on oversight.
June 26
The Constitution and immigration chaos and aggressive ICE raids continue on migrant communities
The nation’s democratic state attorney generals are conferring with one another over these unprecedented tense and escalating migrant raids conducted by ICE agents, the FBI, DEA, and other federal and local authorities. Migrant captures happen in hardware stores, construction sites, immigration courts, farms, vacation resorts, and hotels. Chaos surrounds aggressive ice raids on Mexicans, Brazilians, Haitians and others who are said to be illegal in this nation by overstaying a visa or being undocumented.
As for Los Angeles and the recent tensions stemming from the ICE raids, Democratic ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, New York Congressman Greg Meeks, says President Trump “decided to enflame the situation” by sending in the Marines “for what?” Meeks says the president’s actions on the National Guard and military presence in LA are “overreach” and “unconstitutional.” The Constitution is the standard reference Democratic state attorney generals are leaning on amid this current Trump immigration deportation controversy. Aaron Ford, Democratic Nevada State Attorney General, says the focus is to “uphold the law“ and “if they [ICE and Trump administration] are unconstitutional, we have to stand up against that.”
Over the weekend in Las Vegas, Black Press USA talked to Ford, who laments, “There is a lot of trepidation and fear.” Among the group of democratic state attorney generals is Keith Ellison of Minnesota, who most recently was on a list of lawmakers targeted by the Trump-supporting, right-wing evangelical preacher 57-year-old Vance Boelter, who allegedly shot and killed a state lawmaker and her husband Saturday and wounded another state lawmaker and their spouse as well.
July
July 10
Black Mayors slash crime despite media silence
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott and Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin have overseen some of the steepest reductions in violent crime their cities have experienced in decades. But they are far from alone. From New York to Los Angeles to Chicago, Black mayors are proving that talent, vision, and a relentless focus on evidence-based policy—not tokenism—are transforming communities. Yet their achievements have largely been ignored by mainstream media outlets that rarely look past sensational headlines.
Baltimore, long branded one of America’s most dangerous cities, released midyear crime data showing a 22 percent drop in homicides compared to the same period last year. Nonfatal shootings are down 19 percent, and juvenile homicide victims have declined by an astonishing 71 percent. Police are solving more crimes, with a homicide clearance rate of 64 percent and a nonfatal shooting clearance rate 20 percentage points above the department’s 10-year average.
Meanwhile, in Birmingham, Mayor Woodfin has led an aggressive, community-driven approach that’s paid off. The city’s homicide rate has fallen 52 percent compared to last year, and the clearance rate for homicides has surged to 79 percent, a level rarely seen in major cities.
While total violent crime in Birmingham has edged up slightly, the plunge in homicides shows that sustained focus and coordination can work—even if major media don’t bother to cover it. State and federal partners in Maryland have also acknowledged Baltimore’s progress.
In New York City, Mayor Eric Adams has presided over a 24 percent drop in shootings and a 14 percent decline in murders so far in 2025, the fewest shooting incidents recorded in more than a decade. Robberies and burglaries are also down, with NYPD data showing consistent reductions across nearly every major crime category. On the West Coast, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass saw homicides fall 14 percent in 2024 and gang-related killings drop nearly 45 percent in areas targeted by community safety programs.
In Chicago, Mayor Brandon Johnson has overseen a 22 percent decrease in murders and a 31 percent drop in shootings through early 2025, reaching the city’s lowest homicide totals in over a decade. Officials credit community-based outreach and investments in neighborhood violence prevention. And in Atlanta, Mayor Andre Dickens announced that violent crime was down nearly 16 percent in 2024, with homicides decreasing and property crime dropping as well.
July 17
Bass issues executive directive to support migrants, Amid ICE enforcement
Mayor Karen Bass signed an executive directive aiming to bolster the city’s response to ongoing U.S. Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE) activity — and called for records from the Trump administration on all ICE operations since they started in June. The mayor emphasized that the city will file a Freedom of Information Act request with the federal government. Through the request, she aims to secure information about the whereabouts of detained individuals, reasons for detainment and the associated costs of the ICE activity.
“We are a proud city of immigrants, and with the Trump administration signaling that they will ratchet up their chaotic approach, I’m making sure we deploy every resource and tool available within the city to ensure that we are supporting immigrant communities,” Bass said in a statement.
Under the directive, all city departments will be required to ensure they are in compliance with Los Angeles’ “sanctuary city ordinance,” which prohibits the use of city resources and personnel in federal immigration enforcement. It also mandates that each department deliver preparedness plans within two weeks to ensure no immigration activity occurs on city property.
July 24
Black lawyers back reparations bill, Targeting college admissions
Members of the California Association of Black Lawyers (CABL) sat in the front row at the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on July 15 to show their support for Assembly Bill (AB) 7. The bill gives California public and private colleges and universities the option to offer admissions preferences to applicants who are descendants of enslaved people. The move is part of ongoing efforts to address the lasting impacts of slavery and systemic racism through higher education access.
Authored by Assemblymember Isaac Bryan (D-Ladera Heights), a member and vice chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC), the measure passed out of committee with an 11-2 vote. Many attorneys, law students, and diverse supporters of AB 7 from across the state attended the hearing, which was held at the state Capitol, including CABL. Tiega Varlack, secretary for CABL and former president of the Black Women Lawyers Association of Northern California (BWLA of NorCal), said the bill is essential to the organization’s work.
“We support this legislation because education is extremely important to our pipeline, which is one of the things that both organizations (CABL and BWLA of NorCal) focus on,” Varlack told California Black Media (CBM). “We feel that, as attorneys, AB 7 doesn’t focus on race but focuses on descendants of enslaved people, a legal term of ours that gives us a better chance of surviving legal scrutiny.”
The bill passed Sept. 12, 2025 but was vetoed by Gov. Gavin Newsom on Oct. 13, 2025.
August
Aug. 7
First Black NASCAR champion, Bubba Wallace
On July 27, 2025, Bubba Wallace clinched his first NASCAR Cup Series victory in over 100 races by winning the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Facing rain delays and two overtime restarts, he held off Kyle Larson and Denny Hamlin to break his drought, his last win was in 2022 at Kansas. Notably, he became the first Black driver ever to win a major NASCAR race at the Indianapolis oval, a milestone etched in racing history.
With the win securing his spot in the playoffs, Wallace entered the final stretch of the regular season with a new sense of freedom. He spoke about a dramatic mental transformation: “I’ve never been in this situation to walk about the cabin freely. It gives you an opportunity to do things differently”. This relaxed mindset allows him to drive with confidence rather than anxiety.
Wallace’s personal life has also fueled his recent performance surge. In September 2024, he and his wife Amanda welcomed their first child, Becks Hayden. Wallace became visibly emotional while reflecting on fatherhood after a top-six finish in Nashville, sharing how much his son motivates and grounds him: “ it’s a nice reality shift, you know, I say this in the most positive way, but nothing else matters anymore besides being a great father and a great husband”. Amanda, whom he’s known since high school, has been a steadfast partner, supporting his career and sharing their journey, including Son Becks watching him bring home history at Indy.
Despite growing criticism from some corners of NASCAR fandom, Wallace maintains a focused outlook.
Aug. 7
Former VP Kamala Harris won’t seek CA Governor’s Office
Ending months of speculation, former Vice President Kamala Harris announced she will not run for governor of California, leaving the gubernatorial race wide open and immediately fueling speculation about whether she might again seek the presidency in 2028.
Harris said earlier this year she was considering a gubernatorial bid but wanted to take time to weigh the decision. In a statement Wednesday, the Brentwood resident said that while “I love this state, its people and its promise,” she will not throw her hat in the ring. “For now, my leadership — and public service — will not be in elected office,” Harris said. “I look forward to getting back out and listening to the American people, helping elect Democrats across the nation who will fight fearlessly, and sharing more details in the months ahead about my own plans.
She did not give a specific reasoning behind her decision, but said, “I have extraordinary admiration and respect for those who dedicate their lives to public service — service to their communities and to our nation. At the same time, we must recognize that our politics, our government, and our institutions have too often failed the American people, culminating in this moment of crisis. As we look ahead, we must be willing to pursue change through new methods and fresh thinking — committed to our same values and principles, but not bound by the same playbook.”
Aug. 14
Trump’s racist takeover of Smithsonian, Targets Black history and censors presidential truths
Donald Trump’s administration has intensified its takeover of the Smithsonian Institution, advancing an agenda that historians and civil rights leaders say is rooted in racism and political censorship. Under the guise of “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,” Trump’s March executive order placed Vice President J.D. Vance in charge of purging Smithsonian exhibitions of what the White House calls “divisive” narratives, targeting especially those that address race, slavery, and systemic injustice.
The latest moves include the removal of references to Trump’s two impeachments from the National Museum of American History’s “Limits of Presidential Power” exhibit. Smithsonian officials claimed the change was part of a “restoration” to the exhibit’s 2008 version, but ABC News reported on August 1, 2025, that it followed White House pressure during a broader content review. Trump is the only U.S. president impeached twice—once in 2019 for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, and again in 2021 for incitement of insurrection—but both proceedings were temporarily erased from the museum’s public record.
The administration’s focus has been even more aggressive toward the National Museum of African American History and Culture. In April, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones told Black Press USA that Trump’s targeting of the museum’s slavery section “is a sign of a deep sickness” and that “to erase or minimize the slavery and freedom part of that story is to create a fantasy of how we got here”. She warned, “We literally would not be in the United States without slavery.”
California Dems ‘Squabble Up’, In national redistricting battle
“California cannot sit back and let that happen. We have a responsibility to step up. We are going to step up,” said Assemblymember Isaac Bryan (D-Ladera Heights).
Bryan was speaking at a news conference in Sacramento where Gov. Gavin Newsom, Senate President pro tem Mike McGuire (D-Healdsburg), Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas (D-Salinas), U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, and other state lawmakers welcomed Texas Democrats to Sacramento to back plans for redrawing California’s congressional maps ahead of the midterm elections. Bryan said where he’s from in Los Angeles, “when they go low, we squabble up.”
“That doesn’t mean we are abandoning our values, continued Bryan. “We are not doing away with the independent commission that we establish every single decade, but we are meeting this moment because this is not a turn-the-other-cheek moment while they continue to send blow after blow to the foundations of our democracy.
The move to redraw California’s electoral maps comes in response to efforts by Texas Republicans to redraw their maps, potentially gaining five seats in the U.S. House of Representatives — a reported request from President Donald Trump to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott. “They will lose in the midterms and (Trump) knows it. Why else would he make that phone call,” Newsom said. “His agenda is failing. His presidency is failing. He knows the headwinds in a midterm. He’s dialing for seats.”
Proposition 50 passed on Nov. 4, 2025. Voters showed up, causing the legislation to pass by wide margins. The new constitutional amendment authorizes a new congressional map for the 2026, 2028 and 2030 elections.
In California, the redrawing of Congressional, State Senate, and State Assembly district lines is managed by the California Citizens Redistricting Commission (CCRC), an independent 14-member body, according to the California Secretary of State. The commission uses U.S. Census data to redraw the lines.
September 2025
Sep. 4
Father shot in face by deputies at George Floyd protest with his kids, Jury awards him and his daughter $3.8M
A Los Angeles jury has awarded $3.8 million to filmmaker Cellin Gluck and his daughter Caroline Gluck, finding the County of Los Angeles negligent for injuries sustained when Mr. Gluck was shot in the face by a projectile while peacefully chaperoning his children during a George Floyd protest in 2020. His daughter was awarded damages for witnessing her father be shot. It is the largest jury award or settlement arising from the spring 2020 protest lawsuits.
The verdict was delivered Wednesday afternoon in Department 40 of the Stanley Mosk Courthouse, presided over by Judge Michael Shultz.
Gluck, 66, was unarmed and calmly photographing the crowd near Beverly Blvd. and Stanley Ave. when he was hit by a rubber bullet fired by a Sheriff’s deputy. The impact fractured his face, embedded shrapnel in his nasal cavity (removed nine months later), and left him with permanent disfigurement, vision problems, and severe emotional trauma. The incident was captured on helicopter news footage.
After the trial concluded, several jurors spoke with attorneys for both sides and blasted the credibility of the County’s witnesses, particularly the Sheriff’s deputies who testified. Jurors said they felt the deputies were evasive and dishonest and added that the County’s own attorney offended them during the trial by using the phrase “the Blacks” when referring to protesters—language jurors described as “inappropriate,” “outdated,” and “insulting.”
The Glucks filed their lawsuit in 2021, originally alleging excessive force and civil rights violations, but ultimately proceeded on a single cause of action: negligence. The jury found that the County’s use of so-called “less-than-lethal” weapons on peaceful protesters—including unarmed parents—was unreasonable and reckless.
Sept. 18
Legislature approves five Black Caucus Reparations Bills, on the way to Gov. Newsom’s desk
Assembly Bill (AB) 62, authored by Assemblymember Tina McKinnor (Inglewood), passed in the Assembly with a 66-4 vote on Sept. 9. It now advances to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk for a signature or veto by Oct. 12. The measure — part of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) multi-year “Road to Repair” legislative package — is a reparations bill aimed at providing restitution for victims of racially motivated eminent domain and their descendants.
AB 62 builds on the momentum of California’s decision to return Bruce’s Beach in Los Angeles County to its original owners. In September 2021, Governor Newsom signed Senate Bill (SB) 796 into law, granting Los Angeles County the authority to transfer the Bruce’s Beach property back to the descendants of Willa and Charles Bruce, who were unjustly stripped of their beachfront land without consent.
On Sept. 11, AB 766, legislation authored by Assemblymember LaShae Sharp-Collins (D-San Diego), passed out of the Assembly with a 48-14 vote. It mandates state agencies to perform a “racial equity analysis” on new regulations and budget requests.
AB 742, authored by Assemblymember Sade Elhawary (D-Los Angeles), passed 59-16 out of the Assembly on Sept. 10. It requires state licensing boards to expedite applications for individuals who are certified as descendants of American slaves.
SB 437 would authorize the use of up to $6 million to enable the CSU to conduct the research. Weber Pierson’s SB 518 also advances to the governor’s desk after receiving a 30-10 vote in the Senate on Sept. 10. The bill establishes the Bureau for Descendants of American Slavery within the California Department of Justice. The bill, part of a larger reparations effort, aims to address past and ongoing harms caused by slavery and discriminatory policies against Black Californians.
SB 437 and SB 518 both passed in October.
Sept. 25
After plunge, Black students enroll in Harvard, Incoming J.D. Class of 2028 includes 46 Black students
Black student enrollment at Harvard Law School has rebounded. The incoming J.D. Class of 2028 includes 46 Black students, nearly returning to the averages seen between 2020 and 2023. That recovery comes only one year after the number collapsed to 19, the lowest since the 1960s.
The collapse of 2024 was severe. Harvard law professor David B. Wilkins told The New York Times, “This is the lowest number of Black entering first-year students since 1965.” He added, “This obviously has a lot to do with the chilling effect created by that decision.” In a statement, Sean Wynn, president of the Harvard Black Law Students Association, said the enrollment decline was a “crushing loss” and that “with this marked decline, the (Supreme Court’s Affirmative Action) ruling has broken something fundamental about the experience of attending this law school.” The chilling effect extended across higher education.
Harvard College’s freshman class saw the share of Black students drop from 18 percent in 2023 to 14 percent in 2024. At the University of North Carolina, Black enrollment fell from 10.5 percent to 7.8 percent. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology reported a drop from 16 percent to 6 percent. Princeton’s Class of 2029 enrolled only 5 percent Black students, the lowest since 1968.
The source of these declines was the Supreme Court’s decision in 2023 to end race-conscious admissions. In his majority opinion, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote, “Eliminating racial discrimination means eliminating all of it.” The ruling overturned decades of precedent, closing a door that had offered Black students a measure of access to the nation’s most selective institutions.
Harvard’s rebound this fall was driven not by structural change but by extraordinary efforts within its community.
October 2025
Oct. 16
Government shutdown affects Medi-Cal and healthcare
The federal government formally entered a shutdown on Oct. 1, with a vicious debate over the extension of enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium tax credits fueling the bipartisan standoff.
About 750,000 federal workers were furloughed during the government shutdown. Active-duty military members continue to work during the shutdown, without pay, unless Congress passes the “Pay Our Military Act.”
Senate Democrats have three times blocked a two-week funding extension, saying they will not agree to a measure that does not include preservation of the enhanced ACA credits.
But even as Congress struggles to re-open government, more than 22 million Americans received notices of new ACA monthly premiums, which will be about double what they pay now, said Anthony Wright, executive director of Families USA, in a Sept. 30 interview with American Community Media.
The enhanced premium tax credits, which Congress authorized at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, are offered to individuals whose health care premium exceeds 8.5 percent of their monthly income. They are set to expire Dec. 31, but notices of new premiums went out in October as Open Enrollment began Nov. 1.
California establishes first-in-the-nation Reparations Agency, Newsom signs SB 518
Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed Senate Bill (SB) 518, landmark legislation creating California’s Bureau for Descendants of American Slavery — the first state agency in the nation dedicated to implementing reparations for Black Americans.
The governor first hinted at the signing during an appearance on the Higher Learning podcast, hosted by Rachel Lindsay and Van Lathan Jr., before his office made the news official in an Oct. 10 press release. “I just signed a bill two days ago with the (California Legislative) Black Caucus as it relates to creating a new office to address these systemic issues,” Newsom told the hosts.
Authored by Weber Pierson, SB 518 establishes a permanent state agency tasked with implementing reparations policies for descendants of enslaved African Americans and those whose families were harmed by racially motivated eminent domain in California. The Bureau will verify eligibility, safeguard privacy, educate the public, and coordinate future reparative justice initiatives.
The legislation was directly based on policy recommendations from the Task Force to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans, which issued its comprehensive final report in June 2023. The task force was created through Assembly Bill (AB) 3121, authored by current Secretary of State Shirley Weber in 2020, to research the history of discrimination against Black Californians and recommend remedies for compensation and atonement.
SB 518 was supported by 15 community, equity, and legal organizations, along with three former task force members, including former chairperson Kamilah V. Moore.
Moore, who shared a video of Newsom’s podcast appearance on Oct. 10, said she didn’t expect the Governor to announce the signing publicly before it was official.
Oct. 23
October’s ‘No Kings Protest’ takes the U.S. by storm, Nearly 7 million protesters in total stood against President Trump
Protestors marched in Los Angeles, New York, Washington D.C., Atlanta, Chicago, Boston and Atlanta.
It is the second installment of organized protests from a progressive collective network of organizers referred to as No Kings. The first No Kings protest took place on June 14, a few days after the June 6 deployment of the national guard into Los Angeles.
“We know he’s (President Trump) not a king, but we don’t want to see our democracy slide backwards into authoritarianism and that’s what protests are about,” said Bass. The Mayor of Los Angeles went on to say that the deployment of the National Guard in Los Angeles, dating back to this past summer, has been “frightening.” —Mayor Karen Bass
14 people were arrested as police officers rode horseback into the crowd to dissipate protesters near the Federal Building in Downtown Los Angeles. The 14 people included two underaged youth and 12 adults according to LAPD. One police officer was injured. The LAPD posted on their social media an account of what occurred with protestors after officers rode in on horses. “ After thousands of people gathered to express their constitutional 1st Amendment rights peacefully earlier in the day, nearly a hundred agitators marched over to Aliso and Alameda.” The post on X continued, “During the demonstration at that specific location, lasers and industrial size flashing lights were used against officers and the pilot of an LAPD Airship. A Dispersal Order was issued and the demonstrators were dispersed from the area.”
Seven million people attended the protest in total nationwide.
November
Nov. 6
How Black Caucus members are standing up, Speaking out for CalFresh recipients
Before the federal government shutdown became imminent — and before the risk of a hunger crisis was clear — Assemblymember LaShae Sharp-Collins (D-La Mesa) introduced a bill aimed at preventing any reduction in CalFresh benefits, if federal funding were ever cut.
Assembly Bill (AB 1211), “CalFresh Eligibility,” would’ve required the State Department of Social Services to ensure CalFresh benefits remain at least at the level in effect on Jan. 20, 2025, if Washington decides to reduce spending on the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) – known as CalFresh in California.
The bill, which mandated a feasibility study on increasing CalFresh eligibility and benefits, to the Assembly floor for a vote.
Before Nov. 1, the ongoing federal government shutdown had put SNAP benefits at risk of suspension for the month of November. On Oct. 31, just one day before the payments were set to stop, two federal judges ordered the Trump administration to continue funding the program. In response to the uncertainty, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that California is fast-tracking $80 million in state funds to bolster food banks around the state.
“Last year, I introduced legislation for a scenario exactly like this. We are now staring into the consequences of letting vital programs collapse. Destroying CalFresh would cause irreversible damage to our communities,” Sharp-Collins stated. Children, seniors, veterans, and families living in poverty depend on CalFresh.”
Sen. Akilah Weber Pierson, chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC), co-authored Senate Joint Resolution (SJR) 3 with Sen. Jesse Arreguín (D-Berkeley) urging the United States Government to avoid any cuts to the federal nutrition program. The Senate approved the resolution on July 15 with a unanimous vote before it was chaptered by the Secretary of State three days later.
“Twenty two percent of households in California are food insecure, and 27% of households with children in the state are food insecure,” said Weber Pierson at a SJR hearing in May. “Rates of food insecurity are higher than the statewide average for Black and Hispanic, or Latino, households.”
AB 1211 did not move forward in the 2025 legislative session, but remains active for consideration in the second year of the 2025-2026 legislative session.
Nov. 13
Historic beatdown: Speaker Don Scott and Jay Jones make history, Democrats sweep Virginia
In a clear rejection of the policies of President Donald Trump, history repeated itself in Virginia during the Nov. 4, 2025 general elections. Democrats once again swept all three statewide offices as they did in 2017 during Trump’s first term. Abigail Spanberger easily won the office of Governor, and State Senator Ghazala Hashmi won her race over John Reid to be the next Lieutenant Governor. Spanberger is Virginia’s first woman Governor.
Spanberger’s widely predicted win over Republican gubernatorial nominee Winsome Earle-Sears was called 17 minutes after the polls closed in Virginia at 7 pm. Former Delegate Jay Jones won his race against incumbent Attorney General Jason Miyares. His victory means Jones will be the first Black Attorney General in Virginia’s history.
Del. Coyner lost her bid for re-election to Delegate-elect Lindsey Dougherty. Coyner’s defeat was one of at least 13 victories for Democrats who have now added to their ranks in the Virginia House to historic margins.
When the Virginia General Assembly returns to session in January, there will be at least 64 Democrats in the chamber. The widespread Republican defeat is a testament to a combination of historic fundraising, Democrats running in all 100 seats, dislike of President Trump’s policies, and an ineffective top of the ticket featuring Lt. Gov. Earle Sears.
A dire need in Jamaica after Hurricane Melissa
The United Nations reports that Hurricane Melissa has scattered nearly 5 million tons of debris across Western Jamaica, hindering crews from delivering aid and restoring critical services promptly.
According to reports, crews are still working to clear roads, attempting to reach 27 communities cut off by landslides and flooding. Many of those communities are still without power and Wi-Fi. The category five storm killed at least 32 people in Jamaica and another 43 in nearby Haiti, where 13 people remain missing.
The State Department indicated it “is collaborating with UN agencies, NGOs, and host governments to deliver food, water, medical supplies, hygiene kits, temporary shelter, and search and rescue support.”
Nov. 20
California’s oldest AME Church celebrates historic 175th anniversary, In Sacramento
The overflowing pride, spiritual joy and sense of community was tangible at the oldest African American church in California, St. Andrews African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.). On Nov. 15-16, the congregation celebrated its 175th anniversary with a special church service and a “living museum” event in Sacramento.
The two-day celebration, which honored the founding of the faith community, the ongoing mission of the church, and the legacy it continues to uphold.
The Rev. Dr. Jason D. Thompson, Senior Pastor of St. Andrews, was raised in an A.M.E. church in Durham, North Carolina. He told California Black Media (CBM) that as he has grown older, he is “thankful to be a member in a free African society.”
Nov. 20
Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott makes second landmark gift to Charles R. Drew, $27 Million donated
Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott has made a $27 million gift to Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science (CDU) in South Los Angeles, one of the nation’s four historically Black medical schools and a member of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities. This marks the second gift Scott has made to the University, having donated $20 million in 2022, the largest private donation in the University’s history at the time.
“This gift marks a tremendous boost to our momentum and accelerates our trajectory toward becoming a larger, stronger institution,” said Dr. David Carlisle, President and CEO of CDU. “Ms. Scott’s generosity affirms our mission, reflects her trust in our work, and inspires us to keep advancing as we embark on our 60th anniversary.”
Since 2020, MacKenzie Scott’s philanthropic efforts have included donations to public and private institutions, with an emphasis on historically Black colleges and universities.
CDU is a designated minority-serving institution (MSI) and recognized as a Historically Black Graduate Institution (HGBI). The University’s Medical Education program is one of four Historically Black Medical Colleges in the nation.
Nov. 27
Black women in California face stark inequities, Yet, hold remarkable power
Black women in California earn just 60 cents for every dollar paid to White men — a gap so wide it won’t close until 2121 if current trends continue. That statistic headlines the California Black Women’s Collective Empowerment Institute’s (CBWCEI) newly released “2025 State of Black Women in California report,” a sweeping analysis of disparities in education, health, housing, and economic mobility.
CBWCEI President and CEO Kellie Todd Griffin says the findings aren’t meant to shock — they’re meant to spark action. “The data gives us direction,” she said. “The lived experiences of Black women give us urgency. We publish this report to push people.”
The 21-page report, authored by Griffin and research director Dr. Astrid Williams, was unveiled during a Nov. 12 online briefing. The report examines the realities facing California’s 1.2 million Black women and girls across critical areas, including education; economic mobility; health indicators and disparities; housing and environmental justice; violence and safety; the underfunding of Black women-led organizations and political power; and civic engagement.
December
Dec. 17
Evan Turnage announces run for Congress, Targeting longtime incumbent Bennie Thompson
Jackson, Mississippi native Evan Turnage, a 33-year-old antitrust lawyer and former top Senate counsel, formally entered the race for Mississippi’s 2nd Congressional District on December 17, setting up a Democratic primary challenge to longtime incumbent Democratic Rep. Bennie Thompson in the March 10, 2026, election.
Turnage, who grew up in Jackson after being born in Cleveland, Mississippi, launched his campaign by drawing attention to persistent economic hardship in the district, which remains one of the poorest in the nation. In announcing his candidacy, Turnage said the district was the poorest in the poorest state when he was born and remains so more than three decades later, arguing that generational economic stagnation has forced families to watch loved ones leave the state in search of opportunity.
Turnage appeared on Let It Be Known News for his first interview since entering the race, discussing his decision to run, his roots in Mississippi, and his belief that the district needs new leadership focused on economic opportunity, accountability, and helping Mississippians build stable lives at home.
Turnage brings extensive federal policy experience to the race. He previously served as chief counsel to then Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York and as senior counsel to Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, where he helped craft major legislative proposals, including the No Kings Act, which argued that presidents do not have immunity for criminal actions, and the Price Gouging Prevention Act, later adopted as part of Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential platform.
A graduate of Murrah High School, Morehouse College and Yale Law School, Turnage has also worked in the private sector at Kirkland & Ellis, where he handled pro bono cases focused on expunging wrongful criminal records to help individuals regain employment eligibility. He currently leads the Southern Justice Project at the Open Markets Institute; an initiative aimed at strengthening economic and political power in Black Belt communities.
“I’ve dedicated my life to leveling the playing field so people can not only get by, but get ahead, and raise a family right here,” Turnage said in announcing his campaign, adding that he is seeking to make it easier for Mississippians to return home and build lasting opportunity in the district.
November jobs report shows rising unemployment and worsening outlook for Black Workers
The U.S. labor market showed further signs of strain in November, with new federal data revealing rising unemployment, steep losses in government jobs, and worsening conditions for Black workers, particularly Black men, according to an analysis of the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics report and a review by the National Women’s Law Center.
Employers added 64,000 jobs nationwide in November, a modest gain following months of data disruptions caused by the federal government shutdown. The unemployment rate rose to 4.6 percent, up from 4.4 percent in September, the last month for which a full labor force survey was completed. The increase places unemployment at its highest level in four years.
Behind the headline figures, federal employment continued to fall sharply. Since January, when Donald Trump returned to office, federal payrolls have declined by 271,000 positions. The November report reveals continued reductions tied to deferred resignation programs and layoffs that accelerated earlier in the fall, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The rise in unemployment has been uneven, with Black workers experiencing some of the most severe impacts. Black men ages 20 and older saw their unemployment rate jump from 6.6 percent in September to 7.5 percent in November. Black women ages 20 and older recorded an unemployment rate of 7.1 percent in November, slightly lower than September’s 7.5 percent but still higher than any other racial or ethnic group.
Long-term unemployment has also become more pronounced for Black workers. Black women who are unemployed are typically out of work for 14.5 weeks, while Black men face average unemployment spells of 12.1 weeks. By comparison, white women experience unemployment lasting about 8.6 weeks, and white men about 9.6 weeks, according to the National Women’s Law Center’s review of federal labor data.
The November report shows that overall job growth remains concentrated in a narrow set of sectors. Healthcare added more than 46,000 jobs, while construction employment rose by 28,000. Manufacturing lost 5,000 jobs, and transportation and warehousing shed nearly 18,000 positions. Leisure and hospitality also declined, reflecting broader weakness outside a handful of growth industries.
Federal officials cautioned that November’s data carries higher-than-usual margins of error due to the shutdown-related survey delays. Even so, economists reviewing the report noted that revisions to late summer and early fall payrolls showed fewer jobs than initially reported, reinforcing signs of a cooling labor market.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the number of people unemployed for more than six months rose to 1.9 million in November, up from 1.7 million a year earlier. Wage growth slowed to 3.5 percent over the past year, the weakest pace since before the pandemic, adding pressure on households facing elevated prices and limited job mobility.
The National Women’s Law Center said it will continue monitoring labor market data by race, gender, and industry to assess how job losses and prolonged unemployment affect women and families as federal employment contracts and hiring remain subdued.