Blogs

 week-and-a-half into the trial of George Zimmerman, members of the Project 21 black leadership network say the prosecution's case is faltering, and increased tensions as a result appear to be harming race relations in America.

As reported in the Washington Times, state prosecutors trying to make the case that Zimmerman committed second-degree murder in the death of Trayvon Martin have "stumbled" and that "several key witnesses have cast

With the second week of the George Zimmerman trial underway in Florida, featuring the procedural testimony of officers who were involved with the case and crime scene experts, members of the Project 21 black leadership network are critiquing last week's high-profile coverage of opening arguments and alleged "star witness" Rachel Jeantel.

Project 21 Co-Chairman Horace Cooper, a former law professor, was critical of what he called the overall "rush to prosecution" of Zimmerman. Cooper notes that

 While the George Zimmerman trial moved on to other witnesses, people are still talking about the dramatic cross-examination of the late Trayvon Martin's friend Rachel Jeantel. Stacy Swimp, a member of the Project 21 black leadership network, said the demeanor and language exhibited by Jeantel on the stand "was a clear manifestation of the cultural perversions that are normalized throughout many of our urban communities."
Swimp suggests that, rather than criticizing Jeantel's actions, Ame

 While the George Zimmerman trial moved on to other witnesses, people are still talking about the dramatic cross-examination of the late Trayvon Martin's friend Rachel Jeantel. Stacy Swimp, a member of the Project 21 black leadership network, said the demeanor and language exhibited by Jeantel on the stand "was a clear manifestation of the cultural perversions that are normalized throughout many of our urban communities."
Swimp suggests that, rather than criticizing Jeantel's actions, Ame

From The Ramparts
Junious Ricardo Stanton
Stranger Than Fiction

“The world's first genetically modified humans have been created, it was revealed last night. The disclosure that 30 healthy babies were born after a series of experiments in the United States provoked another furious debate about ethics. So far, two of the babies have been tested and have been found to contain genes from three 'parents'. Fifteen of the children were born in the past three years as a result of one experimental progra

Let’s not mince words – this week’s Supreme Court decision in Shelby County v. Holder left our country with a badly weakened Voting Rights Act. The Shelby County decision stopped the enforcement of Section 5, which was probably the most effective tool ever in the battle against voting discrimination. In response, the Lawyers’ Committee and its allies are launching the RISE UP FOR JUSTICE campaign!

The Lawyers’ Committee has already started working to address the damage done by this shorts

William E. Spriggs

Can Congress Redeem Itself?

By William E. Spriggs

In the trial of George Zimmerman, the so-called "star witness" for the
prosecution, Rachel Jeantel, ended two days of testimony.

Members of the
Project 21 black leadership network are commenting.

Jeantel, a friend of
Martin since elementary school, spent several hours on the phone and texted with
Martin on the day of this death, including during the moments before the
altercation with Zimmerman that ended in Martin's death.

In the long
cross-examination, Jeantel was reported by the

 IREX's latest Africa Media Sustainability Index (MSI) found that traditional media remain the preferred source of news. Many benefits presented by online media have yet to reach most citizens in the 42 sub-Saharan African countries analyzed. Nonetheless, transition to online and mobile format media appears inevitable. See www.irex.org/msi for the full report.

Malian journalists characterize online media as in its infancy. In Botswana a participant stressed that his colleagues do not ade

The Supreme Court Decisions of the past two days severely narrowing the application of “race” in achieving “diversity” at colleges and universities and the gutting of Section 4 of the historic Voting Rights Act of 1965 mark an intensification of the assault on the unfinished civil rights movement of the 60s under the guise of “race neutral” public policy.

While there is no question that Blacks and other minorities have made significant progress in the past 50 years, conservatives includin

In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court of the United States in Shelby County v. Holder delivered a devastating setback to civil rights in America.  The Court ruled today that the coverage formula in Section 4 of the Voting Rights Act is unconstitutional, which essentially halts the federal government’s ability to review or “pre-clear“ voting changes under Section 5 unless and until Congress enacts a new coverage formula. 

In the coming days, weeks, and months you will hear from the Lawyers’ Com

Brother’s Keeper Out Reach Church Launches 8-week Violence Prevention Camp

Partners with County/State to make a difference

By Chinta Strausberg

In an effort to stem the violence, Chief Apostle William McCoy, pastor of the Brother’s Keeper Out Reach Church in Chicago Heights, kicked off an eight-week violence prevention camp Saturday where he was joined by Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, state and county officials.

Announcing the bifurcated program, McCoy, who was also joined by Cook Co

Friends, The President has just issued a statement on the Supreme Court’s decision invalidating a provision of the Voting Rights Act. Please share it broadly. Best regards, Paul D. Paul Monteiro Associate Director | White House Office of Public Engagement 202.456.4753 *** THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 25, 2013 Statement by the President on the Supreme Court Ruling on Shelby County v. Holder I am deeply disappointed with the Supreme Court’s decision toda

It is imperative that ExxonMobil abide by the rules.  This is not to say that there are not other petrochemical companies which are not playing fair but ExxonMobil is the biggest.    The basics of truly announcing  in a timely manner each and every time there is a leak, spill or fugitive emission is important.       This is not just important to people who live close to the plant but , it is important to people who,  go to school, visit, work, play and drive by the 225 acres of former river fron

Ben Jealous

NBA: What Happens to the Undrafted?

By Benjamin Todd Jealous

In 2011, 17,500 college basketball players were registered with the National Collegiate Athletic Association. That year, 48 college players were drafted by NBA teams.

What happens to the undrafted? Some bounce around the international leagues for a few years, and a few even make it to the NBA. Many more go on to office jobs. But far too many college basketball players, especially players of color, leave college wit