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		<title>Black Matters</title>
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		<link>https://blackmattersus.com/</link>
		<description>BlackMattersUS.com</description>
		<lastBuildDate>Sat, 27 Aug 2016 22:25:00 -0400</lastBuildDate>
		<language>en-US</language>
				<item>
			<title>New Video Of A Man Assaulted On An MTA Bus Released By Cops</title>
			<link>https://blackmattersus.com/14649-new-video-of-a-man-assaulted-on-an-mta-bus-released-by-cops</link>
			<comments>https://blackmattersus.com/14649-new-video-of-a-man-assaulted-on-an-mta-bus-released-by-cops#comments</comments>
			<image>https://blackmattersus.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/queens.jpg</image>
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			<pubDate>Sat, 27 Aug 2016 21:11:03 -0400</pubDate>
			<dc:creator><![CDATA[Aaron Lewis]]></dc:creator>
			<category>Racism</category>
			<description><![CDATA[The footage shows the assailant, who seems to be of Latin descent grab something from the back seat of the bus before walking towards the victim. He punched him in the face before exiting the bus.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[Tensions are high in the country. Many incidents of racism have been caught on camera, from various parts of the country. It would seem the U.S is slowly slipping back to the era of segregation and inequality.

Nevertheless, for some of us, that era never ended; for African-Americans to get a job in some labor markets is next to impossible. Besides that, those who do manage to get a prestigious job are paid much lesser than they deserve.

The ongoing onslaught meted out on the Black people by the police has also raised a safety issue. America is once again unsafe for the Black race. The distrust between predominantly Black communities and the police which was instituted by acts of racial bias has proven insurmountable and very dangerous. Now, even civilians attack Black people on the streets, in buses, in metros. Yes, we are slowly slipping back to the era where lynching was an acceptable practice.

A new video released by cops displays a man who seems to be Latino attacking a man without any provocation. The video is just one of many that have popped up in recent years. The incident took place on the 8th of July, in Queens. Police described the assailant as Hispanic, his age is estimated to be about 30 years, and he stands around 5-foot-8.

The incident occurred when the bus stopped near 21st street and 35th avenue in Astoria. The assailant grabbed something from the back seat then attacked the victim before exiting the bus. The victim visited a hospital nearby and had since been treated for wounds from the cut on his face.
Our society is deteriorating into a violent haven for criminals and racist bigots and we do not wish to live in such a brutal society. Where is the country of equal rights for everyone? We wish to feel safe again.

Source: New York Daily News

Ensure to visit this page for all exclusive news and updates. Kindly SHARE this article on any social media of your choice.]]></content:encoded>
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			<title>Two Black Men Create Mobile App To Record And Report Police Encounter</title>
			<link>https://blackmattersus.com/14644-two-black-men-create-mobile-app-to-record-and-report-police-encounter</link>
			<comments>https://blackmattersus.com/14644-two-black-men-create-mobile-app-to-record-and-report-police-encounter#comments</comments>
			<image>https://blackmattersus.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/legal-equalizer.jpg</image>
			<enclosure url="https://blackmattersus.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/legal-equalizer.jpg" type="image/jpg"/>
			<pubDate>Sat, 27 Aug 2016 20:28:27 -0400</pubDate>
			<dc:creator><![CDATA[Tylissa Hide]]></dc:creator>
			<category>Activism</category>
			<description><![CDATA[“The inspiration for it came from a few things,” C.E.O .of Legal Equalizer, Mbye Njie told ABS.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[The rampant police brutalities against Black people in the U.S.A has mandated the innovation of two smart Black guys to develop a mobile application that can send an ‘SOS’ after a police pull over. The introduction of the app seeks to educate the Black people about their rights, holding police accountable for their inactions and as a means to cortile racial profiling.

Mbye Njie, the Gambian native who happens to be the C.E.O of the Legal Equalizer, producers of the application said that is motivation to create such an application came as a result of a number of encounters he had with the police.

Speaking to ABS, Njie said; “The inspiration for it came from a few things, I had been thinking about an app for the few months leading up to it, because that was right around the time we had [the] Mike Brown [shooting]. We’d just seen John Crawford, we just saw Tamir Rice, and we’d seen Eric Garner that summer. And my Facebook wall was just full of arguments from different sides, different perspectives.”

Njie, a former Apple salesman teamed up with his partner, Martin Davis who happened to be a developer together established the revolutionary mobile app.

The app comes with three amazing features: a button to record an encounter with the police, an SOS button that sends a text notification to friends and family about the user’s location and another division that gives the user a list of his/her legal rights based on a GPS location.
Information available on the official website of the app educates users on how the app functions. The app has the capability to film an incident as soon as it is launched. This recording is then automatically sent to three emergency contacts the user inputs while registering on the app. Also, in the case of danger, the user can push the panic button or SOS which will send a text notification to the emergency numbers and also, stating the user’s location with the help of a GPS system.

Njie said; “My ultimate goal is to take this internationally, We can actually expand this and put a stop to this [police brutality.] Or if not stop it, slow it down significantly,” as he predicts the future of the new mobile app and company.

This is indeed a step in the right direction. Measures must certainly be taken by Black people to solve their own problem since the country doesn’t care. We recommend Njie and Davis for this innovative way to expose the racism and barbarism in the law enforcement.

Source: Atlanta Black Star

Ensure to visit this page for all exclusive news and updates. Kindly SHARE this article on any social media of your choice.]]></content:encoded>
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			<title>#BankBlack Movement: Industrial Bank Earns $2.7 Million In New Deposit</title>
			<link>https://blackmattersus.com/14639-bankblack-movement-industrial-bank-earns-2-7-million-in-new-deposit</link>
			<comments>https://blackmattersus.com/14639-bankblack-movement-industrial-bank-earns-2-7-million-in-new-deposit#comments</comments>
			<image>https://blackmattersus.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/industrial-bank.jpg</image>
			<enclosure url="https://blackmattersus.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/industrial-bank.jpg" type="image/jpg"/>
			<pubDate>Sat, 27 Aug 2016 20:08:01 -0400</pubDate>
			<dc:creator><![CDATA[Tylissa Hide]]></dc:creator>
			<category>Activism</category>
			<description><![CDATA[“At this critical time, we believe that we must band together and leverage our resources to support African-American banks that are more inclined to lend to small businesses in our communities,” Waikinya Clanton, spokesperson for #DivertToInvest movement told the Black financial website.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[Yet another Black-owned bank, Industrial Bank has seen an unprecedented rise in its deposits following the call on Black people to patronize banks owned by Black people. The Washington D.C based bank saw an influx of about 1500 new customers which made a total deposit of $2.7 million.

Industrial bank shared the success story with the world on its twitter page. It wrote “This will have a HUGE impact in our community! Thanks for choosing Industrial &amp;amp; for inspiring others to do the same!”

According to the Black Enterprise, the increase in the bank’s customer base was as a result of the efforts of the activist who initiated the # DivestToInvest in D.C. this move motivated Black-Americans to assist banks owned by Black people.

The spokesperson of the movement, Waikinya Clanton speaking to the Black financial website said; “At this critical time, we believe that we must band together and leverage our resources to support African-American banks that are more inclined to lend to small businesses in our communities.”

Clanton’s call seems to back the national call on all Blacks to patronize Black-owned banks. In the past few months, some Black celebrities have heeded to the call and moved their accounts to some Black-owned banks. According to the Atlanta black Star, Solange Knowles moved her income to a Black bank in July.

This milestone achieved by the Industrial Bank followed united Bank’s $10 million transfers in less than four weeks.

Teri Williams, OneUnited president and the chief operating officer explained the #BankBlack movement by saying; “is about more than us moving our money, It is about us moving our minds or just sort of opening up our minds to appreciating the power of our $1.2 trillion in spending power.”

This is a highly recommendable act by the Black community. It is obvious that the country is in no position to support them but yet wants to benefit from them. It is a step in the right direction for Black people to empower each other. We are proud that Black people have a possibility to promote their own. So, we should invest more in those institutions which we can trust. This will perk up our households’ economy.

Source: Atlanta Black Star

Ensure to visit this page for all exclusive news and updates. Kindly SHARE this article on any social media of your choice.]]></content:encoded>
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				<item>
			<title>Virginia School District Punishes More Black Students Than Whites: Complaint Reveals</title>
			<link>https://blackmattersus.com/14632-virginia-school-district-punishes-more-black-students-than-whites-complaint-reveals</link>
			<comments>https://blackmattersus.com/14632-virginia-school-district-punishes-more-black-students-than-whites-complaint-reveals#comments</comments>
			<image>https://blackmattersus.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/kenston.jpg</image>
			<enclosure url="https://blackmattersus.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/kenston.jpg" type="image/jpg"/>
			<pubDate>Sat, 27 Aug 2016 17:36:17 -0400</pubDate>
			<dc:creator><![CDATA[Aaron Lewis]]></dc:creator>
			<category>Racism</category>
			<description><![CDATA[“These disparities cannot be explained by differences in student behavior,” attorney with the Legal Aid Justice Center, Rachael Deane states.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[A complaint filed on behalf of two Black students to the Department of Education brought to light the harsh punishments unleashed on Black students and students with disabilities by school authorities of the Richmond, Virginia’s School District.

The allegation leveled against the school was brought to the notice of the U.S Department of Education on Wednesday by two Black students and NAACP, Richmond branch. Some statistics disclosed by the complaint shows that African-American students constitute approximately 76% of the school’s population. Yet, 93% of all short-term suspensions are received by Black students. They also make up 98% of long-term suspension and 97% of expulsion cases.

Furthermore, the complaint said that Black students with disabilities are 13 times more likely to be suspended from school than their white counterparts.

Rachael Deane, an attorney with the Legal Aid Justice Center addressing the disturbing issue said, “These disparities cannot be explained by differences in student behavior.” She also stated that “Rather, there is overwhelming evidence that the school division’s discipline policies are excessively punitive and lack clear standards for application, leading to subjective interpretation and selective enforcement.”

The Richmond Public School has a total population of about 24,000 students. In the meanwhile, a spokeswoman for the school has pledged the district’s support with the Civil Rights office to tackle the issue.

Lynetta Thompson, president of NAACP Richmond branch entreated the school to urgently solve this issue in a statement. He said, “The school division must conduct an unflinching examination of these disparities and adopt strategies to improve school climate and ensure that discipline policies are fair for all students.”

Racial discrimination has seemed to eat deep into the core of the American system. Not even the little children are spared from this nightmare of racial segregation. Black people seem to be the target for oppression in every sector. They are purposefully put through very challenging circumstances just to ensure that nothing good comes out of them. The Black people need a system of their own. A system they can identify with, which will develop their potentials rather than thwarting them; a system which is void of racial segregation.

Source: Time

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&amp;nbsp;]]></content:encoded>
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			<title>Monique W. Morris: Lives And Experiences Of African American Girls</title>
			<link>https://blackmattersus.com/14562-monique-w-morris-lives-and-experiences-of-african-american-girls</link>
			<comments>https://blackmattersus.com/14562-monique-w-morris-lives-and-experiences-of-african-american-girls#comments</comments>
			<image>https://blackmattersus.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/race-girls-5599805bc52a9c8b.jpg</image>
			<enclosure url="https://blackmattersus.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/race-girls-5599805bc52a9c8b.jpg" type="image/jpg"/>
			<pubDate>Sat, 27 Aug 2016 08:49:48 -0400</pubDate>
			<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jake Dubois]]></dc:creator>
			<category>Your Voices</category>
			<description><![CDATA[An Interview with an author and social justice scholar, Monique W. Morris, on shocking statistics covered in her book about the criminalization of Black girls in American schools.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[Statistics have shown that 38% of Black girls fail to graduate on time, if at all. According to a separate research, one out of every ten Black girls is suspended from school. Although boys make up about two-thirds of suspensions, African American girls are more likely to be suspended than all other girls, White Boys, Hispanic boys, and Asian boys. Why such an alarming rate?

Monique W. Morris, a social justice scholar who extensively covers juvenile justice relating specifically to Black girls uncovered that this is partly due to the criminalization of Black girls in schools. Her book, Pushout: The Criminalization of Black Girls in Schools, is an extensive work containing over 2 decades’ research on the topic. Today she discloses to us what she thinks is the cause of the trend, her take on the discriminatory treatment of Black girls is schools and what she thinks can be done as a country, in our communities and as parents to curb this unacceptable trend.]]></content:encoded>
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			<title>Black Man Released After 25 Years Behind Bars For Nothing</title>
			<link>https://blackmattersus.com/14623-black-man-released-after-25-years-behind-bars-for-nothing</link>
			<comments>https://blackmattersus.com/14623-black-man-released-after-25-years-behind-bars-for-nothing#comments</comments>
			<image>https://blackmattersus.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/freeman-1.jpg</image>
			<enclosure url="https://blackmattersus.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/freeman-1.jpg" type="image/jpg"/>
			<pubDate>Sat, 27 Aug 2016 00:45:13 -0400</pubDate>
			<dc:creator><![CDATA[Ken Patterson]]></dc:creator>
			<category>Police Brutality</category>
			<description><![CDATA[25 years for rape, murder, and burglary for a man who didn’t commit any of those crimes]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[Philadelphia is a place poisoned by police misconduct for so many years. That is the reason why they didn’t immediately release an innocent man even after it was cleared that he spent 25 years in prison for crimes he wasn’t guilty of.

Two homicide cops came into Anthony Wright’s house and informed him that there had been a murder in the neighborhood and if he wouldn’t mind to come and help them with some information. Wright didn’t ask about any details, he just went with the officers not knowing that he was a suspect. A few hours after, he signed a full confession to the rape, murder, and robbery of Louise Talley. The only thing wrong about the confession is that not a word in it was true.

After twenty-five-years had passed and after multiple DNA tests and defense motions, it turned out that the man who committed the crime was another person. How come? Well, the story goes back to the day Tony signed the “confession”. The cops didn’t ask him any questions in that room, notwithstanding the fact that Wright had an alibi and witnesses with whom he was working on that day, but detective Manuel Santiago didn’t write that in the report. Instead, the detectives came in, handcuffed him and made threats to ‘skullf**k’ him and pull his eyes out if he didn’t sign the papers.

“We are extremely relieved that this very long nightmare is finally over for Mr. Wright and his family,” Innocence Project co-director Peter Neufeld said in a statement. When Anthony met with the reporters he talked little about the case and regretted all the time he spent in vain seeing now that all his loved ones had aged a lot during his sentence.

Recently, more and more cases like this are being revealed to the public showing that we can believe less in the law enforcement. Police seem to abuse their power in every way they want, not caring about the broken lives they leave behind. This racist system needs to go.

Ensure to visit this page for all exclusive news and updates. Kindly SHARE this article on any social media of your choice.
Source: Rolling Stone]]></content:encoded>
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			<title>Abolitionists Believe Getting Rid Of The Police Would Be Great</title>
			<link>https://blackmattersus.com/14621-abolitionists-believe-getting-rid-of-the-police-would-be-great</link>
			<comments>https://blackmattersus.com/14621-abolitionists-believe-getting-rid-of-the-police-would-be-great#comments</comments>
			<image>https://blackmattersus.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/COOK-2.jpg</image>
			<enclosure url="https://blackmattersus.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/COOK-2.jpg" type="image/jpg"/>
			<pubDate>Sat, 27 Aug 2016 00:43:03 -0400</pubDate>
			<dc:creator><![CDATA[Tylissa Hide]]></dc:creator>
			<category>Activism</category>
			<description><![CDATA[“Our police isn’t working – we need to replace it with something new. It’s more than a repair. We need something new,” Activist Jessica Disu said.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[Activist, Jessica Disu, never saw herself as a police abolitionist, until the moment she was on Fox News on July 11 talking about the recent shooting of Philando Castile, Alton Sterling and several Dallas cops. She was joined by Megyn Kelly and 29 other people. &quot;I was under the impression that it would be a robust and productive conversation, even though it was Fox News,&quot; Disu said. The conversation they were having soon turned into a rough one, as someone talked about the BLM movement saying they were the cause of the death of the Dallas cops. Disu responded to the statement saying, &quot;We need to abolish the police. Demilitarize the police, disarm the police,&quot; &quot;We need to come up with community solutions for transformative justice.&quot;

After the killing of Paul O’Neal on July 28, calls were made to the CPD headquarters for the abolition of police by some young people. A feminist group called ‘Assata’s Daughters’ also organized a march for police abolition, in the wake of Michael Brown’s death and hundreds of supporters joined the march.

Mariame Kaba, a feminist and activist, stated that abolition could be divided in two ways, the complete and utter dismantling of surveillance, policing and prison in their present existence in our culture and the building up of new ways of relating to one another. &quot;I had this notion of trying to create an explicitly abolitionist organization that would test that idea in a community setting,&quot; she explained. She went on to insist on the fact that the abolition is not about destruction and anarchy, but about building alternatives.

Kaba and other abolitionists claimed they aren’t trying to persuade people from calling the police when there is an emergency, but instead, the communities should gather regularly and discuss alternatives to calling the police, even if they aren’t in existence at the moment. They also pointed out that abolition is already being practiced on a larger scale than people imagine. &quot;People in Naperville are living abolition right now. The cops are not in their schools, they're not on every street corner.&quot; She added.

Tamar Manasseh, the founder of Mothers Against Senseless Killings (MASK), sets up barbecue every day for the past year on the corner of 75th and Stewart in Englewood, a place which has been rife with violence over the years, with the sole purpose of curbing violence in the neighborhood. She cooks and a lot of kids and adults come to eat. &quot;Nobody wants to come through here shooting if they see 50 kids outside waiting to eat dinner,&quot; Manasseh said. She has since been joined by other mothers as they commended her effort to stop violence in the neighborhood.

The city of Chicago has found itself in the middle of a growing movement that envisages a world without cops. Blacks have suffered from police brutality for many years without the Government making an effort to stop the heinous acts. We believe the police abolition would be a huge step in the right direction, as a reform is really needed in the law enforcement.

Ensure to visit this page for all exclusive news and updates. Kindly SHARE this article on any social media of your choice.
Source: Chicago Reader]]></content:encoded>
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			<title>Black Teen Shot At 16 Times By NYPD Officer</title>
			<link>https://blackmattersus.com/14616-black-teen-shot-at-16-times-by-nypd-officer</link>
			<comments>https://blackmattersus.com/14616-black-teen-shot-at-16-times-by-nypd-officer#comments</comments>
			<image>https://blackmattersus.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/keston-1.jpg</image>
			<enclosure url="https://blackmattersus.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/keston-1.jpg" type="image/jpg"/>
			<pubDate>Fri, 26 Aug 2016 22:22:45 -0400</pubDate>
			<dc:creator><![CDATA[Ken Patterson]]></dc:creator>
			<category>Police Brutality</category>
			<description><![CDATA[The Officer shot at the Black teen 16 times during a foot chase, even after the teen surrendered. Luckily, the boy survived.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[Surveillance footage of the shooting, which happened in 2013, surfaced recently. A Brooklyn teenager, Kenston Charles, who was shot at 16 times by NYPD police, was unarmed and yielding when police opened fire.

The shooting of the 15-year-old teen brought about the comparison with that of Tamir Rice after the video revealed the boy posed no threat to the cops. Charles was holding a BB gun before the foot chase, which resulted in Officer Jonathan Rivera shooting at the teen several times, but only hitting the target thrice.

In contrast to the case of Rice, the little boy who was shot and killed in Cleveland by police while in possession of a pellet gun in 2014, Charles was very lucky to survive.

Charles was shot twice in the buttocks while running and in the chest after raising his hand above his head in an attempt to surrender. “I put up my hands, they was still shooting,” Charles said in a sworn deposition. He also stated that he ran from the police because he feared for his life.

The Black teen was put in a medically-induced coma for three weeks and underwent surgery. In a Family Court, he later pleaded guilty to carrying a fake pistol.

After an internal police investigation, it was found that the officers acted appropriately. Even though Officer Rivera emptied the clip of his pistol, he never faced punishment over the shooting. But, after the availability of the footage, a Manhattan Federal Judge will now decide if Rivera used excessive force or not.

It takes a lot of heart to shoot at a teen 16 times, even though he wasn’t causing any form of threat to the officer. What was the officer trying to do? Create as many bullet holes in the boy’s body as he could? We hope the Judge gets to the bottom of this and the officer is appropriately punished, and this wouldn’t be one of those cases where the officer goes scot free.



Ensure to visit this page for all exclusive news and updates. Kindly SHARE this article on any social media of your choice.
Source: The free thought project]]></content:encoded>
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			<title>High School In Arizona Forbids Teen From Wearing BLM T-Shirt</title>
			<link>https://blackmattersus.com/14609-high-school-in-arizona-forbids-teen-from-wearing-blm-t-shirt</link>
			<comments>https://blackmattersus.com/14609-high-school-in-arizona-forbids-teen-from-wearing-blm-t-shirt#comments</comments>
			<image>https://blackmattersus.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Blives-1.jpg</image>
			<enclosure url="https://blackmattersus.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Blives-1.jpg" type="image/jpg"/>
			<pubDate>Fri, 26 Aug 2016 20:46:19 -0400</pubDate>
			<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jake Dubois]]></dc:creator>
			<category>Most Popular</category>
			<description><![CDATA[Buckeye Arizona high school banned teen from wearing a Black Lives Matter T-shirt but turned a blind eye on other kids that wore confederate flag shirts.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[Mariah Havard, a 15-year-old student, was told not to wear a BLM T-shirt on August 23, which was picture day in the school.

The sophomore student was banned by the school’s administrators from wearing the BLM T-shirt after they got a mysterious complaint. She was surprised as to why she was banned from wearing the T-shirt, because up until that moment, other students wore shirts with confederate flags  and white power on them, but nothing was said about it.

The 10th grader said, “I wasn’t able to wear the shirt anymore because somebody made a complaint, I was a little bit confused as to why I wouldn’t be able to wear something so meaningful to me.” She was told by the administrators that the shirt could disrupt the learning environment, as they also suddenly reckoned it violated the dress code.

Havard’s friend, Genesis Santoyo, decided to wear the BLM T-shirt in support of her friend. And she was also asked to take it off. Genesis spoke about the unfairness and double standard shown by the school authorities, as she stated that she saw students with ‘white power’ T-shirts, but no one said anything about it. Her argument prompted the school officials to also ban Confederate flag and white power outfits.

Double standards seem to be the norm in relation to Black people in the nation. It’s a terrible thing to get used to. We hope the school comes up with a better idea next time on how to prevent Black kids from flexing their rights, instead of the flimsy excuse claiming the shirt violates the dress code.

Ensure to visit this page for all exclusive news and updates. Kindly SHARE this article on any social media of your choice.

Source:Atlanta Black Star]]></content:encoded>
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			<title>Tension Between Black Community And Police Lingers On</title>
			<link>https://blackmattersus.com/14600-tension-between-black-community-and-police-lingers-on</link>
			<comments>https://blackmattersus.com/14600-tension-between-black-community-and-police-lingers-on#comments</comments>
			<image>https://blackmattersus.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/slaves-1-1.jpg</image>
			<enclosure url="https://blackmattersus.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/slaves-1-1.jpg" type="image/jpg"/>
			<pubDate>Fri, 26 Aug 2016 19:12:45 -0400</pubDate>
			<dc:creator><![CDATA[Tylissa Hide]]></dc:creator>
			<category>Activism</category>
			<description><![CDATA[As the summer of 2016 comes to an end, cases of police brutality on Blacks take the limelight just as the previous two years.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[The recent unrests in our nation began in Ferguson, Missouri, after the shooting of Michael Brown in 2014; the following year, it was in Baltimore and the latest city to explode in protests is Milwaukee. Police brutality has been rife in some of the most racially segregated and poverty-stricken neighborhoods in the nation. And that has brought about several cases of turmoil and unrest, as the Black community has shown outrage towards the law enforcement.

Similar death case was witnessed in Milwaukee which erupted in serious confrontations between the local Black inhabitants and the police. That very incident led to the burning of cars, a gas station and even the looting of stores. We believe that the civic rights of African-Americans have been fully neglected.

In a society where 44 percent of the inhabitants are African-Americans, the Baltimore report revealed the ‘cunning method’ of racial profiling, harassment and drug arrests against Blacks by the Police Department of Milwaukee.

The list of ‘intentional murder’ of Blacks by cops goes on and on. But the issue is that street killing is on the increase in the United States. And it is disheartening that the killings only affect the African-Americans, most of who were killed innocently.

Till when will this intentional inhuman act of the cops stop? Why have Blacks the target over the years under review? These and many other questions baffle the minds of many people of color but go unanswered. But until the rights of Blacks are respected to the fullest, we will never stop protesting. And we will stay on the streets until our desires as Black community are granted.

Follow this link to check on our upcoming event about Ezzel Ford. Don’t miss out: Ezzel Ford

Ensure to visit this page for all exclusive news and updates. Kindly SHARE this article on any social media of your choice.
Source: The Root]]></content:encoded>
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			<title>‘White Ownership’ Law Still Exists In Wealthy California Neighborhood</title>
			<link>https://blackmattersus.com/14592-white-ownership-law-still-exists-in-wealthy-california-neighborhood</link>
			<comments>https://blackmattersus.com/14592-white-ownership-law-still-exists-in-wealthy-california-neighborhood#comments</comments>
			<image>https://blackmattersus.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/slaves-1.jpg</image>
			<enclosure url="https://blackmattersus.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/slaves-1.jpg" type="image/jpg"/>
			<pubDate>Fri, 26 Aug 2016 16:29:22 -0400</pubDate>
			<dc:creator><![CDATA[Aaron Lewis]]></dc:creator>
			<category>Racism</category>
			<description><![CDATA[The prohibition of people of color from owning homes is still in play in a wealthy El Dorado Hills neighborhood in California.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[An inhabitant of Lakehills Estates has voiced his concern about the racist rule, which prevents ‘non whites’ to own a home in the neighborhood. The rule was abolished twenty years ago, but some neighborhoods still enforce it.

The rule reads: “No person except those of the white Caucasian race shall use, occupy or reside upon any residential lot or plot, in this subdivision, except when employed as a servant or domestic in the household of a White Caucasian tenant or owner.”The homeowner’s association has not eliminated this rule, even though it is now illegal to have such restrictions. Homeowner Cameron Foster found the 1959 clause in the agreement and conditions of the home he just moved into.

“We had just moved in and our realtor told us that the CC&amp;amp;R had a racial clause that said you couldn’t live here unless you were Caucasian,” Foster tells reporters in the news clip. “I just don’t think in this day and age that’s how things should be. And I just want to set that stage for the world that my kids are going to grow up I,” he said.

Foster is preparing to put the situation to a vote after collecting the signatures of all 300 inhabitants in the neighborhood. This is quite shocking, even though this rule was banned by the Government two decades ago, it still exists. Can you imagine that the state of Mississippi only submitted the required documentation to ratify the 13th Amendment 3 years ago? So then, racism was officially abolished in the state on February 7, 2013.

Ensure to visit this page for all exclusive news and updates. Kindly SHARE this article on any social media of your choice.
Source: Atlanta Black Star]]></content:encoded>
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			<title>Inspiring: Why I Became BLM Activist</title>
			<link>https://blackmattersus.com/14550-inspiring-interview-why-i-became-blm-activist</link>
			<comments>https://blackmattersus.com/14550-inspiring-interview-why-i-became-blm-activist#comments</comments>
			<image>https://blackmattersus.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/d1.jpg</image>
			<enclosure url="https://blackmattersus.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/d1.jpg" type="image/jpg"/>
			<pubDate>Fri, 26 Aug 2016 07:09:11 -0400</pubDate>
			<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jake Dubois]]></dc:creator>
			<category>Your Voices</category>
			<description><![CDATA[Daquan Scarborough, a passionate Black Lives Matter activist from Darlington, North Carolina, talks to us about his experience and his personal activism.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[There are different reasons why people become activists advocating for the rights of Black people. Some activists have experienced brutality, some have lost their loved ones, some can't stand seeing the conditions their people live in. But all of them are noble and brave people dreaming to help the Black community and every other repressed group of people.

Daquan Scarborough, a Black Lives Matter activist from Darlington, North Carolina, talks to us today about the reasons why he chose this path, what in his opinion needs to be done to curb the issue of police brutality, and  entreats everyone who’s not indifferent to injustice to join the cause.]]></content:encoded>
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			<title>New York Cop Fined $1000 After Committing Series Of Crimes</title>
			<link>https://blackmattersus.com/14541-new-york-cop-fined-1000-after-committing-series-of-crimes</link>
			<comments>https://blackmattersus.com/14541-new-york-cop-fined-1000-after-committing-series-of-crimes#comments</comments>
			<image>https://blackmattersus.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/crash-1.jpg</image>
			<enclosure url="https://blackmattersus.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/crash-1.jpg" type="image/jpg"/>
			<pubDate>Thu, 25 Aug 2016 23:12:54 -0400</pubDate>
			<dc:creator><![CDATA[Ken Patterson]]></dc:creator>
			<category>Police Brutality</category>
			<description><![CDATA[Nicholas P. Kozak stole a car, committed DUI, crashed the car and is given a $1000 fine]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[On St. Patrick’s Day, a Kingston NY police officer, Nicholas P. Kozak, stole a car, crashed it into a highway, completely damaged the car and then ran away from the scene of the accident. He was later apprehended while he was hiding at a nearby home’s courtyard. He was charged with felony possession of property, DUI and fleeing an accident scene.

He is in a lot of trouble, that’s what would cross your mind after seeing the crimes the cop committed. However, Kozak received a generous discount in his punishment as he was fined $1000. That’s the punishment he got, not considering how dangerous, unlawful and morally wrong his transgressions were. He was even allowed to plead a misdemeanor DUI charge by Ulster Assistant District Attorney Margo Hanstein.

Kozak, who was off duty on the day of the incident, was suspended for 30 days without pay after the days passed; he remained suspended for a few weeks, but started receiving his pay.

The officer’s punishment comprised of a $1000 fine, he was ordered to attend a victims’ impact panel and was commanded to install an ignition interlock device on his car for one year.

Kozak's attorney, Kevin Harp said: “He paid restitution to the owner of the vehicle to cover all out of pocket expenses not covered by insurance,” Harp said of Kozak. He said paying the $2,470.25 in restitution was required of Kozak as part of a plea deal.

Nicholas Kozak stole a car, got drunk, was charged with DUI, crashed the car, then ran away from the scene of the accident and was found after that in someone's courtyard. If that was another person he would have been incarcerated already, not to talk of what would have happened if he was Black. However, he got fine of $1000, notwithstanding the fact that he violated so many rules. And why is that? Is it because he is a police officer? I’ll leave you to figure that out.

Ensure to visit this page for all exclusive news and updates. Kindly SHARE this article on any social media of your choice.

Source: New York CopBlock]]></content:encoded>
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			<title>Police Officer Who Killed Philando Castile Suspended Again After Returning To Work</title>
			<link>https://blackmattersus.com/14536-police-officer-who-killed-philando-castile-suspended-again-after-he-returned-to-work</link>
			<comments>https://blackmattersus.com/14536-police-officer-who-killed-philando-castile-suspended-again-after-he-returned-to-work#comments</comments>
			<image>https://blackmattersus.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/phil-1.jpg</image>
			<enclosure url="https://blackmattersus.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/phil-1.jpg" type="image/jpg"/>
			<pubDate>Thu, 25 Aug 2016 22:40:39 -0400</pubDate>
			<dc:creator><![CDATA[Ken Patterson]]></dc:creator>
			<category>Police Brutality</category>
			<description><![CDATA[Following public resentment, Jeronimo Yanez was suspended again after he was allowed to return to work last week.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[A police officer, Jeronimo Yanez, who is responsible for Philando Castile’s death, was put back to work last week, but as it was met with protests, dissent, and anger from the public, he then was placed back on paid administrative leave earlier this week.

The City released the subsequent statement: “The City of St. Anthony has changed Officer Jeronimo Yanez’s status with the city’s police department. He will now return to administrative leave. The decision to change Officer Yanez’s status was made after reviewing concerns and other feedback from the community. Out of respect to the sensitive nature of the tragic incident and the concerns from the community, the Mayor, City Council and City Manager have decided to make this change. Officer Yanez’s status with the department will be reviewed when the investigation process related to the incident is complete.”

The death of Philando Castile brought about massive protests in the country. Activists requested an independent prosecutor on the case to decide if the officer is going to be criminally charged or not. But, County attorney John Choi has since declined the request. However, Choi’s office hired a private attorney who would act as a special prosecutor to determine whether Yanez will be criminally charged or the case would be handed over to a grand jury to take a decision.

Police Chief Jon Mangseth has remained tight-lipped concerning the details of the shooting, but he went out of his way last week to praise officer Yanez. “He has a real sound ability when it comes to communicating and relating to people,” Mangseth said. “He showed me that he could shine in that public eye. He’s concerned for his future and for his family; this has put him and his family front and center in our metro area, not to mention the nation.”

After killing a Black man in cold blood, the police chief goes ahead to praise the killer cop by saying he has sound ability in communicating and relating to people. Isn’t that just great? Well, I guess killing an innocent Black man shows ‘sound ability to communicate’. It’s absolutely repulsive to see that an officer, who murdered a Black man, was brought back to work, and after the outrage from the public was put back on paid leave. What would it take for him to be dismissed? Instead of going on a paid leave. We hope justice is served at the end of the investigation and the officer is rightly punished.

Ensure to visit this page for all exclusive news and updates. Kindly SHARE this article on any social media of your choice.
Source: The Freethoughtproject]]></content:encoded>
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			<title>Almost All Drug Dealers In Maine Are Black Or Hispanic: Maine Gov. Says</title>
			<link>https://blackmattersus.com/14529-almost-all-drug-dealers-in-maine-are-black-or-hispanic-maine-gov-says</link>
			<comments>https://blackmattersus.com/14529-almost-all-drug-dealers-in-maine-are-black-or-hispanic-maine-gov-says#comments</comments>
			<image>https://blackmattersus.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/lepage-1.jpg</image>
			<enclosure url="https://blackmattersus.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/lepage-1.jpg" type="image/jpg"/>
			<pubDate>Thu, 25 Aug 2016 21:54:02 -0400</pubDate>
			<dc:creator><![CDATA[Aaron Lewis]]></dc:creator>
			<category>Racism</category>
			<description><![CDATA[“Load up and get rid of the drug dealers. Because, folks, they’re killing our kids,” he said in January]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[Maine Gov. Paul LePage, a staunch supporter of the War on Drugs who previously egged licensed gun owners on to kill drug dealers, is now making racist assumptions about the race of the drug dealers. Recently, during a town hall meeting in North Berwick, LePage claimed that Hispanics and Blacks are guilty of the circulation of drugs in the state and must be stopped.

LePage was asked about his stance on out-of-state drug dealers, who he pointed fingers at for impregnating young white girls and described them as “D-Money, Shifty, Smoothie,” in the past. He responded saying he had been keeping an eye on drug dealers and the majority of them are Hispanics and Blacks.

“I don’t ask them to come to Maine to sell their poison, but they come,” he said. “And I will tell you, that 90 percent-plus of those pictures in my book — and it’s a three-ring binder — are black and Hispanic people from Waterbury, Connecticut, the Bronx and Brooklyn,” he added.

He later stated that he isn’t a racist and he doesn’t promote racism. But statements he made in the past speak for themselves, whereas he urged licensed gun owners to load up their guns and kill the drug dealers. He’s known to be a stern supporter of the War on Drugs, but he only targets Blacks and Hispanics.

Numbers prove that the drug dealers in the nation are mostly whites, but people of color are more liable to be caught and prosecuted. White people make up 95% of the population in Maine, where drug arrests have shot up in recent times. But investigators found that arrest discrepancies along racial lines are desolate in the state.

The facts and data cannot lie, but it is quite vile of a Governor to speak in such manner. He practically told gun owners to kill people of color because he believed they are the drug dealers in the state, while numbers prove otherwise. It’s demeaning and the racial injustice in this nation has to stop.

Ensure to visit this page for all exclusive news and updates. Kindly SHARE this article on any social media of your choice.
Source: ThinkProgress]]></content:encoded>
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			<title>'Black Guns Matter’: Black Gun Rights Activist Starts His New Group</title>
			<link>https://blackmattersus.com/14520-black-guns-matter-black-gun-rights-activist-starts-his-new-group</link>
			<comments>https://blackmattersus.com/14520-black-guns-matter-black-gun-rights-activist-starts-his-new-group#comments</comments>
			<image>https://blackmattersus.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Maj-1.jpg</image>
			<enclosure url="https://blackmattersus.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Maj-1.jpg" type="image/jpg"/>
			<pubDate>Thu, 25 Aug 2016 20:06:51 -0400</pubDate>
			<dc:creator><![CDATA[Tylissa Hide]]></dc:creator>
			<category>Activism</category>
			<description><![CDATA[Maj Toure looks to enlighten his fellow Black citizens on the significance of the second amendment and gun ownership]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[The launch of Black Guns Matter (BGM) began with a planned 13-city tour, with related events in cities like Baltimore and Chicago with high numbers in cases concerning gun violence, where he believes gun training could bring about change.

Maj Toure stated that there’s so much ignorance around the Second Amendment, mainly in the ‘hood’. The thought of the general public is that, if you have a firearm, then you are a horrible person. But possessing a gun and being a conscientious gun owner shows qualities of a good citizen. “You can protect against negative portions of the community and law enforcement. Anybody not trying to do the right thing is a tyrant or a terrorist, for lack of a better term. We created something that would address that, as opposed to complaining about it,” he said.

Toure believes that the important thing about owning a firearm is the safety and good training around it. Understanding what your rights are is also as important. We all have constitutional rights and amendments, but if you have got nothing to defend yourself from a person trying to infringe on those rights, then it doesn’t make sense having them in the first place.

The activist was quizzed if BGM has an affiliation with BLM, he responded saying they are totally separate organizations and they also serve different purposes. He went on to explain that BLM has given a name to their movement in the struggle to fight against things that have been happening in the country for a very long time. “What we can do at BGM is offer any strategic advice or just do things we know helps. We aren’t really about marching. We’re more about getting in, informing the people, training the people and getting them to stand on their own,” he added.

Looking at the history of the Black-American community, we can spot the connection between the rights Blacks had on weapons and their rights on every other thing. Based on this, we can say that the equality of citizens in the U.S.A. can only be guaranteed by the 2nd amendment in its original form.

Ensure to visit this page for all exclusive news and updates. Kindly SHARE this article on any social media of your choice.

Source: Breitbart]]></content:encoded>
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			<title>Leslie Jones’ Nude Photos And Personal Info Revealed After Her Website Hacked</title>
			<link>https://blackmattersus.com/14511-leslie-jones-nude-photos-and-personal-info-revealed-after-her-website-was-hacked</link>
			<comments>https://blackmattersus.com/14511-leslie-jones-nude-photos-and-personal-info-revealed-after-her-website-was-hacked#comments</comments>
			<image>https://blackmattersus.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/les-1.jpg</image>
			<enclosure url="https://blackmattersus.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/les-1.jpg" type="image/jpg"/>
			<pubDate>Thu, 25 Aug 2016 17:44:32 -0400</pubDate>
			<dc:creator><![CDATA[Aaron Lewis]]></dc:creator>
			<category>Racism</category>
			<description><![CDATA[Racist and humiliating photos were posted on her website]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[Leslie Jones’ website was hacked just weeks after she was harassed by a gang of trolls on Twitter. The “Ghostbusters” star’s nude photos leaked and images of her passport and driver’s license were posted too. The hacker proceeded to post a video of Harambe, the gorilla who was killed at a Cincinnati Zoo earlier this summer, at the top of her website.

The racist and overt content is the latest attack on the 48-year-old comedienne, who was attacked with a hateful tirade from internet trolls last month. The trolls went on to make comments comparing her to a gorilla.

The African-American actress' role as Patty Tolan in “Ghostbusters,” apparently wasn’t liked by the trolls, as they made racist and sexist remarks to her on Twitter, which prompted her to quit Twitter for a short period of time. “I leave Twitter tonight with tears and a very sad heart,” she wrote “All this cause I did a movie. You can hate the movie but the s**t I got today… wrong.”

After the horrendous incident, she had a meeting with Twitter executives to have a discussion about ways to avoid trolls and abusive users from churning out hate on the social network. “They helped me out. We got a whole bunch of accounts taken off on Twitter,” she said. She got back on Twitter and posted “Hate speech and freedom of speech, two different things.”

It is absolutely terrible to see that even Black celebrities aren’t immune to racism and hatred. We wholeheartedly sympathize with Leslie Jones and hope the person or people responsible for this vile behavior are caught and appropriately punished. We wish her more success in her career, as she continues to soar higher in the movie industry.

Ensure to visit this page for all exclusive news and updates. Kindly SHARE this article on any social media of your choice.
Source: Daily News]]></content:encoded>
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				<item>
			<title>Pen Letter To Family: This Neighborhood Needs No Blacks</title>
			<link>https://blackmattersus.com/14504-racist-neighbors-pen-letter-to-family-this-neighborhood-needs-no-blacks</link>
			<comments>https://blackmattersus.com/14504-racist-neighbors-pen-letter-to-family-this-neighborhood-needs-no-blacks#comments</comments>
			<image>https://blackmattersus.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/bi-2.jpg</image>
			<enclosure url="https://blackmattersus.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/bi-2.jpg" type="image/jpg"/>
			<pubDate>Thu, 25 Aug 2016 16:22:51 -0400</pubDate>
			<dc:creator><![CDATA[Aaron Lewis]]></dc:creator>
			<category>Racism</category>
			<description><![CDATA[ “This neighborhood doesn’t need any blacks,” the note read]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[A biracial family in Wichita, Kansas, was astonished when they got a mysterious letter from their neighbors who said the family was bringing disrespect to the neighborhood because they had black kids.

“We have noticed there are some black children at your residence,” the letter read. “Maybe you are running a daycare or these are your children. In either case, we have put our house for sale. This neighborhood does not need any blacks in it.”

“There is a reason for saying the other side of the tracks. That is where these people belong. You have done a great disrespect in this neighborhood by not thinking of your neighbors,” the racist neighbors added.



The family was stunned by the note and Nancy Wirths, the kids’ grandmother, hasn’t let the kids out of the house until they find out the person who sent the letter. “These are kids under the age of 10 where I and their parents are trying to raise them, you have to love everybody, be friends with everybody, It doesn’t matter if they’re brown, purple,” Wirths said.

This shows that racism extends to everyone, even kids that come from a biracial family. That’s absolutely horrible to see. The neighbors who wrote that letter should be really ashamed of themselves. We hope the perpetrators are caught and face disorderly conduct charges. If this family lived in a Black community, I bet they wouldn’t have experienced such a thing, because people there are not accustomed to judging people by the color of their skin.

Ensure to visit this page for all exclusive news and updates. Kindly SHARE this article on any social media of your choice.
Source: The Grio]]></content:encoded>
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			<title>Support Family of Terrance Kellom: Join Our Meetup</title>
			<link>https://blackmattersus.com/14490-support-family-of-terrance-kellom-join-our-meetup</link>
			<comments>https://blackmattersus.com/14490-support-family-of-terrance-kellom-join-our-meetup#comments</comments>
			<image>https://blackmattersus.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/tk1.jpg</image>
			<enclosure url="https://blackmattersus.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/tk1.jpg" type="image/jpg"/>
			<pubDate>Thu, 25 Aug 2016 08:46:57 -0400</pubDate>
			<dc:creator><![CDATA[Tylissa Hide]]></dc:creator>
			<category>Activism</category>
			<description><![CDATA[An event in loving memory of Terrance Kellom killed in front of his family by the ICE officer Mitchell Quinn.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[On April 28th, Terrance Kellom was fatally shot by police in front of his father at their home on Evergreen. No charges were filed against Mitchell Quinn, the ICE agent involved in the shooting.

His death is still a very hurtful memory for the family and especially for the father, Kevin Kellom. This is what his father, published on his facebook today:

&quot;My Son came home tonight, laying down watching TV, when suddenly my shower curtain falls to the floor, and if you been to my house, you know how my shower curtain is put up, Jumps up grab a (Sandwich)Lol, Go downstairs checking Shit Out, The WHOLE house, and NOTHING,Tee Tee your presence is ALWAYS welcomed HERE SON, I LOVE YOU AND BEEN AWAITING YOUR RETURN, next time bring you but home at a reasonable hour son, I've ALWAYS enjoyed your company.. I Need You Son So Bad, Life Seems So Empty Without You Tee Tee, Come On Home Son...&quot;

A while ago, Kevin talked to us and gave a vivid account of the events on that fateful day.

Terrance is not and shouldn't be forgotten. His family deserves justice. That\s why we are heaving this meetup in memory of Terrance Kellom.

We have a list of demands. And we will take actions if our demands are not met.



• We demand an independent investigation by DoJ into the Terrance Kellom case and additional DoJ investigation into other civil rights violations in Detroit.
• The immediate arrest and prosecution of US ICE agent Mitchell Quinn
• Wayne County prosecutor Kym Worthy to step down and special prosecutor to be appointed
• Detroit Police Chief James Craig to step down and Detroit Fugitive Apprehension Team task force to be disbanded
• Stop racial profiling by law enforcement
• Put an end to Police Militarization program (Pentagon’s Excess Property Program)



Brothers and sisters, come out to support the family!

The fight is not over. Bring signs, flowers, and candles with you.]]></content:encoded>
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				<item>
			<title>Sheyann Webb: Martin Luther King Jr.'s Smallest Freedom Fighter</title>
			<link>https://blackmattersus.com/14451-sheyann-webb-martin-luther-king-jr-s-smallest-freedom-fighter</link>
			<comments>https://blackmattersus.com/14451-sheyann-webb-martin-luther-king-jr-s-smallest-freedom-fighter#comments</comments>
			<image>https://blackmattersus.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/sh3.jpg</image>
			<enclosure url="https://blackmattersus.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/sh3.jpg" type="image/jpg"/>
			<pubDate>Thu, 25 Aug 2016 06:32:55 -0400</pubDate>
			<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jake Dubois]]></dc:creator>
			<category>Your Voices</category>
			<description><![CDATA[Sheyann Webb is the author of Selma, Lord, Selma, a book based on her own experiences as the youngest participant in the civil rights demonstration that became known as "Bloody Sunday."]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[She was just 8 years old when she took part in her first march, the Selma to Montgomery march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge on March 7, 1965, known as &quot;Bloody Sunday.&quot; She was brave, and in her own words, disobedient, but she was strong, and she told herself that nothing could stop her from playing her role in the fight for freedom for all African Americans. Not even her age! 

Sheyann Webb is our next guest on Your Voices, and today she gives us a firsthand account of her meetings with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the Selma Civil Rights Movement, and what she thinks has changed over 50 years after that struggle.]]></content:encoded>
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