Nikki Giovanni🌹Passes; Wes Bellamy to Lead Black Male Policy Summit; New Alexandria Police Chief; MeToo Attorney Ends Cuomo Lawsuit; Ghost Guns
🚩 15 days until Dec. 25 🎅🏽 Christmas + Hanukkah and 16 days until Kwanzaa
🚩 24 days until Jan. 3, 2025 the 119th Congress is sworn in.
🚩 29 days until the Virginia General Assembly convenes on Jan. 8, 2025.
🚩 41 days until the MLK Holiday on Jan. 20, 2025.
🚩 41 days until Inauguration Day on Jan. 20, 2025.
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New Alexandria Police Chief to be Sworn in Today
Tarrick McGuire, who was appointed be the new Chief of Police for the Alexandria Police Department in October, will be sworn in today at 5 p.m. Prior to winning the job in Alexandria, McGuire was an Assistant Chief in the Arlington, Texas Police Department. The former Alexandria Police Chief was Don Hayes.
Award Winning Writer, Activist and Longtime Virginia Tech Professor Nikki Giovanni Dies at 81
Acclaimed writer Nikki Giovanni 🌹 whose civil rights work, poetry and pointed activism won the attention of many, died yesterday. The famous writer was working on her last book of poetry, A Street Called Mulvaney, at the time of her death.
RELATED: The Collected Poetry of Nikki Giovanni: 1968-1998 (2007)
Giovanni was diagnosed with lung cancer in the 1990s. News of her death comes after her third diagnosis of cancer according to a statement by Renée Watson, a writer and friend of Giovanni’s.
Giovanni was born in 1943 in Knoxville, Tennessee, attended Fisk University and studied poetry at Columbia University. In 1968, Giovanni published two poetry collections, Black Feeling, Black Talk and Black Judgement. Giovanni would go on to write over 30 books, according to The Guardian.
RELATED: Love Poems Hardcover by Nikki Giovanni (1997)
Giovanni moved in the same literary and artistic circles as other top writer-activists at the time including James Baldwin, Thelonious Monk and Maya Angelou. Giovanni won the negative attention of the FBI who in the late 1960s was investigating many Black political influencers.
Giovanni taught English at Virginia Tech University from 1987 to 2022. In 2007, one of her former students, Seung-Hui Cho, murdered 32 people and wounded 17 others at Virginia Tech on April 16, 2007. The Virginia Tech massacre is the third deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history. Giovanni would later say that she asked the university to remove Seung-Hui Cho from her class in 2005, citing his behavior.
“Nikki Giovanni, the legendary poet, educator, and activist, has passed away at the age of 81, leaving behind a remarkable legacy that has profoundly shaped literature, education, and the fight for social justice,” wrote State Senator L. Louise Lucas after the news of Giovanni’s passing.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of the iconic Ms. Nikki Giovanni, a trailblazing poet and cultural leader who fearlessly spoke truth to power. At 81, she leaves behind an extraordinary legacy of artistry and activism that will inspire generations to come,” wrote the organization Black Girls Rock on social media.
Nikki Giovanni is survived by her spouse, Prof. Virginia Fowler, her son Thomas, and a granddaughter.
Suspect in United Healthcare CEO Murder May Have Used “Ghost Gun”
Luigi Mangione, 26, who was arrested yesterday in the shooting death of UnitedHealthCare CEO Brian Thompson, allegedly used a “ghost gun” to kill Thompson. A “ghost gun” is a firearm that is privately made and typically untraceable and lack serial numbers and are often assembled from parts that can be purchased separately or made using 3D printers. These factors make the guns difficult for law enforcement to track.
Below is an image provided by law enforcement of the weapon and a magazine found on Mangione according to police.
New York Police Department Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny told reporters on Dec. 9 that the gun they believe Mangione used was capable of discharging a 9 mm round and had a suppressor, more commonly referred to as a “silencer.” Whether the body of the gun and the silencer were both made on a 3D printer is unknown. NBC News is reporting that a law enforcement source informs them that the weapon in question believed to be used to kill Thompson “may have been made on a 3D printer."
Only 15 states regulate “ghost guns.” In Virginia, they are not regulated. The Majority Leader of the Virginia Senate noticed:
MeToo Attorney Linked with Accuser of LG Drops Federal Lawsuit Against Fmr. NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo
The office of attorney Debra Katz, who has been described by The Washington Post as “the feared attorney of the #MeToo movement,” announced yesterday that Katz’s client, Charlotte Bennett, has decided to drop her federal sexual harassment lawsuit against former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. The suit against Cuomo was filed in Sept. of 2022. Cuomo resigned from office on Aug. 24, 2021 but is reportedly considering a run for Mayor of New York this year.
According to Cuomo’s spokesperson, the legal action against Cuomo was abandoned a day before Katz’s client was to be deposed in the case and a pending discovery question regarding text messages and other communications from Katz’s client was before a federal judge.
"Ms. Bennett's decision to drop her baseless lawsuit should be viewed as a complete capitulation and a desperate attempt to avoid being confronted with the mountains of exculpatory discovery – including contemporaneous texts and videos that the AG’s office never obtained – that completely refute her claims against Governor Cuomo," read part of a Dec. 9 statement by Cuomo spokesman Richard Azzopardi.
In a statement yesterday, Katz defined Cuomo’s discovery requests as “astonishing” and that the number of requests were “invasive” and meant to “embarrass and humiliate” her client. According to a 2022 piece by media reporter Erik Wemple at The Washington Post, Katz’s client had been accused of filing a false claim of “non-consensual sexual contact” years before working for Cuomo while in college. Because of the lawsuit brought by Katz’s client, the state of New York was required to pay the then-Governor’s legal expenses which exceed $25 million.
In 2019, Katz was in the news in Virginia as the attorney for Vanessa Tyson, currently a professor at Scripps College, as she publicly accused Virginia’s Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax of a 2004 allegation that, given the timing, may have likely him from becoming Governor of Virginia. Though Tyson had no evidence or corroboration over 13 years from 2004 to late 2017, her story was published in full by The New York Times on Feb. 6, 2019. Tyson acknowledged to CBS in April 2019 she had no corroboration and told no one of an alleged 2004 MeToo incident in Boston when she was age 29.
The Washington Post had declined to publish Tyson’s claims in late 2017 after four months of involvement by then-WaPo features reporter Theresa Vargas (who wrote on her own MeToo story in Sept. 2018) in March 2018. Tyson went public with Katz as her attorney on Feb. 6, 2019 after Gov. Northam was hit with a scandal. Katz is known for her close media connections. SKDK, a Democratic PR firm was involved in the PR effort against Lt. Gov. Fairfax in 2019 as was joined by a second PR firm run by Karen Kessler based in New Jersey.
The allegation against Lt. Gov. Fairfax by Katz’s client (Tyson) was made public during a racism scandal enveloping Gov. Ralph Northam during the first week of Feb. 2019. Gov. Northam was pressured to resign from office until Tyson’s allegation diverted the news from Gov. Northam to Lt. Gov. Fairfax and was followed by Democrats in Virginia demanding Fairfax resign. Those resignation demands were kicked off by fmr. Gov. Terry McAuliffe on twitter, (now known as X).
Accuser Tyson attended the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University, the same program as another client of attorney Debra Katz: Christine Blasey Ford. Both Tyson and Ford live in California. Tyson has run for office twice and lost since making her 2019 allegations public. Tyson has a previous MeToo related allegation years before 2004.
In Sept. 2018, Ford accused Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of a sexual assault in Bethesda, Maryland during the summer of 1982, but Kavanaugh was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on Oct. 6, 2018. According to her social media, Tyson has been friends with Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney’s former senior advisor Thad Williamson since 2003. Williamson’s wife, Adria Scharf, urged Tyson to make her “story” public and contact “the local press TODAY” on Feb. 3, 2019 in a series of messages on the encrypted app SIGNAL as the scandal around Gov. Northam grew — along with calls for his resignation. Williamson is a professor at the University of Richmond and is part of the transition team for incoming Richmond Mayor Danny Avula.
RELATED: The FBI is Investigating a Potential Political Motivation Linked to the Justin Fairfax Allegations (July 2022)
In 2022, The Intercept and The Associated Press reported that the FBI had contacted at least three people related to the allegations on Lt. Gov. Fairfax with regard to “political motivations.” As quoted in The Washington Post on July 27, 2022, Katz said, “I have no idea why the FBI would investigate this when there is not one iota of evidence that either of the women came forward at the instigation of anyone else and for improper reasons.” The full scope of the FBI’s involvement is unknown. In the matter of Brett Kavanaugh, Katz requested an FBI investigation in 2018 and was critical of the limited scope of the FBI investigation as reported in July 2021.
In July 2005 and then again in July 2010, Justin Fairfax underwent and passed two FBI background checks before serving as a federal law clerk on a terrorism case and beginning work as a federal prosecutor.
During the storm of stories in early 2019, Fairfax stated on April 3, 2019 that he was contacting prosecutors to investigate. After that date, all parties disappeared. Though police investigations were requested by the fmr. Lt. Governor, no known police investigation has been conducted regarding the allegations that altered history in Virginia.
Jan. 4, 2025: Dr. Wes Bellamy Leads Inaugural Black Male Policy and Agenda Summit in Atlanta
Virginia State University Professor Wes Bellamy is leading a Black Male Policy and Agenda Summit in Atlanta in early January. With an increase in the unemployment rate, rising economic pressures and cases like the modern day lynching of Jordan Neely in the news there is a lot to discuss.
Below of the press announcement for the Black Male Policy and Agenda Summit which will take place in Atlanta on January 4.
A collective group of Black men from a multitude of backgrounds, experiences, and organizational affiliation are coming together to host the inaugural Black Male Policy and Agenda Summit in Atlanta, Georgia on Saturday, January 4, 2025.
The collective group of Black men believe that it is paramount that their voices are heard via clear policy objectives on the federal, state, and local level, which has led them to call this convening to develop not only their agenda items, but a collective sense of unity.
“In the wake of the 2025 presidential election, I believe that it is clear to see how valuable and powerful the Black male vote is. No matter where you stand in regard to the outcome of the previous election, our communities need us now more than ever. This policy and agenda summit will set the table for us specifically as it pertains to policy on the local, state, and federal level, and will allow Black men from a variety of backgrounds to mobilize with a clear and intentional plan,” said Dr. Wes Bellamy, National Public Policy Chairman of the 100 Black Men of America.
Organizers also believe that this policy summit has the ability to create a paradigm shift in the way in which Black men view politics. Gary Chambers of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, stated “This moment represents a new Reconstruction of America—a chance to rethink and rebuild systems that have historically left Black men behind. We need fresh ideas and bold strategies to ensure Black men are not just included but empowered to lead in shaping a more just and equitable future for everyone.”
“Black men have always been at the forefront of change in America, yet we remain among the most underserved and underrepresented in the corridors of power. This summit is a call to action—bringing together bold leaders, innovative thinkers, and community advocates to craft policies that meet the needs of Black men while empowering us to lead from the front. It’s time to move beyond conversations and into solutions that uplift our communities and honor our legacy of resilience and leadership.” – Reverend Jamal Bryant, New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, in Atlanta, Georgia.
Organizers of the summit, who also include, Until Freedom Co-Founders, Angelo Pinto, Reverend Stephen Green, and Mysonne Linen, have emphatically stated that this is a convening of Black men to ensure that our voices are heard, and our collective agenda is brought forth. Registration for the summit is now open to Black men from all 50 states. There is no cost to attend the summit, however, participants are responsible for their own accommodations. The summit will take place from 8:30 a.m. and conclude at 5:00 p.m.
To register for the summit, please click here. More details will be released after each Black man registers.
Dec. 15, 2024 Deadline : Apply to the Ella Baker Youth Leadership Program
State Senator Jennifer Carroll Foy’s office is accepting applications for The Ella Baker Youth Leadership Program - Click here to apply
Six Books of Note
1- Framed: Astonishing True Stories of Wrongful Convictions by John Grisham and Jim McCloskey (Oct. 2024)
2- When Mayor Doug Wilder Ruled Richmond: Strong-Arm Politics in Virginia's Capital City by Linwoood Norman (Aug. 2024)
3- Rumor, Repression, and Racial Politics: How the Harassment of Black Elected Officials Shaped Post-Civil Rights America (Since 1970: Histories of Contemporary America) by George Derek Musgrove
4- Son of Virginia, A Life in America's Political Arena (2015) by L. Douglas Wilder
5- The New Jim Crow (2010) by Michelle Alexander
6- Remaking Virginia Politics by Paul Goldman (Jan. 2022)
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