Expert Voices

House Democrats Write Letter to Biden and Blinken Urging Immediate Ceasefire in Gaza

As Israel continues its bombardment of Gaza following the October 7 attack by Hamas that killed about 1,200 people, including the taking of 240 hostages, a group of lawmakers wrote a letter to President Biden and Secretary Blinken on Wednesday expressing their concern about the escalating violence in the region. They site the growing civilian casualties writing, “the Israeli Defense Forces have killed over 11,078 Palestinians, nearly half of whom have been children.”

The two dozen members write that, “without an immediate cessation of hostilities and the establishment of a robust bilateral ceasefire, this war will lead to a further loss of civilian life and risk dragging the United States into dangerous and unwise conflict with armed groups across the Middle East. Further, we write urging clarity on your strategic objectives for achieving de-escalation and stability in the region.”

The letter calling for a ceasefire in Gaza was signed by the following Members of Congress:

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

Betty McCollum 

Mark Pocan 

Rashida Tlaib 

Cori Bush 

James P. McGovern 

Mary Gay Scanlon 

Raúl M. Grijalva

Pramila Jayapal 

Joaquin Castro 

Delia C. Ramirez

Henry C. “Hank” Johnson, Jr.

Greg Casar 

Jesús G. “Chuy” García 

Bonnie Watson Coleman 

Nydia M. Velázquez 

Ayanna Pressley

Jonathan L. Jackson 

Barbara Lee 

André Carson 

Jamaal Bowman, Ed.D. 

Summer Lee 

Veronica Escobar 

Ilhan Omar 

House Ethics Panel: George Santos Blatantly Stole From His Campaign

The House Ethics Committee released its report following an investigation of lying Rep. George Santos, (R-NY-3).

Santos could face more federal charges according to the 8 page summary of the committee’s months-long investigation into his conduct. The embattled Congressman is also accused of filing false or incomplete reports with the Federal Election Commission. And the committee found Santos committed more crimes than the 23 federal offenses he has been charged with. They submitted their findings to the justice department.

 

Statement of the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Committee on Ethics Regarding Representative George Santos

Nov 16, 2023 Press Release

Pursuant to House Rule XI Clause 3(q)(1), today the Chairman of the Committee on Ethics, Representative Michael Guest, and the Ranking Member, Representative Susan Wild, submitted a report to the House of Representatives in the Matter of Allegations Relating to Representative George Santos. The full Committee report includes the report of the Investigative Subcommittee (ISC) in this matter.

At the completion of its investigation, the ISC unanimously concluded that there was substantial evidence that Representative George Santos: knowingly caused his campaign committee to file false or incomplete reports with the Federal Election Commission; used campaign funds for personal purposes; engaged in fraudulent conduct in connection with RedStone Strategies LLC; and engaged in knowing and willful violations of the Ethics in Government Act as it relates to his Financial Disclosure (FD) Statements filed with the House. In light of the ongoing criminal investigation into Representative Santos, and the ISC’s findings of additional uncharged and unlawful conduct by Representative Santos, the ISC recommended that the Committee immediately refer these allegations to the Department of Justice.

The Committee has unanimously voted to adopt the ISC’s report, and with it, refer the substantial evidence of potential violations of federal criminal law to the Department of Justice for such further action as it deems appropriate. The Committee concurs with the ISC’s determination that Representative Santos’ conduct warrants public condemnation, is beneath the dignity of the office, and has brought severe discredit upon the House.

The Committee thanks the Committee staff and the Members of the Investigative Subcommittee for their hard work, dedication, and service to the Committee and to the House. Representative David P. Joyce served as Chair of the Investigative Subcommittee. Representative Susan Wild served as Ranking Democratic Member. Representative John H. Rutherford and Representative Glenn F. Ivey also served on the Subcommittee.

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Rep. George Santos statement on X:

If there was a single ounce of ETHICS in the “Ethics committee”, they would have not released this biased report. The Committee went to extraordinary lengths to smear myself and my legal team about me not being forthcoming (My legal bills suggest otherwise). It is a disgusting politicized smear that shows the depths of how low our federal government has sunk. Everyone who participated in this grave miscarriage of Justice should all be ashamed of themselves.

It is a disgusting politicized smear that shows the depths of how low our federal government has sunk. Everyone who participated in this grave miscarriage of Justice should all be ashamed of themselves. We the People desperately need an Article V Constitutional Convention. We are quickly approaching $34 trillion dollars in debt, the government is continuously on the verge of a shutdown, our southern border is wide open, our current President is the head of an influence peddling crime family, and all this Congress wants to do is attack their political enemies with tit for tat unconstitutional censures, impeachments, expulsions and ethics investigations.

THE TIME IS NOW FOR THE STATES TO RISE UP AND COMMENCE AN ARTICLE V CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION! I’ve come to expect vitriol like this from political opposition but not from the hallowed halls of public service. I will remain steadfast in fighting for my rights and for defending my name in the face of adversity. I am humbled yet again and reminded that I am human and I have flaws, but I will not stand by as I am stoned by those who have flaws themselves. I will continue on my mission to serve my constituents up until I am allowed. I will however NOT be seeking re-election for a second term in 2024 as my family deserves better than to be under the gun from the press all the time. Public service life was never a goal or a dream, but I stepped up to the occasion when I felt my country needed it most. I will 100% continue to maintain my commitment to my conservative values in my remaining time in Congress.

Escalation in Israel-Hamas Conflict: October 7, 2023

The ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict has once again escalated, leaving countless civilians dead and the international community deeply concerned about the growing humanitarian crisis. On October 7, 2023, the region witnessed a surprise attack by Hamas, a militant Islamic resistance movement, that caused a significant spike in violence, marking a disturbing chapter in this long-standing conflict. This article provides an overview of the events that transpired on that fateful day and the broader implications of this intensifying confrontation. The Israel-Hamas conflict is a protracted struggle that dates back several decades. Rooted in historical, territorial, and religious tensions, it has resulted in numerous clashes, wars, and ceasefires, all of which have left a lasting impact on the people living in the region.

October 7, 2023 – A Day of Escalation

On October 7, 2023, violence in the region escalated significantly. The day began with a series of rocket attacks launched by Hamas militants from the Gaza Strip into southern Israel. These rockets targeted civilian areas, posing a severe threat to the lives and security of Israeli citizens. In response, Israel initiated a swift and powerful counterattack, with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launching airstrikes on multiple Hamas positions in the Gaza Strip. The IDF’s disproportionate response was immediate, as they aimed to destroy the resistance groups’ infrastructure and minimize their ability to launch further attacks. As the day progressed, reports of casualties on both sides began to emerge. The situation rapidly deteriorated, and it became clear that this was one of the most serious escalations in violence seen in recent years. Making matters worse, is the western media and government’s response to the crisis in favor of Israel’s right to defend itself, inspite of the inhumane and unjust occupation of the region after WWII that led to the creation of the Jewish state.

“Palestinian territory – encompassing the Gaza Strip and West Bank, including East Jerusalem – has been illegally occupied by Israel since 1967. Since then, the Israeli government has established a two-tiered legal and political system that provides comprehensive rights for Jewish Israeli settlers while imposing military rule and control on Palestinians without any basic protections or rights under international law. The Israeli government has also engaged in a regular practice of inhumane acts, as well as extrajudicial killings, torture, denial of fundamental human rights, arbitrary detention and collective punishment. The UN Human Rights Council-mandated Commission of Inquiry (CoI) on the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), including East Jerusalem, and Israel concluded in June 2022 that continued occupation, as well as discrimination against Palestinians, are the key causes of recurrent instability and protraction of conflict in the region.” – R2P

An Israeli soldier patrol a street of Gaza on October 21, 1973, during the 1973 ArabñIsraeli War. On October 6, 1973, on the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur, an Arab military coalition led by Egypt and Syria launched a simultaneous surprise attack in the Sinai Peninsula and the Golan Heights, territories occupied by Israel since the 1967 ArabñIsraeli War. This war provoked the oil shock of 1973 and led to the opening of peace negotiations between Israel and Egypt, concluded by the Camp David agreement in 1978. (Photo by Gabriel DUVAL / AFP) Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur, an Arab military coalition led by Egypt and Syria launched a simultaneous surprise attack in the Sinai Peninsula and the Golan Heights, territory

Humanitarian Concerns

The Israel-Hamas conflict has always posed a significant humanitarian challenge. The renewed hostilities on October 7, 2023, only exacerbated these concerns. Civilians on both sides of the conflict found themselves in the crossfire, with innocent men, women, and children suffering the consequences of the violence. Hospitals in Gaza are being bombed and facing an influx of injured individuals, stretching their already limited resources. In Israel, residents of southern communities spent much of the day in bomb shelters, living in fear for their safety. The impact of these ongoing hostilities on mental health, particularly among children, is profound and deeply troubling. The disinformation and misinformation of the hospitals bombing in Gaza has also flared tensions across the globe. Israel has shut off water, electricity and other essential supplies and aid in Gaza, creating a greater humanitarian crisis and internationals calls to immediately cease fire and restore water and electricity, and to permit aid to reach civilians.

International Response

The international community has responded to the escalating conflict with growing alarm. Nations worldwide have called for an immediate ceasefire and urged all parties to exercise restraint. International organizations, such as the United Nations and the Organization of African Unity have expressed their concern and called for a diplomatic resolution to the crisis. Various actors, including US Secretary of State Antony Blinkenhave attempted to mediate and de-escalate the situation. Egypt, a historical mediator in the Israel-Hamas conflict, has been in contact with both parties, striving to broker a ceasefire. International envoys and diplomats have also been working tirelessly behind the scenes, aiming to find a path toward peace.

Implications for the Region

The escalating violence on October 7, 2023, underscores the complex and volatile nature of the Israel-Hamas conflict. As this situation unfolds, several key implications become apparent:

  1. Regional Destabilization: The ongoing conflict in the Middle East, especially between Israel and Hamas, has broader implications for regional stability. It can influence the dynamics of other conflicts in the region, including those involving neighboring countries.
  2. Impact on Civilians: The civilian population, on both sides, continues to bear the brunt of the violence. The physical and psychological toll on the people of Gaza and southern Israel remains a pressing concern.
  3. Stalled Peace Process: The conflict poses a significant obstacle to the peace process in the Middle East. A lasting resolution has been elusive, and these recurrent hostilities make it even more challenging to achieve a meaningful peace agreement, including a two state solution.

The events of October 7, 2023, in the Israel-Hamas conflict serve as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges in the region. The international community’s calls for a ceasefire and a peaceful resolution are critical, but history has shown that achieving lasting peace remains a complex and elusive goal. As the world watches the situation with growing concern, the hope remains that diplomatic efforts will ultimately lead to an end to the violence and a path toward a more stable and secure future for all those affected by this enduring conflict.

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Good Trouble In Prince George’s County, Maryland

Last year, 48% of Prince George’s County residents reported being food insecure, according to data from the Capital Area Food Bank’s Hunger Report. And the ministry of Iola and Keith Johnson who have a food pantry serving families and individuals who have fallen on hard times or are recently unemployed and need assistance to make ends meet, are bridging the gap despite all the noise surrounding their county.

With help from local business partners and farms, eager to help and even teach community members on food sustainability and farming, their ministry, Great Commission Change Of Life Ministries, provides food and other services to meet basic nutritional and other needs for those less fortunate.

Food pantry service is provided Thursdays from 10:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. If you’re in need please call (301)785-0661 for more information on all the services they provide. To learn more about the Good Trouble Pastor Iola and Overseer Keith Johnson are taking on, please listen to our interview below and if possible, join in the fight to bring about a better world for all people. 

ePa Live interview with Pastor Keith Johnson of Great Commission Change Of Life Ministries in Prince George’s County:

Serenading The Consciousness And Condition of Black People In America

Jason Aldeen’s song is missing the chorus his ancestors played

 

BY JEANETTE LENOIR

“The prejudice against us is not because of our color, it is because of our condition. If we must have justice, we must be strong. If we must be strong, we must come together. If we must come together we can only do so in the system of organization.” – Marcus Garvey

Country singer, Jason Aldeen took his anti-Black Klansmen spirit to the airwaves, and just like Trump’s call to “Make America Great Again,” majority of the nation is standing up to salute his dog whistle. Sadly, he lacks even the most basic knowledge of American history responsible for the sociological patterns, symptoms, Black condition and “inappropriate behavior patterns” or “the Rodney King syndrome” as described by Dr. Claud Anderson in full manifestation. Instead, he has chosen to express the privilege it is to be White in America, as those who were forced to build this nation under the brutality of chattel slavery are now “free” to enjoy some of its bounty … or flip the table like a scene from reality television. Let’s break down his small town views and ignorance feigning expression reminiscent of the Key & Peele skit titled, Country Music.

Try That In A Small Town

Sucker punch somebody on a sidewalk
Carjack an old lady at a red light
Pull a gun on the owner of a liquor store
Ya think it’s cool, well, act a fool if ya like

It’s true, we’ve seen numerous incidents of criminals wreaking havoc across the country. Our society is on full HD display thanks to our powerful media industry. Many of these images we see and read about show mostly Black people committing these types of crimes. And this strategic maneuver has been done deliberately by the media since the birth of this nation. What they won’t show or talk about? The sucker punches thrown at Black people trying to get an education, cast their vote, look for work, or the hounds they released to tare the flesh off of women and children, the poisoning of livestock, the swindling of their hard-earned pay, and the bombing of their little girls in a church.

Mourners outside funeral services for Carol Robertson, one of four girls killed in the 1963 bombing.

“By the time I was 10 or 12, I just wished to God I was white, you know, because they had food to eat, they didn’t work, they had money, they had nice homes. And we would nearly freeze, we never did have any food, we worked all the time and didn’t have nothing.”Fannie Lou Hamer

Mainstream media also fails to highlight the numerous incidents of carjacking of innocent Black people, even old ladies, who had managed to scrunch up enough money to pay-off a car they desperately needed to rebuild their families’ lives after emancipation and during the great depression. And there are numerous historic accounts of guns being pulled on Black store owners who’s perceived “success” was so deeply offensive to their White countrymen, academics have coined this phenomenon as “white rage” to describe their outright refusal to tolerate any Black person doing better than their former enslaved status.

Cuss out a cop, spit in his face
Stomp on the flag and light it up
Yeah, ya think you’re tough

Well, try that in a small town
See how far ya make it down the road
Around here, we take care of our own
You cross that line, it won’t take long
For you to find out, I recommend you don’t
Try that in a small town

This part of the song should remind of the march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge, today a National Historic Landmark that was the site of the brutal Bloody Sunday beatings of civil rights marchers, including the late Congressman John Lewis. They were cussed out by cops who spat in their faces; symbolically stomping and burning the flag America says stands for freedom and democracy, and a beacon of hope for the rest of the world. John Lewis was marching for voting rights for Black people, a fundamental right denied to them, not just by Congressional action and inaction, but by state sponsored terrorism from unformed officers, White mobs and Klansmen. This took place in a small town, Selma, Alabama, and Aldeen is absolutely right, they didn’t make it down the road. They didn’t even make it across the bridge to meet the other side of the road. The cops took care of their own White people that day by beating down Black folks who dared to cross their racial line. And it didn’t take long for Black Americans to find out what truly goes down in small towns across America.

Even the Green Book became necessary to allow safe passage for Black folks in small towns. It became “the bible of black travel” during the era of Jim Crow laws, when open and legal discrimination against Black people was the American way, duly noted in Aldeen’s country howl. The south may have lost the Civil War but history and Aldeen’s crass tune makes clear that the country is still controlled by White racialists who voted for our last president who ran to, “Make America Great Again” for them.

Got a gun that my granddad gave me
They say one day they’re gonna round up
Well, that shit might fly in the city, good luck

Try that in a small town
See how far ya make it down the road
Around here, we take care of our own
You cross that line, it won’t take long
For you to find out, I recommend you don’t
Try that in a small town

The Second Amendment continues to be a contentious national debate. We’ve seen numerous incidents where race was a factor—Philando Castille, Alton Sterling, Breonna Taylor, Tamir Rice, Walter Scott—of the law being applied, and the loud inaction or response to these cases from the powerful NRA makes this also clear. This isn’t a new line drawn in the sand, as race has always been a factor in the application of the gun law. Case in point; Cliven D. Bundy and his militiamen took up arms against the federal government and were backed by the NRA who called the confrontation, “a proper, legitimate, lawful response to illegitimate, unlawful exercise of government power.”

And here’s another reminder of our divided America: The Branch Davidians and the siege at Ruby Ridge, had Wayne LaPierre, longtime NRA head honcho whaling in defense of those he sees as true Americans, “If you have a badge, you have the government’s go-ahead to harass and intimidate, even murder, law-abiding citizens.” Miraculously LaPierre lost his voice when Philando Castille was gunned down by a cop despite being a licensed gun owner. The only difference is that he was Black and the law was never considered with him in mind. “The National Rifle Association is America’s longest-standing civil rights organization. Together with our more than five million members, we’re proud defenders of history’s patriots and diligent protectors of the Second Amendment,” reads the official NRA statement. Imagine the audacity of that assertion.

Since the inception of the right to bear arms, the law was never intended to include Black people; it was intended to keep guns out of their hands. And White mobs have a long documented history of using guns “granddad gave” them to stop Black people from crossing racial lines in their fight for justice, freedom, access and equality.

In her book, The Second; Race and Guns In A Fatally Unequal America, Carol Anderson writes, “Even for the NRA, Black people did not have Second Amendment rights. A broken treacherous rights landscape, of course, has always been the reality for African Americans. We know that the 15th Amendment, the right to vote, was undercut by poll taxes, literacy tests, violence and understanding clauses for nearly 100 years and unfortunately, since 2013 has come under assault again. Similarly, the amendments covering the justice system, the 4th, 5th, 6th, and 8th, have offered little to no protection for African Americans because of numerous Supreme Court decisions that have imbedded racism and racial profiling into policing, trial procedures and sentencing. But the Second Amendment charge for a well regulated militia and the right of the people to keep and bear arms offers a particularly maddening set of standards where race is concerned.”

She continues, “There’s almost an eerie silence on this particular amendment, which its advocates call central to citizenship. That silence is not accidental. The 18th century origins of the right to bear arms explicitly excluded Black people. South Carolina encoded into law that the enslaved could not carry or make use of firearms or any offensive weapons whatsoever, unless in the presence of some White person. Moreover, the states various militias had the power to search and examine all Negro houses for offensive weapons and ammunition. In Delaware there could be no valid earthly reason that any bought servant or Negro or mulatto slave be allowed to bear arms. Georgia was even more direct, not only were Blacks forbidden from owning or carrying firearms but White men were required to own a good gun or pistol to give them the means to search and examine all Negro houses for offensive weapons and ammunition. The distinction was clear; citizens had the right to keep arms, the slave did not.”

“Revolution is never based on begging somebody for an integrated cup of coffee. Revolutions are never fought by turning the other cheek. Revolutions are never fought on love your enemies and pray for those who spitefully or despitefully use you. And revolutions are never a wave playing we shall overcome. Revolutions are based on bloodshed. Revolutions are never a compromise. Revolutions are never based upon negotiations. Revolutions are never based upon any kind of tokenism whatsoever. Revolutions are never even based upon that which is begging a corrupt society or a corrupt system to accept us into it. Revolutions overturn systems.”– Malcolm X

Full of good ol’ boys, raised up right
If you’re looking for a fight
Try that in a small town
Try that in a small town

Try that in a small town
See how far ya make it down the road
Around here, we take care of our own
You cross that line, it won’t take long
For you to find out, I recommend you don’t
Try that in a small town

Try that in a small town
Ooh-ooh
Try that in a small town

Don’t kid yourself; Aldeen is right, small towns are “Full of good ol’ boys” who are always looking for an unfair fight with those they’ve been too comfortable terrorizing with each new generation learning the tricks to tie their lynching ropes. This is how they take care of their own. Ahmaud Arbery lost his life to these same “good ol’ boys” in a small town in Georgia where the likes of, Gregory McMichael, Travis McMichael, William Bryan Jr. and even Jason Aldeen howl to burning crosses at night to feel supreme human.

“The white man prefers to keep the black man at a certain human remove because it is easier for him thus to preserve his simplicity and avoid being called to account for crimes committed by his forefathers, or his neighbors.” – James Bladwin

Nonetheless, Black people must also take account of their part in the global enslavement of Africans, the racial struggle and dominance by Whites. From Africa, throughout the middle passage and into the New World, Black people have consistently taken part in their peoples own misfortunes and subjugation. Africans were instrumental in the slave trade, even trading manila currency with Europeans and Arabs in exchange for sending captured Africans to their enslavement across the globe. There’s even an account of a 19-year-old African male stopping a slave ship revolt on a slave vessel called The Eagle, and taking a machete blow to protect his White captures. Upon arrival, “he was rewarded and recognized for it and he personally benefitted at the expense of his own people,” said Dr. Claud Anderson in his lecture, A Road Block to Empowerment. And believe it or not, the first person to own a slave named John Casor for life in America was a free Black man from Angola named Anthony Johnson who came to the colonies in 1621 aboard the slave ship James after his capture by Portuguese slave traders. He even acquired land under the Headrights system.

After the assassination of Malcolm X ordered by the man he once worshipped, Elijah Muhammad, who led the Nation of Islam (NOI) from 1934 until his death in 1975 said, “The way I see it, Malcolm is the victim of his own preaching. He preached violence and so he become the victim of it. So Malcolm met with just what he preached. This death of Malcolm, god himself had something to do with that. And I think the people will learn that this was some work of god himself.”

Evidently, the god Muhammad prayed to didn’t see fit to plague Whites for their crimes against humanity, but somehow this so-called god is responsible for the killing of one of the greatest Black leaders America has ever known. Malcolm X sought to lead his people to freedom like Moses led his people from the Pharaoh, and true to Black conditioning, the NOI made sure he didn’t succeed.

And these stories and historical accounts aren’t unique to America. Africa has its own sins to atone for, including the murder of Patrice Lumumba, the first Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He was killed by his own people by order of the Belgium’s, and even America and Great Britain played a role in his assassination. His crime? He spoke out about the suffering of African people at the hands of their European oppressors. In other words, the truth he spoke to power made him a threat, even to his own fellow Africans desperate for personal power and a seat next to their oppressors, or a place in the master’s home. In 2022, Belgium returned Lumumba’s tooth after holding it as a trophy for 61 years, similar to a serial killer keeping items from their victims to mark and reminisce of their evil.

“Dead, living, free, or in prison on the order of the colonialists, it is not I who counts. It is the Congo, it is our people for whom independence has been transformed into a cage where we are regarded from the outside… History will one day have its say, but it will not be the history that Brussels, Paris, Washington, or the United Nations will teach, but that which they will teach in the countries emancipated from colonialism and its puppets…a history of glory and dignity,” – Patrice Lumumba

The dignity Lumumba talks about has yet to arrive. Just look around you and take in the state of our American culture. Last week, two White males, 38-year-old Daniel Walls and a 17-year-old, were arrested and charged with Civil Rights intimidation for posting Ku Klux Klan recruitment flyers outside of three Black churches in Columbia, Tennessee. A Black “influencer” who goes by the name Sassy Trucker is being held in Dubai for the ratchet behavior she’s known for on social media. And the other latest embarrassment is called Carlee Russell, a Black woman who created a kidnapping hoax for attention. Not only did she lie, she made sure to ask for thoughts and prayers from real victims of this particular crime. And to further stick her finger in the nation’s eye and worsening the stigma for Black folks, she made sure to crack a smile in her mug shot. Making matters even worse, a dozen Black teens have just been arrested for a unprovoked brutal and horrific attack on a Black man at a gas station, followed by indiscriminate shooting with automatic weapons. This is our America today, despite the blueprint left by Black giants like the Black Panther Party who started the school lunch program and fought against police brutality.

Jason Aldeen’s melodic words certainly sting, but he’s serenading the consciousness and condition of Black people in America. The only missing chorus is the role his White ancestors played in the shaping of our divided nation. Similar to Florida under Ron DeSantis who is feverishly working to rewrite history to make slavery look like a benefit to Black people, Aldeen’s country tune separates itself from truth too, like oil refuses water.

“You can’t do anything by legislation, it takes education. The White men in this country need to be reeducated so that his behavior patterns towards non-whites will change. And the Black men in this country also need to be reeducated so our behavior pattern and attitude toward ourselves will change.” – Malcolm X

 

The naked truth about the state of America.

The Galileo Project: A Giant Step For Mankind In Search Of Alien Life

The Galileo Project lead, Professor Avi Loeb, world-renowned astrophysicist at Harvard University and best selling author of Extraterrestrial: The First Sign of Intelligent Life Beyond Earth spent years studying the skies for signs of extraterrestrial life and says he has found proof of their existence at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. Professor Loeb just completed a $1.5m expedition searching for signs of a mysterious meteor dubbed IM1 (Interstellar Meteor 1) that crashed off the coast of Papua New Guinea in 2014 and is believed to have come from interstellar space.

Professor Loeb and his colleagues have discovered at least 50 tiny spherical iron fragments near the fireball path of the first recognized interstellar meteor, IM1. They discovered the 50 tiny spherules, or molten droplets, using a magnetic sled that was dropped from the expedition vessel the Silver Star 2km beneath the surface of the pacific ocean.

ePa Live had the opportunity to speak with Professor Loeb, a returning guest on the program, about his monumental findings that could answer the age old question: Are we alone?

Egypt On The Potomac: Ancient Africa Hidden In Plain Sight

BY JEANETTE LENOIR

As we head further into the summer months, many will be looking to fill their calendars with fun activities and adventures. Here’s a fun, informative and family friendly idea: Egypt on the Potomac. It is an educational field trip across Washington, D.C. showing a direct architectural link to ancient Egypt or Kemet. Author and historian, Anthony Browder, created the program as part of the IKG Cultural Resource Center he founded in 1981.

Thanks to the incredible work of Browder, folks can sign up for a fun-filled, educational and empowering field trip across Chocolate City to learn all about the architecture, masonic history and the African inspired, (in some cases a complete copy) design of this great city. 

Here’s a short clip of the educational field trip that will hopefully inspire you to grab your own boarding pass to journey across Washington, DC. Oh, the mindful and empowering places you’ll go, as you discover and clearly see all the contributions made to current civilization and humanity, thanks to those who gave both to the world; Africans.

Egypt on the Potomac:

 

An African American Guide Back To The Motherland

As the world turns, communities from across our oceans are longing to connect with each other. This is especially true for many African Americans taking the leap to journey back to Africa. The back to Africa movement is not new. After emancipation Abraham Lincoln sought to relocate newly freed Black people back to Africa. Although the move was largely rejected by many Black leaders of that time, the honorable Marcus Mosiah Garvey was instrumental in the push to make this a reality for Black people in the western hemisphere.

Marcus Garvey and his organization, the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA), represent the largest mass movement in African-American history. Proclaiming a black nationalist “Back to Africa” message, Garvey and the UNIA established 700 branches in thirty-eight states by the early 1920s.”

Today, the best way to make this dream for some a reality is with sincere preparation. And thanks to Professor Joseph Mbele of Olaf College in Minnesota, who has amassed decades worth of knowledge on the subject, including being an expert on culture and folklore, created a study guide to help those journeying back to the Motherland.

The link to the course: https://joseph-s-site-c20e.thinkific.com/courses/your-first-course

ePa had an opportunity to interview Professor Mbele on his new course study focused on preparing African Americans for their journey back to Africa.

Part I

Part II

Part III

 

U.S. Black Chambers Amplifying Support For Black Businesses In Florida

The U.S. Black Chambers, Inc. (USBC), the national voice of Black business, issued a public statement and Call to Action in support of Black business owners and entrepreneurs of color in the state of Florida. 

“As Black Americans grapple with the contentious political climate taking hold in Florida, among other states nationwide, USBC recognizes the importance of uplifting and safeguarding Black voices while advancing our economic power and small business community in the stride for justice and democratic harmony,” said USBC President & CEO Ronald Busby, Sr. “While we remain a nonpartisan business organization with a mission to expand economic opportunity for our community on a global scale, we are aware of the many challenges impacting the everyday lives of Black Floridians and stand with them in their quest for justice and equity.”

As we continue to recognize the dismal challenges facing Black Floridian entrepreneurs and commemorate the Juneteenth holiday this week, we are pleased to announce our Call to Action to support the thousands of Black businesses throughout the state. This Call to Action comes at a time as we highlight the state of Florida has the second-most Black-owned businesses in the country, according to the Florida Chamber of Commerce. With more than 250,000 Black-owned businesses, research indicates our firms collectively employ nearly 80,000 Floridians and represent an annual payroll of $2.63 billion.

In recognition of these significant contributions, USBC calls upon Florida residents and individuals traveling to stand in solidarity by supporting Black-owned businesses in their communities through our groundbreaking platform, ByBlack. The ByBlack Platform, a first-of-its-kind National Directory and Certification Program, provides a comprehensive resource for locating and engaging with Black-owned businesses across the country.

Within the state of Florida, ByBlack showcases thousands of businesses that offer a wide range of products and services. Additionally, curated city guides within the platform help highlight local Black businesses and events centered on the Juneteenth holiday, commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans.

In partnership with our partners centered on protecting the civil liberties of marginalized Americans, the U.S. Black Chambers, Inc. remains committed to advocating for the rights and success of Black businesses, entrepreneurs, and the broader Black community. Through initiatives like the ByBlack Platform, we aim to bridge the economic gap and create opportunities for long-term prosperity.

Media Contact: Tiffany Murphy; usbc@thecultureequity.com

Establishing Ownership Of The Benin Bronzes

The Restitution Study Group Files Lawsuit To Establish Ownership of Benin Bronzes

 

Deadria Farmer-Paellmann, Executive Director Restitution Study Group, (RSG) a New York–based organization Restitution Study Group is spearheading a lawsuit against the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. to reverse the return of the museum’s 29 Benin bronzes to Nigeria and establish ownership of the ancient and highly valuable artifacts. Farmer-Paellmann joined ePa Live to discuss the lawsuit and the importance of the bronzes.

What To Know

  • During a ceremony on October 11th, “The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African Art transferred ownership of 29 Benin bronzes to the National Commission for Museums and Monuments in Nigeria. The bronzes, which were part of the museum’s collection, were stolen from Nigeria during the 1897 British raid on Benin City. The Smithsonian’s Board of Regents voted to officially remove the bronzes in June in keeping with the Smithsonian’s new ethical returns policy.”
  • The transfer project was led by Ngaire Blankenberg, former Director of the National Museum of African Art.
  • Blankenberg who left the Museum at the end of March 2023 after less than years leading the iconic museum says she led the museum with “nuance, transparency, and respect.” Reports and other sources, including Farmer-Paellmann says Blankenberg is being forced to resign partly due to her handling of the artifacts.
  • RSG won two awards for its short film on the Benin Bronzes, They Belong To All Of Us, at Cannes on May 25th.

ePa Live with Deadria Farmer-Paellmann

Part I

 

Part II

 

ePa Live: Question Of The Day

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