Barbara Lee
Oakland Groups Urge Local Financial Institutions to Order Maya Angelou Quarter from U.S. Mint
Recognizing the significance of the American Women Quarters (AWQ) Program to the communities we serve, the collective is acting to make sure communities are aware of these significant coins and that they are readily available at local financial institutions.
By Post Staff
Several Oakland non-profits, businesses and organizations are calling on the community to urge local financial institutions to order the newly released Maya Angelou quarter from the United States Mint.
The request can help ensure availability, maximum exposure and record high circulation in the community and have the extraordinary and considerable ability to make a powerful statement by ensuring the visibility of these historic coins.
Recognizing the significance of the American Women Quarters (AWQ) Program to the communities we serve, the collective is acting to make sure communities are aware of these significant coins and that they are readily available at local financial institutions.
Included in the collective are the Oakland African American Chamber of Commerce; the Women’s Council of Associated Real Property Brokers; the Oakland Chapter of the NAACP; Black Women Organized for Political Action (BWOPA); the International Longshore Warehouse Union, Local 10; the San Francisco Bay Area Chapter, National Black MBA Association; 100 Black Men of the Bay Area and the National Coalition of 100 Black Women Inc. Oakland/Bay Area Chapter.
The U.S. Mint has begun shipments of the first coins in the AWQ) Program, starting with the one honoring the late writer, Maya Angelou.
Authorized by the Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act of 2020, the U.S.Mint implemented the new four-year program after the law was signed into law last year. The bipartisan legislation was introduced by Congresswoman Barbara Lee along with Rep. Anthony Gonzalez (R-OH) and Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) and Deb Fischer (R-NE).
Maya Angelou’s writing and activism inspired countless Americans and her legacy helped fuel greater fairness and understanding across our nation.
This coin will ensure generations of Americans learn about Maya Angelou’s books and poetry that spoke to the lived experience of Black women. Coin and currency document history, but to date, the contributions of many women have been disregarded. Circulating coins dedicated to celebrating American women and their contributions to American history is important and must be underscored.
The circulating quarters honoring Maya Angelou are manufactured at the mint facilities in Philadelphia and Denver. Coins featuring additional honorees will begin shipping later this year and through 2025.
Barbara Lee
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Issues Statement on Deaths of Humanitarian Aid Volunteers in Gaza
On April 2, a day after an Israeli airstrike erroneously killed seven employees of World Central Kitchen (WCK), a humanitarian organization delivering aid in the Gaza Strip, a statement was release by Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA-12). “This is a devastating and avoidable tragedy. My prayers go to the families and loved ones of the selfless members of the World Central Kitchen team whose lives were lost,” said Lee.
By California Black Media
On April 2, a day after an Israeli airstrike erroneously killed seven employees of World Central Kitchen (WCK), a humanitarian organization delivering aid in the Gaza Strip, a statement was release by Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA-12).
“This is a devastating and avoidable tragedy. My prayers go to the families and loved ones of the selfless members of the World Central Kitchen team whose lives were lost,” said Lee.
The same day, it was confirmed by the organization that the humanitarian aid volunteers were killed in a strike carried out by Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Prior to the incident, members of the team had been travelling in two armored vehicles marked with the WCF logo and they had been coordinating their movements with the IDF. The group had successfully delivered 10 tons of humanitarian food in a deconflicted zone when its convoy was struck.
“This is not only an attack against WCK. This is an attack on humanitarian organizations showing up in the direst situations where food is being used as a weapon of war. This is unforgivable,” said Erin Gore, chief executive officer of World Central Kitchen.
The seven victims included a U.S. citizen as well as others from Australia, Poland, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Palestine.
Lee has been a vocal advocate for a ceasefire in Gaza and has supported actions by President Joe Biden to airdrop humanitarian aid in the area.
“Far too many civilians have lost their lives as a result of Benjamin Netanyahu’s reprehensible military offensive. The U.S. must join with our allies and demand an immediate, permanent ceasefire – it’s long overdue,” Lee said.
Activism
Rep. Barbara Lee, CBC Members, Raise Concerns Over Layoffs of Black Tech Workersi2s
In 2015, the CBC launched Tech 2020 to ensure that Black Americans would be better represented in the industry by 2020. However, Lee says those tech companies that pledged to be more inclusive are falling short of their promise.
By Post Staff
Democratic Congresswoman Barbara Lee and several other Congressional Black Caucus members have written a letter to Julie Su, the acting secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor, addressing the disproportionate layoffs of Black tech employees.
“We write to express our concerns with recent reports highlighting the impacts of widespread layoffs within the tech industry and its disproportionate impacts on the African American community and women,” the letter stated.
“Tech companies who previously agreed to address bias and discrimination and create greater opportunities in the workforce are now quietly defunding diversity pledges,” the letter continued.
In 2015, the CBC launched Tech 2020 to ensure that Black Americans would be better represented in the industry by 2020. However, Lee says those tech companies that pledged to be more inclusive are falling short of their promise.
Lee told the Grio, “We’ve been fighting for justice and for economic parity and security as part of the mission of the CBC,” she said, “and so when we established Tech 2020, it was about equity and inclusion.”
“Now with all the Supreme Court decisions and with all of the backsliding, especially by Republicans, it’s very important that we be very assertive in our fight for equity and justice within the private sector and public sector,” she said.
According to the letter, since the beginning of 2023, more than 240,000 tech workers have been laid off, more than 50% increase from 2022.
Lee found that minorities and women make up most of the tech layoffs that have occurred this year.
“If you don’t have African Americans developing content,” Lee said, “then we’re going to have Black people, Brown people [and] women disproportionately impacted.”
“This country is supposed to be a representative democracy where you include people, and you don’t discriminate against them,” she added. “When you see the disproportionate numbers of people being laid off, then that is a red flag that it could be discrimination occurring against these workers and employees.”
Activism
Congresswoman Lee Releases Statement on Vandalism of Lake Merritt Menorah
Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-12) released the following statement on the destruction of the large Menorah on display at Lake Merritt in Oakland:
“I’m deeply saddened and disheartened that the Lake Merritt Menorah was destroyed earlier this week. My heart and prayers go out to the Jewish community in Oakland, and I strongly condemn this vile act of antisemitism.”
“Oaklanders salvaged the menorah and gathered together (Wednesday evening) to celebrate its re-lighting, spreading love and support in the way only Oakland does. I’m proud of my constituents. We will not let hate win.”
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