Antonio Ray Harvey
California Black Media Political Briefs
Last Saturday, Rep. Barbara Lee held her first U.S. Senate campaign rally at Laney College in Oakland. “We fight for freedom, for dignity, for justice, and, together, we win,” said Lee to a cheering crowd of supporters gathered at the Alameda County community college. “That’s why I’m running for the United States Senate,” continued Lee, who is the highest-ranking African American woman in the U.S. Congress and the only African American so far in the 2024 California senatorial race.

By Tanu Henry and Antonio Ray Harvey
California Black Media
Rep. Barbara Lee Holds First Campaign Rally in Oakland
Last Saturday, Rep. Barbara Lee held her first U.S. Senate campaign rally at Laney College in Oakland.
“We fight for freedom, for dignity, for justice, and, together, we win,” said Lee to a cheering crowd of supporters gathered at the Alameda County community college.
“That’s why I’m running for the United States Senate,” continued Lee, who is the highest-ranking African American woman in the U.S. Congress and the only African American so far in the 2024 California senatorial race.
Lee, 76, is serving her 12th term in the United States Congress. Known for her progressive politics, she joins the race to replace Feinstein against two other members of California’s delegation to the U.S. House of Representatives: Rep. Katie Porter (D-CA-37), 49, and Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA-30), 62.
Several high-profile Bay Area politicians attended the rally, including San Francisco Mayor London Breed and Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao, the first Hmong-American mayor of a major American city.
“Black women have been at the forefront of frontlines of the fight for freedom and dignity and justice and peace for centuries. Black women get the job done,” said Lee.
The Bontas Have (Clearly) Moved On
After weeks of facing a torrent of criticisms coming from several journalists across California — including an editorial in the L.A. Times — it seems Assemblymember Mia Bonta (D-Alameda) and her husband, California Attorney General Rob Bonta, have moved on.
Mia Bonta showed her support for Rep. Barbara Lee after the Congresswoman held the first rally of her senatorial bid on Bonta’s Alameda County home turf.
“Barbara Lee speaks for me,” said Mia Bonta who has been keeping herself occupied tackling other issues in her district, including excessive use of force by law enforcement and the persistent digital divide affecting families of color.
Last week, Assembly Budget Committee chair Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) also released a statement assuring the public that Mia Bonta will not influence issues affecting her husband or the California Department of Justice (DOJ).
“Effective immediately in the Assembly Budget Committee, any state funding matters pertaining to the Department of Justice will be temporarily moved to and overseen by Budget Subcommittee 4,” said Ting. “DOJ’s proposed allocations will go through the same vetting process that all entities funded by California’s budget do, allowing for anyone to weigh in during public hearings.”
On Friday, Rob Bonta delivered remarks at California’s commemoration of the National Day of Racial Healing.
While pushing back on the media attacks, the Bontas enjoyed support from some commentators.
“The media focus should be on covering both (Rob and Mia Bonta’s) efforts to promote public safety and make California a better place for all citizens. I urge all reporters and editors to uphold the principles of responsible journalism and prioritize the truth and accuracy of their reporting over sensationalism and clickbait. The public deserves better than to be misled by unfounded innuendo,” said Paul Cobb, publisher of the Oakland Post. “The Black press has a responsibility to step up and do its part to foster a more informed and engaged public and not allow mainstream media and newspapers to marginalize Black leaders without pushing back especially when their reporting shows ignorance and fails to uphold the principles of responsible journalism.”
Assemblymembers Holden and Jones Sawyer Eye Futures in Local Government
As their time in the state Legislature gets closer to the end due to term limits, California Legislative Black Caucus members Chris Holden (D-Pasadena) and Reggie Jones-Sawyer (D-Los Angeles) have announced their future political plans.
Assemblymember Holden is entering the race for the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors (5th District). He’ll face Republican incumbent Kathryn Barger.
Assemblymember Jones-Sawyer is seeking to represent the 10th District on the Los Angeles City Council, hoping to replace Heather Hutt who was appointed to the seat because Mark Ridley-Thomas is under federal indictment.
Each member elected on or after the passage of Proposition 28, in 2012, is allowed to serve a lifetime maximum of 12 years in the state Legislature, or a combination of service in the Assembly and Senate. Holden has been in office since December 2014 and Jones-Sawyer has served in the Assembly since December 2012.
Public Policy of California Releases Profile of Black Community
As Black History Month draws to a close, the Public Policy Institute of California has released a profile of Black Californians titled “California’s African American Community.”
“One in 20 Black Americans lived in California in the most recent Census count, and California’s Black population is larger than that of all but five other states (Texas, Georgia, Florida, New York, and North Carolina),” the report reads before giving an overview of the history of Black people in California and pointing out that only 3% of California’s Black population are non-citizens and only 4% are naturalized.
According to the profile, Black Californians “lag behind other groups in college graduation, home ownership, and income.”
When it comes to political participation, Black people engage in the electoral process at rates almost equal to their white counterparts.
Antonio Ray Harvey
In Letter, Conservative Org Threatens Mayor Bass, Other Officials, With Imprisonment
The conservative non-profit America First Legal sent letters to Bass, Attorney General Rob Bonta Los Angeles Police Department Chief Jim McDonnell and other California elected officials that they deem could interfere with federal immigration activities after Donald Trump is sworn-in as president on Jan. 20.

By Antonio Ray Harvey, California Black Media
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is one of 249 officials across the country who have been warned that they could be imprisoned for not supporting federal government efforts to detain and deport people illegally living in the United States.
The conservative non-profit America First Legal sent letters to Bass, Attorney General Rob Bonta, Los Angeles Police Department Chief Jim McDonnell and other California elected officials that they deem could interfere with federal immigration activities after Donald Trump is sworn-in as president on Jan. 20.
America First Legal is run by Trump’s incoming deputy Chief of Staff for policy Stephen Miller. After the election in November, Miller confirmed that he will push for the declaration of a national emergency and use the military to carry out mass deportations of undocumented immigrants.
On Nov. 12, Bass said in a statement that the city of Los Angeles would take swift action to implement protections for immigrant communities.
“Especially in the face of growing threats to the immigrant communities here in Los Angeles, I stand with the people of this city,” Bass stated. “This moment demands urgency. Immigrant protections make our communities stronger and our city better.”
The America First Legal letter to McDonnell’s office by email was dated Dec. 23. It states that the nonprofit “identified Los Angeles as a sanctuary jurisdiction that is violating federal law.”
“Federal law is clear: aliens unlawfully present in the United States are subject to removal from the country, and it is a crime to conceal, harbor, or shield them. It is also a crime to prevent federal officials from enforcing immigration laws. These laws were duly enacted by the people’s elected representatives,” the letter reads.
Antonio Ray Harvey
Black Caucus Members Appointed to Leadership Roles in State Legislature
On Jan. 3, McGuire announced that Laura Richardson (D-San Pedro) was named to the Democratic leadership as Assistant Majority Whip. Richardson will also serve as chair of the Senate Budget Subcommittee No. 5 on Corrections, Public Safety, Judiciary, Labor and Transportation. Akilah Weber-Pierson (D-San Diego) will serve as chair of Budget Subcommittee No. 3 on Health and Human Services.

By Antonio Ray Harvey,
California Black Media
All 12 members of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) have been assigned leadership roles in the State Senate and the State Assembly, according to separate statements issued by Senate President pro-Tempore Mike McGuire (D-Healdsburg) and Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas (D-Hollister).
On Jan. 3, McGuire announced that Laura Richardson (D-San Pedro) was named to the Democratic leadership as Assistant Majority Whip. Richardson will also chair the Senate Budget Subcommittee No. 5 on Corrections, Public Safety, Judiciary, Labor, and Transportation. Akilah Weber-Pierson (D-San Diego) will chair Budget Subcommittee No. 3 on Health and Human Services.
The Senate Labor, Public Employment, and Retirement Committee will be chaired by Lola Smallwood-Cuevas (D-Los Angeles).
On Dec. 27, Rivas announced his Assembly leadership team and the chairpersons of all Assembly committees, including CLBC members: CLBC Vice Chair Assemblymember Isaac Bryan (D-Ladera Heights), chair of the Natural Resources Committee; Lori Wilson (D-Suisun City), chair of the Transportation Committee; Corey Jackson (D-Moreno Valley), chair of the Budget Human Services Committee; Rhodesia Ransom (D-Tracy), chair of the Emergency Management Committee; Mia Bonta (D-Oakland), chair of the Health Committee; Tina McKinnor (D- Inglewood), chair of the Public Employment and Retirement Committee; Mike Gipson (D-Carson), chair of the Revenue and Taxation Committee; and LaShae Sharp-Collins (D-San Diego), assistant majority leader for Policy.
Activism
U.S. District Court Temporarily Blocks California’s Law Aiming to Protect Children from Social Media Addiction
Supporters of the legislation say it protects youth from social media addiction.NetChoice, an advocacy group that promotes freedom of choice on the internet, filed the lawsuit with the District Court. The court issued a stay that now allows the case, NetChoice v. Bonta (2024), to head to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

By Antonio Ray Harvey, California Black Media
The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California granted a request by advocates for free expression and free enterprise on the Internet to halt a California’s internet surveillance law, Senate Bill (SB) 976, from going into effect on Jan. 1, 2025.
Supporters of the legislation say it protects youth from social media addiction.NetChoice, an advocacy group that promotes freedom of choice on the internet, filed the lawsuit with the District Court. The court issued a stay that now allows the case, NetChoice v. Bonta (2024), to head to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
“While we are disappointed that the District Court did not grant our entire preliminary injunction, we are glad it agreed to issue this temporary stay while we appeal,” said Paul Taske, NetChoice Associate Director of Litigation in a statement.
“We look forward to seeing California in the Ninth Circuit to yet again stop the state from creating an online censorship regime.”
Responding, California Attorney General Rob Bonta says he is pleased “the court understands the importance of giving California’s families choice.”
“California’s landmark law allows young people to intentionally develop the relationship they want with social media, rather than the relationship that is most profitable for companies using tricks and traps to glue young people’s eyes to their screens,” Bonta said in a Dec. 31 statement.
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