By April Ryan

“Companies have not necessarily been transparent” in the corporate data collection process about their commitments following the police-involved death of 46-year-old George Floyd, says Marc Morial, President and CEO of the National Urban League. The highly publicized Floyd death almost five years ago garnered worldwide attention and protests in search of justice on May 25, 2020, deadly case. Corporations saw the massive outpouring and offered support then. However, Morial summarizes the findings: “We use publicly available data. We use commitments that people have made.” When it comes to corporate commitment to the Black community, it is a mixed bag, “I think even some that have remained committed have made cosmetic changes, have changed names of programs. They’ve dropped a program here and there. But some have maintained most of what they do,” added Morial who spoke to the audience of the Substack show The Tea with April. The Urban League head also offered that some companies spread the support by contributing to HBCUs and civil rights organizations. The report also captures, in an Urban League written statement, how institutions, advocates, and the business community have mobilized since George Floyd’s death to advance policing reform and racial justice. However, the report also traces the political and cultural backlash. It shows that some progress has reversed.

One of the most recent real-time reversals is the current request by Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, pushing for a presidential pardon of Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin. He was the first officer convicted of the death of George Floyd for kneeling on his neck at the time of his death. President Trump can only pardon federal sentences. Keith Ellison, the Attorney General of Minnesota, says it’s just “a rumor” right now. However, if a Chauvin pardon were to happen, President Trump could only pardon Chauvin of the federal prison sentence. He is currently serving 20.5 years. When it comes to the state of Minnesota, there are still 22 years left on Chauvin’s state prison sentence. Ellison feels “it would be worse” for Chauvin to be pardoned. Chauvin would be transferred to a state prison to serve his 22-year sentence. Chauvin would be expected to be segregated from the general population for 23 hours daily. Ellison went on to tell Black Press USA that if a pardon does happen, “it’s a slap in the face to the Floyd family” and the multiple cultures of people around the world that called for justice for George Floyd’s death. Ellison fears that if there is indeed outrage in the streets over a pardon for Chauvin, President Trump will try to use Martial Law and the Insurrection Act against those in the streets. Damon Hewitt, President and Executive Director of the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under the Law tells Black Press USA President Trump’s anticipated actions against protesters is “the legal process equivalent to wiping out Black Lives Matter Plaza.” Hewitt went on to say, “It’s another way of saying Black lives do not matter.”

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By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

Cassie Ventura’s graphic and emotional testimony in the federal sex trafficking trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs has ignited headlines, debate, and controversy. As prosecutors build their case against the hip-hop mogul, accusing him of running a criminal enterprise that exploited women, attorney and media executive Faye McCray laid out why the legal stakes are far greater than a story of a toxic relationship. “This is not a domestic violence case—this is a sex trafficking and racketeering case,” McCray said during an appearance on Black Press USA’s Let It Be Known. “And we have to be clear about that. Cassie is not the one on trial.” McCray explained that the prosecution’s strategy centers on proving that Combs used power, coercion, and manipulation—not just physical force—to control women. The defense, however, is focusing on messages and behaviors they claim show the relationship was consensual. McCray warned against oversimplifying the issue of consent. “Sometimes we think of yes or no,” she said. “But we’re not thinking of the imbalance of power and what it looks like to manipulate someone psychologically.”

Ventura’s testimony included descriptions of abuse, sexual coercion, and even returning to Combs after an alleged 2018 rape. For some watching, that raised questions about credibility. However, McCray rejected the idea that a victim must be perfect to be believed. “There are no perfect victims,” she said. “We expect a straight line, but real life and trauma aren’t like that. Especially when we’re talking about someone as powerful and beloved as Sean Combs.” McCray said the defense is leaning into that public perception. “They’ve admitted he was abusive, but they’re asking: does that rise to the level of sex trafficking and racketeering?” She noted that the prosecution appears to be laying the groundwork to show a larger system of exploitation. “We’re only scratching the surface of what could be a much bigger enterprise,” she said, adding that more charges against others could come depending on the outcome of this case. McCray also addressed the makeup of the jury—twelve highly educated individuals, including biochemists and scientists. “It raises the bar,” she said. “This jury isn’t going to be easily swayed by headlines or emotion. They’re going to want the details, the logic, the facts.”

Ventura’s honesty about cheating, drug use, and returning to Combs—details the defense is expected to use against her—could benefit the prosecution, McCray said, because they were introduced with transparency. “If the prosecution had hidden those things, the defense would’ve used that against them. But they didn’t. They’re showing the full complexity of her experience.” She also explained that Ventura’s $20 million civil settlement with Combs doesn’t prevent her testimony. “Two different cases,” McCray said. “She settled a civil suit, but criminal charges are a different matter. The charges are serious enough that she couldn’t be barred from testifying, even if he wanted to.” Some have questioned whether Ventura’s testimony—while heavily pregnant and emotionally exposed—is helping or harming her. “It’s retraumatizing,” McCray said. “There’s no doubt. But there may also be catharsis in seeing someone who harmed you be held accountable.” Still, McCray said, Ventura is opening herself up to brutal judgment. “This is why so many victims stay silent.”

Asked whether Combs might testify, McCray said it would be risky but powerful. “He’s a celebrity. He’s charming. If anyone can sell himself, it’s him. But it’s a gamble.” And while many are fixated on the salacious details—so-called “freak-offs,” escort services, and private humiliations—McCray cautioned that these allegations expose deeper questions about power in the entertainment industry. “We’ve heard for decades about how shady the music business can be,” she said. “But now we’re being forced to look at who’s been protected—and at whose expense.” McCray said the most important takeaway may be what happens next in the court of public opinion. “Viewers shape culture. How we talk about this, what we post, what we laugh at—it matters,” she said. “Survivors are watching. People in our lives who are quietly suffering are watching. And how we talk about them may decide if they ever speak.”

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – May 15, 2025 —  Congresswoman Summer L. Lee (PA-12) led her colleagues in reintroducing the Reparations Now Resolution to call on the federal government to provide reparations to the descendants of enslaved Black families. The resolution seeks to advance federal reparations, support existing reparatory justice efforts such as H.R. 40, and provide further momentum to reparations efforts at the state and local levels. WATCH:

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Read the bill here.

The resolution was introduced at a press conference with Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), and a coalition of advocates. Former Congresswoman Cori Bush, who initially introduced the resolution, was also in attendance. The Members were joined by Dreisen Heath of Reparations Strategist and Founder of Why We Can’t Wait Reparations Coalition, Miya Iwataki of Nikkei for Civil Rights & Redress/Nikkei Progressives, Chelsea Higgs Wise, Executive Director of Marijuana Justice, Robin Rue Simmons of First Repair, Kyle Bibby, Co-CEO and Co-Founder of Black Veterans Project, and Marcus Anthony Hunter, Author, Radical Reparations: Healing the Soul of a Nation.

“As a descendant of my enslaved ancestors, I am deeply humbled to reintroduce the Reparations Now Resolution. Black folks are owed more than thoughts and prayers—we are owed restitution and justice to repair the government-sanctioned harm that has plagued our communities for generations,” said Rep. Summer Lee. “While attempts to whitewash, obstruct, and deny Black history are made, we must fight the white supremacy rampant in our country, against the rising authoritarianism, and not allow anyone to deny Black folks the ability to survive and to thrive. I thank former Congresswoman Bush for passing on the torch for this resolution and urge my colleagues to pass it without delay.”

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“Today we say what too many are too afraid to say: Reparations Now. For over 400 years, this country has profited off the stolen labor, stolen land, and stolen lives of Black people, and every day that we fail to repair the harm, we compound it. Until there is repair, there will be no justice, and where there is no justice, we will continue to fight. Many thanks to Congresswoman Summer Lee for her leadership and to this movement. Without you all, this would not move forward,” said former Rep. Bush.

“For centuries, our Black neighbors have endured the brutality of slavery, the violence of white supremacy, the dehumanization of Jim Crow, and the systemic racism that has left a lasting impact on the lives of Black families in our communities,” said Rep. Tlaib. “By following through on our promise to provide reparations, Congress can begin to address the racial wealth gap, end the decades of disinvestment in communities of color, and dismantle the racist systems that have oppressed our Black neighbors for far too long.”

“Congress has a duty – an obligation – to confront past wrongs and address the centuries of enslavement, violence, and discrimination against Black people. With Donald Trump and Republicans waging a coordinated, all-out assault on Black communities, we must advance an affirmative agenda for Black America,” said Rep. Ayanna Pressley. “We are in a moment of anti-Blackness on steroids, and we will not back down in our pursuit of reparative justice. I am proud to partner with my sister-in-service, Congresswoman Summer Lee, to continue moving this critical priority forward,” said Rep. Pressley. 

“The impact of slavery and generations of racist policies didn’t end with the Civil Rights Movement. We still see the consequences today in wealth inequality, in access to healthcare and education, and in the criminal justice system. That’s why I support the Reparations Now Resolution,” said Rep. Omar. “This bill is about acknowledging the truth of this country’s history and taking meaningful steps to repair the harm. This is one of many ways that we can create real change in the lives of Black families today and for generations to come.”

The Reparations Now Resolution is co-sponsored by Representatives Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Valerie P. Foushee (NC-04), Al Green (TX-09), Jonathan Jackson (IL-01), Henry “Hank” Johnson (GA-04), LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Shri Thaneder (MI-13), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), and Nikema Williams (GA-05).

The resolution is endorsed by #unifyUSA, African American Redress Network (AARN), African Ancestral Society, Alliance for Reparations, Reconciliation, and Truth (ARRT), Amnesty International USA, Athens Reparations Action, Bailey’s Cafe, Benita Raquiba Miller LLC, Black Veterans Project, BlackRoots Alliance, BLIS Collective, Breaking Generational Cycles, California Black Power Network, Campaign For Justice: Redress NOW For Japanese Latin Americans!, Center for LGBTQ Economic Advancement & Research (CLEAR), Center for Reparatory Justice, Transformation and Remediation, Community Rising Project, DC Justice Lab, Democrats Abroad Reparations Task Force (DA RTF), Descendants of Enslaved Communities of Virginia, Drug Policy Alliance, Equal Justice USA, Equality Federation, FirstRepair, FreedomRoad.us, Fund For Reparations NOW! (FFRN!), Get Free, Girls for Gender Equity, Gullah Geechee Group (GGG), Inc., Human Rights Watch, Incarcerated Nation Network, Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti, Japanese American Citizens League, Japanese American Citizens League – Portland, Japanese American Citizens League – Twin Cities Chapter, Japanese Peruvian Oral History Project, Metro Organization for Racial and Economic Equity (MORE 2), Make It Plain, Malcolm X Center for Self Determination, Middle Collegiate Church, Minidoka Pilgrimage Planning Committee, National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association (NAAPIMHA), National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations In America (N’COBRA), National Conference of Black Lawyers Reparations Research Project, National Council of Churches, National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund, National LGBTQ+ Bar Association, National Black Justice Collective (NBJC), NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice, Network NOVA & the Virginia Grassroots, Nikkei for Civil Rights & Redress (NCRR), Nikkei Progressives/Nikkei for Civil Rights & Redress, Norml National Care Givers, Not In Our Town Princeton, Parable of the Sower Intentional Community Cooperative, Parents Across America, People’s Organization for Progress, Positive Women’s Network-USA, Progressive Democrats of America, Rebel Noires, Reclaim Roxbury, Reparation Education Project, Reparations Circle Denver, Reparations Interfaith Coalition of Massachusetts (RIC), Reparations Pledge, Reparations4Slavery, Reparatory Justice Commission, SAFES, Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference, Sanctuary of Hope (SOH), Sistamatictheology, LLC, Soul Child Awakenings LLC, South Carolina Reparations Coalition, The NOTICE Coalition, The Taifa Group, Timelist Group, Inc., Tsuru For Solidarity, UNESCO Inclusive Policy Lab-People of African Descent & the SDGs E-Team, Unitarian Universalist Association, United By Equity, Universal Human Rights Initiative, Virago Strategies, and Why We Can’t Wait National Reparations Coalition.

“At a time when injustice is being codified and where there is an operation to erase public memory, Congresswoman Summer Lee dares to not only remember but repair. She carries forward the visionary and courageous torch lit by former Congresswoman Cori Bush—championing a reparations movement—and its demands—that is as expansive as it is urgent. From education justice to wealth building, from maternal health to environmental equity, this resolution recognizes that repair must meet us at every intersection of harm. The #ReparationsNow Resolution is not just a policy proposal — it is a movement mandate. This resolution is a light in an era of erasure and is a testament to the leadership of Black women who refuse to let this nation forget what it owes,” said Dreisen Heath, Reparations Strategist, Founder, Why We Can’t Wait Reparations Coalition.

“Reparations is more than a check.  It is redress for lifetimes of losses brought on our people: loss of property, education, access to medical care, unjust imprisonment.  As Japanese Americans who fought for Justice and Reparations, we are committed to work in solidarity to win Reparations for Black Americans, and to pass the Reparations Now Resolution!” said Miya Iwataki, Nikkei Progressives/NCRR Reparations Coalition, Organizer.

“Reparations Now is timely and much needed legislation. We commend and support Congresswoman Summer Lee continuing the mighty efforts inaugurated by former Representative Cori Bush,” said Dr. Marcus Anthony Hunter, Executive Director of United By Equity.

“The National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America (N’COBRA) is honored to stand with you during the historic introduction of this resolution, providing reparations to descendants of enslaved Africans and people of African descent,” said Kenniss Henry, National Co-Chair of N’COBRA.

“Human Rights Watch strongly endorses Congresswoman Lee’s reparations resolution and its urgent need to confront the enduring legacy of slavery and systemic racism in the United States. The #ReparationsNow resolution paves the way for reparative justice and addressing past harms and their resonant socioeconomic consequences. As international human rights advocates, we see this as a crucial step towards healing, accountability, and prevention of future racial injustice,” said Bria Nelson, Researcher & Advocate of Human Rights Watch. 

“Reparations are not just a matter of policy—they are a matter of the morality of our nation. For too long, the dominant story in this country has denied or distorted the truth about slavery, land theft, and the economic foundations of capitalism. This resolution is a powerful step toward repairing the material harms of state-sanctioned anti-Blackness, but it is also an intervention of public memory. It affirms the truth of our history, the dignity of Black life, and the right to self-determination. At BLIS, we know that shifting public perception is essential to building the political will for reparations. We are proud to stand with Congresswoman Summer Lee and the communities who have long led this fight. Together, we are rewriting the story—and reclaiming the future,” said Trevor Smith, Executive Director, BLIS Collective.

“Reparations Now!” said Nkechi Taifa, President of The Taifa Group.

“Over 35 years ago, our country provided reparations to Japanese Americans who had been unjustly incarcerated during WWII. We are long overdue in fully coming to terms with our government’s complicity in the institution of chattel slavery and continued state sanctioned and enforced racial discrimination against Black people. The Japanese American Citizens League continues the call for our nation to once again correct an historic injustice as it did for Japanese Americans, and seek to truly respond to the harms that our government has inflicted upon the Black community in the form of reparations to bring healing for all Americans,” said David Inoue, Executive Director of Japanese  American Citizens League.

“Reparations are about making equality real and creating a better future. There’s never been a more urgent time to support this resolution. While the MAGA regime tries to whitewash our history so they can whitewash our country, we’re demanding our leaders stand in the legacy of civil rights, reckon with the truth, and right longstanding wrongs so we can all get free,” said Nicole Carty, Executive Director of Get Free.

“Unitarian Universalists believe reparations are a moral and spiritual imperative. We cannot ignore the wound that persists from the theft of Black bodies, labor, culture, and dignity. The Reparations Now Resolution is a necessary and faithful step toward the healing that will only come through real repair. Our faith calls us to truth, justice, and liberation—and that means showing up with Black communities to demand accountability and showing up for the promise of a democracy for all the people, by all the people,” said Nicole Pressley, Director of Organizing Strategy.

“Respect Repair Restitution,” said Chief Egunwale Amusan, President of African Ancestral Society.

“We must support this resolution because repairing the enduring harms of slavery and systemic racism is essential to achieving a just, inclusive, and multi-racial democracy. The federal government can no longer remain silent,” said Stair Calhoun, Co-founder Network NOVA.

“May we be guided by the wisdom, love, and freedom fighting spirit of our ancestors. Asé!” said Nicolette Paige, Priestess at Soul Child Awakenings, LLC.

“The U.S. stands at a crossroads. We are choosing our future now. We cannot walk into a future with light and hope until we confess and repent of the original sin of our nation– racialized oppression. The Reparations Now resolution is more than legislation. It is a sacred act with the power to repair what racial hierarchy has wrought in our nation and in the lives of Americans of African descent,” said Lisa Sharon Harper, President and Founder of FreedomRoad.us and author of Fortune: How Race Broke My Family and the World–and How To Repair It All.

“This historic resolution forcefully argues the moral and legal necessity of why the federal government must provide reparations to descendants of enslaved Africans and people of African descent,” said Five Mualimak, Executive Director of Incarcerated Nation Network.

“The long shadow of slavery still looms over the lives of people of African descent who carry with them the transgenerational trauma and who continue to confront marginalization, exclusion and bigotry,” said Dr.Ron Daniels, Norml National Care Givers, CANNABIS, CDJ FASHION FORWARD.

“For centuries, the U.S. government carved injustice into the bones of this nation — sanctioning the theft of Black bodies, lives, and futures to build its wealth and power. The legacy of that violence lives on in every stolen opportunity and deepened divide. True justice demands more than remembrance; it demands repair. A holistic reparations program is not only a moral imperative — it is the first step in healing a wound this country has long refused to close,” said Professor Christian D. Green, National Equity Week Organizer.

“Reparations is restoration of free, sovereign, and independent personhood,” said Efia Nwangaza, Founding Director of South Carolina Reparations Coalition.

“”If I steal from you every day for 400 years, and one day announce that I will stop stealing (or steal less), my debt is not repaid. That theft of wealth, land, safety, and opportunity persists to this day, and it is time for people of privilege, like me, to meaningfully repay our debt,” said Robin A. Lloyd, Founder of Reparations Pledge.

“Gullah Geechee Land Reclaim and Retain (GGLRR) is our continuing demand – Payback Now!” said Sherry Ann Suttles, President of Gullah Geechee Group, Inc.

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