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“Cruel, Racist And Classist”: Protesters Stage “Read-In” At HISD Board Meeting

The board of managers for the Houston Independent School District weathered another stormy meeting on Aug. 10. Protests started even before the meeting began. At the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center that evening, community members staged a “read-in” in protest of HISD’s recent policy change on libraries. (Recently, the Forward Times reported that 28 […]
The post “Cruel, Racist And Classist”: Protesters Stage “Read-In” At HISD Board Meeting first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Published

3 years ago

August 16, 2023

Forward Times Staff

The board of managers for the Houston Independent School District weathered another stormy meeting on Aug. 10. Protests started even before the meeting began. At the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center that evening, community members staged a “read-in” in protest of HISD’s recent policy change on libraries. (Recently, the Forward Times reported that 28 schools in superintendent Mike Miles’ “New Education System” would dismiss librarians and turn libraries into “team centers,” where misbehaving students would be sent to view lessons virtually.)

Beginning at 4:30 pm, protesters gathered in the lobby, sat down, and began reading. They sprawled across the floor with novels, nonfiction and poetry books. Once the meeting began at 5:30, they took their protest inside. In fact, the first person to speak before the board brought up the library policy – though she also spoke out on the board’s proposal to have public meetings without the presence of an attorney.

Ruth Hoffman-Lack came to the mic with a warning. “First of all, I’m not an attorney and I’m not giving legal advice. But I strongly recommend that you do speak to an attorney regarding the proposal to send disruptive students to centers, even if it’s for ‘time out,’ as Mr. Miles described last week.

As I understand it, the policy violates the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act, or IDEA. It’s very clear that students enrolled in special education must receive services in the least restrictive environment possible. Removing a student from the classroom, even to a center where the student can watch the classroom on Zoom, is placing the child in a more restrictive environment. The only legal way to remove a child, even for time out, is to write it into the behavior intervention plan. So, you definitely need to have your attorney at all of your meetings because this—”

The bell rang, concluding her comments after one minute. Her mic was cut. But the second speaker, Ann Eagleton, picked up right where she left off. “I have a concern that you’re being penny wise and pound foolish,” she told the board. “Please be thoughtful. You’re new here. You don’t even know why you might need an attorney. Hold off making this policy change.”

Sim Kern riled up the crowd with an impassioned speech about Miles’ proposal to make sweeping changes to magnet programs.

“Both of my children attend public schools with magnet programs in Houston’s East End,” she said. “A magnet program can be the soul of a school. It attracts teachers and students who are passionate about what they’re studying. To deny this type of program only to those schools in the poorest neighborhoods is cruel, racist, and classist.” She continued, her voice rising: “We know the STAAR test measures one thing, more than any other metric: socioeconomic status. And therefore, by stripping NES schools of magnet programs, libraries and teachers who are invested in staying there long-term, you are punishing children for being born poor. You are saying: no music, no fine arts, no engineering or robotics or even—”

Though she was cut off after one minute, Kern continued to speak, her voice audible even away from the mic. Houston Federation of Teachers president Jackie Anderson came forward shortly afterward to speak out against a proposal of hiring uncertified teachers to fill vacancies. She said it would “paint a poor picture” of HISD and wouldn’t produce better outcomes for children: “Research shows that non-certified teachers and administrators have low retention rates.

We have been notified of people walking in off the street, simply breathing, leaving out with hiring offer letters — with no background check,” Anderson alleged. “You are demeaning the profession.”

Later, one speaker delivered a heartbreaking message. “I’m Ashley Prince, a certified educator, mother to five and children’s book author, with 15 years of educational experience,” she began. “I’m here today because I was offered a letter for hire by an NES-aligned campus and received a message that something had stopped my eligibility process. I came to Hattie Mae White Center and learned that I was terminated in 2017 by the board for performance, upon a leave I took in regards to the untimely passing of my then-12-year-old daughter.”

Prince claimed her termination letter was fraudulently signed. But before she could fully detail her plight, the bell rang, and she was dismissed, with her concerns unaddressed.

Houston NAACP President Bishop James Dixon also spoke. “In the 5th grade of Helms Elementary,” he said, “a librarian put in my hand a book on the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. I can say to you that if it had not been for that librarian and that book, I would not be standing here tonight. That book gave me a conviction of compassion to become a humanitarian for the rest of my life…There are many more James Dixons in many more classrooms who need libraries,” he continued, adding: “If you take a book out of a child’s hand, you take a future out of a child’s life.”

Angela Ravin-Anderson, a reverend at Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church, delivered three white boxes filled with nearly 2,000 signed letters from her congregation — all in opposition to the library change. She said her church was concerned about a “separate and unequal learning environment” for Black and brown children. “There is no research that supports the closing of libraries,” she said. “We know that literacy will help derail the pre-K to prison pipeline.” She presented the letters to the board, drawing rapt, sustained applause.

When Mike Miles arrived and began his presentation, members of the audience turned their backs to him. They held books and signs before the cameras.

The post “Cruel, Racist And Classist”: Protesters Stage “Read-In” At HISD Board Meeting appeared first on Forward Times.

The post “Cruel, Racist And Classist”: Protesters Stage “Read-In” At HISD Board Meeting first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

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NFL: Week Two Recap | Jalen Hurts did not fold; Caleb Williams exits game with injury

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts found Darius Cooper with nine seconds left for the game winning touchdown as his team beat the Tennessee Titans 24-20 in Nashville. Hurts finished the day 26/37 for 264 yards. He threw for two touchdowns and two interceptions. Prior to the final drive, the Eagles ran 25 plays for 45 […]
The post NFL: Week Two Recap | Jalen Hurts did not fold; Caleb Williams exits game with injury appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

Published

1 week ago

September 20, 2026

Oakland Post

Prior to the final drive, the Eagles ran 25 plays for 45 yards. During the final drive Hurts went 6-8 with 61 passing yards and the touchdown. Titans defensive tackle — and team captain — Jeffery Simmons said this week that the way to defend Jalen Hurts is to make him “play quarterback.”

Hurts said to Simmons after today’s game: “You started that sh**. I had to finish it.”

Running back Saquon Barkley suffered a stinger in the first half but he ultimately finished the game. He had four carries and nine yards and one catch for eleven yards. He will get an MRI for his injury, but admitted to Cameron Wolfe of the NFL Network he was fine.

Caleb Williams leaves game against Vikings with apparent lower-body injury

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams was helped off the field with a right leg injury with 7:42 remaining in the fourth quarter. Williams was down, writhing in pain after scrambling to his left. After departing the injury tent, Williams raised his right fist, acknowledging the crowd while expressing his frustration. Testing will commence on Monday to find out more details about his injury.

“We’ll know tomorrow,” Johnson admitted regarding Williams’ injury. “He’s in good spirits. He’s a team player.”

Williams finished the day with 138 passing yards and one interception.

“I’m actually happy it’s nothing with the knee — that was my first inclination,” Johnson said. “But, a hamstring could be pretty damaging as well. So, we’ll see. We’ll see how bad it is tomorrow and we’ll go from there.”

Bryce Young once again dominated the Falcons

Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young is 5-1 against the Atlanta Falcons and is undefeated at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Today, Young threw for 287 yards and three touchdowns as he led the Panthers to a 34-3 dismembering of the Atlanta Falcons. Georgia Tech alumnus Darren Waller caught two touchdowns and linebacker Devin Lloyd returned one of his two interceptions for a touchdown.

Cooper Rush started his second straight game for the Falcons and it did not go well. The partisan crowd voiced their displeasure after Rush completed 10/17 passes for 86 yards and two interceptions. Jack Strand entered the game for Rush prompting cheers from the Falcons fans. The rookie threw a pick-six on his first career pass attempt. Strand was the first QB to accomplish that feat since Sam Darnold in 2018 and is the first Falcons player to do that since Brett Favre in 1991. Strand finished the day with 59 passing yards and 16 rushing yards.

According to reports, quarterback Michael Penix, Jr. is expected to make his season debut this Thursday at the Green Bay Packers. His return should help the Falcons. They are the first team since the 2008 Rams to not run any plays in the red zone after the first two games to open a season.

The bright spots for the Falcons today were the Spelman College Jaguarettes performing with the Falcons cheerleaders and Florida A&M’s marching band, The Marching 100, also performed during halftime!

Jayden Daniels gets carted off after apparent arm injury

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels appeared to injure his left elbow on the final play of the first half in his game against the Dallas Cowboys. During the play, Daniels got stepped on, braced himself for the fall, and his elbow bent the wrong way. Daniels draped a towel over his head as he exited the field on the cart.

He was later ruled out.

Daniels suffered a dislocated elbow to the same arm during week nine of last season against the Washington Commanders, which led to him being shut down for the remainder of the season.

The post NFL: Week Two Recap | Jalen Hurts did not fold; Caleb Williams exits game with injury appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

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The Complete Negotiation Framework — Every Stage, Every Tactic, Every Win

Master the complete vehicle-purchase negotiation framework with Roosevelt Gist and Roosevelt. Learn every stage, tactic, and win!
The post The Complete Negotiation Framework — Every Stage, Every Tactic, Every Win appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

Published

1 week ago

September 20, 2026

Oakland Post

Negotiation framework stages, tactics, and winning strategies from AutoNetwork

Roosevelt Gist and Roosevelt deliver the complete vehicle-purchase negotiation framework in Episode 8 of The Color of Our Money Is Green. This episode covers the three foundations of every effective negotiation, the full seven-stage negotiation sequence with exact language for every stage, and five of the most common dealership tactics with the specific response each one requires.
What You Learn in This Episode:
The three foundations that make every negotiation tactic work
The complete seven-stage car-buying negotiation sequence
Exact language for every stage of the dealership conversation
Five common dealership tactics — the turnover, the four-square, the packed payment, spot delivery, and forced add-ons — and how to counter each one
Why signing preliminary paperwork isn’t the same as signing the final contract
___________________________________________________________________
“The Color of Our Money Is Green: A Buyer’s Guide to What Cars Actually Cost” — stan.store/RGist
____________________________________________________________________
AutoNetwork helps serious car shoppers inspect any new vehicle online before walking into a dealership. I’m Roosevelt — I’ve been reviewing cars and shaping digital car buying and credit union auto leasing since before YouTube car reviews existed.
You’ll find detailed walkaround reviews, POV test drives, and buyer-focused breakdowns covering comfort, space, features, and real-world value.

How to use the channel:
Watch the walkaround of the car you’re considering
Visit AutoNetwork.com for the full review
Check CouponsOffersAndDeals.com for current dealer specials
Walk in already knowing what you want — and what it should cost

AutoNetwork.com
CouponsOffersAndDeals.com
Affiliate disclosure: some links earn a small commission at no cost to you and help support the channel. Insta360 is one of those partners.

The post The Complete Negotiation Framework — Every Stage, Every Tactic, Every Win appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

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Mazda CX-90 Luxury: Heated Seats & Premium Comfort! #shorts

Stay toasty in the CX-90! Plush Nappa leather, heated/ventilated seats, and a memory-equipped heated steering wheel deliver ultimate luxury.
The post Mazda CX-90 Luxury: Heated Seats & Premium Comfort! #shorts appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

Published

1 week ago

September 20, 2026

Oakland Post

Mazda CX-90 interior with heated seats offering premium comfort.

Experience ultimate comfort in the CX-90. Nappa leather, heated/ventilated seats, 8-way power adjustments, and memory settings for both front passengers. The heated steering wheel with memory tilt/telescope adds premium convenience.

Watch the full video: https://youtu.be/EH5A4eQ4ipY