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Dallas NAACP calls for independent investigation of Joshua Brown’s murder

NNPA NEWSWIRE — “The State knew Joshua Brown didn’t want to testify due to concerns for his safety. He flew to California when the trial began. They threatened him with jail if he didn’t return. He went straight from the airport to the court. Dallas County has a duty to protect him. They failed,” wrote Brown family Attorney Merritt on social media.

Published

6 years ago

October 14, 2019

Oakland Post

The timing and emerging details surrounding Joshua’s premature death are peculiar at best. Botham Jean's neighbor Joshua Brown is overcome with emotion after recounting how he'd heard him singing gospel and Drake songs across the hall. The judge took a recess. Fired Dallas police Officer Amber Guyger is facing a murder charge in the 204th District Court at the Frank Crowley Courts Building in Dallas, Tuesday, September 24, 2019. (Photo: Video screen capture, Dallas Morning News / YouTube)

Texas Metro News Reports

Joshua Brown, a witness in the Amber Guyger Murder Trial was shot dead a week ago. Ms. Guyger, the former police officer, was found guilty of murdering business exec, Botham Jean, after “mistakenly” entering his apartment. According to Attorney Lee Merritt, who represents the Jean family and now, Mr. Brown’s family, Mr. Brown was nervous about testifying.

“The State knew Joshua Brown didn’t want to testify due to concerns for his safety. He flew to California when the trial began. They threatened him with jail if he didn’t return. He went straight from the airport to the court. Dallas County has a duty to protect him. They failed,” wrote Atty. Merritt on social media.

Aubrey C. Hooper, President, Dallas NAACP, issued the following statement:

“The Dallas NAACP is calling for a prompt, yet full and thorough independent investigation of the murder of Joshua Brown by an outside agency, preferably the Dallas County Sherriff Department or the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office.

“The timing and emerging details surrounding Joshua’s premature death are peculiar at best. I am urging law enforcement to fully evaluate and establish if any connections exist between his death and his role in the Guyger trial. If such a legitimate connection exists, we are asking that all necessary law enforcement agencies provide appropriate protection for all other parties that might be at risk.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the Brown family as they struggle through Joshua’s death and seek answers for his senseless murder. We call upon the community leaders, public officials, faith leaders, and community members to work in solidarity to work to reduce this spike in violent crimes in Dallas. This tragic murder further emphasis that public safety is larger than just law enforcement and the need for a comprehensive and holistic plan. Joshua’s death shows that we must move expeditiously.”

At press time, two arrest warrants have been issued. “I am deeply saddened to learn about one of our own, Joshua Brown, passing. We have to allow DPD to do their job and investigate. It is critical that we find out what happened and find who is responsible for the death of Mr. Brown.

“My heart again goes out to both Brown and Botham Jean families who have lost sons. I want to assure my constituents I will keep a very close eye on the Brown investigation and all aspects of this terrible crime,” said Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson.

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Tiguan’s AI Touchscreen & Gear Shift: VW Just Changed the Game! #2

Explore the Tiguan’s cutting-edge 12.9-inch infotainment touchscreen featuring wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, voice control, and a new AI assistant. See how VW innovatively moved the gear shifter to the steering column, enhancing the center console and navigation system! #AutoNetwork #Tiguan #Infotainment #AppleCarPlay #AndroidAuto #AISystem #NavigationSystem #CarTech #TechReview #CarInnovation #Automotive

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3 days ago

June 17, 2025

Oakland Post

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IN MEMORIAM: Legendary Funk Pioneer Sly Stone Dies at 82

Sly Stone’s musical approach radically reshaped popular music. He transcended genre boundaries and empowered a new generation of artists. The band’s socially conscious message and infectious rhythms sparked a wave of influence, reaching artists as diverse as Miles Davis, George Clinton, Prince, Dr. Dre, and the Roots.

Published

3 days ago

June 17, 2025

Oakland Post

Sly and the Family Stone play the Opera House in Bournemouth. Mojo review. Photo by Simon Fernandez.

By Stacy M. Brown
BlackPressUSA.com Newswire

Sylvester “Sly” Stewart—known to the world as Sly Stone, frontman of the groundbreaking band Sly and the Family Stone—has died at the age of 82.

His family confirmed that he passed away peacefully at his Los Angeles home surrounded by loved ones, after battling chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other health complications.

Born March 15, 1943, in Denton, Texas, Stone moved with his family to Vallejo, California, as a child. He began recording gospel music at age 8 with his siblings in a group called the Stewart Four. By his teenage years, he had mastered multiple instruments and was already pioneering racial integration in music—an ethos that would define his career.

In 1966, Sly and his brother Freddie merged their bands to form Sly and the Family Stone, complete with a revolutionary interracial, mixed-gender lineup.

The band quickly became a commercial and cultural force with hits such as “Dance to the Music,” “Everyday People,” and “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)”—all penned by Stone himself.

Their album “Stand!” (1969) and live performances—most notably at Woodstock—cemented their reputation, blending soul, funk, rock, gospel, and psychedelia to reflect the optimism and turmoil of their era.

As the 1970s progressed, Stone confronted personal demons. His desire to use music as a response to war, racism, and societal change culminated in the intense album “There’s a Riot Goin’ On” (1971). But drug dependency began to undermine both his health and professional life, leading to erratic behavior and band decline through the early 1980s.

Withdrawn from the public eye for much of the 1990s and early 2000s, Stone staged occasional comebacks. He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1993, received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Grammys in 2017, and captured public attention following the 2023 release of his memoir “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)”—published under Questlove’s imprint. He also completed a biographical screenplay and was featured in Questlove’s documentary “Sly Lives!” earlier this year.

His influence endured across generations. Critics and historians repeatedly credit him with perfecting funk and creating a “progressive soul,” shaping a path for racial integration both onstage and in the broader culture.

“Rest in beats Sly Stone,” legendary Public Enemy frontman Chuck D posted on social media with an illustrative drawing of the artist. “We should thank Questlove of the Roots for keeping his fire blazing in this century.”

Emmy-winning entertainment publicist Danny Deraney also paid homage. “Rest easy Sly Stone,” Deraney posted. “You changed music (and me) forever. The time he won over Ed Sullivan’s audience in 1968. Simply magical. Freelance music publicist and Sirius XM host Eric Alper also offered a tribute.

“The funk pioneer who made the world dance, think, and get higher,” Alper wrote of Sly Stone. “His music changed everything—and it still does.”

Sly Stone is survived by three children.

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PRESS ROOM: Clyburn on 10th Anniversary of Mother Emanuel AME Church Shooting in Charleston

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — Congressman James E. Clyburn (SC-06) released the following video on X, paying tribute to the 10th anniversary of the shooting that took place at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina on June 17, 2015.

Published

3 days ago

June 17, 2025

Oakland Post

By Congressman James E. Clyburn

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CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA – Congressman James E. Clyburn (SC-06) released the following video on X, paying tribute to the 10^th anniversary of the shooting that took place at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina on June 17, 2015.

“Over 6 years ago, the House first passed my Enhanced Background Checks Act to close the Charleston Loophole that allowed a white supremacist to obtain the gun he used to murder nine worshipers at Emanuel AME Church on June 17, 2015.

“I’ll never stop fighting to pass this law.”