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OP-ED: Meta Deleted Me. I Still Don’t Know Why. And neither will you.

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE: Years of credibility, commentary, and public record—gone with no explanation, no appeal, and a mandatory referral to federal law enforcement.

Published

2 months ago

February 23, 2026

Oakland Post

A verified journalist was banned, reported to federal authorities, and given no recourse. A glitch in the system may be the point.

By Morris W. O’Kelly (Mo’Kelly)

I have long had a hate/hate relationship with social media. It is the place where people mainly try to impress people they don’t know with knowledge they don’t have, to fake lifestyles they don’t live. And that’s assuming we disregard the anonymous trolls, foreign bots, and random, garden-variety bad actors permeating the landscape.

Nonetheless, as a person who works in news media, social media is a necessary evil. It is necessary to promote oneself and one’s work and to develop an overall footprint. In my business, it is a necessary and accepted form of currency. More generally, one’s social media presence is used equally for job selection and job exclusion. I had already left Twitter/X due to it devolving into a racist hellhole, guided by “Apartheid Clyde” himself, Elon Musk. You know, the guy is more reminiscent of a poorly conceived Bond villain, with ethnostate sugar plums dancing in his head.

But I digress…

For me, Facebook, Instagram, and its companion Threads (Meta) were more than enough to satisfy my social media needs. I get it. I’m old. I’m not cool. Most importantly, I’m good with it. But what little social media I used was essential to my profession, which, as a political and cultural commentator, included discussion of any and all topics, from Donald Trump to Jeffrey Epstein to Palestine to even Diddy.

In fact, my blue check-marked profiles came from years of credibility construction, not from paying a monthly vanity subscription. This is very important. I’ll come back to it later.

But just like that (snap), most of it disappeared.

Recently, my IG (Instagram) and Threads accounts were disabled and deleted due to a supposed post where I violated the terms of service regarding the depiction of children.

Say what?! Children?!

According to Meta, my account was found to have either:

Showed a child’s genitals
Showed sexual activity involving children
Sexualized children

From Meta:

“No one can see or find your account, and you can’t use it. All your information will be permanently deleted. You cannot request another review of this decision.”

No inclusion or mention of the supposed offending post was made. No recourse, review, or redress. All gone. But wait, it gets worse.

Meta also informed me that

“We’re required by law to report suspected cases of child sexual exploitation to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).”

Was it a discussion of Jeffrey Epstein or some other news-related figure misinterpreted by AI?

I can’t tell you—and Meta won’t either—because I “cannot request another review of this decision,” nor am I aware of the specifics of the supposedly violating post. If your social media experience is anything like mine, I’m called every racial slur imaginable with both regularity and impunity. Oddly enough, these trolls are almost never reprimanded or disabled. I’ve never been suspended for any online behavior on any platform at any time. That’s relevant too.

Was my account hacked by a nefarious actor who posted some offensive and obscene material? I can’t rule it in or out, as I don’t have access to my account to perform a forensic analysis of any logins from suspicious devices or the like. That, and I “cannot request another review of this decision.” Years of posts, pictures, commentaries, and discussions across TWO platforms, gone. And I can’t even verify whether the supposed violation occurred on Instagram or Threads.

But back to being a “verified, blue checkmark” user…

Originally, before people had the option to simply buy a subscription and, with it, a blue checkmark, one had to be a person of some notoriety or credibility within a specific field of expertise. You had to earn it in some way. In addition, you were required to submit your actual driver’s license or state ID as another layer of verification. Meaning, the repercussions of Meta being ‘required by law to report suspected cases of child sexual exploitation to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC)’ could have legal and professional repercussions—the full extent of which neither of us can predict.

In addition, since I work with children in various capacities outside of work, I’m required to be live-scanned. Live Scan technology uses digital fingerprinting to instantly transmit biometric data to state (DOJ) and federal (FBI) databases. Its primary uses include rapid criminal background checks for employment (childcare, healthcare, and law enforcement), professional licensing, volunteer screenings, and firearm permits.

We’re talking about the same DOJ run by Pam Bondi and the FBI by Kash Patel.

The consequences can be substantial and unlimited. I can rule nothing in and can rule nothing out. What I can say for certain is that NEVER has anything even remotely near the sexualization of children or associated imagery graced ANYTHING I do. Not privately. Not publicly. I have served on a federal grand jury for four months, and that service included child pornography cases, inclusive of the underlying photographic evidence. It was horrible. I have worked as an advocate for women pre- and post-Me Too movement. My life’s work is both public and inarguable.

There is no pornography on my phone to “accidentally” upload. There is no hidden double life. There is no behavior to apologize for or explain. The problem with that is I can neither prove it nor even plead my case. Again, I “cannot request another review of this decision,” nor will I be informed of what might happen next in the form of a knock on a door from a federal agent or a federal file created (or added to) with my name on it. Today, it is me. Tomorrow, it may be you.

There is a larger discussion to be had here. Against the backdrop of the politicization of mainstream and legacy media, it is reasonable to wonder whether this isn’t both intentional and coordinated. We remember the blocking of Harris’s presidential endorsements, such as with the Los Angeles Times and The Washington Post. I can’t rule out the possibility that this is part of a larger attempt to suppress voices critical of this presidential administration. I can’t rule it out and neither can you.

Given the ongoing threats and outright censorship of late night broadcasts in both Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert, I can’t rule out whether I was targeted, and neither can you.

Given the recent FCC “investigation” of the Bad Bunny Super Bowl halftime show, which was controversial ONLY to the MAGA faithful and racists afraid of 12 minutes of Spanish from an American citizen, one could reasonably question whether these are all dots just waiting to be connected. I can’t rule it in, and none of us can rule it out. That is saying nothing of the confirmed presidential “enemies list” and the tactics employed by ICE to monitor, target and intimidate protesters and legal observers. That is saying nothing of the firing of 300 Washington Post journalists and staff, simultaneous to its owner Jeff Bezos pouring 75 million dollars into support and promotion of “Melania” propaganda, which is presently cosplaying as a legitimate documentary, in theaters right now.

Just this week, commuted Trump insider Roger Stone interviewed the owner of the aforementioned Los Angeles Times and avowed Trump supporter, Patrick Soon Shiong. And that’s saying nothing of the ongoing efforts to delegitimize CBS News, a Paramount subsidiary firmly intertwined with the Trump administration.

My account didn’t disappear in a vacuum.

If we check the leaderboard:

The top print media, broadcast media, and social media are ALL owned by Trump acolytes, actively engaged in exerting public pressure by way of their companies to suppress dissent and force compliance from its employees and users. Whether I am a consequence of bad luck and unforgiving terms of service…or part of a larger effort to squelch opposing voices, who is to say? I can’t definitively say, and neither can you. Whereas I’m generally not a conspiracy theorist, I can’t just ignore publicly available and relevant evidence either.

This presidential administration may only be temporary in the grand scheme of things, but the internet is still forever, whether we like it or not.

At this time, I’m not sure what my future social media involvement may be. If I hated social media before, I absolutely hate it even more now. I still have a Facebook (Meta) presence, but I have no desire to start over and rebuild elsewhere, with the same threat and consequences still looming. At the minimum, there is the opportunity to use this moment as a warning to highlight how dangerous a time it is in which we live and how that danger extends to all of us. Even you.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of BlackPressUSA.com or the National Newspaper Publishers Association.

Morris W. O’Kelly (Mo’Kelly) is a political and cultural commentator across various media. Good luck trying to find him on social media.

Oakland Post

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IN MEMORIAM: Rest in Power — Minnesota Loses a True Warrior in Yusef Mgeni

MINNESOTA SPOKESMAN RECORDER — Yusef Mgeni, a brilliant historian, community organizer, former St. Paul educator and fierce advocate for Black people, died on April 7, 2026, leaving behind a legacy that will echo through generations of Black Minnesota history and community building.

Published

2 days ago

April 15, 2026

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By MSR News Online

Minnesota and the world lost a powerful voice and a true warrior on April 7, 2026. Yusef Mgeni is gone, but his legacy will echo for generations.

Yusef was a brilliant historian, a community organizer, a former St. Paul educator, and a fierce advocate for Black people. He carried with him an extraordinary archive of speeches, books, articles, and photographs documenting the work of countless Black scholars and leaders. His knowledge was not just deep. It was generational. Talk to him about any subject concerning Black history, and he would give you a dissertation.

His roots in this community ran deeper than most people knew. Yusef was the grandnephew of Fredrick McGhee, the pioneering 20th-century civil rights activist and attorney who made his mark in St. Paul at the turn of the century. That lineage was not lost on Yusef. He carried it forward with pride and purpose, spending decades making sure the stories of Black Minnesotans were told, preserved, and passed on.

As a journalist, Yusef called NAACP leaders and community figures to identify the issues that mattered most to Black people and wrote about them in local newspapers. He was a contributor to the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder, a platform he understood and respected deeply. As a former St. Paul NAACP vice president, he remained active and engaged well into his retirement, answering emails and voicemails for residents who were at their wits’ end, helping them navigate evictions, legal challenges, and systemic barriers.

“Generally, they contact us when they are at their wits’ end,” he once said. “They are going to get evicted; their car is getting repossessed. We assist in navigating the system.”

His work was always about access. Under his leadership and alongside other NAACP leaders, the St. Paul chapter helped establish a landmark covenant between the police and the St. Paul community in 2001, a model that contributed to dramatically lower excessive-force costs than in Minneapolis in the decade that followed.

Yusef was also a passionate champion of ethnic studies in Minnesota’s schools, understanding that education rooted in Black and Brown history was not a supplement to American history but central to it.

“Ethnic studies is also American history,” he said. “The fact that the legislature and the MDE have both endorsed ethnic studies requirements in schools is a real plus for giving people the opportunity to explore and learn more about American history, and more importantly, to see themselves reflected in that learning.”

In the 1970s and ’80s, Yusef worked alongside Mrs. Clarissa Walker at the Sabathani Community Center, where they poured their energy into uplifting and empowering the community. Their work helped shape the cultural and political landscape of South Minneapolis during a critical era. They were part of a generation that built institutions, nurtured young people, and fought for justice with unwavering commitment.

Yusef also played a key role in the early development of KMOJ Radio, helping to establish a platform that amplified Black voices long before it was common or convenient. His activism extended through education, the St. Paul NAACP, the Million Man March, and the Urban Coalition, always rooted in a deep and abiding love for his people.

He was also an interviewee in the Rondo neighborhood oral history project preserved by the Minnesota Historical Society, ensuring that the voices and stories of that community would never be lost.

Not long ago, a colleague was blessed to sit with Yusef at his home, where he reflected on his life and his legacy. He talked about his work in education, his activism, and his years of service to the community. But what stood out just as much was how he spoke about his family and his people, with warmth, with pride, and with purpose.

Today, we honor him not only for what he accomplished but for the spirit with which he did it.

A scholar. A builder. A warrior. A keeper of our stories.

Thank you, Yusef, for everything you gave and everything you sacrificed on behalf of Black people. Your legacy stands tall, and our community is better because of you.

Rest in Power, Yusef Mgeni.

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Revolve Fund to Provide $20,000 to Support Food Access Efforts in Alabama Black Belt

THE AFRO — “Revolve Fund complements its core mission of improving capital access for entrepreneurs by partnering with leading organizations that are addressing critical community needs,” said James Wahls, founder and managing director of Revolve Fund. “Like BBCF, Revolve understands at the most fundamental level, everyone should have access to healthy food.”

Published

2 days ago

April 15, 2026

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By Revolve Fund | The AFRO

SELMA – As over 40 million Americans grappled with the reality of not being able to feed themselves or their families due to SNAP delays, Revolve Fund is seeking to help. Revolve Fund has announced a $20,000 community grant to the Black Belt Community Foundation as part of the duo’s continued partnership. The grant will increase the foundation’s capacity to execute programs and fundraise to support food access efforts in the Alabama Black Belt region.

“Revolve Fund complements its core mission of improving capital access for entrepreneurs by partnering with leading organizations that are addressing critical community needs,” said James Wahls, founder and managing director of Revolve Fund. “Like BBCF, Revolve understands at the most fundamental level, everyone should have access to healthy food.”

“BBCF is deeply grateful for the Revolve Fund’s grant to underwrite direct food support in the Black Belt during the current disruption of SNAP benefits, continuing high food costs and unprecedented strain on our local food banks,” said Christopher Spencer, president and CEO, Black Belt Community Foundation. “As BBCF mobilizes resources and community partners during this time, Revolve is one of the first philanthropic organizations to step forward to support our Food for Families in the Black Belt Campaign. We look ahead to our productive, continued partnership with them to positively impact and transform the Black Belt region of Alabama.”

“While our communities need and deserve so much more, we hope our contribution will support the foundation’s ability to work with other philanthropic partners, individual donors, charities, and public partners,” Wahls added.

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Mamdani Plans City Grocery Store in East Harlem

NEW YORK CARIB NEWS — The store will be located at La Marqueta, a historic marketplace beneath the elevated Park Avenue tracks. The project is expected to cost approximately $30 million and is slated to open next year, utilizing currently vacant space within the city-owned facility. Operating rent-free, officials say the model is intended to lower overhead and pass savings on to consumers.

Published

2 days ago

April 15, 2026

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New York Carib News

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has announced plans to establish the city’s first municipally owned grocery store in East Harlem, a flagship initiative aimed at addressing rising food costs and improving access to affordable essentials.

The store will be located at La Marqueta, a historic marketplace beneath the elevated Park Avenue tracks. The project is expected to cost approximately $30 million and is slated to open next year, utilizing currently vacant space within the city-owned facility. Operating rent-free, officials say the model is intended to lower overhead and pass savings on to consumers.

Mamdani unveiled the plan during an event marking his first 100 days in office, reaffirming a campaign pledge to build a network of five city-owned grocery stores, one in each borough, by the end of his first term in 2029.

“During our campaign, we promised New Yorkers that we would create a network of five city-owned grocery stores,” Mamdani said. “Today, we make good on that promise.”

The mayor positioned the initiative as a direct response to surging grocery prices, noting that food costs in New York City rose by nearly 66% between 2013 and 2023, significantly outpacing the national average. He argued that the city-run stores would provide fair pricing, improve worker conditions, and ease the financial burden on low-income households.

“We’re going to make it easier for New Yorkers to put food on the table,” Mamdani said, adding that staples such as eggs and bread would be more affordable.

However, the proposal is already drawing scrutiny. The estimated cost of the East Harlem store would consume nearly half of the $70 million budget initially outlined for the entire five-store program. Despite this, Mamdani remains confident that the initiative will deliver long-term benefits and help reshape access to affordable groceries across the city.

The announcement also drew political attention, with U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders making a surprise appearance at the event in support of the mayor’s broader economic agenda.