News

The Tri-City NAACP Hosts Freedom Fund Gala

Published

6 years ago

January 6, 2018

By Danette Mitchell

The Tri-City NAACP (Vacaville, Fairfield and Suisun City) recently hosted its sold-out annual Freedom Fund Gala at the Sunrise Banquet Hall and Event Center in Vacaville with a theme of “Stay Awake to Avoid the Rollback of Our Progress.”

The keynote speaker was 81-year-old Bobby Seale, Founder of the Black Panther Party, and Dr. Claybon Lea, Jr., Senior Pastor of the Mount Calvary Baptist Church in Fairfield, who also spoke.

Seale talked about his days in the Black Panther Party founded in 1966 with Huey Newton. The Party’s goal was political unity. He said at that time, there were about 50,000 people in elected political offices yet only 5,000 were African Americans. He also said the Party was instrumental in getting some blacks elected to political offices and that he ran for mayor of Oakland. The Party spearheaded a number of community social programs that included the Free Breakfast for Children program.

Seale said while in prison, he endured many beatings and was always under the watchful eye of former FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover who labeled the Party a radical group and tried to discredit them. Yet their membership grew and included chapters in Oakland-San Francisco Bay Area, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Seattle, and Philadelphia.

Seale also mentioned that he and Newton drafted the Ten-Point Program that established the direction and goals of the Black Panther Party for Self Defense that included education, fair housing and an end to police brutality.

Johnicon George, Sr., President of Tri-City NAACP, said his takeaway from Seale’s speech was that blacks must educate themselves not only academically, but also politically. The community needs to make sure that it puts qualified people in political offices and get people registered to vote.

Dr. Lea’s speech, titled, “Lessons from Selma,” consisted of five points to facilitate social change. They were: know that the vote is more powerful than the voice, empower and entrust local leaders, engage voters early and often, equip activists with resources including money, and enforce accountability of elected officials which was a significant takeaway for George, he said.

As president of the Tri-City NAACP, George’s top goals for 2018 are to model the NAACP plan used in the recent Alabama race that mobilized African Americans and helped lead newly-elected Democratic senator Doug Jones to victory. His other goals are to impact Solano County’s 2018 elections by also bringing together other local organizations such as the Fairfield-Suisun City-Vacaville Section of the National Council of Negro Women and the Northern California Democratic Club.

The Tri-City NAACP recognized several individuals for their outstanding work in the community. Other awards given were the Presidential Medal of Freedom award to the Rev. Oneal Young, Jr. and the Young Adult Presidential Freedom Award given both to Roman Robinson and Madison Marie Young.

Throughout the event, live entertainment was provided by soloist Khela Campos with keyboardist and DJ Tosh for the dance portion of the night.

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Oakland Post: Week of April 17 – 23, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of April 17 – 23, 2024

Published

4 days ago

April 19, 2024

Oakland Post

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California Black Media

Yahushua’s Law: Senate Advances Bill to Protect Students from Extreme Weather

In a significant move towards student safety, the California Senate Education Committee passed Senate Bill (SB) 1248, also known as Yahushua’s Law, on April 3. The bill is named in memory of Yahushua Robinson, a 12-year-old student from Lake Elsinore, who tragically died due to a heat-related illness during a physical education class in 2023. It is a pioneering effort to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Published

4 days ago

April 18, 2024

Oakland Post

Yahushua Nyerere Robinson (Courtesy Photo)

By California Black Media

In a significant move towards student safety, the California Senate Education Committee passed Senate Bill (SB) 1248, also known as Yahushua’s Law, on April 3.

The bill is named in memory of Yahushua Robinson, a 12-year-old student from Lake Elsinore, who tragically died due to a heat-related illness during a physical education class in 2023. It is a pioneering effort to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Authored by Senator Melissa Hurtado (D-Bakersfield) and co-authored by Assemblymember Akilah Weber, M.D. (D-La Mesa), SB 1248 directs the California Department of Education to develop comprehensive guidelines for schools regarding student activity during all extreme weather conditions.

“No student should ever lose their life on campus to extreme weather when we can take steps to protect them by preparing statewide plans to minimize exposure to the most harmful elements of exposure,” Hurtado said after introducing SB 1248.

The bill stipulates that schools must implement safety measures which include monitoring weather forecasts, postponing or relocating outdoor activities during hazardous conditions, and ensuring students have proper hydration and access to shade. It also requires schools to establish clear communication plans to keep parents, teachers, and students informed about potential weather hazards.

Supporters of the bill include the Robinson family, advocate Christina Laster, Bold Enterprises LLC, California Black Women’s Collective Empowerment Institute, Familias Empoderadas del Valle Central National Action Network, The Black Student Advocate, and the Ventura County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.

Thanking Hurtado for introducing this crucial legislation, Weber said, “The story of Yahushua Robinson last year was heartbreaking. We have protections for farm workers and other industries in the case of extreme weather, now climate change is forcing us to also extend similar protections to students at school.”

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Barbara Lee

Congresswoman Barbara Lee Issues Statement on Deaths of Humanitarian Aid Volunteers in Gaza 

On April 2, a day after an Israeli airstrike erroneously killed seven employees of World Central Kitchen (WCK), a humanitarian organization delivering aid in the Gaza Strip, a statement was release by Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA-12). “This is a devastating and avoidable tragedy. My prayers go to the families and loved ones of the selfless members of the World Central Kitchen team whose lives were lost,” said Lee.

Published

6 days ago

April 17, 2024

Oakland Post

Congresswoman Barbara Lee

By California Black Media

“This is a devastating and avoidable tragedy. My prayers go to the families and loved ones of the selfless members of the World Central Kitchen team whose lives were lost,” said Lee.

The same day, it was confirmed by the organization that the humanitarian aid volunteers were killed in a strike carried out by Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Prior to the incident, members of the team had been travelling in two armored vehicles marked with the WCF logo and they had been coordinating their movements with the IDF. The group had successfully delivered 10 tons of humanitarian food in a deconflicted zone when its convoy was struck.

“This is not only an attack against WCK. This is an attack on humanitarian organizations showing up in the direst situations where food is being used as a weapon of war. This is unforgivable,” said Erin Gore, chief executive officer of World Central Kitchen.

The seven victims included a U.S. citizen as well as others from Australia, Poland, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Palestine.

Lee has been a vocal advocate for a ceasefire in Gaza and has supported actions by President Joe Biden to airdrop humanitarian aid in the area.

“Far too many civilians have lost their lives as a result of Benjamin Netanyahu’s reprehensible military offensive. The U.S. must join with our allies and demand an immediate, permanent ceasefire – it’s long overdue,” Lee said.