A special word should be said regarding Black police officers. It is true that Black officers are in a peculiar situation. They are often subjected to a "double whammy." Inside the Police Department, they encounter racism and rejection. In the community, they experience disdain, insults, ridicule, and rejection.
What has been the response to these years of appeals for justice? The reactions of the police and the larger public have always been the same: support the police, create more proposals, be peaceful, be prayerful, and make promises.
As we witness the killings of and by police officers in the last several months, I share the sadness and anger of all the loved ones and supporters of those who have been victimized.
My sadness and anger are not only for the recent events, but I am angrier because when something could have been done, nothing was done. They would not have died if leaders and the majority public would have forcibly, aggressively, and passionately acted when we were expressing the police disrespect, violence, and murder to the world.
August 1979: Mr. Michael Amon-ra and I travelled to Portland, Oregon and met with Mr. Ron Herndon and discussed a national organization.
There was another tribute for Muhammad Ali, "The Greatest." This one was held in the ring at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY on Saturday, June 25, 2016. Several months before the tribute, Mr. Brett Yormack, the CEO of the Barclays Center, invited me (and a guest) to join him at ringside for the championship fight between Keith Thurman and Shawn Porter. Later, he embellished the invite with an offer to join him in the ring with two champions - Daniel Jacobs (middleweight) and Deontay Wilder (heavyweight) in a tribute to Muhammad Ali.
The people who support consideration, sympathy, or compassion for immigrants do so from practical, self-interest, and/or moral/humanitarian reasons. They argue that we cannot close our doors to people who are desperate or in dire need. We have to find a way to take them in, and/or provide opportunities for them to better their lives.
Additionally, the perception of some American citizens is that some immigrants are not nice. American citizens often feel slighted, humiliated, and disrespected by some of them. Personally, I have felt this way, too. Years ago, we had to boycott Korean stores because of the abusive treatment.
On June 23, 2016, the Supreme Court ended in a 4:4 tie regarding President Barack Obama's signature program for assisting illegal or undocumented immigrants in the USA. The inability of the Court to decide means that the issue will be sent back to the lower courts. The lower courts had decided that President Obama overstepped his authority.
The Afeni Shakur Memorial Ceremony commenced at 4:15pm on Saturday, June 18, 2016 with an African drum procession by the Songhai Djeli. Rev. Dr. Karen S. Daughtry, the Senior Pastor at The House of the Lord Church in Brooklyn, NY, welcomed the guests. She remembered when Afeni brought her sister, Gloria, and her two children, Tupac and Sekyiwa, to the church for membership. I appointed Dr. Daughtry as the Big Sister to Gloria; and, Minister Peggy Washington as Afeni's Big Sister. By now, the sanctuary downstairs (which accommodates 350 people) was filled. People were going upstairs to the balcony.
"It was a blast. It was like a family reunion. I saw old friends that I have not seen in years." - William Lesane, the nephew of Afeni Shakur
