Demi Lovato is calling for people to honor the memory of Breonna Taylor…
The 27-year-old half-Mexican American singer/actress has taken to social media to ask her fans to honor Taylor’s memory with a different kind of social action on what would’ve been the slain African-American woman’s 27th birthday.
“It’s Breonna Taylor’s birthday this Friday (June 5). Her favorite colors were blue and purple @iamkevingates was one of her favorite artists. She was an EMT on the frontlines during corona(virus),” Lovato wrote of the Louisville woman who was killed when a squad of police used a battering ram to enter her apartment using a “no-knock” warrant and opened fire. “Around midnight on March 13th police broke down her door and shot her 8 times, no evidence of a crime was uncovered. The sole crime was the murder of Breonna Taylor. Her crime being asleep in her own home.”
Taylor’s name is among those most frequently mentioned these days by protesters marching to demand justice for George Floyd, who was killed when a now-fired white police officer kneeled on his neck for nearly nine minutes.
During a week in which she’s been sharing resources for Lovatics interested in donating to or showing solidarity for groups seeking racial justice and police reform – as well as participating in Black Out Tuesday – Demi Lovato offered up a new way to make a statement.
Drawing inspiration from writer/feminist Cate Young‘s suggestion, Lovato encouraged fans to honor Taylor’s memory by sending cards to Kentucky attorney general Daniel Cameron.
“The most underserved demographic in America is black women, we cannot allow them to forget Breonna,” she wrote.
To date, a GoFundMe effort to support Taylor’s family has collected more than three times the initial $500,000 goal.
The three officers in the case have been placed on administrative reassignment and the attempted murder of a police officer charges against Taylor’s boyfriend, Kenneth Walker— who reportedly fired on police when they burst through the door — were dropped last month; the FBIis investigating Taylor’s shooting.
America Ferrera is calling for decreased police funding…
The 36-year-old Honduran American actress and activist has joined the likes of John Legend, Common, the Weeknd, Lizzo, Jane Fonda, and others to signed a new open letter urging local governments to decrease police budgets in favor of spending more on health care, education, and other community programs.
Others to sign the letter include Megan Rapinoe, Yada Shahidi, and Anthony Romero, the executive director of the ACLU.
The letter was released by activist Patrisse Cullors, a co-founder of Black Lives Matter and a founding member of the Movement 4 Black Lives, a coalition of more than 100 black-rights organizations.
The letter arrived in conjunction with #BlackOutTuesday and #TheShowMustBePaused, a grassroots campaign within the music industryto pause work today, June 2nd, and “reconnect with our community.”
Talib Kweli, Natalie Portman, Brie Larson and Taraji P. Henson also signed the letter.
The open letter ties the deaths of unarmed black people like George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, and others to the disproportionately devastating effects the COVID-19 pandemic has had on black communities.
The COVID-19 deaths and the deaths caused by police terror are connected and consequential to each other,” it states. “The United States does not have a national healthcare system. Instead, we have the largest military budget in the world, and some of the most well-funded and militarized police departments in the world, too. Policing and militarization overwhelmingly dominate the bulk of national and local budgets. In fact, police and military funding has increased every single year since 1973, and at the same time, funding for public health decreased every year, crystallized most recently when the Trump administration eliminated the U.S. Pandemic Response Team in 2018, citing ‘costs.To know more about health check this site.
Noting, for instance, that state and local government spending on police and corrections jumped from $60 billion to $194 billion between 1977 and 2017, the letter lays out an array of different ways that money could be used. “It could go towards building healthy communities, to the health of our elders and children, to neighborhood infrastructure, to education, to childcare, to support a vibrant Black future. The possibilities are endless.”
At the end, the letter lays out its three demands and asks all signees to encourage their local officials to take the pledge as well: “Vote no on all increases to police budgets. Vote yes to decrease police spending and budgets. Vote yes to increase spending on Health care, Education, and Community programs that keep us safe.”
Teresa Leger Fernandez is one step closer to entering the U.S. Congress…
The Latina politician, a progressive Democrat, defeated former CIA operative Valerie Plameto win the Democratic nomination in New Mexico’s 3rd Congressional District.
Leger Fernandez overcame six competitors including Plame to win her party’s nomination to succeed U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján as he runs for U.S. Senate.
Leger Fernandez, an attorney and activist who has emphasized her strong ties to the local community.
Leger Fernandez emphasized her long history in the district throughout her campaign. “In New Mexico, we recognize there’s nothing to gain in demonizing an other,” Ms. Leger Fernandez said in an interview Wednesday. “It’s clear that voters liked that I am a Latina, based in the land and respectful of the land, and have complete acknowledgment of how we are different and that can be celebrated.”
She had secured a slate of top-tier endorsements, including from EMILY’s List, the Sierra Club, Planned Parenthood Action Fund and the Latino Victory Fund, and she received endorsements from high-profile national Democrats, including Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York. She had raised nearly $1.3 million.
The nomination of Leger Fernandez, a professional advocate for Native American pueblo communities and voting rights issues, is likely to be decisive in the vast northern district where Democrats outnumber Republicans nearly 2-1.
The congressional district — the state’s third — spans northern New Mexico and includes the capital of Santa Fe.
Carmen Osbahr-Vertiz is helping raise awareness on racism in America…
The 58-year-old Mexican puppeteer’s beloved Sesame Street character, Rosita, will be part of the long-running PBS series town hall addressing racism in partnership with CNN. The event comes in response to protests around the world after the death of George Floyd in Minnesota.
Big Bird will join CNN’s Van Jones and Erica Hill to moderate the Coming Together: Standing Up to Racism town hall, which will cover topics of racism, protesting, embracing diversity, and being more empathetic and understanding.
In addition to Rosita and Big Bird, Sesame Street’s Elmo and Abby Cadabby will join experts to answer questions from parents and children.
The 60-minute special will air on Saturday, June 6, at 10:00 am ET. The town hall will air on CNN, CNN International, and CNN en Español. It will also stream live on CNN.com and on the CNN app, without requiring a cable log-in.
Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, died on May 25 in Minneapolis after a white police officer kneeled into his neck for nearly 9 minutes. The incident was caught on video by multiple bystanders and released across social media, leading to an intense response from residents in cities across the U.S., as well as other countries, calling for justice and an end to police brutality against black people.
Osbahr-Vertiz’s Rosita is a 5-year-old turquoise Hispanic female monster Muppet character on the children’s television series. Fluent in English and Spanish, she’s the first regular bilingual Muppet on the show. Osbahr-Vertiz has voiced Rosita since 1991.
Sesame Street and the news network also combined forces in May for a town hall discussing COVID-19.
To help combat systemic racism, please consider donating to these organizations:
Campaign Zero, which is dedicated to ending police brutality in America through research-based strategies.
Color of Change, which works to move decision makers in corporations and government to be more responsive to racial disparities.
Equal Justice Initiative, which provides legal services to people who have been wrongly convicted, denied a fair trial, or abused in state jails and prisons.
CNN and Sesame Street are doing a special town hall for young kids and families who have questions about racism and where our nation is right now. https://t.co/g58MwSP1bE
The 38-year-old Puerto Rican singer, one half of Zion & Lennox, is among the Latino artists demanding justice after another unarmed black person was killed at the hands of police officers, while using their platforms to amplify the Black Lives Matter movement.
Zion, whose real name is Felix Ortiz, joins artists like Prince Royce, Pedro Capó, Becky G, Sofía Reyes, Justin Quiles in speaking out following the recent deaths of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who was suffocated to death by a Minneapolis police officer during an arrest last week, Breonna Taylor, and other black citizens who have died at the hands of police, as well as Ahmaud Arbery, who was chased and killed by armed white residents of a South Georgia neighborhood while he was on a run.
“Being an AfroLatino Puerto Rican, it saddens me to see people of color still suffering injustices this day and age,” Zion tells Billboard. “The Black community needs Latin voices to speak up in solidarity. We cannot sit and do nothing.”
Here’s a look at some of the Latino artists who’ve shared quotes with Billboard on being an ally to the black community, and the importance of speaking up against systemic racism in the U.S.
Zion (of Zion & Lennox): Being an AfroLatino Puerto Rican, it saddens me to see people of color still suffering injustices this day and age. The Black community needs Latino voices to speak up in solidarity. We cannot sit and do nothing, we have also suffered at the hands of racism and discrimination. This past week’s protests are a display of communities all over the country, demanding change. We all share in their frustration but we must do things right. Vandalism, looting and violence are not the answer. Our communities need to come together and take action.
Prince Royce: The death of George Floyd has been horrifying and heart-wrenching and we all know that he, as well as Breonna Taylor and Ahmad Aubrey are only a few of the many who die unjustly because of racism and discrimination in our country. We must all band together, Latino, Black, White, Asian, to work for change. Our nation is tired of the racism, the division and the hate. We can only heal and move forward towards a better future by dealing with this head on, addressing it, educating ourselves and each other so that future generations never have to experience such injustices. This won’t bring any of the victims back but we must ensure they did not die in vain. Only in a nation free of racism will we all be able to breathe free again.“
Pedro Capó: I stand with George Floyd’s family and the countless others that have suffered from injustice, hate, race inequality and persecution. Evidently this is an unresolved horror that still runs very deep in our society. Black lives matter and this is the time to stand for justice and demand a change. There has to be police reform and criminal justice reform but we as a whole must be part of a social and cultural reform. A reform based on empathy, love and compassion that starts at home and in our communities. Change is coming but it is up to us to make it happen. I urge people to use their voice responsibly. Staying silent is being complicit.
Becky G: As a Mexican American, I stand proudly with my black brothers and sisters. While these injustices are not new and the pain and suffering is global, I am proud to see so many people acknowledging their privilege, using their platforms to elevate others and highlighting what is really important throughout all the noise. I stand as an ally with those who are hurting and I stand in admiration watching those of you, who even through tearful eyes, are taking the time out of your day to educate us and open our minds up to the root of the problem so significant change can be made. They tell us all that we are the minorities, but together we are the majority.
Justin Quiles: The importance of two minorities coming together in solidarity is immeasurable. The Latino and Black communities need to raise their voices because together, we can bring change where it is most needed. We know what it is like to be treated so unfairly. It is heart breaking to see all this injustice and to see people dying. It is wrong! We can’t allow this to continue happening and within our own people too. The world is in a critical state and I am hoping our influence is being heard and that Latinos stand up united to do what is right. #BlackLivesMatter
Sofia Reyes: I felt inspired to speak up because I feel powerless in this situation. I stand for love and even thou the world is so big I feel like by me “being” and “sharing” it, I’m making a difference. It’s important to speak up. I really hope the world finds it sooner than later. I’m really sorry for the innocent lives that have suffered and for racism. I hope one day we all realize that we’re all one. Brothers and sisters. And as I said before; no one is saved until we all are.
Jencarlos Canela: We are only as big as the challenges we overcome. Every generation is faced with challenges which I call opportunities. This is our opportunity as minorities to change things for the better, for our futures and the future generations. You need allies to win wars and wether we like it or not this war has been going on since before all of us were born; the war of inequality and racism. Unity between all minorities is the only weapon that defeats this enemy, an alliance between our people is the only way we win this. Our skin color might be brown, black, yellow and all the colors of the rainbow but our money is just as green as everyone else’s and that’s the color the system cares about the most. The day we as minorities learn to come together, for a cause as one group, there is absolutely no war we can’t win. We shouldn’t have to mold to the system, the system was put there by us and for us, the system must mold to us!
Play (of Play N Skillz): If there ever was a time to unite, this is it. We as latinos, have had our fair share of being mistreated. We share the pain and injustice with our black brothers and sisters. This is the time to rally together, but we have to do it peacefully,, because doing it with violence, is what they want us to do. This is the stereotype, the profile they want to give us minorities and we must be smarter than that. We ARE smarter than that. This is a sad time for humanity. The only answer is to come together. Black, White, Latinos, Asians, Middle Eastern, etc. We are one. We cannot let one more life be taken in vain. Bottom line? There is no neutral position on racism. Rest is Power George Floyd.
Guaynaa: Si asumes una postura neutral ante un acto racista, eres parte del problema. #BlackLivesMatter #MásDeUnAsesino. If you are neutral in a case of racism, you are part of the problem.
The 45-year-old Mexican American politician and former member of President Barack Obama‘s cabinet, has launched a new political action committee aimed at supporting progressive down-ballot candidates who he believes are “prioritizing people, rather than special interests.”
Castro, the former secretary of Housing and Urban Development and presidential candidate in 2020, plans to use the group — called “People First Future” — to “identify and support candidates up and down the ballot,” according to a press release from the newly formed organization.
The group also made their first endorsement on Thursday, backing 12 candidates running for U.S. Congress, including seven running in Castro’s native Texas and others in races Democrats hope to be competitive in come November.
“It’s never been more important to elect leaders in our statehouses, governor’s offices, school boards, and halls of Congress who will stand up for the most vulnerable Americans,” said Castro said in a statement. “While hardworking families struggle to pay rent, get good health care, or send their kids to decent schools, well-connected and deep-pocketed special interests get their way.”
The group plans to not only provide financial support to candidates to help beef up the bench of progressive Democrats, but also mobilize progressives across the country to support those candidates.
Castro’s list of endorsements includes his brother, Joaquin Castro, who is running for reelection in Texas’s 20th Congressional District, and Gina Ortiz Jones, who is running for the second straight cycle in Texas’s 23rd Congressional District.
Castro’s Texas endorsements also include Wendy Davis in Texas’s 21st Congressional District; Candace Valenzuela in Texas’s 24th Congressional District; Julie Oliver in Texas’s 25th Congressional District; Sima Ladjevardian in Texas’s 2nd Congressional District; and Sri Preston Kulkarni in Texas’s 22nd Congressional District.
The former presidential candidate has also endorsed Lucy McBath, a congresswoman who first won Georgia’s 6th Congressional District in 2018; J.D. Scholten, an Iowa Democrat challenging controversial Rep. Steve King in the state’s 4th Congressional District for the second straight cycle and Mondaire Jones, a Democrat running in New York’s 17th Congressional District. Castro has also endorsed Marie Newman, the Illinois Democrat who unseated an incumbent in the state’s congressional district earlier this year, and Lauren Underwood, another Illinois Democrat who won her suburban Chicago seat for the first time in 2018.
The former cabinet secretary has begun to layout his post-campaign plans in recent weeks and just announced he was joining Voto Latino, a large political organization focused on registering and mobilizing Latino voters, as an adviser with the goal of registering one million Latino voters before November’s general election.
Castro ran for president for nearly a year, announcing his bid in January 2019 and dropping out in January 2020 after failing to garner needed support in either early states or nationally. The former cabinet secretary, though, did win goodwill from progressive operatives and voters during the campaign.
The new political organization will be run by many of the same people who staffed his presidential campaign. Natalie Montelongo, Castro’s campaign political director, will work as the group’s executive director, and Sawyer Hackett, Castro’s campaign spokesman, will work as a senior adviser to the organization.
The 47-year-old Mexican actress and telenovela star is joining fellow Latin stars and personalities for the upcoming Cuídate y Cuéntate virtual concert.
The online event is set to raise awareness on how Latinos count, contribute and come together for civic actions during a global pandemic, while completing the Census 2020.
Produced by UNO Productions and the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA), the largest immigrant rights organization in California, the two-hour live stream event hosted by Nour Milla and Rafael Sigler will shed light on Latino civic power and their participation in the census.
Confirmed artists include Lupillo Rivera, Ozomatli, Ninel Conde, Diego Verdaguer, Ana Victoria, Angélica María, Angélica Vale, Arthur Hanlon, and Horóscopos de Durango, to name a few.
In addition screen and radio stars like del Castillo, Edward James Olmos, El Piolin, and many more will participate.
Angélica Salas, CHIRLA’s executive director, and Diana Colín, its political director, are expected to take part in the conversation on how to ensure civic power in the COVID-19 era.
“The COVID-19 crisis has demonstrated two major realities: how much immigrants and Latinos contribute to our society, especially in challenging times, and how important participating in Census 2020 is so we can challenge all the inequality that still exists,” Salas said in a statement. “The beauty that these artists make as they come together for the Cuídate y Cuéntate virtual concert is a sign of hope that as we all complete Census 2020, the nation flourishes.”
Cuídate y Cuéntate will take place at 7:00 p.m. EST on Saturday, May 23 via a nationwide broadcast on LATV Network with a simulcast on YouTube, Facebook, and IGTV. The show will also air on Meruelo Media‘s KWHY 22.
Lina Hidalgois ready to talk about America’s future…
The 29-year-old Colombian American politician and Harris County, Texas judge will take part in SXSW and The Texas Tribune Festival’s “Conversations About America’s Future” at this year’s SXSW conference and festival.
The two-day series will take place March 14-15 at the Fairmont Austinas part of the SXSW Conference’s Government & Politics Track. SXSW kicks off on March 13 and continues through March 22.
This marks the return of the series, which will bring some of the nation’s best-known journalists together with top elected officials, political activists, and influential thought leaders — timely considering this is an election year.
In addition to Hidalgo, the first woman and the first Latina to be elected to the position of Harris County Judge,guests slated to appear this year include Hillary Rodham Clinton,Anita Hill, Gretchen Carlson, Andrew Yang, and more.
“The 2020 election is the most important election of our generation, and at SXSW our goal is to address the issues that affect the lives of all citizens,” said SXSW Chief Programming Officer Hugh Forrest. “We’re fortunate to have a young, diverse and engaged audience looking for solutions to the complex problems that face the next generation.”
The Government & Politics Track at SXSW aims to discuss issues that affect the lives of all citizens. Topics included include technology regulation, livable cities, privacy issues, and the challenges of maintaining civil engagement in the age of social media. These sessions will also address creating policies that encourage competition and economic growth while balancing legacy systems.
“Conversations About America’s Future” sessions include:
Former U.S. Secretary of State, Senator and First Lady of the United States Hillary Rodham Clintonin conversation with MSNBC political analyst and host of AM JoyJoy Reid
U.S. Representative and Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee Adam Schiff, in conversation with NBC News Capitol Hill correspondent and host of MSNBC’s Kasie DCKasie Hunt
Former Chicago Mayor, ABC News contributor and author of The Nation City: Why Mayors are Running the WorldRahm Emanuel, in conversation with Recodeco-founder and editor-at-large Kara Swisher
Lawyer and Head of the Hollywood Commission to Eliminate Sexual Harassment and Advance Equality in the Workplace Anita Hill, in conversation with Politico senior Washington correspondent and Politico Playbookco-author Anna Palmer
Journalist, author and co-founder of Lift Our Voices Gretchen Carlson, in conversation with Glamoureditor-in-chief Samantha Barry
Former congressman and Democratic presidential candidate, and Powered By People founder Beto O’Rourkein conversation with The Washington Postnational political reporter and moderator ofWashington Weekon PBS Robert Costa
Entrepreneur, founder of Venture 4 America and former Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yangin conversation with New York Timesmedia columnist Ben Smith
Four of the Lincoln Project’s founding members — independent political strategist Reed Galen, national political strategist Steve Schmidt, national political strategist John Weaver, and long-time Republican media consultant and author Rick Wilson— in conversation with CNN anchor and host of At This Hour, Kate Bolduan
Justice Democrats spokespersonWaleed Shahid, Mayor of Stockton, California Michael Tubbs, and Harris County (TX) Judge Lina Hidalgoin conversation with TIMEnational correspondent Charlotte Alter, the author of The Ones We’ve Been Waiting For: How a New Generation of Leadership will Transform America
Washington bureau chief for The Daily BeastJackie Kucinich, New York MagazineWashington correspondent Olivia Nuzzi, CNN senior congressional correspondent Manu Raju, andPoliticosenior writer and Politico Playbookco-author Jake Shermanin conversation with senior media reporter at NBC News and MSNBC and the author of Byers Market, Dylan Byers
U.S. Representative Will Hurd, former Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence in the Office of the DNI, Sue Gordonin conversation with editor-in-chief of The AtlanticJeffrey Goldberg
Michelle Caruso-Cabrera is making a run for the U.S. House of Representatives… and she’s taking on a popular freshman Congresswoman.
The 53-year-old half-Cuban American journalist, business news reporter and CNBCcontributor has launched a campaign for the New York City Congressional seat currently held by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Caruso-Cabrera, an outspoken critic of government excess, will be running as a Democrat in the district, which stretches across the Bronx and Queens, though her political views position her significantly to the right of Ocasio-Cortez.
CNBC says she will go on leave from the network, where she has been a reporter and anchor for 20 years.
“I am the daughter and granddaughter of working-class Italian and Cuban immigrants,” Caruso-Cabrera said in a statement. “I am so lucky to have had such a wonderful career and I want everybody to have the opportunity that I’ve had. That’s why I’m running.”
Known by her initials, AOC, the 30-year-old political newcomer’s victory in 2018 was one of the high-profile wins as Democrats took control of the House of Representatives. Netflix captured the win in the documentary Bringing Down the House. Ocasio-Cortez has since racked up more than 6 million Twitter followers. Along with other progressives new to the U.S.Congress, she has become a frequent target of conservatives’ attacks on Democratic leadership.
In her 2010 book, You Know I’m Right: More Prosperity, Less Government, Caruso-Cabrera emphasizes themes like personal responsibility, fiscal conservatism and limited government.
Prior to joining CNBC, Caruso-Cabrera worked at Univision. She has appeared multiple times as a guest on HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher. In a 2011 episode’s “Overtime” segment onYouTube, she promoted her book and defended CNBC against charges that it took a political stance similar to that of Fox News’ opinion hosts. She also described President Barack Obama as “extremely liberal” and misguided because he “believes that government can solve so many problems that it can’t,” such as health care.
The Latina broadcast journalist and WMUR-TV anchor/reporter will serve as a moderator at the next Democratic presidential debate, alongside ABC News chief anchor George Stephanopoulos, World News Tonight’s David Muir, ABC News correspondent Linsey Davis, and WMUR-TV’s Adam Sexton.
The debate is set for February 7 at 8:00 pm ET in Manchester, New Hampshire, wedged between the Iowa Caucusesfour days before and the New Hampshire primary four days after.
The eighth debate of the primary cycle is hosted by ABC News, WMUR-TV and Apple News. It is set at St. Anselm Collegein Manchester and will air on ABC, Hearst Television’s WMUR-TV, Apple News and on ABC News Live.
So far, all six of the candidates who qualified for the previous debate – Joe Biden, Pete Buttigieg, Amy Klobuchar, Bernie Sanders, Tom Steyer and Elizabeth Warren— appear to have met the fundraising and polling thresholds to qualify for the debate. Another way in per Democratic National Committeerules would be to score a pledged delegate in Iowa.
The qualifying criteria involving grassroots fundraising (225,000 individual donors with 1,000 unique donors or more per state) likely will keep out candidate Michael Bloomberg, who is self-financing.
The previous debate hosted by CNNat Drake Universityin Des Moines, Iowa on January 14 drew an estimated 7.3 million viewers, a slight uptick from the 6.17 million who watched the debate in December, sponsored by PBSand Politico, and the 6.5 million who watched November’s event, hosted by MSNBC.
The New Hampshire debate is the second of four in each of the key voting states. Next up is February 19 in Las Vegas, hosted by NBC News and MSNBC with The Nevada Independent, and February 25 in in Charleston, SC, hosted by CBS News, the Congressional Black Caucus Institute and Twitter.
