Concerns of public safety prompt cancellation of annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day vigil

The violence that Dr. Martin Muther King Jr. stood against for has reared its head once more and this time, it will interfere with plans to remember the slain civil rights icon.

The Coalition To Stop Gun Violence Virginia State Director Lori Haas released a press release on January 17 to cancel the scheduled Martin Luther King Jr. Day Vigil for Monday, January 20 due to concerns for public safety. 

“It is with a heavy heart that I am announcing the cancellation of the annual Martin Luther King Day Vigil and Day of Advocacy,” Haas says in an issued statement. “We have chosen to cancel the event due to the ongoing, credible threats to public safety that have been promoted and encouraged by gun extremists.” 

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The Armed Insurrectionists, a group of “heavily armed white supremacists,” are seeking to attend the vigil to incite violence, prompting The Virginia Center for Public Safety, the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, and the Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence to cancel the event. The organizations have collectively hosted the event for the last 28 years and noted that advocates have “faced armed individuals trying to intimidate us each year.” 

“Our organization has decided that the safety of our volunteers, advocates, and staff, many of whom are survivors of gun violence, must be our top priority,” Haas says in the press release. 

Haas addressed the current climate following the results of the 2019 election in Virginia in which “people of the Commonwealth voted for stronger gun laws” and citizens in their efforts to protect their First Amendment rights with the message promoting the mindset of “the people with the guns make the rules.”

“Given the serious concerns about possible violence on Monday, we recognize that we can not guarantee the safety of the brave gun violence prevention activists and survivors who have fought so hard for this day. We are an organization that strives to promote public health and safety, and we cannot in good faith lead our supporters — some of whom are children and teenagers — into a violent, dangerous situation. We refuse to engage with those who seek to physically harm us,” the statement read.

READ MORE Film and documentary on Martin Luther King’s murder mystery in the works

It continued by insisting that the armed intimidation was a threat to public safety and democracy. Still, it was stressed that there would be safer gun violence prevention by the end of the legislative session in Virginia. Such measures would include universal background checks and Extreme Protection Orders.

Despite the cancellation to honor the late civil rights activist, who would’ve turned 91 on January 15, Haas says despite the efforts to dismay those who stand to make a difference will stand strong regardless. 

“We will continue to fight for the rest of this legislative session with the data, facts, research, and the strong belief that we will succeed and save lives in Virginia.”

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Oprah Winfrey Network cancels Pastor John Gray’s TV show

After three seasons, the Oprah Winfrey Network has pulled the plug on The Book of John Gray. 

The Greenville News confirmed through a network spokesperson that there are “no plans” for new episodes of the series that starred Relentless Church Pastor John Gray. Being a part of the network’s programming since 2016, it was not disclosed as to why the show was canceled. 

Gray made headlines in 2018 for purchasing his wife a $200,000 Lamborghini for their eighth wedding anniversary. It was a gesture that caused controversy and accusations of using church funds for the purchase. Gray has denied and defended his purchase, saying, “not a nickel, not a penny” was taken from Relentless Church in Greenville. 

READ MORE Redemption Church files court notice to evict John Gray’s Relentless Church

The article mentioned Gray’s intentions of working to produce the fourth season for OWN after defending himself in an Instagram post to clarify his sources of income, including his books and television show. 

“For those of you who don’t know, my wife and I have a show on the Opray Winfrey Network. We’re working on Season 4 right now. Shhh, don’t tell anybody. That’s four seasons, okay? And I’m not an actor on it; I’m a producer of it. Get that straight,” Gray said.

READ MORE Woman at center of Pastor John Gray’s so-called ’emotional affair’ is spilling the tea

The Book of John Gray was described as a “dramedy docu-follow hybrid about the life of John Gray and his uniquely humorous way of helping people” and “gives viewers unprecedented and intimate access into his church and home life”. Holly Baird, a spokesperson for Gray and his wife, Aventer, is currently “considering other TV and film opportunities.”

The cancellation comes weeks after it was revealed that Gray’s megachurch, The Relentless Church, is being evicted from its Greenville, South Carolina property. He allegedly breached his lease by not making his scheduled payments.

 

 

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Rihanna splits with boyfriend Hassan Jameel after 3 years

Sources have confirmed that Rihanna and billionaire businessman Hassan Jameel have split after three years of dating.

Us Weekly reported that the Barbados singer and businessman, both 31, broke up but no reason has yet been given. Neither has publicly commented on the status of their relationship. The former couple began “hooking up for a few months” after being linked together in June 2017. The two soon became serious and were described as opposites attracting.

READ MORE Rihanna’s reps deny asking Shaggy to audition for her upcoming album

“Rihanna and Hassan understand each other very well and their personalities mesh well together. They’re both so different, but it works for them.” Another source would agree, describing Hassan as “serious” and the “Work” singer “fun and wild.”

In June 2019, the Fenty Beauty mogul opened up about her relationship in June 2019 with Interview Magazine where she revealed that she’s in love but was quiet on the idea of marriage. When asked if she desires to be a mother she answered, “More than anything in life.”

Rihanna also confirmed to Vogue in their November 2019 issue that she was in a happy place in her life.

“Yeah, I’m dating,” she said, adding “I’m actually in an exclusive relationship for quite some time, and it’s going really well, so I’m happy.”

READ MORE Rihanna makes history as first woman of color to helm own fashion line with LVMH

Fans have already started to speculate that her upcoming album will have content inspired by her recent breakup. The Bajan superstar hinted what music lovers could expect from the much anticipated R9 era. Riri said it would be reggae-inspired.

“Reggae always feels right to me. It’s in my blood. It doesn’t matter how far or long removed I am from that culture, or my environment that I grew up in; it never leaves. It’s always the same high. Even though I’ve explored other genres of music, it was time to go back to something that I haven’t really homed in on completely for a body of work,” she told Vogue. 

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Doris 'Dorie' Miller to be Honored by Navy With Aircraft Carrier in His Name

Black History Month is kicking off early this year as one of our lesser mentioned black American heroes gets honored by the U.S. Navy.

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Mother sues Franklin County Board of Education for racial discrimination

After witnessing the silence towards her son’s continuous racial bullying at school in Franklin County,  an Alabama parent is taking matters into her own hands.

A federal lawsuit was filed earlier this month by a Franklin County employee against the school board and administrators with claims of their inaction on “multiple occasions when her young, biracial son was called a ‘n—–’ by classmates and threatened with a photo of a noose,” according to AL.com.

The minor child, who is identified by his initials M.G. in court documents, attended Phil Campbell High School that includes grades 7-12 and attended both seventh and eighth grades during the 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 school years.

READ MORE Illinois High school responds after graduates are caught on video screaming ugly racist language

In the article from Huntsville Real-Time News, the mother claims that teachers and administrators made no effort of disciplining the students in question for the abuse, and “also did not discipline other white children the same way they disciplined her son.”

The lawsuit details several incidents involving racial harassment and threats towards M.G., including one incident where one of his teachers participated, and the lack of appropriate action during the school years he was subjected to a near-daily basis of “racial slurs and harassment.”

READ MORE Black students file 50-page lawsuit for racist bullying at a Minnesota high school

On behalf of her son, the mother filed Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 suit against the Franklin County Board of Education and three men who were employed during the incident. Title VI sites that entities that “receive federal funding are prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, and are also required to have procedures in place for investigating complaints from people who believe they have been discriminating against,” according to AL.com.

The mother is suing on two counts of racial discrimination. Her son has since been removed from PCHS and transferred to another public school.

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