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Here’s the good news: It’s Friday, and Congress is out until July 10th. Here’s the bad news: On the way out the door, the House voted to crack down on undocumented immigrants and the localities that shelter them (more on that below). And, according to the CBO, projected Medicaid spending under the bill to repeal the ACA would be 35 percent lower after two decades, putting Senator Mitch McConnell (D-KY) even further away from the 50 votes needed (which, incidentally, is good news for the country). Here’s the crazy news: Donald Trump will meet with President Vladimir Putin during the G20 summit meeting next week. And the president is, once again, randomly tweeting about Chicago this morning and continuing his attack on Morning Joe. Are we great again yet? Finally, here’s our personal news: we need a break! The Beat is going dark until Wednesday, July 5th. We love y’all and everything but … can we recess too? Right now someone is preparing a marinade for some succulent July 4th bbq fare. There will be greens, beans, potatoes, tomatoes … you name it! We’re leaving you for the next few days with this:- Trump nominates a new Surgeon General -- a man of color.
- CHC picks Congressman Adriano Espaillat (D-NY) as freshman representative.
- Susan Rice is heading to the Hill next month.
- BET Networks names new leadership.
- Condi Rice defends the president.
- Seema Verma: the woman behind the scenes on the healthcare battle.
- House passes immigration legislation, but at least on one bill, Miami-area R’s break ranks.
- Planned Parenthood has a message for you...and Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY).
- Texas and nine others demand an end to DACA.
- Cecilia Muñoz wants to transform tech for public good.
- Presidential Election Commission wants your voter data, and Cali says nah.
- Hawaii takes Trump’s travel ban back to the courtroom.
- Barack Obama takes Trump to court, too. Read on.
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Congresswoman Judy Chu (D-CA) with Planned Parenthood organizers and dog Colmillo on Wednesday. | |  |
Dominican community activist Milton Morrison with Congressman Adriano Espaillat (D-NY) on Wednesday. | |
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Staff Diversity and Inclusion Amendment Passes in the House
On Thursday, the House passed an amendment introduced by Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) to address unconscious bias in hiring and managing Congressional staff passed the Appropriations Committee. This amendment directs the Chief Administrative Officer to issue a report addressing the ways in which Members and staff with hiring and management responsibilities can be given the tools to combat unconscious bias. “The staff who work in the halls of Congress should reflect the diversity of America – in every respect. However, due to a variety of factors including unconscious bias, that is not the case. A 2015 report found that people of color make up only 7.1% of top Senate staffers, and the situation in the House is similarly troubling. That’s why I’m glad that my amendment to address unconscious bias in hiring and management practices passed as the first step in improving diversity and inclusion on the Hill,” said Lee. This isn't the only win Lee had on the Hill this week. See story on another victory below. More on Hill diversity from the Joint Center here.
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Indiana Health Commissioner Jerome Adams Nominated for U.S. Surgeon General
Trump is nominating Jerome M. Adams to be the country's next Surgeon General of the Public Health Service. Adams is currently Indiana's state health commissioner and was appointed to the post by then-Gov. Mike Pence. If confirmed, Adams would replace Rear Adm. Sylvia Trent-Adams, the current acting Surgeon General. Adams previously served as a staff anesthesiologist and assistant professor of anesthesiology at the Indiana University School of Medicine, where he also completed his M.D. and a residency. Dr. Adams has also been outspoken about the risks of prescription opioid painkillers and the need to address the opioid epidemic. More here.
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Big Apple Congressman Takes On CHC Leadership Role
Congressman Adriano Espaillat (D-NY) has been picked as the new Freshman Representative of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, a leadership role within the CHC. Espaillat, who is in his first term in Congress after winning Congressman Charlie Rangel’s old seat, will be in charge of coordinating with the chairs of the Caucus task forces to conduct briefings for their colleagues in Congress. Espaillat will also be responsible for working with House and Senate leadership on hiring initiatives to increase diversity among Capitol Hill staff. “I am honored to have been selected as the Freshman Representative for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, and I look forward to working with my congressional colleagues in this leadership role to help amplify CHC legislative priorities and accomplishments throughout the Democratic Caucus." Learn more about the congressman here.
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It’s because of Planned Parenthood supporters’ hard work – organizing in communities, calling Senators, and rallying in the streets – that Senator McConnell delayed the vote on Trumpcare. It’s no wonder they are struggling to get the votes: this is the worst bill for women’s health in a generation, and would devastate millions of people. But make no mistake: this fight is far from over.
Hear from people who would be hurt most.
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Susan Rice to Appear Before House Intel Committee
The House Intelligence Committee plans to interview Susan Rice next month as part of its investigation into Russia meddling in the election last year. Republicans accuse President Barack Obama's former national security advisor of improperly handling classified intelligence reports. Rice has agreed to appear in a closed-door session that is expected to take place before the House departs for its August recess. Trump made allegations that Rice revealed the names of his transition aides in intelligence reports -- called "unmasking" -- saying that Obama officials were seeking to divulge damaging information about the Trump campaign. Meanwhile, a new report from the WSJ reveals that a now-deceased GOP operative admitted that during the campaign he worked with former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn and asked cybersecurity experts to look for the 33,000 emails supposedly missing from Hillary Clinton’s private server. More on that here.
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Michelle Obama Heading to Austin
FLOTUS 44 Michelle Obama will participate in a moderated conversation in October at the "Smart Social Summit" in Austin, TX hosted by local social media software maker Spredfast Inc. Spredfast, which manufactures software to manage social media feeds for companies, employs more than 500 people. The “Smart Social Summit" is set for Oct. 16th-18th at the W Hotel in downtown Austin. Last year's speaker was Trevor Noah. More here.
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Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA) with one of her district staffers, in DC for a training, making a pit stop at the CA state commemorative quarter design on Wednesday. | |  |
HUD Secretary Dr. Ben Carson on Wednesday visited a house in Baltimore, MD that had lead remediation work done. | |
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Seema Verma: Woman Behind the Scenes on the Healthcare Battle
As the healthcare battle continues, CNN highlights a key behind-the-scenes player who is emerging: Seema Verma, the administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, attended the Senate GOP's policy lunch Wednesday and is sitting in on McConnell's face-to-face meetings with wavering Republicans. She is a first generation Indian American and her central role is to soothe lawmakers' nerves over changes to Medicaid by walking them through the changes and providing state-specific data, while also making explicit offers detailing how CMS can ease the transition in each state. Verma received her bachelor’s degree in life sciences from the University of Maryland—College Park and has a master’s degree in public health from Johns Hopkins University. CNN takes a look at her transition from growing up in a Democratic household to leading the efforts for an unpopular GOP legislation. More here.
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Lee Amendment to Curb POTUS’ ‘Endless’ War Powers Approved By House Approps
Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) won an unexpected and significant victory Thursday, when the House Appropriations Committee passed her amendment to sunset a 2001 law -- the Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) -- approved days after the 9/11 attacks, which has subsequently been used to justify 16 years of American overseas military engagements. In a speech on Sept. 14, 2001, she warned that “military action will not prevent further acts of international terrorism against the United States.” Lee and others have offered amendments in the past to repeal or defund the 2001 AUMF but none have ever been passed into law. Chances that Lee’s latest effort gets past full House and Senate votes remain slim. Still, given the Republican-controlled Appropriations Committee’s unexpected -- and surprisingly enthusiastic (some GOP members clapped!) -- support for the amendment, its future may be in doubt. The House Foreign Affairs Committee is crying foul over the amendment. Regardless, we can’t help but wonder if the enthusiastic bipartisan response is a reflection on the current administration. More here.
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Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) pressed about healthcare by congressional reporters on Wednesday. | |  |
Congressman Mark Takano (D-CA) joined Muslim Americans at the Perris Islamic Center last week for Eid al-Fitr. | |
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Cecilia Muñoz Takes On New Job: Transforming Tech for Public Good
The highest-ranking Latina in the Obama administration, as well as a young Latina who spearheaded major WH technology changes, have taken on a new job -- transforming the way nonprofits use tech. The new Public Interest Technology Initiative at New America -- a Washington think tank seeking to bridge the gap between technology and public policy -- will be helmed by Cecilia Muñoz, New America’s VP of Policy & Technology, and Vivian Graubard, the group’s Director of Strategy. Muñoz was most recently the Director of the WH Domestic Policy Council and also served as Director of the WH Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, and spent many years at the National Council of La Raza. “Too frequently organizations think of technology as the system which allows them to do the work, and this goes well beyond that. The way NGOs are going to be doing their work in the future is about data and technology," said Muñoz. ¡Buena suerte Cecilia y Vivian! The Beat’s Patricia Guadalupe has more in NBC Latino.
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BET Names New Leadership
BET Networks has set a new executive leadership team, the Viacom-owned network announced Thursday. Michael D. Armstrong has been appointed General Manager of BET Networks. Based in NY and reporting directly to BET Networks chairman and CEO Debra L. Lee, Armstrong will drive strategy and operations, with direct oversight of content strategy and multi-platform scheduling, marketing, corporate communications, and operations. Jeanine Liburd has been appointed Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, a new role at BET Networks. She will oversee all facets of strategic and creative brand development, consumer marketing and cross-business initiatives. Donna Blackman will serve as SVP of business operations, acting as the liaison for all internal BET Networks departments with Viacom Media Networks shared services. She will be responsible for strategic and long-range planning processes, evaluating and establishing external partnerships, developing, monitoring and implementing financial strategies, including growing ancillary revenue and live events. Both Liburd and Blackman will report to Armstrong. More here.
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Turner Will Lead Our Revolution
Former Ohio State Sen. Nina Turner is taking over as president of Our Revolution, the outside group started by Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) after the 2016 presidential campaign. Turner, who was a top Sanders surrogate during the campaign, replaces Jeff Weaver, Sanders’ former presidential campaign manager. Weaver is Sanders’ most prominent long-time aide and had been Our Revolution’s president since the summer of 2016. Our Revolution Board Chairman Larry Cohen said, “We are thankful for the work Jeff has done and look forward to his next project. We’re thrilled that our Board Member and progressive champion Nina Turner will be our new president. Nina is a well known and inspiring voice in the progressive movement and we look forward to her bringing that energy into her new role.” More here.
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Members of Congress wore black on Thursday in front of the Capitol to remind people to keep fighting or prepare to "Mourn Medicaid." | |  |
NCLR's Janet Murguía, Latino USA host María Hinojosa, and former HUD Secretary Henry Cisneros joined Mónica Lozano from the Aspen Institute's Latinos and Society program on Wednesday to discuss what it means to be a Latino nowadays. | |
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Presidential Election Commission Wants Personal Voter Data, and Cali Says Nah
Kris Kobach, Vice Chair of the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity, sent a letter to all 50 states Wednesday requesting information on their voter rolls. Kobach is seeking several pieces of information about voters, including their names, birthdays, the last four digits of their Social Security numbers and their voting history dating back to 2006. Yeah ... California immediately said no. California Secretary of State Alex Padilla (pictured) issued a statement in response to Kobach's request for voter data in which he put the kibosh on that idea real quick. “I will not provide sensitive voter information to a commission that has already inaccurately passed judgment that millions of Californians voted illegally. California's participation would only serve to legitimize the false and already debunked claims of massive voter fraud made by the President, the Vice President, and Mr. Kobach. The President's Commission is a waste of taxpayer money and a distraction from the real threats to the integrity of our elections today: aging voting systems and documented Russian interference in our elections," said Padilla. Trump has falsely alleged that three to five million votes were cast illegally in the 2016 election. This despite the fact that his claims of voter fraud are unsubstantiated and that academics and bipartisan leaders have confirmed that there is no evidence of large-scale, let alone massive, voter fraud. More here.
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Rodríguez Jumps Into the Race to Fill Ros-Lehtinen Seat
A top Democratic recruit has officially jumped into the race to replace retiring Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL). State Sen. José Javier Rodríguez expressed interest in running for the Miami-area district a few months back, but officially launched his campaign on Wednesday, joining a crowded field for the seat that Ros-Lehtinen has held since 1989. The district is a top target for Democrats in next year's midterm elections, and Rodríguez is considered one of the party's top recruits for the seat, given his tenure in Florida's statehouse and record of winning highly contested elections. “As I look at the issues that I’ve worked on behalf of my constituents at the state legislature, they are just as important in Congress,” he continued, adding that he’ll prioritize issues like access to affordable healthcare as well as addressing the rise in sea level and climate change. More here.
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NEA President Lily Eskelsen García with NEA Secretary-Treasurer Princess Moss and NEA VP Becky Pringle at the NEA annual convention in Boston. | |  |
CBC PAC's Ben Branch and CBCF's Tasha Cole with FL gubernatorial candidate and Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum last week. | |
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Have You Seen This NRA Ad?
Blavity poses an interesting question: “With all its talk about the “right to bear arms,” whose rights are the NRA actually advocating for?” After watching the latest NRA ad, the answer becomes pretty obvious. Activist DeRay Mckesson posted the following NRA ad on Twitter, which serves as an open call to “protect this country.” The NRA spokesperson is seen saying, “And then they use their ex President to endorse the resistance, all to make them march, make them protest, make them scream ‘racism and sexism and xenophobia and homophobia,’ to smash windows, to burn cars, shut down interstates and airports, bully and terrorize the law-abiding until the only option left is for the police to do their jobs and stop the madness,” she says. “And when that happens, they’ll use it as an excuse for their outrage. The only way we stop this, the only way we save this country and our freedom is to fight this violence of lies with a clenched fist.” Watch here.
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NYT Copy Editors Say Cutting Their Numbers Hurts Fight Against "Fake News" Label
New York Times copy editors facing staff cuts or new jobs in a re-imagined editing system sent a letter to the newspaper's two top editors Wednesday protesting the oncoming changes. The letter to Executive Editor Dean Baquet (pictured) and Managing Editor Joe Kahn, comes after a committee at the NYT interviewed editors for reconstituted jobs at the paper. In their letter they write, "we feel more respected by our readers than we do by you. We are living in a strange time when routine copy-editing duties such as fact checking, reviewing sources, correcting misleading or inaccurate information, clarifying language and, yes, fixing spelling and grammar mistakes in news covfefe are suddenly matters of public discourse. As those in power declare war against the news media, as deliberately false or lackadaisical reportage finds its way into social media feeds, readers are flocking to our defense." More here.
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The Beat Bids Adieu to an OG
The Beat is blessed. We love what we do, the people we cover, and the folks who read us. But we wouldn't be what or who we are without our team. Today, we bid a fond farewell to Beat OG Sarah Mathews. Sarah helped build this platform with a creative lens that was inside the Beltway and outside the box. From designing the layout and building the website to making sure the content was inclusive and representative of the country, she has been an invaluable part of our growth. Now she is heading off to a prestigious graduate program at the Iowa Writer's Workshop at the University of Iowa. We cannot wait to read her first novel! If you want a sneak peek at the talent that is Ms. Sarah Mathews, read one of her Buzzfeed first-person essays, This Land is Our Land, Donald Trump or How to Get a Green Card in America. Sarah, you are a delightful talent, an awesome colleague, and you will be missed! **team wipes away tears**
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Condi Rice Comes to Trump’s Defense
Donald Trump may sound different than other presidents, but he believes in American values and tries to act in the best interest of the United States, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told CNBC on Wednesday. "While the language may be different, and we might talk about needing to deal with policy, I think you're going to see ... that Americans' interests in values are always linked," Rice said. "It's early days in this administration. Let's remember that.” From the sidelines of the KPMG Women's PGA Championship and KPMG Women's Leadership Summit at the Olympia Fields Country Club in Illinois, Rice said on Squawk Box that Trump knows the importance of alliances, and expects him to forge ties with democracies around the world. More here.
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Congresswoman Mia Love (R-UT) supporting a Women’s History Museum on Thursday. | |  |
Congressman Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) with future leaders in science and technology from New Mexico on Wednesday. | |
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Miami-Area Latino GOP Members Break Ranks and Vote Against Punishment for “Sanctuary Cities”
Donald Trump campaigned as a tough-on-immigration Republican who would roll back Obama-era protections for undocumented immigrants. But he can’t count on Miami’s Republican delegation in the House to back him on every facet of his immigration agenda. The three Republicans, Congressmen Mario Díaz-Balart and Carlos Curbelo, along with Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, voted against a bill on Thursday that would deny federal law enforcement funds to cities that choose not to comply with the federal government’s effort to enforce tougher immigration laws. “I think this one is frankly too broad,” Díaz-Balart said. The bill passed the House by a vote of 228-195. The Miami trio were among just seven Republicans who voted against the bill, which passed largely on party lines. More here.
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House Approves Immigration Bills, Next Stop: The Senate
The House approved two pieces of legislation on Thursday, one that would penalize cities and other jurisdictions that fail to cooperate with federal immigration authorities by cutting off some federal funding, and another that imposes tougher sentences on undocumented immigrants with criminal records who have been detained multiple times trying to cross the borders into the United States. The first provision tries to crack down on “sanctuary cities,” and passed 228-195, with the three Latino GOPers all voting against it (see a related story in today’s Beat).The other bill, named Kate’s Law after a woman killed by an undocumented immigrant who had been detained numerous times, increases sentences for undocumented immigrants entering the country, but a provision to make those mandatory minimums was removed. Under Kate’s Law, an asylum claim that has been turned would count as a deportation. The provisions head to the Senate where their fate is uncertain. This is the second go-around for Kate’s Law; a 2015 Democratic filibuster stopped it from reaching the floor for a vote. More here.
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Hawaii Takes Travel Ban Back to Court
The state of Hawaii is asking a federal judge to rule that the Trump administration's latest plan to carry out the travel ban executive order defies the ruling the Supreme Court issued on the subject just four days ago. In a new court filing, lawyers for the state and for a Hawaii Imam say guidance that the Trump administration issued Thursday takes too narrow a view of which family relationships qualify to exempt a foreigner from the travel ban, and would deny admission to refugees who should be exempt from the ban due to their connections to a U.S. resettlement agency. "This Court should clarify as soon as possible that the Supreme Court meant what it said, and that foreign nationals that credibly claim connections with this country cannot be denied entry under the President’s illegal Order," Hawaii Attorney General Douglas Chin and private counsel Neal Katyal wrote in a motion filed Thursday with U.S. District Court Judge Derrick Watson. At about the same time the motion was filed, the administration beat a partial retreat on one aspect of enforcement of the travel ban. Earlier Thursday, officials said persons engaged to U.S. citizens would enjoy no broad exemption from the directive. Grandma and grandpa are still out, though ... more here.
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Gregory Cendana on Wednesday in front of the Capitol protesting to save ACA, and continuing to work toward a single payer healthcare system. | |  |
CNN Correspondent Manu Raju with the World Series trophy after the World Series Champions Chicago Cubs visited the White House on Tuesday. | |
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Obama Takes Trump to Court
Barack Obama takes Donald Trump to court -- basketball court -- in a mock video game clip, and the former Chicagoan wears a Bulls uniform while doing it. Obama, wearing No. 44 as the 44th president, of course, repeatedly crosses up and dunks on Donald Trump, who wears a Knicks No. 45 (as a New York native), in a video posted to YouTube by 29-year-old animator Miguel Ledesma. "Since it is the NBA's offseason I decided to do another funny video purely for fun. I didn't anticipate how viral the video would get though," Ledesma said about Obama vs. Trump. It's worth a watch! More here.
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SAALT Declines DOJ Invite
South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT), a national civil rights and racial justice organization, refused an invite to participate in Thursday's Hate Crimes Summit organized by the DOJ. They say it’s due to the Trump administration’s ongoing efforts to disregard and undermine the civil rights of all Americans, regardless of “our appearance, how we pray, or where we were born.” SAALT and other invited organizations for Thursday’s Summit learned that AG Jeff Sessions would provide opening remarks but would not answer questions from press or attendees. SAALT leaders said that given that the event serves as a photo opportunity, they would go ahead and miss. More here.
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Latina Media Hasn’t Paid Staffers In Nearly a Month
Is a situation developing with another ethnic magazine? Latina Media, the 21-year-old publication aimed at Hispanic women, is apparently experiencing a cash crunch as the staff has not received pay in nearly a month and the acting president has resigned. Insiders say the company is promoting two to be co-presidents, following the resignation of president Brett Wright on June 14th -- the same day the company told staffers it was not going to be able to make payroll on June 15th due to a “miscommunication” between Latina and its parent company. Robyn Moreno, head of editorial, and Asten Morgan, head of integrated marketing, were promoted to co-presidents Tuesday and late in the day sent an email to staffers. “We are writing to let you know that you will receive a payroll deposit on Friday,” Moreno and Morgan wrote. But it was not clear to insiders if the “deposit” will be for the pay overdue from June 15th or if it will include pay for the two subsequent weeks, due June 30th. More here.
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When the kids are away the parents will play. Obama alumni Dr. Ivory Toldson started a DC Black-owned restaurant tour Tuesday at Po Boy Jim on H street with wife Marshella. | |  |
President of HACR Cid Wilson concluding a successful two-day retreat of Alliance For Board Diversity in NYC on Thursday. | |
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Lewis Pens Letter to His Younger Self Detailing His "Mission to Help Redeem the Soul of America"
CBS This Morning is producing a powerful video series called “Note to Self," where leaders, athletes, and others write and read letters of advice to their younger selves. Its latest installment features civil rights icon Congressman John Lewis (D-GA) tells his younger self -- "so full of passion" -- about the 45 times he'll be arrested in his "mission to help redeem the soul of America … I believe as Dr. King and A. Philip Randolph and others taught you, that we're one people and it doesn't matter whether we're black, or white, Latino, Asian American or Native American. That maybe our foremothers and our forefathers all came here in different ships, but we're all in the same boat now," Lewis says. "John, you understood the words of Dr. King when he said we must learn to live together as brothers and sisters, if not we will perish as fools.” We’re not crying -- just something in our eye. The powerful video is a must watch.
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Dem Leaders Announce Election Security Task Force
House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Homeland Security Committee Ranking Member Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) (pictured), and House Administration Committee Ranking Member Robert Brady (D-PA) announced the formation of the Congressional Task Force on Election Security, which will address the lack of action to protect electoral infrastructure following Russia interfering and attempting to influence the 2016 presidential election. According to the Department of Homeland Security, the election systems in 21 states were breached, and voter records containing personal information were stolen. “If we continue to do nothing to protect the integrity of our election systems, we make it easy for Russia and other nefarious actors to impact future elections ... Looking towards the future, we must be able to put politics aside for the good of the country and work together to protect against efforts to undermine our cherished democratic institutions,” said Thompson. More here.
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CBC Chair Congressman Cedric Richmond (D-LA) at CBCF’s Summer 2017 Cohort last week.
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Deray McKesson at a Dems Resist event on Tuesday. | |
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Texas and Nine Other States Demand an End to DACA
In a letter to AG Jeff Sessions, Texas AG Ken Paxton urged the White House to rescind the 2012 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, program. DACA applies to undocumented immigrants who came to the country before they were 16 years old and were 30 or younger as of June 2012. It awards recipients a renewable, two-year work permit and a reprieve from deportation proceedings. As of August 2016, more than 220,000 undocumented immigrants in Texas had applied for a permit or a permit renewal under the program, and nearly 200,000 of those have been approved. It’s the second-highest total behind California’s estimated 387,000 applications and 359,000 approvals during the same time period. Paxton was joined by the attorneys general of Arkansas, Alabama, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Nebraska, South Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia, as well as Idaho Gov. C.L. Otter. The Trump administration said that DACA and some expanded DACA permits would remain in effect, but canceled the Obama administration’s attempts to implement DAPA, which is a program for the undocumented parents of U.S. citizen minors. Paxton argued in Thursday's letter that wasn't good enough and warned that if the 2012 program isn’t rescinded, he and the other plaintiffs from the 2014 lawsuit would go back to court to settle the issue. More here.
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Mississippi Man Takes Confederate Flag Case To The Supreme Court
The AP reports that Carlos Moore, a Black man in Mississippi, will be taking his case against the state's Confederate flag to the U.S Supreme Court. Moore filed a lawsuit in February 2016 proposing that the flag be declared an unconstitutional relic of slavery and is "state-sanctioned hate speech.” Moore disputed that the flag represents white supremacy that harms him and his young daughter. He also said that it violates the Constitution's guarantee of equal protection for all citizens. Moore, who is now an attorney, will present to the high court his case to have the symbol removed from the state's flag. The Supreme Court will decide in the fall whether or not to take the case. More here from Blavity.
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| FOMO
Today - July 4th: Amnesty International holds a fast and vigil in front of the U.S. Supreme Court in support of abolishing the death penalty. Click here for more information.
Tuesday, July 4th - 8th: The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) holds its 88th annual national convention and exposition. San Antonio, TX. Click here for more information.
Thursday, July 6th, 6:30P: Join the Congressional Hispanic Staff Association, the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers in DC, and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute - DC Alumni Chapter for a STEM policy panel on the Hill. Speakers will discuss current legislative efforts aimed at STEM Education, STEM Careers, STEM diversity and inclusiveness, and STEM innovation. Click here to RSVP.
Thursday, July 6th - 9th: The Japanese American Citizens League holds its 48th annual national convention. Omni Shoreham Hotel, 2500 Calvert Street, N.W. Click here for more information and to register.
Friday, July 7th, 12:30P: The Congressional Hispanic Staff Association holds its monthly lunch meeting at the Longworth Cafeteria.
Saturday, July 8th - 11th: The National Council of La Raza (NCLR) holds its annual convention. Phoenix, AZ. Click here for more information and to register.
Wednesday, July 12th - 16th: The Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. will host their 94th convention in Baltimore, MD. The convention theme is "The Urgency of Now." Click here for more information.
Wednesday, July 12th - 15th: The Rainbow PUSH Coalition holds its 46th annual international convention. Click her for more information and to register.
Thursday, July 13th - 22nd: The March on Washington Film Festival. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.
Thursday, July 13th, 5:30P: The Congressional Hispanic Staff Association co-hosts the Hispanic Employee Council for Foreign Affairs Agencies' (HECFAA) State Department and USAID Chapters Happy Hour. Mackey's Pub, 1306 G Street, N.W.
Thursday, July 13th - Sunday, July 16th: The 14th Annual SABA North America Convention, DC. Click here for more info and to register.
Tuesday, July 18th, 9A: The launch of the National Association of Diverse Consultants,
NADC is the largest association of diverse political and public affairs professionals. National Press Club, 529 14th Street, N.W. 13th floor.
Tuesday, July 18th - July 23rd: The Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. holds its 83rd Grand Chapter Meeting in Orlando, FL. Click here for more information and to register.
Wednesday, July 19th, 6P: The Washington Government Relations Group and the Embassy of Canada host the 8th Annual Tin Cup Awards. 501 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Click here for more information.
Thursday, July 20th, 9A: The Washington International Trade Association sponsors its NAFTA Series kickoff event. Ronald Reagan Building, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets. Hill Staff: contact Diego Anez at 202.312.1600 or danez@wita.org to reserve your seat.
Saturday, July 22nd - 26th: The NAACP holds its 108th annual convention in Baltimore, MD. Click here for more information and to register.
Wednesday, July 26th - 29th: The National Urban League holds its annual convention in St. Louis, MO. Click here for more information and to register.
Wednesday, July 26th - Friday, July 28th: ColorComm, Women of Color in Communications, holds its 2017 conference in Miami, FL, featuring keynote speaker Whoopi Goldberg. Click here to register.
Saturday, August 5th, 3P: The Congressional Hispanic Staff Association hosts a tailgate before the DC United v. Toronto FC game. For more info, email James Hauser at iph86@georgetown.edu
Wednesday, August 9th - 13th: The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) holds its annual convention and career fair in New Orleans. Click here for more information and to register.
Wednesday, August 16th - 20th: The Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance holds its 14th biennial convention in Anaheim, CA. Click here for more information.
Friday, August 18th: The deadline to apply for the Poynter Institute and the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) 2017 Leadership Academy for Diversity in Digital Media, to be held Dec. 3rd - 8th in St. Petersburg, FL. The tuition-free program trains journalists of color to work in digital media. Click here for more information and to apply.
Monday, August 28th, 9A: The 2017 Black Political Power Summit, to illustrate the possibilities, challenges and plans to capitalize on both the historic political opportunities and dire economic and civil rights challenges the Black community faces during the 2018 and 2020 political cycles. Hosted by The Collective. For more information, contact Quentin James: quentin@collectivepac.org
Thursday, September 7th - 9th: The National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ), the Native American Journalists Association, and the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) sponsor the Excellence in Journalism 2017 conference in Anaheim, CA. Click here for more details and to register.
Sunday, September 10th: Former First Lady Michelle Obama speaks at the Beth El Synagogue in St. Louis Park. MN about her years in the White House. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.
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