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There’s a LOT going on today. Let’s start with Trump’s plan to lay out his strategy on Afghanistan at 9P tonight. The president’s plan for the 16-year conflict may include the deployment of several thousand additional troops. Military officials say that Afghan security forces are nowhere close to being able to defend their country alone. On Friday, Steve Bannon was ousted from the WH and returned to Breitbart News, and began readying for war. Scary stuff. Remember how critical Trump was over Obama’s ... well ... everything -- but his travel. Well, now Secret Service Director Randolph "Tex" Alles, in an interview with USA TODAY, said more than 1,000 agents have already hit the federally mandated caps for salary and overtime allowances that were meant to last the entire year, in large part due to the sheer size of Trump's family and efforts necessary to secure their multiple residences up and down the East Coast. Pointing out all the hypocrisy is getting old -- it’s pretty self-explanatory at this point. Since last night, ten American sailors are missing after the Navy's 7th Fleet said the USS John S. McCain collided with the merchant vessel Alnic MC while the destroyer was making its way to a port in Singapore. And, finally, today! There’s an eclipse happening at approximately 1:17P, peaking at 2:42P, and ending at 4:01P. At the peak, the moon will cover 81% of the sun. Yes, the world will go dark today. And Trump will talk war tonight. Can things be any weirder? Here’s what we’ve got today:
- CBC Chair Congressman Cedric Richmond (D-LA) says Black America has lost a lot under Trump.
- Congresswoman Alma Adams (D-NC) wants WH to postpone HBCU conference. Leaders pen letter to Omarosa asking the same.
- Is Paris Dennard heading to the Trump administration?
- Barack Obama’s campaign organizing team announces new partners.
- Malia Obama’s gap year is coming to an end as she preps for Harvard next week.
- Asian American consortium criticizes Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao for standing by Trump.
- Secretary Rex Tillerson pledges more diversity at the State Dept.
- Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) wants civil rights icon Congressman John Lewis (D-GA) to speak with Trump.
- Univisión CEO calls on other CEOs to speak out.
- Grantmakers in the Arts names a new president and CEO.
- Congressman Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ) wants Trump out.
- AFSCME’s Lee Saunders kicks off “I am 2018.”
- Members of the digital economy advisory board quit.
- African American mayors launch five-point plan.
- Iconic comedian and civil rights activist Dick Gregory dies.
- NYPD and councilman hold a rally supporting Colin Kaepernick.
- Will Missy Elliott statue replace Confederate in VA?
- Yes California says no to USA.
- Megachurch pastor resigns from WH Evangelical Advisory Board.
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|  | CNN's Don Lemon and Chris Cuomo, with Tim Malone, over the weekend boating in Montauk. | |  | Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) on Saturday awarding Gold Star families and Hawaii’s veteran community after joining them for the 2017 Na Koa Wounded Warrior Canoe Regatta. | |
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CBC Chair Says Black America Has Lost Under Trump and Declares Support for Black Lives Matter
In an op-ed for WaPo, CBC Chairman Cedric Richmond (D-LA) says that Black Americans have already lost a lot under the Trump administration. He says the president wants to make America great again but doesn’t understand who made it great in the first place. “Enslaved African Americans helped make this country great. As the country was literally being built on their backs, they began the centuries-long fight to abolish the institution of slavery, the worst form of white supremacy.” He details Trump’s many remarks directed towards the Black community and how they are received. “His encouragement of police brutality, as recently as last month, makes the black community less safe. His Justice Department’s push to revive the failed war on drugs disproportionately hurts the black community, as does its recent hint that it plans to attack affirmative action.” He says Trump is “comfortable accepting support from, somehow sympathizes with, or is afraid to stand up to and call out white supremacists.” He also declares support for Black Lives Matter. “As I write this, Black Lives Matter is helping to make this country great by standing up and speaking out against police brutality and inequality. The CBC stands with them because we are committed, like them, to making this country a more perfect union.” The congressman’s no-holds-barred op-ed is a biting piece that is worth the read. Check it out here.
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Stakeholders Ask WH and Omarosa to Postpone HBCU Conference After Presidents Began Pulling Out
On Friday, Congresswoman Alma Adams (D-NC) called for the postponement of the 2017 National HBCU Week Conference which is scheduled to take place just outside of DC September 17th-19th. “In light of recent events, I have reached the unfortunate conclusion that this year’s 2017 National HBCU Week Conference should be postponed,” said Congresswoman Adams. “Earlier this month, my colleagues and I asked the administration for an update on their progress regarding HBCUs. In February, the President signed an executive order outlining greater investments and additional resources for HBCUs. It has become painstakingly clear that these promises are not being kept.” After the president’s comments calling White supremacists “fine people,” sources say HBCU presidents began pulling out of the conference rapidly. On Friday, Thurgood Marshall College Fund President Johnny Taylor saw the writing on the wall and sent a letter to Omarosa echoing the congresswoman’s sentiments. In the letter, Taylor says he spoke with WH Policy Council’s Ja’Ron Smith about postponing. “We are circling back to share with you that there is pretty strong consensus that the White House consider postponing its planned National HBCU Week conference. We understand the gravity of this recommendation,” the letter read. Read the full letter here.
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Barack Obama’s Campaign Organizing Team Announces New Partners
Organizing for Action, the successor to Barack Obama’s presidential campaign that has been rebuilding itself as a Trump-era resistance machine, is launching a new effort to train more activists by connecting progressive groups with newly trained organizers. The WaPo reports that after training 1,000 fellows since the start of the year, OFA will work with Wellstone Action, the female-focused Emerge America, Run for Something, the African American-focused Collective PAC run by Quentin and Stefanie Brown James, and the millennial-focused New Leaders Council to place fellows with the relevant causes. More here.
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Tim Scott Suggests Trump Sit Down with John Lewis
On Sunday’s Face the Nation, Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) suggested that Donald Trump should sit down with those who have "endured the pain" of racism and bigotry in America. "This would be an opportunity for him to become better educated and acquainted with the living history of so many folks, from John Lewis to my mother and so many others who have gone through a very painful part of the history of this country, so that when he acts, when he responds, and when he speaks, he's not reading the words that are so positive that he's breathing the very air that brings him to a different conclusion, a conclusion that comes from the wells of his heart," Scott said. Trump has “sat down” with many people. A conversation with a civil rights icon will not suddenly enlighten the 71-year-old president who calls white supremacists some “very fine people.” It will only provide a photo-op as an attempt to validate this administration who has consistently engaged in divisive rhetoric. We can’t imagine who would accept such an invitation. But, on the off chance Trump takes the senator’s advice and someone actually accepts the invite, we’ll definitely tell you about it. More here.
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Congressman Jimmy Gómez (D-CA) on Sunday joining the Los Angeles LGBT Center for its inaugural #GlitterRun in Hollywood. | |  | CA congressional candidate Ammar Campa-Najjar taking a break from the campaign trail on Sunday to ride on his ATV. | |
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Asian American Consortium Criticizes Chao for Standing by Trump
The National Korean American Service and Education Consortium is spearheading a petition that criticizes Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao for standing by Donald Trump as he blamed both sides for the terrorist attack in Charlottesville, VA. “As Asian Americans, we call on Secretary Elaine Chao, an immigrant from Taiwan and woman of color, to be silent no more and stand by us as we fight to protect the [Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals] and [Temporary Protected Status] programs,” reads the petition. But a number of other groups -- including the International Leadership Foundation and Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs -- defend Chao’s record on immigration issues and expressed their “complete and unequivocal support” for her. “We proudly support Secretary Chao because she has always supported us and, through the years, served as a role model to all communities of color both here and throughout the world,” the group said in a statement. More here from The Hill.
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Tillerson Pledges More Diversity at State
Speaking on Friday to a group of students in the State Department’s internship and leadership programs, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said that the department needs to work to recruit more Black, Latino, LGBT, and other racial and ethnic groups, adding that the lack of diversity at the State Department is a “leadership” issue. “It’s not just to achieve a mix of population that looks like the rest of our country,” Tillerson said. “We know we are a stronger organization when we embrace, incorporate diverse points of view into our work product,” adding, “Qualified Americans of all backgrounds should know a career at the State Department is possible.” Tillerson added that the department will “re-examine and expand” its recruitment efforts, including reaching out to HBCUs and HSIs, and going to more minority job fairs. More here from The Hill.
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Is Paris Dennard Heading to the Administration?
Many have wondered why political and social commentator Paris Dennard is a staunch advocate for the Trump administration. Paris has been the subject of criticism for not calling out the president for describing some white nationalists as "fine people." The rumor mill sweeping DC says he may be in line for an administration post. Dennard currently serves as the Senior Director of Strategic Communications for the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, which is run by Johnny Taylor. In November, Taylor will assume the position of President and CEO of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). Once he leaves, the scuttlebutt is Paris may leave as well to head to the Trump admin. But what position could Paris assume? Well, they have yet to name an Executive Director of the WH Initiative on HBCUs. The Phoenix native has been an outspoken advocate encouraging partnership between this administration and HBCUs. We can’t confirm this is happening. But the streets are talking ... and that’s what they’re saying. We asked Paris this morning if there is there any truth here. His reply? "Another fake news story." More about Paris here.
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|  | Congresswoman Nanette Díaz Barragán (D-CA) on Saturday speaking about housing and homeless issues at the National Association for Equal Justice in America in Compton. | |  | Congressman Pete Aguilar (D-CA) on Friday at the LA/Long Beach Seaport meeting with a Customs and Border Protection officer. | |
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Grantmakers in the Arts Names New President and CEO
Edwin Torres, Deputy Commissioner of the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, has been named the new President and CEO of Grantmakers in the Arts. Torres, who previously worked for the Rockefeller and Ford foundations, will succeed current CEO Janet Brown in mid-October. Torres was an Associate Director with The Rockefeller Foundation and Director of External Partnerships for the Parsons School of Design at The New School. He has also served on the arts and culture team at the Ford Foundation, as well as on the staff of Bronx Council on the Arts. He holds a Master of Arts in Art History from Hunter College and a Master of Science in Management from The New School. The board of Grantmakers in the Arts also voted to move its offices from Seattle to NYC effective early next year. More here.
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Malia’s Gap Year Concludes
Malia Obama’s gap year is coming to an end. The 19-year-old is gearing up to head off to Harvard this week. The dorms open to freshmen Tuesday, and classes begin August 30th. She is continuing a family tradition as she sets off for the Ivy league since both her parents graduated from Harvard Law School. Malila spent the past year on an extended trip last fall to Bolivia and Peru, a journey reportedly organized by a Boulder, CO company called Where There Be Dragons. Eva Vanek, Director of Admissions for the firm, declined to talk about Malia Obama but spoke generally about its gap-year and summer programs, saying they operated in 19 countries in Asia, Africa and South and Central America. She said the aim is a cross-cultural, experiential education with no five-star hotels or fancy buses, but rather home stays with local families, volunteer work, trips on public buses and often, language immersion. The goal is to let participants become "competent travelers and more evolved humans," Vanek added. Last February, Malia started an internship with the Weinstein Co. She hit the Sundance Film Festival in January, was spotted in Aspen, CO in February, traveled in June with her parents and sister to Bali and rocked out with Sasha in August at Chicago's Lollapalooza. Malia will be part of Harvard’s class of 2021. She’ll be in good company as actress Yara Yashidi, whose letter of recommendation was written by Michelle Obama, will be in the same class. More here.
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|  | Congressman Luis Gutiérrez (D-IL) and former NAACP President and MD gubernatorial candidate Ben Jealous last week getting arrested in front of the WH during a DACA demonstration. | |  | Congressman Rubén Kihuen (D-NV) with union members on Friday outside the Hard Rock Cafe in Las Vegas. | |
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Iconic Comedian and Civil Rights Activist Dick Gregory Dies
Groundbreaking stand-up comedian and civil rights activist Dick Gregory, 84, died Saturday of heart failure in DC. Regarded as the first African American comic to perform regularly in front of white audiences, Gregory appeared on all of the top TV talk shows of the 1960s and '70s, and cynically satirized racism and other social ills during his routines. Gregory often cut articles out of newspapers and magazines and used them in his routine to talk about events of the day. Gregory used his fame to become a civil rights activist and was friends with Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, and participated in numerous civil rights events and demonstrations. In 1964, Gregory released his autobiography Nigger, about his experiences with America’s color line, starting in boyhood; it has since sold more than seven million copies. Gregory also ran for mayor of Chicago and also for president as a write-in candidate on the Peace and Freedom Party ticket in 1968, receiving 47,000 votes. More here.
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|  | VA House of Delegates candidate Kathy Tran last week at an Emerge Virginia event. | |  | Congressman Salud Carbajal (D-CA) last week celebrating an LGBTQ Pride event. | |
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Congressman Grijalva Wants Trump Out
Speaking on a radio show on Friday back home in his district, Progressive Caucus Co-Chair Congressman Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ), called for the president to be removed from office. “There’s an accumulation of issues that bring into question this man’s ability to lead,” Grijalva said on KVOI’s Bill Buckmaster radio show in Phoenix, adding that it’s time for the 25th Amendment to be implemented to remove Trump. Under the 25th Amendment, the president can be temporarily removed by a vote of the vice president and Cabinet if they find he is unable to perform his job, and then Congress would decide by a two-thirds vote of both the House and Senate whether the president is unfit. “It’s a constitutional means that’s available. It’s not a far-fetched reaction to what’s going on with Trump and his administration,” said Grijalva. Given that both VP Pence and Trump’s Cabinet have stood by him, the notion nonetheless is likely far-fetched indeed. Grijalva also said he would be leading a protest on Tuesday in Phoenix where Trump is expected to hold a rally. More here from the Arizona Daily Star.
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|  | The FCC's Ajit Pai on Thursday with
Keith Noreika, Acting Comptroller of the Currency. | |  | Journos Thuy Vu and Carla Marinucci with Lanhee Chen of the Hoover Institution at Stanford University on Friday discussing Charlottesville and free speech issues. | |
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African American Mayors Launch Five-Point Plan
In response to the events in Charlottesville, New Haven, CT Mayor Toni Harp, President of the African American Mayors Association (AAMA), announced the organization’s five-point response plan that details a call to action for the White House, corporate America, local municipalities, and GOTV efforts. “I urge all mayors and governors to adopt AAMA’s five point response plan which calls for: the immediate removal of confederate and nazi symbols; the removal from federal office Sebastian Gorka and Stephen Miller whose ideological extremism emboldens white supremacists; the provision of additional resources for law enforcement to identify hate groups; all corporations to stop the dissemination of tools of hate on their platforms; and for all public officials to disavow hate and racial violence as a prerequisite for running for office,” said Harp. See the full plan here.
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AFSCME’s Lee Saunders Kicks Off “I am 2018”
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) announced the launch of the I Am 2018 campaign to commemorate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Memphis sanitation workers’ strike. On the anniversary of Dr. King’s death, AFSCME will begin training thousands of labor organizers and activists around the country to address poverty, income inequality, and racial disparity. Recently, Colorlines spoke with AFSCME president Lee Saunders to learn more about I Am 2018, and discuss the issues that are still paramount to the labor and racial justice movements. “We want to develop a strong army of people who will go back to their communities and talk about economic justice, civil rights and human rights for all and make the rallying cry. We believe this is the moment to do so,” said Saunders. Read the full interview here.
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|  | Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) last week speaking with Vice News' Shawna Thomas about Charlottesville and other news. | |  |
Senator Robert Menéndez (D-NJ) wrapping up National Health Center Week at Perth Amboy's Jewish Renaissance Medical Center. | |
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Univisión CEO Calls on Fellow CEOs to Speak Out
Add Univisión’s Randy Falco to the list of those speaking out against Donald Trump. After the events in Charlottesville, Falco penned an open letter describing his commitment to speaking out against the inaccurate portrayal of immigrants, efforts to break apart immigrant families, efforts to demonize the LGBT community, attacks on the media, and “the abject failure to clearly and forcefully denounce the actions of white supremacists, Neo-Nazis, and others who espouse racist and hateful views.” Falco also urged fellow CEOs to speak out, writing that the “current insanity threatens to spiral out of control and has to stop. Leadership is needed. Leaders from corporate America must step in to protect the communities we serve, as so many leaders in our nation’s Capital are failing to speak out forcefully and clearly against the spreading hate and bigotry.” Read more here.
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Digital Economy Advisory Board Members Quit
The mass exodus continues. More than half of the members of the 15-person Digital Economy Board of Advisors resigned last week after Trump's reaction to the Charlottesville terrorism. The board set up last year by the Obama administration to help the federal government navigate the digital economy had not met or otherwise conducted activities during the first eight months of the Trump administration. Those who have resigned include James Manyika, Director of the McKinsey Global Institute; Sonia Katyal, Chancellor’s Professor of Law at the UC Berkeley School of Law; and Corey Thomas, President and CEO of the cybersecurity firm Rapid7. To see the full list of those who have resigned, click here.
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Megachurch Pastor Resigns from WH Evangelical Advisory Board
NYC megachurch pastor A.R. Bernard announced Friday that he had stepped down from the unofficial board of evangelical advisors to Trump. Bernard sat at the president’s table on May 3rd, the night before the National Day of Prayer, when Trump gathered several religious leaders to announce an executive order on religious freedom. Bernard’s Brooklyn-based Christian Cultural Center, which claims 37,000 in membership, has been described as the largest evangelical church in NYC. He said he submitted a formal letter on Tuesday, the same day Trump made controversial remarks about the events that took place in Charlottesville. More here.
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|  | Lend Up's Jotaka Eaddy using an artifact called a "pay phone." In the olden days, people used to put coins in these to make calls. And they didn't even take pictures. People suffered through the days with no duck lip selfies. Ahh, the glory days of yesteryear. | |  | Who is this ride or die? That's Symone Sanders on Sunday on an ATV in Cabo. | |
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NYPD and Councilman Hold Rally Supporting Kaepernick
On Saturday morning, dozens of current and retired NYPD officers and several elected officials rallied in support of NFL free agent QB Colin Kaepernick. The gathering in Brooklyn Bridge Park was organized by Sgt. Edwin Raymond and attended by about 80 officers who wore black T-shirts emblazoned with “#IMWITHKAP.” Raymond said, “As members of law enforcement, we can confirm that the issues he is saying exist in policing, and throughout the criminal justice system, indeed exist ... They said he disrespected law enforcement. Well, I’m law enforcement, and he didn’t disrespect me." Brooklyn City Councilman Jumaane D. Williams was also among those who addressed the crowd. More here.
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Will Missy Elliott Statue Replace Confederate in VA?
A Change.org petition has emerged to replace a Confederate statue in Portsmouth with a statue of rapper Missy Elliott, a native of the Virginia city. Petitioner Nathan Coflin writes, “Getting this statue put up will be a lot of work and you may ask yourself is it worth it? I say yes and ask you to join me in letting us work it. Together we can put white supremacy down, flip it and reverse it.” So far, the petition has gained a massive number of supporters. There are already nearly 14,000 signatures. Fifteen thousand signatures are needed in order to present the petition to Portsmouth Mayor John Rowe. See the petition here.
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|  | Otsuka Pharmaceuticals' Molly Njeru Ryan with husband Thomas on vacation. | |  | Congresswoman Val Demings (D-FL) presenting posthumous service awards for Captain Milton R. Brooks of the Tuskegee Airmen to his son, Dr. Stephen Brooks, and his granddaughter, Ashley. | |
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Yes California Says No to USA
There’s an effort for California to secede from the United States. Californian Marcus Ruíz Evans announced in an email that he's picking up where the group’s former leader left off as president of Yes California. The group has to contend with some well-documented ties to Russia. "Calexit" started trending on Twitter in the hours after the results of the 2016 presidential election were announced. Before then, the PAC received favorable attention from news outlets backed by the Kremlin. In a page on the Yes California website that has since been taken down, the group denied accepting any financial support from the Russian government. The group's immediate goal is to file a ballot measure with the attorney general's office, allowing Californians to voice their support for secession in a 2018 special election. More here.
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| FOMOThursday, August 25th, 8P: The film Hidden Figures will be shown as the final movie of the season at the MLK Memorial. Free. Sponsored by The Memorial Foundation and MPAA. 1964 Independence Avenue, S.W. For more information, click here.
Monday, August 28th, 9A: The Collective hosts the 2017 Black Power Summit to discuss possibilities, challenges, and plans to capitalize on historic political opportunities and also economic and civil rights challenges the Black community will likely face in the 2018 and 2020 political cycles. For more information, contact Quentin James at: quentin@collectivepac.org Tuesday, August 29th, 1P: NAACP President Derrick Johnson speaks at the National Press Club in downtown DC. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.
Tuesday, August 29th, 7P: The National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) hosts an advanced screening of the movie Dolores, focusing on the life and work of civil rights icon Dolores Huerta. A moderated conversation with Dolores Huerta and filmmaker Peter Bratt will follow the screening. Free, but registration is required. Click here for more information and to sign up. Thursday, August 31st: The deadline for scholarship applications of the Native American Journalists Association (NAJA) for Native American high school students entering college, or current college and graduate students. Click here for more information and to apply. Click here for more information and to apply. Wednesday, September 6th - 7th: The Labor Council for Latin American Advancement's (LCLLA) National Latino Workers Conference and 45th Anniversary Event. Click here for more information.
Thursday, September 7th - 9th: The National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ), the Native American Journalists Association (NAJA), 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. Monday, September 11th - 13th: The Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute annual Hispanic Heritage Month conference and awards gala. Ronald Reagan Building & International Trade Center,1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Click here for more information. Friday, September 15th, 9A: Dialogue on Diversity holds its 2017 Entrepreneurship and Information Technology Conference. AT&T Forum, 601 New Jersey Avenue, N.W. Click here for more information and to register. Saturday, September 30th, 8P: Join Congresswoman Yvette Clarke (D-NY) for Bruno Mars' 24K Magic Tour. Capital One Arena, 601 F Street, N.W. For more information or to RSVP, contact Sierra Kelley-Chung or Randy Broz at: 202.403.0606 or email: Sierra@ABConsultingDC.com Thursday, October 5th, 6P: InnerCity Struggle honors Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) with the Esteban E. Torres Award at the 14th Annual Awards Dinner and Celebration. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets. Wednesday, October 10th, 6P: We Act for Environmental Justice's 2017 Awards & Gala honors changemakers New York City Councilmember Costa Constantinides, Native American activist Dallas Goodtooth, The Raben Group's Robert Raben, Hip Hop Caucus Senior Vice President Mustafa Santiago Ali, NYC Council legislative attorney Samara Swanston, and 1199 SEIU Executive Vice President Estela Vázquez. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.
Wednesday, November 29th, 8P: Join Congressman André Carson (D-IN) for JAY-Z's 4:44 Tour. Capital One Arena, 601 F Street, N.W. For more information or to RSVP, contact Courtney Hodges or Randy Broz at: 202.403.0606 or email: Courtney@ABConsultingDC.com
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