“A society is always eager to cover misdeeds with a cloak of forgetfulness, but no society can fully repress an ugly past when the ravages persist to the public. America owes a debt of justice which it has only begun to pay.” – Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.
By Miriam Raftery
Photo: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during a press conference in 1964; public domain image via Wikipedia
January 22, 2025 (Washington D.C.) – While the nation honored slain civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Monday, President Donald Trump ironically issued sweeping executive orders to revoke not only Biden-era diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) guidelines for all federal agencies, but also roll back actions to protect minorities dating back to the 1960s, such as affirmative action, USA Today reports.
The actions drew swift condemnation from Bernice King, MLK’s daughter. She posted on social media, “This is what my father described in his book, ‘Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community?’, as #WhiteBacklash. That’s when any work and progress in the areas of racial justice and equity are met with assertions that no change is needed; with insistence that programs purposed for preventing pervasive, historically anti-Black policies and practices are harmful and unneeded; and with lies and distortion to convince people to curtail the work and progress.”
She noted that her father’s “dream encompassed eradicating racism, including in healthcare, policing, banking, and education,adding,”We have not done that. So don’t attribute canceling #DEI to wanting to honor #MLK.”
By Henri Migala
Photo: cc via Bing
January 22, 2025 (Washington D.C.) -- On Monday, January 20, President Donald Trump ordered the U.S. to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement for the second time, once again placing the world's top historic emitter of greenhouse gases outside the global pact aimed at pushing nations to tackle climate change.
The withdrawal comes amid increasingly severe wildfires, hurricanes and other severe weather disasters fueled in large part by rapidly accelerating climate change. A National Climate Assessment study found that climate change is affecting every region in the U.S., across economic sectors.
Far from taking any other steps to reduce carbon emissions, however, President Trump has issued executive orders to end actions aimed at cutting carbon and increase use of fossil fuels that accelerate climate change.
His administration has also deleted all climate change information and references from federal websites, eliminating access to key data for researchers, the press, and the public.
Biden hopes to next achieve a cease-fire in Gaza before his term ends, with an agreement for a Palestinian state and security for Israel
By Miriam Raftery
Photo, left: Hezbollah fighters in Southern Lebanon in 2023, via Tasnim News Service
November 28, 2024 (Washington D.C.) – In a historic accord, on Tuesday, U.S. President Joe Biden and President Emmanuel Macron of France issued a joint statement announcing that after “weeks of tireless diplomacy,” Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a cease fire that went into effect yesterday.
“The United States and France will work with Israel and Lebanon to ensure this arrangement is fully implemented and enforced,” the statement continued. Though the U.S. has supported Israel including sending war planes used to bomb Hezbollah targets, U.S. troops will not be sent to the region, the President assured.
The agreement includes assurances that Israel will be secure from threats by Hezbollah, which has been bombing Israel from southern Lebanon, and other terrorist groups. Hezbollah must move its forces north of the Litani River, about 20 miles from the Blue Line marking the Israel-Lebanon border.
Over the next six weeks, stabilization of southern Lebanon is to be provided by the Lebanese army and State Security Forces will deploy 10,000 troops, under international supervision. The agreement also includes withdrawal of Israeli forces, ultimately allowing residents of both Israel and southern Lebanon to return safely to their homes.
But President Biden made clear in a press conference, “This is designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities.”
By Miriam Raftery
January 8, 2025 (La Mesa) – Dozens of public speakers at yesterday’s Grossmont Healthcare District meeting urged the board to move its 9 a.m. meetings to evenings in order to accommodate people with full-time jobs. The proposal was made by newly elected director Nadia Farjood, a working mother who says her new full-time job at the District Attorney’s office prevents her from attending daytime meetings.
The district represents about 520,000 residents. Around 271 people signed a petition in support of Farjood’s proposal, and around 40 showed up in support at yesterday’s meeting. But despite testimony from union representatives, healthcare workers, district residents and local elected officials, Farjood’s proposal failed, with no other director in support.
Some speakers voiced concern not only for Farjood, but for the potential chilling effect on would-be candidates who may be persuaded from running for office if they have full-time day jobs.
Photo: County Supervisor Jim Desmond delivering his State of North County speech in June. (File photo courtesy of Desmond’s office)
January 16, 2025 (San Diego) - San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond announced that he will run for Congress.
The District 5 Republican said on Thursday that he hopes to “restore common-sense leadership” and is a candidate who prioritizes real-world solutions.