Social Justice
Maya Angelou, Rep. John Lewis among those awarded ‘Medal of Freedom’
President Barack Obama recognized Maya Angelou and 14 artists, athletes, a former president, civil rights activists, humanitarians and others Tuesday with the Presidential Medal of Freedom for contributions to society that he said speak to “who we are as a people.”
President Barack Obama recognized Maya Angelou and 14 artists, athletes, a former president, civil rights activists, humanitarians and others Tuesday with the Presidential Medal of Freedom for contributions to society that he said speak to “who we are as a people.”
Medal of Freedom
This year’s recipients “reveal the best of who we are and who we aspire to be,” Obama said at a White House ceremony.
The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the nation’s highest civilian honor.
It is given in recognition of contributions to U.S. national security, world peace, culture or other significant public or private endeavors. Tuesday’s medals were the second set Obama has awarded.
The recipients
John H. Adams, co-founder of Natural Resources Defense Council
Maya Angelou, an author and poet who wrote and recited one of her works at former President Bill Clinton’s inauguration.
Warren Buffett, chairman and chief executive of Berkshire Hathaway. The famed investor is known as the “Oracle of Omaha” for a business savvy that has helped him become one of the world’s richest men. Buffett is also a philanthropist and a leader of an effort challenging the country’s wealthiest people to step up their charitable giving.
Jasper Johns, an artist whose work has dealt with themes of perception and identity. He is considered a major influence on pop, minimalist and conceptual art.
Gerda Weissmann Klein, Holocaust survivor and author who founded Citizenship Counts, an organization that teaches students to cherish being American citizens
Yo-Yo Ma, a world renowned cellist and 16-time Grammy award winner who is known for his interpretations of Bach and Beethoven. He played at Obama’s inauguration and at other White House events.
Sylvia Mendez, a civil rights activist of Mexican and Puerto Rican descent
Angela Merkel, the first woman and first East German to serve as chancellor of a unified Germany. She did not attend the ceremony, but Obama said she’d be paying him a visit soon.
Stan Musial, Hall of Fame baseball player who spent 22 seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals
Bill Russell, the former captain of the Boston Celtics and first black man to become an NBA head coach.
Jean Kennedy Smith, founder of VSA, a non-profit organization that promotes the artistic talents of people with disabilities
John J. Sweeney, president emeritus of the AFL-CIO
Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga. Lewis was chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and helped organize the first sit-ins at lunch counters that refused to serve blacks.
President Harry S. Truman established the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1945 to recognize civilians for their efforts during World War II. President John F. Kennedy reinstated the medal in 1963 to honor distinguished service.
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Social Justice
US Airman Roger Fortson, killed by deputy in his own home, honored at funeral
Family and friends of Senior Airman Roger Fortson along with dozens of Air Force members came together at an Atlanta church Friday to honor the serviceman, who was shot and killed in his Florida home by a sheriff’s deputy on May 3.
Family and friends of Senior Airman Roger Fortson, along with dozens of Air Force members, came together Friday to honor the serviceman, who was shot and killed in his Florida home by a sheriff’s deputy on May 3.
Roger Fortson celebration of life
Fortson, 23, was in his home in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, when he was shot six times by an Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office deputy, according to law enforcement authorities.
At Friday’s celebration of life at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, Fortson was laid out wearing his Air Force uniform and his coffin was draped with the American flag.
After the service, airmen saluted as Fortson’s casket was carried to a beautiful horse carriage and led away from the church.
Wonderful human being
At the funeral, speakers spoke about how Fortson transformed himself from a fun-loving teenager into a young man with a sense of purpose.
“He was one of our gifted students,” said Fortson’s former principal, Loukisha Walker, of Ronald E. McNair High School.
Fortson was “a man of honor, a man of integrity, a man of courage,” said Col. Patrick Dierig, commander of the First Special Operations Wing at Hurlburt Field, Fla., speaking at the funeral.
Tragic incident
On May 3, police responded to a call of a disturbance around 4:30 p.m., according to a released statement from the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office.
Fortson was shot six times by the deputy
Sheriff Eric Aden of the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office played the body camera footage of the deputy who shot Fortson in a press conference last week.
In the video, the deputy can be heard announcing twice that he is with the sheriff’s office. Fortson allegedly opens the door for the deputy with what appears to be a gun in his hand. The officer shot Fortson six times within seconds of the door opening. Fortson later succumbed to his injuries, according to the sheriff’s office.
“Hearing sounds of a disturbance, he reacted in self-defense after he encountered a 23-year-old man armed with a gun,” according to a sheriff’s office statement. “This was after the deputy had identified himself as law enforcement.”
The deputy involved has been put on administrative leave.
There is an ongoing investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and the state attorney’s office, according to the sheriff’s office.
Watch US Airman Roger Fortson’s celebration of life
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Social Justice
San Francisco man victim of two hate crime incidents
San Francisco’s Harvey ‘Terry’ Williams was a victim of not one, but two hate crimes and has launched a GoFundMe to protect his family.
San Francisco’s Harvey ‘Terry’ Williams was a victim of not one, but two hate crimes.
San Francisco hate crime
On the morning of April 26th, he was delivered a package containing a black doll with a noose wrapped around its neck, with his name and a picture of his face. The doll, along with the other contents of the package, were covered in horrifying racial phrases and slurs.
A week later, he received a second racist package containing similar items, but this time the threats were escalated.
San Francisco police say they’re investigating both incidents.
Neighbors have rallied behind Williams, helping him build a network of security cameras to help keep a closer eye on their area.
GoFundMe
A GoFundMe was launched to help pay for security cameras, help Terry relocate until the police know more, and help take some financial pressure off the family during a very difficult and scary time.
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Social Justice
Family of Black teen shot in head after ringing doorbell of wrong home sues gunman and HOA
The family of the Ralph Yarl, the Black teenager who was shot in the head after ringing the doorbell of the wrong home in Kansas City, Missouri, last year, has filed a lawsuit against the White man who shot him and the residential homeowners association where the house is located.
The family of Ralph Yarl has filed a civil lawsuit against Andrew Lester, the 85-year-old white man who shot the teen last year on his doorstep, along with Lester’s homeowners association.
Ralph Yarl family sues
The lawsuit, filed by Yarl’s mother Cleo Nagbe in the circuit court of Clay County, Missouri, accuses Lester and the Highland Acres Homes Association, Inc. of “careless and negligent conduct.”
“At all times relevant, Plaintiff (Ralph Yarl) never posed or issued a threat to Defendant, Andrew Lester,” the lawsuit states, adding the Highland Acres Homes Association “was aware of or should have been aware of Defendant, Andrew Lester’s, propensity for violence, access to dangerous weapons and racial animus.”
Yarl’s mother said in a news release that the case is not just about seeking justice for her son. By including the Highland Acres Homes Association, Inc., Nagbe said the lawsuit “underscores the importance of collective responsibility in safeguarding our communities.”
“Their knowledge of a potentially dangerous individual in the neighborhood without taking adequate precautions is unacceptable,” Nagbe wrote. “This case is not just about seeking justice for Ralph but about advocating for systemic changes that prioritize the safety and well-being of all children.”
Nagbe said she also hopes the civil suit will create a conversation about the “importance of responsible gun ownership and community safety measures of using words, not weapons.”
Suspect
Lester has pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree assault and armed criminal action.
He was released on $200,000 bond and his trial is set to begin October 7.
Ralph Yarl shooting incident
On April 13, 2023, Ralph Yarl, now 17, went to the wrong home while trying to pick up his younger siblings. After ringing the doorbell, Ralph was shot in the head and arm.
Lester was detained the night of the shooting but released two hours later. After a public outcry, he was arrested and charged nearly a week later.
The 85-year-old claims he was scared to death of the boy’s size. Meanwhile, Yarl is 5ft8in and 140 pounds.
Yarl survived the shooting with serious injuries. Those close to the family said he had a prognosis of a full recovery, but may possibly suffer long-term brain issues.
According to the civil lawsuit, the teenager “suffered and sustained permanent injuries, endured pain and suffering of a temporary and permanent nature, experienced disability and losses of normal life activities, was obligated to spend large sums of money for medical and attention and suffered other losses and damages.”
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Unheard Voices Magazine LLC is a news reporting platform covered under Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research.
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