AURN News

A crowd gathered at Decatur’s historic square in Georgia on Saturday to witness the unveiling of a 12-foot-tall bronze statue of the late civil rights leader and Congressman John Lewis, replacing a Confederate monument dismantled in 2020.

The event, attended by neighbors, politicians, and civil rights leaders, saw applause as a black veil was lifted to reveal the statue, marking the same spot where a Confederate statue stood by United Daughters of the Confederacy since 1908.

The Confederate monument was removed after years of activism and following national protests over police brutality and racial injustice, particularly after George Floyd’s death.

Lewis was a prominent figure in the Civil Rights Movement and a Georgia congressman.

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Aug. 26 marks the birthday of the legendary Valerie Simpson, a celebrated icon in the music industry whose contributions have left a mark on the world of soul, R&B, and pop. As one-half of the iconic duo Ashford & Simpson, she and her late partner Nick Ashford crafted some of the most memorable and timeless hits of the Motown era and beyond.

Their songwriting partnership gave rise to classics such as "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," "You're All I Need to Get By," and "Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand)," which became anthems of love, empowerment, and resilience.

Valerie Simpson also distinguished herself as a gifted vocalist and performer, bringing soul and authenticity to each performance.

Beyond her contributions as a performer and songwriter, she has been a trailblazer for women in the music industry, influencing generations of artists with her talent, creativity, and perseverance. 

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The Democratic National Convention (DNC) wrapped up last week, and today marks 71 days until the Nov. 5 election. The Harris-Walz campaign is riding a wave of momentum from the DNC, where it witnessed a surge in volunteer sign-ups and grassroots donations. Over 200,000 new volunteer shifts have been secured since Monday, with a significant portion motivated by Vice President Kamala Harris' acceptance speech on Thursday night.

The campaign raised a record-breaking $540 million in just over a month, fueled by first-time contributors, young voters, and women. Looking ahead, Harris and Walz will kick off a bus tour in South Georgia on Wednesday, where they'll address critical issues like reproductive freedom and the cost of living.

The campaign continues to push its message through a strong paid outreach program with a $150 million TV buy for August and a $370 million reservation through Election Day.

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The final night of the Democratic National Convention was electrifying, as Kamala Harris delivered a powerful speech that showcased her vision for the future and solidified her historic candidacy.

The evening celebrated both Harris’ rise as the Democratic Party’s nominee for president and the unity of a party ready to lead.

Harris spoke of her upbringing in Oakland, California, raised by her mother and a community of caregivers, and highlighted her career dedicated to serving the people as a prosecutor, state attorney general, senator, and vice president.

Drawing sharp contrasts with Donald Trump, Harris declared, “He has only ever acted in the interests of the only client he has ever had: himself.”

As she closed, Harris delivered a rallying cry to the nation: “Let’s get out there and let’s fight for it.”

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Vice President Kamala Harris took center stage at the Democratic National Convention on its fourth and final night in Chicago, officially accepting her nomination for president. In a powerful keynote address, Harris commanded the room, highlighting her journey from a middle-class neighborhood, raised by a hardworking mother, to her current role, and introducing her vision for the future.

Harris also told Americans what she says would happen if former President Donald Trump were to be voted back into office:

"Donald Trump tried to throw away your votes. When he failed, he sent an armed mob to the United States Capitol, where they assaulted law enforcement officers. And now, for an entirely different set of crimes, he was found guilty of fraud by a jury of everyday Americans and separately found liable for committing sexual abuse. And consider, consider what he intends to do if we give him power again."

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“You know, you might not know it, but I haven’t given a lot of big speeches like this. Been a lot of pep talks.”

“Let me finish with this, team: it’s the fourth quarter. We’re down a field goal. But we’re on offense, and we’ve got the ball. We’re driving down the field, and, boy, do we have the right team.”

The running mate of Vice President Kamala Harris, Gov. Tim Walz, gave a rousing speech on the third night of the Democratic National Convention (DNC), delivering a powerful keynote that showcased the values he’s bringing to the Harris-Walz ticket.

Walz highlighted his roots in Nebraska and service in the National Guard. He also called on Americans to unite and support the Harris ticket, shared a powerful story about his daughter Hope, conceived through IVF, as he talked about the importance of reproductive rights, and called on Americans to reject former President Donald Trump’s agenda.

As the DNC enters its fourth and final day, the theme is “For Our Future.” Harris is set to address the nation tonight, outlining her vision for a brighter and more hopeful America.

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(AURN News) — According to a recent Gallup poll, American perceptions of the effects of marijuana have changed over the past two years. The survey findings reveal a significant shift in public opinion on this issue. In the poll conducted last month, "slim majorities now say it negatively impacts both society as a whole (54%) and most people who use it (51%)." This contrasts sharply with the findings from 2022, when "the public was about evenly divided in its assessments of marijuana's effect on society and more likely to say the effect on most users was positive (53%) rather than negative (45%),” Gallup said.

The data also shows that certain demographic groups hold different views on the impact of marijuana. Gallup found that "majorities of Americans in several demographic groups believe marijuana has a positive effect on most who use it." These groups include "those who say they have tried marijuana, young adults 18-34 years old, Democrats, and those who attend religious services less than monthly or never." Gallup also reports that "majorities of their counterparts -- those who say they have never tried marijuana, adults 55 and older, Republicans and those who attend religious services at least monthly -- think marijuana has a negative effect on most who use it." Independents and adults 35 to 54 years old are more divided in their opinions.

Notably, Gallup observed that "all of the groups have become less likely since 2022 to say marijuana has a positive effect on users." Furthermore, "less than half of Americans in each of these groups now think that marijuana positively impacts society."

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"His limited narrow view of the world made him feel threatened by the existence of two hard-working, highly educated, successful people who happened to be Black."

That was just one of the lines from former First Lady Michelle Obama at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) convention on day two, as the night centered on laying out a vision for America's future.

"Who's gonna tell him that the job he's currently seeking might just be one of those Black jobs."

Former President Barack Obama followed the same suit:

"Here's a 78-year-old billionaire who has not stopped whining about his problems since he rode down his golden escalator nine years ago."

And that was after rapper Lil' John roused the crowd as a Georgia delegation did their roll call. The night was filled with speeches on why the Harris-Walz ticket should win in November, and today, marking day three, will be more of the same. This time, running mate Gov. Tim Walz takes the stage. We'll also hear from former President Bill Clinton and former Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

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Happy birthday to the incredible Loretta Devine, born on Aug. 21, 1949, in Houston. From discovering her passion for performing in high school to earning degrees in speech, drama, and theater, she has become a beloved figure in entertainment.

Devine first gained fame as Lorrell Robinson in the Broadway hit "Dreamgirls," which won six Tonys. Over the years, she has starred in iconic African-American films like "Waiting to Exhale," "The Preacher's Wife," "This Christmas," and "For Colored Girls."

She's also graced TV screens with memorable roles in "A Different World," "Everybody Hates Chris," and "Grey's Anatomy."

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During day two of the Democratic National Convention, White House Correspondent Ebony McMorris spoke with Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, representing Missouri's 5th district, and he talked about what the base needs to do after the convention:

"Well, we've got to continue to go upward. I think that enthusiasm is the mother's milk for political success. But the emotion will only take us so far. I think we'll get a bump coming out of the convention. But I think now we are getting revved up, hopefully, if we're going out and working, we're going to have to bring people out. I think a lot of people are going to come out automatically now because of the, in Missouri for example, we have the abortion issue on the ballot and we have the minimum wage on the ballot. Those things attract large chunks of voters. And so all of us are going to go back to our districts and everybody's going to be fired up and I think we're going to probably level out at some point before the election. But I think if we have enough energy now, it'll take us all the way into November."

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