AURN News

The Oklahoma Supreme Court heard arguments on Tuesday in the historic case concerning the 1921 Tulsa race massacre, focusing on the demands for reparations by survivors Lessie Benningfield Randle and Viola Fletcher, both 109 years old.

The two resilient women have brought forth a public nuisance lawsuit in pursuit of justice for one of the darkest chapters in American history, which saw the decimation of Tulsa's Greenwood District, then a flourishing African American business hub known as Black Wall Street.

Another case hit a roadblock last July when a Tulsa district judge dismissed the lawsuit, prompting an immediate appeal. Complicating it, Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction, Ryan Walters, stated last year that race was not a pivotal factor in the massacre.

That comment was challenged by the survivor's attorney, Damario Solomon-Simmons, who says the massacre was intrinsically tied to race and hatred, and that it's crucial to this case. Simmons also says the case has never gotten this far, and this could be the only opportunity for justice to prevail.

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President Joe Biden is condemning the killing of seven World Central Kitchen humanitarian workers in Gaza, including an American. In a direct critique of Israel's failure to safeguard civilians and aid workers, Biden is calling for an immediate and transparent investigation into the airstrikes that struck the aid convoy in Deir al-Balah.

Despite traveling in vehicles clearly marked with the WCK logo and having coordinated their movements with the IDF just half an hour earlier, the workers were tragically killed while attempting to deliver food amidst the conflict.

The president also extended his condolences to Chef José Andrés, founder of the World Central Kitchen. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged the "unintended" strike on innocent people, but that's doing little to quell the outrage over the Israeli military's actions.

Nearly 33,000 Palestinians have been killed in the conflict, while the international community's frustration with Israel's military operation continues to grow.

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(AURN News) - Principal Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer held talks with Black civil rights leaders at the White House recently to discuss the ongoing crisis and civil unrest in Haiti, the White House said.

The goal of the meeting was to have a dialogue and review U.S. efforts to provide support to the Caribbean nation as it grapples with political collapse and gang violence.

Since October 2022, the United States has provided more than $170 million in aid to Haiti. By contrast, the Biden administration and Congress have directed $75 billion in assistance to Ukraine since Russia's invasion in February 2022, according to the Council on Foreign Relations. The CFR notes that this does not include war-related spending from the U.S.

Haiti has faced a leadership vacuum after the assassination of its last elected president, Jovenel Moïse, in 2017. The country has not held a presidential election since 2016. And now gangs have seized control over large swaths of the capital, Port-au-Prince.

The impoverished nation has seen intermittent civil unrest in recent years, prompting repeated international calls for a resolution to the political turmoil and gang violence crippling economic activity.

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I know March is over, but March Madness continues for one more weekend. And I've got to tell you, the women are crushing it. After LSU's defeat against Caitlin Clark and those Iowa Hawkeyes this week, Angel Reese took some time in the post-game conference to reflect on the tough year she's had since winning it all.

You know what? She said she has received death threats, been sexualized, and she's just trying to stand tall for her teammates. She does not want them to see her down and not be there for them. I am so proud of all of these young women. They are playing like crazy. And I got to say, I am so upset that this is happening to this girl.

Reese says that, you know, she wouldn't change anything even though she has not been happy since winning all of these awards. Well, I'm just going to say, why does this keep happening to Black women athletes? What is going on here? It really does beg that question. 

Now, you know, I don't usually talk about Kanye West, because he is a sick individual who needs help. All that said, for anyone still interested in buying anything with his name on it, you might want to pay attention to the most recent suit brought against him by an employee of his troubled private Christian school, the Donda Academy.

In a lawsuit, the employee says that Yee wanted to shave students heads and lock them in cages. In a text message to this former employee, Trevor Phillips, Ye compared himself to Hitler, minus the gas chambers, and he is also accusing West of calling out Black people in a discriminatory matter, pushing employees to do renovations without permits, and telling employees they will be fired for getting fat.

There are so many unsavory things mentioned in this lawsuit that I will not discuss. But just saying, if you're still interested in his music, you might want to take a look at this lawsuit.

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(AURN News) - Famed scholar and civil rights activist Cornel West continues his campaign for the White House. Recently his campaign announced that he will appear on Utah's election ballots. The former Harvard and Princeton professor is campaigning to prioritize "people over profit and love over fear,” according to his campaign.

"We need you to be part and parcel of wrestling with this corporate duopoly, this two-party system that impedes," West said in a campaign video.

"It gets in the way of the unleashing of the kind of policies of abolishing poverty and homelessness, of dealing with working wages, cutting back on militarism, and most importantly, trying to ensure that the best of who we are as a people can be more manifest can, be more concrete because the crisis is real," he said.

West's bid comes just over 10 months after he first officially launched his run for the nation's highest office. His calls for sweeping social and economic reforms just may resonate with some younger voters, a crucial voting bloc this November. A new Rasmussen poll found that 28% of likely U.S. voters under 40 say they are likely to vote for a third-party candidate in the 2024 presidential race. And with polling between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump as close as it is, that 28% will have a major impact this fall. 

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On April 2, 1984, history was made on the basketball court as Coach John Thompson of Georgetown University led his team to victory in the NCAA basketball tournament, becoming the first Black head coach to achieve this milestone.

Throughout his 27-year tenure at Georgetown, Thompson steered his team to an impressive record, including 20 appearances in the NCAA tournament, clinching seven Big East titles, and achieving a remarkable win-loss record of 596-239.

In 1988, John Thompson Jr. further solidified his legacy by making history as the first-ever Black head coach of the Olympic team.

He passed away in 2020 at 78 years old.

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President Joe Biden is scheduled to head to Baltimore on Friday to visit the site of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge. During the press briefing, Press Secretary Karine Jean Pierre gave a preview of the trip.

"Meet with state and local officials and get on the ground. Look at federal response efforts. President Biden and his team are working with Governor Moore, the congressional delegation, Mayor Scott and numerous state and and local officials to reopen the port, rebuild the bridge, and support the people of Baltimore. The Chesapeake 1000 arrived Thursday night, and on Saturday, the unified command successfully removed the first piece of wreckage."

In a separate news conference, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott assured residents that the rebuild would come with integrity.

"And the most important thing that each and every one of us can understand is that we will do it quickly, but the right and safe way every single day until we get this channel back open. Baltimore will recover. It will be long. It will be likely a very hard road."

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In another striking blow to reproductive rights, the Florida Supreme Court has solidified a 15-week abortion restriction and more severely activated a draconian six-week ban signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis.

The harsh measure, set against the backdrop of ongoing national debate, significantly curtails women's autonomy over their health decisions. In a simultaneous decision, the court did allow a November ballot amendment that could enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution, giving Floridians a chance to reverse these restrictions.

President Joe Biden vehemently criticized the court's decision as outrageous, highlighting the dire consequences for women's access to essential health services in Florida and beyond. He lambasted these extreme laws for jeopardizing women's health and freedom, emphasizing that such measures intimidate healthcare providers with the threat of incarceration for delivering professional medical care.

The ban, which significantly heightens the stakes for the upcoming election, spotlights the ongoing battle over reproductive rights.

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The White House is bustling with excitement for the 144th annual Easter Egg Roll. Expected are about 40,000 guests to partake in an event rich with history dating back to the 1870s.

The event has survived wars and pandemics and invites children to partake in the joyous activities of egg rolling on the South Lawn. This year, the festivities are themed "EGG-ucation," focusing on turning the event into a vibrant educational experience that underscores the significance of STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) subjects.

Efforts to set the stage for an enlightening and entertaining day have been immense, with staff and volunteers preparing the South Lawn and Eclipse to mimic a lively school community. President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will grace the event and highlight the importance of supporting this tradition.

The event features 64,000 eggs supplied by North Carolina-based Braswell Family Farms and Sauder’s Eggs in Pennsylvania.

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On April 1, 1984, Marvin Gaye, the beloved icon of Motown, was shot by his father, Rev. Marvin Gay Sr., just one day shy of his 45th birthday. 

Despite his prior success, including winning his first Grammy and reclaiming the charts with his hit "Sexual Healing," Marvin Gaye returned to his parents' Los Angeles residence in 1983. His father, Rev. Marvin Gay Sr., an ordained minister, enforced strict moral standards at home, all while harboring an alleged double life.

On the morning of April 1, a heated argument between father and son escalated into violence, tragically resulting in Marvin Gaye being shot three times in the chest by his own father.

Marvin Gaye's legacy as a musical genius endures through his soulful hits such as "What’s Going On," "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)," and "Mercy Mercy Me."

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