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RACIAL JUSTICE

Racial profiling focus of 2021 Washtenaw Reads book

ANN ARBOR – The Washtenaw Reads program is an initiative by local public libraries to encourage reading and civic dialogue. One book is selected each year and participating libraries include Ann Arbor, Chelsea, Dexter, Milan, Salem-South Lyon, Saline and Ypsilanti. This year’s Washtenaw Read is “All American Boys” by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely. For more information about the book, to see the authors’ websites and to discover related titles for people of all ages, click here. According to the Ann Arbor District Library’s website, Washtenaw Reads books should meet the following criteria:

U-M awarded $10M in grants to address racial inequity

ANN ARBOR – The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation’s Just Futures Initiative has awarded the University of Michigan two $5 million grants. Led by professors Stephanie Fryberg and Earl Lewis, the grant money will be used over the next three years to fund projects that address racial inequity. Fryberg is a professor of psychology and a University Diversity and Social Transformation Professor. Lewis is the Thomas C. Holt Distinguished University Professor of History, Afroamerican and African Studies and Public Policy. In total, the Mellon Foundation awarded more then $72 million in grant funding for 16 arts, humanities and social sciences projects across the U.S.

Grosse Pointe Shores man receives hate mail because of Black Lives Matter sign

GROSSE POINTE SHORES, Mich. – A local attorney who was recently ticketed for his Black Lives Matter sign now has a new set of problems. While the ticket was thrown out, Todd Perkins is dealing with hate mail being sent to his home. Inside the letter sent to his Grosse Pointe Shores home was a poem full of racial slurs and signage designed to be a jab at his Black Lives Matter sign in the front yard. Why do people think that Black Lives Suck,” said Perkins. There was a return address on the hate mail sent to Perkins.

U-M pushes forward with anti-racism faculty hiring initiative on Ann Arbor campus

ANN ARBOR – The University of Michigan is seeking to hire at least 20 new tenure-track faculty members on its Ann Arbor campus with scholarly expertise in structural racism and racial inequality as part of a new three-year hiring initiative. Funding for the faculty hires, research and scholarships affiliated with the initiative will be provided by the Provost’s Office. Additionally, the Provost’s Office will partner with the Office of Research and the National Center for Institutional Diversity to organize and support research and education under the initiative. The U-M Biosciences Initiative, in conjunction with the hiring initiative, will be filling four tenure-track positions this year. A selection committee of faculty members will review proposals by deans and groups of faculty submitted in January and will make hires.

Focus: HOPE to host Eleanor’s Virtual March 4 HOPE – Presented by WDIV-Local 4

WDIV-Local 4 is the proud presenting sponsor of Eleanor’s Virtual March 4 Hope on Sunday. RegisterTo get started, register at https://www.focushope.edu/weekend-register/There is no registration fee or minimum donation required to participate in Eleanor’s Virtual March 4 HOPE. Share Your MarchWe hope you’ll share your March experience with us! (No in-person event will be held at Focus: HOPE). You also waive any right to inspect or approve any photo, video, or audio recording taken by Focus: HOPE or the person

Hockey Diversity Alliance requests Thursdays NHL games be suspended

The Hockey Diversity Alliance (HDA) has requested that the NHL suspend its Thursday playoff games in the name of human rights. UPDATE: NHL postpones games in response to outcry for racial justice awarenessSan Jose Sharks forward Evander Kane tweeted on behalf of the HDA:We the @TheOfficialHDA have formally requested the @NHL to suspend all playoff games today. The NHL, meanwhile, went ahead with its Stanley Cup playoff games on Wednesday. NHL players did not boycott, and the league allowed the players to make that decision. On Wednesday, Kane was among the long list of vocal critics of how the NHL and players handled the situation.

Detroit activist and former judge says time has come to end racial inequality

DETROIT – Adam Shakoor is a distinguished and rare longtime leader in the Motor City. He has always been a leader in the City of Detroit, once serving as chief judge of the 36th District Court, and even executive deputy mayor under former Mayor Coleman Young. As far as Detroit, the eyes of the world are on the Motor City. And Shakoor applauds the work of Detroit Police Chief James Craig. He says he specifically remembers when the chief was a rookie and he’s proud of the work that’s been done.

Preliminary damage estimates for Grand Rapids riot set at $448,000

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. Preliminary damage estimates for the Grand Rapids riot that took place last Saturday are set at $448,000, according to WOOD-TV. The preliminary damage estimates do not include other costs, such as overtime for police and fire and items stolen by looters. Seven police vehicles were broken into and over 100 businesses reported damage. Glass windows were shattered at the Grand Rapids Art Museum. In Detroit a protest against police brutality will take place outside Detroit Police Department headquarters at 4 p.m. for the ninth consecutive dayCoverage on the Grand Rapids riot:Protests in Grand Rapids become violent; fires, looting, heavy damage reported