RACIAL JUSTICE

Oxford Companies creates a committee to discuss culture related to diversity and inclusion.

The weather might have been less than ideal, but that didn’t stop dozens of Juneteenth celebrations from happening across Metro Detroit.

The City of Madison Heights will hold its first Juneteenth Celebration from noon to 5 p.m., June 19 at Civic Center Park.

Juneteenth, the holiday celebrating the day in 1865 that all enslaved Black people learned they had been freed, is often celebrated by families across the nation -- with events including cookouts, parades or community festivals.

The Episcopal Diocese of Michigan is holding a memorial service in remembrance of George Floyd.

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:

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, 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.

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.

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

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 – 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.

LIVONIA, Mich. Drivers on Telegraph heading north into Livonia saw an eye catching billboard Monday. It billboard warned drivers they could face racial profiling in Livonia. Livonia has a history of racial profiling. Racial profiling is a serious allegation and is not tolerated. I look forward to continuing to engage with the community to make progress on issues of racial justice.Read more headlines:

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