Biden tells racial justice meeting, 'We've kept our promises,' as he looks to energize Black voters
President Joe Biden has virtually addressed the Rev. Al Sharptonโs racial justice conference, telling a sympathetic crowd โweโve kept our promisesโ as he ramps up efforts to energize Black voters who will be vital to his reelection bid this fall.
Biden offers new student debt relief plan, lashes out at GOP after Supreme Court ruling
President Joe Biden vowed Friday to push ahead with a new plan providing student loan relief for millions of borrowers while blaming Republican โhypocrisyโ for triggering the dayโs Supreme Court decision that wiped out his original effort.
Two years after Floyd murder, racial trauma permeates US
Wednesday marked the second anniversary of the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, which sparked a global protest movement and calls for a racial reckoning to address structural racism that has created long-standing inequities impacting generations of Black Americans.
History 4 All: The story and legacy of Dr. Ossian Sweet
In this segment of our History 4 All special, Local 4โฒs Kimberly Gill and Devin Scillian visit with Daniel Baxter, founder of the Dr. Ossian Sweet Foundation, at the Ossian H. Sweet House in Detroit to learn more about the history of the famed Black physician.
Veterans Day legislation targets GI Bill racial inequities
In honor of Veterans Day, a group of Democratic lawmakers is reviving an effort to pay the families of Black veterans who fought on behalf of the nation during World War II for benefits they were denied or prevented from taking full advantage of when they returned home from war.
Americans warier of US government surveillance: AP-NORC poll
As the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks approaches, Americans increasingly balk at intrusive government surveillance in the name of national security - and only about a third believe that the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq were worth fighting.
Poll: 15% of Americans worse off a year into pandemic
While most Americans have weathered the pandemic financially, about 38 million say they are worse off now than before the outbreak began in the U.S. Overall, 55% of Americans say their financial circumstances are about the same now as a year ago, and 30% say their finances have improved.
AP-NORC poll: Border woes dent Biden approval on immigration
More Americans disapprove than approve of how President Joe Biden is handling the sharply increasing number of unaccompanied migrant children arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border, and approval of his efforts on larger immigration policy falls short of other top issues.
Movement for Black Lives opposes George Floyd Justice Act
A coalition of 150 organizations nationwide is opposing the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. The Movement for Black Lives argues the bill is entrenched in strategies that have historically failed to address police violence across the country and fails to meet the moment." The bill, designed by the Movement for Black Livesโ Electoral Justice Project, would also redirect funding toward communities to address the nationโs systemic racial injustices. โItโs not just about after the fact accountability,โ said Gina Clayton-Johnson, the lead BREATHE Act architect and leadership team member of the Movement for Black Livesโ Policy Table. AdBut the movement faces a significant uphill battle in securing needed political support from lawmakers who will be key in pushing forward the BREATHE Act or revamping the Justice in Policing Act.
White supremacist propaganda surged in 2020, report says
White supremacist propaganda reached alarming levels across the U.S. in 2020, according to a new report that the Anti-Defamation League shared with The Associated Press. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)NEW YORK โ White supremacist propaganda reached alarming levels across the U.S. in 2020, according to a new report that the Anti-Defamation League provided to The Associated Press. The ADL, which was founded more than a century ago, said that last year marked the highest level of white supremacist propaganda seen in at least a decade. A neo-Nazi group known as Folks Front distributed stickers that include the words โWhite Lives Matter.โAccording to the report, at least 30 known white supremacist groups were behind hate propaganda. Despite the overall increase, the ADL reported a steep decline in distribution of white supremacist propaganda at colleges and universities, due in large part to the coronavirus pandemic and the lack of students living and studying on campus.
AP-NORC poll: People of color bear COVID-19's economic brunt
Those losses havenโt hit all Americans equally, with communities of color hit especially hard by both the virus and the economic fallout. For other racial and ethnic groups, including Asian Americans and Native Americans, sample sizes are too small to analyze in the AP-NORC poll. Black and Hispanic Americans are also especially likely to say that impact has been a major one. The AP-NORC poll also finds Hispanic Americans are especially likely to think it will take a long time to dig their way out of the financial hole. About a third of Black Americans say the same, compared with about a quarter of white Americans.
The Latest: US health officials warn of false positives
WASHINGTON โ U.S. health officials are warning health professionals about the risk of false positive results with a widely used laboratory test for COVID-19 and flu. The Iowa Department of Public Health said Friday that Iowa has administered 1.03 million doses. The state health department sent a notice Thursday to the hospitals, pharmacies, clinics and other community providers of the coronavirus vaccine detailing the stateโs expectations. AdBrazil has already secured contracts for 200 million vaccine doses, half made by AstraZeneca and half by Chinese pharmaceutical company Sinovac. It could use those mechanisms as well to expand eligibility___PRAGUE โ The health authorities in the Czech Republic have administered over 1 million coronavirus vaccine shots.
From job cuts to online commerce, virus reshaped US economy
And many women, mostly mothers, felt compelled to quit the workforce to care for children being schooled online from home. AdAfter a year of ghostly airports, empty sports stadiums and constant Zoom meetings, growing signs suggest that the economy is strengthening. The economy still has 9.5 million fewer jobs than before the pandemic โ more than were lost in the entire 2008-2009 Great Recession. AdAs more Americans have ordered dinners, groceries and household goods online, delivery drivers have emerged as the biggest source of job growth in the pandemic. ___ONLINE FOOD DELIVERY, RETAIL SAVE CONSUMERSThe pandemic emptied malls and restaurants and accelerated a trend toward online ordering and delivery.
AP-NORC poll: Many in US still face COVID-19 financial loss
Overall, 44% said their household experienced income loss from the pandemic that is still having an impact on their finances. About half of those who experienced any form of household income loss during the pandemic say their current household income is lower than it was. Overall, about a quarter of Americans say theyโve been unable to pay one or more bills in the last month. Many millennials, who experienced the Great Recession early in their adult lives, are now experiencing yet another major financial crisis. In the poll, roughly 4 in 10 say theyโve been saving more money than usual, and about 3 in 10 have been paying down debt faster than usual.
The Latest: Alaska opens vaccines to all 16 or older
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVID-19 Vaccine Tracker shows Alaska leading states in the percentage of its population to have received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine. Larry Hogan said Tuesday, citing improving COVID-19 health metrics and increasing vaccinations. It was unclear what authority state officials might be able to exert on federal facilities. โ County health officials in Wyoming have detected the coronavirus variant that originated in South Africa. Another 16 million doses are expected to be shipped by the end of the month.
Jump in hiring fuels optimism for US economic recovery
That is down dramatically from 14.8% last April, just after the virus erupted in the United States. AdAlso hiring last month were retailers, which added 41,000 jobs, health care companies, with 46,000, and manufacturers, with 21,000. But state and local governments have slashed 1.4 million jobs since the pandemic erupted, including 86,000 last month, and most have instituted hiring freezes. The Congressional Budget Office projects the nation will add a substantial 6.2 million jobs this year. Sounding an optimistic note, he said: โThereโs good reason to expect job creation to pick up in the coming months."
House OKs George Floyd Act as Democrats avoid 'defund' clash
Scott Applewhite)WASHINGTON โ House Democrats passed the most ambitious effort in decades to overhaul policing nationwide, avoiding a potential clash with moderates in their own party who were wary of reigniting the โdefund the policeโ debate they say hurt them during last fall's election. Approved 220-212 late Wednesday, the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act is named for the man whose killing by police in Minnesota last Memorial Day sparked demonstrations nationwide. โWe want to feel safe when we encounter law enforcement. โOur law enforcement officers need more funding not less,โ Rep. Scott Fitzgerald, R-Wis. Another possible point of contention is provisions easing standards for prosecution of law enforcement officers accused of wrongdoing.
With Biden's backing, Dems revive bill to overhaul policing
House Democrats are hustling to pass the most ambitious effort in decades to overhaul policing. The bill would ban chokeholds and โqualified immunityโ for law enforcement and create national standards for policing in a bid to bolster accountability. โOur law enforcement officers need more funding not less,โ Rep. Scott Fitzgerald, R-Wis., said during Wednesday's debate. AdPolice unions and other law enforcement groups have argued that, without such legal protections, fear of lawsuits will stop people from becoming police officers โ even though the measure permits such suits only against law enforcement agencies, rather than all public employees. California Rep. Karen Bass, who authored the bill, understands the challenge some House members face in supporting it.
AP Exclusive: Black Lives Matter opens up about its finances
This marks the first time in the movementโs nearly eight-year history that BLM leaders have revealed a detailed look at their finances. The foundation said it committed $21.7 million in grant funding to official and unofficial BLM chapters, as well as 30 Black-led local organizations. In its report, the BLM foundation said individual donations via its main fundraising platform averaged $30.76. โBecause the BLM movement was larger than life โ and it is larger than life โ people made very huge assumptions about what our actual finances looked like,โ Cullors said. Leaders at the BLM foundation admit that they have not been clear about the movementโs finances and governance over the years.
Half a million dead in US, confirming virusโs tragic reach
At other moments of epic loss, like the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Americans have pulled together to confront crisis and console survivors. Still, at half a million, the toll recorded by Johns Hopkins University is already greater than the population of Miami or Kansas City, Missouri. It is roughly equal to the number of Americans killed in World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War combined. I so believed in him and my faith,โ said Nancy Espinoza, whose husband, Antonio, was hospitalized with COVID-19 last month. โAt one point, we had every gurney, every dressing table, every embalming table had somebody on it,โ he said.
Viral and vital, college gymnasts finding their voice
The social justice movement in college athletics has popped up in most unusual place: gymnastics. From UCLA to Pittsburgh, Black gymnasts and the programs they represent are using their platform to empower and uplift. Her experience at Arkansas was simply reflective of the culture at large in the sport at the time. From Pittsburgh to California, female gymnasts are using their platform to empower, educate and bring light to causes they believe in. โPersonally I would say (gymnastics) is a predominantly white sport,โ Ward said.
AP-NORC poll: A third of US adults skeptical of COVID shots
More recently, he said the spread of more contagious variants of the virus increases the need for more people to get their shots โ and quickly. The poll of 1,055 adults, taken Jan. 28 through Feb. 1, provides insight into the skepticism. About the same percentage said they donโt trust COVID-19 vaccines. And 38% said they donโt believe they need a vaccine, with a similar share saying that they donโt know if a COVID-19 vaccine will work and that they don't trust the government. ___The AP-NORC poll of 1,055 adults was conducted Jan. 28-Feb. 1 using a sample drawn from NORCโs probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S. population.
Activists wary of broader law enforcement after Capitol riot
Though there is no federal law that explicitly charges crimes as domestic terrorism, prosecutors have successfully used other statutes to cover conduct that might reasonably be seen as terrorism, including at the Capitol. No comparable law exists for people aligned with U.S.-based extremist groups, which enjoy expansive free speech protections. โSurveillance tactics and the eye of our law enforcement have always been trained on communities of color. Particularly Black communities,โ Nelson said. Muslim Americans believe they've felt particular scrutiny since 9/11, including after the Patriot Act, legislation that afforded law enforcement new counterterrorism authority, as well as less intrusive initiatives like the Obama-era program designed to counter violent extremism.
AP Analysis: Racial disparity seen in US vaccination drive
(AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)A racial gap has opened up in the nation's COVID-19 vaccination drive, with Black Americans in many places lagging behind whites in receiving shots, an Associated Press analysis shows. The AP analysis found that whites are getting vaccinated at closer to or higher than expected levels in most of the states examined. But there are other problems slowing vaccination among Black Americans and other groups, experts said. AdTo address mistrust, Thomas LaVeist, dean of the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine at Tulane University in New Orleans, is recruiting notable Black Americans to help promote vaccination. This is a devastating disease and it has disproportionately impacted Black Americans.
Democratic lawmakers push for race data in vaccinations
Along with Hispanic and Native American people, Black Americans are dying from COVID-19 at nearly three times the rate of white Americans. AdPressley, who made early calls for racial case data last year, said communities of color cannot afford to wait longer for vaccine demographic data to become available. During a White House briefing on Wednesday, Nunez-Smith said federal officials were calling for states to โget better, more consistent dataโ on the already administered vaccinations. Nationwide, health officials in 18 states included ways to measure equity in their vaccine distribution plans last fall. But as issues in the vaccine supply chain emerged, some states have had to slow or rework distribution plans.
Biden: We'll 'manage the hell' out of feds' COVID response
โ President-elect Joe Biden pledged Friday to boost supplies of coronavirus vaccine and set up new vaccination sites to meet his goal of 100 million shots in 100 days. โYou have my word: We will manage the hell out of this operation,โ Biden declared. Another carryover from the Trump administration plan: Biden said he intends to mobilize local pharmacies to administer vaccines. Two medical groups, the Infectious Diseases Society of America and the HIV Medicine Group, said Friday evening they โstrongly supportโ the Biden plan. The Biden administration also plans to launch a public education campaign to overcome doubts about vaccination.
Biden unveils $1.9T plan to stem COVID-19 and steady economy
President-elect Joe Biden speaks about the COVID-19 pandemic during an event at The Queen theater, Thursday, Jan. 14, 2021, in Wilmington, Del. The last item would make it easier for women to go back to work, which in turn would help the economy recover. โRemember that a bipartisan $900 billion #COVID19 relief bill became law just 18 days ago,โ tweeted Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas. But Biden says that was only a down payment, and he promised more major legislation next month, focused on rebuilding the economy. Next Wednesday, when Biden is sworn in as president, marks the anniversary of the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in the United States.
Race double standard clear in riotersโ Capitol insurrection
(AP Photos)NEW YORK โ Black Lives Matter protests, 2020: Overwhelming force from law enforcement in dozens of cities. โConfederate flags, โdonโt tread on me,โ โblue lives matterโ flags, the Trump flags โ all of it symbolizes the same thing. On Wednesday, images emerged showing custodial staffers of color in the Capitol sweeping up the shards of glass and trash left behind by the rioters. NAACP President Derrick Johnson said the people who violated the Capitol on Wednesday should not be seen as patriotic. โThis is not protesting or activism; this is an insurrection, an assault on our democracy, and a coup incited by President Trump,โ Johnson said.
The Latest: China's Hebei toughens virus rules over outbreak
State health Commissioner Kathleen Toomey urged residents to continue wearing masks, practicing social distancing and washing their hands frequently. Health care officials are currently vaccinating health care workers, first responders and those living in long-term care facilities โall people in the highest-priority groups for getting doses. In the first phase, priority was given to health care workers and residents and staff at nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. Cuomo says hospitals need to do a better job of vaccinating the health care workers who are eligible now. Only health care workers and nursing home residents and staff members are currently being vaccinated in New York.
Fewer Black kids getting flu shots, worrying CDC officials
New government data suggests more Americans have been getting flu shots in 2020, apparently heeding the advice of health officials fearful of a flu/coronavirus double pandemic. (AP Photo/LM Otero, File)NEW YORK โ More Americans have been getting flu shots this year, apparently heeding the advice of health officials fearful of a flu and coronavirus double pandemic, public health officials said Wednesday. But the flu vaccination rate for Black children is down, fueling worries that Black Americans may be turning away from shots. โIt's certainly a point of concern,โ said Dr. Ram Koppaka of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which posted new flu vaccination data Wednesday. โWe'll monitor this over the coming weeks very closely.โSo far there's been little flu going around, CDC officials say.
AP VoteCast: Trump, Biden coalitions show race, class divide
Six in 10 voters โ including most Biden voters and about a quarter of Trump voters โ said the nation was on the wrong track. Biden voters were far more concerned about racism in the U.S., after a year of rising tensions, peaceful demonstrations and sometimes-violent clashes over racial justice. Nearly all Biden voters called racism a serious problem in U.S. society and in policing, including about 7 in 10 who called it โveryโ serious. Trump had an edge in stewarding the economy, with roughly half of voters in these states saying he would do better than Biden. ___AP staffer Doug Glass contributed to this report from Kenosa, Wisconsin, and AP staffer Kristin Hall contributed to this report from Nashville, Tennessee.
Philly shooting brings policing, racism back into campaign
โI can tell you, Biden and Harris stand with the rioters and the vandals,โ Trump said of the former vice president and his running mate, Sen. Kamala Harris, during a campaign rally. Biden, who has tried to keep his campaign squarely focused on the pandemic, tread carefully. Later Tuesday, the Biden campaign issued a joint statement in which Biden and Harris said that Wallaceโs was โa black life that mattered.โBiden and Harris spoke strongly in condemning the unrest. Kevin Hayes, a sales representative who is white, had a handful of Trump campaign signs in the yard of his Springfield home and a โCops for Trumpโ sign in his window. Follow Madhani on Twitter at @AamerISMadThis story has been corrected to show that Jacob Blake was grievously wounded in police shooting, not killed.
Trust Index: Fact-checking Trump-Biden final debate comments on race relations
Race and race relations remained a major point of contention during this latest and final presidential debate Thursday night. President Trump ranked 15th out of 20, sitting below President Richard Nixon. Who built cages at the borderFinally, one last one from the President on who built cages for migrant children. โAnd they said look at these cages, President Trump built them. More fact checks from the final presidential debate:Presidential Town Hall fact checks from the Trust Index:First Presidential debate fact checks from the Trust Index:
Extra safety scrutiny planned as virus vaccine worries grow
Facing public skepticism about rushed COVID-19 vaccines, U.S. health officials are planning extra scrutiny of the first people vaccinated when shots become available โ an added safety layer experts call vital. The poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found only 46% of Americans want a COVID-19 vaccine and another 29% are unsure. Looking back at vaccines for other diseases, side effects show up within two to three months, said FDA vaccine chief Dr. Peter Marks. Then it would take FDA several weeks of breakneck work to decide if a COVID-19 vaccine really was suitable for emergency use, Marks said. And states including New York, Rhode Island and Virginia are forming advisory committees to review the safety of any COVID-19 vaccines that pass FDA.
Detroit community activist has new ideas to help end police brutality
DETROIT โ Amid anger over police brutality nationwide, a Detroit activist is using his energy to come up with solutions to end it. The activist works with police departments all throughout the Detroit area, but he says the latest police killing in Texas has him pushing even harder for police reform. Related: Ex-officer charged in George Floydโs death freed on $1M bondThe activist says enough is enough and that more should be done to end this violence. Detroit police officers also use body cameras while on the job. A spokesperson with the Detroit Police Department said that counseling services are available to officers, but they were not sure how often officers use those services.
As Harris pitches to Black voters, some want to hear more
The intensifying focus on the vice presidential debate offers Harris an important chance to address doubts about the Democratic ticket. Biden's history-making selection of Harris as his running mate has energized and excited many Black voters, particularly women, who are among the Democratic Party's most reliable voters. But she's still facing skepticism about her past as a prosecutor, and some young Black voters say they're looking for something more than a politician who looks like them. Despite Trump's efforts, Black voters nationally support Biden by a wide margin, polling shows. The community organizer said that he appreciated her detailed answer but that Democrats, including Harris, have more work to do to energize Black voters.
Cities declare racism a health crisis, but some doubt impact
Since last year, about 70 cities, roughly three dozen counties and three states have declared racism a public health crisis, according to the American Public Health Association. Local leaders say formally acknowledging the role racism plays not just in health care but in housing, the environment, policing and food access is a bold step, especially when it wasn't always a common notion among public health experts. It acted because of sobering health disparities in Wisconsinโs most populous county, where nearly 70% of the stateโs Black residents live. The head of the Chicago Hispanic Health Coalition said Cook County's 2019 resolution does nothing to help those lacking health insurance, often because of low-paying jobs. We have not effectively ensured that everybody has access.โDeGallerie is encouraged by such efforts but says she's never felt racial disparities so strongly.
Tests, background checks can thwart police diversity effort
Black applicants to law enforcement agencies are often filtered out early through racially biased civil service exams, accusations spelled out in multiple lawsuits over the years. In Pittsburgh, a 2012 federal lawsuit alleged the city police department systematically rejected Black applicants at the outset of the process after background checks turned up traffic tickets or drug offenses. The recruitment issue isnโt one solely faced by police department applicants. โI have seen far too many good black candidates disqualified for mistakes that they made when they were 18," Navarre told Republican Ohio Gov. Without addressing the modern-day militarization of law enforcement and establishing better community relations, little will change, said Rodney Coates, a Miami University sociology professor.
AP-NORC poll: Support for racial injustice protests declines
The poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research finds that 44% of Americans disapprove of protests in response to police violence against Black Americans, while 39% approve. Just 35% of white Americans approve of the protests now, while 50% disapprove. Among Latinos, 31% approve, compared with 44% in June; 63% of Black Americans support the protests, down from 81%, with more now saying they neither approve nor disapprove. While 74% of Black Americans say the criminal justice system is too lenient when officers cause injury or death, 47% of white Americans and 50% of Latinos say the same. Among Republicans, 75% say they disapprove of the protests, up from 56% in June.
Soaring wealth during pandemic highlights rising inequality
WASHINGTON โ Americans' household wealth rebounded last quarter to a record high as the stock market quickly recovered from a pandemic-induced plunge in March. The full recovery of wealth even while the economy has regained only about half the jobs lost to the pandemic recession underscores what many economists see as America's widening economic inequality. Much smaller financial resources mean that many nonwhite households are forced to sharply cut spending after a job loss or reduced incomes. Research by economists Peter Ganong and Damon Jones at the University of Chicago found that Black Americans cut spending 50% more than whites when faced with the same income losses. Even with household wealth at a record high, millions of people face the threat of eviction or going hungry.
Trump downplays legacy of slavery in appeal to white voters
WASHINGTON โ President Donald Trump intensified efforts to appeal to his core base of white voters on Thursday by downplaying the historical legacy of slavery in the United States and blasting efforts to address systemic racism as divisive. Nor did the president acknowledge the ongoing fight against racial injustice and police brutality, which has prompted months of protests this year. Trump has long fanned the nation's culture wars, including defending the display of the Confederate battle flag and monuments of Civil War rebels from protesters seeking their removal. The move is a response to The New York Times' โ1619 Project,โ which highlights the long-term consequences of slavery and the contributions of Black Americans. The project began after The New York Times Magazine published a series on the 400th anniversary of slavery in the United States.
Takeaways: Trump's town hall offered preview of debates
President Donald Trumpโs town hall in front of undecided Pennsylvania voters offered an intriguing preview of how he may approach his first debate against Democratic nominee Joe Biden in two weeks. LONG-PROMISED POLICY PLANSโWeโre signing a health care plan within two weeks,โ Trump said on July 19. MODERATORS MATTERABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos pushed back against some of Trumpโs comments but didnโt always challenge the presidentโs misstatements. But, facing a moderator and not an opponent, Trump was able to often set the tone for the discussion. A debate in which Trump is face-to-face with Biden and has a strict time limit will be a different challenge entirely.
Japan celebrates Osaka; Sponsors cautious about activism
Osaka's victory in the U.S. Open helped raised the issue of racial injustice in the United States. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, File)TOKYO โ Japan is celebrating Naomi Osaka's victory at the U.S. Open, especially her array of corporate sponsors. But like much of Japan, they are more muted in backing โ or understanding โ her campaign against racial injustice in the United States. Osaka was born in Japan to a Japanese mother and a Haitian father, but moved to the United States at 3 and was raised there. The statement from the Japanese Prime Ministerโs Office made no reference to Osaka's masks or any mention about racial injustice, saying on Twitter: โCongratulations.
Black Republican women explain why they support President Donald Trump
A group of Black women who unapologetically support President Donald Trump said their belief in the Republican platform goes all the way back to Ronald Reagan. โI read the Republican platform and I read the Democratic platform,โ Royal Oak resident Denise Edwards said. โIโve been a Republican since the โ80s, when I went to college at the University of Michigan,โ Barnes said. Iโm look at what you say youโre going to do next. โI need you to do what you say youโre going to do so I can live.โโWe have become more politically intelligent as a result of the bravado of this man, Donald Trump,โ Tarver said.