In 1960, Blacks in Virginia watched as the state changed the laws against trespass to make it a more serious crime, and the penalty was raised from a $100.00 fine to $1,000.00. This action was taken by the then all-white legislature in an attempt to combat the Civil Rights Movement and more severely punish the activists that were engaging in the sit-ins that were taking place. During that time, we read the unhinged rantings of segregationists, such as James J. Kilpatrick, who wrote lies, to stoke fear and hatred in the hearts of whites against their Black neighbors by exaggerating the civil disruption caused by demonstrators. During the Civil Rights Movement, Virginia was not the only state

This rendering of the proposed Quicken Loans Arena renovation shows what the upgraded arena would look like if the controversial plan is approved. Amid a growing controversy between African American clergy and community leaders, the powerful 14,000 Cleveland Building & Construction Trades Council – which has members in 17 unions held a press conference to announce their support for Quicken Loans Arena plan on Monday Feb. 20. They say the $160 million in tax dollars renovation to expand 23-year old Quicken Loans Arena will bring jobs to local laborers and therefore are backing the plan. "We own the project so we should fund it," said Dave Wondolowski, executive secretary of the organization.

The Cleveland Cavaliers have an interesting decision to make before the end of the week that likely will determine if they repeat as NBA champions. Do the Cavs stand pat with the roster they have, a mending Kevin Love (again?) and soon to return J.R. Smith or do they tweak what is one of the top to bottom most solid rosters in the league? The Carmelo Anthony for Love trade rumors have been swirling now for almost three weeks, and while Love is injured they could still cut the deal if the Cavs thought Anthony would give the team a better shot at defeating the prohibitive title favorite Golden State Warriors. Atlanta’s Paul Millsap is available and may not require surrendering Love in a deal,

In 2001, at the 21st District Black Congressional Caucus Labor Day Picnic, Mattiedna Johnson, at age 82, distributed flyers that stated in bold letters, Penicillin and Scarlet Fever were Developed with the Help of Mattiedna Johnson, R.N. The flyer described her pertinent role in the cure for the fatal scarlet fever epidemic and other diseases that World War II soldiers contracted during the 1940’s. Johnson stated she was the only Black, the only nurse and laboratory technician that worked on the U.S. Army Medical Corp penicillin project at the University of Minnesota. She described each step in the process and how the mold she identified led to the ‘miracle cure of the century’. “My pass

Now the time has come for this nation to fulfill its promise… In the campaign for the presidency in the 2016 November to Remember election to become the President of the United States, Donald J. Trump was the only presidential candidate to offer the American people a course of true change. “We will create a whole new system and we will take this system apart.” “I want to make America great again.” “America First!!!” ‘We the People,’ the American people believed him…and ‘We the People,’ the American people elected him as our 45th President of the United States of America. Now, as our President Donald J. Trump is trying to fulfill his promises and commitments to the American people and now, in

Rev. E.T Caviness and County Executive Armond Budish at meeting with clergy. On the heels of growing concern from community members and stakeholders about the Quicken Loans renovation project, Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish praised the deal and trumped progress in underserved communities during a breakfast meeting at greater Abyssinia Baptist Church on Feb. 9. “This is not a downtown Cleveland project. This is a downtown Cleveland project that benefits people throughout Cleveland and this county. The people who work at Quicken Loans live in the neighborhood and are making decent money,” he explained. He continued, “We are talking about $20 million in taxes per year in revenue. I don

Cleveland Heights' Ty Smith goes for a layup against No. 2 Lorain Titans. Titans won the game 69-67. Jaylen Harris (Cleveland Heights) and Octavious Wilson (Lorain) battle for a would-be rebound. (Photo by Bryant Kizer). 1. Massillon Jackson (17-1) the Polar Bears beat Uniontown Lake 69-48. The Polar Bears host No. 9 St. Vincent – St. Mary on Friday. 2. Lorain (17-2) the Titans beat Shaw 93-48 to clinch their second straight Lake Erie League title. The Titans (8-0 LEL) visit Bedford (2-16), who have lost 15 in a row, Friday. 3. Archbishop Hoban (16-2) beat Lake Catholic 76-59 to take the North Coast League – Blue Division title. The Knights host Padua on Friday. 4. St. Ignatius (14-4) the Wi

The Cleveland community two weeks of mourning culminated on Saturday Feb. 11, they all joined together to say their final goodbye to 14-year old Alianna DeFreeze at Imani Temple Ministries. The Cleveland community two weeks of mourning culminated on Saturday Feb. 11, they all joined together to say their final goodbye to 14-year old Alianna DeFreeze at Imani Temple Ministries. Lucas Memorial Funeral Home of Garfield Heights donated their service for the funeral of Alianna, Lakeview Cemetery donated the plot that would be her final resting place, Imani Temple Ministries donated their church and building for the repass and the Cleveland Cavaliers players donated the food for the repass. Aliann

Now the time has come for this nation to fulfill its promise… President Donald J. Trump promised the American people a SAFE and SECURE AMERICA. We are blessed to witness his genius at work, as he meets with one world leader after another, initiating a dialogue with conversations of friendship and respect for their culture and respect for their people. While at the same time these respectful, friendly conversations are winning admiration and respect for President Trump and respect for the American people who he represents. He affably enlightens the world leaders about what America stands for and how he intends to lead and how they can work together, even when they don’t agree with some of

His music spanned the genres of jazz, pop and R&B. Al Jarreau, the voice behind several hits and the winner of seven Grammy Awards, died early Sunday morning. He was 76. Jarreau’s death was announced on his official website Sunday and confirmed to The Huffington Post by his representative, who said Jarreau was in the hospital surrounded by family and friends when he died. The singer had been recently hospitalized in Los Angeles due to exhaustion, forcing him to cancel upcoming tour dates and retire from the road. Critics praised Jarreau for his musical range over the years. The Chicago Tribune called him “the voice of versatility,” and the Detroit News described him as “one of the world’s gr

United Pastors in Mission (UPM), a group of religious leaders and prominent Cleveland pastors met with Len Komoroski (center), CEO of Cleveland Cavaliers/Quicken Loans arena, to discuss requested tax dollars for a proposed renovating of Quicken Loans Arena in downtown Cleveland. United Pastors in Mission (UPM), a group of religious leaders and prominent Cleveland pastors met with Len Komoroski, CEO of Cleveland Cavaliers/Quicken Loans arena, to discuss requested tax dollars for a proposed renovating of Quicken Loans Arena in downtown Cleveland. The pastor group were seeking a community benefits agreement and covenant that would help to impact the conditions of distressed communities, the poo

For the first time in nearly 18 years, the prestigious NAACP Jackie Robinson Sports Award will be presented to LeBron James - one of America’s most respected, talented and influential athletes. This award is presented to individuals in sports for their high achievement in athletics and contributions in the pursuit of social justice, civil rights and community involvement. Roslyn M. Brock, Chairman of the National Board of Directors for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) will present James with the honor during The Cleveland Cavaliers’ pre-game ceremonies at The Quicken Loans Arena on February 1. Highlights from the ceremony will air during the star-studd

For more than 40 years Charlie Wilson-‘The Entertainer’- has seen everything that life has to offer, but long before he would embark on a journey that appears to have infinite longevity he was just a preacher’s kid in Oklahoma. Wilson, who will be performing at Quicken Loans Arena on Valentines Day, reflected on his mystifying staying power as an R&B performer, his bout with homelessness, cancer, his music, his commitment to his wife Mahin Wilson and his devotion to his many loyal fans. I reminded Wilson of the good ole days when he was covered by the late Gertrude Gipson-Penland who was the Los Angeles Sentinel Entertainment Editor in the late 1970s when I broke into the journalism industry

Now the time has come for this nation to fulfill its promise. The system is the enemy. The evil, corrupt, rigged, sexist, racist system has declared war on our 45th President Donald J. Trump. We are witnessing every day and in every way possible that the system is attacking President Trump…Trying to impugn, discredit and embarrass his leadership. Every devious, sneaky dirty trick used against him has failed and it only makes him stronger. President Trump is a God sent-God Touched Leader whose mission is to make America whole…and ‘Make America Great Again’!!! This means inclusion, the white woman and African Americans, people of color. This column has constantly prognosticated and predicted t

Christopher Whitaker The man accused of killing 14-year-old Alianna DeFreeze and leaving her body in an abandoned building was convicted in 2005 for sexually assaulting a woman, choking her unconscious and stabbing her in the neck with scissors. Christopher Whitaker, 44, is charged with aggravated murder in connection with Alianna's death. He is expected to appear in court Saturday, but no date has been finalized. Officials have not said how Alianna died, but Cleveland Police Chief Calvin Williams called the crime "heinous" in a press conference announcing the arrest in the case. Whitaker is a registered sex offender stemming from the 2005 conviction. Whitaker on April 8, 2005 called a then-

Doretha Love Doretha Love of Cleveland has a non-profit organization Gutter Most Ministries that is a ministry for women which is an awareness, acceptance, action program and located at 17325 Euclid Ave., Ste 4005. Please contact (216) 324-4659. “The program is made for women who have been involved in unhealthy relationships, and lifestyles, like using alcohol, drug abuse, homelessness, or mental illness,” said Love. “Anything that has brought women to broken state, we deal with in this program.” Unfortunately the programs only funded by donations and small grants but the funding is running out. Love is funding the program from her own income and donations from board members. They plan on su

Lorain Titans' Naz Bohannon, a 6-foot-6 power forward, is one of Northeast Ohio best big man. The Titans are 56-7 since Bohannon has been on the varsity roster since he was a sophomore. (Photo by Bryant Kizer). With two-third's of the season gone, now it is time to clinch the conference title and getting ready for the sectional at the end of February. 1. Massillon Jackson (12-1) the Polar Bears beat Canton McKinley 83-65. The Polar Bears will host Hoover on Friday. 2. Archbishop Hoban (13-1) the Knights beat Benedictine 56-51. The Knights swept the season from the Bengals. The Knights have won 13 in a row and they will begin a five-game road trip. They will battle Walsh Jesuit on Friday. 3.

Lady butcher cuts the final slices of cheese at Giant Eagle located in Buckeye Plaza.(Kenneth D. Miller/Photo) Four days to it’s closing, Giant Eagle sat empty and isolated on this cold snow capped day on Buckeye Ave. in Cleveland as a just a had full of customers shopped in the store for the final time. A 30 percent discount was not nearly enough to attract customers from this African American community, which was losing a vital resource, a mainstay and economic pillar. In fact it had appeared that Giant Eagle had already closed, all that remained was some limited meats in the deli, frozen box pizza, a few gallons of milk, bottles of wine, washing supplies, toilet paper, box cereal and can

The Cleveland community is shocked and saddened this week at the discovery of 14-year old Alianna DeFreeze body Sunday Jan. 29 in a vacant home. On Jan. 30, the medical examiner still had not released the identity of the murder victim. However, multiple sources say police believe the female found in the vacant home is the missing girl. DeFreeze, a child with special needs, was reported missing after she took an RTA bus to 93rd and Kinsman, but never made it to school. Police searching homes found the dead body two blocks from where Alianna got off the bus heading to school. A video confirmed her getting off the bus and then crossing the street. Meantime, a police report reveals a delay in Al

Civil Rights Activists, Legal Analysts State v. Foster Marcus Foster an affiliate of the Heartless Felons gang went on a one-man crime spree on the west-side of Cleveland last Monday. Apparently, he woke up on the wrong side of the cell. Residents in the Brooklyn Centre Neighborhood had no idea that they would be victims of random violence. It began as any other day for residents in this community, up until a woman witnessed a man open fire on passengers in an SUV that was driving down the street. She immediately tried to retreat to her home, when Marcus Foster turned his aggression towards her. He attacked her and forced himself into her home at gunpoint. Once inside, he led the woman upsta