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The grand finale/closing of Chad Coopers Black Lives Matter All Lives Matter

*On April 22nd, 2017 Chad Cooper premiered his much-anticipated play, Black Lives Matter Too at Medgar Evers College.

In a noticeable departure from his previous plays that focus largely on church centered themes, Cooper has chosen to focus on a popular social movement, namely Black Lives Matter.

Cooper felt compelled to change up the script after hearing about the death of an African American man who was gunned down by the police while with his wife and child. At that moment, he realized that he could be next, and was prompted to write a play that reflected his sentiments.

The play places the Black Lives Matter movement in a historical context. In Black Lives Matter Too we go back in time to transformative historical moments such as the murder of Emmet Till in 1955, the murder of Medgar Evers in 1963, and the sacrifice of Harriet Tubman in freeing hundreds of slaves in the late 1800s. Each narrative is used by the lawyers of the play to help substantiate their claims that black people are owed 6.4 trillion dollars in reparations. To further illustrate their point, the prosecutors refer to instances where other marginalized groups have received reparations for wrong doings perpetrated by the United States. They highlighted that Japanese Americans and Native Americans received millions, or possibly billions of dollars in reparations.

Throughout the play, we are forced to contemplate that if all lives truly matter, then black lives should as well. In theory, this is a very true statement, but in practice it seems time and time again that the Black experience is vastly different from any other racial experience. The actors constantly speak about the many ways that Black lives have proven to matter less than other lives. Blacks, they insist, have been killed for minor offenses such as selling cigarettes or even the completely legal act of walking with a hoodie and a bag of skittles.

Alicia Cooper, wife to play writer Chad Cooper, and actor (Harriet Tubman) in Black Lives Matter Too All Lives Matter sings towards the plays end

One of the most poignant moments of the play is when the playwright has deceased victims of racial discrimination and injustice take the stand. We hear from Emmet Till, Harriet Tubman, and Medgar Evers. Their testimony serves to buttress the prosecutors claims that African Americans are owed reparations. This had me thinking about how powerful of a case for reparations Black people could have if actual victims of racial intolerance got to tell their truth. It was especially difficult to watch the recreation of Emmet Till as a 14-year-old, badly beaten young man. Of course, we all know that Emmet Till was in fact beaten to death, but for the plays sake he was merely badly beaten.

When Harriet Tubman takes the stand, she has visibly blackened eyes which are likely meant to portray the fact that in real life, Tubman had head injuries due to beatings at the hands of her slave owner. Tubman sings and emotionally explains to the court that, contrary to the defenses accusations, she is not a criminal for leading countless slaves to freedom. A consistent tactic of the defense was to portray the African-American heroes of the play as criminals. When Medgar Evers testifies, he explains how he was killed for trying to encourage African-Americans to be conscious of where they spend their hard-earned money. Evers, was well ahead of his time in advocating that Blacks support their own businesses. Finally, towards the end of the play, after a somewhat contentious jury deliberation, the plaintiffs win their case and African Americans are awarded their long overdue reparations. A good ending to an equally good play.

Black Lives Matter Too was launched at 7pm in Medgar Evers College located at 1650 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11225. For ticket information call 1.888 977.2282 ext.100. The production moves to Manhattan on June 28-July 1st, 2017 at a location to be announced. Productions media marketing partners of Black Lives Matter Too are DBG Media and BG Legacy Ventures.

Priscilla Mensah is an avid reader and scholar whose passions include community development and empowerment. She can be reached at [emailprotected]

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Thumbs Up for Chad Cooper's 'Black Lives Matter Too' - EURweb.com - Eurweb.com

Associated Press

Following the election of Donald Trump, groups affiliated with the Black Lives Matter movement set out to expand their focus beyond criminal justice issues and build partnerships with outside advocacy groups. May Day will be the first big test. On May 1, International Workers' Day, a coalition of nearly 40advocacy groups, is holding actions across the nation related to workers' rights, police brutality and incarceration, immigrants' rights, environmental justice, indigenous sovereignty, and LGBT issuesand more broadly railing against a Trump agenda organizers say puts them all at risk.

"We understand that it's going to take all of our movements in order to fight and win right now."

This massive effort, dubbed Beyond the Moment, is led by a collective of racial-justice groups known as the Movement for Black Lives. Monday's actions will include protests, marches, and strikes in more than 50 cities, adding to the efforts of the labor organizers who are leading the usual May Day protests.

Beyond the Moment kicked off officially on April 4, the 49th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "Beyond Vietnam"speech. In that speech, delivered in New York City in 1967, King addressed what he saw as the connection between the war in Vietnam and the racial and economic oppression of black Americans. Both, King argued, were driven by materialism, racism, and militarizationand he called upon the era's diverse social movements to work together to resist them. (Exactly one year later, King was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee, where he'd traveled to meet with black sanitation workers organizing for higher wages and better conditions.)

Beyond the Moment adopted King's tactics. Organizers intend to build a lasting coalition of marginalized groups that can be brought together for future actions. This past April 4, the Movement for Black Lives collaborated with Fight for $15, a national movement led by low-wage workers, for a series of marches, protests, and educational efforts. On Monday, they will be joined by countless other groups.

"We understand that it's going to take all of our movements in order to fight and win right now," said Patrisse Cullors, a co-founder of one of the Black Lives Matter groups involved. Beyond the Moment, she says, is "a reminder to this administration that you're going to have to contend with us" over the long term. In Los Angeles, where Cullors will be on May 1, a march is planned from the city's historic MacArthur Park to City Hall. More than 100 organizations will participate, Cullors says.

"This is a very dangerous time, and we're taking it very seriously."

Black Lives Matter groups have long collaborated with other groups locally, but only fairly recently have they sought to do so at the national level. Last summer, they sent organizers and supplies to assist the Native American protesters at Standing Rock. In January, in advance of Trump's inauguration, the groups led a series of protests and educational efforts highlighting aspects of the Trump agenda that target immigrants, Muslims, and people of color.

Monday's actions will follow a series of national marches defending the value of scientific research and evidence-based policy (a response, in part, to the administration's efforts to gut the Environmental Protection Agency, slash federally funded research, and eliminate science advisers in government.

"We're going to have to undo a lot of the policies that this administration is putting on us. And in four years, we don't want another Trump. We don't want another Jeff Sessions." The organizers are laying the groundwork for a Trump-free world, Cullors said."What you're seeing is natural allies coming together to organize, to grow bigger, to get stronger, and to build powerThis is a very dangerous time, and we're taking it very seriously."

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This Year's May Day Protests Aren't Just About Labor - Mother Jones

Thom Kleiner announced Sunday that he will run as the Democratic candidate in November's race for Orangetown town supervisor. Video by Gabriel Rom/lohud. Wochit

Thom Kleiner announced Sunday that he will run as the Democratic candidate in November for Orangetown supervisor.(Photo: Gabriel Rom/The Journal News)Buy Photo

ORANGETOWN - Thom Kleinerannounced Sunday that he will run as the Democratic candidate in November's race for Orangetown town supervisor.

Kleinerserved in the position from 1996 to 2009.

"Town problems will not be solved by rigid political ideologies," Kleiner tolda crowd of over 100 at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Blauvelt.

ORANGETOWN: Supervisor won't seek re-election in 2017

Republican Chris Day enters Orangetown supervisor race

Kleiner will face off againstChris Day, son of Rockland County Executive Ed Day, who announced his candidacy for supervisor in January.

Thom Kleiner announced Sunday that he will run as the Democratic candidate in November for Orangetown supervisor.(Photo: Gabriel Rom/The Journal News)

The current Democratic supervisor, Andy Stewart,leads aboard with a majority ofRepublicans: Councilmen Paul Valentine, Thomas Diviny and Denis Troy. Councilman Gerald "Gerry" Bottari is the only other Democrat on the board.

Kleiner pledged that he would continue the policies of Stewart, who announced in Augustthat he would not run for re-election.

"As we begin this journey,Orangetownis thriving and wehave Andy Stewart to thank for that," Kleiner said.

Kleiner said that keeping the town under the state property tax capand protecting the town from over-development would be two focal points of his administration. He also highlighted rapid developmentin neighboring communities as a challenge facing Orangetown.

"Just because there is no state of emergencyin Orangetown doesn't mean there aren't any threats," he said. "Those living outside the town of Ramapo can't have any security thatwhat is happening there will not spill over into other communities. This issue unites all of us, Democrats, Republicans and Independents."

A slew of local and state officials attended the announcement, including state AssemblywomanEllen Jaffee, D-Suffern; AssemblymanDavid Buchwald, D-White Plains;and AssemblymanKen Zebrowski, D-New City, among others.

Kleiner connected a rise of national grassroots activism after the election of President Donald Trump to his campaign and said he would fight to restore "common decency and common sense".

Before becoming supervisor, Kleiner worked inconsumer protection positions for New York City. In 2009 he unsuccessfully ran for Rockland County executive. Over the last eight years, he has served in senior roles at the state Department of Labor and the Mid-Hudson Regional Economical Development Council.

Twitter: @GabrielRom1

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Democrat Thom Kleiner enters Orangetown supervisor race - The Journal News | LoHud.com

This week, as the unbeloved American Health Care Act did its best impression of Jason Vorhees, Democrats were reminded of their dire need to win some elections. They won't send a Democrat (probably Assemblyman Jimmy Gomez) to Congress from California's safe 34th District until June 6; Jon Ossoff, who is still narrowly favored to win Georgia's 6th District, won't face a runoff until June 20.

That means the next state that will potentially change the majority in Congress is Montana's At-Large District, where Democrat Rob Quist is running an aggressive if creaky campaign to beat Republican businessman Greg Gianforte. For weeks and especially after a stronger-than-expected Democratic showing in Kansas's far more Republican 4th District local activists have raised money while hinting that Democrats might want to help out.

But as Politico's Elena Schneider points out, Democrats have made a fraction of the investment that Republicans have in Montana's race. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has put $200,000 into Montana's operation; between them, the National Republican Congressional Committee and the Congressional Leadership Fund have earmarked 10 times as much money to save the seat.

Here's the problem: Democrats, in defending their priorities, keep arguing that jumping in too early will nationalize the race. As one strategist put it to Schneider, "you dont want it to be a strict Democrat-versus-Republican because Trump did win."

Based on having covered most of this year's special elections on the ground, including Montana's, this is starting to sound like something you can only believe if you're addicted to the defensive crouch or if you never leave D.C. Three reasons:

Republicans nationalize every Trump state (or Trump district) race anyway. Here are the latest spots from the NRCC and CLF in Montana.

Here is the latest CLF ad in Georgia.

The eagle-eyed reader might notice a pattern. Neither Democrat has run as a Pelosi ally; Ossoff, somewhat famously, has rarely mentioned that he is a Democrat. But nothing stops Republicans, whose polling finds that Pelosi remains well-known and toxic in red districts, from making a Pelosi-shaped paddle and repeatedly whacking their opponents with it.

Voters don't really know who's funding the campaign attacks they see. One striking aspect of seeing elections on the ground is seeing how local news TV and newspapers cover campaign developments. If the president tweets about a race, an action that costs no money, it makes the lead of the TV news. If a surrogate comes in for a rally, it's got a fighting shot at the front page.

But you rarely if ever see local news write up a big partisan investment in a race. It's simply not interesting, unless you're a political junkie, or unless the ads are coming from a surprising source; think here of the super PACs that spring up because a multimillionaire wants them to. Party committees can also alter their identity by creating front groups, like the Republican Governors Association did when it (successfully) invested millions to flip Vermont's state house. Its ads for now-Gov. Phil Scott never mentioned that he was a Republican they ran under the banner of "A Stronger Vermont."

Democrats have a brand problem that dodging a fight will never fix.In 2008 not really so long ago Democrats won off-year special elections for Congress in Louisiana and Mississippi. One of the victors was Don Cazayoux, who took over a seat vacated by a Republican who saw the bright lights of a lobbying career. In a district where the national party regularly lost, Cazayoux ran as a pro-life, pro-education funding, tough-on-crime Democrat who favored expanding health-care coverage.

Democrats have not really competed for that seat since 2008. (Cazayoux lost a three-way November race when another Democrat ran as a spoiler.) But it was not so long ago that a populist message, which smoothed over cultural issues, could put together a coalition with enough white voters to win tough rural seats.

In 2017, Democrats are despondent about their chances of winning rural seats and the national party has moved left on issues such as abortion and immigration. But from many appearances, the party has triaged rural seats. The secretive autopsy report, prepared for the DCCC by Rep. Sean Maloney (D-N.Y.), argues that some extremely rural districts where New Deal and Great Society Democrats won for years are now unwinnable.

To progressives, it doesn't feel like Republicans share this despondence. They compete in the suburbs; they compete in the cities where they can (Omaha, Indianapolis, San Diego). They let the party's brand shift from race to race, and are nimble about it. But running through each race, they let it generally be known that a Republican is going to be easier on your wallet than a Democrat. There's an existential argument here that Democrats have not really engaged in for years.

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Democrats, stop pretending you'll 'nationalize' a race if you fight for it ... - Washington Post

Across the country, environmental activists held rallies and marches Saturday urging action on climate change. In Maine, a rally was held outside the State House, with a march circling Capitol Park and passing the Blaine House, the governors official residence.

We are growing stronger by numbers and we are going to take back the control of protecting our Earth for future generations, said Sarah LaChance of 350 Maine, one of the organizers of the event.

The Natural Resources Council of Maine and the Maine Conservation Alliance helped organize the march and rally. Organizers stressed that elected officials need to act on climate change to protect the states natural resources and its future.

Some political leaders attended the event to lend their support.

My message is really very simple. Climate change is not a Democrat or Republican issue, said Republican state Sen. Roger Katz of Augusta.

Katz told the crowd they need to stay organized and make their views known to lawmakers as they consider legislation addressing climate change.

We will fight climate change, we will enact policies that do it, we will march and we will make a difference, said Democratic House Speaker Sara Gideon of Freeport.

Gideon told the rally the issues are personal to her, and that she has often spoke with her son about the need to pass legislation to mitigate climate change.

Richard Nelson, a lobsterman from Friendship Harbor, said failure to protect the environment is affecting state fisheries, and government at all levels needs to act.

Acidic waters make it more difficult for shellfish to produce their shells and makes lobster more vulnerable to prey and have less energy for reproduction, he said.

Others, like Melissa Mann with the Maine Conservation Alliance, said its clear states need to act, because the federal government wont.

President Trump is not going to protect people and our environment from the threats of climate change, she said, despite the fact that the majority of U.S. citizens believe climate change is happening and we need to act now.

Several speakers also urged those attending the rally to take the time to testify on several bills up for public hearing at the Legislature later this week.

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'Not a Democrat or Republican Issue' Activists, Lawmakers Rally ... - Maine Public