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Frederick Douglass once said there is no progress without struggle, but Philonise Floyd is tired of struggling.

Nobody should have to beg for justice, he said.

The brother of the late George Floyd, a man whose murder by police in Minnesota in 2020 ignited a burgeoning racial justice movement, shared the sentiment during a livestream Friday in commemoration of the sixth anniversary of Terence Crutchers fatal shooting by a Tulsa police officer.

Attorney Damario Solomon-Simmons said Floyds sentiment was spot on.

Yes, were resilient, he said of himself and other activists. But we are humans, and we are tired, and we deserve justice without having to expend so much energy.

The pair joined two other panelists calling on the U.S. Department of Justice to reopen the case into Crutchers death.

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The Crutcher Family is owed an unbiased and objective investigation by the Department of Justice, read a video compilation shown before the virtual talk.

The moment of silence and virtual lunch conversation was one of several events the Terence Crutcher Foundation planned for and by the community to commemorate the sixth anniversary of the unarmed fathers killing and build community power to affect true change within the city of Tulsa and across the nation.

The foundation aims to create just and liberated communities free from racial violence and harm, working to shift the narrative that Black men are bad dudes and that Black people more broadly are inherently bad.

The phrase was what a Tulsa police officer in a helicopter could be heard uttering while watching over the soon-to-be fatal traffic stop on Sept. 16, 2016: Looks like a bad dude, too. Could be on something.

Then-Tulsa Police Officer Betty Shelby had stopped to investigate Crutchers vehicle, which was abandoned in the street on 36th Street North near Lewis Avenue, while on her way to another call that evening. She shot him after he walked toward his vehicle, not heeding her instructions to stop, and appeared to be attempting to reach inside, she has said.

Shelby was charged with first-degree manslaughter less than a week after the shooting, and eight months later, in May 2017, a Tulsa County jury deliberated nine hours before finding her not guilty. She later left the Tulsa Police Department.

In addition to Floyd and Solomon-Simmons, founder and executive director of Justice for Greenwood, the livestream, which began at noon on the Black Wall Street Times Facebook page, featured Tiffany Crutcher, Terence Crutchers twin sister and executive director of the Terence Crutcher Foundation; and national civil rights attorney Ben Crump.

After a 30-second moment of silence, the two attorneys thanked both family members for their perseverance in giving a voice to their loved ones after their respective deaths, encouraging them not to let hope fail.

I am expecting a miracle of justice for Terence Crutcher, Crump said. I know God is in control.

Tiffany Crutcher noted the somber anniversary, saying that even though its been six years, it doesnt get any better.

Just seeing Terences children and my father have to still stand and speak out six years later, I get a little bit emotional, she said.

Terence Crutcher Jr., Terence Crutchers son, along with several of his family members, spoke to the Tulsa City Council on Wednesday to advocate for police accountability.

A civil case filed in the matter has been ongoing for three years, Tiffany Crutcher said, and she chalked up the matter to a white supremacist tactic.

To those people who are trying to wait us out, we will not rest, she said. We will continue to stand.

Viewers were encouraged to share the organizers message on social media with the hashtags #Terencecrutcher and #Justice4Terence as well as email kristin.clarke@usdoj.gov, urging the Department of Justice to reopen the case.

The commemoration weeks final event is a Day of Service from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the 36th Street North Event Center, 1125 E. 36th St. North.

The event will have family-friendly activities, free food trucks, a DJ, a resource fair, voter registration tables and a water bottle drive for the Tulsa Day Center as well as water relief efforts in Jackson, Mississippi.

Terence Crutcher, 40, dies after he was shot by a Tulsa officer near36th Street North, just west of Lewis Avenue. Crutcher leaves behind four children.

Tulsa police release the names of the two officers involved in the shooting. Officer Betty Shelby, 42, discharged her duty weapon and Officer Tyler Turnbough deployed his Taser, police said. Shelby is placed on routine administrative leave with pay.

Video and audio of the shooting is released to the public. Among the chatter heard from the police helicopter flying above the Crutcher scene: Looks like a bad dude, too. Could be on something.

The Crutcher family demands immediate charges against Shelby. During an afternoon news conference, Tulsa Police Chief Chuck Jordan said officers found no gun on Crutcher or in his SUV.

The story is gaining statewide and nationwide attention. Everyone from Donald Trump to Hillary Clinton to Mary Fallin to Colin Kaepernick comments on the Crutcher shooting.

Police announce that they found PCP in the vehicle used by Crutcher the night he was fatally shot.

Attorneys for the Crutcher family hold a news conference to address what they call misinformation reported by Tulsa police.

Attorney Benjamin Crump says he wants to draw the publics attention to the notion initially suggested by police that Crutcher was reaching into his vehicle when he was shot.

Attorneys show reporters poster-size images from police video footage, saying they show Crutchers hands raised above his head where he lies on the ground in a blood-soaked shirt next to his vehicle. They also point out what they believe is a blood streak on the vehicles drivers side window, which they say indicates that it was closed when Crutcher was shot.

The Tulsa County District Attorneys Office files a first-degree manslaughter charge against Betty Shelby.

Before marching almost a mile through downtown Tulsa with about 400 people, the Rev. Al Sharpton and other civic leaders urge the crowd to remain peaceful as they seek justice for Crutcher's death.

Sharpton, other religious leaders, members of the Crutcher family and several attorneys speak at a National Prayer Call for Justice March before leading the crowd from the Greenwood Cultural Center, 322 N. Greenwood Ave., to City Hall, 175 E. Second St.

The crowd spans about a block as people march behind a banner that features a photo of 40-year-old Terence Crutcher and reads #Justice4Crutch and hands up, dont shoot.

Click here to view photos from the event

Tulsa police officer Betty Shelby, pleaded not guilty to first-degree manslaughter in the fatal shooting of Terence Crutcher.

Shelby remained silent in the courtroom other than answering yes to acknowledge her presence.

Attorneys representing Terence Crutchers sister and parents argued Frenchel Renee Johnson was legally disqualified from being administrator due to past felony convictions and because Crutchers parents have temporary custody of the couples children.

Terence Crutcher had acute phencyclidine intoxication when Tulsa Police Officer Betty Shelby fatally shot him once in the upper right chest, the Oklahoma State Medical Examiners Office ruled.

Crutcher family attorney Damario Solomon-Simmons issued a statement saying that "today's toxicology report does not change the most pertinent facts of this tragedy: Officer Betty Shelby shot and killed Terence Crutcher who was, unarmed and had his hands up, without provocation or justification and she should be held accountable for her unlawful actions."

Tulsa County District Judge Kurt Glassco ordered that all the funds raised in a GoFundMe campaign, $150,000, initiated after Terence Crutchers death.

The judge also said he wont announce his decision on whether Terence Crutcher and Frenchel Johnson, the mother of Crutcher's three children, had a common-law marriage.

At a preliminary hearing, Tulsa Police Department homicide detective Sgt. Dave Walker testifies that Shelby and another officer saw Crutcher reach with his left hand through the half-open window of his vehicle, prompting them to deploy their weapons.

The daughter of Tulsa Police Officer Betty Shelby decried the media coverage of Terence Crutchers fatal shooting and told reporters her mother already has been tried in the court of public opinion.

District Judge Kurt Glassco wrote that Frenchel Johnsons relationship with Terence Crutcher, despite its length, does not meet the statutory burden for a common-law marriage in Oklahoma.

Glassco instead said Johnson and Crutchers three minor children are the heirs to the estate, as well as another child Crutcher had from a previous relationship.

The GoFundMe account received around $168,000 in contributions, which family attorneys said GoFundMe collected a percentage from before disbursing it.

Tulsa County District Judge Doug Drummond overruled two Jan. 11 motions from Betty Shelbys defense that sought to place her case again before a preliminary hearing judge or dismiss the charge due to insufficient evidence.

In making his ruling, Drummond said Special Judge Martha Rupp Carter did not abuse her discretion when she decided not to allow Shelby to call witnesses during her Nov. 29 preliminary hearing.

Shelby's trial is set for May 8, and she remains on Tulsa Police administrative leave without pay as of Sept. 22.

The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals unanimously ruled that District Judge Doug Drummond did not abuse his discretion when he affirmed a decision by Special Judge Martha Rupp Carter not to allow Betty Shelby to present witness testimony on her behalf at her Nov. 29 preliminary hearing.

Shelby remains on track for a May 8 jury trial.

Defense attorneys for Tulsa Police Officer Betty Shelby asked a judge to prohibit jurors from listening to irrelevant audio about Terence Crutchers appearance from officers in a police helicopter the day Shelby fatally shot Crutcher.

Attorney Shannon McMurray has also requested that jurors be allowed to hear information about Crutchers past, including a history of drug use and state incarceration.

The requests were denied in April.

Betty Shelby is featured on 60 Minutes and breaks down in tears while describing the circumstances that led to her decision to shoot Crutcher.

As a result, the judge presiding over Shelby's trial admonishes her in a written order after he had cautioned the state and defense on speaking publicly about the case.

"Former Tulsa Police Officer Betty Shelby has been given extraordinary privileges that the average person is not afforded at the courthouse," writes Tulsa World photo editor John Clanton. "She parks in a private lot on the west side of the courthouse. She enters the building through the Sheriffs Office and is led into the courtroom through judges chambers. She is not seen in the hallways at the courthouse. Shes led out the same way. Kept out of sight from everyone and protected by sheriffs deputies.

"All this from a Sheriffs Office that promised transparency.

"There also is black paper on the windows of the judges chambers and the courtroom. They are the only windows blacked out on the fourth floor. "

A national nonprofit organization that is raising funds to help embattled Tulsa Police Officer Betty Shelby issued a statement in her defense, describing her as on trial for her life and livelihood.

Jim Fotis, president of the National Center for Police Defense, told the Tulsa World his group has raised nearly $100,000 for Shelby since becoming involved in her case about a month after she fatally shot Terence Crutcher in September.

The Tulsa police union lodged an ethics complaint against District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler, alleging he unfairly charged Officer Betty Shelby without probable cause because he rushed to a decision before all evidence had been submitted to his office.

The ethics complaint, filed with the Oklahoma Bar Association, alleges Kunzweiler didnt have probable cause to charge Shelby merely based on watching a video of her fatal encounter with Terence Crutcher.

A jury has been chosen, with 14 individuals set to hear the evidence against Tulsa Police Officer Betty Shelby.

The jury panel of 12 includes two black women, and a black man is among the two alternates.

Sharpton said he came to Tulsa because the Crutcher family asked him to come.

We didnt come to start trouble; we came to stop trouble.

He said the shooting of a man with his hands up has been the only violence committed in this entire ordeal.

Not one window was broken. Not one brick was thrown.

The defense motion cited perceived implications by prosecutors that Tulsa officer Betty Shelby took time to "get her story straight" before giving an official police interview about the fatal shooting of Terence Crutcher.

The jurors in Betty Shelbys trial believed she acted according to her training when she fatally shot Terence Crutcher, but several believed she didnt do all she could to mitigate the situation, which left the group unable to get comfortable with the concept of Betty Shelby being blameless.

The jury deliberated for just more than nine hours before reaching its decision. Several jurors were in tears as the judge read the not-guilty verdicts for the two theories of manslaughter heat of passion and resisting criminal attempt for which Shelby was charged.

Downtown Tulsa's Mayfest was the site of protestors laying in the intersection of Main and Third streets in holding a "die in," demanding justice for Terence Crutcher.

Organizer Tykebrean McClain said the demonstrations other aim was to show people what it is like to be bombarded with images and videos on social media of the people, mainly of color, killed by police.

Tulsa Police Chief Chuck Jordan in a statement said that Betty Shelby, pursuant to the jury verdict will return to work but not in a patrol capacity.

City spokeswoman Michelle Brooks said Shelby will receive back pay for the whole time she was on unpaid administrative leave, or almost $36,000 worth of salary.

Betty Shelby, who had returned to work in a different role a few days after her acquittal, resigns from the Tulsa Police Department.

Shelby is signed on by the Rogers County Sheriffs Office. Sheriff Scott Walton had been one of Shelby's biggest vocal supporters during her trial. She is sworn in a few days later. She joins as an active reserve deputy.

The petition states that Shelby has no criminal convictions, as well as no felony or misdemeanor charges pending. It asserts that Shelby faces dangers of unwarranted adverse consequences unless the case records are sealed.

(Shelby)s privacy interests outweigh the interests of the public in maintaining this arrest record as a public document, the petition contends.

Three of Terences children, ages 5, 12 and 16, live with his parents the Rev. Joey and Leanna Crutcher.

They have given us life after their fathers death, said Leanna Crutcher.

Theyve always been part of our daily lives. But since their dad is gone, theyre really part of it now, said Joey Crutcher. Their mother is trying to get her life together. Were the ones left to take care of them, and we love doing it. It makes us young again. Young Terence makes it so we have to run after him.

A judge grants Shelby's request to expunge the record of her manslaughter case, making her able to legally say she was never arrested or prosecuted for the shooting death of Terence Crutcher.

However, a federal wrongful death civil case is ongoing.

The form asks questions about excessive force, racial profiling and whether the person reporting is willing to testify in court. The reports can be dropped off at most north Tulsa churches and will be used by the foundation to create change, said Terence Crutcher's sister, Tiffany Crutcher.

The Tulsa Police Department has a culture, a practice and a pattern of racially profiling people in our community, discriminating against the people in our community, and we can no longer say its just a few bad apples, she said.

Tiffany Crutcher, twin sister of Terence Crutcher, is pleased that the Tulsa Police Department will begin implicit-bias training next month to help combat officers potential subconscious biases, including those involving race, but she believes reformation is far from complete.

Its one small step in the right direction, but we have a lot of work to do, Tiffany Crutcher told the Tulsa World. Its one thing to say that were going to implement implicit-bias training and another thing not to apply it.

Family attorneys said that Crutchers parents, according to state law, are not legally entitled to make a damage claim in the previously filed federal case against former Tulsa officer Betty Shelby, the city of Tulsa and Chief Chuck Jordan that alleges civil rights violations occurred at the time of Crutchers death in September 2016.

However, Oklahomas civil procedure statute on wrongful death claims indicates a family can file suit to recover damages for grief and loss of companionship for the children and parents of a decedent.

The lawsuit against the city was dismissed in May.

She transitioned to full-time patrol duty Dec. 1, 2017.

Because of Shelbys time in the spotlight, Rogers County Sheriff Scott Walton discussed safety concerns with her before sending her to the streets. He said she expressed no hesitation about returning to patrol.

In 1974, he said, he lost a son to crib death. In 2008, his first grandson was shot dead in a case of mistaken identity. In 2014, his first-born son died at age 44 of colon cancer.

In each instance, the Rev. Joey Crutcher told councilors, the deaths were something that I could not control.

Continue reading here:
'Reopen the case': Six years since Crutcher's death in Tulsa police shooting, activists 'tired of struggling' - Tulsa World

Rev. Al Sharpton, founder and president of the National Action Network (NAN), today continued to call on Phoenix Suns owner, Robert Sarver, to be removed from the NBA after a damning report demonstrated patterns of racism, misogyny, and abuse.

Sarver was issued a one-year sentence and fined $10 million for his actions.

I have a deep respect for Commissioner [Adam] Silver, [attorney, sports executive, and current commissioner of the NBA] as we have worked together to raise the bar of what it means to own an NBA team. Unfortunately, trying to explain away the light punishment on Robert Sarver greatly misses the mark. Nobody can evolve from being a bigot.

This one-year suspension is a band-aid on a tumor. To say it is in remission while it grows will only make the entire league sicker.

We must remove this cancer swiftly and precisely, while sending a message that hate has no place in American sports. Its time for the players, the fans, and the corporate sponsors to rise up and demand that Robert Sarver be immediately removed from the NBA.

National Action Network is one of the leading civil rights organizations in the Nation with chapters throughout the entire United States. Founded in 1991 by Reverend Al Sharpton, NAN works within the spirit and tradition of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to promote a modern civil rights agenda that includes the fight for one standard of justice, decency, and equal opportunities for all people regardless of race, religion, nationality, or gender.

For more information go towww.nationalactionnetwork.net.

See the article here:
Rev. Al Sharpton Calls for Immediate Removal of Robert Sarver as Owner of the Phoenix Suns - Black Enterprise

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Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. elicited confusion and condemnation from media figures on CNN and MSNBC after the conservative lawmaker announced a bill to ban abortion federally after 15 weeks.

The announcement of the "Protecting Pain-Capable Unborn Children from Late-Term Abortions Act" comes as Democrats continue to hammer Republicans over state laws that restrict access to abortions, believing it to be a winning issue for the party.

CNN political commentator Alyssa Farah Griffin said Wednesday that Grahams decision to go "rogue" against the "Republican orthodoxy" on abortion was frustrating, suggesting that the Senators announcement helped provide cover for the Biden administrations "terrible" inflation numbers.

"The question is why Lindsey Graham is walking across the street to punch himself in the face," CNN's John Avlon chimed in. ""He's hanging a lantern on the fact that there's complete hypocrisy on the issue of states rights. This is the opposite of states rights. This is the entire argument that the Republicans have been making for a long time, this shouldn't be decided by the courts, it should be decided by state to state. A position we saw Lindsey Graham himself made in August and now he's reversing it."

NBCS ALCINDOR CLAIMS REPUBLICAN WOMEN EXTREMELY UPSET ABOUT ABORTION, FEEL 'BETRAYED' BY PARTY

FILE - Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., speaks with reporters about aid to Ukraine, on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, March 10, 2022, in Washington. ((AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File))

Indeed, Graham on more than one occasion has been vocal that abortion laws should be determined on a state by state basis. Last month, Graham said this on CNNs "State of the Union": "Ive been consistent. I think states should decide the issue of marriage and states should decide the issue of abortion."

Grahams sudden announcement also drew criticism from ABCs The View, which again saw self-proclaimed conservative Farah Griffin question the senators political strategy. She hypothesized Graham was attempting to get "goodwill" with some parts of the Republican base, but said she disagreed with the approach entirely. Farah Griffin instead pushed the more common Republican position of leaving it up to states.

"How about let the women make that decision, to h--- with these states," co-host Whoopi Goldberg chimed in.

Much of the discussion surrounding the proposed federal abortion ban was found on MSNBC, with hosts and reporters pointing to the senators announcement as a massive political blunder, and proof of how important abortion will be to voters in the upcoming elections.

Labeling Graham "the most cravenly opportunistic politician in America," far-left MSNBC host Joy Reid called his proposal a "dangerous, ugly and desperation move" to bolster support ahead of the midterms.

LIBERALS BLAST MEDIA COVERAGE OF GRAHAMS 15-WEEK ABORTION BAN, SAY NO SUCH THING AS 'LATE-TERM' ABORTION

People gather to protest the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade on June 24, 2022, in Portland, Oregon. Voters in Oregon and Washington told Fox News abortion, affordable housing and the environment are among their top priorities this election season. (Mathieu Lewis-Rolland/Getty Images)

[Grahams announcement] is the most definitive evidence you are ever going to get that Republicans know that abortion, not inflation, not crime, abortion, will be the most important issue for voters in November," Reid added.

Meanwhile, MSNBC political analyst Juanita Tolliver suggested that Grahams abortion bill was less about his strategy as a politician, and more about the larger aims of the Republican Party.

"Theyve shown that theyre hell bent on controlling women and pregnant people," she said in part.

Appearing on MSNBCs "Morning Joe," Al Sharpton said that Graham was successful in energy the base in the abortion fight for the midterms, just perhaps not the base he intended.

"It couldnt have been better for the Democrats," Sharpton added. "I remember growing up I had a mentor that told me Al, if you see a guy on the edge of a cliff about to go over, give him room. Dont turn a suicide into a homicide. So, I say to Democrats, back up and let him go over the cliff."

STRATEGISTS WEIGH IMPLICATIONS OF ABORTION, STUDENT LOAN HANDOUT, GUN CONTROL ON UPCOMING MIDTERMS

Protesters hold placards expressing their opinion at a pro abortion rights rally. People from many different cities gathered to support and rally for abortion rights. (Photo by Whitney Saleski/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

The rise in support for abortion could affect the November midterm elections with voters viewing abortion as a more important issue than it has been in previous elections.

A recent Wall Street Journal poll found that support for abortion increased five percentage points, from 55% in March, before the Supreme Court reversal on Roe, to 60% in August among all likely voters.

Furthermore, a vast majority of Democrats (83%) said the ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization would make them more likely to vote in the midterm elections, while 53% of independents said the same.

A number of Republicans were quick to distance themselves from Grahams bill, with some openly dismissing the plan, and others choosing instead to redouble their midterm efforts on concerns about the economy and inflation, rather than abortion.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., told reporters on Tuesday that he believed the issue should be left up to the states and suggested many other Republicans agreed. Senator John Cornyn of Texas similarly told CNN that states should handle matters related to abortion.

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But, Graham appeared to disagree, arguing that the bill could help Republicans in the midterms and provide an "alternative to the very radical position by Democratic senators."

Fox News Tyler Olsen and Hanna Panreck contributed to this report.

Nikolas Lanum is an associate editor for Fox News Digital.

Read the rest here:
MSNBC, CNN, ABC's 'The View' slam Lindsey Graham over 15 week abortion ban, call it political 'suicide' - Fox News

Tomorrow, President Biden will host the United We Stand Summit to counter the corrosive effects of hate-fueled violence on our democracy and public safety, highlight the response of the Biden-Harris Administration and communities nationwide to these dangers, and put forward a shared vision for a more united America. The United We Stand Summit will present an important opportunity for Americans of all races, religions, regions, political affiliations, and walks of life to stand together to help heal the soul of our nation.

See what a bipartisan group of leaders are saying ahead of the Summit:

Elected Officials

Mayor David Holt, Oklahoma City, OK: We certainly can use more of this. Our @OKCNM illustrates the price of hate, dehumanization & political violence. It is long past time for each of us to elevate our discourse & assume that obligation personally. Looking forward to the ideas that will come out of this summit.

Fmr. Rep. Mia Love (R-UT): The greatest threat to America is the contempt-driven hatred and politically-poisoned rhetoric we are spewing toward each other. We must realize that as Americans we are sisters and brothers and fellow travelers with common hopes, dreams and goals. Hate and the violent words, attitudes and actions that follow have no place in this most extraordinary nation.America is at its best when we are country of big ideas, diverse opinions and respectful, rigorous debate. We the people must choose to live up to the better angels of our nature.

Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD): Im delighted that President Biden has announced the United We Stand Summit to reject political violence and heal Americas divisions. Leaders from across the spectrum will convene to discuss how we can overcome extremism and foster safe & civil political discourse.

Governor Spencer Cox (R- UT): Its never a bad thing to invite people from different parties to sit down, learn about each other, and figure out together how to bridge hate and division. Were always looking for opportunities to find common ground.

Rep. Brian Higgins (D-NY): For Buffalo, the terror and destruction of hate-filled violence is personal. Next month @POTUS Biden will be leading a conversation on how we can work to bring people together rather than tear communities apart.

Mayor John Giles, Mesa, AZ: We are better when we lead with compassion and look to what we have in common rather than our differences. Hate-fueled violence has no place in our country. Lets focus on what brings us together rather than what tears us apart. #TogetherMesa #UnitedWeStand

Fmr. Rep. Barbara Comstock (R-VA): For the past decade there has been a troubling increase in hate crimes and violence against minority, religious and ethnic groups. I welcome President Bidens Summit and the needed bipartisan attention to this issue at every level of government federal, state and local as well as from our religious communities. Hate crimes and the violence it creates divides our communities and strikes fear in those who are targets. We must stand united against such violence and encourage our elected officials, law enforcement, and leaders at all levels to work together in the way President Lincoln once inspired his countrymen touched by the better angels of our nature.

Faith Leaders

Nathan Diament, Executive Director for Public Policy for the Orthodox Union: We @OUAdvocacy welcome the plan to convene, per our advocacy, a @WhiteHouse summit on combating hate-fueled violence, including #antisemitism. We look forward to further partnership w/@POTUS & others on this critical front.

Salam Al-Marayati,President of the Muslim Public Affairs Council: We welcome the United We Stand Summit. Only through unity can we defeat this cancer in our society. We believe in developing a better understanding as the primary means of defeating hate and for bringing light to the situation to overcome the darkness. United We Stand promises to be an excellent first step to understanding the problem and creating lasting change that will reduce hate-based violence.

Sister Donna Markham, President of Catholic Charities USA: At a time when our society is becoming increasingly contentious and divisions between us more extreme and dangerous, the importance of opportunities such as the White House unity summit, United We Stand: Countering Hate-Fueled Violence Together, could not be more timely. It is crucial that we hear the voices of those with whom we disagree without engaging in violence, personal attacks and vitriolic interchanges that serve only to divide us further and shred the beautiful tapestry of our national identity.

The Sikh Coalition: Today, the Biden Administration announced that on Thursday, September 15, @POTUS will host the United We Stand Summit at the @WhiteHouse to counter the corrosive effects of hate-fueled violence on our nation. The event falls on the anniversary of the 2001 hate-fueled murder of Balbir Singh Sodhi and the 1963 16th Street Baptist Church Bombingboth painful reminders that white supremacist hate violence is not a new phenomenon in our nation. We can no longer allow white supremacy to spread and continue to cause long-lasting harm to our houses of worship, community centers, and people. The Sikh Coalition continues to work with the White House to address hate violence and looks forward to participating in the summit.

Ed Stetzer, Billy Graham Distinguished Chair of Church, Mission, and Evangelism at Wheaton College and Executive Director of the Billy Graham Center at Wheaton College: The @WhiteHouse is planning United We Stand: Countering Hate-Fueled Violence Together. It indicates a commitment to put forward a shared, bipartisan vision for a more united America.

MultiFaith Neighbor Network: Just as we are working to build resilient communities together despite theological differences, the United We Stand Summit will be an opportunity for Americans of all races, religions, regions and political affiliations to prevent acts of hate together.

National Latino Evangelical Coalition: The @WhiteHouse is calling for a united stand against hate-fueled violence. No matter your political affiliation, all people of good will should work to end hate-fueled violence. Ending violence is a non-partisan activity. Lets work on it together.

Jim Wallis, Founder of Sojourners and Director of the Georgetown University Center on Faith and Justice: No matter our politics, it is time for faith & community leaders to unite together against the escalation of fear + hate that is causing a rise in political violence. So I am grateful for the White House United We Stand Summit on September 15. Ill be there with hopes & prayers.

All Dulles Area Muslim Society (ADAMS) Center: ADAMS has long history of Interfaith and MultiFaith work going back to the 1990s. ADAMS has consistently worked together with Protestant, Roman Catholic, Evangelical Christian, Latter-day Saints, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Bahai, Buddhist, and Zoroastrian faith communities to counter all hate and bigotry. ADAMS looks forward to working with the White House on this MultiFaith effort. We have worked with Local, Regional and National Law Enforcement to partner together for safer and peaceful communities.

The Shoulder to Shoulder Campaign: The Shoulder to Shoulder Campaign welcomes the United We Stand: Countering Hate-Fueled Violence Together Summit at The White House on September 15, 2022, and looks forward to participating in this important convening. As a national multifaith coalition of religious denominations and faith-based organizations, we are committed to addressing, countering, and preventing anti-Muslim discrimination and violence in the United States. We help faith communities understand that anti-Muslim discrimination is not just a Muslim issue. It is a problem that impacts us all. In this work, we have the privilege of working with national and local uniters who are faith and community leaders building bridges and countering discrimination and hate-fueled violence at all levels of society. We are eager to partner with all those who are committed to creating safer and more resilient interconnected communities here in our nation. We thank our nations leaders for prioritizing this important and necessary effort.

Civic Leaders and Civil Rights Leaders

Marc Morial, President and CEO of the National Urban League: The murderous attack in Buffalo, NY by a white supremacist, the Synagogue shooting in Pennsylvania, bomb threats against Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and the heinous attack against Asian women in Atlanta are just a few examples that prove the threat of hate-fueled violence and extremism is growing at a rapid pace. Set on the anniversary of the tragic 16th Street Baptist Church bombing in 1963, the United We Stand Summit will give officials from all levels of government, faith leaders, civil society groups, and directly impacted communities across the country the opportunity to address these issues firsthand. We commend President Biden for his leadership in organizing this summit and giving these groups a platform to acknowledge the lasting impact these incidents have on our communities. This is a necessary first step to addressing the spread of violence and preserving our democracy.

Jonathan Greenblatt, Anti-Defamation League CEO and National Director: Hate and extremism are at a historic high. They threaten our democratic institutions and undermine our norms of inclusion and tolerance. Violent extremists like white supremacists threaten our children and our neighbors, and they create terror that reverberates across our communities. United We Stand promises to be an excellent first step to understanding the problem and creating lasting change to reduce these threats.

John Bridgeland, President and CEO of Civic Enterprises and former Director of the White House Domestic Policy Council under President George W. Bush: American greatness starts with the big idea that we can disagree without demonizing each other so we can move forward in common purpose. Im excited to see the President call on all of us even his Administrations fiercest critics and members of the opposition party to take a stand against hatred and violence to help heal our land and get our country moving again. Combating hatred and violence is not a red or blue cause. Its an American cause.

Michael Gerson, Assistant to the President for Policy and Strategic Planning, President George W. Bush: Nothing is more destructive to democratic self-government than the dehumanization of political opponents, which invariably turns into an excuse for intimidation and violence. A firm, concerted, bipartisan response in which people of every ideological background are willing to confront the offenses of their own supporters is the only way to expose and stigmatize this dangerous trend in American life. And such a response must be rooted in a conviction that all people political allies and opponents alike are created with equal rights and dignity. This belief is the basis for a successful democracy, and the much-needed focus of the administrations summit.

Reverend Al Sharpton, Founder and President, National Action Network: In late May in the aftermath of the Hate Massacre in Buffalo, NAN & 3 national groups called for a White House Summit on Hate Violence. It is good to see that the WH announced such a Summit today. We look forward to a substantive and concrete event.

Arthur Brooks, Professor at Harvard University and Former President of American Enterprise Institute (AEI): This is such a great country. But we are weakening it from the inside out by not standing together. America and its strength are a gift to the world. We have an opportunity to make the world a better place, but only if we stand together. And our strength is in our diversity and in our differences. Lets all be an example of how we can still love each other especially when we disagree. I will be proud to see what happens from this important Summit and praying for its success.

The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights: We welcome the @WhiteHouses announced United We Stand summit to counter the ongoing threat of hate violence. We look forward to participating in the summit and continuing the important work of addressing this scourge on our democracy.

Peter Wehner, Director of the Office of Strategic Initiative and Deputy Director of Presidential Speechwriting under President George W. Bush: We need to come together in common purpose to address hate and violence in America. Im heartened to see the President initiate a White House Summit to bring Americans together to find solutions to this national challenge.

Sindy Benavides, CEO of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC):Unfortunately, the Latino community, as well as many other minority and religious communities, have been victimized over and over again by deadly gun violence. As a civil rights and social justice organization, LULAC applauds the White House for bringing this issue to the forefront and acknowledging that government needs to have a leading role in addressing domestic extremism in all forms. LULAC looks forward to working with the Biden Administration, law enforcement, stakeholders at all levels of government and other community groups to find long-term solutions.

John C. Yang, Executive Director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice AAJC: Asian Americans Advancing Justice AAJC commends the Biden administration for announcing its United We Stand Summit to bring Americans together to discuss how we can build bridges and address hate-fueled violence and division. We look forward to sharing our perspectives on what Asian American communities need to feel safe in the face of ongoing anti-Asian hate and reinforcing our commitment to building solidarity across communities impacted by hate.

Rodrigo Heng-Lehtinen, Executive Director of the National Center for Transgender Equality: We see examples every day of the rising threat from violence fueled by extremism and hate. Whether youre transgender or not, Black, white or brown, born in the United States or a newcomer to our country, extremism and hate impact all of our lives and put all of us at risk. Violence against transgender people, particularly Black transgender women, is on the rise, stoked by attacks from some politicians who want to divide our communities for political gain. The Biden-Harris administration recognizes the danger of hate-fueled violence and is taking a stand against it. President Biden understands the severity of anti-trans violence and the risk that hate and extremism pose to our democracy, and hes doing something about it.

Margaret Huang, President and CEO, Southern Poverty Law Center: We welcome President Bidens announcement today that the White House will host a national summit next month to address hate violence and extremism. President Biden has repeatedly demonstrated that he understands the importance of speaking out against hate. We hope the summit will provide an opportunity for elected officials and faith, business, and community leaders to come together to identify best practices to address hate-fueled violence. And we hope this event will launch a continuing commitment to address these issues in our communitiesWe applaud the presidents important effort to help unify our nation and we stand ready to assist in this essential work.

Joni Madison, Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Interim President: We are living in a time of polarization and extremism, with dangerous, extremist rhetoric on the rise. We have seen a marked increase in online vitriol against LGBTQ+ people that has led to acts of intimidation and violence in real life not to mention an increase in state legislation that targets the LGBTQ+ community. The rise of this online hate does not have only political implications; violent rhetoric leads to stigma, radicalization, and ultimately violent actions. Nearly one-in-five of any type of hate crime is now motivated by anti-LGBTQ+ bias, and the last two years have been the deadliest for transgender people, particularly Black transgender women.

The United We Stand Summit cannot come at a more crucial time, and the Human Rights Campaign is grateful to President Biden for focusing on this key issue and convening this event. We look forward to joining with other leaders to combat the rise of extremism and violence.

Jim Steyer, Founder and CEO of Common Sense Media: Next months @WhiteHouse summit on hate-fueled violence in the country could not be more important. In the meantime, we can all do our part to help protect our kids from deadly violence spawned by online hatred & lieswhether in the classroom or chatroom. #SocialMedia provides the cover to openly display and share hatred and ignorance, intentional misinformation, and acts of violence. Promoting hatred online is inexcusable, as is #BigTech companies deliberate effort to profit from it. #StopHateforProfit. Time and time again, hatred for others is the catalyst for gun violence that ends in tragedy. We must hold #BigTech accountable so that #SocialMedia and other online platforms can no longer serve as safe spaces for racism, antisemitism, and all forms of prejudice to fester. The @WhiteHouse summit must also focus on how these platforms amplify hate in the pursuit of profit. #SocialMedias role in spreading hate-filled messages, misinformation, and disinformation cannot be overlooked, now or in the future.

National Asian Pacific American Womens Forum: NAPAWF applauds the White Houses announcement to host the United We Stand Summit in an effort to counter hate-fueled violence, prevent radicalization and mobilization to violence, and foster unity. NAPAWF appreciates President Bidens recognition of the need to discuss and address hate-fueled violence.

Violence has been rising in our community over the last few years in part due to the COVID-19 pandemic and increasing political extremism, says Isra Pananon Weeks, Interim Executive Director and Chief of Staff of the National Asian Pacific American Womens Forum (NAPAWF). This violence has disproportionately impacted AAPI women, who are twice as likely to have reported incidents of discrimination. We are heartened by President Bidens actions to address hate-fueled violence and will continue to advocate that our community and others most impacted by growing violence are centered in the strategies to address this critical issue.

Stop Hate for Profit Coalition: The nations leading coalition of civic advocacy organizations committed to protecting civil and human rights and the well-being of families online, Stop Hate for Profit (#SHFP) applauds the Biden White House for announcing a summit on what can be done to reduce hate fueled violence in America in the wake of mass shootings rooted in racism, antisemitism, hatred, and Americas very real youth mental health crisis.

As a coalition that has focused on the role that social media plays in spreading hate-filled messages, misinformation, and disinformation, we believe the summit is a critical opportunity to shine a bright light on the well documented amplification of hatred by social media platforms in the pursuit of profit. We can and must reduce the spread of online hatred and lies that lead to deadly violence.

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WHAT THEY ARE SAYING: Bipartisan Praise of the United We Stand Summit - The White House

The Bible makes many references to wateroften as symbolic of life. The woman at the well was promised living water. Jeremiah refers to the fountain of living water, and Revelation bids, let him take the water of life freely.

A local church recently saw a need for literal water in another state and acted quickly to meet the need. Heavy rains that flooded the Pearl River near Jackson, Mississippi, and technical problems with what some media outlets described as the capital citys frail water system left more than 150,000 Jackson residents without safe drinking water. Senior Pastor Jamal Bryant of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia in response to the crisis announced on Sept. 8 a partnership created to provide thousands in Mississippi with bottled water.

New Birth has always had a mission to love, lead, and live like Christ and in that same vein we are actively stepping outside of the four walls of the ministry to do just that, Bryant said.

Amid what Bryant described as a lingering water crisis that has impacted families and businesses for weeks, the church partnered with Life Beyond Water and others to send 25 tractor trailers of bottled water on the second weekend in September. The water distribution took place Sept. 10 at New Horizon Church, 1770 Ellis Ave. in Jackson, Mississippi. There was a separate donation to Tougaloo College on the same day.

Its truly unfathomable for many of us to navigate one day without clean running water but for an entire city to be forced to endure unimaginable strife for an unseen amount of time is truly a crisis of monumental proportions, said Bryant, who noted the situation in Jackson was called to his attention when former Falcons football player Deion Sanders and others really started ringing the bell on the issue in a big way. We are blessed to join Deion Sanders and others to rally around a community that still needs us more than ever. The local and national press zeroed in on the reality and challenges happening in Jackson.

Additional partners joining this critical effort include the Congress of National Black Churches; Rev. Al Sharpton, National Action Network; Tamika Mallory of Until Freedom; Dharius Daniels, Change Church; Bishop William Murphy III, The dReam Center Church of Atlanta; Bishop Samuel L. Green Sr.,7th Episcopal District of the A.M.E. Church; Bishop TJ McBride, Tabernacle of Praise Church International; Bishop Kevin Adams, Olivet Baptist Church; Pastor Carlton Lynch, Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church; and Dr. John Faison, Watson Grove Baptist Church.

We are immensely grateful for the initial financial support from our members and partners that have enabled us to advance this most urgent effort, said Bryant. However, we know that the citys infrastructure remains in a dire state and will likely take some time to be fully repaired. Our goal is to remain connected to this community, local faith organizations, and outside partners to provide relief in these urgent days. Prayerfully, the water crisis in Jackson will be resolved as quickly as possible. Until that time, we believe the body of Christ and local leaders have a duty to support this community.

Bryant said he hopes his churchs gesture will prompt others to act. We hope this sparks additional support and that people dont turn a blind eye to this crisis until it is fully resolved. Clean water is not just a need of this community, it is a life-saving necessity.

New Birth Missionary Baptist Church is not a water donation site.

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Church helps life-giving water flow to city in need - - Champion