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Could Mark Robinson’s extremism hand North Carolina to Kamala Harris?

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Mark Robinson, North Carolina, theGrio.com

Republicans are in trouble in North Carolina, as recent polls show the party’s gubernatorial candidate, Mark Robinson, trailing his Democratic opponent. What’s more, Democrats consider Robinson’s run on the ballot could cause Donald Trump to lose the important thing swing state to Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris in November.

Robinson, North Carolina’s first black lieutenant governor, has generated headlines for inflammatory comments he has made about race, women and the LGBTQ community, amongst other issues. The gubernatorial candidate compared abortion to slavery, downplayed the problem of slavery itself and said:Some people need to be killed”during a church service in June.

Critics like Crew were particularly outraged by Robinson’s comments on race, even condemning the term “African-American” to describe his racial identity. Robinson also released “so-called” Civil Rights Movement of the Sixties as a time when “so much freedom was lost” and called Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. a “communist.” Ironically, when Trump endorsed Robinson for governor, he called Robinson “Martin Luther King on steroids.

IN announcement of Progress NC Action, King’s son, Martin Luther King III, slammed Robinson for “repeatedly” mocking his father.

“It’s not the petty insults that bother me. It’s his total rejection of the Civil Rights Movement that my father and so many others lived and died for,” King said. “As my father said, there is nothing more dangerous than honest ignorance and conscientious stupidity.”

The crew also took part in a Progress NC ad flay Robinson expressed outrage at his online comments about women, including calling them “whores and heifers” and suggesting they “shouldn’t be leaders.”

Robinson has also made controversial statements about abortion, calling it murder and suggesting it needs to be a capital crime in North Carolina, where the medical procedure is legal for up to 12 weeks. Josh Stein has sharply criticized his Republican opponent for previously stating that the abortion issue is a result of girls not being “responsible enough to keep (their) skirts down.”

Robinson tried to soften the topic, releasing a campaign ad in August wherein he tearfully acknowledged that he and his wife, Yolanda Hill Robinson, had an abortion 30 years ago. He described it as a “very difficult decision” and said he supports North Carolina’s current law, which incorporates “common sense exceptions” for rape, incest and the lifetime of the mother.

Robinson’s extreme language appears to have cost him the election. According to the August vote by High Point University, Robinson is 14 points behind Josh Stein, the Democratic candidate for governor. Even more alarming for Republicans nationwide is the recent, nonpartisan Cook Political Report moved North Carolina went from “Republican-leaning” to “uncertain” within the presidential race between Trump and Harris.

In this composite photo, Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump is seen at an event on Aug. 15, 2024, in Bedminster, New Jersey (left), and Democratic presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harris is seen at a campaign event in Raleigh, North Carolina, on Aug. 16, 2024. (AP Photo)

Trump has won the state within the last two presidential elections; nonetheless, Harris and President Joe Biden nearly lost North Carolina 4 years ago by just 1.34 percentage points, reducing Hillary Clinton’s 2016 lack of 3.6%.

Democrats are hoping that Robinson’s extremism and declining popularity amongst North Carolina voters will help Harris secure the 270 electoral votes needed to win the White House on November 5.

Payne argued that Republicans, who’ve to “put money, resources and energy” into defending their historic advantage in North Carolina, can have less money and resources in key states like Georgia, Arizona and Nevada.

“It’s kind of Republican hubris and Republican rule that comes back home to support them,” Payne said.

He compared Robinson’s campaign for governor to that of Georgia’s 2022 Republican U.S. Senate candidate Herschel Walker, who also made headlines for controversial statements that were seen as extreme even by Trump-era Republican Party standards.

“He pretends to be someone who cares about gun rights and religion, but in reality he doesn’t care about either of those things,” Bass said.

Mark Robinson, North Carolina, theGrio.com
Mark Robinson, North Carolina lieutenant governor and candidate for governor, delivers a speech before Republican presidential candidate, former President Donald Trump, speaks at a campaign event at Harrah’s Cherokee Center on August 14, 2024 in Asheville, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Baldwin/Getty Images)

Bass believes Republicans put Robinson at the highest of the candidate list in an attempt to attract black voters with “Obama magic” without “understanding the intentions of black politics.”

While acknowledging there may be some distrust of presidency and frustration with each parties amongst black North Carolinians, Bass said, “Mark Robinson’s policies really don’t mesh with … the conservative black voter base that he claims to come from.”

Bass also criticized Republicans’ “political hypocrisy” for “attacking the first black woman to run for president” while concurrently running a black man like Robinson for governor as a Republican — something he said would fail to win over black voters.

There are still doubts that Harris will win the overall election in North Carolina against Trump, on condition that in that state, the Democratic candidate for governor and the Republican candidate for president have traditionally been split into two groups.

“Even Donald Trump has wavered in his support for Mark Robinson. Mark Robinson is really sticking with Donald Trump, not the other way around,” Bass noted.

Recalling Cheri Beasley’s tight race for the Senate in 2022, Bass said Democrats need to reexamine what went mistaken and concentrate on issues that matter to voters, equivalent to affordability, public education, police reform and the impact of natural disasters on the state.

Bass said he praised the Harris campaign for its recent rollout of an economic agenda, but he also wants Harris to more often address the problem of Israel’s war with Hamas within the Gaza Strip, which he called the “jackass in the room” on the Democratic National Convention.

He added: “It falls squarely on the shoulders of the party that has a lot of influence to allay some of the fears among its supporters so that everyone can persevere in this endeavour until November.”

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This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
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Kamala Harris Recognized for Her Spotlight on Race and Reparations During NABJ-WHYY Interview

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Kamala Harris, theGriio.com

In a wide-ranging interview with the National Association of Black Journalists and public radio station WHYY, Vice President Kamala Harris spoke more broadly about race than at some other time since becoming a presidential candidate and then the Democratic Party nominee.

The historic presidential figure (Harris is the primary Black woman and Indian-American to be nominated by a significant party) made her first appearance as vice chairman on the difficulty of reparations and outlined the systemic harms inflicted on Black communities by U.S. history, including African-American slavery and racial oppression.

“We need to tell the truth in a way that leads to solutions,” said Harris, who co-sponsored HR40 when she was a U.S. senator.

While members of the Congressional Black Caucus and advocates have called on President Joe Biden to take executive motion within the absence of three many years of inaction on Capitol Hill, the presidential candidate has signaled she believes it should come through Congress. She cited Congress’s ability to carry hearings and “raise awareness” in regards to the history of slavery and racial discrimination.

However, the vice chairman added: “I am not downplaying the significance of any executive action.”

Referring to her economic plan if she wins the White House in November, Harris said her ideas for creating an “opportunity economy” would aim to “explicitly address the obstacles that exist historically and currently” in areas similar to student loan debt, health care debt, biased home valuations and black maternal mortality.

Democratic presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harris (left) is interviewed by National Association of Black Journalists members Gerren Keith Gaynor (far right), Eugene Daniels (second from right) and Tonya Mosley (third from right) on the WHYY studios in Philadelphia, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

“I am pleased that Vice President Harris has recognized the important role truth plays in our pursuit of racial healing and transformation,” said Lee. “My legislation to establish a Commission on Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation would usher in a moment of truth-telling by educating and informing the public about the historical context of the racial inequities we witness every day.”

But Hunter said that despite Harris’ clear preference for congressional motion on the commission’s creation, such a commission through executive motion “could be a source of legislative policy.” He continued,

Political pundit and radio host Reeta Colbert admitted that Harris “hung around” during her CNN interview and presidential debate with Trump to discuss her racial identity.

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This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
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Airlines forces 14-year-old girl off plane due to weight and balance issues, leaving her to fend for herself

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The mother of a teen who was banned from a plane in Canada due to a weight imbalance is outraged at how the incident has put her daughter’s safety in danger.

According to the CBC, 14-year-old Camryn Larkan boarded a Porter Airlines flight home from Toronto to Victoria, British Columbia, on August 30 after visiting family and friends. Once she was seated on the plane, a flight attendant approached her and told her she had to get off the plane.

14-year-old stuck at the airport
14-year-old forced to leave plane due to “weight and balance” issues. (Source: Pexels)

“I was a little disoriented… I thought I was going to go back to my seat. I thought they were just going to take my bags.” – Camryn he said CBC. “As soon as I got off the plane and saw the doors close, that’s when I started, you know, getting really concerned.”

Porter Airlines pulled Camryn from the flight due to a “weight and balance issue.” The airline said agents asked for volunteers, but when nobody got here forward, “passengers were selected based on ticket type.”

After Camryn and several other passengers were asked to leave the plane, a Porter Airlines agent arranged for Camryn to fly to Victoria the subsequent day. Camryn immediately called her father, who got here to pick her up on the airport.

Camryn’s mother expressed her frustration, saying the airline completely mishandled her daughter’s exit from the plane.

“They put my child in immediate danger,” Catherine Larkan said. “It was complete neglect and it shouldn’t happen to any other minor.”

The airline’s policy is that unaccompanied minors are exempt from involuntary disembarkation. The company offers a $100 service plan for children traveling alone. The plan is required for children ages 8 to 11 and optional for children ages 12 to 17.

Camryn’s family didn’t know the service existed, so the airline treated the 14-year-old as an adult.

“At the time, our team was unaware that Camryn was a minor,” a Porter Airlines spokesperson said. “Camryn left the airport quickly and our team had limited ability to discuss options with her.”

Children travelling without an unaccompanied minor plan are considered “independent adults” and are subject to “adult passenger considerations such as weight, balance and unloading situations.”

“They provide a service, saying we know these people are at risk, and they say if you don’t pay for the service, you’re going to be treated like any other adult passenger traveling,” Camryn’s mother said. “It’s just absolutely absurd.”

An airline representative told People magazine that its customer support department is in touch with Camryn’s family and that Porter Airlines is working on solutions to minimize the chance of an incident like this happening again.

This article was originally published on : atlantablackstar.com
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Here’s What You Need to Know About Threats in Springfield, Ohio, After False Accusations About Haitian Immigrants

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Haitian immigrants in Springfield Ohio, theGrio.com

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio (AP) — A small Ohio town has been flooded with false bomb threats since last week’s presidential debate, when former President Donald Trump falsely accused Members of Springfield’s Haitian community kidnap and eat cats and dogs.

Trump’s vice presidential candidate, Ohio Senator JD Vance, has amplified debunked web rumors about Haitian migrants because the Republican ticket criticizes President Joe Biden’s administration’s immigration policies, which Trump’s Democratic opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, supports. City officials acknowledge that the influx of about 15,000 Haitian migrants is causing problems, but say there is no such thing as a evidence to support the claim that they’re eating people’s pets.

More than 30 bomb threats since last week have targeted schools, government buildings and the homes of city officials, forcing evacuations and closures. Springfield also canceled its annual diversity, arts and culture celebration in response to the threats, and state police on Tuesday distributed in city schools.

Here are some things to know concerning the situation in Springfield:

Who is behind these false threats?

Foreign actors, in particular. That’s according to Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, a Republican who said many of the threats got here from abroad. The governor’s office said a criminal investigation by multiple law enforcement agencies found the “vast majority” of the threats were international in origin. Officials didn’t provide further details on how investigators determined they got here from a foreign country, and DeWine didn’t name the country.

What’s happening?

DeWine has sent dozens of Ohio State Highway Patrol members to all 18 city schools, where checks might be conducted twice every day to prevent further disruptions and help parents and students ensure that the buildings are secure. But even with the increased police presence, many parents still didn’t let their children go to school Tuesday.

Meanwhile, security cameras have been placed at strategic locations around the town, and an explosives-sniffing dog has been deployed to Springfield and might be on duty 24 hours a day.

DeWine $2.5 million declared greater than two years to increase support for primary health care. State highway patrol also helps local law enforcement implement traffic laws. DeWine said many Haitians are inexperienced drivers who’re unfamiliar with U.S. traffic laws.

How is the town reacting?

Springfield never wanted to be the focus — not like this.

City officials said Tuesday that misinformation and lies about Haitian immigrants have sown fear and division, disrupted science and price taxpayers money. In an announcement, they implored public figures, community members and media to “move beyond divisive rhetoric and instead work to promote unity, understanding and respect.” The statement didn’t mention Trump or Vance by name.

Springfield Mayor Rob Rue said the influx of migrants is straining police, hospitals and schools. He also criticized the federal government, saying the town asked for help months ago. But on Tuesday he urged national leaders to “soften their words and speak the truth.”

Why did so many Haitians move to Springfield?

Work and word of mouth.

Springfield in consequence, industrial jobs were lost and the population dropped significantly late last century. But the town made a concerted effort to attract employers and Haitian immigrants who helped meet the growing demand for employees in its factories and warehouses. Word spread, and Haitians began arriving in larger numbers in the past few years.

Haitians from Springfield and elsewhere have come to the U.S. to escape violence in their home country. Many Haitians are here under a federal program called Temporary Protected Statusallowing them to live and work temporarily in the U.S. because conditions in Haiti are deemed too dangerous for them to return to the island.

What do Haitian immigrants say?

Members of the Haitian community say they were uneasy even before Trump and Vance picked up on the pet-eating lies, as former residents were angered by the brand new arrivals’ impact on jobs, housing and traffic.

“Some of them are talking about living in fear. Some of them are afraid for their lives,” Rose-Thamar Joseph said last week on the Springfield Haitian Community Outreach and Support Center.

On church service on Sunday, Mia Perez said her daughter was evacuated from school twice last week.

“Children at school are asked by other children, ‘What does dog taste like? What does cat taste like?'” Perez said. “She asks, ‘Are we Haitians who eat this stuff? Is it true? What’s going on?'”

“It’s a conversation I wasn’t ready to have with my daughter,” Perez said. “I felt disrespected by our culture.”

This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
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