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Want to expand access to the ballot box? Let people vote by mobile phone.

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voting by phone, mobile phone voting, theGrio.com

In 2023, we marked the sixtieth anniversary of the March on Washington and my father’s “I Have a Dream” speech, an anniversary that felt especially poignant at this critical moment when our democracy had reached a tipping point and a lot of what my father fought for was being eroded.

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The rights that Americans hold dear are under attack across the country. Reproductive rights, the ability to be ourselves, and the very pillars of our democracy are weakening by the day. The crisis has turn out to be so severe that my daughter enjoys fewer rights today than she did when she was born 15 years ago.

It isn’t any coincidence that the erosion of our civil liberties has coincided with the rollback of voting rights in states across the country. When my father marched for equality many years ago, he understood that voting rights are a essential a part of the fight for freedom and equality. Those on the other side know this too, which is why they’ve systematically made it harder for each American to vote. Eligibility requirements, polling places, and polling hours have been rigged to prevent too many Americans from voting. In my home state of Georgia, it has even been made against the law to serve water to someone waiting in line to vote.

Our voting rights must be sacred, and any attempt to suppress or take away the right to vote have to be stopped. My father used to say, “Oppression is legislated.” Change for the higher must be legislated, not oppression. Legislate change. Legislate hope. Not hate.

That is why my wife Arndrea and I are mobilizing to demand a brand new federal election law that restores the right to vote not only as an aspiration, but as a reality, and ensures that each eligible voter, no matter race, nationality or place of residence, has the opportunity to vote and forged a ballot knowing that their vote counts.

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But we don’t have to wait for Congress to act. Efforts to expand voting access are underway across the country, including the mobile voting campaign. Few efforts have the potential to impact voter turnout like mobile voting. Too many citizens are excluded from the voting booth by existing voting options—from our military members to voters with disabilities and even our youth. Mobile voting would allow all voters to exercise their most elementary democratic right using the same technology they use of their day by day lives. No more waiting in hours-long lines to get to the polls. No more busy parents carrying drained toddlers. No more young students trying to juggle school, work, and life while trying to get to the polls. And no more threats or intimidation to keep some voters from going to the polls.

Why don’t we increase voter participation to give everyone a probability to be heard? Why don’t we ease the barriers for low-income voters and help hourly staff? Why don’t we eliminate the barriers faced by disabled voters who find it incredibly difficult to get to the polls on Election Day? Shouldn’t they’ve the same right to vote as everyone else?

Every vote lost to accessibility or suppression is a loss to democracy. Expanding access is important, and evolving through technology is an indication of the times. We already spend a lot time on our smartphones—from paying bills to accessing healthcare. I’ve been banking on my phone for years, and never once has my money gone where it shouldn’t have. We know that mobile voting has security risks, identical to other voting methods. But given how embedded mobile technology tools are in our day by day lives, we also understand that these risks could be mitigated. Surely the need to protect and expand access to our democracy requires us to balance these risks and be sure that every citizen can exercise their right to vote.

Every positive change is all the time hard fought. We in Institute of Drum Majors I like to say, “Don’t give up, don’t quit, don’t give in.” My dad used to say that people and not using a vote are powerless. And one among the most significant steps we are able to take is that short step to the ballot box. Vote along with your heart and your mind, but vote in the most accessible, attainable way possible. Democracy is dependent upon it.

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This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
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Politics and Current

Viral photo of Trump’s “White Farmer” – comes from Congo, not South Africa

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President Donald Trump created a very spectacle through the Wednesday oval meeting of the office with the President of South Africa Cyril Ramaphos, attempting to strengthen his claim for the white “genocide” on this country. However, some of Trump’s evidence presented proved to be false.

Trump issued many printed articles and played almost 5-minute video assembly to reporters within the White House, which, he claimed, proved that white African farmers were victims of genocide in South Africa.

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“Death, death, death,” said Trump, when he was holding one printed article after the opposite after restoring the film about what, he claimed, were “funeral places” “over a thousand” white farmers who were murdered by the presumably black inhabitants of South Africa. However, Factcheck.org He determined that the video actually showed an indication at 2020 – not the burial place – to attract attention to the death of farmers of all breeds, not just white farmers.

President Trump also showed an image of what, he claimed, were bags with white farmers who were murdered in South Africa; However, Reuters Reported that the painting was humanitarian employees who bury the organs within the Democratic Republic of Congo. Outlet said that the image was a screen printing of Reuters in February after deadly battles against rebels supported by Rwandy who captured town of Goma.

Trump’s emphasis on white genocide going down in South Africa occurs after years of conspiracy theories from far -right groups. He was strengthened by the billionaire Elon Musk, born in South Africa, who’s a detailed advisor to the president and runs the Department of the White House.

While crime in South Africa is high, the information show that almost all of the victims of the murder within the country – over 26,000 in 2024 – was actually black. As for the farmers themselves, only 44 murders were related to farmers. Only 7 of these murders were white.

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In the middle of an actual conflict with farmers in South Africa there’s a disproportionate amount of land belonging to white African farmers, consequently of a ten -year Apartheid system in a rustic that shared and deprived of civil rights of Black South African Africa. Although they constitute only 7% of the population, they’ve 75% of arable land.

The act signed by President Cyril Ramaphos in January was geared toward starting the legislative process to repair the inequalities of land. It mainly allows the federal government to take over private land. President Trump has repeatedly pointed to the fitting as proof that they’re the goal of white farmers. However, the federal government of South Africa stated that no land was taken over. The government also said that as an alternative he tried to encourage white farmers to sell his land willingly, says Reuters.

The first group of 49 white inhabitants of South Africa goes to the USA after Trump offered them refugee status

Trump’s fascination on pushing lies about South Africa and treating white farmers was criticized by activists as an try and push the white policy of Greivance, which reflects the policy of Trump’s anti-dei-dei policy within the United States.

He continued: “As a master of racists, he knows well that black resistance and black perfection must be fully gutted to realize the global vision of Trump of the uncontrollable rule of” white “.

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(Tagstranslate) Donald Trump

This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
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Politics and Current

Trump removes truck drivers who don’t speak English

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Truck Driver, Arrest, Crime, Decapitating Woman


Truck drivers can have to pass the CDL exam and test that they will speak English. According to the Secretary for Transport, Sean Duffy signed a directive enabling the American Department of Transport To remove truck drivers who are usually not fluent in English. The transfer of Duffya directly responds to the ordinance of President Donald Trump on April 28.

According to the order, Trump directed a seek for testing of proficiency in English and law enforcement policy. In 2016, under the rule of former President Barack Obama, the Federal Safety Administration of a motor carrier (FMCS) removed the penalty for putting drivers for serving for violation of federal proficiency in English. Obama’s administration softened punishment for a quote.

However, Trump’s executive order changes him back to forcing drivers from the road.

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“The policy of my administration is the support of American trucks and protecting our roads by enforcing the joint English language requirement in English and removing unnecessary regulatory loads that undermine the working conditions of American truck drivers.” Trump states in his executive orderadding that “it will help to provide a safe, safe and efficient car carrier industry.”

Fears of truck drivers who speak English because the second language

American Truck Association He praised Trump for a brand new punishment In accordance with the order within the statement.

“Thank you to Trump’s administration for the response to our fears regarding the uneven application of this existing regulation, and we are waiting for cooperation with FMCS and the law enforcement authorities at the objective, coherent and effective standard of enforcement.”

However, others are afraid that the brand new guidelines will result in discrimination on the road, because law enforcement agencies resolve who to stop to perform an proficiency test in English.

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According to data from the Transport Department, almost 4% of CDL owners are limited in English proficiency. It is estimated that 16% discover as immigrants.

“Is it someone who has an accent, or maybe someone who wears a turban?” Mannirmal Kur, senior federal policy manager at Sikh Coalition, said: “An order outside the service may be potentially unemployment for a truck driver … With a potentially limited appeal.”

(Tagstranslate) Trump Administration

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This article was originally published on : www.blackenterprise.com
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Politics and Current

The mayor of Newark Ras Baraka released after arrest in protests at the Immigration Center: “I did nothing bad” – essence

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The mayor of Newark Ras Baraka dismissed after the arrest in the protest at the Immigration Center:

Photo of Ken Betancur/AFP by Getty Images

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The mayor of Newark, New Jersey, Barak Ras, passed free on Friday evening after spending hours in federal detention after arrest in a controversial immigration detention in Delaney Hall – an object that fought to refrain from opening in his city.

Barak was arrested during the protest in the newly opened ice retention site, which, as with other critics, has no appropriate permits and inspections, According to CNN. Standing in front of the crowd of fans after releasing it, he simplified: “In fact I did nothing wrong.”

Although he did not take details about the arrest – legal advice – the mayor clearly stated that he was standing in Solidarity with the community, including immigrants, which, he claims, are unfairly targeted.

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“Everyone here, each of us, does not care what origin you come from, what nationality, what language you speak,” he said. “At some point we have to stop these people from causing the division between us.”

The barrack, which in 2025 is applying after the replacing the governor Phil Murphy, was open in his opposition to the private penal complex of 1000 led by the Geo Group. He claims that he should never open, pointing to unsolved fears regarding security and the lack of appropriate permits to the city.

The mayor’s wife, Linda Barak, accused the federal government of aiming at her husband. “They didn’t arrest anyone else. They didn’t ask anyone to leave. They wanted to make an example from the mayor,” she said.

According to ABC News, there was a barrack accused of entering– Depot, which results in 30 days in prison and a advantageous of USD 500. He was released without Bond after a brief speech before judge Andre Espinos.

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Federal officials claim that the mayor ignored the repetitive warnings about leaving the rooms. USE temporary lawyer Alina Habba published on X this barrack “He decided to ignore the law.” But the video from the stage shows that the barraka was arrested after returning to public property outside the gate.

He wasn’t alone. It was joined by members of the Congress Delegation in New Jersey – including representatives of Bonnie Watson Coleman, Lamonica Mciver and Rob Menendez Jr. – who said they were “pushed”, “pushed” and “managed” by federal agents who tried to accompany the mayor.

“They just caught and took him,” said Watson Coleman, adding ABC News, adding that there was no clear explanation at that point.

Mciver, who said that she and others were physically treated during the try to de -escallion, called the unacceptable situation.

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“We were simply rough handling-doses,” she said. “Nobody raised his fists to hit us, but they pushed us, pushed us and removed us to get to the mayor.”

The Internal Security Department adopted a unique view by accusing the members of the Congress of “storming” the object. Deputy Secretary Tric McLaughlin said in an announcement that if a visit was asked, it might be awarded.

Governor Phil Murphy called the arrest of the barracks “unfair”, noting that the state has already banned private immigration centers – and that the Murphy administration is fighting to take care of this right in court.

“The mayor of Barak is an exemplary official who has always defended our most sensitive neighbors,” said Murphy. “I call on his immediate release by federal law enforcement agencies.”

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US Senator Cory Booker, who once took place as a mayor, called the arrest “a disturbing, unnecessary and indicating tactics undermining the safety and safety of our communities.”

Regardless of whether the case is moving forward in court, critics say that it was not about an immigration plant – it was about sending a message. And they consider that the mayor was directed to stand up.

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This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
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