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ESSENCE Exclusive: Maya Harris to Host Black Maternal Health Roundtable in Michigan, Focusing on National Crisis – Essence

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Maya Harris, the younger sister of Vice President Kamala Harris, is moving into the highlight to address an urgent issue that resonates deeply with many Black women across the country: maternal health. On Monday, Sept. 23, she’s going to lead a very important discussion in Flint, Michigan, a subject that has been in the highlight this election season, because the Harris-Walz campaign emphasized.

Amid growing threats to reproductive rights in America, the campaign says its goal is to protect a girl’s right to select while also combating the broader health care disparities that Black women face, particularly in maternal health care.

During this key roundtable, veteran attorney and senior policy advisor Maja Harris shall be joined by a gaggle of national and native Black leaders, including Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-IL), U.S. Sen. Laphonza Butler (D-CA), Michigan Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist II, Paula Thornton Greear of Planned Parenthood Action Fund, and Danielle Atkinson, founding father of the advocacy organization Mothering Justice, according to the Harris-Walz Campaign.

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Together, these leaders will delve into critical issues affecting Black maternal health, shedding light on the potential challenges posed by Project 2025. This discussion is a component of Harris-Walz’s ongoing “Fighting for Reproductive Freedom” bus tour, which kicked off in early September. The tour highlights the urgent need for motion and awareness in this vital area of ​​health care.

“From her days as a prosecutor to her time as vice president, my sister, Kamala Harris, has had only one client: the people,” Maya shared in an exclusive statement to ESSENCE. “As vice president, she made the Black maternal health crisis a priority and addressed this disparity. While Donald Trump travels the country bragging about overturning Roe v. Wade, which exacerbated this crisis, Kamala will continue to forge a new path forward, which includes signing the Roe Reinstatement Act into law once Congress passes it,” she said.

As ESSENCE previously reported, in the course of the September 10 presidential debate, Vice President Harris delivered a forceful response to Donald Trump’s defense of abortion policies. Harris stated, “The government and Donald Trump certainly shouldn’t be telling a woman what to do with her body.”

She described the difficult decisions women face, including medical complications and having to travel out of state to get an abortion. Trump, who appointed three Supreme Court justices answerable for overturning Roe v. Wade in 2022, has tried to portray his position as more moderate, criticizing extreme abortion bans and expressing support for exceptions in cases of rape, incest or when the lifetime of the mother is in danger.

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But he made no apologies for rolling back federal abortion protections, stating, “I did a great service by doing that. It took courage.” Trump also repeated a lot of his familiar talking points, falsely claiming there may be broad support for restoring abortion rights to the states and falsely accusing Democrats of favoring late-term abortions, including falsely claiming that some states allow abortions even after the infant is born. Moderator Linsey Davis immediately fact-checked the problem, explaining, “There is not a state in this country where it is legal to kill a baby after birth.”

The timing of this conversation about Black maternal health couldn’t be more crucial. Just last week, news broke about Amber Thurman, a 28-yr-old Georgia mother who died in 2022 after being denied a obligatory medical procedure following complications attributable to the state’s restrictive abortion laws. ProPublica He said it was the primary case of an abortion-related death that had been publicly disclosed by an official state commission deemed “avoidable.”

Her death highlights the intense consequences of those policies, especially for black women who’re overrepresented thrice more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women in the United States.

To speed up change, on September 18, the Global Coalition for Transnational Solidarity and Action to Close the Maternal Health Care Gap for Women and Girls of African Descent was officially launched. United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in New York.

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The initiative, supported by several countries, including the United States, goals to address the health of black women, already undermined by systemic racism in the health care system and further threatened as abortion rights are rolled back. The maternal health crisis is not any longer a distant political debate—it’s a matter of life or death for black moms and their families.

For the Harris-Walz campaign, Flint, Michigan, is a key stop on the Harris-Walz bus tour, which began Sept. 3 in Palm Beach, Florida, which recently passed a near-total abortion ban. The tour, which incorporates greater than 50 stops in key states including Michigan, goals to galvanize and mobilize supporters by reminding them what’s at stake if reproductive freedoms are usually not restored.

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Politics and Current

Where does the marijuana legalization movement stand under President Trump?

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The return of President Donald Trump to power in the White House in January left uncertainty for the movement of the justice reform in criminal matters to legalize marijuana. The status of legalization efforts has already been tightened during the administration of President Joe Biden, who refused to publicly support legalization, but continued to take critical steps towards federal decrimination.

Trump, whose hard crime program accommodates calls for drug dealers to face Capital punishmentHe publicly gave mixed signals about where he stands on marijuana. Despite the indication that the issue of legalization of marijuana needs to be left to countries-most of which adopted provisions regarding decriminalization or legalization of the drug-trump, during his first term he moved to cancel the Memorandum from the Obama era, which ordered federal prosecutors to not implement marijuana prosecutors in the states through which the drug is legal.

Trump’s administration has now inherited the ongoing trial of the federal government to alter marijuana from the schedule and to schedule III based on the Act on controlled substances – a movement initiated by President Joe Biden. The administrative court trial is infinite in sight; However, what is going on in the coming months, and possibly even years, will tell about where the movement goes to decriminate and legalize.

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“Trump’s administration was not a priority yet … I do not know if at this moment he rises to the level of priorities to set anything forward,” said Cat Packer, director of drug markets and legal regulations in the Second Policy Alliance.

Doubts remain about the change of marijuana, which can occur in the near future, because each nominated by Trump and the duties of the Director for Drug Enforcement (DEA) discredit drugs in public. Acting Director Derek Maltz accused Biden about “placing politics above public security” with a choice to recommend a change in marijuana schedule. Terry Cole, nominated for Trump for DEA, has been repeatedly suggested Marijuana is a threat to community health, especially young people, despite research also showing some medical advantages.

“If Trump initiated or directed the process, this is probably the only way in which this process will be determined priority and performed,” said Packer.

There is at the very least some hope amongst the supporters that Trump can save the day due to movement to at the very least decriminalization of marijuana. As a presidential candidate in 2024 Trump expressed In the matter of social truth, he supported the move of Biden administration to alter the deadline, in addition to other reforms, comparable to decriminalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana and provisions on protected banking for corporations authorized by the state. At that point, Trump announced that he would vote like a voting card in Florida, which might make a drug in Sunshine.

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“We also need to implement intelligent recipes, while providing adult access to safe, tested products,” wrote Trump.

Donald Trump, Thegrio.com
Washington, DC – April 3: US President Donald Trump speaks to media members before he enters the sea on the southern lawn of the White House on April 3, 2025 in Washington. (Photo of Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

“This is a position that most Americans support regardless of their political affiliation. At this point, it seems that there is a disconnection between people and leadership,” she said.

According to SUCK STUDY The study in 2024. An enormous 88% of adults in the USA claims that marijuana needs to be legal for medical or recreational use.

Convicted for selling weeds, Black Man helps to set up small businesses in Nola after leaving prison

Even if President Trump or Republicans in the Congress support some minor reforms related to banking, because they expressed interest on this, supporters are afraid that without federal decrimination or legalization of the Black and Brown community, they’ll proceed to feel the burden of enforcement of the crime.

Packer noticed that the south can be particularly “left” in the evolving marijuana industry without federal motion. For example, if President Trump really supports the decriminalization of marijuana’s possession, she said that he should use his presidential influence to “manage the congress to adopt a policy” that she would do.

Washington, DC – July 4: A marijuana activist had a flag during the march on Independence Day on July 4, 2021 in Washington. Members of the fourth group of July of the Kotopi coalition gathered in front of the White House at an annual protest regarding the ban on marijuana, which the group said that it reaches over 50 years ago during Nixon administration. (Photo Alex Wong/Getty Images)

“Most of the Black Americans live in the south, such as Texas, Florida and Georgia, where they still bear the burden of various damage,” she explained. “I do not know if without federal leadership, both in Congress and the MA of the ME Presidential Administration, this type of damage will not only be eliminated, but potentially sharpened when large immigrant communities are attacked.”

She added: “We can actually see reforms, but they can be those that prioritize profit, as opposed to public health, public security, consumer rights, human rights – and this is a problem.”

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“In the past, President Trump has expressed openness to the reform of cannabis policy. Does the approach within his administration focused on the reform of the judiciary in criminal matters and the community reinvestment is to debate, but certainly economic potential can refer to his business instincts,” said Phillips.

She added: “I often hope that supporters are working on good cannabis policy at the state level, acting as the first line of defense in the protection of the rights of a small company (covering social capital operators) and maintaining the line to make sure that the withdrawal of politics no longer pay influence on black and brown communities.”

Which means the reclaimation of marijuana for the United States

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

Barbara Lee wins the race of the mayor of Oakland, the oath unite “deeply divided city” – essence

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Barbara Lee wins the race of the mayor of Oakland, the oath unite

Mayor’s candidate Barbara Lee during the Watch Party Electoral Evening in Oakland, California, on Tuesday, April 15, 2025 (photo of Santiago Mejia/San Francisco Chronicle by Getty Images)

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The former Congressmen Barbara Lee might be the next mayor of Oakland in California, which is a return to local management after greater than 20 years representing the city in Washington.

The Democrat veteran secured just over 50% of the votes, while Loren Taylor finished with nearly 45%, in keeping withSecretary of Voters of Alamed. Taylor officially awarded the race on Saturday, April 19, he ended as much as closely watched elections.

“Although I strongly believe in respecting the democratic voting and voting process, they will still be calculated … The results are clear that the inhabitants of Oakland chose me as the next mayor,” Lee said in a press release. “Thank you, Oakland!”

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Lee, Trailblazer in progressive politics, withdrew from Congress last 12 months after the failed run of the US Senate. Her campaign for the mayor focused on the bridging of divisions in the city facing serious challenges.

“Oakland is a deeply divided city and I responded to the call to escape, unite our community – that I could represent every voter and we can all cooperate as one Oakland to solve our most burning problems,” she said in a press release made available on social media. She also thanked tons of of volunteers and approving who fueled her campaign, emphasizing efforts corresponding to 71 domestic events, 1000’s of shipyard marks and over 150,000 information of voters separated throughout the city.

In a press release published to X, Taylor congratulated Lee and confirmed the influence of his supporters. “Although the result was not the one we worked for and what we were counting on, I am incredibly proud of the race we were leading,” he wrote. “I pray that the mayor of Elect Lee meets his involvement in the unification of Oakland, genuinely engaging 47% of Oaklanders who voted for me and who want pragmatic leadership based on results.” He also noticed the bottom -up strength of his campaign, which, he said, pushed away from heavy expenses by political people from outside and trade unions.

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Special elections were called after The voters dismissed the former mayor of Sheng Thao In November, amongst the growing frustration related to the crime and leadership of the city. On the same day, voters also dismissed the District Prosecutor. Thao, who was casual for just two years, became the subject of the FBI investigation and was later accused of allegations of bribery.


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

The judge blocks ice from Rikers Island among the city – challenge –

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The New York judge ordered municipal officials to detain a short lived plan to enabling federal immigration agents to act in the Rikers Island prison complex.

On Monday, judge Mary Rosado in a written order Forbade the city From “taking any steps in the direction of negotiations, signing or implementing all memorandum of arrangements with the federal government” before interrogation in April in the lawsuit questioning the plan.

The trial will give attention to a lawsuit filed last week by the New York City Council against the mayor Eric Adams. The claim is aimed toward blocking his last executive order Permission for immigration and enforcement and customs immigration (ICE) and other federal agencies for the maintenance of office space in the prison complex. The lawsuit and temporary detention are based on the challenge of the city council for the executive order of the mayor.

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The lawsuit accuses Adams, a democrat, of the conclusion of the “corrupt opportunity Quid Pro Quo” with Trump’s administration in exchange for the Department of Justice, who abandoned him criminal charges against him. Adams repeatedly denied the conclusion of any agreement with the administration in a criminal case.

Adams said that the presence of ICE and other federal agencies in a jail complex would help them assist in investigations related to gangs and medicines, but that they may not have any role in enforcing civil immigration. On the nyc.gov website you’ll find press messages and official statements.

The mayor had previously announced that he would replace his first deputy mayor, Randy Mastro to cope with all decisions after returning Ice to the island of Rikers to “ensure that there has never been any conflict.” Mastro said last week that there have been discussions with the federal government regarding the plan.

ICE agents were previously present at the Rikers Island facility in East River. However, they were successfully banned in 2014. In accordance with the provisions regarding the Sanctuary in New York, which limit cooperation with the enforcement of immigration law. For more details about ICE, their website could be found here: https://www.ice.gov/

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Republicans in Congress strive for several cities, often called “cities of the sanctuary” in reference to their policy restriction of cooperation with enforcement of immigration law. The mayors of Michelle Wu from Boston, Brandon Johnson from Chicago, Mike Johnston from Denver and Eric Adams from New York will appear on Wednesday before the Committee for Supervision and Government Reformation. The House Committee website for supervision and responsibility could be found here: https://oversight.House.gov/

There isn’t any strict definition of the sanctuary policy or the cities of the sanctuary, but the deadlines normally describe limited cooperation with immigration and customs enforcement (ICE). ICE enforces American immigration regulations throughout the country, but seeks state and native aid, especially in the case of enormous -scale deportations. ICE asks the police and sheriffs warn them about individuals who need to deport and stop until federal officers don’t take care.

But some cities and countries say that cooperation with ice means crime victims and witnesses who usually are not in the US won’t appear legally. And, to various degrees, officials say that they need their places to be welcomed by immigrant places.

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(Tagstranslate) New York

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