Connect with us

Politics and Current

From Hollywood to the Heart of Michigan: Hill Harper Shares Why he’s Running for U.S. Senate – Essence

Published

on

 

In a candid conversation just before Election Day in Michigan, renowned actor, activist and now Senate candidate Hill Harper shared his motivations for entering politics and his vision for addressing key issues if elected. Harper says his move from Hollywood to politics shouldn’t be just a private transformation; it is a response to urgent needs he sees in Michigan and across the country.

A well-recognized face on screen and the writer of several books, Harper has been a Michigan resident for eight years. He shared that his decision to run as a Democratic candidate for Senate is deeply personal and rooted in his experiences in the community. “I moved to Michigan to raise my son, who is now eight,” Harper began. “I’m running for office because so many people are hurting. We have communities that are being stifled. And I say that without exaggeration or hyperbole,” he continued.

Harper has said his campaign is driven by a desire to address the economic hardships and systemic problems affecting Michiganders. He described recently meeting with a family in Detroit and being confronted with their difficult living conditions, including an apartment affected by black mold and no running water. Harper has criticized the current system, citing excessive spending on foreign wars and company tax breaks as misplaced priorities. Instead, he said, “We need to redirect funds to public education, health care and supporting young entrepreneurs.”

His vision includes interest-free loans for business ventures and investments in underserved communities. Health care is a cornerstone of Harper’s platform. He criticizes the current system as a “sick care system” moderately than a health care system, specializing in the profit motives of big pharmaceutical firms.

Harper supports Medicare for All, emphasizing that it should cover mental health, vision and dental care. He is especially concerned about black maternal health, which he described as a crisis comparable to conditions in developing countries. “We need to eliminate profiteering from health care and ensure that everyone has access to the health services they need,” he said.

“We need to take away people’s profits from being sick or from their so-called health care,” he said. On reproductive rights, Harper was adamant that “government should not interfere in personal health care decisions.” Part of that, he said, is women’s reproductive freedom. “I don’t believe that the federal or state government, or any government, should be part of the conversation between a woman, her own body, and her licensed health care provider,” Harper said.

On environmental justice, Harper highlighted Michigan’s water problems, particularly the Flint water crisis. He noted that Flint still doesn’t have clean water a decade after the crisis began, calling it “outrageous.” Harper advocates for comprehensive measures to address water contamination and pollution. “Michigan has 21 percent of the world’s surface freshwater. We need to protect it and invest in clean water infrastructure.”

He envisions Flint as a model for environmental restoration, suggesting it could change into a pacesetter in water quality and tourism. Harper also highlighted the broader issue of environmental damage that disproportionately affects marginalized communities.

Harper expressed frustration over the cancellation of a late-July primary debate together with his opponent, Rep. Elissa Slotkin, on WHPR-TV. Harper claims that Slotkin has repeatedly withdrawn from multiple debates and created a “mock debate” scheduled for a weekday morning at 10 a.m. that might not be televised.

Harper stressed that black women, who make up a significant slice of the Democratic electorate, have been excluded from participating as journalists. A bunch of black women stressed the importance of including their voices, on condition that the Senate seat is the first truly open seat in Michigan in nearly 30 years. Still, Harper says the debate was canceled and that he was unfairly blamed.

“It’s mind-boggling to me — the audacity of this person, my opponent, to have pulled out of multiple debates,” Harper said. “The level of disrespect for our community from my opponent and the level of disrespect for black women… The only way we’re ever going to get any respect is if we win these seats.”

Asked why Michiganders should elect him, Harper said he wouldn’t be “bought, bullied or intimidated” and that he would represent them. “If you want someone who is going to represent the people first, the first three words of the Michigan Constitution and the first three words of the United States Constitution are exactly the same. We the people… and that’s what I do,” Harper said.
Watch the full interview HERE.

 

This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Politics and Current

A fight broke out in Kansas College Town after a man wrote “Fuck you, bitch” on a receipt instead of leaving a tip.

Published

on

By

Brawl Erupts In Kansas College Town After Man Scrawls ‘F--k You Ni---r’ on Bar Receipt Instead of Leaving a Tip

Racial slurs scrawled on a bill at a Lawrence, Kansas, bar led to a drunken brawl that spilled into the road and ended with several people behind bars, in line with police.

The violent incident occurred Sept. 15 at Leroy’s Tavern on New Hampshire Street, where a customer wrote “F—k You Ni—r” on his receipt and left it with the bartender.

Authorities haven’t yet identified a man who wrote a hateful message after cashing a $39 bar tab and, worse, wrote “0.00” in the tip box.

A fight broke out in Kansas College Town after a man wrote “Fuck you, bitch” on a receipt instead of leaving a tip.
This receipt began a bar fight in Lawrence, Kansas, on September 14, 2024. (Photo: Facebook/Lawrence Kansas Police Department)

Police didn’t say what prompted the man to put in writing the “N” word, not once, but twice, on the banknote, whose time stamp showed 12:16 a.m. on September 15.

The card doesn’t indicate what number of drinks the man had.

He was still contained in the venue when the bartender finally noticed the offensive message and immediately called security to ask him to go away.

Instead of staying calm, the man became aggressive.

As he was being led out of the constructing, the attacker turned and punched the goalkeeper who caught him, According to Facebook post posted by Lawrence Kansas Police.

Then several bystanders stepped into motion.

Fists flew in the air before the normally quiet college town that was home to the University of Kansas erupted into a full-blown firestorm. Bars like Leroy’s lined the streets just off campus.

When officers arrived, several men were still involved in the fight they usually handcuffed them, restoring calm.

Three people were taken into custody, but police didn’t reveal the identities of the suspects.

The police didn’t say whether KU students were involved in the incident.

It is unclear whether the man who began the fight was amongst those arrested.

Multiple injuries were noted as evidence, but their extent was not immediately revealed.

The investigation remains to be ongoing, but police haven’t revealed what charges the man may face.

Authorities later released a photo of the receipt, which didn’t contain any offensive language or racial slurs.

Facebook commenters focused heavily on the race aspect of the problem, with many noting that closeted racists feel more empowered in today’s tense and divisive political climate.

“The fact that people are so comfortable being racist again is truly heartbreaking. Where has the shame gone? People are clearly starting to lose all sense of humanity,” one person wrote.

Facebook user Ben Porter reminded others in the thread that “this kind of thing didn’t just end and start again recently like people seem to think here. This kind of thing has always happened to some extent. We’re just looking at the past through rose-tinted glasses and acting like it’s gotten worse.”

Another person criticized Lawrence police for not taking a strong stance on racism in a Facebook post, arguing that a clearer condemnation was needed.

“I’m not sure what the point of showing this ignorance is, especially if you don’t condemn it in a post?” wrote Justin Adams. “As public officials, I think it’s reasonable to say that we will not tolerate hate in any form in our community.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mMFIOGsIdA

This article was originally published on : atlantablackstar.com
Continue Reading

Politics and Current

Kamala Harris Recognized for Her Spotlight on Race and Reparations During NABJ-WHYY Interview

Published

on

By

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.

Featured Stories

This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
Continue Reading

Politics and Current

Airlines forces 14-year-old girl off plane due to weight and balance issues, leaving her to fend for herself

Published

on

By

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
Continue Reading
Advertisement

OUR NEWSLETTER

Subscribe Us To Receive Our Latest News Directly In Your Inbox!

We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.

Trending