Martin Luther King Jr. Day service calls for nonviolence amid turbulent times
Speakers at the annual Martin Luther King Jr. holiday celebration in Atlanta called Monday for a renewed dedication to nonviolence following a turbulent year in which a deadly pandemic, protests over systemic racism, and a divisive election capped by an attack on the U.S. Capitol strained Americans’ capacity for civility. “This King holiday has not only come at a time of great peril and physical violence, it has also come during a time of violence in our speech — what we say and how we say it,” said the Rev. Bernice King, the slain civil rights leader’s daughter. “It is frankly out of control and we are causing too much harm to one another.” The coronavirus pandemic forced the annual King Day service at Atlanta’s Ebenezer Baptist Church online during the 35th celebration of his birthday as a national holiday. His family was among a sparse group wearing masks and sitting far apart amid mostly empty pews as others delivered remarks remotely. Bernice King said the toll of the pandemic, lingering outrage over killings of unarmed Black people and the deadly siege in Washington by supporters of President Donald Trump all underscore an urgent need to pursue what her father called “the beloved community” — a world in which conflict is solved nonviolently and compassion dictates policy. She quoted her father’s words from more than 50 years ago: “There is such a thing as being too late.” “We still have a choice today — nonviolent coexistence or violent co-annihilation,” Bernice King said, again reciting the words of her father. “This may well be mankind’s last chance to choose between chaos and community.” The ceremony included prerecorded remarks by President-elect Joe Biden, who recalled sensing the civil rights leader’s “restless spirit” during a visit to the National Civil Rights Museum housed at the Tennessee motel where he was fatally shot outside his room. “We must not rest. It’s our responsibility to come together, all Americans, to bring peace to that restless spirit,” Biden said. ”… That’s our charge in the days ahead. That’s the charge in the years ahead.” U.S. Sen.-elect Raphael Warnock, Ebenezer’s pastor, appealed for unity following his victory in a runoff election Jan. 5. “Let us stand together, let us work together,” Warnock said, calling the COVID-19 pandemic a reminder that all people are “tied together, as Dr. King said, in a single garment of destiny.” “Because we’re dealing with a deadly airborne disease, my neighbor coughs and I’m imperiled by the cough of my neighbor,” Warnock said. “That doesn’t make my neighbor my enemy. That means that our destiny is tied together.” Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968, while supporting striking sanitation workers in Memphis, Tennessee. Had he lived, he would have turned 92 on his birthday last Friday. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
Joe Biden to propose 8-year citizenship path for immigrants
President-elect Joe Biden plans to unveil a sweeping immigration bill on Day One of his administration, hoping to provide an eight-year path to citizenship for an estimated 11 million people living in the U.S. without legal status, a massive reversal from the Trump administration’s harsh immigration policies. The legislation puts Biden on track to deliver on a major campaign promise important to Latino voters and other immigrant communities after four years of President Donald Trump’s restrictive policies and mass deportations. It provides one of the fastest pathways to citizenship for those living without legal status of any measure in recent years, but it fails to include the traditional trade-off of enhanced border security favored by many Republicans, making passage in a narrowly divided Congress in doubt. Expected to run hundreds of pages, the bill is set to be introduced after Biden takes the oath of office Wednesday, according to a person familiar with the legislation and granted anonymity to discuss it. As a candidate, Biden called Trump’s actions on immigration an “unrelenting assault” on American values and said he would “undo the damage” while continuing to maintain border enforcement. Under the legislation, those living in the U.S. as of Jan. 1, 2021, without legal status would have a five-year path to temporary legal status, or a green card, if they pass background checks, pay taxes and fulfill other basic requirements. From there, it’s a three-year path to naturalization, if they decide to pursue citizenship. For some immigrants, the process would be quicker. So-called Dreamers, the young people who arrived in the U.S. illegally as children, as well as agricultural workers and people under temporary protective status could qualify more immediately for green cards if they are working, are in school or meet other requirements. The bill is not as comprehensive as the last major immigration overhaul proposed when Biden was vice president during the Obama administration. For example, it does not include a robust border security element, but rather calls for coming up with strategies. Nor does it create any new guest worker or other visa programs. It does address some of the root causes of migration from Central America to the United States, and provides grants for workforce development and English language learning. Biden is expected to take swift executive actions to reverse other Trump immigration actions, including an end to the prohibition on arrivals from several predominantly Muslim countries. During the Democratic primary, Biden consistently named immigration action as one of his “day one” priorities, pointing to the range of executive powers he could invoke to reverse Trump’s policies. Biden allies and even some Republicans have identified immigration as a major issue where the new administration could find common ground with Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell and enough other GOP senators to avoid the stalemate that has vexed administrations of both parties for decades. That kind of major win — even if it involves compromise — could be critical as Biden looks for legislative victories in a closely divided Congress, where Republicans are certain to oppose other Biden priorities that involve rolling back some of the GOP’s 2017 tax cuts and increasing federal spending. As a candidate, Biden went so far as to say the Obama administration went too far in its aggressive deportations. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
Regions Bank loses $31,550 to PAC fraud
Regions Bank was the victim of a fraud that took $31,550 from a political action committee account, according to an Al.com report. The account is funded by contributions from Regions employees. The fraud was committed in November, and so far no arrests have been made. Jeremy D. King, a spokesman for Regions Bank, stated, “We believe the fraud was committed externally after a fraudster, or fraudsters, counterfeited PAC checks to make them appear to be legitimate,” King said. “Once this was detected, we immediately took steps to safeguard the checking account to prevent any additional counterfeit checks from being cashed. The investigation into the matter is still open.” The account is funded by contributions from Regions employees “to advance public policy that benefits our customers, communities, associates, and shareholders,” King said. Just like any other customer who is the victim of fraud, Regions Bank replenished the money for the PAC account. The money stolen came from nine checks drawn on the account sometime in November and were cashed in several different states. At the end of December 2020, the PAC had raised $1,282,863 and spent $1,181,360. A total of $818,750 was contributed to federal candidates.
Randall Woodfin picks up 2 challengers: Lashunda Scales and Chris Woods
Mayor Randall Woodfin now has two candidates running against him this August. During an event to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Jefferson County Commissioner Lashunda Scales threw her hat in the ring and is the second person to announce their intention to run for mayor of Birmingham. Chris Woods is the other mayoral candidate. Al.com reported Scales wants to reduce crime, improve education, and support Birmingham workers. Scales stated, “I’m not into being in a fight with anyone because that doesn’t serve the City of Birmingham well. But I will tell you this: If you give me the opportunity to serve as your mayor, not just the first woman mayor, but to serve as your mayor, you will have a seat at the table. That is what I can guarantee.” Scales was a Birmingham City Council member from 2009-2018 when she was unseated by George Bowman. Scales emphasized that the commission is not about just one person. “That’s one of the things I learned about service when I first got there as a city council member in 2009,” she said. “It’s all about everyone that is a stakeholder being at the table, having the necessary conversations, be willing to put aside our differences to recognize that we’re there to serve people and not our own interest. So today I offer myself as a solution.” Scales didn’t answer questions after her announcement but directed people to her campaign website. Mayor Randall Woodfin is expected to run for re-election. Woods announced his campaign earlier in January at The Clubhouse on Highland, WVTM reported. He is running his campaign on education, crime, and neighborhood revitalization. Woods stated, “I want to transform this city so that people are coming here, not fleeing here. I want Birmingham to be a place where all people come to live, work, and learn. “At one time, Birmingham was the conscience of the Movement, and we can make it that way again. We can make Birmingham the conscience of the Nation. It’s time to join together and turn the tragic back to magic. Together, we can bring the magic back to the Magic City.” The filing deadline for candidates to run for mayor is July 10. The election is Aug. 24, with a runoff on Oct. 5 if needed.
