Month: June 2020

Nebraska City, NE.— The Arbor Day Foundation has a book that helps people identify trees in a simple, step-by-step process. The book, “What Tree Is That?” is available for a $5 donation to the nonprofit tree-planting organization.

What Tree Is That?, is a fun, easy-to-use tree identification guide that features hand-drawn botanical illustrations highlighting the distinctive characteristics of many tree species.

Nature lovers and professional arborists alike have called this pocket field guide a must-have, user-friendly resource. Its beautiful, full-color illustrations are in precise detail and depict natural colors, shapes and textures so users can make a positive species identification in a few steps.

The Arbor Day Foundation offers this book to help people identify trees throughout the Eastern and Central regions of the United States. What Tree Is That?, uses a unique step-by-step approach for identifying the species of each tree, explaining what to look for in the shape and arrangement of the leaves, differences in the leafstalks and specific characteristics of fruits, flowers, buds and bark.

“Our What Tree Is That? Pocket guide is an ideal resource for developing a greater appreciation for trees,” said Matt Harris, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. “The Arbor Day Foundation strives to help people enjoy and appreciate trees, and we feel our pocket field guide will do just that.”

What Tree is That? is also available as an online interactive version at arborday.org.

To obtain a tree identification guide in full color, visit: arborday.org or send your name, address, and $5 for each guide to:

What Tree Is That?

Arbor Day Foundation

100 Arbor Ave.

Nebraska City, NE 68410.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has taken over the prosecution of ex-police officer Derek Chauvin in the murder of George Floyd, an unarmed and handcuffed African American who died because of the actions of Chauvin and other officers.

“It is with a large degree of humility and great seriousness, I accept for my office, the responsibility for leadership in this critical case involving the killing of George Floyd,” Ellison said during a news conference in Minneapolis.

“We are going to bring to bear all the resources necessary to achieve justice in this case,” he pronounced.

Ellison’s appointment came following a telephone meeting between hip-hop icon Jay-Z and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.

JAY-Z described the conversation as “very earnest” and thanked Governor Walz.

“Earlier today, Governor Walz mentioned having a human conversation with me – a dad and a black man in pain,” Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, wrote in a statement.

“Yes, I am human, a father and a black man in pain, and I am not the only one. This is just a first step. I am more determined to fight for justice than any fight my would-be oppressors may have.”

Walz noted that the icon came to him “not as an international performer, but dad, stressing to me that justice needs to be served.”

This week, Jay-Z’s superstar wife, Beyonce, also spoke out on Floyd’s death on a social media post.

“We need justice for George Floyd,” she uttered. “We all witnessed his murder in broad daylight. We’re broken, and we’re disgusted. We cannot normalize this pain.”

Walz’s selection of Ellison comes as uprisings are taking place around the country and abroad. It also comes as Floyd’s family and their attorney, Ben Crump, have demanded that the other three officers involved face charges.

The family remains outraged that Chauvin is the only officer arrested so far, and prosecutors have leveled just the relatively minor third-degree murder charge against the cop.

Ellison, a former congressman from Minnesota who ran for chair of the Democratic National Committee in 2017, noted that he was accepting the lead on the case with “a large degree of humility and great seriousness.”

From the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul to the Streets of San Francisco, Los Angeles, Houston, Chicago, Louisville, Atlanta, Washington, DC, and New York City, and the bright lights of the Big Apple, African Americans are expressing outrage over the police killing of George Floyd, the latest in a country-mile long list of Black men and women murdered under the color of law.

City officials in Minneapolis and St. Paul called on the National Guard, and state police lined the streets there in riot gear.

An 8PM curfew was ordered, and an African American CNN reporter was arrested while giving a live report from a hotspot of protests.

In California, demonstrators closed the 101 freeway in San Jose as marchers took to the streets in San Francisco and Oakland.

In New York, where the novel coronavirus hit America the hardest and where residents had remained reluctant to gather outdoors, protestors jammed city streets.

New York’s Gov. Andrew Cuomo joined an extensive list of politicians condemning the action of former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin, 44, who, along with three other officers, were videotaped using excessive force on Floyd.

National Newspaper Publishers Association Chair Karen Carter Richards and NNPA President and CEO Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr., and numerous other Black Press of America newspaper publishers have expressed outrage over Floyd’s murder and concern about the rampant killings of African Americans at the hands of police and white supremacist vigilantes acting under color of law.

Chauvin inexplicably pressed his knee against a handcuffed Floyd’s neck while the young Black man lay on the ground.

The assault went on for nine minutes, with Floyd pleading that he couldn’t breathe.

Floyd died a short time later at a local hospital.

On Friday, May 29, Chauvin was arrested and charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter. Later on that day, bail was set at $500,000.

He faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted.

“This is not a new story, this is a continuing narrative,” Governor Cuomo stated. “This is just another chapter in the book called: Injustice and inequality in America.”

Earlier, former President Barack Obama released a statement weighing in on the injustice regularly experienced by African Americans.

“This shouldn’t be ‘normal’ in 2020 America. It can’t be ‘normal,’” Obama stated. “If we want our children to grow up in a nation that lives up to its highest ideals, we can and must be better.

“It will fall mainly on the officials of Minnesota to ensure that the circumstances surrounding George Floyd’s death are investigated thoroughly and that justice is ultimately done.”

“But it falls on all of us, regardless of our race or station — including the majority of men and women in law enforcement who take pride in doing their tough job the right way, every day — to work together to create a ‘new normal’ in which the legacy of bigotry and unequal treatment no longer infects our institutions or our hearts.”

Margaret Huang, president, and chief executive officer of the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), said the organization joins with its allies in condemning the recent police killings of Floyd, Tony McDade, Sean Reed, and Breonna Taylor.

“Following the tragic killing of Ahmaud Arbery by a former police officer, the impact of these murders reaches across the country, and there must be accountability. It is absolutely imperative that local police departments and district attorneys investigate, arrest, and prosecute officers and all who violate the rights of the people who live in the communities they are charged to serve,” Huang stated.

“Equally important, law enforcement must stop responding to peaceful protest of police killings with more violence. Police are obligated to protect those in the community, and punishing peaceful protest is a gross abuse of human rights,” she stated. We stand with millions of people across the country who are rightfully outraged by the killing of unarmed Black people, the lack of responsiveness, the lack of action and President Trump calling for violence against those demanding justice for Mr. Floyd’s death.”

Florida Rep. Val Demings, who is Black and a former Orlando police chief, wrote an op-ed for the Washington Post Friday, noting that, “as a former woman in blue, let me begin with my brothers and sisters in blue: What in the hell are you doing?”

“As law enforcement officers, we took an oath to protect and serve. And those who forgot — or who never understood that oath in the first place — must go. That includes those who would stand by as they witness misconduct by a fellow officer,” she wrote.

Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr. concluded, “The NNPA, the voice of Black America, calls for an independent investigation into the police murder of George Floyd. We do not trust the perpetrators to investigate themselves. Black America’s cup has run over with grief, anger and rage as a result of these continuing racially motivated murders. If there is no justice, there will be no peace.”

Washington, DC —Dorothy Boggess celebrated her 103rd birthday on Saturday, May 30, 2020. Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority members honored the centenarian with a drive-through celebration at 1 p.m. at the corners of Tamarack ST NW and Verbena St NW in Washington, D.C.

Boggess is a 79-year resident of the District of Columbia. After receiving her undergraduate degree from Kentucky State College, Boggess served as one of the original five African American “War Girls,” when she was recruited to work in a typing pool at the United States War Department in the 1940s. While in D.C., Boggess completed her Master of Social Work at Howard University and met her husband of 73 years, George Boggess. Mr. Boggess passed away at 104-years-old in 2016.

Early in her career, Boggess briefly moved back to Kentucky to serve as the first African American social worker at Louisville’s General Hospital. Ultimately, she retired in Washington, D.C. as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor. Her early career is documented in “American Dream Deferred: Black Federal Workers in Washington, D.C. 1941-1981” written by Frederick W. Gooding.

Together, Boggess’ traveled to all 50 States and 33 foreign countries. Their travels in the early 1950s during segregation were met with challenges when trying to find lodging. On several occasions, they rested in their car and ate at the local railway and bus stations. Mrs. Boggess’ travels led to a published book titled “I Wish You Were Here.”

Dorothy Boggess has been a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority for 81 years and is an active member of Xi Omega Chapter in Washington, D.C.