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Commemorative Plaque Marking Site of Assassination of Oakland Post Editor-in-Chief Chauncey Bailey Installed
The plaque, initiated by former Oakland City Councilmember, Lynette Gibson McElhaney, in 2019 on the 12th anniversary of Bailey’s death and erected 14 years after his death, is installed on a building at 14th and Alice Street in Oakland where Bailey was shot to death on Aug. 2, 2007, while walking to work at the Oakland Post where he was the editor-in-chief.

The plaque, initiated by former Oakland City Councilmember, Lynette Gibson McElhaney, in 2019 on the 12th anniversary of Bailey’s death and erected 14 years after his death, is installed on a building at 14th and Alice Street in Oakland where Bailey was shot to death on Aug. 2, 2007, while walking to work at the Oakland Post where he was the editor-in-chief.
At the time, Bailey was working on a story about “Your Black Muslim Bakery.” Beneath the image of a smiling Bailey, the plaque inscription reads: “1949-2007 IN MEMORY OF CHAUNCEY BAILEY JR. WHO, WITH DIGNITY AND DEDICATION TO JOURNALISM, SERVED AS SOMEONE WHO PRIORITIZED THE VOICES OF THE BLACK COMMUNITY IN OAKLAND, CA.”
Thomas Peele, who was the lead investigative reporter on the Chauncey Bailey Project said in 2019, “Bailey needs to be fully recognized as the First Amendment martyr that he was.”
Devaughndre Brousard confessed to killing Bailey and was sentenced to 25 years in prison. Yusef Bey IV, owner of “Your Black Muslim Bakery” and Antoine Mackey were convicted of ordering Bailey’s murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Post Publisher Paul Cobb said he was walking to work from the opposite direction to meet Bailey to discuss his plans to visit Vietnam when Bailey was killed.
Inspired by the spirit and enthusiasm for coverage of issues affecting the Black community, Cobb said the Post is still publishing 8 papers and will continue to expand its coverage by recruiting and training more youth interested in media and journalism.
Cobb added: “We are grateful for the city’s recognition of Bailey’s contribution, and we hope that the city actualizes its honor by fulfilling the mission of the Department of Race and Equity by directing the city’s various departments and the Port of Oakland to maintain their support for local Black businesses with advertising and increased public notice publishing. If Chauncey were alive, he would be writing investigative reports about the city’s claims of support to Black Business while simultaneously not providing grants to the media, especially the Post News Group, which more than any other local media, has done more to communicate and educate the citizens of this city about the dangers and solutions to the COVID-19 Pandemic.”
Mercurynews.com and Facebook were sources for this report.
The Oakland Post’s coverage of local news in Alameda County is supported by the Ethnic Media Sustainability Initiative, a program created by California Black Media and Ethnic Media Services to support community newspapers across California.
Activism
Oakland Post: Week of May 28 – June 30, 2025
The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of May 28 – June 3, 2025

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Black Feminist Movement Mobilizes in Response to National Threats
BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — More than 500 Black feminists will convene in New Orleans from June 5 through 7 for what organizers are calling the largest Black feminist gathering in the United States.

By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent
More than 500 Black feminists will convene in New Orleans from June 5 through 7 for what organizers are calling the largest Black feminist gathering in the United States. The event, led by the organization Black Feminist Future, is headlined by activist and scholar Angela Y. Davis. Paris Hatcher, executive director of Black Feminist Future, joined Black Press USA’s Let It Be Known to outline the mission and urgency behind the gathering, titled “Get Free.” “This is not just a conference to dress up and have a good time,” Hatcher said. “We’re building power to address the conditions that are putting our lives at risk—whether that’s policing, reproductive injustice, or economic inequality.” Hatcher pointed to issues such as rising evictions among Black families, the rollback of bodily autonomy laws, and the high cost of living as key drivers of the event’s agenda. “Our communities are facing premature death,” she said.
Workshops and plenaries will focus on direct action, policy advocacy, and practical organizing skills. Attendees will participate in training sessions that include how to resist evictions, organize around immigration enforcement, and disrupt systemic policies contributing to poverty and incarceration. “This is about fighting back,” Hatcher said. “We’re not conceding anything.” Hatcher addressed the persistent misconceptions about Black feminism, including the idea that it is a movement against men or families. “Black feminism is not a rejection of men,” she said. “It’s a rejection of patriarchy. Black men must be part of this struggle because patriarchy harms them too.” She also responded to claims that organizing around Black women’s issues weakens broader coalitions. “We don’t live single-issue lives,” Hatcher said. “Our blueprint is one that lifts all Black people.”
The conference will not be streamed virtually, but recaps and updates will be posted daily on Black Feminist Future’s YouTube channel and Instagram account. The event includes performances by Tank and the Bangas and honors longtime activists including Billy Avery, Erica Huggins, and Alexis Pauline Gumbs. When asked how Black feminism helps families, Hatcher said the real threat to family stability is systemic oppression. “If we want to talk about strong Black families, we have to talk about mass incarceration, the income gap, and the systems that tear our families apart,” Hatcher said. “Black feminism gives us the tools to build and sustain healthy families—not just survive but thrive.”
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Hoover’s Commutation Divides Chicago as State Sentence Remains
BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — Hoover was convicted of murder and running a criminal enterprise. Although some supporters describe him as a political prisoner, the legal and public safety concerns associated with his name remain substantial.

By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent
The federal sentence for Gangster Disciples founder Larry Hoover has been commuted, but he remains incarcerated under a 200-year state sentence in Illinois. The decision by Donald Trump to reduce Hoover’s federal time has reignited longstanding debates over his legacy and whether rehabilitation or continued punishment is warranted. The commutation drew immediate public attention after music executive Jay Prince and artist Chance the Rapper publicly praised Trump’s decision. “I’m glad that Larry Hoover is home,” said Chance the Rapper. “He was a political prisoner set up by the federal government. He created Chicago Votes, mobilized our people, and was targeted for that.”
But Hoover, the founder of the Gangster Disciples, is not home—not yet. Now in federal custody at the Florence Supermax in Colorado, Hoover was convicted of murder and running a criminal enterprise. Although some supporters describe him as a political prisoner, the legal and public safety concerns associated with his name remain substantial. “There is a divide in the Black community here,” said Chicago journalist Jason Palmer during an appearance on the Let It Be Known morning program. “Some view Hoover as someone who brought structure and leadership. Others remember the violence that came with his organization.” Palmer explained that while Hoover’s gang originally formed for protection, it grew into a criminal network responsible for extensive harm in Chicago. He also noted that Hoover continued to run his organization from state prison using coded messages passed through visitors, prompting his transfer to federal custody.
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who is widely considered a potential 2028 presidential contender, has not issued a statement. Palmer suggested that silence is strategic. “Releasing Hoover would create enormous political consequences,” Palmer said. “The governor’s in a difficult spot—he either resists pressure from supporters or risks national backlash if he acts.” According to Palmer, Hoover’s federal commutation does not make him a free man. “The federal sentence may be commuted, but he still has a 200-year state sentence,” he said. “And Illinois officials have already made it clear they don’t want to house him in state facilities again. They prefer he remains in federal custody, just somewhere outside of Colorado.”
Palmer also raised concerns about what Hoover’s case could signal for others. “When R. Kelly was convicted federally, state prosecutors in Illinois and Minnesota dropped their charges. If a president can commute federal sentences based on public pressure or celebrity support, others like R. Kelly or Sean Combs could be next,” Palmer said. “Meanwhile, there are thousands of incarcerated people without fame or access to public platforms who will never get that consideration.” “There are people who are not here today because of the violence connected to these organizations,” Palmer said. “That has to be part of this conversation.”
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