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Defend, Protect, and Fight for Our Democracy

ABOVE: President Joe Biden addresses the audience at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Phoenix Awards (Photo Credit: Kea Taylor/Imagine Photography) Every year, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation hosts their Annual Legislative Conference (ALC), considered to be the nation’s leading policy conference. This year, the ALC returned to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, […]
The post Defend, Protect, and Fight for Our Democracy first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

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ABOVE: President Joe Biden addresses the audience at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Phoenix Awards (Photo Credit: Kea Taylor/Imagine Photography)

Every year, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation hosts their Annual Legislative Conference (ALC), considered to be the nation’s leading policy conference.

This year, the ALC returned to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. from September 20th to September 24th, and featured five days of premium programming, and several signature events, including the Day of Healing (formerly the Prayer Breakfast), the National Town Hall, and the sold-out Phoenix Awards black-tie dinner.

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris both were featured speakers at the annual Phoenix Awards dinner and they honored the work of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) and the CBCF when it comes to upholding democratic norms and institutions and charting a pathway for progress for Black Americans, while warning attendees that the work they do is more important now than ever before leading up to this pivotal election year.

At this year’s Phoenix Awards dinner, Vice President Kamala Harris was welcomed to a standing ovation as she took to the stage to deliver a powerful message to attendees, warning everyone that there is much at stake ahead of the 2024 Presidential elections.

“As a proud former CBC member, I thank you for your partnership and your leadership,” said Vice President Harris. “The CBC has always been the conscience of our country, a truth teller—truths about where we have been and where we must go. Let us continue to speak truth. Across America, there is a full-on attack on many of the hard-fought, hard-won freedoms that the CBC has achieved.”

Vice President Harris laid the foundation and turned the podium over to President Biden, who followed her with a stirring speech addressing many of the concerns she raised in her speech.

“I chose to run because silence is complicit, and I would not be silent,” said President Biden. Democracy was at stake in 2020, and thank God, because of you, we won. I wish I can say the threat to our democracy ended with our victory in 2020, but it didn’t. Our democracy is still at stake, don’t kid yourself.”

President Biden also challenged Americans to reject racism and those who are determined to spread hate and division in this country.

“Hear this. Hear it clearly,” President Biden said before making a powerful declaration. “I want the entire nation to join me in sending the strongest, clearest, most powerful message possible that political violence in America is never, never, never acceptable in our democracy.”

President Biden stated that those who seek power at all costs are a threat to our democracy and must be stopped.

“I will always defend, protect, and fight for our democracy,” said President Biden.

President Biden also touted his accomplishments and highlighted all the promises made and kept to Black Americans since being elected to office in 2020.

President Biden and Vice President Harris delivered their remarks halfway through the part of the program where the winners of the signature Phoenix Awards were being announced. The Phoenix Awards are given annually to six people who are recognized for serving as leaders and trailblazers for the Black community.

The 2023 Phoenix Awards honorees were MC Lyte, LL Cool J, Karine Jean-Pierre, Mayor Karen Bass, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and Tennessee State Rep. Justin Jones.

MC Lyte and LL Cool J were both given the 2023 CBCF Culture Icon Award.

“Thank you to the entire CBC for your dedication to change,” said MC Lyte, who received her award first. “Because you do what you do, and you take care of the heavy lifting in our communities, we in hip-hop get to do what we do and that’s to entertain.”

“In hip-hop culture, we’re not always politically correct but we are always artistically correct, and so this love of this culture and this love of this art wouldn’t be anything without all of your support,” said LL Cool J, upon receiving his award. “I want to commend you on everything that you’re doing to make dreams come true around the country for Black men and Black women like myself, and I’d just encourage you to go after your dreams.”

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was given the CBCF Annual Legislative Conference Honorary Co-Chairs’ Award.

“I would not be here today if it were not for the generation of barrier-breaking people before me. This is really a truly humbling experience, and I stand on their shoulders,” said Jean-Pierre. “I have learned from their excellence and benefited from their sacrifices, and I am forever grateful to them.”

Mayor of Los Angeles Karen Bass received the CBCF Chair’s Award.

“It wasn’t an easy decision to leave Congress, but I had to because Black folk in Los Angeles are 8% of our city and 30% of the people on our streets. In Los Angeles, that’s 46,000 people who sleep on the streets every night, and every night five of them don’t wake up,” said Mayor Bass. “But CBC will always be in my heart, and even though I might not be a member of Congress I still consider myself part of the CBC family.”

House Minority Leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY-8) was honored with the CBC Body Award.

“Thank you for this incredible honor. Since 1971, the CBC has fought for racial justice, social justice, economic justice and to bring the American dream to life in every single zip code,” said Rep. Jeffries. “We will continue to speak up, we will continue to show up, we will continue to stand up until we reach the promised land of liberty and justice for all.”

Tennessee State Rep. Justin Jones (D-TN-52) received the CBC Chair’s Award.

“I’m so honored to be standing in this tradition of good trouble, this legacy of liberation, and this reminder that we are a people of progress. On April 6, I was the youngest Black lawmaker, and my colleague and I were expelled fighting for a nation to protect kids and not guns,” said Rep. Jones. “I’m so humbled to receive this award; not for myself but for the movement of which we are a part.”

Speaking at the event, CBC Chair Rep. Steven Horsford (D-NV) noted that this year’s caucus is the largest ever, with 58 members, representing 82 million Americans and making up almost one-quarter of the House Democratic Caucus.

The post Defend, Protect, and Fight for Our Democracy appeared first on Forward Times.

The post Defend, Protect, and Fight for Our Democracy first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Forward Times Staff

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Federal Raids Target Migrant Kids, Split Families

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — The Trump administration has reportedly removed at least 500 migrant children from their homes across the United States and placed them into government custody, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter.

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By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

The Trump administration has reportedly removed at least 500 migrant children from their homes across the United States and placed them into government custody, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter. The children, many of whom were living with family members or other vetted sponsors, were taken during so-called “welfare checks” carried out by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other federal agencies. According to CNN, the operations are part of a larger campaign launched shortly after President Donald Trump returned to office, with federal authorities setting up a “war room” inside the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to review data on children who entered the country alone and were later released to sponsors. Officials have used the room to coordinate efforts between agencies, including ICE and the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), which oversees the custody of unaccompanied migrant children.

Trump officials claim the effort is aimed at protecting children placed in unsafe conditions or with unqualified sponsors, pointing to cases where children were released to individuals with criminal backgrounds or those involved in smuggling. Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said the welfare checks have led to the arrests of some sponsors and the transfer of children into ORR custody. Federal data shows more than 2,500 children are currently in ORR custody. CNN reported that the average stay has grown significantly, from 67 days in December 2024 to 170 days by April 2025. Former Health and Human Services officials say new vetting rules—including income requirements, government-issued ID, and DNA tests—have made it far more difficult for parents and guardians, particularly those who are undocumented, to reclaim their children.

In some cases, reunifications that had already been scheduled were canceled. A recent lawsuit details how two brothers, ages 7 and 14, remain in government care because their mother cannot meet new documentation requirements under the revised policies. Mark Greenberg, a former senior HHS official, stated that the approach puts children in a difficult situation. “To the extent, the goal is to determine whether children are in danger or in need of help, this isn’t a good way to do that because it creates fear that anything they say could be used against their parent or family member,” he said. Immigration enforcement agents reportedly have visited children’s homes and asked about their journey to the U.S., school attendance, and upcoming immigration court appearances. Legal advocates say these visits, which sometimes include the FBI, are not standard child welfare procedures and can create fear and confusion among minors.

An FBI spokesperson confirmed the agency’s role, saying, “Protecting children is a critical mission for the FBI, and we will continue to work with our federal, state, and local partners to secure their safety and well-being.” Multiple outlets noted that the Trump administration has not provided clear evidence that large numbers of children are missing. Instead, it has referenced a Department of Homeland Security inspector general report from 2023 that noted more than 291,000 unaccompanied minors had not received notices to appear in immigration court. Former officials note that these figures do not necessarily indicate that the children are missing; some lacked updated addresses or were affected by administrative backlogs.

Within HHS, officials were instructed to expedite policy changes. Former ORR Ombudsman Mary Giovagnoli stated that a senior ICE official, Melissa Harper, was temporarily appointed to lead ORR. Her short tenure was followed by Angie Salazar, another former ICE official who now frequently communicates with White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller. Trump’s team argues the Biden administration allowed thousands of unaccompanied children to enter the country without sufficient oversight. Jen Smyers, a former ORR deputy director, stated that all sponsors underwent thorough vetting, including Department of Justice background checks and reviews of the sex offender registry. “No amount of vetting is a predictor of the future,” she said. The Miami Herald recently reported that a 17-year-old foster child in Florida was removed from his home in shackles and transferred to ICE custody. The boy and his mother had crossed the border without documentation, but he had been living in a state-supervised foster placement. The case raised concerns about the state’s cooperation with federal enforcement and the message it sends to immigrant families. Concerns about federal custody of vulnerable children are not confined to immigration.

In North Carolina, a 7-month-old baby died after being left in a hot minivan by her foster mother, who now faces charges of negligent child abuse and involuntary manslaughter. In Hawaii, dozens of children have been forced to sleep in government offices and hotels due to a shortage of foster placements. In North Dakota, a foster couple has been charged in the death of a 3-year-old after surveillance footage showed the child being repeatedly assaulted. “These cases show what happens when systems meant to protect children fail them,” said Laura Nally, director of the Amica Center for Immigrant Rights Children’s Program. “There’s a growing concern that these welfare checks are being used to carry out mass detentions of sponsors and unnecessarily return children to government custody.”

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Protests of a Costly and Historic Parade

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — President Trump is planning an elaborate and costly celebration for the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army that coincides with his birthday.

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By April Ryan

It will rain on President Trump‘s parade on Saturday if most weather forecasts correctly predict the chance of storms. President Trump is planning an elaborate and costly celebration for the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army that coincides with his birthday. When asked if he plans to attend the massive D.C. celebration, New York Democratic Congressman Greg Meeks exclaimed,” Heck no!” He elaborated, saying, “It is clear to me that what Donald J. Trump is trying to do is to emulate Vladimir Putin.” Trump and Putin, the Russian president, are friends. Meeks feels “that’s where he initially got the idea from when he saw the tanks going down the street and how people bow down to Vladimir Putin, how…that authoritarian runs his country where no one questions what he does.”

Meanwhile, around the nation 1600 protests are scheduled to coincide with what is happening in Washington, D.C. Democratic Congressman Al Greene confirms he will attend several “No King Day” protest rallies and marches in his home state of Texas. The congressman questions the president’s comments about using “force” for anyone trying to stop the parade. Reverand William Barber plans to be in Philadelphia on Saturday. “We are having a rally bringing people together,” the civil rights leader confirmed. The leader of Repairers of the Breach added, “Those rallies are gonna be massive and multiracial of every race, color, creed, religion, geographic area, so this is not a moment. We must have a constant movement.”

Weeks ago, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser warned the parade, and all its military might, and pageantry would cost “many millions of dollars” just to repair District streets after the heavy artillery tanks rolled down the historic roads in the nation’s capital. Tall gates and other barricades around the White House are part of the parade’s security measures. The Secret Service has warned of a high-security presence in the area for the parade. You can expect to see military tanks, dozens of other military vehicles, and thousands of service members marching along a route stretching nearly four miles from the Pentagon to the White House.

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Critics Question 2024 Results as Musk Tactics Surface

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — Now, a Wisconsin nonprofit has filed a legal complaint accusing Musk, his America PAC, and a Musk-affiliated group called United States of America Inc. of violating state election laws by bribing voters.

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By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

Donald Trump’s return to the White House in 2024 has reignited questions about election integrity, particularly after his remarks thanking Elon Musk for what he called a “landslide” win in Pennsylvania. “He knows those computers better than anybody… all those vote-counting computers,” Trump said. “So, thank you to Elon.” The comment set off alarm, including Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett. “So, Trump is rambling on about he and Elon rigging the election?! Am I missing something or is he confessing to yet another damn crime?!” she posted on social media.

Now, a Wisconsin nonprofit has filed a legal complaint accusing Musk, his America PAC, and a Musk-affiliated group called United States of America Inc. of violating state election laws by bribing voters. The Wisconsin Democracy Campaign and two voters allege Musk handed out $1 million checks and that his PAC paid $100 to registered voters who signed petitions and gave their contact information. Wisconsin law prohibits offering anything of value over $1 to encourage someone to vote. The complaint also cites violations of the state’s lottery ban. The plaintiffs are asking a court to declare the actions illegal, prevent future violations, and award damages if applicable.

The lawsuit follows a failed attempt by Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul to block Musk’s actions earlier this year. Kaul argued that Musk’s conduct amounted to illegal inducement, but courts declined to intervene before the April state Supreme Court election. Jeff Mandell, president and general counsel for Law Forward, which represents the plaintiffs, said this new case is being filed under more typical legal timelines. “We’re trying to create … accountability in a more regular timeline, in a way that gives the courts the opportunity to look at this more carefully,” Mandell said.

Musk, who served briefly as a Trump adviser and led a short-lived federal agency focused on cost-cutting, has denied wrongdoing. He initially promoted the giveaways as rewards for early voters but later revised eligibility criteria following legal scrutiny. The controversy has added fuel to growing concerns over anomalies in places like Rockland County, New York, where Vice President Kamala Harris reportedly received virtually no votes despite Democratic victories in other races. “We know exactly what happened and how it unfolded, and we’re asking the court to say this is not acceptable,” Mandel has said.

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