Community
Jesse Jackson Visits Richmond to Discuss the Continuing Fight for Equality
Civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson delivered a moving message to a packed audience this past Sunday at Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church in Richmond.
Rev. Jackson weighed in on what he sees as a continued struggle for the Black community to gain social equality in society. He likened the struggle for voting rights during the 1960s to the current fight to end diversity disparities that exist within major corporations’ boardrooms and workforce.
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“What we now have is disparity by class and culture,” Jackson said. “Too few got too much.”
Jackson challenged the audience to join the fight to close the “opportunity gap,” by holding corporations accountable, particularly corporations in Silicon Valley where he recently convened a meeting to promote diversity in the tech industry.
He reminded people that the Civil Rights Era may have ended, but the struggle has not yet been won.
Rev. Jackson said: “Some of us talk about ‘back in the civil rights age.’ I think, ‘when did it end?’”
The packed audience of community members, clergy and elected officials burst into laughter and roaring applause.
Jackson briefly touched on police and community relations, a topic that has fueled protests across the country in recent weeks.
“Police shouldn’t shoot people, and people shouldn’t shoot police. They are the gatekeepers, they are not holding us back. It’s the institutions, not the police, that inhibit upward mobility,” he said.
Rev. Jackson said the “Black Lives Matter” movement is a response to the rising number of African-American men killed by the police, which is fueled by a “fire bomb of poverty.”
The problem can in part be addressed by making more job opportunities available to these men, he said.
Jackson shared his thoughts on the Academy Award-nominated film “Selma,” which he believed romanticized the struggle leading up to the passage of the Voter Rights Act of 1965.
“You’d think we just crossed the bridge and got the right to vote. But there was so much more before, and there is more after,” Jackson said.
In his final remarks, Jackson encouraged community members to come to the altar and sign up in support of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, Richmond Chapter, which will have details forthcoming for interested members.
Jackson founded the Rainbow PUSH Coalition in 1996 to combat discrimination and racism in society and the economy.
Prior to Rev. Jackson’s speech, Richmond Mayor Tom Butt presented a proclamation declaring January 25 “Rev. Jesse Jackson Day” in Richmond.
“It’s an exciting day for me and Richmond,” Butt said as he introduced Rev. Jackson and presented him with a certificate. The audience rose and applauded.
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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