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OP-ED: Lawsuit Lending Disclosure is Key to Racial Justice in New York and Across America

NNPA NEWSWIRE — In theory, lawsuit loans can serve as a critical line of support for individuals who find themselves in unenviable positions as the victims of fraud, accidental injury, or even malicious attacks – especially for those who are unbanked or underbanked and lack a financial safety net, which too often is the case for people of color.

Published

6 months ago

December 18, 2024

Oakland Post

By Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr., President and CEO, National Newspaper Publishers Assocition

My first brush with the law took place when I was just 12 years old. I walked into the local library in Oxford, N.C., from which Black Americans were expressly forbidden, and tried to check out a book. The librarian responded by calling the police.

A dozen years later, at the age of 24, I and nine other men and women were wrongfully accused of arson during a spate of race-related civil unrest in Wilmington, N.C. We became known as The Wilmington Ten. We were unjustly sentenced to a combined total of 282 years in prison. It took more than 40 years for the state of North Carolina to officially issue a “Pardon of Innocence” to The Wilmington Ten.

After a lifetime as a civil rights advocate fighting against a wide range of discriminatory practices and racial injustices, I know firsthand how the levers of justice can be pulled or manipulated by the powers that be to the detriment of vulnerable individuals and underserved communities.

A glaring example of this exists right now in New York, where a complete lack of regulation of the booming lawsuit lending industry is enabling unscrupulous lenders to take advantage of injured and mistreated borrowers. Also known as “litigation funding” or “car accident loans,” lawsuit lending is the practice by which individuals can borrow against potential legal settlements or judgements to cover day-to-day expenses or medical bills while they await the outcome of their case.

It is time for state lawmakers to protect the vulnerable individuals who too frequently find themselves as the victims of usurious lending practices. They can do this by passing some commonsense reforms of the lawsuit lending industry that cap the interest lenders can charge and require disclosure of lawsuit loans to ensure transparency in the legal system.

In theory, lawsuit loans can serve as a critical line of support for individuals who find themselves in unenviable positions as the victims of fraud, accidental injury, or even malicious attacks – especially for those who are unbanked or underbanked and lack a financial safety net, which too often is the case for people of color.

In practice, however, the complete lack of regulation of the lawsuit lending industry is too often manipulated by bad actors, some of whom are bankrolled by big hedge funds, or even foreign interests. Due to the lack of an interest rate cap, for example, unscrupulous lenders can charge as much as they want – sometimes as much as 200 percent.

Such was the case for a young mother from The Bronx, who worked hard during her pregnancy to ensure her twins’ needs would be met when they were born. Yet, despite all the preparations and precautions she took, one baby was injured during birth, resulting in severe brain damage. The mother filed a medical malpractice case, and the bills piled up. Her attorney directed her to a lender who gave her a loan with a 65 percent interest rate, which compounded by 1.5 percent every month.

Adding insult to injury, the mother later discovered that the firm her lawyer recommended was owned by the attorney’s brother. The court ultimately determined that the lack of knowledge of this relationship could be interpreted as a conflict of interest, since the attorney could have influenced his client’s acceptance of a settlement to his brother’s benefit.

Only by mandating the disclosure of lawsuit loans during the legal process can potential ethical lapses like this one be sure to be brought to light, leveling the playing field for all parties. Who knows how many settlements have been delayed, decreased, or improperly influenced to the detriment of borrowers merely to ensure that usurious loans are repaid to their predatory lenders?

A properly regulated lawsuit lending industry could have benefitted that mother in The Bronx. It also could have benefitted the many people like me, who have been wrongfully imprisoned or convicted and, in some cases, are now being aggressively targeted by the lawsuit lending industry.

A reform bill that both reasonably caps interest rates and ensures transparency will ensure that New Yorkers and others across America in need can continue to access lawsuit loans and be projected from the greedy whims of the wealthy and powerful. Those experiencing some of the most difficult periods of their lives deserve support and protection, and surely do not deserve to be victimized repeatedly.

Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr., civil rights leader, author, journalist, and the current president and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) can be reached at dr.bchavis@nnpa.org .

Oakland Post

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#NNPA BlackPress

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.

Published

2 days ago

May 30, 2025

Stacy M. Brown

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.”

Stacy M. Brown

Posts by Stacy M. Brown

#NNPA BlackPress

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.

Published

3 days ago

May 29, 2025

Stacy M. Brown

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.”

Stacy M. Brown

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#NNPA BlackPress

WATCH: Five Years After George Floyd: Full Panel Discussion | Tracey’s Keepin’ It Real | Live Podcast Event

Join us as we return to the city where it happened and speak with a voice from the heart of the community – Tracey Williams-Dillard, CEO/Publisher of the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.

Published

4 days ago

May 28, 2025

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https://youtube.com/watch?v=OsNLWTz6jU0&feature=oembed

May 25, 2020. The world stopped and watched as a life was taken.

But what has happened since?

Join us as we return to the city where it happened and speak with a voice from the heart of the community – Tracey Williams-Dillard, CEO/Publisher of the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.

She shares reflections, insights, and the story of a community forever changed. What has a year truly meant, and where do we go from here?

This is more than just a date; it’s a moment in history. See what one leader in the Black press has to say about it.

Recorded live at UROC in Minneapolis, this powerful discussion features:

Panelists: