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West Memphis mayor talks jobs, economic boom and inspiring children

NNPA NEWSWIRE — “Our priorities are to bring economic opportunities to this city for our people, public safety, creating a quality school system, a cleaner city, and investing in a bright future for our children.”

Published

6 years ago

August 25, 2019

Oakland Post

As he promised shortly after being sworn in as Mayor of West Memphis, Ark., Marco McClendon (left) provided a six-month update on his progress. “I’m dreaming all the time,” said McClendon, pictured here with West Memphis NAACP chapter president Shabaka Afrika. “Our priorities are to bring economic opportunities, public safety, creating a quality school system, a cleaner city and investing in a bright future for our children.” (Photo: Tyrone P. Easley)

By Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell, Special to the New Tri-State Defender

Born and raised in West Memphis, Mayor Marco McClendon is eight months into his first term, which he told constituents at a recent Crittenden County NAACP meeting already is generating new jobs and business opportunities.

“My mother and father live here. So, I am fully invested in the growth and success of West Memphis. This is our time, and God has given me this opportunity for such a time as this,” said McClendon, who headlined the meeting.

“Here is a man, our mayor, fulfilling a promise he made when he took office, to come and deliver an address on his progress for the first six months,” said Shabaka Afrika, NAACP chapter president. “We have heard some exciting things like we haven’t seen here in decades. This is truly a new day in West Memphis.”

McClendon, a former city councilman, was sworn in on Jan. 1. The city is about 70 percent African American and he is second African American elected West Memphis Mayor. Leo Chitman was the first African American elected to the office in 1982.

Reflecting on his swearing-in ceremony, McClendon said, “Our community needed to see that. Our black children needed to see someone who looks like them taking the mayor’s office.”

He supports that assertion with a recent encounter at a favorite restaurant.

“I went into the restaurant to pick up my food, and there were some guys there. We were just talking, and a mother came in with her nine-year-old son. She said to him, ‘Did you know he is the mayor of West Memphis?’ He looked at me and said, ‘You can’t be the mayor of West Memphis.’ I asked him why not, and he said, ‘Because you look just like me.’

“Well, I took out my business card and gave it to him, and I took out my phone and showed him on Facebook that I was the mayor,” McClendon said. “And if you could have seen the look in his eyes. He looked at me like I was a superhero. And he looks at me the same way each time I run into him and other children just like him. More black officials change the landscape for black citizens. God has put me here for such a time as this.”

Expansion and multiple initiatives have created what some in West Memphis consider a corridor of opportunity. The $250 million renovation and expansion at the Southland Casino Racing complex is a major contributor.

McClendon said he expects to be in talks with hotels and restaurateurs looking to also build establishments around the expansion.

“People are buying into our vision for growth and economic development,” he said. “It’s an easy sell. Both I-40 and I-55 run through West Memphis. We are spending $10 million to revitalize the railroad. We just had Coca-Cola move from Memphis over to West Memphis with a $22 million construction bringing hundreds of new jobs.

“I am under a non-disclosure agreement, so I can’t say anything tonight, but an auto manufacturer is coming soon,” he said.” Let’s just say the governor and I are on the same page.”

The city also is building four new structures: two fire stations, one library and information center, and one municipal courthouse.

“Our priorities are to bring economic opportunities to this city for our people, public safety, creating a quality school system, a cleaner city, and investing in a bright future for our children.”

The 41-year-old mayor said he has gained valuable knowledge and advice from former Memphis mayor, Dr. Willie W. Herenton.

“I talked to Dr. Herenton, and he asked me, ‘When all of your department heads are doing their jobs and moving toward attaining objectives in your agenda, what should a mayor be doing?’ He said a mayor should be devising initiatives.

“So, I am dreaming all the time. We plan in the next three years of my administration to make West Memphis the new Southaven. We’re building a water park so families can enjoy good, family fun together. We’re building a movie theatre. And you know what they said in that movie, ‘If you build it, they will come.’

“Oh, and did I tell you we are going to bring our own bus system to West Memphis? We’re going to rebuild and revitalize Broadway Avenue, our main thoroughfare, and bus trolleys are going to run up and down Broadway.”

He promised to continue building a unified community in West Memphis to eradicate any factions that may breed gang violence.

“I’ve been talking to young brothers, and I tell them, ‘We are all brothers. How can you kill your brother?’ Public safety is paramount in my administration.”

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

3 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

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#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

4 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

Posts by Stacy M. Brown

#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

5 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: