theroot--2020-12-11--Dr. Anthony Fauci Appeals to Black Community: ‘The Vaccine That You’re Going to Be Taking Was Develo

Dr. Anthony Fauci Appeals to Black Community: ‘The Vaccine That You’re Going to Be Taking Was Developed by an African American Woman’

With skepticism about the safety and efficacy of a COVID-19 vaccine running high among African Americans , Dr. Anthony Fauci , the nation ’ s leading infectious disease expert , wants Black people to know that a Black woman , Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett , was heavily involved in developing one of the vaccines that will soon be available to Americans later this month .
Fauci , speaking at a National Urban League event on Tuesday , acknowledged the history behind African American distrust of medical research and the American health care system , reports CNN .
But the epidemiologist also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are both safe and effective , drawing attention to Dr. Corbett ’ s involvement in the process .
“ The very vaccine that ’ s one of the two that has absolutely exquisite levels—94 to 95 percent efficacy against clinical disease and almost 100 percent efficacy against serious disease that are shown to be clearly safe—that vaccine was actually developed in my institute ’ s vaccine research center by a team of scientists led by Dr. Barney Graham and his close colleague , Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett , or Kizzy Corbett , ” Fauci @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thing you might want to say to my African American brothers and sisters is that the vaccine that you ’ re going to be taking was developed by an African American woman , ” he continued .
“ And that is just a fact.
” The vaccine Fauci is referring to is the one that will be released by Moderna , one of two vaccines that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is expected to give emergency use authorization to ( the other will be distributed by Pfizer ) .
Dr. Corbett , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Health ’ s coronavirus vaccine research , has spoken out about institutional distrust in the Black community in the past , saying she ’ s seen the hesitancy to take vaccines first-hand .
“ I would say to people who are vaccine-hesitant that you ’ ve earned the right to ask the questions that you have around these vaccines and this vaccine development process , ” Corbett told the CNN podcast “ Coronavirus : Fact vs. Fiction.
” This hesitancy is well-documented and rooted in a painful history .
One recent study @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trust that a vaccine will be safe , and only 18 percent believed it would effectively protect them from COVID-19 .
Distrust in a vaccine was also linked to a broader distrust in the government at large , as well as knowledge of the Tuskegee syphilis study , in which African American men were unknowingly studied for the venereal disease—and not given treatment for it .
Two out of every three Black respondents in the same study said the government could never or could only rarely be trusted to look after their interests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experts , who note that the success of these vaccines is contingent on having enough Americans take them .
Black Americans , in particular , have been especially vulnerable to developing the most severe symptoms of COVID-19 , for reasons that are largely systemic .
For the last several months , Black physicians have been reaching out to their communities to educate and encourage people to take a vaccine once it becomes available .
“ Trust , especially when it has been stripped from people , has to be rebuilt in a brick-by-brick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ And so , what I say to people firstly is that I empathize , and then secondly is that I ’ m going to do my part in laying those bricks .
And I think that if everyone on our side , as physicians and scientists , went about it that way , then the trust would start to be rebuilt .
”

With skepticism about the safety and efficacy of a COVID-19 vaccine running high among African Americans, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s leading infectious disease expert, wants Black people to know that a Black woman, Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett, was heavily involved in developing one of the vaccines that will soon be available to Americans later this month.
Fauci, speaking at a National Urban League event on Tuesday, acknowledged the history behind African American distrust of medical research and the American health care system, reports CNN. But the epidemiologist also emphasized that the two forthcoming coronavirus vaccines are both safe and effective, drawing attention to Dr. Corbett’s involvement in the process.
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“The very vaccine that’s one of the two that has absolutely exquisite levels—94 to 95 percent efficacy against clinical disease and almost 100 percent efficacy against serious disease that are shown to be clearly safe—that vaccine was actually developed in my institute’s vaccine research center by a team of scientists led by Dr. Barney Graham and his close colleague, Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett, or Kizzy Corbett,” Fauci said.
“So, the first thing you might want to say to my African American brothers and sisters is that the vaccine that you’re going to be taking was developed by an African American woman,” he continued. “And that is just a fact.”
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The vaccine Fauci is referring to is the one that will be released by Moderna, one of two vaccines that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is expected to give emergency use authorization to (the other will be distributed by Pfizer). Dr. Corbett, the lead scientist for the National Institute of Health’s coronavirus vaccine research, has spoken out about institutional distrust in the Black community in the past, saying she’s seen the hesitancy to take vaccines first-hand.
“I would say to people who are vaccine-hesitant that you’ve earned the right to ask the questions that you have around these vaccines and this vaccine development process,” Corbett told the CNN podcast “Coronavirus: Fact vs. Fiction.”
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This hesitancy is well-documented and rooted in a painful history. One recent study found just 14 percent of Black people trust that a vaccine will be safe, and only 18 percent believed it would effectively protect them from COVID-19.
Distrust in a vaccine was also linked to a broader distrust in the government at large, as well as knowledge of the Tuskegee syphilis study, in which African American men were unknowingly studied for the venereal disease—and not given treatment for it. Two out of every three Black respondents in the same study said the government could never or could only rarely be trusted to look after their interests.
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This is concerning for public health experts, who note that the success of these vaccines is contingent on having enough Americans take them.
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Black Americans, in particular, have been especially vulnerable to developing the most severe symptoms of COVID-19, for reasons that are largely systemic. For the last several months, Black physicians have been reaching out to their communities to educate and encourage people to take a vaccine once it becomes available.
“Trust, especially when it has been stripped from people, has to be rebuilt in a brick-by-brick fashion,” Dr. Corbett said. “And so, what I say to people firstly is that I empathize, and then secondly is that I’m going to do my part in laying those bricks. And I think that if everyone on our side, as physicians and scientists, went about it that way, then the trust would start to be rebuilt.”


theroot--2020-12-11--Minnesota City Votes to Allow Existence of White Supremacist Church, Citing Religious Freedom

Religious freedom is certainly an essential concept in America and much of the world , but it ’ s also a value that has paved the way for bigotry under the guise of holiness .
In 2020—the year that can basically be summarized in three letters : WTF ?
—a small Minnesota town recently voted to allow a white supremacist church to be established in order to be fair to any and all organizations that want space to practice their faith .
The Star Tribune reports that on Wednesday night , the Murdock , Minn. , City Council voted anonymously @ @ @ @ @ @ @ permission to a white supremacist group to use an abandoned Lutheran church as its third gathering facility in the United States .
The group , Asatru Folk Assembly , has been designated by the Southern Poverty Law Center as a hate group , according to the Associated Press .
Meeting online because of the COVID-19 pandemic , the council kept its video camera turned off , meaning that other meeting attendees couldn ’ t see the members ’ faces .
Despite repeated requests from the online audience , council members refused to identify @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , passing it on a voice vote without a roll call .
One member on the five-person council could be heard voting no .
“ We as leaders of the city of Murdock want people to know that we condemn racism in all forms , ” Mayor Craig Kavanagh said before the council voted in favor of an organization that religious scholars have identified as a white supremacist group .
Before the vote , the council was advised by city attorney Don Wilcox that rejecting the group ’ s bid to provide a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ racism could open the city of around 275 residents up to litigation .
“ There are certain constitutional protections that apply to religions , ” Wilcox said , the Tribune reports .
“ I haven ’ t seen any evidence sufficient to overcome the presumption that they are a religion , whether you agree with it or not .
There ’ s not a compelling interest in keeping that building from being used for meetings .
Just because you don ’ t like it doesn ’ t mean they can ’ t do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a few questions , starting with : What the hell ( pun intended ) goes on in a white supremacist church ?
Do the pastors deliver their sermons wearing KKK robes ?
Do they believe Jesus is white because Black Jesus would have died in a noose instead of on the cross ?
( They also probably figure Black Jesus would have resurrected three weeks later instead of three days ; CP time and all . )
Do they put raisins in their communion wafers ?
If a Black church moves next door @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to burn before it ’ s definitely considered a fire hazard ?
Do they end their prayers with , “ a-white-men ” instead of a general “ amen ?
” For a little insight on the group ’ s ideology , here ’ s more from the Tribune : The AFA is among a growing number of groups that seek to practice a pre-Christian , European spirituality .
The AFA is unabashedly pro-white , according to statements on its website .
“ We in Asatru support strong , healthy white family relationships , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement of ethics .
“ We want our children to grow up to be mothers and fathers to white children of their own .
“ We believe that those activities and behaviors supportive of the white family should be encouraged while those activities and behaviors destructive of the white family are to be discouraged.
” Not going to lie : For 2020 , this sounds about white .

Religious freedom is certainly an essential concept in America and much of the world, but it’s also a value that has paved the way for bigotry under the guise of holiness. In 2020—the year that can basically be summarized in three letters: WTF?—a small Minnesota town recently voted to allow a white supremacist church to be established in order to be fair to any and all organizations that want space to practice their faith.
The Star Tribune reports that on Wednesday night, the Murdock, Minn., City Council voted anonymously (yes, anonymously) to grant permission to a white supremacist group to use an abandoned Lutheran church as its third gathering facility in the United States.
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The group, Asatru Folk Assembly, has been designated by the Southern Poverty Law Center as a hate group, according to the Associated Press.
From the Tribune:
Meeting online because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the council kept its video camera turned off, meaning that other meeting attendees couldn’t see the members’ faces. Despite repeated requests from the online audience, council members refused to identify who voted for or against the permit, passing it on a voice vote without a roll call. One member on the five-person council could be heard voting no. “We as leaders of the city of Murdock want people to know that we condemn racism in all forms,” Mayor Craig Kavanagh said before the council voted in favor of an organization that religious scholars have identified as a white supremacist group.
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Before the vote, the council was advised by city attorney Don Wilcox that rejecting the group’s bid to provide a home for its whites-only place of holy racism could open the city of around 275 residents up to litigation.
“There are certain constitutional protections that apply to religions,” Wilcox said, the Tribune reports. “I haven’t seen any evidence sufficient to overcome the presumption that they are a religion, whether you agree with it or not. There’s not a compelling interest in keeping that building from being used for meetings. Just because you don’t like it doesn’t mean they can’t do it.”
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This all leaves us with a few questions, starting with: What the hell (pun intended) goes on in a white supremacist church?
Do the pastors deliver their sermons wearing KKK robes? Do they believe Jesus is white because Black Jesus would have died in a noose instead of on the cross? (They also probably figure Black Jesus would have resurrected three weeks later instead of three days; CP time and all.) Do they put raisins in their communion wafers? If a Black church moves next door, how many crosses do they get to burn before it’s definitely considered a fire hazard? Do they end their prayers with, “a-white-men” instead of a general “amen?”
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For a little insight on the group’s ideology, here’s more from the Tribune:
The AFA is among a growing number of groups that seek to practice a pre-Christian, European spirituality. The AFA is unabashedly pro-white, according to statements on its website. “We in Asatru support strong, healthy white family relationships,” according to the group’s statement of ethics. “We want our children to grow up to be mothers and fathers to white children of their own. “We believe that those activities and behaviors supportive of the white family should be encouraged while those activities and behaviors destructive of the white family are to be discouraged.”
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Not going to lie: For 2020, this sounds about white.


theroot--2020-12-11--Rate of Black Children Who Have Received Flu Shots Is Down 10 Percent From Last Year

While the number of people who have received flu shots this year has seen an overall increase , new data has shown that when it comes to Black children that number has actually gone down .
According to NBC News , a report released on Wednesday has officials at the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention somewhat alarmed .
With a coronavirus vaccine on the horizon , they are hoping that this isn ’ t a sign of a general aversion to vaccines among Black families .
“ It ’ s certainly a point of concern , ” Dr. Ram @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CDC ’ s Immunization Services Division told NBC News .
“ We ’ ll monitor this over the coming weeks very closely.
” The data regarding flu vaccines show that a large portion of Americans are taking the advice of medical officials seriously , with a survey from early November finding that 49 percent of adults had already received the vaccine .
That ’ s up five percent from the same time last year .
It should be noted that the survey also found that a third of adults don ’ t plan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Manufacturers of flu vaccines plan to produce just below 200 million doses for this year ’ s flu season , a rather large spike from the 175 million produced last year .
Healthcare officials have been pushing folks to get their flu vaccine to avoid as hospitals are already overwhelmed dealing with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic .
The survey conducted by the CDC found that vaccination rates have remained consistent among children from other racial backgrounds , they dropped from 44 percent last year to 33 percent this year .
Koppaka said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccination rates is unclear but believes it only highlights the work needed to be done to build the Black community ’ s trust in vaccines .
I ’ m going to preface this next part with my standard refrain : I am just a nigga on a laptop .
I don ’ t have all the answers , Sway .
That being said , we are in the midst of a pandemic that isn ’ t only a public health crisis , but an economic one too .
Most of us get our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have disproportionately felt the economic blow dealt by the pandemic .
If you go to any Walgreens or CVS you see the “ FREE FLU SHOT ” sign but you probably don ’ t even register the “ w/most insurance , ” that is written in fine print .
If you don ’ t have insurance and you can ’ t afford to pay the out of pocket cost , how exactly is one supposed to get their kids the vaccine ?
Distrust among medical professionals is a real thing in the Black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that .
I ’ m just saying that perhaps looking at the world that ’ s staring us right in the face might provide some insight as to why something that was never a problem before suddenly has become one .

While the number of people who have received flu shots this year has seen an overall increase, new data has shown that when it comes to Black children that number has actually gone down.
According to NBC News, a report released on Wednesday has officials at the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention somewhat alarmed. With a coronavirus vaccine on the horizon, they are hoping that this isn’t a sign of a general aversion to vaccines among Black families.
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“It’s certainly a point of concern,” Dr. Ram Koppaka, an associate director in the CDC’s Immunization Services Division told NBC News. “We’ll monitor this over the coming weeks very closely.”
The data regarding flu vaccines show that a large portion of Americans are taking the advice of medical officials seriously, with a survey from early November finding that 49 percent of adults had already received the vaccine. That’s up five percent from the same time last year. It should be noted that the survey also found that a third of adults don’t plan to get the flu vaccine this year.
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Manufacturers of flu vaccines plan to produce just below 200 million doses for this year’s flu season, a rather large spike from the 175 million produced last year. Healthcare officials have been pushing folks to get their flu vaccine to avoid as hospitals are already overwhelmed dealing with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
The survey conducted by the CDC found that vaccination rates have remained consistent among children from other racial backgrounds, they dropped from 44 percent last year to 33 percent this year. Koppaka said that the reason for the drop in vaccination rates is unclear but believes it only highlights the work needed to be done to build the Black community’s trust in vaccines.
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I’m going to preface this next part with my standard refrain: I am just a nigga on a laptop. I don’t have all the answers, Sway.
That being said, we are in the midst of a pandemic that isn’t only a public health crisis, but an economic one too. Most of us get our healthcare through our jobs and Black people have disproportionately felt the economic blow dealt by the pandemic. If you go to any Walgreens or CVS you see the “FREE FLU SHOT” sign but you probably don’t even register the “w/most insurance,” that is written in fine print.
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If you don’t have insurance and you can’t afford to pay the out of pocket cost, how exactly is one supposed to get their kids the vaccine?
Distrust among medical professionals is a real thing in the Black community, I won’t argue that. I’m just saying that perhaps looking at the world that’s staring us right in the face might provide some insight as to why something that was never a problem before suddenly has become one.


theroot--2020-12-11--Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot to Mitch McConnell: ‘Dear God, Stop the Nonsense’

If you are unfamiliar with Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot , she ’ s the no-nonsense politician who told her constituents during a pandemic that their jumpshot was always going to be weak and , therefore , they should stay their asses in the house and off the basketball courts .
I will not discuss the countless memes of her telling you something that you need to hear but don ’ t want to acknowledge .
But , yes , I ’ ve seen them and they are funny .
The larger point is that Lightfoot didn ’ t come to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Oh , and shut her front door and stop letting all her good heat out into this cold Chicago winter .
So it should shock no one that on Wednesday , Lightfoot blasted Senate Majority Leader Mitch “ Chicken Neck ” McConnell ( R-Ky. ) for his insistence on screwing cities and states out of any federal funding from the next stimulus package .
“ I hope what Democrats in Congress will say is , ‘ Over my dead body , ’ ” the mayor said during a press briefing , Politico @ @ @ @ @ @ @ municipality in this country is hurting .
Blue , red , purple ; independent mayors , Republican mayors , Democratic mayors.
” For some reason ( that reason is racism ) , McConnell and other Republicans don ’ t want to give financial assistance to local governments who have been devastated during COVID-19 .
As it stands , Democrats believe in state aid and Republicans believe in making sure that employers are covered from coronavirus-related lawsuits , because clearly that ’ s what ’ s needed now .
“ I know that there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ goes on in Washington , D.C. , but dear God , stop the nonsense , ” Lightfoot said .
“ Get something done .
We are hurting here in the heartland and all across our country and we need the federal government to step up and do their job.
” Chicago , like many cities across the country , has suffered huge losses due to Covid-19 ’ s impact on tax revenue .
The Chicago City Council last month approved a $ 12.8 billion budget for 2021 that includes a $ 94 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in fees and fines , to help shore up a $ 1.2 billion budget deficit .
The city , the state of Illinois , and much of the Midwest , have seen an uptick in Covid-19 cases and deaths in recent weeks , triggering a new round of restrictions on restaurants and other businesses already struggling to stay afloat .
“ To basically turn your back on state and local governments at a time when we are hemorrhaging and looking at severe service cuts , putting people out on the streets , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actually could be a stimulus to the economy — that ’ s unbelievably short-sighted , ” Lightfoot said .

If you are unfamiliar with Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, she’s the no-nonsense politician who told her constituents during a pandemic that their jumpshot was always going to be weak and, therefore, they should stay their asses in the house and off the basketball courts.
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I will not discuss the countless memes of her telling you something that you need to hear but don’t want to acknowledge. But, yes, I’ve seen them and they are funny. The larger point is that Lightfoot didn’t come to play with you and your little friends. Oh, and shut her front door and stop letting all her good heat out into this cold Chicago winter.
So it should shock no one that on Wednesday, Lightfoot blasted Senate Majority Leader Mitch “Chicken Neck” McConnell (R-Ky.) for his insistence on screwing cities and states out of any federal funding from the next stimulus package.
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“I hope what Democrats in Congress will say is, ‘Over my dead body,’” the mayor said during a press briefing, Politico reports. “Every single town and municipality in this country is hurting. Blue, red, purple; independent mayors, Republican mayors, Democratic mayors.”
For some reason (that reason is racism), McConnell and other Republicans don’t want to give financial assistance to local governments who have been devastated during COVID-19.
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As it stands, Democrats believe in state aid and Republicans believe in letting people die making sure that employers are covered from coronavirus-related lawsuits, because clearly that’s what’s needed now.
“I know that there’s a lot of posturing that goes on in Washington, D.C., but dear God, stop the nonsense,” Lightfoot said. “Get something done. We are hurting here in the heartland and all across our country and we need the federal government to step up and do their job.”
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From Politico:
Chicago, like many cities across the country, has suffered huge losses due to Covid-19’s impact on tax revenue. The Chicago City Council last month approved a $12.8 billion budget for 2021 that includes a $94 million property tax hike, along with increases in fees and fines, to help shore up a $1.2 billion budget deficit. The city, the state of Illinois, and much of the Midwest, have seen an uptick in Covid-19 cases and deaths in recent weeks, triggering a new round of restrictions on restaurants and other businesses already struggling to stay afloat.
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“To basically turn your back on state and local governments at a time when we are hemorrhaging and looking at severe service cuts, putting people out on the streets, and unemployment, cutting back on services that actually could be a stimulus to the economy — that’s unbelievably short-sighted,” Lightfoot said.


theroot--2020-12-10--Minneapolis City Council Votes to Shift Almost $8 Million From the Police Budget as Part of ‘Safety

Minneapolis City Council Votes to Shift Almost $8 Million From the Police Budget as Part of ‘Safety for All’ Plan

The death of George Floyd while in the custody of Minneapolis police officers has transformed the city into one of the epicenters of the current movement surrounding racial justice and police reform .
In a notable step forward , the Minneapolis C ity C ouncil has voted to shift millions of dollars away from the police budget .
According to KTSP , the city ’ s budget for 2021 will see the police budget reduced by nearly $ 8 million , with that money set to go to social services under the “ Safety For All ” plan .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help with violence prevention and mental health , and will also be used to create a system that will see crisis intervention specialists respond to certain emergencies .
While the budget was passed through unanimous vote , it faced many obstacles on its path to approval .
Mayor Jacob Frey threatened to veto the budget if it permanently reduced the number of officers that could be hired .
Frey ’ s position is that it ’ s possible to reform the police force without having to drastically reduce it ’ s numbers .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the budget that the council approved , calling it a “ defining moment for the city.
” “ We all share a deep and abiding reverence for the role our local government plays in service of the people of our city , ” Frey said in a statement .
“ And today , there are good reasons to be optimistic about the future in Minneapolis.
” According to the Washington Post , the city is also in the midst of a surge in violent crime .
In the six months since George Floyd @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Minneapolis police officers , homicides have seen an increase of 50 percent .
Over 500 people have been shot so far , which is both double the number of shooting victims in 2019 and the highest number of shootings the city has seen in over a decade .
This crime surge comes as waves of police officers have been quitting the force .
Police Chief Medaria Arradondo told the Post that over 150 officers have left the force this year ; double the usual rate .
While some of these departures included retirements @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officers have quit due to post-traumatic stress stemming from the protests that arose after Floyd ’ s death .
During a C ity C ouncil session on Wednesday night , the public was allowed to share their feelings before they voted .
Some were in favor of the cuts , saying that blame for the city ’ s current situation falls squarely on the Minneapolis police department .
“ The place I grew up this summer burned and it burned because of police misconduct , ” Will Roberts , a Minneapolis resident told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ called the Minneapolis police department a “ violent , occupying force [ sic ] , ” adding that “ it ’ s incumbent upon us as residents of this city to change that.
” Doug Tanner , a south Minneapolis resident whose wife was carjacked and assaulted , didn ’ t understand why the council wanted to reduce police resources at a time where violent crime is plaguing the city .
“ The fact that this council does not even acknowledge there is a problem is irresponsible , ” Tanner told the council @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an all-time high , and you want less cops on the street .
Where does common sense come into the equation ?
” Council Member Steve Fletcher feels that the solutions presented in the bill , such as redirecting certain 911 calls to mental health specialists , means that any potential reduction in police will be offset by an overall reduction in the police workload .
“ I think we need to make bold decisions on a path forward , ” Fletcher told KTSP .
“ We can not afford to remain stuck @ @ @ @ @ @ @

The death of George Floyd while in the custody of Minneapolis police officers has transformed the city into one of the epicenters of the current movement surrounding racial justice and police reform. In a notable step forward, the Minneapolis C ity C ouncil has voted to shift millions of dollars away from the police budget.
According to KTSP, the city’s budget for 2021 will see the police budget reduced by nearly $8 million, with that money set to go to social services under the “Safety For All” plan. The money will be redistributed towards programs that help with violence prevention and mental health, and will also be used to create a system that will see crisis intervention specialists respond to certain emergencies.
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While the budget was passed through unanimous vote, it faced many obstacles on its path to approval. Mayor Jacob Frey threatened to veto the budget if it permanently reduced the number of officers that could be hired. Frey’s position is that it’s possible to reform the police force without having to drastically reduce it’s numbers. He appears to be in favor of the budget that the council approved, calling it a “defining moment for the city.”
“We all share a deep and abiding reverence for the role our local government plays in service of the people of our city,” Frey said in a statement. “And today, there are good reasons to be optimistic about the future in Minneapolis.”
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According to the Washington Post, the city is also in the midst of a surge in violent crime. In the six months since George Floyd was violently killed by a group of Minneapolis police officers, homicides have seen an increase of 50 percent. Over 500 people have been shot so far, which is both double the number of shooting victims in 2019 and the highest number of shootings the city has seen in over a decade.
This crime surge comes as waves of police officers have been quitting the force. Police Chief Medaria Arradondo told the Post that over 150 officers have left the force this year; double the usual rate. While some of these departures included retirements, Arradondo said that some of the officers have quit due to post-traumatic stress stemming from the protests that arose after Floyd’s death.
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During a C ity C ouncil session on Wednesday night, the public was allowed to share their feelings before they voted. Some were in favor of the cuts, saying that blame for the city’s current situation falls squarely on the Minneapolis police department.
“The place I grew up this summer burned and it burned because of police misconduct,” Will Roberts, a Minneapolis resident told the council during the meeting. He called the Minneapolis police department a “violent, occupying force [sic],” adding that “it’s incumbent upon us as residents of this city to change that.”
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Doug Tanner, a south Minneapolis resident whose wife was carjacked and assaulted, didn’t understand why the council wanted to reduce police resources at a time where violent crime is plaguing the city.
“The fact that this council does not even acknowledge there is a problem is irresponsible,” Tanner told the council. “The crime rate is at an all-time high, and you want less cops on the street. Where does common sense come into the equation?”
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Council Member Steve Fletcher feels that the solutions presented in the bill, such as redirecting certain 911 calls to mental health specialists, means that any potential reduction in police will be offset by an overall reduction in the police workload.
“I think we need to make bold decisions on a path forward,” Fletcher told KTSP. “We cannot afford to remain stuck in the past any longer.”


theroot--2020-12-10--Lights, Cookie, Action! Taraji P. Henson Is Making Her Feature Directorial Debut in New Drama, Two-F

Lights, Cookie, Action! Taraji P. Henson Is Making Her Feature Directorial Debut in New Drama, Two-Faced

Taraji P. Henson ’ s middle name may be Penda , but for the purposes of this news story , the ‘ P ’ stands for “ Principal Photography !
” According to Deadline , Henson will be making her feature directorial debut with the upcoming drama from Bron Studios titled Two-Faced .
The Oscar-nominated and Golden Globe-winning actress will also star in the film .
With a name like that ( a term I remember being thrown around a lot in school ) , I ’ m sure you want to know what this is about .
Well , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ written by Cat Wilkins , follows Joy , a Black high school senior whose chances to attend the college of her dreams are threatened by her wildly popular and charismatic school principal , Jerald , after she confronts him with evidence of his racist past .
With the help of her friends , Joy sets out to expose Jerald for who he truly is but quickly learns that he is not above waging all-out-war against the students trying to take him down .
Henson will play Gina Robinson , Joy ’ s mother @ @ @ @ @ @ @ film under her TPH Entertainment banner , along with Aaron L. Gilbert ( Fences ) , Tim Story ( Ride Along ) , and Sharla Sumpter Bridgett ( Coach Carter ) .
Wilkins , Christine Conley and Trent Hubbard will serve as executive producers .
“ After two decades spent in front of the camera , I ’ m thrilled to finally jump behind it for my feature directorial debut !
” Henson exclaimed in a statement .
“ What first attracted me to this project was Joy—she is the character I needed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but never had .
It ’ s important that stories be told from a woman ’ s point of view and partnering with Bron Studios and the amazingly talented Tim Story—both [ of whom ] use their platforms to help elevate women and people of color—feels like the perfect match .
I can ’ t wait to bring this hilariously heartfelt script by Cat Wilkins to life !
” “ I could not be more excited to support one of the most talented people I have ever known , ” Story added in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have done three movies together and I knew it was only a matter of time before she would make this leap to directing and I am honored to produce this film along with Bron Studios .
Taraji is like family to me and I can not wait for everyone to see her directorial vision of this hilarious script by Cat Wilkins brought to the screen.
” This has been a year of helming for Henson because she actually made her general directorial debut by sitting in the director ’ s chair for an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ series ’ final season .
With Two-Faced , she ’ s about to add yet another director credit to her IMDb page !
Henson ’ s projects are piling up quickly ( hell , there was just some news around one of her projects a day ago ) , so it ’ s only right to cite her name as well when we talk about the arbiters of Black excellence who never seem to get any sleep such as Ava DuVernay and Issa Rae .
As Staff Writer Jay Connor noted , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ‘ When Do They Sleep ?
’ power rankings .
”

Tonja Renée Stidhum on The Grapevine, shared by Tonja Renée Stidhum to The Root

Taraji P. Henson’s middle name may be Penda, but for the purposes of this news story, the ‘P’ stands for “Principal Photography!”
According to Deadline, Henson will be making her feature directorial debut with the upcoming drama from Bron Studios titled Two-Faced. The Oscar-nominated and Golden Globe-winning actress will also star in the film.
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With a name like that (a term I remember being thrown around a lot in school), I’m sure you want to know what this is about. Well, Deadline has the scoop:
Two-Faced, written by Cat Wilkins, follows Joy, a Black high school senior whose chances to attend the college of her dreams are threatened by her wildly popular and charismatic school principal, Jerald, after she confronts him with evidence of his racist past. With the help of her friends, Joy sets out to expose Jerald for who he truly is but quickly learns that he is not above waging all-out-war against the students trying to take him down. Henson will play Gina Robinson, Joy’s mother.
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Henson will also be producing the film under her TPH Entertainment banner, along with Aaron L. Gilbert (Fences), Tim Story (Ride Along), and Sharla Sumpter Bridgett (Coach Carter). Wilkins, Christine Conley and Trent Hubbard will serve as executive producers.
“After two decades spent in front of the camera, I’m thrilled to finally jump behind it for my feature directorial debut!” Henson exclaimed in a statement. “What first attracted me to this project was Joy—she is the character I needed to see in films growing up, but never had. It’s important that stories be told from a woman’s point of view and partnering with Bron Studios and the amazingly talented Tim Story—both [of whom] use their platforms to help elevate women and people of color—feels like the perfect match. I can’t wait to bring this hilariously heartfelt script by Cat Wilkins to life!”
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“I could not be more excited to support one of the most talented people I have ever known,” Story added in a statement. “Taraji and I have done three movies together and I knew it was only a matter of time before she would make this leap to directing and I am honored to produce this film along with Bron Studios. Taraji is like family to me and I cannot wait for everyone to see her directorial vision of this hilarious script by Cat Wilkins brought to the screen.”
This has been a year of helming for Henson because she actually made her general directorial debut by sitting in the director’s chair for an episode of Empire as part of the series’ final season. With Two-Faced, she’s about to add yet another director credit to her IMDb page!
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Henson’s projects are piling up quickly (hell, there was just some news around one of her projects a day ago), so it’s only right to cite her name as well when we talk about the arbiters of Black excellence who never seem to get any sleep such as Ava DuVernay and Issa Rae. As Staff Writer Jay Connor noted, “I see Taraji is rapidly climbing up the ‘When Do They Sleep?’ power rankings.”
Let the grind games begin!


theroot--2020-12-10--A Short Blog About a Confused Dipshit in My Neighborhood With Trump Flags in Their Windows

In 2004 , City of Asylum/Pittsburgh opened its doors on Sampsonia Way in Pittsburgh ’ s Northside neighborhood with a specific mission : to provide sanctuary to literary writers who were exiled and under threat of persecution .
For two years we provide an exiled writer ( and family ) with a house , a stipend , and medical benefits , as well as a variety of other assistance such as transportation to the U.S. and an immigration attorney .
The above is from Pittsburgh-based nonprofit City of Asylum ’ s about page .
In the years since their inception @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expansion that includes Alphabet City—a space that houses a book store , a restaurant , and a stage for live events : jazz shows , book readings , etc .
They ’ ve hosted me and provided books for my launch party last year .
In the past year alone , I ’ ve seen Deesha Philyaw , Yona Harvey , Jaquira Diaz , Brian Broome and many others read there .
( Pre-COVID , of course . )
And this summer , I also hosted a virtual writers ’ series with them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Alphabet City sits several blocks from where I live .
I pass it during the walks I take during the day , to get those 10,000 boring-ass steps in since I can ’ t hoop anymore .
( Fuck COVID . )
This picture was taken during my walk yesterday .
As you can see , one of the apartments is being rented by a very enthusiastic Trump supporter .
According to this Pittsburgh Post-Gazette piece on Alphabet City , there are two income-restricted apartments on the second floor .
The rent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 1,600 to $ 2,700–which is a lot of money for Pittsburgh .
For those prices , you can rent virtually anywhere in the city .
( For context , here are all the Pittsburgh apartment listings within that price range on Zillow . )
Basically , if you ’ re able to pay that much rent in Pittsburgh , you have many attractive options .
So this person made an intentional decision to live there , and broadcast—with flags in each street-facing window—their support of a criminal whose existence is the antithesis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This is what “ owning the libs ” looks like , to them .
Mission accomplished .
But ... those apartments were specifically built to be a revenue stream for City of Asylum ’ s mission .
Which , again , is to provide sanctuary for writers who ’ ve been exiled from their home countries .
So the triflin ’ fuck who lives there is actually giving somewhere between $ 1,600 to $ 2,700 of their own money each month to help finance , feed , and represent “ illegals ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can stay in America as long as they need to .
Anyway , just in case you were ever confused about what Jay-Z meant when he said “ y ’ all niggas hustlin ’ backwards , ” this is it .

Damon Young on Very Smart Brothas, shared by Damon Young to The Root

In 2004, City of Asylum/Pittsburgh opened its doors on Sampsonia Way in Pittsburgh’s Northside neighborhood with a specific mission: to provide sanctuary to literary writers who were exiled and under threat of persecution. For two years we provide an exiled writer (and family) with a house, a stipend, and medical benefits, as well as a variety of other assistance such as transportation to the U.S. and an immigration attorney.
The above is from Pittsburgh-based nonprofit City of Asylum’s about page. In the years since their inception, they’ve grown, an expansion that includes Alphabet City—a space that houses a book store, a restaurant, and a stage for live events: jazz shows, book readings, etc. They’ve hosted me and provided books for my launch party last year. In the past year alone, I’ve seen Deesha Philyaw, Yona Harvey, Jaquira Diaz, Brian Broome and many others read there. (Pre-COVID, of course.) And this summer, I also hosted a virtual writers’ series with them.
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The building also houses eight apartments.
Alphabet City sits several blocks from where I live. I pass it during the walks I take during the day, to get those 10,000 boring-ass steps in since I can’t hoop anymore. (Fuck COVID.) This picture was taken during my walk yesterday. As you can see, one of the apartments is being rented by a very enthusiastic Trump supporter.
According to this Pittsburgh Post-Gazette piece on Alphabet City, there are two income-restricted apartments on the second floor. The rent for the rest of them ranges from $1,600 to $2,700–which is a lot of money for Pittsburgh. For those prices, you can rent virtually anywhere in the city. (For context, here are all the Pittsburgh apartment listings within that price range on Zillow.)
Advertisement Advertisement
Basically, if you’re able to pay that much rent in Pittsburgh, you have many attractive options. So this person made an intentional decision to live there, and broadcast—with flags in each street-facing window—their support of a criminal whose existence is the antithesis of City of Asylum’s mission. This is what “owning the libs” looks like, to them. Mission accomplished.
But...those apartments were specifically built to be a revenue stream for City of Asylum’s mission. Which, again, is to provide sanctuary for writers who’ve been exiled from their home countries. So the triflin’ fuck who lives there is actually giving somewhere between $1,600 to $2,700 of their own money each month to help finance, feed, and represent “illegals” from “shithole countries” so they can stay in America as long as they need to.
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Anyway, just in case you were ever confused about what Jay-Z meant when he said “y’all niggas hustlin’ backwards,” this is it.


theroot--2020-12-10--The 10 Best Deals of December 10, 2020

The 10 Best Deals of December 10, 2020

It ’ s December 10 , and we at Kinja Deals are here to bring you the top 10 deals of the day .
Check-in on your fur baby during your next grocery store run with the Furbo dog camera .
Say goodbye to zits with the Rael Beauty pimple patches .
And turn up the bass with Insignia 2.1-Channel 80W soundbar and wireless subwoofer .
If you ’ re still craving more deals , take a peek at Thursday ’ s best deals overall .
With the launch of Destiny 2 : Beyond Light , I ’ ve made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the game ’ s PVP mode .
As it turns out , everyone has gotten better at the game , and I ’ ve gotten much worse .
If you want to raise your K/D ratio fast , here ’ s a tip : all you have to do is log into a match that I ’ m in and wait for me to shoot hand cannon shots 20 feet above your head , giving you ample time to one shot me with just about any weapon , it seems .
If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you want in on this easy target practice , you ’ ll need to make sure you have PlayStation Plus , which allows you to play games like Destiny 2 online .
You can get a full year of Sony ’ s online service for $ 30 from Eneba , saving a little extra with the code CYBERPLUS2020 at checkout .
Make sure to wave emote at me before you embarrass me into orbit .
Disclaimer : While we ’ ve heard your complaints about our use of Eneba links in the past @ @ @ @ @ @ @ products has since been resolved by our affiliate partners at Eneba and Awin .
This deal was originally published by Sheilah Villari .
Cyberpunk 2077 Collector ’ s Edition ( PS4 , Xbox One ) | $ 250 | GameStop Cyberpunk 2077 ( PS4 ) | $ 50 | Amazon Cyberpunk 2077 ( Xbox One ) | $ 60 | Amazon Cyberpunk 2077 ( PC ) | $ 50 | Amazon Cyberpunk 2077 ( PS4 , Xbox One , PC ) | $ 60 | Best Buy You ’ re forgiven for being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this week , but it most certainly is .
Folks have already played and reviewed it for PlayStation 4 , Xbox One , and PC .
The game is also set to hit the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 , but don ’ t fret—you can buy a copy for the current generation consoles now and get a free upgrade once you have the new boxes on your entertainment stand .
Cyberpunk 2077 presents a beautiful open-world locale dubbed Night City , and it ’ s here you ’ ll explore life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the dystopian backdrop of a cybernetic shift in human consciousness .
Here ’ s how you ’ re being swooned to stamp your ticket early .
This deal was originally published by Quentyn Kennemer .
As I said in my wireless earbud roundup , Sony WF-1000XM3 's have an amazing sound quality and are just $ 168 , which is $ 62 lower than the original list price .
But if you ’ re not convinced , here ’ s a rundown : What are you waiting for ?
Grab a pair before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was originally published by Ignacia Fulcher .
If you ’ re not up to date on your tech acronyms , ROG stands for Republic of Gamers and that ’ s just funny .
Nothing makes me laugh more than saying Republic of Gamers out loud .
Can ’ t get enough .
Jokes aside , you can grab an Asus ROG gaming laptop $ 400 off at Walmart right now and that ’ s no laughing matter .
That takes it down to $ 1,300 , which is a fair price tag considering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ here for some specs , so let ’ s talk specs .
We ’ re rocking a 17.3 '' screen , an Intel Core i7-10750H processor , and a GeForce RTX 2070 .
This little guy has a 144Hz refresh rate to keep frames coming your way .
Take a gander at the listing and see if this checks all your boxes .
This deal was originally published by Giovanni Colantonio .
Keeping an eye on a puppy or an active doggo if you need to be out of the house puts a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ve seen it even within my own group of friends since a few quarantine pups joined the furry crew .
The Furbo Cam is one of the best on the market and today only you can save well over $ 100 on it .
Monitor your pooch right from your phone no matter where you go .
The HD camera has an excellent 160-degree wide-angle view even in low light .
I pet-sat for a pal of mine ages ago not knowing he had one of these and was scared senseless when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hello to me .
He does have two very vocal border collies so the barking alert sent a million messages to his phone when I ’ d visit them .
There is even a treat tossing feature that also gave me a bit of a fright at first but is actually very cool .
These cams are easy to set up as you just plug it in , download the app , and hop on your Wi-Fi .
A strong and steady internet connection helps keep the feed stable so you get alerts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a quality cam to keep in contact with your fur-baby throughout the day .
This item will ship for free .
This deal was originally posted by Sheilah Villari .
If you have the occasional pimple , much like me , chances are you don ’ t want it to be there .
You should check out Rael Pimple Patches .
Only $ 16 , they ’ re made with hydrocolloid that ’ ll extract all the nasty-ass puss straight from your pimple without ever having to pop them .
Which means no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two sizes , 10mm and 12mm for regular and extra-large pimples .
Shoot , I might buy some !
This deal was originally published by Ignacia Fulcher .
I ’ ve recently learned a lot about sound and setting up your own systems at home from a musician friend of mine who helped me install a record player .
I now know more than I care to about Subwoofers .
If you ’ re looking for high-quality robust sounds for your next movie night Insignia might be able to help with this 2.1-Channel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s over 45 % off today .
Maybe you ’ ve noticed you aren ’ t getting the most out of your viewing experience if you been binging Netflix during the lockdown .
Sound is such an integral part of the full enjoyment of film and tv shows especially if there ’ s a lot of action .
This Insignia 2.1-channel soundbar can improve not just the sound for your TV but your sound system as well .
Optimize all your audio with this sleek soundbar that can be mounted on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The remote lets you control everything right from the sofa .
This is a great deal for both the soundbar and subwoofer because I ’ ve seen just one of these go for this price or at least one of quality .
This is system is Bluetooth enabled do you can connect it to your phone to amp up Spotify .
Insignia is a trusted brand and this pair has lots of happy customers .
If you ’ re looking for more dynamic sound in your home theater this is the sale for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ free .
This deal was originally published by Sheilah Villari .
I have a friend that as soon as November 1 hits her tree is up .
And this year she told me it ’ s the one thing she ’ s been looking forward to and has kind of helped her cope with not being able to see her family .
That ’ s deep .
There ’ s no shame in finding comfort in things like this and if a big ole pine tree is going to bring you joy you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s deeply discounted .
This 7.5 ft lighted Christmas tree is 22 % off and needs a good home just clip the coupon for the savings .
With the lights already on it , half the work is done .
I used to have to put a version of this tree up for my mom when would visit .
Once you figure out where all the connections are it ’ s quite a sight to behold .
There are 550 perfectly placed lights on this one .
These trees actually do feel authentic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s a pretty full tree and the branch tips are mixed for optimum ornament hanging .
I can tell you it is rather easy to assemble and comes with a folding metal stand .
If you ’ re ready for the holidays to be here then hop on this sale .
This will ship for free and guaranteed to arrive well before the big for you to enjoy .
This deal was originally published by Sheilah Villari .
This is a 44 % discount on the Trifo Emma Strong Suction Robot Vacuum , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for one today ’ s you lucky day .
This is a great deal if you have one or shedding pets and/or messy kids who have turned your house upsidedown .
Your floors crying out for care .
It ’ s a lot to be constantly wiping , sweeping , vacuuming up dirt and even though we are at home more it ’ s a chore no one wants to do .
This classic vac is user-friendly with minimal buttons and easy to program through your phone .
Like most robot vacuums it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scurries back to the charging station so it won ’ t be left abandoned in the middle of an unfinished fur filled room .
You ’ ll get almost two hours of cleaning time off of a single charge .
Let this cute robo vac take away the headache of dusty floors and save $ 110 off its usual price too .
If you ’ ve read a few of our pieces on SideDeal before and you like what you ’ ve seen they offer a $ 5 monthly fee to get free @ @ @ @ @ @ @ matter how many .
Otherwise , it ’ s a flat rate of $ 8 .
This deal was originally published by Sheilah Villari .
Whether you ’ re out and about on social distancing walks or essential grocery runs , or even just in another room doing WFH stuff , you still need to keep a close eye on the happenings inside your house .
Lucky for you , Eufy is running a sale on its 2K indoor security camera .
Straight from Newegg , you can fetch yourself a two-pack of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and this one doesn ’ t require the Eufy Homebase .
This deal was originally published by Gabe Carey .

Juliana Clark on Kinja Deals, shared by Ignacia to The Root

Thursday’s Best Deals | Kinja Deals
It’s December 10, and we at Kinja Deals are here to bring you the top 10 deals of the day. Check-in on your fur baby during your next grocery store run with the Furbo dog camera. Say goodbye to zits with the Rael Beauty pimple patches. And turn up the bass with Insignia 2.1-Channel 80W soundbar and wireless subwoofer.
If you’re still craving more deals, take a peek at Thursday’s best deals overall.
#1: Playstation plus membership
With the launch of Destiny 2: Beyond Light, I’ve made my not-so triumphant return to the Crucible, the game’s PVP mode. As it turns out, everyone has gotten better at the game, and I’ve gotten much worse. If you want to raise your K/D ratio fast, here’s a tip: all you have to do is log into a match that I’m in and wait for me to shoot hand cannon shots 20 feet above your head, giving you ample time to one shot me with just about any weapon, it seems. If you’re a PlayStation owner and you want in on this easy target practice, you’ll need to make sure you have PlayStation Plus, which allows you to play games like Destiny 2 online. You can get a full year of Sony’s online service for $30 from Eneba, saving a little extra with the code CYBERPLUS2020 at checkout. Make sure to wave emote at me before you embarrass me into orbit.
Disclaimer: While we’ve heard your complaints about our use of Eneba links in the past, note the redirection to EU region-locked products has since been resolved by our affiliate partners at Eneba and Awin.
This deal was originally published by Sheilah Villari.
#2: Cyberpunk 2077
Cyberpunk 2077 Collector’s Edition (PS4, Xbox One) | $250 | GameStop
Cyberpunk 2077 (PS4) | $50 | Amazon
Cyberpunk 2077 (Xbox One) | $60 | Amazon
Cyberpunk 2077 (PC) | $50 | Amazon
Cyberpunk 2077 (PS4, Xbox One, PC) | $60 | Best Buy
You’re forgiven for being skeptical that Cyberpunk 2077 will actually launch this week, but it most certainly is. Folks have already played and reviewed it for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. The game is also set to hit the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5, but don’t fret—you can buy a copy for the current generation consoles now and get a free upgrade once you have the new boxes on your entertainment stand.
Cyberpunk 2077 presents a beautiful open-world locale dubbed Night City, and it’s here you’ll explore life’s dainties and nasties alike under the dystopian backdrop of a cybernetic shift in human consciousness. Here’s how you’re being swooned to stamp your ticket early.
This deal was originally published by Quentyn Kennemer.
#3: sony wf-1000xm3 headphones
As I said in my wireless earbud roundup, Sony WF-1000XM3's have an amazing sound quality and are just $168, which is $62 lower than the original list price. But if you’re not convinced, here’s a rundown:
“All in all, the half-hour I spent really was worth it. The sound was so crisp. The mids were truly mid and the bass was banging. I could hear all the richness in Whitney Houston’s voice when I listened to “I Have Nothing” one time for the one time. The coolest thing about these is you can control the ambient sound by tapping the left earphone once and activate noise-canceling with two taps. You can also pause and skip songs by tapping on the right headphone.”
What are you waiting for? Grab a pair before they’re gone!
This deal was originally published by Ignacia Fulcher.
#4: Asus rog gaming laptop
If you’re not up to date on your tech acronyms, ROG stands for Republic of Gamers and that’s just funny. Nothing makes me laugh more than saying Republic of Gamers out loud. Can’t get enough. Jokes aside, you can grab an Asus ROG gaming laptop $400 off at Walmart right now and that’s no laughing matter. That takes it down to $1,300, which is a fair price tag considering what you get. You’re here for some specs, so let’s talk specs. We’re rocking a 17.3" screen, an Intel Core i7-10750H processor, and a GeForce RTX 2070. This little guy has a 144Hz refresh rate to keep frames coming your way. Take a gander at the listing and see if this checks all your boxes.
This deal was originally published by Giovanni Colantonio.
#5: Furbo dog camera
Keeping an eye on a puppy or an active doggo if you need to be out of the house puts a lot of minds at ease. I’ve seen it even within my own group of friends since a few quarantine pups joined the furry crew. The Furbo Cam is one of the best on the market and today only you can save well over $100 on it.
Monitor your pooch right from your phone no matter where you go. The HD camera has an excellent 160-degree wide-angle view even in low light. I pet-sat for a pal of mine ages ago not knowing he had one of these and was scared senseless when he used the 2-Way Audio to say hello to me. He does have two very vocal border collies so the barking alert sent a million messages to his phone when I’d visit them. There is even a treat tossing feature that also gave me a bit of a fright at first but is actually very cool. These cams are easy to set up as you just plug it in, download the app, and hop on your Wi-Fi. A strong and steady internet connection helps keep the feed stable so you get alerts within seconds. But all in all a quality cam to keep in contact with your fur-baby throughout the day.
This item will ship for free.
This deal was originally posted by Sheilah Villari.
#6: pimple patches
If you have the occasional pimple, much like me, chances are you don’t want it to be there. You should check out Rael Pimple Patches. Only $16, they’re made with hydrocolloid that’ll extract all the nasty-ass puss straight from your pimple without ever having to pop them. Which means no acne scars! They also come in two sizes, 10mm and 12mm for regular and extra-large pimples. Shoot, I might buy some!
This deal was originally published by Ignacia Fulcher.
#7: Insignia soundbar
I’ve recently learned a lot about sound and setting up your own systems at home from a musician friend of mine who helped me install a record player. I now know more than I care to about Subwoofers. If you’re looking for high-quality robust sounds for your next movie night Insignia might be able to help with this 2.1-Channel 80W Soundbar & Wireless Subwoofer set that’s over 45% off today.
Maybe you’ve noticed you aren’t getting the most out of your viewing experience if you been binging Netflix during the lockdown. Sound is such an integral part of the full enjoyment of film and tv shows especially if there’s a lot of action. This Insignia 2.1-channel soundbar can improve not just the sound for your TV but your sound system as well. Optimize all your audio with this sleek soundbar that can be mounted on the wall if real estate is limited. The remote lets you control everything right from the sofa. This is a great deal for both the soundbar and subwoofer because I’ve seen just one of these go for this price or at least one of quality. This is system is Bluetooth enabled do you can connect it to your phone to amp up Spotify. Insignia is a trusted brand and this pair has lots of happy customers. If you’re looking for more dynamic sound in your home theater this is the sale for you.
This item will ship for free.
This deal was originally published by Sheilah Villari.
#8: 7.5 ft Christmas pine tree
I have a friend that as soon as November 1 hits her tree is up. And this year she told me it’s the one thing she’s been looking forward to and has kind of helped her cope with not being able to see her family. That’s deep. There’s no shame in finding comfort in things like this and if a big ole pine tree is going to bring you joy you might as well buy one that’s deeply discounted. This 7.5 ft lighted Christmas tree is 22% off and needs a good home just clip the coupon for the savings.
With the lights already on it, half the work is done. I used to have to put a version of this tree up for my mom when would visit. Once you figure out where all the connections are it’s quite a sight to behold. There are 550 perfectly placed lights on this one. These trees actually do feel authentic and definitely look real. It’s a pretty full tree and the branch tips are mixed for optimum ornament hanging. I can tell you it is rather easy to assemble and comes with a folding metal stand. If you’re ready for the holidays to be here then hop on this sale.
This will ship for free and guaranteed to arrive well before the big for you to enjoy.
This deal was originally published by Sheilah Villari.
#9: trifo emma strong robot vacuum
This is a 44% discount on the Trifo Emma Strong Suction Robot Vacuum, so if you’ve been looking for one today’s you lucky day. This is a great deal if you have one or shedding pets and/or messy kids who have turned your house upsidedown. Your floors crying out for care. It’s a lot to be constantly wiping, sweeping, vacuuming up dirt and even though we are at home more it’s a chore no one wants to do. This classic vac is user-friendly with minimal buttons and easy to program through your phone. Like most robot vacuums it knows when its battery is low and scurries back to the charging station so it won’t be left abandoned in the middle of an unfinished fur filled room. You’ll get almost two hours of cleaning time off of a single charge. Let this cute robo vac take away the headache of dusty floors and save $110 off its usual price too.
If you’ve read a few of our pieces on SideDeal before and you like what you’ve seen they offer a $5 monthly fee to get free shipping on all of your orders no matter how many. Otherwise, it’s a flat rate of $8.
This deal was originally published by Sheilah Villari.
#10: eufy cam two pack
Whether you’re out and about on social distancing walks or essential grocery runs, or even just in another room doing WFH stuff, you still need to keep a close eye on the happenings inside your house. Lucky for you, Eufy is running a sale on its 2K indoor security camera. Straight from Newegg, you can fetch yourself a two-pack of stationary indoor cams for $60, and this one doesn’t require the Eufy Homebase.
This deal was originally published by Gabe Carey.


theroot--2020-12-10--Say A Little Prayer For Me and My Fellow Dionne Warwick Truthers

I ’ m unofficially on Dionne Warwick ’ s shit list .
She hasn ’ t called me out personally—yet—but she might as well have following a Monday afternoon video she uploaded to her Twitter account .
“ This is for all of you tweeters who have decided that I ’ m not tweeting my own stuff to you , ” Warwick said , shaking her head in disdain .
“ I want you to know , I am , and I am getting very , very , very good at it.
” I ’ m very much guilty of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( If Dionne Warwick is so good at Twitter , why won ’ t she drag me personally ? )
A recent New York Times interview with Warwick confirms that her niece , Brittani Warwick , taught her how to use Twitter this fall and that Warwick was simply a natural .
But the niece ’ s involvement hasn ’ t quelled my curiosity , it has only ignited it .
I don ’ t mean to sound ageist , and I know the elders know how to insert photos into tweets now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But sometimes her tweets are a little too good .
In the Chance tweets , Warwick ’ s tone was perfectly bemused , and her delivery gave the people exactly what they wanted : Light snark from an icon who wants to see what this here Twitter dot com is all about .
Upon further thought , I can perhaps buy that Warwick wrote them herself .
This tweet , however ...
I ’ m not buying : Has Dionne Warwick seen Never Been Kissed ?
I mean , maybe she has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know , am I the only one who thinks this is a little too in the Twitter know ?
This tweet , to me , feels like the smoking gun .
In her New York Times interview , Warwick offered a little more insight into her newfound Twitter fame : What caused you to bring your talents to Twitter ?
I saw all the fun everyone else was having , and it ’ s something to do during this period of time when I am literally doing nothing .
They shut down at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been home since then .
Do you know you are being considered the queen of Twitter ?
No !
Really ?
That is too funny !
Do you like that a younger generation is getting to know you this way ?
This has always been me .
I like being me because I like me .
Why shouldn ’ t I use it ?
It makes me happy .
They can ’ t take my happiness away from me .
And we love Dionne Warwick being herself !
This is the woman who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Prayer For You , ” “ That ’ s What Friends Are For , ” and “ I got your number , hussy.
” Warwick is a beloved diva , and you don ’ t become a beloved diva without having a whole lot of talent and a sharp tongue , so it ’ s plausible she ’ s the only voice behind these tweets .
The case for Warwick tweeting herself is also strengthened by the occasional question that would sound familiar to anyone nearing 80 .
For example , Warwick wondering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ loud ” on Twitter .
I do buy that most of Warwick ’ s tweets likely come from her hilarious , stray thoughts as an observer of pop culture , younger generations , and Twitter oddities .
I also believe that Warwick is a natural for the platform : Her wit is legendary , and I ’ d much rather see Warwick wonder what a “ Hot Girl ” is than another depressing tweet of covid-19 stats or a series of subtweets about the latest YA book drama .
Either way , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us laughs and viral Twitter moments well into 2021 and beyond .
I also hope she doesn ’ t drag me for this too severely .

Ashley Reese on Jezebel, shared by Genetta M. Adams to The Root

I’m unofficially on Dionne Warwick’s shit list. She hasn’t called me out personally—yet—but she might as well have following a Monday afternoon video she uploaded to her Twitter account.
“This is for all of you tweeters who have decided that I’m not tweeting my own stuff to you,” Warwick said, shaking her head in disdain. “I want you to know, I am, and I am getting very, very, very good at it.”
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I’m very much guilty of being one of the early skeptics. (If Dionne Warwick is so good at Twitter, why won’t she drag me personally?)
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A recent New York Times interview with Warwick confirms that her niece, Brittani Warwick, taught her how to use Twitter this fall and that Warwick was simply a natural. But the niece’s involvement hasn’t quelled my curiosity, it has only ignited it.
I don’t mean to sound ageist, and I know the elders know how to insert photos into tweets now, use emojis, the whole lot. But sometimes her tweets are a little too good. In the Chance tweets, Warwick’s tone was perfectly bemused, and her delivery gave the people exactly what they wanted: Light snark from an icon who wants to see what this here Twitter dot com is all about. Upon further thought, I can perhaps buy that Warwick wrote them herself.
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This tweet, however... I’m not buying:
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Has Dionne Warwick seen Never Been Kissed? I mean, maybe she has! But... I don’t know, am I the only one who thinks this is a little too in the Twitter know? This tweet, to me, feels like the smoking gun.
In her New York Times interview, Warwick offered a little more insight into her newfound Twitter fame:
What caused you to bring your talents to Twitter? I saw all the fun everyone else was having, and it’s something to do during this period of time when I am literally doing nothing. They shut down at the end of February and I have been home since then. Do you know you are being considered the queen of Twitter? No! Really? That is too funny! [...] Do you like that a younger generation is getting to know you this way? This has always been me. I like being me because I like me. Why shouldn’t I use it? It makes me happy. They can’t take my happiness away from me.
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And we love Dionne Warwick being herself! This is the woman who brought us “I Say A Little Prayer For You,” “That’s What Friends Are For,” and “I got your number, hussy.” Warwick is a beloved diva, and you don’t become a beloved diva without having a whole lot of talent and a sharp tongue, so it’s plausible she’s the only voice behind these tweets. The case for Warwick tweeting herself is also strengthened by the occasional question that would sound familiar to anyone nearing 80. For example, Warwick wondering why the hell everyone is always so “loud” on Twitter.
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I do buy that most of Warwick’s tweets likely come from her hilarious, stray thoughts as an observer of pop culture, younger generations, and Twitter oddities. I also believe that Warwick is a natural for the platform: Her wit is legendary, and I’d much rather see Warwick wonder what a “Hot Girl” is than another depressing tweet of covid-19 stats or a series of subtweets about the latest YA book drama.
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Either way, I sincerely hope Warwick continues to bring us laughs and viral Twitter moments well into 2021 and beyond. I also hope she doesn’t drag me for this too severely.


theroot--2020-12-10--Military-Grade Weapons Do Not Make Cops or Cities Safer, 2 New Studies Find

Over the last forty years , state and local police budgets have increased at astounding rates , with billions of dollars going toward military-grade equipment for law enforcement .
The premise is simple : a better-equipped police force ought to be able to do their job—protecting the public—better , as well as offer more protection for the officers themselves .
But two independent studies have punctured those ideas , finding that militarizing police forces does not reduce crime , nor does it increase officer safety .
As ABC News reports , the two peer-reviewed studies , one coming from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Emory College of Arts & Sciences and Louisiana State University , were both published on Monday in the journal Nature of Human Behaviour .
Both studies analyzed the efficacy of the federal Law Enforcement Support Office ( LESO ) 1033 Program , which gave military surplus to police federal , state and local law enforcement agencies for use in drug enforcement .
The argument , according to law and policymakers , was that providing armored vehicles and high-powered rifles would better support counter-drug and counter-terrorism operations and “ enhance public safety , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ News .
However , the Michigan study found much of the equipment given to these departments remained unused , malfunctioned , or were handed down to other agencies and could no longer be accounted for .
But more importantly , when police departments received this military equipment , there were no discernible differences in crime rates .
Kenneth Lowande , an assistant political science professor at the University of Michigan and author of the study , “ Police Demilitarization and Violent Crime , ” told ABC News , “ When you look at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rates over time , you don ’ t see any differences.
” This is most apparent when looking at the Obama years , when former President Barack Obama ’ s administration rolled back the 1033 program , which recalled certain items , such as track armored vehicles and grenade launchers , from state and local police departments .
“ If this equipment was playing a big role in reducing crime in those areas , you would have expected to see crime go up and it just didn ’ t , ” Lowande said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ came to a similar conclusion , finding that the lax record-keeping made it hard to evaluate how much the high-grade equipment was actually being utilized .
“ Our findings suggest this program , which is roughly 30 years old , isn ’ t actually contributing to public safety , ” Tom Clark , a professor of political science at Emory and co-author of the study , told ABC News .
The studies arrive at the end of a year defined in part by police protests when calls to “ defund the police ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rejected among many lawmakers .
According to the Washington D.C.-based think tank , Urban Institute , state and local government spending on policing increased nearly threefold in the last 40 years , from $ 42 billion in 1977 to $ 115 billion in 2017 ( using inflation-adjusted dollars ) .
Racial justice activists and progressive policymakers say this money can be better spent on education , housing and public health—particularly in the middle of a pandemic that has spurred massive job losses .
A militarized police force can also make members of marginalized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ situations—as was evidenced during this year ’ s uprisings .
In Philadelphia , New Orleans and Cincinnati , armored vehicles were deployed by local police departments to repress Black Lives Matter protests , reports NBC News .
The news outlet tracked 29 incidents in which the tanks were used , finding that at least 17 of the military-style vehicles were obtained through the 1033 program .

Over the last forty years, state and local police budgets have increased at astounding rates, with billions of dollars going toward military-grade equipment for law enforcement. The premise is simple: a better-equipped police force ought to be able to do their job—protecting the public—better, as well as offer more protection for the officers themselves. But two independent studies have punctured those ideas, finding that militarizing police forces does not reduce crime, nor does it increase officer safety.
As ABC News reports, the two peer-reviewed studies, one coming from the University of Michigan, the other from Emory College of Arts & Sciences and Louisiana State University, were both published on Monday in the journal Nature of Human Behaviour. Both studies analyzed the efficacy of the federal Law Enforcement Support Office (LESO) 1033 Program, which gave military surplus to police federal, state and local law enforcement agencies for use in drug enforcement. The argument, according to law and policymakers, was that providing armored vehicles and high-powered rifles would better support counter-drug and counter-terrorism operations and “enhance public safety,” a spokesperson for the DLA told ABC News.
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However, the Michigan study found much of the equipment given to these departments remained unused, malfunctioned, or were handed down to other agencies and could no longer be accounted for. But more importantly, when police departments received this military equipment, there were no discernible differences in crime rates.
Kenneth Lowande, an assistant political science professor at the University of Michigan and author of the study, “ Police Demilitarization and Violent Crime,” told ABC News, “When you look at those types of police departments’ crime rates over time, you don’t see any differences.”
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This is most apparent when looking at the Obama years, when former President Barack Obama’s administration rolled back the 1033 program, which recalled certain items, such as track armored vehicles and grenade launchers, from state and local police departments.
“If this equipment was playing a big role in reducing crime in those areas, you would have expected to see crime go up and it just didn’t,” Lowande said.
Advertisement
The Emory College and LSU study came to a similar conclusion, finding that the lax record-keeping made it hard to evaluate how much the high-grade equipment was actually being utilized.
“Our findings suggest this program, which is roughly 30 years old, isn’t actually contributing to public safety,” Tom Clark, a professor of political science at Emory and co-author of the study, told ABC News.
Advertisement
The studies arrive at the end of a year defined in part by police protests when calls to “defund the police” became more common and activists—and were roundly rejected among many lawmakers.
According to the Washington D.C.-based think tank, Urban Institute, state and local government spending on policing increased nearly threefold in the last 40 years, from $42 billion in 1977 to $115 billion in 2017 (using inflation-adjusted dollars). Racial justice activists and progressive policymakers say this money can be better spent on education, housing and public health—particularly in the middle of a pandemic that has spurred massive job losses.
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A militarized police force can also make members of marginalized communities feel more unsafe and escalate tense situations—as was evidenced during this year’s uprisings . In Philadelphia, New Orleans and Cincinnati, armored vehicles were deployed by local police departments to repress Black Lives Matter protests, reports NBC News. The news outlet tracked 29 incidents in which the tanks were used, finding that at least 17 of the military-style vehicles were obtained through the 1033 program.


theroot--2020-12-10--Keep Your Home Safe and Your Family Safer: a Two-Pack of Eufy 2K Indoor Security Cams Is Just $60

Whether you ’ re out and about on social distancing walks or essential grocery runs , or even just in @ @ @ @ @ , you still need to keep a close eye on the happenings inside your house @ @ @ @ @ Eufy is running a sale on its 2K indoor security camera .
Straight from Newegg @ @ @ @ @ a two-pack of stationary indoor cams for $ 60 , and this one doesn ’ @ @ @ @ @ .
This deal was originally published by Gabe Carey in April 2020 and updated with @ @ @ @ @

Gabe Carey, Quentyn Kennemer,  and Jordan McMahon on Kinja Deals, shared by Jordan McMahon to The Root

Indoor Security Cam 2K | $34 | Amazon
Whether you’re out and about on social distancing walks or essential grocery runs, or even just in another room doing WFH stuff, you still need to keep a close eye on the happenings inside your house. Lucky for you, Eufy is running a sale on its 2K indoor security camera. Straight from Amazon, you can fetch yourself a stationary indoor cam for $34, and this one doesn’t require the Eufy Homebase. This deal will run until August 8.
This deal was originally published by Gabe Carey in April 2020 and updated with new information by Sheilah Villari on 8/08/2021.


theroot--2020-12-10--Ashton Sanders Is Embarking on A More Unbending Battle for the Adaptation of Peter Nelson’s WWI Nove

Ashton Sanders Is Embarking on A More Unbending Battle for the Adaptation of Peter Nelson’s WWI Novel

Deadline announced today that Moonlight and All Day and a Night star Ashton Sanders has secured both TV and film rights to Peter Nelson ’ s nonfiction novel , A More Unbending Battle : The Harlem Hellfighter ’ s Struggle for Freedom in WWI and Equality at Home .
If you ’ re unfamiliar , the official book description reads as follows : A More Unbending Battle chronicles the little-known story of the 369tC Infantry Regiment—the first African-American regiment mustered to fight in WWI .
Recruited from all walks of Harlem life , the regiment had to fight alongside the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prohibited them from fighting with white U.S. soldiers .
Despite extraordinary odds and racism , the 369th became one of the most successful—and infamous—regiments of the war .
The Harlem Hellfighters , as their enemies named them , spent longer than any other American unit in combat , were the first Allied unit to reach the Rhine , and showed extraordinary valor on the battlefield , with many soldiers winning the Croix de Guerre and the Legion of Honor .
Replete with vivid accounts of battlefield heroics , A More Unbending Battle is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hellfighters .
Sanders is expected to portray Henry Johnson , the most revered member out of the group , who fought off a German raid while suffering 21 bodily wounds—saving fellow soldier Needham Roberts in the process .
In 2015 , Johnson was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor by President Barack Obama .
“ Since the moment I discovered this incredibly rich piece of history documenting the Harlem Hellfighters , I have wanted to bring the stories of these courageous and inspiring men to life , ” Sanders told Deadline .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the most moving chapters are about the politics involved in the recruitment of these men as well as their reassimilation into society after the war.
” The 25-year old Native Son star is set to produce the adaptation under his 1237 Production company .
He can be seen next in the war drama , The Things They Carried with Stephan James as well as Warner Bros ’ Judas and the Black Messiah alongside Daniel Kaluuya and LaKeith Stanfield .
He can currently be seen opposite Jeffrey Wright in All Day and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : An American Saga on Hulu .

Shanelle Genai on The Grapevine, shared by Shanelle Genai to The Root

Deadline announced today that Moonlight and All Day and a Night star Ashton Sanders has secured both TV and film rights to Peter Nelson’s nonfiction novel, A More Unbending Battle: The Harlem Hellfighter’s Struggle for Freedom in WWI and Equality at Home. If you’re unfamiliar, the official book description reads as follows:
A More Unbending Battle chronicles the little-known story of the 369tC Infantry Regiment—the first African-American regiment mustered to fight in WWI. Recruited from all walks of Harlem life, the regiment had to fight alongside the French because America’s segregation policy prohibited them from fighting with white U.S. soldiers. Despite extraordinary odds and racism, the 369th became one of the most successful—and infamous—regiments of the war. The Harlem Hellfighters, as their enemies named them, spent longer than any other American unit in combat, were the first Allied unit to reach the Rhine, and showed extraordinary valor on the battlefield, with many soldiers winning the Croix de Guerre and the Legion of Honor. Replete with vivid accounts of battlefield heroics, A More Unbending Battle is the thrilling story of the dauntless Harlem Hellfighters.
Sanders is expected to portray Henry Johnson, the most revered member out of the group, who fought off a German raid while suffering 21 bodily wounds—saving fellow soldier Needham Roberts in the process. In 2015, Johnson was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor by President Barack Obama.
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“Since the moment I discovered this incredibly rich piece of history documenting the Harlem Hellfighters, I have wanted to bring the stories of these courageous and inspiring men to life,” Sanders told Deadline. “In addition to the war, some of the most moving chapters are about the politics involved in the recruitment of these men as well as their reassimilation into society after the war.”
The 25-year old Native Son star is set to produce the adaptation under his 1237 Production company. He can be seen next in the war drama, The Things They Carried with Stephan James as well as Warner Bros’ Judas and the Black Messiah alongside Daniel Kaluuya and LaKeith Stanfield. He can currently be seen opposite Jeffrey Wright in All Day and a Night on Netflix as well as Wu-Tang: An American Saga on Hulu.


theroot--2020-12-10--Ahead of Brandon Bernard's Execution, Urgent Requests to Save His Life Come From Politicians, Over 4

Ahead of Brandon Bernard's Execution, Urgent Requests to Save His Life Come From Politicians, Over 400,000 Petitioners and Kim Kardashian

As the Trump a dministration ’ s Department of Justice prepares to execute Brandon Bernard on Thursday for participating in the 1999 gang killing of a couple when he was 18 years old , calls are intensifying from various corners for the commutation of his death sentence .
Bernard , now 40 , is scheduled to be executed at the U.S. Penitentiary in Terre Haute , Indiana by lethal injection sometime Thursday after spending half of his life on death row .
None of Bernard ’ s numerous appeals against his death sentence conviction in 2000 for the deaths of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and his execution is one of five that the Trump a dministration has scheduled to take place before President-elect Biden ’ s inauguration January—breaking with tradition during a presidential transition period .
In the hours that remain before Bernard ’ s execution , which falls on Human Rights Day , members of Congress and the general public have issued urgent appeals for Bernard ’ s death sentence to be commuted .
“ Although there are many tragic layers to Brandon ’ s story , they were regrettably not presented at his trial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ayanna Pressley in an op-ed for The Appeal on Thursday , in which she says the pain of the injustice suffered by the family of those who were murdered will not be solved by more injustice .
“ The jury was not informed that at the time of the crime , it was well established that the juvenile brain is still developing well into a person ’ s 20s , with neuroscientists estimating that for men , that age is 26 .
Although all five teens involved in the crime were Black , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This , coupled with the misleading and incomplete information the jury was given about Brandon ’ s life , deprived him of a fair trial and sentencing hearing .
“ Despite the numerous shortcomings in Brandon ’ s legal representation at trial , the absence of even a single disciplinary write-up , and his decades of youth outreach work from behind the wall , Brandon is just hours away from being killed , the latest name on the list of people the Trump Administration has cruelly and unjustly scheduled for death in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ More than 410,000 people have signed a Change.org petition calling for Bernard to be taken off of death row .
And as The Root has previously reported , five of the jurors who initially supported the death penalty for Bernard at his sentencing now say they want his execution to be stayed .
The prosecutor who helped put him on death row has also joined the calls for his life to be saved .
Senators Cory Booker and Dick Durbin issued a statement on Wednesday calling for the president to commute Bernard ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was sentenced to death , new evidence has come to light and a number of deficiencies in his initial defense have been exposed , ” said Booker and Durbin .
“ We know that the death penalty in the United States is fatally flawed in its imposition and is disproportionately imposed based on race.
” Kim Kardashian-West , who was successful in appealing to Trump for the commutation of a life sentence for Alice Johnson , a Black woman , in 2018 , has also spent this week issuing public calls to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Having gotten to know Brandon , I am heartbroken about this execution , ” she tweeted at Trump on Wednesday , asking that he allow Bernard to live out his sentence in prison .
President-elect Biden has indicated his plans to eliminate the federal death penalty in favor of life sentences with no probation or parole .
But in the case of Brandon Bernard ’ s life , it remains up to President Trump to have an eleventh-hour change of heart and reverse the decision to condemn him to death .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the president at HelpSaveBrandon.com , a website set up by Bernard ’ s defense team .

As the Trump a dministration’s Department of Justice prepares to execute Brandon Bernard on Thursday for participating in the 1999 gang killing of a couple when he was 18 years old, calls are intensifying from various corners for the commutation of his death sentence.
Bernard, now 40, is scheduled to be executed at the U.S. Penitentiary in Terre Haute, Indiana by lethal injection sometime Thursday after spending half of his life on death row. None of Bernard’s numerous appeals against his death sentence conviction in 2000 for the deaths of Todd and Stacie Bagley have been successful, and his execution is one of five that the Trump a dministration has scheduled to take place before President-elect Biden’s inauguration January—breaking with tradition during a presidential transition period.
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In the hours that remain before Bernard’s execution, which falls on Human Rights Day, members of Congress and the general public have issued urgent appeals for Bernard’s death sentence to be commuted.
“Although there are many tragic layers to Brandon’s story, they were regrettably not presented at his trial back in 2000,” wrote Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley in an op-ed for The Appeal on Thursday, in which she says the pain of the injustice suffered by the family of those who were murdered will not be solved by more injustice.
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More from Pressley’s op-ed:
“The jury was not informed that at the time of the crime, it was well established that the juvenile brain is still developing well into a person’s 20s, with neuroscientists estimating that for men, that age is 26. Although all five teens involved in the crime were Black, 11 of the 12 jurors were white. This, coupled with the misleading and incomplete information the jury was given about Brandon’s life, deprived him of a fair trial and sentencing hearing. “Despite the numerous shortcomings in Brandon’s legal representation at trial, the absence of even a single disciplinary write-up, and his decades of youth outreach work from behind the wall, Brandon is just hours away from being killed, the latest name on the list of people the Trump Administration has cruelly and unjustly scheduled for death in the waning days of this Administration.”
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More than 410,000 people have signed a Change.org petition calling for Bernard to be taken off of death row. And as The Root has previously reported, five of the jurors who initially supported the death penalty for Bernard at his sentencing now say they want his execution to be stayed. The prosecutor who helped put him on death row has also joined the calls for his life to be saved.
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Senators Cory Booker and Dick Durbin issued a statement on Wednesday calling for the president to commute Bernard’s death sentence.
“Since he was sentenced to death, new evidence has come to light and a number of deficiencies in his initial defense have been exposed,” said Booker and Durbin. “We know that the death penalty in the United States is fatally flawed in its imposition and is disproportionately imposed based on race.”
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Kim Kardashian-West, who was successful in appealing to Trump for the commutation of a life sentence for Alice Johnson, a Black woman, in 2018, has also spent this week issuing public calls to the president to save Bernard’s life.
“Having gotten to know Brandon, I am heartbroken about this execution,” she tweeted at Trump on Wednesday, asking that he allow Bernard to live out his sentence in prison.
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President-elect Biden has indicated his plans to eliminate the federal death penalty in favor of life sentences with no probation or parole. But in the case of Brandon Bernard’s life, it remains up to President Trump to have an eleventh-hour change of heart and reverse the decision to condemn him to death. You can send your own appeal to the president at HelpSaveBrandon.com, a website set up by Bernard’s defense team.


theroot--2020-12-10--Mike Tyson Has About 80 Million Reasons to Jump in the Ring With Evander Holyfield Next: 'Let's Do I

Mike Tyson Has About 80 Million Reasons to Jump in the Ring With Evander Holyfield Next: 'Let's Do It!'

Not only did Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jr. ’ s exhibition match provide us with an endless supply of memes , but it proved that even after a 15-year layoff , boxing fans will still clamor to watch Iron Mike throw hands in the ring .
From the New York Post : And according to Triller owner , Ryan Kavanaugh , the bout is expected to crack the top 10 most purchased PPV events of all-time .
I think you missed that last part : of all-time .
“ Despite everyone wanting for it not to work , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ making it work and dominated the conversation , ” Kavanaugh told BoxingScene.com .
So what ’ s next on the agenda ?
After reportedly collecting $ 10 million for putting hands on Jones , it ’ s looking like next up to bat is former heavyweight champ Evander Holyfield .
Yes , the same Evander Holyfield whose ear became a mid-fight snack during their infamous 1997 rematch .
While nothing is set in stone , the 58-year-old is still very much about that action and has been in contact with Tyson ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had conversations , and it looks like it ’ s gon na happen , ” Holyfield told TMZ .
“ I ’ m a very confident person , so I think it ’ s gon na happen.
” “ Let ’ s do it , baby !
Simple as that .
Let ’ s do it.
” He also made similar statements in the immediate aftermath of Tyson ’ s bout against Jones .
“ No more excuses , ” Holyfield said in a statement .
“ This is the fight that must @ @ @ @ @ @ @ night you said you were ready to fight me , so sign the contract and get in the ring , Tyson .
The world is waiting and it ’ s on you now .
I ’ m ready.
” Tyson ’ s camp has yet to respond to Holyfield ’ s challenge , but considering a fight with Holyfield could be an even bigger draw , I believe it ’ s only a matter of time until Iron Mike signs on the dotted line .

Not only did Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jr.’s exhibition match provide us with an endless supply of memes, but it proved that even after a 15-year layoff, boxing fans will still clamor to watch Iron Mike throw hands in the ring.
From the New York Post:
The former heavyweight champion’s exhibition draw against Roy Jones Jr. on Nov. 28 generated over $80 million via more than 1.6 million pay-per-view purchases, according to projections released by Tyson’s Legends Only League and the social-networking service Triller, the fight’s distributor.
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$80 million? 1.6 million pay-per-view buys? Goddamn.
And according to Triller owner, Ryan Kavanaugh, the bout is expected to crack the top 10 most purchased PPV events of all-time. I think you missed that last part: of all-time.
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“Despite everyone wanting for it not to work, we upset them by changing things up and making it work and dominated the conversation,” Kavanaugh told BoxingScene.com.
So what’s next on the agenda?
After reportedly collecting $10 million for putting hands on Jones, it’s looking like next up to bat is former heavyweight champ Evander Holyfield. Yes, the same Evander Holyfield whose ear became a mid-fight snack during their infamous 1997 rematch. While nothing is set in stone, the 58-year-old is still very much about that action and has been in contact with Tyson’s camp.
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“We’ve definitely had conversations, and it looks like it’s gonna happen,” Holyfield told TMZ. “I’m a very confident person, so I think it’s gonna happen.”
“Let’s do it, baby! Simple as that. Let’s do it.”
He also made similar statements in the immediate aftermath of Tyson’s bout against Jones.
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“No more excuses,” Holyfield said in a statement. “This is the fight that must happen for both our legacies. Saturday night you said you were ready to fight me, so sign the contract and get in the ring, Tyson. The world is waiting and it’s on you now. I’m ready.”
Tyson’s camp has yet to respond to Holyfield’s challenge, but considering a fight with Holyfield could be an even bigger draw, I believe it’s only a matter of time until Iron Mike signs on the dotted line.