Managing depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts and other mental health issues can be trying. Sometimes, a single person can make all the difference, and their love and empathy can save a life.Sometimes, that one person can be your mom. Cue Demetrius Harmon, a 20-year-old ball of wonderful creativity who decided to dedicate a portion of his Edsel Ford 2018 commencement speech to the most important lady in his life: his mama.Harmon tweeted a clip from his speech, captioning it, "I never told my mom this but she saved me from killing myself, I got the chance to tell her in front of all of these people."I never told my mom this but she saved me from killing myself, I got the chance to tell her infront of all of these people pic.twitter.com/0CNST4b1zl— The Artist Formerly Known As MeechOnMars (@DemetriusHarmon) June 21, 2018Yeah ... we weren't alone in the sobbing sentiment. “I’m not just alive for my mother, but I live for my mother” bruh pic.twitter.com/vMcdSYcKpo— A $ A P C I L L A (@Priscillaokay_) June 21, 2018pic.twitter.com/AyevhfTCLN— danii (@lmaoitsdani) June 21, 2018I'm not crying... pic.twitter.com/9rq2uCr2SQ— angi🦋 (@adoringaladdin) June 21, 2018I was on the verge of tears. I feel the same way about my mom. I don’t know what I’d do without her. 😢😭 I love her so much! pic.twitter.com/ehvrBUIMcr— Terry Thomas (@kiddynamite432) June 21, 2018Wow I aspire to be that amazing of a mom pic.twitter.com/sd0xs76UYK— Karla 🤪 (@karlaahhx) June 21, 2018Me af right now pic.twitter.com/3ToF736WGc— Issa_BlackQueen 👑 (@IssaQueen_17) June 21, 2018Harmon is an actor, poet and model who starred in Camp Unplug, Vine's first "long series." He and his castmates were nominated for Best Ensemble Cast at the Streamy Awards, and he won Best Vine Comedian at the Shorty Awards. Congrats Demetrius, we're glad you're here! Check out the full speech...
As we become more and more concerned about the well-being of children held in ICE custody, questions have begun to arise about just who is looking after these children separated from their parents.According to a Texas Monthly report, a case manager at Texas-based nonprofit immigrant shelter Southwest Key Casa Padre has a worrying police record.The nonprofit, which oversees the care of immigrant minors, hired former border patrol agent Ernesto Padron as a case manager; his duties included working with children to reunite them with their families. Padron was a former border patrol agent who resigned after being arrested on child pornography possession charges. Padron was busted in an FBI sting in 2008 and resigned from his border patrol position in October 2010. Prosecution of Padron's case stalled under Cameron County's then district attorney, Armando Villalobos, who was later indicted on corruption charges. Once current district attorney Luis Saenz was able to review the backlog of cases, the statute of limitations on Padron's case had lapsed, and the case was dismissed.“In our hiring, extensive background checks are conducted on applicants; however, because Mr. Padron was not convicted of the charges you referenced (or any other disqualifying criminal charges), he was cleared for employment,” Southwest Key spokeswoman Lizzie Chen informed Texas Monthly in an emailed statement. “When we became aware of Mr. Padron’s situation, he was immediately suspended, and he never worked at our shelter again.”So, the ultimate question is: how did Padron get past Southwest Key Casa Padre's background checks?State inspections show the nonprofit has a history of inefficient and improper background checks, including failing to “timely submit the information required to conduct a renewal background check.”Other reported infractions include failing to check a potential employer on the State Child Abuse and Neglect Registry and hiring an employee who failed a drug test.A Texas Tribune report found the organization's sixteen facilities racked up 246 state inspection violations in the last three...
A lot of people are still sour over the Golden State Warriors winning a second consecutive NBA Finals.But some Houston Rockets fans have stepped to a new low by leaving scathing reviews on International Smoke, Ayesha Curry's new Houston restaurant, before it even opens its doors next month.Yelp has now become a digital battleground where Rockets and Warriors fans trade jabs. Some have called the new restaurant unnecessary and a haven for bland food. There was a slew of mean--yet hilarious memes--aimed at the Currys. Ayesha Curry’s restaurant is coming to Houston, and #Rockets fans have already piled up the 1-Star reviews before it even opened 😂😂😂 #Warriors
#NBA
pic.twitter.com/3BqL84zlJy— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) June 19, 2018Y'all it's gotten so much worse. There are now 47 reviews and it's basically Warriors and Rockets fans going back and forth turning Yelp into a Twitter feud 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/ZSt3eWKIeH— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) June 20, 2018GUYS WHAT IS GOING ON?! 155 reviews and the new photos have me DEAD 😂😂 #Warriors
#Rockets
#NBA
pic.twitter.com/aUqKfWbp6j— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) June 20, 2018Steph Curry had to step in; we all know he wasn't going to let them come for his wife like that. The NBA star dished out a BBQ flavored clapback smothered in sauce and served with a side of mac and cheese.Hey @ayeshacurry. Guess I’ll have @EatAtSmoke in Houston 2 Myself twice next year 🤷🏽♂️. More Ribs and Shellfish and Burratta and Duck Wings And Instant Bacon And Salmon And Brussels Sprouts and fried Rice and Mac&Cheese and Cornbread and (did I say Ribs) for me! #5StarReview— Stephen Curry (@StephenCurry30) June 21,...
A new Vice News report covering white students attending historically black colleges and universities has ruffled quite a few feathers. In the first episode of "Minority Reports," Vice looks into the life of a white student attending Morehouse College in Atlanta in an attempt to highlight an influx of white students coming to HBCUs. White freshman Tiago told Vice he always dreamt of attending the prestigious HBCU. "When I first got here, you know, people said they are going to stop and ask you why you come to Morehouse," he recalled.For Tiago, he wanted a change of scenery. When he was younger, he went to predominately black and brown schools, but by the time he went to high school, he was attending an affluent white high school. He said telling people about his dream usually meant being ridiculed by his peers. Tiago noted that the people he met while visiting Morehouse made him feel more welcomed than being around people he knew. "I'm naturally more gravitated towards the black community than the white community," Tiago said.As HBCUs struggled to make ends meet, many are turning to white student recruitment to bring in more dollars for their universities. But the move is counterproductive to students and alumni who state white students have always attended HBCUs. Twitter users had a few words like many of the people Vice interviewed. Some people couldn't grapple with Vice's need to cover this aspect of the conversation.White people are doing OK at HBCUs, according to @PrinceLlewellyn. In some cases, HBCUs pay for white students via special scholarships to attend while leaving black students out to dry. Some HBCUs are literally paying white students to attend the institutions and giving “minority scholarships”. This is one thing we’re always talking about....white people virtually get handed EVERYTHING. In order for us to attend their schools we have to jump through hoops....— Junie June3rd Chappelle 👑 (@PrinceLlewellyn) June 20, 2018Or shoot through hoops.— Danielle Mia Moore (@iDannyMiaMoore) June 21, 2018What years are you talking? The era when we were forced into separate education?? White students BEEN at HBCUs fam. Stop with this. pic.twitter.com/22ktJUZm1x— TomorrowMan X (@tomorrowmanx) June 21, 2018Right at Tuskegee, I had friends from Saudi Arabia and other Arab states. At Alcorn, I had friends from Russia and Turkey. Over half of the faculty at HBCUs are non-Black. There presence is not an issue.— Working It Out (@MarMar1500) June 21, 2018.@VICE Beginning to? Have you visited the campuses of West Virginia State, FAMU, Bethune-Cookman, Maryland Eastern Shore, Morgan State or Howard the past 35 years? You ever known a Howard or Xavier pre-med student the last 60 years? Dental?— Bijan C. Bayne (@bijancbayne) June 21, 2018you ain’t gotta lie to kick it, vice— DigitalBridget 💁🏿 (@BridgetMarie) June 21, 2018Here's Vice's full report...
The premiere collection of Louis Vuitton's first black creative director, Virgil Abloh, made its debut, and the who’s who of black celebrities was there to witness history.Abloh premiered his menswear line for Vuitton two days after the Bart Simpson-inspired show for his label, Off White.VIRGIL ABLOH PREVIEWS HIS DEBUT SS19 LOUIS VUITTON COLLECTION W/ A GLIMPSE OF NEW ACCESSORIES pic.twitter.com/IgW0IVqKNA— PILASACI (@pilasaci) June 21, 2018All white opening for Virgil's Louis Vuitton debut ... https://t.co/vE5KKDFfaq
pic.twitter.com/vd7A4GMkKI— THE FASHION LAW (@TheFashionLaw) June 21, 2018 Views...Finale at Louis Vuitton by Virgil Abloh...Amazing Collection...Historic.....Salute.....⚡️🙏🏾#RunTheNumbers
#pfw
#LouisVuitton
#LVMenSS19
pic.twitter.com/lFf79gL42v— EnigmaticPurveyor™️ (@HaydenElite87) June 21, 2018Several high profile guests were present to see the first black creative director of Louis Vuitton display his art. The Ghanian-American designer shared a tender moment with his longtime friend and collaborator Kanye West. a beautiful moment between Virgil Abloh and Kanye West at his first Louis Vuitton show #LVMenSS19
Travis Scott, Kylie Jenner, Takashi Murakami and more supporting! pic.twitter.com/z25kk1DLnP— FTP FLAME (@FTPflame) June 21, 2018FEEL THE LOVE. An instantly iconic moment at the end of #LVMenSS19 between @kanyewest & @VirgilAbloh.
📹:https://t.co/s06Jo9t2b7
pic.twitter.com/3wdDIXGvVq— Highsnobiety (@highsnobiety) June 21, 2018Travis Scott and Kylie Jenner had front row seats alongside Kanye.
Travis Scott and Kylie Jenner at Virgil Abloh’s first Louis Vuitton show in Paris 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/a3jjW50VEw— Rodeo 🎪 (@RodeoTheAlbum) June 21, 2018Fonzworth Bentley snagged a picture with Abloh and Yeezy. He also big-upped Abloh on Instagram.“We’re still the kids we use to be” Virgil Abloh, Kanye West, Fonz Bentley , Don C, Ibn Jasper interns to Icons #LVMenSS19
pic.twitter.com/2ZlqZGdYmT— MILES AHEAD NEWS (@MilesAheadNews) June 21, 201810,000 hours. It was 10 years ago the day after President Obama’s Inauguration that some kids who loved fashion landed on Paris Fashion week. We had 2 tickets between all of us to the shows. We thugged em all and sat front row and dared anyone to ask us to get up because we knew we were representing culture. Well tmrw at 2:30pm is a win for everybody. Turntables bumped trap music while fittings ensued. The juxtaposition isn’t that anymore. It’s where we are in culture and @virgilabloh will walk down that runway for so many who have a dream and have no idea how to make it possible but feel in their heart to continue forward. Today was surreal. BravoA post shared by fonzbentley (@fonzbentley) on Jun 20, 2018 at 4:40pm PDTRappers Playboi Carti and Kid Cudi walked the runway. Steve Lacy of The Internet also got his Tyson Beckford on. Kid Cudi, Steve Lacy, and Playboi Carti all looking quite daddyish at #LVMenSS19 this morning. pic.twitter.com/42Zbel27E7— josephine. (@maintnthemystry) June 21, 2018Naomi Campbell didn't hit the runway, but she got mad love from It girls Kim Kardashian and Bella Hadid. Kim Kardashian com Naomi Campbell no #LVMenSS19 em Paris, (21/06). pic.twitter.com/FJkkIlqZ9y— KKW & Kylie Media. (@KimKylieMedia) June 21, 2018Bella Hadid com Naomi Campbell assistindo ao desfile da Louis Vuitton. pic.twitter.com/FfY6g92QIL— Bella Hadid Brasil (@BellaHadidBra) June 21, 2018Rihanna, a burgeoning fashion mogul herself, was also in attendance and sat next to A$AP Rocky during the show.Gusband & wife at the @louisvuitton cookout ✊🏿A post shared by badgalriri (@badgalriri) on Jun 21, 2018 at 7:47am PDTRihanna sitting next to Asap Rocky today in Paris❤️🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/tx7gSwnnU9— Asia (@asiafenty) June 21, 2018Thank you for an incredible show and experience @VirgilAbloh! #LVMenSS19 pic.twitter.com/hy71As6ISK— Chadwick Boseman (@chadwickboseman) June 21, 2018 It's clear Abloh did this for the culture. We can't wait to see what's next for the designer and Louis...
The Southern Poverty Law Center is suing a Florida county for turning away hundreds of immigrant children looking for an education. One of the hundreds of students turned away was 17-year-old Haitian immigrant Nehemy Antoine.In March 2016, Nehemy and his father, Emile, tried to enroll him into the Golden Gate High School in Collier County, Florida. A school administrator handed them a brochure/leaflet, and that was it.Because Nehemy and his father did not know English well, they had to get someone to translate the brochure.The leaflet given recommended trade school, adult education programs and GED services. But Nehemy came to them seeking a traditional high school experience. He had already completed algebra and geometry courses in Haiti. “My real job is to go to school,” said Nehemy, who is now 19 years old and works late bagging groceries at a local supermarket. “There’s nothing more important.”According to a BuzzFeed report, the school denied him a traditional education. States are mandated to provide instruction to students regardless of immigration status, but in this case, Nehemy was a citizen and still turned away.Students can receive an education up to age 21 in most states, according to the Education Commission of the States. But in Florida and other places around the country, there are exceptions to the rule.Florida, for example, allows a district to decide whether to accommodate these types of students. Some have claimed there are not enough resources to assist with students' language barriers. An estimated 200 other immigrant children have experienced this in Collier County, according to a lawsuit filed by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC). “We don’t feel like it’s a good thing to be putting 22- and 23-year-olds in the same school as 14-year-olds,” says Roy Terry, the school board chair.Nehemy's father continued trying to get his son enrolled, but after subsequent attempts, he eventually gave up and put him in an adult program that would provide the proper accommodations. “This has delayed my life, my career, and my future,” Nehemy said in written testimony last summer. “I just need access to a real school.”As time passed, Nehemy was the last student attached to the suit. The SPLC estimates the 200 students turned away could be higher. Many of the students were from Haiti or Guatemala, and many fled to Florida within the last five years."If there were 200 people on the beach who were afraid to go into the water,” Nehemy said, “I would be afraid to go in, too.”Although he isn't giving up, the district stands by its decision claiming he was unprepared for ninth...
A federal judge dismissed 16 lawsuits from victims of the Emanuel AME Church shooting but blasted the FBI’s background check system.The families and survivors of the shooting sued the FBI because their background check system missed a drug charge that may have prevented Dylann Roof from purchasing the gun he used during the 2015 massacre. U.S. District Judge Richard Gergel dismissed the lawsuit because the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act gives the government immunity in some instances where guns may end up in the wrong places. Gergel acknowledged the unfairness of the act saying it applies to “really bad policy choices” too, reports Reuters. The ruling came two days after the third anniversary of the shooting. Despite the ruling, Gergel criticized the FBI’s background check system which only used a particular set list of databases during searches.Roof had a drug charge that might have prevented him from purchasing a gun. A clerk entered the wrong information about his arrest, and that prevented the FBI from catching it, Lexington County Sheriff Jay Koon told The Associated Press. There was a database that had the needed documents, but the FBI did not give examiners access to it."The record reveals that the FBI's background check system is disturbingly superficial, excessively micromanaged by rigid standard operating procedures and obstructed by policies that deny the overworked and overburdened examiners access to the most comprehensive law enforcement federal database," Gergel wrote in his order."The glaring weaknesses revealed in the background check system, however, are the function of distinct policy choices made by the FBI, not violations of specific legal standards," he added.Gergel’s order also provided information that survivors and victims' families could use to receive financial compensation via special legislation from Congress, reports The Post and Courier. Gergel used a 1984 bill sponsored by South Carolina Senator Strom Thurmond that resulted in rewards for 16 Charleston Naval Shipyard workers.Attorney Fred Savage, who represented some of the plaintiffs, said the fight isn’t over, and they’re examining their options.“What happened was inexcusable, and those that allowed the arming of this hate-filled, mentally deranged, drug-abusing racist must be held accountable,” Savage said. “Our efforts do not stop...
First thing's first: you're following Will Smith's Instagram, right? If you're not by now, we tried to tell you! Since joining the popular social media platform, Smith has uploaded videos of himself dancing around the world, paid tribute to his son Jaden and has highlighted dope artists. This time, he's showing love to a high school dance team! Smith recently uploaded a clip of a performance from the Manurewa High School's "Rewa All Stars" at Hip Hop International New Zealand MegaSchools Street Dance Competition.
NEW ZEALAND 🇳🇿 Turnin’ Up! Shout out to the Rewa All Stars…this piece is HOT!!
A post shared by Will Smith (@willsmith) on Jun 16, 2018 at 11:54am PDT"NEW ZEALAND 🇳🇿 Turnin’ Up! Shout out to the Rewa All Stars … this piece is HOT!!" Smith captioned the IG post. The teen dancers reenacted Carlton Banks' famous Tom Jones "It's Not Unusual" silly dance, the iconic dance to The Sugarhill Gang's "Apache (Jump on It)" and more! All dancers were equipped with the flyest 90s gear, and they even made an actual throne for their mock Fresh Prince/Will Smith to sit on! The high school uploaded a video of the performance to their Facebook page, and it went viral, racking up 3.2 million views and 65,000 shares at the time of this post. The team got 2nd place overall at the competition, and received the Most Outstanding Performance Award!Yaaas, congrats, Rewa All Stars! Get into the full video...
Update: The cop who fatally shot Pittsburgh teen Antwon Rose, Jr. had been sworn in just hours before killing the 17-year-old. KDKA-TV reports the 20-something East Pittsburgh officer had been on the force for just a few weeks although he'd served in the region since 2011. Original story: Police officers shot and killed Antwone Rose Jr., a 17-year-old boy, as he fled the scene of a traffic stop in Pittsburgh.According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, an East Pittsburgh shooting on Tuesday, June 19, led to the fatal traffic stop. At approximately 8:20 p.m., police found a 22-year-old young man someone had shot. Witnesses said they saw a car fleeing the scene. Based on the information given about the vehicle, one reportedly matching the description was stopped by police a few blocks away. As police handcuffed the 20-year-old driver, Antwon and another passenger fled the scene. Police responded by shooting.Antwon was taken to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) McKeesport Hospital where he later died."He [the officer] stopped the vehicle and attempted to take the driver into custody. At that time, two other men in the vehicle exited and fled on foot," Allegheny County police Superintendent Coleman McDonough said. "The East Pittsburgh police officer fired at the fleeing suspects. One of those individuals is a 17-year-old male. He was transported to (UPMC) McKeesport Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 9:19 p.m."The Post-Gazette reports Antwon's aunt, Mica Tinsley, saw the news story about the shooting, but she wasn't aware it involved Antwon until she called his mom."She said, 'Yes, Mica, the police killed Antwon,'" Tinsley said.A Facebook user posted a disturbing and graphic video clip of the shooting showing the two passengers running away. Police fired three shots as the victims fall to the ground.On Wednesday, Tinsley watched the video and became angry, according to the Post-Gazette."They're not even saying stop," she said. "They just started shooting, and he fell. He didn't make it far."“Why did they have to shoot him when he is running away?” Selena Brooklin, who lives near the scene of the shooting, asked upon seeing the video. “What is the justification for that? There is no justification. There is no answer. You shot a man in the back while he was running away.”When did running from the police become a death...
We are living in the age of technology. Tremendous innovations are sprouting up faster than ever before, circumventing what we thought was possible not even a mere 20 years ago. It's a great feeling to know that our human brain capacity can come up with such thing from disruptive apps to the supercomputer.So it's only right to highlight the fascinating advancements coming out of our communities around the world. From Africa to Harlem, the diaspora has always been a part of innovative streams throughout history. Once again, the mold is being broken by introducing bleeding-edge innovation and technology. For example, 3D printing is gaining traction in Africa. In 2013, WoeLabs tech hub in Togo made the first "Made in Africa" 3D printer from e-waste. Now, they want to use the 3D printer to revolutionize Africa. They're starting by putting a machine in every school within 1kilometers of the workshop. Buni Hub is another tech center, based in Tanzania, that is building 3D printers.'Made in Africa' cars are on the rise. Mobius Motors is a Kenyan based car company that is releasing the second model of their stripped-down, cost-effective but luxury SUV built for rough terrains. They aim to sell the car to the African mass market, and anywhere else in the world with poor quality roads. African countries are also developing groundbreaking technology for space exploration. Look no further than the Square Kilometer Array (SKA) in South Africa which, once completed is set to be the world's largest telescope. It will allow scientists to look that many times deeper into space. Since first being introduced in a collection of essays, The Theater and its Double, in 1958, virtual reality - an interactive computer-generated experience taking place within a simulated environment, (that incorporates auditory, visual, haptic, and other types of sensory feedback) has been on a popular fast track ever since. Sievent, is minority-owned business that enables event organizers who do events for businesses, non-profits, civic organizations, universities, and other local organizations the power to make their event go viral thus making it easier for communities to stay connected, informed, & entertained. VR has the potential to change many industries. One example is mining, a profession which has its dangers and risks. In an effort to create a safe yet accurate training environment, a team at the University of Pretoria, South Africa have a created the continent's first VR Mine.In the States, venture capital firms and incubators are propagating with lighting fast speed. One such firm is Harlem Capital Partners, a New York-based minority-owned venture capital firm on a mission to change the face of entrepreneurship by investing in 1,000 diverse founders over the next 20 years. One of HCP's partners, John Henry, co-founded a non-profit incubator (Cofound Harlem ) with a mission to incubate over 100 companies north of 96th street in New York City. OnceLogix, a company in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, founded by Trinity Manning, Rod Brown, and Tyrone McLaughlin, provides software solutions for the healthcare industry. Their breakout product, Sharenote, provides Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act-compliant security to simplify client care at behavioral health organizations. Sharenote is used in more than 200 practices by clinicians who need to keep an audit trail of electronic health records.Support is paramount in this day and age when it comes to black-owned companies. Official Black Wall Street which pays homage to the iconic “Black Wall Street” of Tulsa, Oklahoma is a digital platform and database created to give black-owned businesses, black entrepreneurs, and aspiring entrepreneurs a place to shine. Platforms like these are vital to continuing the amazing service that the African Diaspora has been giving since the...
Members of a black sorority say the manager of a Cleveland-area Bahama Breeze racially profiled them and called the police to make sure they paid their bill.According to cleveland.com, around 40 members of Delta Sigma Theta convened at Bahama Breeze to celebrate a member’s book deal and relocation to California. When it was time to pay, a woman threatened to leave because the server was taking too long to bring her bill. The woman was with the group but not a member of the sorority.The manager of the restaurant called the police even though the woman waited and paid. "Police were standing there to make sure everyone paid, which we felt was racial profiling," Chanta Spencer, one of the diners, said.Another member of the group posted a Facebook status about the incident, accusing the Orange Village Police of restricting the group’s movement around the restaurant.A police report from the incident says the manager requested the police stay until all of the women, who occupied multiple tables, paid their tabs. The manager also claimed members of the group swore at her and caused a “disturbance” while waiting for their bills. When police arrived, a woman from the group assured them she would make sure everyone settled their tabs.There were no arrests or other disciplinary action, and the officers were at the restaurant for about an hour.Spencer said the manager’s side of the story is “totally not true” and hopes the company will make some changes."I am hoping that Bahama Breeze looks at this very carefully and alters policies and does some more training," Spencer said. "You cannot make assumptions that people are going to commit a crime based on how they look."Rich Jeffers, senior director of communications for Darden Restaurants, which owns Bahama Breeze, released a statement apologizing for the incident."We clearly fell short of delivering great service, and we've invited the guests back in order to provide an exceptional Bahama Breeze experience," said Jeffers.This isn't the first time Bahama Breeze has been accused of racial discrimination. The company had to pay a $1.26 million settlement in 2009 after 37 black workers at a Cleveland location accused managers of using racial slurs, mocking them and denying them breaks. Bahama Breeze has stated that the manager involved in the incident no longer works for the restaurant. They also said they've invited the sorority members back to the location and apologized for the incident. Welp, another restaurant franchise bites the dust! Sorority members say the manager of a Cleveland #BahamaBreeze called police to make sure they pay their bills https://t.co/UroathTaA1 pic.twitter.com/8S86K1UlnC— Blavity News (@Blavity) June 21,...
A Michigan woman caught lying about black men raping her in a college parking lot will only get 45 days in jail for the false accusation. The woman, 21-year-old Mary Zolkowski, pleaded guilty to falsely reporting the felony in March. Typically, the felony charge would warrant four years behind bars and a fine of $2,000, but Bay County Circuit Judge Joseph K. Sheeran decided to take it easy on her by sentencing her on Monday, June 18, to 45 days in jail, probation for two years, a mental health assessment and an additional 220 days in prison if she violates her probation, per a report from MLive. In February, Zolkowski told her mother a black man raped her in a student parking lot at Delta College. She provided no further details. “I called Delta College and falsely reported the rape on their campus,” Zolkowski told the judge in March. “My mother made the initial call, and I took the phone and continued to report.”USA Today reports Delta College police launched an investigation into the matter but were unable to verify her story. At the time of the supposed rape, a parolee with sexual assault convictions was on campus but denied having any connection to the false attack. He had to take and passed a polygraph test to prove his innocence.The investigation began to fall apart piece by piece as Zolkowski's story changed. She was reportedly unwilling to cooperate with the investigation or take a physical exam.“I was assaulted previously, not at Delta’s campus,” Zolkowski said. “And because I was ashamed of circumstances of that, when my mother called, I vented through Delta, which was very wrong of me. I should have been truthful from the very beginning, and I used Delta.”If Zolkowski did not confess to lying about the rape, police might still be looking for an innocent black...
