While people spent the week recapping the Verzuz battle between Nelly and Ludacris and commemorating graduates, it wouldn't be America if we didn't have to deal with some sort of bigotry and racism on a daily basis.
Most people were still reeling in the days after the release of video showing the Ahmaud Arbery shooting that happened back in February. Unfortunately, the trend of Black people being typecasted as criminals and being wrongly accused has trickled into other parts of the country too.
As Black people continue to struggle to live while just running daily errands, people are still mourning the loss of their loved ones who died from COVID-19. States, however, are beginning to reopen businesses and President Donald Trump is calling for churches to open up.
Over in Alabama, a mayoral candidate is requesting that people convicted for selling drugs be hanged. And in case you're wondering what year it is, yes…it's still 2020.
Here are some of the top moments from this week that you may have missed.
Lawmakers are demanding a federal investigation into the death of Breonna Taylor
Two lawmakers are calling for a federal investigation into the police shooting of 26-year-old Breonna Taylor, the Louisville Courier Journal reports. Taylor was shot and killed by officers on March 13 during a "no-knock" search warrant as part of a narcotics investigation, as Blavity previously reported.
Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., and Rep. Lucy McBath, D-Ga., called on the Department of Justice on Friday to conduct an immediate investigation of any "pattern or practice of constitutional violations at the Louisville Police Department."
“Ms. Taylor was a young woman with plans for a long, fruitful life,” they wrote to Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband. “Instead, her life was brutally cut short by a haphazard law enforcement exercise. Ms. Taylor worked to save lives during the COVID-19 pandemic; it is time for the U.S. Department of Justice to honor hers.”
The FBI Louisville Field office previously announced it was conducting an independent investigation into the shooting. Harris said the office's involvement is helpful, however, there is still a need for a civil rights investigation.
An Alabama mayoral candidate wants to resume hangings
Michael Ray James, an Alabama mayoral candidate, is requesting public hangings of people convicted of drug-related crimes, AL.com reported.
James, who is running to be the mayor of Sylacauga, posted on Facebook advocating for public hangings of repeat offenders.
“I am serious about, after somebody has been convicted three times, I am very serious about them losing their life, whether it’s to lethal injection or hanging,” James said.
Running with the proposed policy as part of his campaign platform, James said he's aware public hangings are "extreme" but wants to bring attention to the impact drugs have had on America.
According to the World Population Review, Sylacauga's population is made up of 34% Black people.
The mayoral candidate said his "biggest concern is what drugs can do to a community," despite the death penalty being reserved for perpetrators of violent crimes.
Trump is demanding that churches be reopened
As coronavirus infection and death rates continue to rise, Trump has called on governors to allow churches to begin holding in-person services, again, The Hill reported.
On Friday, the president declared churches as "essential" for Americans. During the press briefing, Trump said if governors refused to do so, he would "override" them.
"We need more prayer, not less," Trump said.
“The governors need to do the right thing and allow these very important essential places of faith to open right now, this weekend,” the president said before walking off the stage and refusing to answer questions.
Several states are in the process of reopening businesses and lifting some restrictions on stay-at-home orders.
The Department of Justice told California Gov. Gavin Newsom that his plans to reopen the state were "unequal" and biased against faith communities.
"Some governors have deemed liquor stores and abortion clinics as essential but have left out churches and other houses of worship. It's not right," Trump said Friday.
Two white men are competing to be Black America's hero
One of the larger stories on Friday was presidential candidate Joe Biden forgetting to think before he speaks during an interview with Charlamagne tha God on The Breakfast Club.
“If you have a problem figuring out whether you’re for me or Trump, then you ain’t Black,” Biden said during the last few minutes of the interview.
Biden went on to blurt out his many reasons for why Black Americans should vote for him in the upcoming election, including his defense of the 1994 crime bill.
In an attempt to be Black America's hero, Trump used Biden's remarks against him.
Trump's reelection campaign team called Biden's comments "racist and dehumanizing."
"White liberal elitists have continuously dictated which Black Americans are allowed to come to the table and have a voice," said Katrina Pierson, a senior adviser to the Trump campaign and leader of Black Voices for Trump.
"It is clear now more than ever, following these racist and dehumanizing remarks, that Joe Biden believes Black men and women are incapable of being independent or free thinking. He truly believes that he, a 77-year-old white man, should dictate how Black people should behave. Biden has a history of racial condescension and today he once again proved what a growing number of Black Americans and I have always known: Joe Biden does not deserve our votes."
