White Protesters Form Human Barrier to Shield Black Protesters From Louisville Metro Police

In a show of solidarity with black protesters fed up with police officers brutalizing black citizens, a group of white protesters formed a human shield blocking the Louisville Metro Police from harming black demonstrators, according to The Grio.

The Kentucky National Organization for Women posted a picture from a protest last week in downtown Louisville. The photograph showed a line of white protesters, with their arms locked, forming a standing barrier between Louisville Metro Police officers and black protesters.

Louisville photographer Tim Druck captured the picture that has gone viral. The photo appeared on the Facebook page of the Kentucky National Organization for Women. During the rally, protesters called for justice in the death of EMT worker Breonna Taylor, who was shot to death in her apartment in March by Louisville police while they were serving on a no-knock warrant. The protest also supported the Black Lives Matter movement amid the recent spate of police killings of unarmed black people.

The now viral photo was shared on social media platforms by organizations such as the Kentucky National Organization for Women, where it was shared more than 100,000 times on Facebook.

“This is a line of white people forming a barrier between Black protesters and the police. This is love. This is what you do with your privilege,” the post states.

The Louisville Courier-Journal reports that according to Druck, Chanelle Helm, a lead organizer for Black Lives Matter Louisville, addressed the white protesters using a bullhorn and said: “If you are going to be here, you should defend this space,” and instructed people to form the line facing police at 6th and Jefferson streets.

Druck, who stated he showed up to take photos of the protest around 9 p.m. Thursday, said a police presence had come to that territory to block off intersections downtown as the crowd grew.

“She was asking for white folks to use their privilege, and put their bodies between police and the other demonstrators,” Druck said. “And people responded. They didn’t, they didn’t need to be convinced. Everybody willingly and enthusiastically did it.”

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Faith Evans charged with domestic assault against husband Stevie J

R&B songstress, Faith Evans, was arrested earlier this week after police were called to the home that she shares with husband, producer Stevie J. 

Reports say Evans was arrested and booked for felony domestic violence after police noted visible marks and scratches on her husband’s face.

READ MORE: Faith Evans is not happy with a new Lifetime documentary on her marriage to Biggie

According to TMZ, after twenty years of friendship, Evans and Stevie J were married in 2018. In an interview with The Breakfast Club in 2016, Stevie J said, “Once you start dating your best friend, it’s a little different.”

The marriage is the third for Evans, who is the widow of the late, great Christopher “Notorious B.I.G.” Wallace. She was previously married to her former manager Todd Russaw with whom she has two children. She also has a daughter, Chyna, and a son Christopher Wallace, Jr., who is a cannabis entrepreneur.

This is Stevie J’s first marriage to Evans, however, he has six children from previous relationships. The GRAMMY award-winning producer was previously romantically linked to reality star, Joseline Hernandez. The two starred on Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta and Stevie J & Joseline Go Hollywood.

Music Producer Stevie J with his wife recording artist Joseline Hernandez attend UrbanDaddy Presents Grey Goose Le Melon Fruit Of Kings at W Atlanta Buckhead on July 29, 2014 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Moses Robinson/Getty Images for UrbanDaddy)

In late 2019, the couple dispelled rumors that their marriage was ending after a series of cryptic tweets. “Found out that NO woman is faithful. Knew that & it’s a blessing to know.” The tweets were later deleted and Stevie J claimed that his Twitter was hacked.

Faith Evans has six albums under her belt. She has collaborated with numerous artists including her late husband, Notorious B.I.G., Diddy, Carl Thomas, and Whitney Houston.

READ MORE: RUMOR PATROL: Did Faith Evans marry Stevie J for a reality TV deal?

Evans’s autobiography, Keep the Faith: A Memoir won an African American Literary Award for Best Biography/Memoir in 2009.

Stevie J, born Steven Jordan, was an in-house producer for Bad Boy Records where he produced some of Wallace’s biggest hit records including “I’ll Be Missing You,” the tribute record which featured Evans, Diddy, and 112. The song won a GRAMMY award for “Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group” in 1998.

The post Faith Evans charged with domestic assault against husband Stevie J appeared first on TheGrio.

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J.R. Smith beats up man who he claims damaged his truck

J.R. Smith of the Cleveland Cavaliers was captured on video this weekend beating up a man who allegedly damaged his truck during protests in Los Angeles.

Smith was parked in a residential area, away from protesting, when the man broke the window of his truck. In the video, Smith is seen delivering a few kicks and blows to the head of the man before his friends step in.

READ MORE: NYPD officer caught displaying ‘white power’ symbol during protest

Smith took to social media to give his account of the incident before other news outlets reported. He said on Instagram Live, “One of the motherfu**king white boys didn’t know where he was going and broke my f**king window in my truck,” Smith said, “I chased him down and whupped his a**.”

Smith said, “This ain’t no hate crime. I ain’t got no problem with nobody who ain’t got no problem with me. It’s a problem with the system. He broke my window, and I whupped his a**.”

The disclaimer was posted likely because the young man who Smith beat up was white.

Currently a free agent, Smith has reportedly re-signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers and will return to his former team when the NBA starts playing again.

Smith’s former teammate, LeBron James, has been active on social media also. However, the NBA All-Star has been writing about the protests.

One of his posts, “Why doesn’t America love US!!!!??? TOO,” earned over 180,000 likes.

Why Doesn’t America Love US!!!!!????TOO. 😭😭🤦🏾‍♂️🤦🏾‍♂️ #HeadHighandStayStrong🙏🏾💪🏾 #WeAllWeGot✊🏾👑

— LeBron James (@KingJames) May 31, 2020

READ MORE: Michael Jordan issues statement about George Floyd: ‘I am plain angry’

Throughout his career, James has always been active in speaking out against police brutality. He recently retweeted a post from Jimmy Kimmel which, he said, left him in tears. “I’m so hurtful for my people right this moment.”

The ending has me in tears!!! Literally 😭😭😭😭😭😭. This isn’t ok the way we’re treated man! I’m so hurtful for my people right this moment https://t.co/fF0HS6qmed

— LeBron James (@KingJames) May 30, 2020

NBA legend, Michael Jordan, released a statement on Sunday condemning police violence. In a rare political stance, Jordan said, “I am deeply saddened, truly pained, and plain angry,” the statement reads, “I stand with those who are calling out ingrained racism and violence toward people of color in our country. We have had enough.”

The post J.R. Smith beats up man who he claims damaged his truck appeared first on TheGrio.

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NYC Mayor de Blasio’s daughter arrested during George Floyd protest

Chiara de Blasio was among 100 protesters who were arrested Saturday night in New York City. The daughter of Mayor Bill de Blasio was reportedly part of a group that was blocking a roadway, and some people were allegedly throwing objects at officers.

According to the New York Post, when asked her address she listed Gracie Mansion, the Mayoral residence, but did not explicitly tell police officers who she was. She was held overnight and given a desk appearance ticket.

READ MORE: Trump took shelter in White House bunker as protests raged

“That was a real hotspot, police cars were getting burned there, people were throwing and yelling, fighting with cops,” a source told The Post, “There were thousands of people in that area at that time.”

de Blasio was arrested just an hour before her father made a public announcement pleading for protesters to go home just before midnight.

The First Daughter, Chiara de Blasio was arrested near the intersection of 12th Street and Broadway along with approximately 100 other people who were instructed to clear the roadway but refused.

— Gloria Pazmino (@GloriaPazmino) June 1, 2020

“If you went out peacefully to make a point about the need for change, you have been heard and change is coming in the city,” the mayor said, “I have no doubt about that. It’s time to go home so we can all move forward.”

On Sunday, the mayor, like many other government officials around the country, stated that the local protests had been co-opted by agitators with an “explicit agenda of violence.”

He warned that even though it is a small number of people, they are well-organized.

READ MORE: Massive protests raise fears of new virus outbreaks

“Some come from outside of the cities. Some are from inside the city,” de Blasio said, “Some are from the neighborhoods where the protests take place. Some are not.”

Chiara de Blasio and her brother Dante de Blasio are the two children of the mayor and his wife, Chirlane McCray-who is Black. Chiara graduated in 2016 from Santa Clara University in 2016 with a degree in social work. She has been open about her past battles with drug and alcohol addiction and has worked to help other addicts with New York’s Health and Human Services Department.

The post NYC Mayor de Blasio’s daughter arrested during George Floyd protest appeared first on TheGrio.

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Ice Cube Joins Charlamagne, Diddy, Against Biden Democrats: ‘Let’s Hold The Black Vote Hostage Until There’s A Black Agenda We’re Satisfied With’

On May 24, Ice Cube tweeted, “Hold the Black vote hostage until one of ’em comes with A Black Agenda that we’re satisfied with. It’s not our job to fix the country’s mess until we fix our mess…#fuckyoupayme.”

The hip-hop icon’s tweet falls in line with a sentiment Sean “Diddy” Combs recently shared during an interview with Naomi Campbell when he called for Black people to hold off giving Joe Biden and the Democrats support until the Black community’s issues and needs are addressed.

“We want to know very clearly. Just like Trump made it clear that he wanted to build a wall, Biden needs to make it clear that he’s gonna change the lives and quality of life of Black and Brown people,” Diddy said. “Or else he can’t get the vote. I will hold the vote hostage if I have to.”

In the interview on Campbell’s web series, “No Filter with Naomi,” Diddy declared the “Black vote ain’t free.” More people seem to be following this belief especially after the presumptive presidential Democrat’s interview on The Breakfast Club with Charlamagne Tha God.

Nina Turner, national co-chair of the Bernie Sanders 2020 presidential campaign, tweeted, “The @DNC must stop playing games with our votes. And to my Beloved Black Community: Now is the time! We owe it to our ancestors, ourselves and to our future to seize this moment for the uplift of our people. This assignment is forever!#Iaintblack“

During the interview, Biden seemingly questioned Charlamagne’s — and any other undecided Black voter’s — Blackness by saying Black people who don’t vote for him“ain’t Black.”

Biden later backtracked and expressed remorse for acting so “cavalier,” insisting that he’s “never, never, ever taken the African-American community for granted,” Hot News Hip Hop reported.

Shortly after Diddy’s declaration, Biden released his plan for Black America called, “Lift Every Voice.”

Now, after The Breakfast Club interview, the Biden campaign reposted highlights from the plan on Instagram.

According to the post, “The Biden Plan for Black America” will close the wealth and income gap by investing in African-American workers, businesses, and communities, TheGrio reported. The post also stressed that a Biden administration would push for health equity and address racial inequity.

“I shouldn’t have been such a wise guy. I shouldn’t have been so cavalier…I have never, ever taken the African-American community for granted,” Biden said, according to journalist Yamiche Alcindor. “No one should have to vote for any party based on their race, background, religion, or any demographic information.”

While the sentiment of Diddy, Charlemagne, and now Ice Cube seems to be gaining momentum, other Black voters say now is not the time to put the election on the line.

Holding the Black vote hostage is irresponsible and puts the Black community in danger, wrote Christina M. Greer, an associate professor at Fordham University and the author of “Black Ethnics: Race, Immigration, and the Pursuit of the American Dream.” Greer co-hosts the podcast FAQ-NYC, and is the political editor at The Grio.

While Greer said she agrees with Diddy that Biden and the Democrats cannot take the Black vote for granted, she feels holding the Black vote hostage “would be detrimental to not only the Black community but the nation (and world) for generations to come.”

This article was written by Ann Brown for The Moguldom Nation.

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