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Are All Muslims Members of HAMAS? George Latimer Refuses to Answer!

DAMON K JONES
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Are All Muslims Members of HAMAS? George Latimer Refuses to Answer!

In a recent Facebook post, the organization, the Westchester Black Political Conference (WBPC), challenged County Executive George Latimer to address a New York Times exposé on Israeli demolitions of Palestinian buildings. The article described how Israel destroyed hundreds of buildings that could prevent residents from returning home in violation of humanitarian law. 

Given the Times’ reporting and Latimer’s ties to pro-Israel donors,The organization named him “Genocide George” for refusing to address his foreign policy’s human impact. Latimer called the post a “vicious and unfair attack.” I wondered why questioning the loss of Palestinian life is an attack while his social media ignores the pain of the Palestinian people, including those here in Westchester, specifically the Palestinian people who live in CD16. 

Latimer: I support the release of kidnapped hostages and Hamas renouncing violence to murder Jews. What do you support?

WBPC: “the organization denounces all terrorism but asked him to also denounce Israel’s “acts of genocide” cited in International Court of Justice.” 

WBPC: Do you believe that all Muslims are members of HAMAS?

WBPC: Do you think it’s fair to bomb Christian churches, mosques, and hospitals and desecrate cemeteries?

Latimer accused me, Damon K. Jones, of launching an attack without listening. I’m not entirely sure how my name got involved in this, but it seems convenient to assign blame. Perhaps because I’m known as one of the outspoken individuals in Westchester, it’s easy to point fingers in my direction. 

In all honesty, I am a proud member of WBPC. Why shouldn’t I be? I’m Black. But isn’t it only natural that we should prioritize our community above party affiliations? 

Even Latimer’s supporters endorse this concept of prioritizing community over party; it’s prominently featured on their website. They even encourage Republicans to switch to the Democratic Party to defeat Jamaal Bowman. So, why is it seen as an attack when a Black man echoes this very same belief? The fact of the matter is that this is another way for George Latimer’s Republican supporters to suppress the Black and Brown vote in DCD16. The persistence of double standards is a question we must address, and George Latimer and his campaign must be accountable. 

While running as a candidate to represent the entire district of CD16, George Latimer’s dismissal of valid questions about his political stance is undemocratic. 

This is particularly concerning given his connections to pro-Israel Republican MAGA donors. These questions are straightforward: Where is his compassion in light of allegations involving:

  • The deaths of Palestinian civilians, 
  • The demolition of 36 hospitals, 
  • The displacement of 2 million people, 
  • The destruction of Gaza’s infrastructure, 
  • Acts of violence and oppression in the West Bank,
  •  And the incitement of settler attacks that have resulted in numerous deaths? 

These incidents have all been reported by reputable news sources and outlets and denounced by the International Court of Justice (ICJ)

One of the straightforward questions he could have addressed was acknowledging that not all Muslims are members of HAMAS. However, he chose not to respond or acknowledge this question. 

Unfortunately, George Latimer avoided addressing the question on social media. He stated that he would not respond to a straightforward query question of whether he believes all Muslims are part of HAMAS. This behavior resembles traditional political “Ali Shuffle” tactics, possibly influenced by his status as a top recipient of AIPAC donations amounting to $353,000.

Some argue that such significant contributions may indicate a lack of concern for the well-being of people of color and a belief that all Muslims are associated with HAMAS. The question raised here is whether these actions align with the actual values of the Democratic Party in Westchester. It’s disheartening to see how far the party may have fallen in the eyes of some observers.

It is disappointing that George had a clear opportunity to correct misconceptions but failed to acknowledge the positive contributions of Muslims to our communities. Muslims serve as police officers, county correction officers, firefighters, doctors, EMS workers, and law-abiding citizens in CD16. George has refused to acknowledge their positive impact and has not shown them the humanity of recognizing that not all Muslims are associated with HAMAS.

As a newspaper publisher who has frequently supported you, George Latimer, during your time as County Executive, we are responsible for seeking genuine answers without allowing you to dismiss this as an unjust attack. With 40 percent of your funding coming from Republican MAGA pro-Israel organizations, it becomes evident that you may not be able to represent the entire district fairly.

CAN WE CELEBRATE THE REAL DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR?

DAMON K JONES
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CAN WE CELEBRATE THE REAL DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR?

MLK, THE BLACK POWER ICON, A LION IN THE MIST OF CUBS

As a young black man, I was always taught that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a go-along-to-get-along leader. As I became a man, I learned that what the media and many black leaders were teaching us about Dr. King was entirely wrong! Dr. King was much more than the “I Have a Dream” speech.

Dr. King wanted America to be held accountable for its “Promise.” The creed “all men are created equal” means that people keep certain inalienable rights that are innate in all human beings, according to the Constitutional Rights Foundation. This stems from the idea of natural rights, meaning people are naturally free to make their choices and prosper.

STANDING ON ACCOUNTABILITY – “We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.” Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 1963

Dr. King was a revolutionary. He went to Washington not to just sit at the counter with white people; MLK demanded America to make good on its promise. He required a CHECK! Not for himself, not for his organization but the poorest people of the nation.

ON REVOLUTION – “For years I labored with the idea of reforming the existing institutions of the South, a little change here, a little change there. Now I feel quite differently. I think you’ve got to have a radical reconstruction of the entire society, a revolution of values.” MLK 1967

He also recognized the unjustification of many black people and the unwillingness of the US government to solve the problem. He demanded black people to “redistribute the pain” by economic boycotts. Dr. King recognized our financial strength by promoting cooperative economics. Something for the most part Black Leadership has failed to improve as a whole.

Many Black Preachers have refused to come from behind the pulpit or the walls of their cities and challenge injustice and speak truth to power like Dr. King, but love to claim him every holiday and Black History Month.

Whatever prejudice affects the Black man in Mount Vernon, affects the Black Man in White Plains, and whatever affects the Black Man in White Plains, has an impact on the Black Man in Yonkers. Dr. King saw no boundaries in fighting for injustice.

SPEAKING OUT ON INJUSTICE – “But more basically, I am in Birmingham because injustice is here. Just as the prophets of the eighth century B.C. left their villages and carried their “thus saith the Lord” far beyond the boundaries of their home towns, and just as the Apostle Paul left his village of Tarsus and carried the gospel of Jesus Christ to the far corners of the Greco-Roman world, so am I compelled to carry the gospel of freedom beyond my own home town. Like Paul, I must constantly respond to the Macedonian call for aid.

Moreover, I am cognizant of the interrelatedness of all communities and states. I cannot sit idly by in Atlanta and not be concerned about what happens in Birmingham. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. Never again can we afford to live with the narrow, provincial “outside agitator” idea. Anyone who lives inside the United States can never be considered an outsider anywhere within its bounds.” MLK 1963

Dr. King also knew that the fight against injustice must be brought out in the open for the world to see.

ON COMING FROM BEHIND THE PULPIT – “We merely bring to the surface the hidden tension that is already alive. We bring it out in the open, where it can be seen and dealt with. Like a boil that can never be cured so long as it is covered up but must be opened with all its ugliness to the natural medicines of air and light, injustice must be exposed, with all the tension its exposure creates, to the light of human conscience and the air of national opinion before it can be cured.”

This is one of the reasons the young don’t have faith in our leadership because they don’t see our leadership openly addressing the injustice that our youth see every day.

Would Dr. King have publicly supported Democratic candidates that were responsible for Mass Incarnation of Black People, inadequate legislation and the poor economic development of many Black cities run by Black Democrats?

ON BLACK POLITICIANS – “The majority of [Black] political leaders do not ascend to prominence on the shoulders of mass support… most are still selected by white leadership, elevated to position, supplied with resources and inevitably subjected to white control. The mass of [Blacks] nurtures a healthy suspicion towards this manufactured leader.” 1967

Dr. King believed in our unity as black people to gain power politically and economically, not from dealing with a position of political, and economic weakness that we do today.

ON POLICE BRUTALITY – We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality. MLK 1963

Dr. King also admonished Black Pastors for being silent on the issue of Police Brutality.

BLACK PASTORS BEING PASSIVE ON POLICE BRUTALITY – “You warmly commended the Birmingham police force for keeping “order” and “preventing violence.” I doubt that you would have so warmly commended the police force if you had seen its dogs sinking their teeth into unarmed, nonviolent Negroes. I doubt that you would so quickly commend the policemen if you were to observe their ugly and inhumane treatment of Negroes here in the city jail; if you were to watch them push and curse old Negro women and young Negro girls; if you were to see them slap and kick old Negro men and young boys; if you were to observe them, as they did on two occasions, refuse to give us food because we wanted to sing our grace together. I cannot join you in your praise of the Birmingham police department.” MLK 1963

Here we are decades after the life and death of Martin Luther King Jr. still marching, singing, and fighting for jobs, justice and to be recognized as human beings in the eyes of white people.

Maybe if we told the true story of Dr. King, the real issues he fought for and stood up against, and emulated not just his words but his actions, we could finally say one day “Free at Last.”

Black History Month BY James A. Johnson

AJ Woodson
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Black History Month BY James A. Johnson

“The Arc of the Moral Universe is Long, But Bends Toward Justice” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Race is still a problem in the 21st Century manifested economically, socially, educationally, and in many other ways. America’s long history of racial injustice has produced substantial differences between Black and white students in most measures of educational potential and performance.

Diversity inside higher education does not represent a national consensus. The use of race as a factor in college admissions is waning. The fact is that being “Black” in America places one at a substantial disadvantage in one’s life prospects. This is contrary to any basic notion of equality of opportunity or equal life chances. The disadvantage of African Americans is a legacy of explicit racism and discriminatory policies. Affirmative action is necessary because the negative effects of racism persist that affect minorities daily in their personal and professional lives.

The American Dream

With the election of President Obama in 2009, black millennials were encouraged in the belief of the American dream. This belief is based on that hard work will provide a seat at the table. But, the envisioned path of upward mobility is proving impassable. Persons of color are still grappling with the enduring legacy of institutional racism and systemic discrimination. Elite and ordinary whites have racially framed and organized American society to prevent access to real liberty and socioeconomic advancement for people of color. From the beginning, affluent white men have constituted almost all the top positions including the White House. Consider the action that had to be taken by the U. S. Supreme Court that whites automatically enjoy at birth:

1938 Missouri ex rel Gaines v Canada – Missouri violated the 14th Amendment & required to admit Lloyd Gaines to the Univ. of Missouri Law School.

1948 Shelley v. Kraemer – prohibits racially restrictive housing covenants.

1948 Sipuel v. Oklahoma – challenged the segregation policies at the Univ. of Oklahoma.

1950 Sweat v. Painter – challenged the separate but equal doctrine of racial segregation. Heman Sweat was admitted to the University of Texas Law School.

1950 McLaurin v. Oklahoma – public institutions of higher learning could not provide different treatment to a student solely because of race.

1954 Brown v. Board of Education – segregation in public schools is inherently unequal.

1964 Civil Rights Act – ended segregation in public places and banned employment discrimination.

1965 Voting Rights Act – signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson.

1967 Loving v. Virginia – laws prohibiting interracial marriage were unconstitutional.

1968 Fair Housing Act – signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson.

Manipulation

The above cases are only a small number of legal actions in which persons of color had to fight for to secure basic and fundamental rights. This white birthright of privilege exists from the cradle to the grave – not so for African Americans. A majority of ordinary whites have allowed themselves to be adeptly manipulated by the elite. Powerful whites have assisted ordinary whites in thinking that persons of color are the reasons for their socioeconomic problems. Even women are oppressed by white male elites. The social cost of systemic racism and sexism are great and deep. Racial and gender subordination creates diminished creativity, unfair competition, unjust enrichment, and massive violations of fundamental human rights.

Notwithstanding that African Americans have experienced unprecedented success individually, including the election and reelection of a black president of the United States, the Supreme Court has significantly slowed the pace of racial progress. Beginning with the school case Milliken v Bradley, the busing of public-school students across district lines and the Univ. of California v Bakke outlawing specific racial quotas in college admissions.

My purpose in writing this article is to educate the reader on how America was built and operates. Education is still the key to upper mobility but education alone will not fully eliminate institutional racism and systemic discrimination.

Black Experience

The black experience in America in the face of egregious discrimination is based on a strong faith and hope. For example, the late Jake Gaither famed football coach at Florida A&M University, had a newspaper article that he saved from a black newspaper published around America’s entry into World War I. It expresses unshakable faith, hope, and patriotism that rings true to this very day:

“We go to make the world safe for Democracy. We are going in spite of discrimination and prejudice, we are going in spite of mob violence, we are going in spite of Jim Crowism, we have no bitterness, no hate is surging in our breasts, even though these injustices cry out to high heaven, our faith is steadfast, our hearts beat true. It is our hope that out of this awful struggle a true Democracy will rear its altar giving out shining hope and promise to the black man in America, a real Democracy that knows no creed nor color… a Democracy which shall fold its protecting mantle about the shoulders of all men.”

In 1952 Gaither addressed the black workforce of a wood pulp company:

“I want to talk to you not as Negroes but as American citizens who have a glorious past and a rich and fertile future in the development of this great country. This is your land. The country that you helped build and develop. The country that you must live and die to protect. You are somebody. You are an American. I love to think of my people fighting in the war of Revolution – giving birth to the greatest democracy the world has ever known. I like to think of my people following Teddy Roosevelt in the battle of San Juan Hill. I like to think of the part my people played in the War to Save the Union. I like to think how valiantly my people fought in the Argonne Forest of the First World War. I like to think of the courageous stand of my people in the Battle of the Bulge. I like to think of the glorious history the Negro has.” (Samuel G. Freeman, Breaking the Line, 2013 P.24-26)

African-American history is America’s history. The very fabric of our country has been formed by the outstanding contributions of African Americans in many fields.

My mission in life is not merely to survive but to thrive and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.

About the Author: James A. Johnson is an accomplished trial lawyer and an active member of the Massachusetts, Michigan, Texas, and Federal Court Bars. Jim concentrates on serious Personal Injury, Insurance Coverage, Sports & Entertainment Law, and Federal Criminal Defense. He can be reached at www.JamesAJohnsonEsq.com

The article originally appeared in the February 15, 2020 issue of Black Westchester Newspaper.

Racist MAGA Money Funds George Latimer’s Campaign Against Jamaal Bowman

DAMON K JONES
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Racist MAGA Money Funds George Latimer’s Campaign Against Jamaal Bowman

County Executive George Latimer is running against Representative Jamaal Bowman, a Democrat from New York. It’s important to note that the American Israel Public Affairs Committee’s Political Action Committee (AIPAC PAC), a Republican-funded action committee, provides significant financial support to Latimer’s campaign. AIPAC has contributed over $600,000 to Latimer’s campaign, which makes up 42% of his total campaign contributions of $1.4 million as reported to the Federal Election Commission.

If a candidate receives more financial support from Republicans than Democrats, can they still be considered a Democratic candidate? I remember a similar situation when former Mayor Andre Wallace, a registered Democrat, took the Republican party’s endorsement to remain in the mayoral race. However, he was criticized by the Democratic leadership in Mount Vernon, who accused him of being an undercover Republican. Accused by many of the same Democrats that are now supporting Latimer or silent about his GOP financial campaign support!

In the current election, we see a similar scenario with George Latimer. He is receiving contributions from Republican sources and even hosting fundraisers with prominent Donald Trump MAGA donors. This should raise questions among Black Democrats, especially in Mount Vernon, traditionally a Democratic stronghold. It’s sad that in this day and age in politics, Black Democrats in Mount Vernon and the rest of Westchester County are not asking themselves how it is possible for a candidate backed by MAGA supporters to have the same interest for me and my community.

It’s worth noting that this situation may be reminiscent of past events, and some are concerned that a candidate funded by Republicans may sway the Democratic party. It’s a situation that some find surprising, considering the legacy of figures like the late Reginald Lafayette, the former Democratic Chairman, who is up above looking on with dismay at how easily Democrats are being attracted to a candidate with racist Republican financial backing.

AIPAC, which Republicans fund, is providing significant financial support as part of its strategy to spend over $100 million to influence elections and challenge progressive Black and Brown Democrats in the House of Representatives. These progressive representatives, often collectively known as “The Squad,” are known for their criticism of Israel’s actions concerning human rights abuses against Palestinians which has been supported by the International Court of Justice’s ruling.

Lets not forget AIPAC has a history of active involvement in campaign finance and has even established a super PAC called the United Democracy Project, which spent millions opposing progressive candidates during the 2022 election season. AIPAC faced criticism for endorsing over 100 Republicans who supported overturning the results of the 2020 presidential election during that time.

To emphasize once more, George Latimer has received campaign donations from an organization that supports attempts to overturn the outcome of the 2020 presidential election. These endorsements have raised concerns about whether the Westchester Democratic Party has been influenced or infiltrated by Republicans.

Latimer’s campaign has also received contributions from various donors, including venture capitalists, private equity partners, attorneys, and consultants. Some notable contributors include political strategist Bradley Tusk, who donated the maximum allowable amount of $6,600; oil trader Shai Barnea, who contributed $5,000; and Michael Benn, a partner at the corporate law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, who donated $3,300. Black Democrats, Hello! He is not your candidate!

Why this has not raised concerns, especially within the Black Democratic community, as it appears that some voters may not be fully engaged despite the abundance of available information. Supporting a candidate who is backed by Republican funding is contradictory to the values and principles typically associated with the Democratic Party.

Furthermore, there’s added complexity to the situation as Latimer’s campaign also has donor support aligned with the MAGA movement. These donors aim to challenge and defeat Black and Brown Democratic candidates across the county who advocate for transparency and human rights for Black and Brown individuals, particularly in the Gaza conflict.

In this context, it is so unfortunate that Black Democrats in CD16 may inadvertently express self-hate, a lack of self-awareness, and a disconnect from their community by supporting a candidate who appears to be influenced by MAGA donors while wearing a Democratic facade.

If these Republican-funded groups can use the slogan “Community First” and encourage Republicans to switch their party affiliation to diminish the Black vote while being the main contributors supporting George Latimer’s campaign to challenge the first Black Congressman in CD16. In that case, we can counter with our own “Community First” approach and reject their influence.

Greenburgh Human Rights Committee Presents A Conversation with Author Sarah Bracey White

AJ Woodson
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Greenburgh Human Rights Committee Presents A Conversation with Author Sarah Bracey White

In Honor of Black History Month, the Greenburgh Human Rights Advisory Committee will present an intimate afternoon with Sarah Bracey White – poet, essayist, playwright, performer and highly published author. Sarah is also Greenburgh’s longtime Director of Arts and Culture. She has been honored with
many awards for her community service.

The title of her talk is One Writer’s Life: Meeting the Challenges Head On.

This special event will also offer participants an opportunity to view Imagez of Jazz, an exhibit by photographer Hubert Williams that displays images of jazz artists through the years.

The in-person event will take place at the Greenburgh Public Library, 300 Tarrytown Road, Elmsford, NY 10523 on Saturday, February 24th from 2:30 until 4 pm. The event is open to the public.

High-Stakes Legal Battle In Federal Court: President Biden Accused of Complicity in Gaza ‘Genocide’ Case”

DAMON K JONES
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High-Stakes Legal Battle In Federal Court: President Biden Accused of Complicity in Gaza ‘Genocide’ Case”

A federal court in California has initiated a civil case accusing United States President Joe Biden and other senior US officials of complicity in Israel’s actions in Gaza. The lawsuit, filed by the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) on behalf of various parties, alleges that Biden, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin failed to prevent and were complicit in Israel’s actions, which the plaintiffs describe as a “genocide” against Palestinians in Gaza.

FEDERAL CASE PDF

During the recent court proceedings, lawyers, activists, and organizers, including doctors in Gaza, presented information about the situation that Palestinians have been facing for nearly four months. Since the conflict began on October 7, over 26,000 Palestinians have reportedly been killed in Israel’s bombardment of Gaza, following a Hamas attack on Israel that resulted in about 1,100 casualties in Israel.

The CCR is seeking a declaration from the court that the defendants violated their duty under customary international law to prevent Israel from committing genocide against the Palestinian people of Gaza. Additionally, the group is calling for the US to use its influence over Israel to end hostilities against Palestinians in Gaza.

The CCR argues that the US’s support for Israel, including providing weapons, violates the 1948 Genocide Convention. In response, lawyers representing the Biden administration are asserting a narrow legal argument, claiming that the court lacks the authority to rule on this matter. They cite the political doctrine, which concerns the separation of powers in the United States, suggesting that foreign policy, diplomacy, military activities, and relations with allies fall under the purview of the executive branch and are not subject to judicial action by other branches of the US government.

The judge in the case also appeared to question his authority, but he began the proceedings by acknowledging the difficult situation faced by Palestinians in Gaza. Additionally, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordered Israel to take measures to prevent acts that could be considered genocide in Gaza and do more to assist civilians. However, the ICJ did not call for a ceasefire, despite South Africa’s request for one when presenting the case to the court.

Joy-Ann Reid Is Coming To Westchester

AJ Woodson
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Joy-Ann Reid Is Coming To Westchester

Joy-Ann Reid, the host of MSNBC’s The ReidOut & New York Times bestselling author of ‘The Man Who Sold America,’ comes to Westchester’s Iona University in New Rochelle, Sunday, February 4th to discuss her new book that traces the extraordinary lives and legacy of civil rights icons Medgar and Myrlie Evers, situating Medgar Evers’s assassination as a catalyzing moment in American history.

Myrlie Louise Beasley met Medgar Evers on her first day of college. They fell in love at first sight, married just one year later, and Myrlie left school to focus on their growing family.

Medgar became the field secretary for the Mississippi branch of the NAACP, charged with beating back the most intractable and violent resistance to black voting rights in the country. Myrlie served as Medgar’s secretary and confidant, working hand in hand with him as they struggled against public accommodations and school segregation, lynching, violence, and sheer despair within their state’s “black belt.” They fought to desegregate the intractable University of Mississippi, organized picket lines and boycotts, despite repeated terroristic threats, including the 1962 firebombing of their home, where they lived with their three young children.

On June 12, 1963, Medgar Evers became the highest profile victim of Klan-related assassination of a black civil rights leader at that time; gunned down in the couple’s driveway in Jackson. In the wake of his tragic death, Myrlie carried on their civil rights legacy; writing a book about Medgar’s fight, trying to win a congressional seat, and becoming a leader of the NAACP in her own right.

In this groundbreaking and thrilling account of two heroes of the civil rights movement, Joy-Ann Reid uses Medgar and Myrlie’s relationship as a lens through which to explore the on-the-ground work that went into winning basic rights for Black Americans, and the repercussions that still resonate today. 

Westchester Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc, in partnership with Iona Univesity – Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging presents- An Afternoon with MSNBC Host and New York Times Best Selling Joy-Ann Reid.

Book: “Medgar & Myrlie: Medgar Evers and Love Story That Awakened America“

by Joy-Ann Reid

General Admission Ticket: Includes a copy of the book with an autographed book plate.

VIP Ticket: Includes the VIP Reception and includes a copy of the book with an autographed book plate

Additional Books: If you’re attending, you can buy additional books.

**You must attend the event to receive your book(s). No books will be mailed. **

To get your ticket click here

PBP Radio Episode 386 – The Attempted GOP Takeover Of Westchester Democratic Party

AJ Woodson
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PBP Radio Episode 386 – The Attempted GOP Takeover Of Westchester Democratic Party

On the 2024 Season Premiere of People Before Politics Radio, hosts Damon K. Jones and AJ Woodson are back with that ‘Real Talk For The Community’ with special guest co-host Shane Osinloye discussing the intentional influx of Republican funding to disrupt the political landscape by encouraging Republicans to switch their party affiliation to Democratic, with the expressed intention to unseat the incumbent—the first Black Congressman in New York Congressional District 16—Jamaal Bowman.

Feel free to join this important conversation and leave your feedback and thoughts in the comment section below.

Check out the Prelude to the Show Editorial, which includes all the links and websites discussed on the show so you can see them for yourself. To see the entire Rev W. Franklyn Richardson interview, click here

As always, you can follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube

Gaza’s Healthcare Crisis: Israel’s Targeting of Hospitals Sparks Humanitarian Alarm

DAMON K JONES
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Gaza’s Healthcare Crisis: Israel’s Targeting of Hospitals Sparks Humanitarian Alarm

Since the start of Israel’s military operation in Gaza on October 7th, the conflict has resulted in the tragic loss of over 25,000 Palestinian lives, with an alarming 70 percent of the casualties being women and children. A particularly distressing dimension of this ongoing conflict has been Israel’s deliberate targeting of hospitals and medical infrastructure, further worsening the already dire state of Gaza’s healthcare system, which has endured a 16-year blockade.

On a significant note, Israel encircled and bombarded Al-Shifa, Gaza’s largest hospital, over several days before launching a raid on the facility. Israel claimed the presence of a Hamas command center under Al-Shifa, a claim that Hamas vehemently denied. In the week leading up to this incident, Al-Shifa was already in a “catastrophic” state. Heavy fighting was ongoing in the vicinity, medical supplies were in short supply, utilities had been disrupted, and medical staff were compelled to work under candlelight, conducting surgeries without anesthesia.

What’s particularly distressing is that Israel gave just a one-hour notice for over 2,300 patients, medical personnel, and Palestinians who had sought shelter at Al-Shifa to evacuate before the assault. Given the circumstances, it was practically impossible to ensure the safety of all these vulnerable individuals within such a short timeframe.

As a result of Israeli attacks and power shortages, 26 out of 35 hospitals in Gaza are now non-functional. Only 9 hospitals and 18 clinics remain operational, but their capacity is severely limited. The hospitals in northern Gaza, where the conflict has been most intense, have ceased to function entirely.

It is worth noting that Israel has carried out 164 documented attacks on healthcare facilities in Gaza since October 7th. Hospitals, clinics, and ambulances have all been damaged or destroyed due to shelling and airstrikes. Importantly, targeting medical facilities constitutes a violation of international humanitarian law, regardless of Israel’s allegations that Hamas is using them. Hospitals are considered protected civilian structures under international law.

The collapse of Gaza’s healthcare system is a result of years of an Israeli-Egyptian blockade and the recent deliberate targeting by Israel’s military. The international community has been criticized for failing to exert pressure on Israel to comply with its legal obligations or suspend relations. Ultimately, an end to this devastating assault on civilians will only come when those responsible face genuine accountability for their serious breaches of international law. The denial of Palestinians’ right to medical care is a distressing consequence of the ongoing bombardment of Gaza.

World Court Orders Israel to Prevent Genocide of Palestinians in Gaza

DAMON K JONES
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World Court Orders Israel to Prevent Genocide of Palestinians in Gaza

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) recently ordered Israel to take several provisional measures in response to a case brought by South Africa alleging Israel committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. The measures aim to protect Palestinians from further harm while the case proceeds.

Specifically, the ICJ ordered Israel to:

  • Refrain from acts prohibited under the Genocide Convention
  • Prevent and punish direct calls encouraging genocide
  • Take immediate steps to ensure humanitarian aid reaches civilians in Gaza
  • Preserve evidence related to allegations of genocide
  • Report back in one month on compliance

Amnesty International’s Secretary General, Agnès Callamard, welcomed the ruling as an important reminder that international law has a crucial role in preventing genocide and protecting victims. She said the decision sends a message that the world is watching what’s happening in Gaza and will not stay silent.

However, Callamard stressed that while an important step, the ICJ ruling alone cannot end the death and devastation occurring in Gaza. An immediate ceasefire by all parties remains essential. Although the Court did not order a ceasefire, implementing one would be the most effective way to fulfill the ordered measures and alleviate civilian suffering.

The stakes are incredibly high, as the Court signaled that the very survival of Palestinians in Gaza is at risk. All states now must ensure Israel complies. World leaders, including from the US, UK, Germany and EU, must demonstrate respect for this legally binding decision and do everything possible to uphold the obligation to prevent genocide.

In addition to compliance with the ICJ’s order, states should take further steps like imposing a comprehensive arms embargo on Israel and Palestinian armed groups. The potential for genocide underscores the need for unified, effective pressure to stop the violence against civilians in Gaza.

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