May 7, 2025

Attorney Terrance Reshay Robinson, chairman of community action group, Louisa United, answers the attacks of the Trump Administration at a "Hands Off" Rally, organized by the Louisa Democratic Party in Virginia. PHOTO: Hazel Trice Edney/Trice Edney News Wire

(TriceEdneyWire.com) - The first 100 days of the second Donald Trump presidency is being lauded by many MAGA (Make America Great Again) loyalists because of Trump’s string of executive orders against civil rights and his Project 2025 blueprint to reorganize the entire federal government and “replace the rule of law with right-wing” ideals, as described by the American Civil Liberties Union.

But Trump — aided by far-right extremists, his MAGA supporters, and remnants of the Republican Party — is being surprised by rising opposition from unexpected places as he moves full-tilt to reassert racial and political dominance.

CNN reports that his low 41 percent approval rating in a bi-partisan poll is the lowest for any newly elected president at 100 days dating back at least to Dwight Eisenhower – seven decades ago – which includes Trump’s own first term.

“Approval of Trump’s handling of the presidency is down 4 points since March, and 7 points lower than it was in late February. Just 22% say they strongly approve of Trump’s handling of the job, a new low, and about twice as many say they strongly disapprove (45%),” according to a CNN report.

Project 2025 is the cudgel that the Trump administration is using to implement his strategy, which has largely been an attack on African-Americans and other people of color.

“The actions of liberal politicians in Washington have created a desperate need and unique opportunity for conservatives to start undoing the damage the Left has wrought and build a better country for all Americans in 2025,” writes Harold Meyerson, editor at large at The American Prospect, quoting from the Project 2025 manifesto. “It is not enough for conservatives to win elections. If we are going to rescue the country from the grip of the radical Left, we need both a governing agenda and the right people in place, ready to carry this agenda out on day one of the next conservative administration.”

On the other hand, civil rights leaders point to the dismantling of civil rights protections and the attack on laws written to protect historically oppressed people.

“It is no coincidence that since taking office on Martin Luther King Day, the Trump administration’s most aggressive actions have targeted historically marginalized groups. In fact, the many blatantly illegal, unconstitutional, and bizarre actions we saw during the first month of Trump 2.0 – during which we also observed National Black History Month – are specifically harmful to Black Americans,” writes The Center for Progressive Reform’s Catalina Gonzalez and Rachel Mayo. “Attempts by Trump to freeze federal funding, close federal agencies, curb the rights of workers, and dismiss federal workers, through illegal means and by Republicans using budget reconciliation to cut federal funding for Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, food assistance, and public education, continue a shameful tradition in American history of systematically dehumanizing, disenfranchising, and stealing from Black Americans.”

Affected people have been fighting back against what is perceived as the administration’s crude and heavy-handed efforts to force perceived enemies of Trump to bow. In response, opponents and resistors are speaking out in the courts, filing lawsuits and also engaging in protests all over the country. Protests called “Hands Off” were held in nearly 2,000 cities and communities around the country April 5. More were organized for May Day on May 1 and sporadically throughout the year.

“If the Trump Administration will deport people without a hearing, without a trial, without explaining to them why they are being deported, what is to stop them from coming into your house? What is to stop them from arresting you? What is to stop them from arrested me for speaking out today?” Terrance Reshay Robinson, an attorney, asked a crowd during a “Hands Off” rally on the front steps of the Louisa Circuit Courthouse in Virginia. “It’s already happening,” he said. “I just saw on the news yesterday that an American citizen lost his protected travel status for speaking out against the Trump Administration. It’s happening in front of our eyes,” he said, illustrating that the Constitution’s First Amendment and due process protections are being lost. 

Meanwhile, the administration continues its culture wars, which many view as poisonous, ramping up its retribution campaign against perceived enemies and grabbing more power. One example is the takeover of the Kennedy Center, The Smithsonian Institution and particularly the National Museum of African American History and Culture, where Trump in March, signed an executive order demanding that museum officials remove “improper, divisive or anti-American ideology” from federally funded institutions and the African American museum by name.

The executive order also said: The Smithsonian has “come under the influence of a divisive, race-centered ideology,” and has “promoted narratives that portray American and Western values as inherently harmful and oppressive.”

“We do not run from or erase our history simply because we don’t like it,” U.S. Rep. Yvette Clarke of New York said in a statement to the news source, Capital B. “We embrace the history of our country — the good, the bad, and the ugly.”

Meanwhile, Capital B New’s Brandon Tensley shared comments from Morehouse University Prof. Clarissa Myrick-Harris who told the Associated Press: “It seems like we’re headed in the direction where there’s even an attempt to deny that the institution of slavery even existed, or that Jim Crow laws and segregation and racial violence against Black communities, Black families, Black individuals even occurred.”

The Smithsonian order is part of a broader attempt by Trump and his MAGA allies to so-called correct what they regard as widespread discrimination against white men. As he has done elsewhere across the federal government, Trump is using the withdrawal of federal funding and grants to coerce and terrorize these institutions in his effort to control all accurate public discourse around race.

House Speaker Hakeem Jeffries, in a letter to Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, warned of “dangerous efforts to manipulate cultural and historical narratives”, which is what Trump and MAGA Republican leaders and policymakers are doing.

According to the ACLU, “the administration’s ultimate goal would be the eradication of all programs designed to address profound and persistent inequalities in American life — with the effect of further entrenching, and indeed worsening systemic inequalities in access to education, health care, and economic opportunity.” 

Very little of American life has remained untouched by Trump in his first 100 days: the environment, the legal profession, the criminal justice system; federal government, colleges and universities, the judiciary, small businesses, corporations. Trump and his sidekick Elon Musk, who recently announced that he will soon leave the administration, have shattered federal agencies by shuttering some and slashing millions and sometimes billions of dollars from budgets.

Experts and pundits most aware of African American life, have reacted with alarm at the sheer scope, size and speed of the Trumpian strategy.

The administration is dismantling and neutering Civil Rights nationally; is in the process of shuttering the US Department of Education; has severely weakening the mandate of the US Department of Justice and its Civil Rights division; is attempting to disenfranchise millions of eligible Black voters; and has introduced sweeping provisions that would no longer recognize any plan or program to correct pervasive racism and systemic inequality.

National Urban League President/CEO Marc Morial describes the work of the Trump administration in his weekly column:

“The first 100 days of President Trump’s second administration have been an unrelenting assault on civil rights, civil liberties, economic justice, the constitutional separation of powers, and the rule of law itself. His administration has upended the global financial system, alienated longstanding allies, and steered the United States rapidly toward autocracy. He has imposed a grossly distorted version of the nation’s history to justify the elimination of pathways to equity and inclusion, and appointed Cabinet members and staffers who have actively embraced conspiracy theories, bigotry and racism.”

 

• MBDA to coordinate federal government programs and operations that affect the establishment, preservation, and strengthening of socially or economically disadvantaged businesses; 

• The establishment of grants for certain nonprofit organizations that provide services to MBEs as one of their primary activities; and

• A three-pronged approach to promote economic resiliency for minority businesses: an annual forum to review problems and programs relating to MBE capital formation, a study and report on alternative financing solutions for MBEs, and entrepreneurship education grants for certain institutions of higher education to develop and implement entrepreneurship curricula.

April 22, 2025

PHOTO: National Park Service

(TriceEdneyWire.com) - Now that Donald Trump is back in the White House, he has moved with all deliberate speed to dismantle all the hard-earned Civil Rights, social and economic gains African Americans struggled and fought for over the past 60 years.

He and other members of the regime claim that White Americans; especially White men, are discriminated against, contending that “there’s absolutely a bias against white people.” This is despite data from Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) that shows in 2022 anti-Black hate crime was the most common category in the FBI register of reported hate crime.

The anti-Black numbers are at least three times more common than anti-white hate crime. Trump has promised to levy taxes and fines against schools he deems “too woke,” and he has signed a flurry of executive orders during the early days of his administration destroying diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies in business, higher education, government and the workplace.

Trump and significant swathes of his MAGA base have also attacked critical race theory (CRT); pressured and bullied anyone who talks or teaches about the presence of persistent and pervasive systemic racism in America. Meanwhile, Republican governors, policymakers and state legislators are busily creating and passing laws erasing and whitewashing Black history in coursework and curricula across the country.

As they always have, Black people are fighting back. In response to these assaults, leadership of Black Voters Matter and the Atlanta-based King Center have announced a new partnership designed to fight against anti-Black policies, Trumpism, and others intent on marginalizing African-Americans.

“This collaboration brings together Black Voters Matter’s grassroots organizing power with The King Center’s rich historical and educational legacy to explore one of the Civil Rights Movement’s most powerful texts,” King Center CEO Dr. Bernice King said in a press release.

In the press release, King said the series – scheduled to begin in May this year – “aims to bring the profound wisdom of Dr. King’s 1963 Letter from Birmingham Jail to a new generation of activists and offer insight into how these teachings can be used to address the critical issues facing Black and marginalized communities today.”

This series will feature both virtual and in-person workshops.

Details of the new initiative was revealed in a media briefing hosted by Black Voters Matter and moderated by former MSNBC anchor Joy Reid.

Cliff Albright, co-founder of Black Voters Matter, said during a recent Zoom call marking the 62^nd anniversary of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr’s landmark Letter from a Birmingham Jail and announcing the new initiative that social justice and civil rights activists must consider “new and old tactics for a new and different time where we’re experiencing greater oppression.”

“We are excited to partner with The King Center on the new series, MLK’s Letter from the Birmingham Jail: A Prophetic Guide to Power, Love, Protest, and Liberation,” Albright said. “Sixty-two years later, Dr. King’s powerful message is still relevant and as urgent as ever as the anti-Black policies of extremists threaten to undo progress for Black and marginalized communities. We understand that direct action is a necessary tool to build power for our people.”

The participants shared ways how Black Americans can grab and capitalize this existential political moment.

“This letter isn’t just about the America that was – it’s about the America that we’re still fighting to create. When we teach this letter to a new generation, it’s not just about history; it’s about reimagining an America that truly delivers on its promises for all people,” said BVM co-founder LaTosha Brown. 

Albright, King and Brown said using King’s letter as a framework, the course “will ground participants’ understanding of today’s social justice movement through the exploration of four key themes, including civil disobedience, the distinction between just and unjust laws, the White moderate, and the role of the church within movements for change.”

“This series offers more than a reflection—it offers a blueprint for hope, resilience, and action. The goal of this series is to provide both historical context and practical tools to navigate the ongoing fight for justice,” King added.

She said the course will explore four key themes, including civil disobedience, the distinction between just and unjust laws, the White moderate, and the role of the church within movements for change.

“At this juncture in history, my father’s seminal writing, ‘Letter from Birmingham Jail,’ is both relevant and revelatory. Written in the spirit of Kingian nonviolence, the letter encompasses the mindset and methods necessary for challenging inhumanity, changing practices and policies, and creating a just, humane nation and world. The King Center looks forward to working with Black Voters Matter to host experiences that explore the mindset and methods upon which Daddy expounds in ‘Letter from Birmingham Jail.’ I invite you to join us and encourage you to invite others.”

Rather than seeing the administration’s war against Black people, his anti-Black rhetoric and policies and laws as a setback, Brown said, it should be viewed as an opportunity.

“I’m scared and angry but it’s clear that Black folk aren’t going anywhere,” Brown said. “Folks are organizing, people on the ground are resisting. We are not centering on those who oppress us. This is not a moment to surrender but to reflect [and] protect our people and reimagine what our community should look like, organizing and fortifying our communities.”

Brown said the Civil Rights and Voting Rights acts, DEI and Affirmative Action never fully encompassed the fairness, justice and equity Black people demand.

“Some of us actually believe that what we have has never been enough,” Brown said of DEI and Affirmative Action policies that Trump, Republicans and the US Supreme Court have eviscerated or overturned DEI policies,” said Brown. “The goal has always been more than racial tolerance. We have always been fighting for crumbs at the table,” he said. Instead we “must create the kind of North Star around what it is that we want for our communities.”

King’s non-violent philosophy infuses everything Black Voters Matter is about.

“In a climate already rife with division, it is crucial to focus on policies that address our society’s most pressing issues while upholding the dignity of even our staunchest political adversaries. The current political environment, marked by heightened polarization and frequent personal attacks, calls for a renewed commitment to respectful discourse,” the BVM website said. “As we move forward, we must remember that participating in the democratic process is not merely about casting votes but about reaffirming our commitment to a more just, humane, equitable, and peaceful world. By engaging in constructive dialogue and respecting each other’s personhood, we can work toward solutions that benefit all and strengthen the very fabric of our democracy.”

By focusing on constructive dialogue and respecting one another’s personhood, we can work toward solutions that benefit all and strengthen the very fabric of our democracy, BVM said. “This approach not only addresses the immediate challenges but also fosters a more inclusive and cohesive society in the long term. With this mindset and commitment, we move closer to realizing the Beloved Community.”

Democratic pollster Terrance Woodbury offered post-2024 election data on Black voters’ attitudes about the state of the country and their role in it.

Woodbury, founding partner of research and polling company HIT Strategies, said Black voters following the 2024 presidential elections have little trust in systems that aren’t working for them and are also losing faith in their ability to change them.

“For folks who have had inadequate results from the system–whether that system is democracy, whether that system is politics, whether that system is the financial system, the health care system–people don’t want to defend those systems that have otherwise failed them,” he said.

A December 2024 survey conducted one month after Trump’s re-election reveals a sharp, and what Woodbury characterizes as a historical low among Black voters and the belief that their vote can make a difference in their communities. In 2020, a year that saw national uprisings over racial injustice led by the Black Lives Matter movement, Woodbury said, 73 percent of Black voters believed in the power of their vote. However, by the end of 2024, that number tumbled to 25 percent.

“Black people’s perception of how their political power has dipped to 25 percent. It’s been the lowest since measuring began,” Woodbury explained. “We lost on election day and we’re losing rights and hard-fought freedoms. But resistance is showing up in different ways. Fear is contagious, so is courage.”

One of the best examples of power is a collective movement, Woodbury said, adding that Democrats are unable to communicate with Black people on social-cultural issues and despite public opprobrium for the system, Democrats continue to defend the system and offer no reason for people’s pain.  

In the aftermath of the conversation, Albright and Brown reiterated their belief that despite troubling reverses Black Americans have experienced, this time presents an opportunity to rebuild and expand their political power in ways we haven’t seen. It is crucial for African Americans to resist Trump’s agenda, find ways to close the racial equity gaps and transform American society.

Said Albright, “We embrace non-violent civil disobedience. We are grounding ourselves in these tactics, work, science and tactics of non-violence. We’ll have coalitions, take it to the streets, organize marches and sit-ins.”

April 22, 2025

Don Black of Milwaukee

Big Dawg of Detroit

Adimu Colon of Philadelphia

Mikey Dredd of Philadelphia

NEW YORK, NY – Six radio hosts in Philadelphia, Milwaukee, and Detroit are channeling their voices and energy to the You Have the Power to Save Lives campaign. As overdose has risen to become the leading preventable cause of death among Black adults in the US, the collaboration of local and national leaders seeks to promote public uptake of the overdose-reversing medicine, naloxone, in the community and raise awareness of its benefits.

The hosts recently hit the radio airwaves with strong messages advocating for Black communities to get free naloxone, also known by its brand name Narcan, available in their neighborhoods. Participating in the campaign are:

Ø Philadelphia hosts, Mikey Dredd, Morning Host of the Rise & Grind Morning Show on Power 99 WUSL, and Adimu Colon, Host of the Quiet Storm on 105.3 WDAS FM

Ø Detroit hosts, Bushman, the PM Drive host on Mix 92.3, and Bigg Dawg Blast, the PM Drive host on FM 98 WJLB

Ø Milwaukee hosts, Don Black, midday host and Program Director of Milwaukee Radio Group’s Jammin' 98.3 WJMR, and Trey White, afternoon drive host of iHeartMedia’s V100.7 FM

Having lost friends and relatives to drug overdose, the hosts’ narratives are authentic and powerful. Their messages resonate. To listen, go to the audio section in our website's newsroom.

The "You Have the Power to Save Lives" campaign launched last month in seven U.S. cities: Philadelphia, PA; Albuquerque, NM; Detroit, MI; Louisville, KY; Durham, NC; Milwaukee, WI; and Newark, NJ. The campaign, with its strong focus on community engagement, focuses on activating community leaders in Black communities to expand the availability and utilization of naloxone, a lifesaving, overdose-reversing nasal spray medication. At the heart of the campaign is a new website – YouCanSaveLives.org – where people can find out where to obtain naloxone near them, hear powerful, real-world testimonials, and take action to spread the word about the importance of naloxone.

Supported by public health organization Vital Strategies, the campaign includes more than a dozen community groups, health organizations, and local government agencies. Their efforts focus on establishing new naloxone distribution points in Black communities—including neighborhood gathering spaces and local health providers—to reduce stigma around carrying naloxone and empower individuals to save lives in the event of an overdose.

The campaign also released a report consolidating recent evidence that illustrates the need for urgent action to save lives. Overdose rates in Black communities have been rising for the past ten years, but have skyrocketed since 2020, when overdose rates in the Black population overtook rates in the white population.  

Daliah Heller, Vice President for Overdose Prevention Initiatives at Vital Strategies, thanked the radio hosts for participating in the campaign, saying, “They have powerful voices that can help the campaign save lives. We are grateful for their participation.”

Further, Heller said, “We are cautiously optimistic about declining overdose death rates nationally, but after years of skyrocketing rates, the wide disparities experienced by Black communities are raising the alarm. Rates are higher among Black adults than their white counterparts; we urgently need equitable and focused strategies. This campaign is making lifesaving naloxone more widely available in Black communities.”

Vital Strategies is a global health organization that believes every person should be protected by a strong public health system. Our overdose prevention program works to strengthen and scale evidence-based, data-driven policies and interventions to create equitable and sustainable reductions in overdose deaths in several U.S. states and local jurisdictions.

The National Black Harm Reduction Network is dedicated to advancing harm reduction principles that optimize health and wellness for Black people who are disproportionately harmed by public health initiatives, the criminal legal system, and drug policies.