Roland S. Martin's Blog, page 201

Moment Of Silence Marks 6 Months Since Newtown

Newtown held a moment of silence Friday for the victims of the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School at a remembrance event that doubled as a call to action on gun control. (June 14)

Colorado Storm Chaser Tim Samaras Killed In Oklahoma Tornado Along With Son, Longtime Partner

Source: Anica Padilla / TheDenverChannel.com Colorado storm chaser Tim Samaras, his son Paul Samaras, and longtime chase partner Carl Young were killed in the EF-3 tornado that tore through El Reno, Oklahoma Friday. “They put themselves in harm’s way so that they can educate the public about the destructive power of these storms,” Canadian County [...]

Medgar Evers 50th Anniversary Commemoration Events – June 5-13

Source:  Beth Alexander  / WJTV.com Jackson, Miss. – Myrlie Evers, chairman of the Board of Directors of the Medgar and Myrlie Evers Institute, has released the schedule for the national commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the assassination of her late husband Medgar Evers, a Mississippi civil rights pioneer. The Institute has partnered with museums, universities, foundations [...]

What SCOTUS Might Do In The Big Affirmative Action Case

Source: Sahil Kapur / Talking Points Memo The Supreme Court is expected to rule soon — possible as early as Monday — on the constitutionality of affirmative action in an important case about the diversity-based admission policies of the University of Texas, Austin. And some court watchers believe the justices have already tipped their hands on the [...]

Former NBA Star Mookie Blaylock’s Condition Upgraded To Serious

Source: Alexis Stevens / The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Former NBA star and Hawks player Mookie Blaylock’s condition was upgraded from critical to serious Saturday, a day after he was involved in a head-on collision in Clayton County that left a woman dead. Blaylock, 46, was driving a Cadillac Escalade northbound on Tara Boulevard when for unknown reasons, he crossed [...]

Supporters Pray For Justice For The Parents Of Trayvon Martin

Source: Audra D.S. Bush / The Miami Herald Hundreds of supporters — mothers, fathers, sons and daughters — gathered at a Miami-Dade church Saturday to prayerfully send off the parents of slain teenager Trayvon Martin as they travel about 250 miles to Central Florida for the trial of the man accused of killing their son [...]

The Clarion-Ledger: Who Was Medgar Evers? (VIDEO)

Medgar Evers stood for several key issues in the civil rights movement, but nothing held more importance to him than getting African Americans to exercise their rights as citizens by registering to vote. (Video by Courtney Cronin/The Clarion-Ledger.)

Eudora Welty’s Short Story On Medgar Evers’ Death: ‘From The Unknown’

Source: The Clarion Ledger Editor’s note: Eudora Welty was so angry about Medgar Evers’ assassination in Jackson on June 12, 1963, that she wrote a short story ultimately titled, “Where Is the Voice Coming From?” and published it in the July 6, 1963, New Yorker. Here, a half century later, is an early draft of [...]

Remembering Medgar Evers: The Legacy He Left Behind

He was a hustler, and she was a homemaker. He was the older brother, she the devoted wife. Medgar Evers’ death changed their lives. Forever.

LIVE VIDEO: Oklahoma Tornado Coverage

A large tornado has touched down just west of Oklahoma City, with some damage already being reported.