Content Tagged As racism
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Business owner who settled federal racism complaint appointed by governor to elite board Play Video
May 25, 2023 5:09 PM
BATON ROUGE - The owner of a popular Lafayette-area butcher shop that was sanctioned by a federal judge and slapped with a consent decree due to racism was recently appointed to the State Police Commission. Mark Aubrey Cole owns Don's Specialty Meats. A Don's employee alleged he was exposed... more » -
Deputies: Juveniles facing hate crime charges after multiple armed robberies appearing to target Hispanic victims
May 26, 2022 9:30 PM
BATON ROUGE - Deputies made two arrests Wednesday of juveniles connected to several armed robberies on and around Gardere Lane throughout May. The East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office responded to reports of an armed robbery and gunfire on the 8500 block of Rush Avenue. Victims on the scene reported... more » -
Governor Edwards pardons Homer Plessy, of 'separate but equal' ruling
January 5, 2022 6:54 AM
NEW ORLEANS - An act of injustice that occurred 130 years ago has been addressed. Governor John Bel Edwards on Wednesday officially pardoned Homer Plessy, a 19th century French-speaking Creole person of color whose arrest led to one of the most criticized Supreme Court decisions in US history. ... more » -
Judge's son removed from LSU track team amid outcry over racist video Play Video
December 16, 2021 3:03 PM
LAFAYETTE - The son of a Lafayette-area judge is no longer a member of the LSU Track & Field team after a racist video recorded at the family's home prompted nationwide calls for her resignation. In the video, which surfaced on social media earlier this week, Lafayette City Court... more » -
Judge clears civil rights pioneer's record 66 years after unjust arrest
December 16, 2021 9:12 AM
MONTGOMERY, Alabama - Claudette Colvin, now 82 years old, was only 15 when she cited her rights to an Alabama bus driver who insisted she give up her seat to a White person. Colvin's refusal to comply with the racist demand resulted in her arrest. The incident occurred... more » -
Lafayette judge under fire for alleged connection to video featuring racist remarks
December 14, 2021 7:59 AM
LAFAYETTE - A Louisiana judge is facing widespread criticism for her alleged connection to a video containing racist slurs. According to KATC , Lafayette City Court Judge Michelle Odinet and her family were the victims of an armed burglary Saturday. The suspect, a 59-year-old man named Robert Handy,... more » -
Rolling Stones remove controversial song, 'Brown Sugar,' from tour setlist
October 14, 2021 5:20 AM
The Rolling Stones song 'Brown Sugar' has been criticized for years . Written primarily by Mick Jagger, the tune is the opening track and lead single from the band's 1971 album, 'Sticky Fingers.' Its lyrics bring listeners in with opening lines about enslaved Africans, violence against Black women,... more » -
Volunteers work together to clean defaced statue of George Floyd
October 4, 2021 5:09 AM
MANHATTAN, New York - On Sunday morning, surveillance footage in New York City's Union Square captured video of a man on a skateboard fleeing after defacing a work of art with deep significance to many in the local community and beyond. The vandal threw paint at a statue of... more » -
Father sues Michigan school district for $1m after teacher cuts his daughter's hair
September 17, 2021 7:33 AM
ISABELLA COUNTY, Michigan - A Michigan man is suing his seven-year-old daughter's school district for one million dollars after a teacher cut her hair without parental permission. According to BBC News , Jimmy Hoffmeyer's lawsuit against Mt. Pleasant Public Schools includes two staff members at Ganiard Elementary School who... more » -
US Senate votes to make Juneteenth a federal holiday
June 16, 2021 1:20 PM
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Senate unanimously passed a bill Tuesday night that would make Juneteenth a federal holiday. The vote advances the bill to the House of Representatives, where it’s expected to pass due to overwhelming support from Democrats. If the bill passes the House, it will make its... more » -
Construction on Amazon warehouse paused as eighth noose is found on site
May 28, 2021 9:25 AM
WINDSOR, Connecticut - Amazon temporarily paused the construction of a new US warehouse in Connecticut after an eighth noose was found on the property, according to BBC News . The noose was discovered Wednesday, but this was actually the second time that a noose had been found within a... more » -
New advisory committee will evaluate if street names tied to Confederacy should be changed Play Video
May 12, 2021 8:58 PM
BATON ROUGE - A new group created by the East Baton Rouge Metro Council will spend a year studying Confederate street names, and evaluate whether they should be changed. The EBR Metro Council approved the measure in a unanimous vote Wednesday, after pushing it back two weeks ago due... more » -
K-pop stars share personal accounts of prejudice, racial discrimination
March 30, 2021 9:06 AM
As alarming incidents of violence against Asian Americans continue to occur across the U.S., a number of celebrities like Sandra Oh and Charles Melton have been speaking out against racist behavior and attitudes. #StopAsianHateCrimes #stopasianshate pic.twitter.com/YnkDLX9DJD — Sandra Oh (@IamSandraOh) March 18, 2021 ... more » -
Acts of prejudice, violence against Asian Americans reportedly on the increase in U.S.
March 17, 2021 8:44 AM
An alliance of organizations that have partnered to track reports of racism and discrimination against Asian Americans says it has received at least 3,795 firsthand complaints since last year, CNN reports. Stop AAPI Hate began tracking violence and harassment against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders on March 19 during... more » -
Judge reinstates third-degree murder charge against Derek Chauvin in George Floyd's death
March 11, 2021 11:46 AM
As of Thursday (March 11) morning, former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin now faces an additional murder charge in the death of George Floyd. According to CNN , the decision was made by a Hennepin County judge, who reinstated a count of third-degree murder. The news outlet notes... more » -
Time for 'cultural unity,' Baton Rouge private school says while addressing students' offensive social media post
January 20, 2021 5:02 PM
BATON ROUGE - Organizations continue to grapple with offensive or abhorrent remarks amid ongoing political and cultural divides. Wednesday, Parkview Baptist was the latest to address social media posts featuring students using offensive language. Monday, on Martin Luther King Day, students were seen in a picture message with the... more » -
Months after council vote, Confederate monument removed outside old Plaquemine courthouse Play Video
January 19, 2021 1:18 PM
PLAQUEMINE - A controversial monument located outside a former courthouse in Iberville Parish is now gone, about seven months after elected officials first voted to take it down . Pictures taken outside the courthouse Tuesday show the monument has been removed, leaving a bare pedestal outside the building. Witnesses... more » -
Woman allegedly attacked famous musician's teen son, now in custody
January 8, 2021 7:13 AM
MANHATTAN, New York - After a Grammy-award winning jazz musician took to social media to inform the public that his 14-year-old son became the target of what he viewed as a racially-fueled attack , authorities took note of the situation and as of this week, a woman connected to the... more » -
Louisville Police Dept preparing to fire two detectives tied to Breonna Taylor raid
December 30, 2020 6:20 AM
LOUISVILLE, Kentucky - Nearly nine months after a civilian woman was shot to death by law enforcement during a flawed raid of her home, officials are on the verge of firing two detectives who were involved in the case. According to CNN , the Louisville Metro Police Department sent... more » -
Grammy-winning musician says his teen son was assaulted during 'traumatic' racial profiling incident
December 29, 2020 12:34 PM
A Grammy-award winning jazz musician took to social media to let the public know exactly what happened when his 14-year-old son allegedly became the target of racism. Though nationally recognized trumpeter Keyon Harrold has performed at the White House and worked alongside artists such as Beyonce, Mac Miller, and... more » -
Seattle to cut funding to police dept by 18%, invest $100 million in communities of color
November 25, 2020 6:37 AM
SEATTLE, Washington - At least one American city is responding to public outcries to take drastic measures to reduce episodes of police brutality by cutting funding to its police department. According to CNN , Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan plans to sign a new city budget that includes an 18%... more » -
After suing City of Milwaukee on claims of police brutality, NBA player reaches $750,000 settlement with city
November 10, 2020 6:24 AM
WILWAUKEE, Wisconsin - After suing the City of Milwaukee on claims of being unnecessarily tackled, tased, and stepped on by police in Milwaukee, an African American NBA player has reached a $750,000 proposed settlement with the city, CNN reports. The alleged incident of police brutality, Milwaukee Bucks player Sterling... more » -
Louisiana among 15 states observing 'Indigenous Peoples' Day' instead of 'Columbus Day'
October 12, 2020 10:53 AM
Whether or not its acceptable to continue celebrating Columbus Day has been a matter of debate in states, cities and municipalities around the US for many years, and CNN reports that Virginia is the latest state to officially replace observation of 'Columbus Day' with the celebration of 'Indigenous Peoples' Day.'... more » -
Feds requested heat ray before clearing DC protest, National Guard Major says
September 17, 2020 6:51 AM
Federal officials considered the purchase of a heat ray that makes targets' skin feel like it's burning and amassed thousands of rounds of ammunition in preparation for clearing a peaceful protest in Lafayette Square in June, according to written House testimony from an Army National Guard major who was at... more » -
Country music star, Dolly Parton, says she fully supports Black Lives Matter
August 14, 2020 7:39 AM
Country music star, Dolly Parton voiced her support of the Black Lives Matter movement during a recent interview, and offered proof of her sincerity by pointing to her actions. According to CNN , the 74-year-old singer, actress, and entrepreneur made the comments during an interview with Billboard magazine, touching... more » -
Va mayor faces backlash after social media post compares Biden's running mate choices to 'Aunt Jemima'
August 6, 2020 9:09 AM
LURAY, Virginia - The mayor of a small town in Virginia is in hot water after a post that insulted several nationally recognized Black female politicians showed up on his Facebook page. CNN reports that Barry Presgraves, the mayor of Luray, featured the following post on his Facebook page:... more » -
David Duke, former KKK leader, permanently banned from Twitter
July 31, 2020 10:49 AM
Former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke has been banned from Twitter for breaking the social media platform's site’s rules forbidding hate speech. According to ABC News , the company said Friday that Duke's account “has been permanently suspended for repeated violations of the Twitter rules on hateful conduct.”... more » -
Multiple agencies issue statements in support of BRPD Chief, BR Mayor
July 21, 2020 8:55 AM
BATON ROUGE - At least ten organizations and prominent individuals with ties to Louisiana's Capital City issued statements Tuesday (July 21) morning, detailing their support of Baton Rouge Police Chief Murphy Paul and East Baton Rouge Parish Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome. The National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives... more » -
Washington NFL team announce decision to change 'Redskins' nickname
July 12, 2020 11:19 PM
According to ESPN, t he Washington Redskins will officially announce on Monday morning that they will change their nickname. No new name will be revealed as of right now, a source confirmed Sunday night. Sports Business Daily, who first reported Monday's official announcement, also stated that the new... more » -
Watch the WBRZ race relations broadcast here; Rebroadcast coming next week Play Video
July 10, 2020 1:54 PM
BATON ROUGE – WBRZ will present a special broadcast focused on conversations about race and inequality in the Greater Baton Rouge area. The commercial-free, 30-minute program will be seen on WBRZ Channel 2 and WBRZ Plus throughout the next few weeks. The broadcast will premiere at 11:30 Sunday (July... more » -
East Feliciana Parish leaders won't remove Confederate statue Play Video
July 6, 2020 9:12 AM
CLINTON - The East Feliciana Parish Police Jury voted to keep a 111-year-old Confederate statue outside of the East Feliciana courthouse. A vote from leaders came Monday evening after earlier discussions on if the statue should be removed. The 30-foot-tall statue of a Confederate soldier has been in front... more » -
Bernard says she wasn't shopping during board meeting, her browser history may say otherwise
June 30, 2020 7:35 AM
BATON ROUGE - After one of the EBR School board member's most controversial figures was accused of secretly engaging in online shopping during an important meeting about race and equality , the entire nation tuned into the incident. Earlier this month, after Connie Bernard came under fire, even being... more » -
Protesters demand for removal of Confederate statue in Port Allen Play Video
June 28, 2020 10:02 PM
PORT ALLEN - Dozens of residents and some elected officials marched to the West Baton Rouge Parish Courthouse on Sunday, demanding that the statue of a former Governor of Louisiana and slave owner be removed. "I don't see no Jews celebrating no Hitler. I don't want this nowhere. Not... more » -
Jenna Marbles apologizes for offensive videos, temporarily leaves YouTube
June 26, 2020 9:08 AM
On Thursday, one of YouTube's most popular content creators, Jenna Marbles, posted a tearful video apologizing for previous content she'd created that smacks of racism and slut shaming, before telling viewers she would be taking a leave of absence from her YouTube channel. In her apologetic video, Marbles pointed... more » -
Family of 'ER' actress shot and killed by police, files wrongful death suit against officers
June 25, 2020 10:58 AM
After a 49-year-old actress who appeared to be suffering from a severe medical condition was shot and killed by police in August of 2018, her mother filed a lawsuit against the officers involved. CNN reports that actress, Vanessa Marquez was most known for her work on the hit 1990's... more » -
Rhode Island's Gov. signs executive order that could change the state's official name
June 23, 2020 9:03 AM
In acknowledgment of the devastating effects of the forced enslavement of Africans in the United States, many officials are looking into changing the names of historical monuments and buildings that appear to cast individuals associated with slavery and racism in a positive light. And as talks of name-changes continue,... more » -
Peaceful demonstrators pray for justice, unity in New Orleans' Congo Square
June 15, 2020 8:35 AM
NEW ORLEANS - Demonstrators in New Orleans organized peaceful rallies centered around the promotion of non-violence and open discussion on Sunday. According to WWL-TV , the hundreds of participants who congregated in Congo Square to participate in an interfaith prayer event were from diverse backgrounds. The... more » -
La Senate approves creation of task force to analyze, address issues in local law enforcement procedures Play Video
June 15, 2020 7:18 AM
BATON ROUGE - During a Sunday meeting, Louisiana’s Senate unanimously approved the creation of a task force that would study and make policy recommendations to improve the training, screening, and de-escalation skills of law enforcement officers. The task force has until February of 2021 to develop recommendations for lawmakers... more » -
Confederate statue in East Feliciana Parish could be taken down Play Video
June 14, 2020 9:23 PM
ST. FRANCISVILLE - Action could be taken as soon as Monday, to possibly remove the confederate statue at the courthouse in East Feliciana Parish. Right next door in West Feliciana a discussion about the confederate statue in that parish hasn't even been brought up. "If people seem... more » -
Large group marches in Walker to protest police brutality Play Video
June 14, 2020 12:13 AM
WALKER - About a hundred residents gathered for a march on Saturday to bring awareness of racial injustice in the small town of Walker in Livingston Parish. "The Walker community has chosen to fight for the same reason everybody else is, " march organizer Alan Bell said. ... more » -
BR mayor announces establishment of Commission on Racial Equity and Inclusion Play Video
June 12, 2020 10:18 AM
BATON ROUGE - Citizens across the nation are demanding that local government institutions, specifically law enforcement agencies, change the way they interact with members of the African American community. On Friday morning, East Baton Rouge Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome touched on this topic during a press conference regarding recent... more » -
Middleton family against LSU's decision to change main library's name
June 12, 2020 8:06 AM
BATON ROUGE - On Thursday afternoon, Governor John Bel Edwards spoke in support of LSU's decision to rename its main library due to the discovery of at least one seemingly prejudiced letter written by the library's namesake, former LSU President, Troy H. Middleton. But not everyone approves of the... more » -
OLOL healthcare workers kneel for nearly nine minutes in honor of George Floyd
June 10, 2020 10:48 AM
BATON ROUGE - When footage of George Floyd's murder at the hands of a police officer went viral, members of a horrified global community engaged in protests for racial equality and in demonstrations organized to honor Floyd's life. According to The Advocate , such a demonstration took place in... more » -
LSU promises change, announces plans to rename Middleton Library for racial justice Play Video
June 10, 2020 10:25 AM
BATON ROUGE - Louisiana State University has come under fire for its response to viral videos of an incoming freshman and sophomore using racial slurs in reference to African Americans. When footage of incoming freshman, Drew Dollar shouting an offensive racial slur was made public by actress/activist Skai Jackson... more » -
Malcolm Jenkins of NOLA's Saints, other athletes say NFL should apologize to Kaepernick
June 10, 2020 8:05 AM
According to CNN , as New Orleans Saints' player, Malcolm Jenkins said the NFL owes Colin Kaepernick an apology, other nationally recognized sports figures supported this with comments of their own, some saying Kaepernick should be allowed to return to the league. Speaking to reporters during a Tuesday morning... more » -
Founder of CrossFit issues apology for negative comment about racial equality protests
June 9, 2020 11:11 AM
BATON ROUGE - A number of CrossFit-affiliated gyms across the country, including several in Baton Rouge and New Orleans, are cutting ties with the company after its chief executive officer made negative comments about racial inequality protests on his Twitter account. According to The Advocate , when the Institute... more » -
Statue of 17th century slave trader destroyed, dragged through streets by English protesters
June 8, 2020 11:28 AM
BRISTOL, England - The world watched as the bronze statue of a prominent 17th Century slave trader was pulled down during an anti-racism protest in Bristol, England, Sunday. Protesters in Bristol have pulled down the statue of 17th-century slave trader Edward Colston and pushed it into the... more » -
LSU: Prospective student who posted racist video won't attend school in the fall Play Video
June 8, 2020 9:41 AM
BATON ROUGE - LSU said in a new tweet Monday (June 15), the admitted student who posted an offensive video on social media earlier in the month will not be attending LSU in the fall. LSU tweeted the new information in a Twitter thread about the situation. ... more » -
Locals to hold prayer vigil for George Floyd, Friday afternoon
June 5, 2020 9:23 AM
BATON ROUGE - A global community shaken yet united by the COVID-19 health crisis, is now united in honoring the late George Floyd . Across the globe, demonstrators have been speaking out against police brutality and racism after learning of Floyd's death at the hands of a Minnesota Police... more » -
K-pop fans unite to drown out racially insensitive tweets
June 3, 2020 11:54 AM
On Wednesday morning, the hashtag #WhiteLivesMatter was trending on Twitter. But if a user were to investigate the reason for the hashtag's spot among trending topics, they'd find that K-Pop fans were behind the majority of recent #WhiteLivesMatter tweets. When some users utilized the hashtag to promote opinions... more » -
High profile entertainment industry figures call for racial equality
June 2, 2020 8:58 AM
When the COVID-19 health crisis emerged on U.S. soil and officials labeled the virus as a serious threat, a number of high profile CEO's and Hollywood A-listers took quick action. Some made donations to relief efforts while others sacrificed their own pay to cover the cost of health care/pay... more » -
Daughter of New York City mayor arrested during weekend protests
June 1, 2020 10:38 AM
NEW YORK - As protesters in New York City were arrested on Saturday night, Chiara de Blasio was a young black woman among the many who were handcuffed and detained. But the 25-year-old is no average citizen, de Blasio happens to be the daughter of New York City's mayor.... more » -
McDonald's in China allegedly featured sign banning black people from entering premises
April 14, 2020 1:07 PM
A McDonald's in southern China allegedly displayed a sign that banned black people from entering the restaurant. The sign, which recently circulated on social media, said the McDonald's location in Guangzhou has "been informed that from now on black people are not allowed to enter the restaurant." ... more » -
U.S. House of Representatives passes Emmett Till Anti-lynching law
February 27, 2020 10:01 AM
On Wednesday, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to make lynching a federal crime. This decision comes 100 years after lawmakers first attempted to criminalize lynching. The House's first attempt was in 1900, according to the Washington Post , and was sponsored by Rep George Henry White -... more » -
Father disturbed when his two-year-old catches racist figurine during Mardi Gras parade
February 18, 2020 10:02 AM
GRETNA - The Advocate reports that when a man and his son attended a parade in Gretna this past Saturday, the man was shocked by what he saw when he took a look at one of the items his two-year-old son caught. Pablo Reyes told The Advocate he and... more » -
Cop's alleged racist messages on gay chat app under investigation Play Video
May 23, 2017 11:54 AM
GONZALES – A conversation purported to involve a Gonzales Police officer and another man on a gay dating app is under investigation for racist language. The conversation happened around 3 a.m. recently on a smart phone dating app called Grindr where the officer discussed his dissatisfaction with an African... more » -
School district: BR business used racial slurs at students during trip Play Video
May 19, 2017 12:22 PM
ST. HELENA – The St. Helena Parish School District has accused staff at a Baton Rouge recreation center of using racial slurs to describe students during a field trip. According to the complaint letter, the school district says the incident happened Wednesday at the Area 51 Extreme Air Sports... more » -
Band director no longer at Dutchtown Middle School after racial slur post Play Video
May 5, 2017 8:11 PM
UPDATE: Richard Bresowar is no longer at Dutchtown Middle School. DUTCHTOWN- The band director at Dutchtown Middle School used a version of the N-word this week in a social media post. Richard Bresowar responded to a Facebook post by Ascension Parish Councilman Daniel Satterlee who was asking for... more » -
INVESTIGATIVE UNIT: Parish boss suspended for using "n word" Play Video
March 8, 2017 5:13 PM
CLINTON- The highest ranking parish appointed employee in East Feliciana Parish is on suspension tonight, after she admitted to police jurors she sent racist text messages to another employee on her parish phone. Barbara Vail, known as "Babs" in East Feliciana Parish, has been an employee for the parish for... more »