City of Cocoa honors Richard Blake, first African American principal in Brevard Public Schools
The City of Cocoa honors the life of Richard 'Dick' Blake, the first African American principal in Brevard Public Schools post-desegregation.
Officials said Blake was the principal of Cocoa High School for 23 years and served on the Rockledge City Council for 40 years.
Blake was born in 1933 in Bonaventure, a small community just south of Rockledge, to migrant workers.
Officials said his roots showed a lifelong dedication to service.
In 2018, the Brevard County School Board unanimously voted to name Cocoa Jr./Sr. High School's stadium, the Richard 'Dick' Blake Stadium, in his honor.
According to the City of Cocoa Government, Blake Avenue is named after his father, Virgil, who was the first African American to serve on a major advisory board.
The city said to honor Blakes's memory, donations can be made to the Cocoa High School Richard 'Dick' Blake Scholarship fund.
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Los Angeles Times
7 hours ago
- Los Angeles Times
ICE arrested a California union leader. Does Trump understand what that means?
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Well, folks, we've seen. We've seen the unidentified masked men rounding up immigrants across the country and shipping them into life sentences at torturous foreign prisons; we've watched a 9-year-old Southern California boy separated from his father and detained for deportation; and Friday, across Los Angeles, we saw an anonymous military-style force of federal agents sweep up our neighbors, family members and friends in what seemed to be a haphazard and deliberately cruel way. And for those of you who have watched the video of Huerta's arrest, we've seen a middle-aged Latino man in a plaid button-down be roughly pushed by authorities in riot gear until he falls backward, and seems to strike his head on the curb. Huerta was, according to a television interview with Mayor Karen Bass, pepper-sprayed as well. Then he was taken to the hospital for treatment, then into custody, where he remains until a Monday arraignment. U.S. Atty. Bill Essayli wrote on social media that 'Federal agents were executing a lawful judicial warrant at a LA worksite this morning when David Huerta deliberately obstructed their access by blocking their vehicle. He was arrested for interfering with federal officers ... Let me be clear: I don't care who you are—if you impede federal agents, you will be arrested and prosecuted. No one has the right to assault, obstruct, or interfere with federal authorities carrying out their duties.' I have covered protests, violent and nonviolent, for more than two decades. In one of the first such events I covered, I watched an iconic union leader, Bill Camp, sit down in the middle of the road in a Santa suit and refuse to move. Police arrested him. But they managed to do it without violence, and without Camp's resistance. This is how unions do good trouble — without fear, without violence. Huerta understands the rules and power of peaceful protest better than most. 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Yahoo
10 hours ago
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Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Yahoo
Hours before WorldPride, US Park Police, NPS reopen key Pride gathering spot
Hours before the Capital Pride Parade during WorldPride in Washington, D.C., fencing at a key gathering spot for Pride celebrations is being taken down, two sources told ABC News. The decision comes following public outcry and a reversal by the U.S. Park Police and the National Park Service, which had made the decision to close off Dupont Circle Park ahead of Saturday's parade, which marks the 50th anniversary of Capital Pride. Two sources confirmed to ABC News that the park, long the site of unofficial Pride parties and gatherings in the city, is being reopened ahead of the event. The fencing was initially requested by the Metropolitan Police Department in April due to safety concerns following past incidents during Pride events, though there are no known credible threats to the nation's capital as tens of thousands gather to celebrate, officials told ABC News. After a debate between federal officials, city police and LGBTQ+ activists, the U.S. Park Police announced the park would close from 6 p.m. on Thursday, June 5, through approximately 6 p.m. on Sunday, June 8. MORE: Trump's military parade includes a dog and pony show. And the dog is named Doc Holliday While D.C. Police Chief Pamela Smith later rescinded the request to close the park, the National Park Service continued with the plan, prompting backlash from local politicians and activists. "D.C. is no stranger to high-profile gatherings," said Smith, the first African American woman to lead the U.S. Park Police in its 200-year-plus history, after attempting to get the closure rescinded after public backlash. "We have a proven track record of hosting them safely and successfully, and this year will be no different." Mayor Muriel Bowser then called for the decision to be reversed, and the reversal was granted. Preparations for the international celebration have been years in the making, and at least one party promoter had already advertised an event in the park before the closing was announced. Federal officials had said that closing the park was part of a broader federal security plan amid what they said were concerns about crowd control and potential disruptions. In recent years, the space has seen several incidents that that officials say prompted concern from law enforcement. According to authorities, in 2019, a person was arrested after gunshots caused crowds to flee. In 2023, the park was vandalized, resulting in $175,000 in damage to the historic fountain. In 2024, a group of minors was found drinking, smoking marijuana and fighting in the park. They later ran into nearby businesses and reportedly stole items. In a letter obtained by ABC News, the U.S. Park Police initially wrote that the closure was necessary to "secure the park, deter potential violence, reduce the risk of destructive acts and decrease the need for extensive law enforcement presences." MORE: 'We see you': In Trump-era Washington, World Pride 2025 organizers aim to bring 'hope' to LGBTQ+ community MPD will have an increased presence throughout D.C. during WorldPride and Capital Pride. It will coordinate with neighboring jurisdictions and activate special units to assist with crowd management and traffic. Police will also increase patrols in high-crime areas starting this weekend through the end of August. "MPD, alongside all of our district agencies and public safety partners, have been working for many months to plan for these large-scale events that are happening this summer, and our joint planning efforts have included site visits, tabletop exercise, intelligence coordination and layered security strategies tailored uniquely to these events to ensure that we can keep our city safe for World Pride 2025," Smith said. "We have been planning for over a year." Days after WorldPride, the nation's capital will host a June 14 military parade marking the 250th anniversary of the Army, though officials said there aren't any known credible threats for that event either. That Army parade will be the sixth National Special Security Event that Washington has hosted this year. "There's no place more experienced than the District of Columbia in executing these large-scale events," Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Justice Lindsey Appiah said last week.
