Latest news with #RosaParksDay
New York Post
4 days ago
- Politics
- New York Post
Assembly Democrats effectively kill bipartisan bill commemorating Oct. 7 attack on Israel
ALBANY – Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie torpedoed a bipartisan bill that would have commemorated the horrific Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel. The Bronx pol went to extraordinary lengths Friday to ensure that the measure would not make it to the Assembly floor for a vote, stacking a committee with compliant Democratic allies who'd vote to scuttle it, sources said. The bill, sponsored by Republican Assemblyman Lester Chang, would have enshrined Oct. 7 alongside other days of commemoration in the Empire State, such as 'Rosa Parks Day' and 'Susan B. Anthony Day.' Advertisement 4 Heastie took extraordinary measures to make sure the bill wouldn't pass the Assembly floor for a vote. Getty Images Sources suggested that Heastie, the most powerful Democrat in the Assembly, likely didn't want a bill with a Republican as its primary sponsor reach the floor for a vote — even though a number of Dems co-sponsored it. 'It shouldn't be controversial just because I'm a Republican,' said Chang (R-Brooklyn). Advertisement 'It's ugly. It's destructive. It's hurtful for both sides,' Chang said of Heastie's actions, adding, 'And it's important that we remember 1,200 victims.' The move to kill the Oct. 7 bill follows chaotic behind-the-scenes drama that unfolded this week when Heastie permitted putting up a resolution honoring Palestinian Americans onto the floor before yanking it at the last minute. The lower chamber's ways and means committee also killed a bill by Assemblyman Ari Brown (R-Nassau) that would've required New York schools to teach about Oct. 7, in addition to making it a day of commemoration like Chang's measure. Brown, who is Jewish, accused the Democrats of 'veiled antisemitism.' Advertisement 'Albany's legislature is rotten with veiled antisemitism, and their sabotage of my bill, A06557, to honor October 7th victims and fight hate, is proof,' Brown said. 'If this were a bill for the Black or Hispanic community, it would've passed with praise and fanfare. This isn't just obstruction; it's a vile, calculated betrayal of Jews as a minority, letting hatred win with their cowardly tactics.' Other lawmakers piled on condemning the Democrats' allegedly craven — or worse — motivations. 'It's particularly disheartening to see a bill held for purely political reasons,' said Assemblyman Ed Ra (R-Nassau), the top GOP lawmaker on the ways and means committee. Advertisement 'These bills are designed to ensure we remember the atrocities of October 7, 2023 and help combat antisemitism, neither of which should ever be partisan or political.' 4 Sources say Heastie didn't want a bill with a Republican as its primary sponsor. Hans Pennink The Oct. 7, 2023 attacks by terrorist group Hamas and Israel's subsequent war in Gaza have roiled New York politics and exposed bitter rifts among Democrats. The divide can be clearly seen in New York City's mayoral race, where old-school Democrat Andrew Cuomo has presented himself as a steadfast supporter of Israel and its fight against Hamas. Cuomo is the contest's frontrunner, but Israel critic Zohran Mamdani — a Democratic socialist Assembly member from Queens — is nipping at his heels. Many progressive Dems and leftists have claimed Israel's actions amount to genocide against Palestinians. Pro-Israel advocates have said that stance is antisemitic. 4 Republican Assemblyman Lester Chang, who sponsored the bill, said, 'It shouldn't be controversial just because I'm a Republican.' Hans Pennink One high-ranking Democratic Big Apple lawmaker said uniting over commemorating the 1,200 victims and dozens of hostages still being held by Hamas should be a no-brainer. Advertisement 'There should be no controversy of a day commemorating the largest slaughter of Jews since the Holocaust,' the lawmaker said. The bill's road to legislative purgatory began when ways and means committee Chair and top Heastie lieutenant Assemblyman Gary Pretlow (D-Westchester) announced that four regular members of the panel would be substituted by other, 'acting' members. The four members included one Jewish lawmaker and another who res a district with a significant Jewish population, as well as Assemblywoman Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn (D-Brooklyn), would've voted against killing it, her spokesperson said. But the spokesperson noted that Bichotte Hermelyn would've preferred the bill had a Democratic sponsor. Advertisement Chang said that he'd be willing to let a Democrat take over as the bill's sponsor if it meant passing it. Substitutions on committees aren't unheard of, but the maneuver is usually made to spare a member from making a tough vote or when leadership expects some of its members to vote out of line, as happened Friday. Several Democrats – Assemblymembers Ed Braunstein, William Colton, Jeffrey Dinowitz, Nily Rozic, Rebecca Seawright, and Amanda Septimo and David Weprin, who are all from New York City – broke from their party to support the commemoration bill. Advertisement 'No one should use Oct. 7th as a political pawn. We owe the 56 hostages and their families more than that,' Rozic said. The sudden switcheroo on the commemoration bill committee came after Heastie also put the kibosh on a resolution honoring Palestinian Americans, sponsored by lefty Assemblywoman Emily Gallagher (D-Brooklyn), earlier this week. Tens of thousands of such resolutions are passed by the Assembly every year, and are usually not controversial. 4 The bill would've made Oct. 7 enshrined alongside other days of commemoration in the Empire State, such as 'Rosa Parks Day' and 'Susan B. Anthony Day.' New York State Assembly Advertisement A copy of the draft resolution obtained by The Post indicates it would have read that 'Palestinian Americans in New York are increasingly involved in advocacy, activism, and civil rights work, particularly related to Middle Eastern issues, anti-racism, and immigrants.' Sources said Heastie allowed the resolution onto the floor with strict instructions for Gallagher to keep her remarks specific to it, meaning he didn't want her to opine on the Israel-Gaza war. But Heastie caught wind that that Republicans were going to call for a roll call vote — meaning every member would have to be recorded as voting in support or against her resolution — a highly unusual, if not totally unheard of move, sources familiar with the backroom dealings said. Heastie then pulled the measure, so as to avoid any drama on the Assembly floor. A spokesperson for Heastie did not return a request for comment. — Additional reporting by Matt Troutman
Boston Globe
20-02-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
As part of Black History month, Rosa Parks Day officially established in Massachusetts
Advertisement Rev. Wil Darcangelo, minister of The First Church of Christ, Unitarian in Lancaster, spearheaded the effort — his third attempt since 2018, according to a statement. Massachusetts is the ninth state to honor Parks' legacy with an annual observance, but one of only three to do so on Feb. 4. Darcangelo said he chose the date because it not only marks her birthday, but also falls within Black History Month, according to his statement. Parks The choice carries extra weight amid rising tensions over diversity and inclusion, including President Trump's recent attacks on DEI and the Defense Department's In an interview, Darcangelo said while these orders may seem overwhelming now, diversity has always endured and will continue to do so in the long run. 'While we wait for this better future to come, we must tend to those who are harmed in the attempt at preventing it,' he said via email. 'Commemorations like Rosa Parks Day are single steps in that steadily forward path.' Advertisement California and Missouri celebrate Parks' birthday, while Michigan observes it on the first Monday after her birthday. Alabama, Ohio, Oregon and Tennessee celebrate Parks on Dec. 1, the date of her arrest in 1955. Darcangelo hopes Massachusetts' annual commemoration will inspire hope and resistance, following the courageous example of Parks and other civil rights leaders who 'resolutely sat and commanded their rightful place in the world and refused to budge.' 'I hope these observances empower [people] with that courage as well,' he said. Rita Chandler can be reached at
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Fare or unfair? When it come to fare enforcement in Charlotte, it depends what you ride
If you want to ride the bus in Charlotte, you'll have to pay when you get on -- but the same can't be said for the city's light rail service. Even though a Charlotte Area Transit System study found that bus riders are more likely to be low-income and minorities compared to light rail riders, some in Charlotte say the enforcement of fares isn't fair. Charlotte City Councilmember LaWana Slack-Mayfield is questioning the process and says the city should consider making public transportation fare-free. 'The manager and I had this conversation,' Councilmember Slack-Mayfield said. 'There is a disconnect in accessibility.' Slack-Mayfield has raised the issue at the two most recent Charlotte City Council retreats. Channel 9 Government Reporter Joe Bruno requested records on the number of fare evasion tickets written over the past five years. In 2020, 2021, and 2022 the city issued fewer than 100 tickets each year. Fare enforcement took a back seat during the prime Covid years. When the city stepped up enforcement in 2023, that number spiked to more than 4,700. Through November of 2024, it dropped to around 2,000. Slack-Mayfield says the city needs to either stop charging for bus rides or step up enforcement and make it so everyone pays on both the light rail and the bus. 'What is the real economic generator for bus ridership versus the impact it will have if people have access to it when it's needed?' Slack-Mayfield said. CATS offers free rides on a handful of days each year, including earlier in February on Rosa Parks Day. CATS has also offered free transportation on Election Day to polling places, and to shelters during extremely cold weather. Interim CATS CEO Brent Cagle says he isn't sold on fare-free public transportation. 'There are some transit agencies that have done that or tested that, and it's mixed results,' he said. 'We're not really looking at how we go fare-free, but we are looking at how our fares can reflect equity.' Cagle says CATS is currently conducting a fare equity survey to study what the department should be charging. He says a possible solution includes offering more discounts for groups like students and low-income riders. He also says CATS is planning to put in place technology that requires people to scan their pass before boarding a light rail vehicle. A similar system is used in Phoenix, Arizona. CATS generates around $17 million in fares each year, about 7 to 10 percent of its revenue. That's not a huge portion but Cagle says CATS isn't ready to give it up. 'As we think about how we pay for improvements to the system, every dollar counts,' he said. In general, Cagle says fare enforcement is easier with buses because the passenger can't board without encountering the driver. Results of the fare equity study are due back by the end of the year and will be shared with the Metropolitan Transit Commission and Charlotte City Council. (VIDEO: Proposed light rail with Charlotte airport stop wouldn't drop off at a terminal)
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Lawmakers call for Rosa Parks holiday
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – An effort in Congress to honor Civil Rights icon Rosa Parks could make Dec. 1 a new federal holiday. Members of the Congressional Black Caucus reintroduced their legislation on what would have been Parks' 112th birthday. 'I can think of no greater way to honor her sacrifice, her dedication, her commitment to the furtherance of humanity,' said U.S. Rep. Shomari Figures (D-Ala.). Figures represents Parks' district, where her arrest for refusing to give up her seat on a bus to a white man sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott. 'Not a single federal holiday honors a woman,' said U.S. Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio.). Beatty said designating Dec. 1 as Rosa Parks Day would not just be a day off work. 'It's a day to teach, to reflect and to encourage that every child in America knows Rosa Parks,' Beatty said. Legislation to establish federal holidays has been difficult to pass. In 2021, Juneteenth became the first national holiday approved in the U.S. since Martin Luther King Jr. Day almost 40 years earlier. Lawmakers said it's even more important to reintroduce this bill during Black History Month because of the Trump administration's efforts to end diversity, equity and inclusion programs. 'Americans should see these attacks for what they are: an attempt to whitewash our history and devalue the contributions of African Americans,' said U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (D-Ala.). Sewell points to the U.S. Defense Department's guidance declaring 'identity months dead.' White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt credits the end of DEI with higher recruiting in the U.S. military. 'We look forward to seeing those recruitment numbers and those retention numbers skyrocketing over the next four years,' Leavitt said. However, the White House still recognizes February as Black History Month. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Pooler celebrates Rosa Parks Day at West Chatham
POOLER, Ga. (WSAV) – West Chatham Middle School celebrated Rosa Parks Day on Tuesday, February 4. The event featured performances by The Savannah Music Festival Jazz Academy and the West Chatham Middle School band along with spoken word poetry by Deep Flow. This celebration was sponsored by the Pooler Juneteenth Celebration Committee. Learn more about their efforts by clicking here. Transit Equity Day gains momentum in Savannah: enjoy free rides today in honor of Rosa Parks Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
