Author: Hip Hop Caucus

300+ groups demand Biden stop new permits and dirty diplomacy

DUBAI, UAE — Over 300 organizations from over 40 countries across the globe released a letter today calling on the Biden Administration to abandon its support for Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) at COP28. The groups are demanding a stop to the permitting of new facilities in the United States and an end to financial and diplomatic support for LNG globally. The letter was delivered in advance of the “Break the Chain: Speak Out Against LNG” rally scheduled today for 3:30 GST at the front entrance of COP28 in Dubai.  

The United States, now the largest exporter of LNG on the planet, is expected to see exports double by 2027. The pipeline of proposed but not yet under construction facilities represents a veritable carbon bomb, threatening to lock-in over 1400 million metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions annually — equivalent to the emissions of 378 new coal plants. 

“Any push for a phase-out of all fossil fuels at COP28 risks falling flat if the world’s leading LNG exporter shows no signs of changing course,” the letter reads. “We urge the Biden Administration to publicly commit during the COP to no further regulatory, financial, or diplomatic support for LNG in the United States or anywhere in the world.”

The U.S. Export-Import Bank (EXIM) recently approved support for commodity trader Trafigura to insure speculative bets in the global LNG market. Although the Biden Administration has given regulatory approval to terminals like Alaska LNG, it has yet to approve major projects pending in or near the Gulf of Mexico, such as Venture Global’s Calcasieu Pass 2 (CP2) — the largest export application ever considered by Department of Energy. 

Photographs from the “Break the Chain: Speak Out against LNG” rally will be available here. 

Signatories of the letter released the following quotes (listed in alphabetical order): 

“The United States’ expansion of deadly gas is a threat to communities everywhere. From sacrifice zones where fracked gas is extracted to sites in Asia where millions live alongside dangerous gas infrastructure, more LNG is a dead end hurting our people, said Lidy Nacpil of the Asian Peoples’ Movement on Debt & Development. “At COP28, we sorely need bold leadership for a rapid, just, and equitable transition of the energy system to 100% renewable energy. President Biden can lead, but he must change course immediately and stop LNG expansion.”

“I came to Dubai because the Biden Administration isn’t listening at home,” said Melanie Oldham, founder of Better Brazoria: Clean Air and Water. “Communities like mine live in the shadow of the LNG boom. If this infrastructure isn’t stopped, it means more sacrifice zones and more emissions.” 

“With a fossil fuel phaseout the leading topic at COP28, now’s the time for the Biden administration to halt LNG exports once and for all,” said Ben Goloff of the Center for Biological Diversity. “The United States is doling out permits for new gas export terminals like there’s no tomorrow. Our new analysis shows that the Inflation Reduction Act’s emissions benefits are more than canceled out by the Biden administration’s support for new fossil fuel projects, and new LNG export facilities are the engine of this disastrous machine.”

“We’re faced with clear scientific consensus that we will not have a safe and stable climate if we continue to use and expand fossil fuels. Not only has the United States become the top exporter of LNG, the Biden administration is being bombarded with proposals for new export terminals that could quadruple U.S. LNG export capacity,” said Kelsey Crane, Senior Policy Advocate for Earthworks. “Unless the United States reverses course, the buildout of LNG threatens to put global and domestic climate goals out of reach, perpetuates environmental injustice, and condemns the Gulf South and global South to be sacrificed for false solutions.”

“If President Biden isn’t willing to stand up to LNG, then his climate legacy is in deep trouble,” said Lukas Ross, Senior Program Manager at Friends of the Earth U.S. “The United States cannot preach climate action in Dubai if it is willing to consider mammoth new projects at home like CP2.”

“While the United States is the largest exporter of LNG, Japan is the largest importer. Both are denying their historical responsibility for the climate crisis and putting communities in danger. We must stand together around the world and say no to more LNG,” said Ayumi Fukakusa, Deputy Executive Director at Friends of the Earth Japan.

“As the world’s greatest historical polluter, the United States cannot claim to be a climate champion while exporting methane LNG across the globe, furthering the climate crisis,” said Russell Armstrong, Senior Director for Campaigns and Advocacy at the Hip Hop Caucus. “The hypocrisy is that with one hand, our government has finally realized the need to regulate super pollutants at home, while with the other hand, it continues to sacrifice Black and Brown communities to export LNG at increasingly alarming rates across the globe, keeping other nations addicted to fossil fuels. Here at COP28, the United States must get serious about a full phaseout of fossil fuels that includes a stop to LNG exports, abated and unabated.”

“Under President Biden’s current policies, gas exports are expected to soar by 2035. This administration has funneled billions of taxpayer dollars into LNG projects in the United States and abroad,” said Allie Rosenbluth, United States Program Manager at Oil Change International. “If Biden wants to show he’s truly a climate leader, he must end all support for LNG and support a full, fair, fast, and funded phaseout of fossil fuels at the UN climate talks.”

“As a resident of a frontline community, I wholeheartedly understand and advocate for the imperative of a fast, fair, and forever phaseout of fossil fuels,” said Roishetta Ozane, Director of The Vessel Project of Louisiana and Gulf Fossil Finance Coordinator at Texas Campaign for the Environment. “Our community bears the brunt of the negative impacts caused by the extraction and burning of these fuels. As a mom raising children with health conditions caused by the pollution from these industries, I understand the impacts on human life. The United States must stop putting people last and for once put us first.” 

“The mad dash for gas is nothing but a blockade to a renewable energy future in Southeast Asia. Lies peddled by countries like the United States paint gas as a transition fuel, but our people and environment have paid a steep price,” said Krishna Ariola of Youth for Climate Hope Philippines. “In addition to LNG’s environmental and climate impact, new gas plants mean higher electricity bills and a slower transition to renewables. Why must we let LNG poison our waters, destroy biodiversity, and drive us further to climate chaos?” 

“The LNG terminal on Krk Island in Croatia was built despite the overwhelming opposition of the local and regional communities. Croatia now plans to increase its capacity by 100 percent and do it jointly with Austria and Bavaria in order to bring gas to Germany, who already has six new terminals planned. It’s proven that the demand for gas in Europe is decreasing. So the question is, who are these terminals actually in the interest of? Perhaps the United States as the biggest exporter of LNG to the EU?”, said Marija Mileta, vice-president of Zelena Akcija (Friends of the Earth Croatia).

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WASHINGTON — Today, Hip Hop Caucus’ Director of Democracy Reform, Chris Walton, issued the following statement in response to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit’s decision ruling against section 2 of the Voting Rights Act:

“As people around the nation prepare to gather and celebrate the many things that we have to be thankful for this week, the 8th US. Circuit Court of Appeals has reaffirmed that we all don’t have an equal right to democracy via the Voting Rights Act. A 2-1 panel upheld a lower court ruling to dismiss an Arkansas redistricting case because it was brought by a private advocacy group. Under the panel’s decision, only the US Attorney General can challenge inequitable redistricting under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. This is a gross misinterpretation of the legislation and given the 5th Circuit’s recent decision to uphold fifty years of precedent for a private citizen’s right to challenge unfair redistricting, this issue is likely to head to the Supreme Court. 

Since this groundbreaking civil rights era legislation was first passed, it has been the shield that many community-based organizations and individual voters have used against the worst attempts at voter suppression.

Hip Hop Caucus stands with our coalition partners in supporting the many legislative vehicles that are being put forward to expand voting rights to everyone in this nation, helping to make sure that people’s voices are heard and their votes are respected. This decision today strikes directly at the heart of our mission and at the heart of a multiracial democratic society we claim to be as the United States of America. This cannot stand.”

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NEW YORK — Leaders of major racial justice movements and organizations across the United States are calling on some of the world’s largest corporations—Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, and Uber, among others—to account for the lack of meaningful progress made after commitments to conduct racial equity and civil rights audits in the wake of the 2020 racial reckoning. Color Of Change, Community Change, Hip Hop Caucus, Majority Action, Open Mic, the Service Employees International Union, and UltraViolet Action sent joint letters to the corporate secretaries of 19 companies to ensure racial equity audits are legitimate, accountable, transparent, and impactful. 

“Racial equity is not achieved through unfulfilled promises and platitudes,” said Stephone Coward II, Economic Justice, Justice Paid in Full Campaigns Director at Hip Hop Caucus. “We saw a swell of corporations capitalize on the racial reckoning of 2020 with DEI commitments and new initiative announcements; however, we have seen little in terms of tangible results. For the second year, we are monitoring the progress made and we’ll continue to demand transparency, accountability, and clear action that supports systemic change and equitable outcomes for Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) communities.”

Racial justice leaders have been actively shaping and monitoring the racial equity audits that leading corporations have conducted, as well as providing public assessments of both how well those audits are structured and the extent, or lack thereof, of their impact. While the majority of the 19 corporations that are being evaluated have yet to produce enough engagement and transparency on the outcomes and implementation of their racial equity audits, the group has found the one Airbnb continues to build upon six years after completion as well as the long-term commitments and internal structural updates recently made by State Street after receiving its audit report, represent the clearest examples of audits that have met expectations on legitimacy, accountability, transparency, and impact.   

“Corporations have a responsibility to ensure the equitable treatment of Black people. We have seen meaningful racial equity audits work in the past – audits that have given businesses better insights for serving their customers and their communities. For corporations to truly create positive change, these audits must be routine, thorough, and centered on the business’s policies, products and services. Racial equity audits when done correctly, will result in a stronger, more resilient corporate infrastructure.” stated Kyle Bibby, Interim Chief of Campaigns and Programs at Color Of Change. 

Last year the racial justice leaders reached out to the corporations to communicate their shared expectations and criteria for thorough and transparent audits, after investors expressed majority support for racial equity audit proposals in the 2022 proxy season. Racial equity audits as a practice is still a fairly new demand on corporate board leadership, and racial justice leaders have outlined the three best practices for completing a thorough audit:

1. Select an independent person or firm with civil rights and racial justice expertise and adequate resources to complete the audit. 
2. Ensure the audit comprehensively examines how corporate policies, practices, and products can either ameliorate or exacerbate racial inequalities. Audit processes should include proactively identifying and engaging in outreach to BIPOC stakeholders who are disproportionately impacted by racial inequity at corporations, as well as provide pathways for stakeholders to engage. 
3. Publicly release audit findings, recommendations, and progress reports under clear timelines, with action plans for the issues raised in audits.

While the 19 corporations have committed or are in the process of completing racial equity audits, the vast majority have failed to proactively identify and engage Black, Indigenous, and people of color stakeholders who are disproportionately impacted by racial inequity at or by the companies. This lack of engagement with racial justice organizations and BIPOC stakeholders within their organizations flags concern among the signatories about the sincerity of intentions and efforts to produce and implement meaningful changes to increase racial equity at the corporations. 

“Racial equity audits can only succeed when key stakeholders and shareholders representing impacted communities are included in the process. This ensures that the voices and experiences of those impacted by corporation decision-making are heard, and that the financial risk created by systemic racism in and beyond the corporation is properly assessed,” said Renaye Manley, Deputy Director of Strategic Initiatives at Service Employees International Union. “Leaders have called on companies to engage advocates, civil rights experts, and shareholders in transparent audits, and now is the time to hold corporations to their racial justice commitments made in 2020.”  

These concerns about the lack of progress on racial equity audits are deepened by the proxy voting failures of the four largest asset managers— BlackRock, Vanguard, State Street, and Fidelity— on racial equity issues during the 2023 proxy season. The four asset managers hold outsized power over the other corporations in the monitored list, as they together account for 25 percent of shares voted in the S&P 500 and hold the fiduciary duty to hold the board directors accountable on the systemic risk of racial equity. Research released by Majority Action and SEIU earlier this year showed a large-scale failure to account for racial equity in the four asset managers’ proxy voting policies and practices negatively impacting shareholders’ proposals around racial equity audits, racial and ethnic board diversity, political spending and lobbying activity, human capital management, tech oversight, environmental justice, and board responsiveness.

“The largest asset managers have significant voting power over the world’s largest corporations, and yet they have continued to rubber stamp board directors and policies that run counter to their public commitments to racial equity and justice and the best interests of their long-term investor clients,” said Eli Kasargod-Staub, CFA, Executive Director of Majority Action. “Shareholders and community stakeholders alike are calling on asset managers and board leaders to mitigate the systemic risk of racial inequity that harms impacted communities and employees, economic growth, and portfolio performance.”

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Majority Action is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering shareholders of all sizes to hold corporations and their leadership accountable to high standards of long-term value creation, corporate governance, and social responsibility. www.majorityaction.us

The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) unites 2 million diverse members in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. SEIU members working in the healthcare industry, in the public sector, and in property services believe in the power of joining together on the job to win higher wages and benefits and to create better communities while fighting for a more just society and an economy that works for all of us, not just corporations and the wealthy. www.seiu.org

Color Of Change is the nation’s largest online racial justice organization. We help people respond effectively to injustice in the world around us. As a national online force driven by over 7 million members, we move decision-makers in corporations and government to create a more human and less hostile world for Black people in America. Visit www.colorofchange.org. 

Formed in 2004, the Hip Hop Caucus (HHC) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that leverages Hip Hop culture to encourage young people to participate in the democratic process. Through a collaborative leadership network, HHC addresses core issues affecting underserved communities. HHC programs and campaigns support solution-driven community organizing led by today’s young leaders.

WASHINGTON – Today, Hip Hop Caucus President and CEO Rev. Lennox Yearwood Jr. issued the following statement in response to the Biden administration’s announcement of its executive order to create an American Climate Corps:

“The Biden Administration’s new American Climate Corps program is an example of bold climate action that supports job creation and a clean energy future. Through this program, this administration has a critical opportunity to improve our lands and expand career possibilities for Black, Latinx and Indigenous people — communities that are both disproportionately impacted by our climate crisis and disproportionately economically disenfranchised.

Hip Hop Caucus will continue to make clear that racial justice is central to advancing economic and climate justice, and we plan to hold the Biden Administration accountable to its promise of a diverse and inclusive workforce in this program.“

About Hip Hop Caucus
Formed in 2004, the Hip Hop Caucus (HHC) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that
leverages Hip Hop culture to encourage young people to participate in the democratic process. Through a collaborative leadership network, HHC addresses core issues affecting underserved communities. HHC programs and campaigns support solution-driven community organizing led by today’s young leaders.

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WASHINGTON — Today, Hip Hop Caucus Executive Vice President of Campaigns and Advocacy Tanya Clay House issued the following statement in response to the reintroduction of the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. 

“The reintroduction of the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act (JLVRAA) is a positive step forward in the restoration and expansion of our Democracy. The JLVRAA reaffirms our commitment to voter equality and voter access to the ballot box. The JLVRAA seeks to ensure that jurisdictions with a recent history of voting rights violations are required to obtain preclearance for changes to voting practices and procedures. JLVRAA would most importantly restore section 5 of the Voting Rights Act and make sure states like Alabama, Louisiana, Texas and others are kept in line from enacting the worst voter suppression laws since Jim Crow.  

Today on National Voter Registration Day we celebrate the power of voting and recognize that the voice is fundamental to protecting our democracy and pursuing all of our issues. Since our founding Hip Hop Caucus has championed voting rights. Launched in 2008, our Respect My Vote! campaign is the longest-running hip hop voter engagement and mobilization campaign.

We congratulate and thank Congresswoman Sewell for her steadfast commitment to fighting for democracy and for continuing to champion the fight that John Lewis stood for across the bridge in Selma and throughout his life.”

About Hip Hop Caucus
Formed in 2004, the Hip Hop Caucus (HHC) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that
leverages Hip Hop culture to encourage young people to participate in the democratic process. Through a collaborative leadership network, HHC addresses core issues affecting underserved communities. HHC programs and campaigns support solution-driven community organizing led by today’s young leaders.

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New investigative podcast chronicles stories of people who have died in custody and emerging efforts for accountability

WASHINGTON – Today, Hip Hop Caucus announces the launch of the new, groundbreaking podcast series, ‘Official Ignorance: The Death in Custody Podcast.’ Hosted by expert forensic pathologist Dr. Roger Mitchell Jr. and human rights scholar Dr. Jay Aronson, ‘Official Ignorance’ aims to shed light on individuals who have died in law enforcement custody and outlines a practical and achievable system for accurately recording and investigating these deaths. ‘Official Ignorance’ is a project of Hip Hop Caucus and is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and several other digital streaming platforms. 

The U.S. government significantly undercounts the number of people who die in law enforcement custody each year. Racial discrimination and violence against Black, Brown and Indigenous people in the criminal legal system have been increasingly discussed in recent years; however, deaths in custody remain a lesser-explored aspect of these systemic issues. ‘Official Ignorance’ delves deep into the underlying causes, identifying and examining areas where transparency and reform are desperately needed.

“It’s about time! Being able to talk about this very important issue has been a dream of mine for my entire career,” said ‘Official Ignorance’ podcast co-host and Howard University Chair of Pathology Dr. Roger Mitchell Jr. “Hip Hop Caucus has been a phenomenal partner in allowing us to tell the story of death in custody in the United States. Jay and I are able to give a voice to the voiceless while sharing more about ourselves and how we got into this work. I hope that this is just the beginning and Season 2 will be even better.”

In each episode, Dr. Mitchell and Dr. Aronson engage in thought-provoking conversations with experts, researchers, activists, and individuals who have personally experienced the impact of deaths in custody. Through stories, data, expert analysis, and hip-hop themes, they seek to raise awareness, empower listeners, and drive forward efforts for reform.

“We want listeners to come away angry about the crisis of deaths in law enforcement custody, but also informed about what they can do to expose the problem, and hopeful that we can achieve a better, less violent, and less punitive world through our collective action and advocacy,” said ‘Official Ignorance’ podcast co-host and Carnegie Mellon University professor Dr. Jay Aronson. “Having the chance to talk to Roger regularly and reflect on the work we’ve been doing over the past several years was an incredible experience. I hope that listeners have the opportunity not just to learn from us, but also to appreciate our friendship, our mutual love for hip hop and the role that its played in our lives, and our shared desire to shine a light on the deadly toll that the criminal legal system takes on the American people, especially in Black communities and other marginalized or under-resourced communities.”

Dr. Roger Mitchell Jr. and Dr. Jay Aronson’s new book ‘Deaths in Custody,’ published by Johns Hopkins University Press, also releases today.

“We decided to create the podcast to give readers insight into what motivated us as people and as scholars to write the book, and to highlight the crucial role that hip hop has played in setting the stage for this project,” continued Dr. Jay Aronson.

Roger Mitchell Jr., MD, is a highly respected forensic pathologist, renowned for his expertise in examining the causes and circumstances of deaths. He is a professor and chair of pathology at the Howard University College of Medicine and has served as the Chief Medical Examiner and Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Justice of Washington, D.C. He is the author of The Price of Freedom: A Son’s Journey.

Jay Aronson, PhD, is the founder and director of the Center for Human Rights Science at Carnegie Mellon University, where he is a professor of science, technology, and society in the Department of History. He specializes in human rights and criminal justice and is the author of Who Owns the Dead? The Science and Politics of Death at Ground Zero and Genetic Witness: Science, Law, and Controversy in the Making of DNA Profiling.

To subscribe to ‘Official Ignorance: The Death in Custody Podcast’ and for detailed episode information, visit www.officialignorance.com. 

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About Official Ignorance

‘Official Ignorance: The Death in Custody Podcast’ is a groundbreaking podcast hosted by renowned forensic pathologist Dr. Roger Mitchell Jr., MD, and human rights scholar Dr. Jay Aronson, PhD,. The podcast delves deep into the significant underreporting of deaths in custody, the overwhelming racial disparities, and the practical solutions for reporting and investigating these deaths. Join Dr. Mitchell and Dr. Aronson as they engage with experts, activists, and those directly impacted to explore how we can end deaths in custody. ‘Official Ignorance’ is a project of Hip Hop Caucus.

About Hip Hop Caucus

Formed in 2004, the Hip Hop Caucus (HHC) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that leverages Hip Hop culture to encourage young people to participate in the democratic process. Through a collaborative leadership network, HHC addresses core issues affecting underserved communities. HHC programs and campaigns support solution-driven community organizing led by today’s young leaders.

ATLANTA — The Atlanta City Council’s decision to use signature matching to verify referendum signatures for Cop City is a Jim Crow style, segregationist voter suppression tactic that is overwhelmingly discriminatory against Black voters and other voters of color, older voters, first-time voters, returning citizen voters, and voters with disabilities. The people of Atlanta should decide fair and square if they truly want Cop City. 

Hip Hop Caucus calls on the city of Atlanta to consider actions that will restore trust from the voters of Atlanta by accepting the good faith collected signatures immediately and allowing the call of a November 7 citywide election to proceed accordingly. Democracy delayed is democracy denied.    

Hip Hop Caucus will continue to stand in solidarity with voters and efforts to make their voices heard about Cop City. 

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WASHINGTON, July 26, 2023— Hip Hop Caucus and The American Bar Association (ABA) today announced a new two-year collaboration commemorating the 50th anniversary of hip-hop and the intersection of social justice. The partnership kicked off with an episode of the ABA’s signature Chair Chat series, hosted by the ABA’s Civil Rights and Social Justice (CRSJ) Section Chair Juan R. Thomas in conversation with Hip Hop Caucus President and CEO, Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Jr. The inaugural 50th anniversary of hip-hop episode covers the history and focus of the Hip Hop Caucus, why the celebration of the 50th anniversary is important, and how and why attorneys are critical in the areas of voting rights restoration, environmental justice, civil and human rights and economic justice.

“It is an honor to partner with the American Bar Association, one of the nation’s leading legal organizations,” said Rev Yearwood. “This is an incredibly significant partnership that has the potential to convene the hip hop, legal and social justice communities for programming and discussions that address existing and emerging civil rights issues.”

“Engaging young people today in our democratic process is invaluable,” said ABA president Deborah Enix-Ross. “The ABA’s collaboration with the Hip Hop Caucus will hopefully spark a greater interest in and understanding of the justice system and everyone’s role in making it stronger and more inclusive.”

During this collaboration there will additional chats, and a four-part webinar series focusing on the broader hip hop culture, movement and impact that will lead to a deeper dive into the impact on issue areas where both the Hip Hop Caucus and the ABA Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice (CRSJ) are focused and aligned. The two organizations will also discuss nuances of where the legal community may be misaligned with Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) communities, and potential strategies for addressing challenges.

“It is fitting that this historic collaboration between ABA’s Section of Civil Rights & Social Justice and the Hip Hop Caucus is occurring at a time when long-standing precedents, and hard fought advances in civil and human rights are being reversed. As we approach the 50th anniversary of hip hop, we must acknowledge the history, relevance and influence of this cultural movement within our civil rights and social justice journey,” said Thomas. “The ABA and Hip Hop Caucus are joining on this journey during this anniversary year and beyond to elevate, inform and engage our legal community on the racial, environmental and economic justice issues within marginalized communities.”

Hip Hop Caucus and The ABA will collaborate on continued programming featuring legal scholars, advocates, thought leaders and activists committed to fighting for social justice, protecting our democracy, and upholding the rule of law. Additionally, The ABA has invited Hip Hop Caucus issue area leaders to participate in their 21 substantive Committee calls to discuss possible ABA policy implementation on aligned issue areas and/or policy development.

About Hip Hop Caucus

Formed in 2004, the Hip Hop Caucus (HHC) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that leverages Hip Hop culture to encourage young people to participate in the democratic process. Through a collaborative leadership network, HHC addresses core issues affecting underserved communities. HHC programs and campaigns support solution-driven community organizing led by today’s young leaders.

About The American Bar Association

The ABA is the largest voluntary association of lawyers in the world. As the national voice of the legal profession, the ABA works to improve the administration of justice, promotes programs that assist lawyers and judges in their work, accredits law schools, provides continuing legal education, and works to build public understanding around the world of the importance of the rule of law.

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WASHINGTON — Today, Hip Hop Caucus President and CEO Rev Yearwood Jr. issued the following statement in response to the Biden Administration’s proclamation establishing the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument in Mississippi and Illinois on what would have been Emmett Till’s 82nd birthday: 

“Hip Hop Caucus joins the nation and celebrates President Biden’s establishment of the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument. This three location national monument across the states of Illinois and Mississippi will protect and uplift the places that tell the story of Emmett Till’s brief, yet history changing life and the unparalleled courage of his mother Mamie Till-Mobley who fought to make sure her son’s racially motivated murder gained the necessary attention it deserved around the world. These three locations are Roberts Temple Church of God in Christ, in Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood where Till’s funeral took place and the world was shown the face of American racism, Graball Landing site along the Tallahatchie River where Till’s body was discovered, and the Tallahatchie County Courthouse in Sumner, Mississippi where Till’s murderers were tried and acquitted by an all white jury. 

It is important especially at a time like this to honor the legacy of Emmett Till and push back against states like Florida trying to teach our children that slavery benefited Black people. It is critical to not allow history deniers to sanitize Black History and erase the racial violence committed against the Black community. This monument’s creation reminds all Americans of our true unfiltered history so that we can learn from, rather than hide from it.”

About Hip Hop Caucus 

Formed in 2004, the Hip Hop Caucus (HHC) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that leverages Hip Hop culture to encourage young people to participate in the democratic process. Through a collaborative leadership network, HHC addresses core issues affecting underserved communities. HHC programs and campaigns support solution-driven community organizing led by today’s young leaders.