Page 7 - Florida Sentinel 6-16-17

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White House and Political News
Juneteenth Celebrations Set To ‘Bring Awareness’ To Community
Report: Russians Hacked Voting Databases In 39 States
Russian hacking efforts dur- ing the 2016 election reportedly affected voter databases and other systems in 39 states, prompting Obama administra- tion officials to directly com- plain to Moscow on an emergency communications line, demanding Kremlin offi- cials cease their meddling.
According to Bloomberg News, Moscow-directed hack- ers were able to break into soft- ware used by poll workers on Election Day and in at least one state, Illinois, attempted to delete or change voter data.
According to Bloomberg News, Obama White House of- ficials believed that Moscow
Russian president Vladimir Putin and President Donald Trump.
hackers were trying to delete voter regulation data or put measures into place that would delay the pace of vote tallying.
The efforts were so frequent and so persistent, Bloomberg reported, that top Obama ad- ministration officials contacted Russian officials in October, using the so-called "red phone"
system, a secure, immediate di- rect messaging line to the Kremlin, to complain and de- mand they stop the efforts. Offi- cials also warned Moscow that they would respond to the ef- forts.
The new details reported by Bloomberg emerged just a week after The Intercept, citing leaked intelligence documents, revealed that Russian hackers launched a broad cyberattack against the U.S. election process far bigger than previously known, targeting a voting soft- ware company and sending phishing emails to local officials ahead of the presidential elec- tion.
PASTOR PHILETHA TUCKER-JOHNSON ...Working closely
with the West Tampa Alliance
REV. WILLIE G. DIXON
...Juneteenth Cele- bration in East Tampa, June 24th
EDDIE ADAMS ...Juneteenth Cele- bration with 100 Black Men Of Tampa
Bay
Dr. Ben Carson Attends Lincoln Day Event
June 19th is celebrated around the country as “June- teenth.” This year (2017), June 19th is Monday and many celebrations will be held this weekend and spread throughout the month.
In Tampa, there will be three celebrations. Those who the Sentinel spoke with agree that they are involved in the Juneteenth celebrations to “bring awareness to the his- tory of Juneteenth.”
Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration commem- orating the ending of slavery in the United States. Dating back to 1865, it was on June 19th that the Union soldiers, led by Major General Gor- don Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas with news that the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free. This was two and a half years after President Lin- coln’s Emancipation Procla- mation - which had become official January 1, 1863.
The Emancipation Procla- mation had little impact on the Texans due to the minimal number of Union troops to en- force the new Executive Order. However, with the sur- render of General Lee in April of 1865, and the arrival of General Granger’s regi- ment, the forces were finally strong enough to influence and overcome the resistance. (Juneteenth.com).
According to the website, there are 2 reasons why Texas was the final state to learn of the war ending and the sign- ing of the Emancipation Proclamation.
The person who was carry- ing the information was killed on the way to Texas. And, the Texans withheld the informa- tion because they needed their crops harvested by the slaves.
Since January, 2017, the West Tampa Alliance has been actively planning for its 2017 Juneteenth celebration. This is their sixth celebration of the event. Pastor Philetha
Tucker-Johnson has worked closely with the Al- liance to make sure informa- tion about the event reaches the community.
“I live in West Tampa and had not heard much about the celebration,” she said. “At our church (Christ of Calvary Community Church), we’re about doing things in the com- munity. So, when our member asked for our involvement, es- pecially with the children, we gladly obliged.”
The weekend of events begin on Friday with a Com- munity Awards Banquet, Sat- urday a Street Festival and Sunday, a Gospel Extrava- ganza.
The Alliance coordinated its 3-day weekend event with that being held by COACH Foundation’s Rev. Willie G. Dixon, who is hosting the 5th Juneteenth weekend celebra- tion on June 24th.
He wishes that the history of Juneteenth and other Black History events were taught to young people in school.
“Our children are not aware of Juneteenth. Most children and adults don’t know any- thing about Juneteenth. I at- tended an HBCU and was not taught anything about June- teenth.
“Each year, we try to in- volve young people in the cel- ebration so that they can tell the story and it will continue. They will be aware of their his- tory and be proud of being Black.”
Eddie Adams of 100 Black Men of Tampa Bay, said this is the 5th year that the or- ganization has held a June- teenth celebration. This year it’s a luncheon on Friday, June 16th, at TPepin Hospitality Centre,11a.m.–1p.m.This year, they’ll give 2 scholar- ships to college students. The speaker will be businessman George Tinsley. The Com- munity Service Award will go to Atty. Warren Hope Dawson.
The GOP welcomed cele- brated neurosurgeon, author, philanthropist and politician for a Lincoln Day celebration feast in Tampa last week.
At the event, attendees hon- ored President Abraham Lincoln. They also celebrated Dr. Ben Carson, M. D., re- cently confirmed as Secretary for Housing & Urban Develop- ment (HUD). He is the only African American cabinet member appointed by Pres. Trump.
Paul Curtis, President of
Builder Paul Curtis (left) with Dr. Ben Carson, MD, at Lincoln Day Celebration at Columbia Museum in Tampa. Carson is the only African American cabinet member appointed by Pres. Don- ald Trump. Curtis is President of the Suncoast Minority Contrac- tors Alliance.
the Suncoast Minority Con- tractors Alliance, Founder/CEO of Curtoom Companies, Inc., spoke with Dr. Carson.
Curtis said, “too many peo- ple are unaware of the many philanthropist and scholarship contributions made by Dr. Carson.
Dr. Carson, a well- known motivational speaker, spoke to a crowd of more than 500, as well as took suggestions from local conservatives on housing policy.
FRIDAY, JUNE 16, 2017 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 7-A