Page 19 - Florida Sentinel 1-7-20

National
Black News Channel To Launch During Black History Month
Postal Service Issues Gwen Ifill Black Heritage Forever Stamp
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA — Black News Channel (BNC) announced today that it has updated the launch of the na- tion’s only African American news network to Black History Month on February 10, 2020. Network executives previously announced plans to launch to an audience significantly larger than its original projec- tions. The Black History Month launch provides the time necessary to build out the distribution platforms, apps, and other infrastructure nec- essary to accommodate this historic event.
“Black History Month is an appropriate time to launch the Black News Channel,” Bob Brillante, co-founder and CEO for BNC shared. “We are committed to make sure that when our viewers tune in they are witness to a quality viewing experience.”
J. C. Watts, chairman and co-founder for BNC added, “Our technicians, crew and
BNC
launch partners are working overtime to make sure that the additional pieces are in place to provide our African Ameri- can audience with the pro- gramming that tells more of our story in a way that is not provided by current news out- lets. We will make history to- gether as we launch February 10, 2020 to more than 70 mil- lion homes and devices.”
BNC plans to release more information in January about how and where customers can view the network’s program- ming.
The U. S. Postal Service will host a stamp dedication cere- mony to launch the release of the Gwen Ifill black heritage stamp on Jan. 30. The cere- mony will honor the late jour- nalist with the 43rd stamp in its Black Heritage Forever stamp collection, a collection that has honored other black history heavyweights like Ida B.
GWEN IFILL
Wells and Sojourner Truth. According to a press release issued by the USPS, the cere- mony, which will take place in Washington, D. C., will unveil stamp art that features a photo of Ifill taken by photographer Robert Severi and designed by Derry Noyes. The cere- mony is free and open to the
public.
Residence Inn Accused of Enforcing 'No Party Policy' Against Black Guests In $300,000 Lawsuit
If you’re black and looking for a hotel in Portland, Ore., you might want to stay away from the Residence Inn by Marriott Portland Down- town/Convention Center. Unless, of course, you’re will- ing to agree to their “no party policy,” which a new $300,000 lawsuit claims is only required for black guests.
Felicia Gonzales, 51, claims the front desk clerk at the Residence Inn by Mar- riott Portland Downtown/Convention Cen- ter told her that all guests had to sign the policy. But Gonzales soon learned that didn’t hold true as she watched white guests check in after her who weren’t re- quired to sign the policy, ac- cording to the lawsuit.
The two-page no party
RESIDENCE INN
policy, provided by Gonza- les’ attorneys, says it was es- tablished to inform all guests of noise limits and “not to in- sinuate any distrust in the ‘average’ guest.”
“No hotels want to have parties in them and we don’t want that type of business,” the policy read.
“Having to sign a ‘NO PARTY’ policy form did not feel right to Ms. Gonzales,
so she went back to the front desk,” the lawsuit states. “Ms. Gonzales observed as multiple Caucasian guests checked in. None of them were asked to sign a ‘NO PARTY’ policy.”
Her lawsuit notes that prior to the incident, Gonza- les held a Marriott Rewards membership and “never had a problem or noise complaint at any other Marriott hotel she had ever stayed at,” but agreed to sign the policy in order to check into her room. Gonzales is seeking $300,000 for embarrass- ment, frustration, humilia- tion and “feelings of racial stigmatization.” The lawsuit, which was filed in Mult- nomah County Circuit Court, can also be amended to in- clude $1 million in punitive damages.
A Texas Judge Says Hospital
Can Take 11-Month-Old Girl
Off Life Support Despite
Her Family's Wishes
FORT WORTH- A judge has decided that a Texas chil- dren's hospital can remove an 11-month-old with a rare heart defect off life support despite her family's wishes.
For several months, the family of Tinslee Lewis has been fighting to continue her treatment at the Cook Chil- dren's Medical Center in Fort Worth, Texas after the facility planned to end care.
Tinslee was born with a rare heart defect called Eb- stein's anomaly and suffers from chronic lung disease and severe chronic pulmonary hy- pertension. The hospital planned to remove her from life-support after her physi- cians said she is suffering and her condition is irreversible, Cook Children's Health Care System spokeswoman Winifred King had said in a statement.
On Thursday, Judge
Racist Cop Who Kicked In Black Woman’s Door Resigns
TINSLEE LEWIS
Sandee B. Marion of the Texas Fourth Court of Appeals denied a temporary injunction filed by Tinslee's family in an effort to keep her on life sup- port for several weeks.
Kim Brown, a hospital spokeswoman, told CNN the hospital won't take any action for up to seven days to give the family time to decide on whether to appeal the judge's ruling.
Michael J. Reynolds, the white New York Police Depart- ment officer who broke into a black woman’s home in Ten- nessee during and apparent drunken rage and threatened her and her sons, has resigned from the police force.
As The Root reported, Reynolds forced himself into the Nashville, Tenn., home of Conese Halliburton on July 9, 2018, hurled racial threats at Halliburton and her sons, and threatened to kill them.
Reynolds pleaded no con- test to one count of aggravated criminal trespassing and three
MICHAEL J. REYNOLDS
counts of assault and was sen- tenced to 15 days in jail and three years’ probation, accord- ing to NBC News.
Reynolds, who was on
modified-duty status while the trial proceeded in Tennessee, was to report to NYPD head- quarters so the department could prepare a disciplinary case against him. Instead, he resigned, effective immedi- ately, NBC News reports.
“He will receive no pension or health benefits, nor will he be allowed to carry a firearm,” the NYPD said in a statement. Halliburton had asked the NYPD to fire Reynolds, a po- sition echoed by more than 12,000 people who signed a petition calling for the officer’s removal.
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