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U.S. NEWS Monday 7 March 2022
Kamala Harris marks ‘Bloody Sunday’ anniversary in Selma

By KIM CHANDLER of the sudden I saw these
Associated Press horses. Oh my goodness,
SELMA, Ala. (AP) — Vice and all of the sudden ... I
President Kamala Harris saw smoke. I didn’t know
visited Selma, Alabama what tear gas was. There
on Sunday as the nation were beating people”
commemorated a defin- Boynton said.
ing moment in the fight for But Boynton said the cel-
the right to vote, making ebration at the hub of the
her trip as congressional voting rights movement is
efforts to restore the land- tempered by fears of the
mark 1965 Voting Rights impact of new voting re-
Act have faltered. strictions being enacted.
President Joe Biden on Sun- “And now they are trying to
day renewed his call for the take our voting rights from
passage of voting legisla- us. I wouldn’t think in 2022
tion. we would have to do all
“The battle for the soul of over again what we did in
America has many fronts. 1965,” Boynton said.
The right to vote is the most Ora Bell Shannon, 90, of Sel-
fundamental,” Biden said in ma, was a young mother
a White House statement. during the march and ran
Harris arrived Sunday af- from the bridge with her
ternoon in Selma to com- Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at an event to celebrate Black History Month in the East children. Ahead of Bloody
memorate the 57th anni- Room of the White House, Monday, Feb. 28, 2022, in Washington. Associated Press Sunday, she and other
versary of “Bloody Sunday,” Black citizens stood in line
the day in 1965 when white State troopers on March 7, crats have unsuccessfully including women who fled for days at a time trying to
state troopers attacked 1965, beat and tear-gassed tried to update the land- the beatings of Bloody register to vote in the then
Black voting rights march- peaceful demonstrators, in- mark law — after a key Sunday, were seated near white-controlled city, fac-
ers attempting to cross the cluding young activist John provision was tossed out by the stage. The milestone ing impossible voter tests
Edmund Pettus Bridge. The Lewis, who later became a U.S. Supreme Court deci- of Harris becoming the na- and long lines.
nation’s first female vice a longtime Georgia con- sion — and pass additional tion’s first Black female vice “They knew you wouldn’t
president — as well as the gressman. The images of measures to make it more president seemed unimagi- be able to pass the test,”
first African American and the violence shocked a na- convenient for people to nable in 1965, they said. Shannon recalled.
Indian American in the role tion and helped galvanize vote. “That’s why we marched,” Biden said the strength of
— will speak at the site of- support for passage of the In Selma, a crowd gath- Betty Boynton, the daugh- the groundbreaking 1965
ten referred to as hallowed Voting Rights Act. Harris’ ered hours before Harris ter-in-law of voting rights Voting Rights Act “has
ground in the fight for vot- visit to the city that served was scheduled to speak. activist Amelia Boynton, been weakened not by
ing rights for minority citi- as the cradle of the Voting Rank-and-file activists of said. brute force, but by insidious
zens. Rights Act comes as Demo- the civil rights movement, “I was at the tail end and all court decisions.”q

Cuomo rips ‘cancel culture,’ hints at political comeback

By DAVID PORTER scribed his travails then tims to be credible, Cuomo against an accuser. On learned a powerful lesson
Associated Press went on the offensive to continues to blame every- Sunday, Cuomo acknowl- and paid a very high price
NEW YORK (AP) — Just six attack the “political sharks” one but himself.” edged his behavior wasn’t for learning that lesson.
months after he resigned in Albany who, he said, Cuomo resigned in August, appropriate but quickly God isn’t finished with me
from office in disgrace over “smelled blood” and ex- days after an independent added that nothing he did yet.”
sexual harassment allega- ploited the situation for po- probe found he sexually violated the law. Cuomo hasn’t said he’s
tions, former New York Gov. litical gain. harassed nearly a dozen “I didn’t appreciate how running for office, but is still
Andrew Cuomo appeared “The actions against me women and that he and fast the perspectives sitting on a multimillion dol-
to be hinting at a political were prosecutorial miscon- aides worked to retaliate changed,” he said. “I’ve lar campaign war chest he
comeback in remarks at duct,” Cuomo said, repeat- could use to finance an-
a Brooklyn church on Sun- ing a theme he has pushed other run.
day. from the outset. “They used Several district attorneys in
The Democrat made a cancel culture to effective- New York said they found
campaign-like stop at ly overturn an election.” Cuomo’s accusers “cred-
a Brooklyn church Sun- Democratic State Attorney ible,” but said the available
day, delivering a speech General Letitia James, who evidence wasn’t strong
in which he condemned released the report last enough to press criminal
“cancel culture.” The pub- summer that concluded charges against him. Last
lic appearance, his first Cuomo sexually harassed month, a New York state
since leaving office, came 11 women, hit back at the trooper sued him claiming
a week after Cuomo’s former governor Sunday. he caused her severe men-
campaign launched a dig- “Serial sexual harasser An- tal anguish and emotional
ital and television advertis- drew Cuomo won’t even distress by touching her
ing campaign pushing a spare a house of worship inappropriately and mak-
similar message: He was from his lies,” James said in ing suggestive comments.
driven from office unfairly. a statement. “Even though Secretary to the Governor Melissa DeRosa, left, joins New York A Cuomo spokesperson
Cuomo quoted the Bible multiple independent in- Gov. Andrew Cuomo as he speaks to reporters during a news called the suit a “cheap
several times as he de- vestigations found his vic- conference on Sept. 14, 2018, in New York. cash extortion.” q
Associated Press