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Mississippi Valley State University HBCU band performs at Trump’s inauguration

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6 months ago

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They raised over $300,000 in GoFundMe to attend event

Mean Green of Mississippi Valley State University finally got to perform at Trump’s inauguration ceremony on January 20 after their GoFundMe was able to raise over $300k.

Mississippi Valley State University in Itta Bena, Mississippi, revealed on December 26, 2024, that it had received an invitation to take part in the parade and promptly started raising funds to support the endeavor.

A GoFundMe campaign launched shortly after accumulated over $300,000 as of January 17, 2025. The university estimated the total expenses for the trip, including transportation, lodging, food, and equipment, to amount to $350,000.

In a statement, Mississippi Valley State University’s President Dr. Jerryl Briggs said:

“This is not just a moment of pride for our university but for the entire state of Mississippi. It is an opportunity to showcase our legacy, celebrate our culture, and invest in the future leaders of our community. This participation allows students to engage in the peaceful transition of power and gain global exposure while celebrating the university’s 75th anniversary,”

Reactions to the Mississippi Valley State University (MVSU) band’s decision to perform at the inauguration have been mixed, with university officials praising the opportunity as a historic moment while others argue it contradicts the mission and values of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

Governor of Mississippi, Tate Reeves had posted a link to the GoFundMe and wrote:

“Looking forward to seeing @MVSUDEVILS ’ Mean Green Marching Machine represent our state in@realDonaldTrump’s inaugural parade!”

As per the Mississippi Free Press Journal, critics have pointed out the controversy of accepting an invitation from President Trump, citing his policies to eliminate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives and his opposition to programs he claims promote ‘Critical Race Theory, gender ideology, or other inappropriate content.’

Civil rights leader Bishop Talbert Swan, II, president of the Greater Springfield NAACP in Massachusetts, expressed his disapproval in an open letter, emphasizing the contradiction between the band’s participation and the university’s history of activism.

Swan highlighted Mississippi Valley State University’s legacy of student-led boycotts in the 1960s demanding a more inclusive curriculum and resources reflective of Black history. He wrote:

“By choosing to perform at Donald Trump’s inauguration, the university undermines its historical commitment to honoring Black contributions and perspectives,”

In addition to the ethical debate, concerns have been raised about the financial burden of the trip, reported the Mississippi Free Press Journal . While a GoFundMe campaign for the band has raised over $300,000, critics note that the band faces pressing needs, including acquiring new instruments, uniforms, and scholarships.

The fundraiser’s description mentions that funds will also support these essential resources alongside the inauguration trip. Some alumni have questioned why the band must crowd-fund for its participation when it has long-term development needs.

The Mississippi Valley State University Alumni Association has also faced scrutiny for its lack of direct financial support for the band’s trip, especially in contrast to its active fundraising for the university choir’s recent participation in an international competition in Italy.

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Immigration officer charged with accepting bribes from migrants to change legal status

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2 weeks ago

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June 27, 2025

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An immigration officer from Pennsylvania has been charged with accepting bribes in exchange for adjusting immigrants’ legal status over a nearly decadelong period.

Amara Dukuly, 43, of Brookhaven, Pennsylvania, was arrested and charged with bribery of a public official, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania announced Thursday.

Dukuly had allegedly used his status as a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services officer since 2015 to receive payments in exchange for adjustments to some people’s immigration statuses. Those adjustments include receiving a green card, work authorization documents, or visas.

USCIS handles “processing immigration and naturalization applications and establishing policies regarding immigration services.”

“Dukuly did not have the authority to do any of the things he promised these individuals,” the press release says. “After corruptly seeking, receiving, and accepting money in return for being influenced in the performance of an official act, Dukuly converted the monies he obtained from these bribes for his personal benefit.”

The case is being investigated by the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General, Homeland Security Investigations, and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anita Eve will lead the prosecution.

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Black History

Bernice King’s Redemption Bank is now the first Black-owned in the West

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2 weeks ago

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June 27, 2025

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In 2023, a group of Black investors based in Atlanta agreed to buy a white-owned bank, Holladay Bank & Trust, and convert it into a Black-owned one. The investors included Dr. Bernice A. King, a daughter of civil rights icon Dr. Martin Luther King Jr; Ashley D. Bell, a former White House policy adviser, and former NFL player Dhani Jones.

They planned to rename the Utah-based institution Redemption Bank and said they wanted to provide financial services to Black communities historically underserved by financial institutions while offering online banking services and small business loans.

The deal, which was awaiting regulatory approval, would mark the first time Black investors purchased a non-Black bank, a statement by Redemption Holding Company said at the time. It would also be the first time in American history that an existing commercial bank would become a Black-owned Minority Depository Institution (“MDI”) through acquisition, the statement added.

After two years, Redemption has finally completed its acquisition of Holladay Bank & Trust. It makes it the first time a bank has been owned by a Black-led investment group in the Western U.S., the AP reported this month.

The acquisition got delayed due to the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank in 2023, Bell, CEO and chairman of Redemption Holding, told the AP.

“This process has undoubtedly taken longer than any of us anticipated,” Bell said. “However, we are grateful for the diligence of the staff at the FDIC, the leadership of the (American Bankers Association), and the renewed sense of urgency from the new administration this year, all of which helped bring everything together.”

While Bell is the CEO, King is expected to be Redemption Bank’s senior vice president for corporate strategy and serve on the company’s advisory board.

With about $65 million in assets, Redemption Bank will be the first Black-owned bank not physically located within an economically vulnerable community and the first in the Rockies, according to the AP.

It will also be the only one located in the Black-banking desert that stretches from Houston to Los Angeles, the AP added.

The company will further become the 24th Black-owned bank in the nation, termed as Minority Depository Institutions (MDI). MDI is a federal designation for banks and unions that are owned or controlled by minority groups. The most recent MDI was Adelphi Bank, launched in January 2023.

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Crockett questions Melania Trump’s reported ‘Einstein visa’: ‘The math ain’t mathin”

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2 weeks ago

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June 27, 2025

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Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) questioned first lady Melania Trump’s reported “Einstein visa” at a House hearing Wednesday.

“Let me remind y’all that Melania, the first lady, a model — and when I say model, I’m not talking about Tyra Banks, Cindy Crawford or Naomi Campbell level — applied for and was given an EB-1 visa, and what that stands for is an Einstein visa. Now y’all that don’t know, let me tell you how you receive an Einstein visa,” Crockett said.

“You’re supposed to have some sort of significant achievement, like being awarded a Nobel Peace Prize or a Pulitzer, being an Olympic medalist, or having other sustained extraordinary abilities and success in sciences, arts, education, business or athletics. Last time I checked, the first lady had none of those accolades under her belt,” the Texas Democrat added. “It doesn’t take an Einstein to see that the math ain’t mathin’ here.”

The Washington Post has reported that Trump in 2001 was given a green card via the elite EB-1 program. The program has been used by people such as academic researchers and multinational business executives, as well as people who have demonstrated “sustained national and international acclaim,” according to the Post.

Crockett’s comments came amid already heightened tensions over immigration in the U.S. as President Trump and his administration pursue an immigration crackdown.

The Trump administration has recently looked to social media more as a national security tool to vet immigrants, raising concerns the action could result in a chilling effect on political speech in the U.S.

The State Department announced earlier this month it was relaunching interviews and processing foreign student visas, with applicants having to make their social media accounts public for vetting or face possible denial.

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