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The All of Us or None National Convening took place July 17-20, 2025, in San Antonio, Texas, bringing together formerly incarcerated advocates from across the United States. Participants gathered to collaborate on advocacy work focused on restoring civil rights for currently and formerly incarcerated people, reuniting families, providing resources to those still imprisoned, and educating about new laws that could help with resentencing, parole, and release. The convening featured workshops on topics including basebuilding, using AI for liberation, and "crimmigation," creating an environment that the author, Robert Bowden, described as feeling like a family reunion for those dedicated to freeing incarcerated individuals. Attendees from numerous cities nationwide participated in this gathering aimed at supporting advocacy efforts and sharing resources for continuing their mission.

Positively Caviar Inc., a DMV-based nonprofit, is hosting its fourth annual "Flourish & Grow" back-to-school summer wellness workshop at the R.I.S.E Demonstration Center in Southeast D.C. on August 16. The program aims to provide middle school students with practical tools for managing stress, building mental resilience, and establishing healthy habits through activities including affirmation exercises, healing techniques, and nutrition education. Executive Director Chazz Scott emphasizes the long-term implications of mental health issues, including poor school performance and higher dropout rates, particularly in underserved communities. The organization seeks to address mental health in a culturally relevant way for young African Americans, with co-founder Nikki Abraham noting that nearly 3,000 D.C. adolescents experience major depressive episodes annually, with more than a third receiving no treatment.

The White House plans to host a UFC event as part of the United States' 250th anniversary celebrations on July 4th next year, as announced by UFC president Dana White. This unprecedented event at the White House was initiated by President Trump, who has a longstanding friendship with White dating back to when Trump hosted early UFC events at his properties. Trump has suggested building an octagon cage on White House grounds with capacity for up to 25,000 people, though specific logistics remain unclear. This UFC event is part of Trump's broader efforts to transform the White House, which have already included gold office renovations, lawn modifications, and plans for a $200 million ballroom.

The U.S. has announced criminal charges against Haitian gang leader Jimmy Cherizier (known as "Barbecue") and U.S. citizen Bazile Richardson for soliciting funds from the Haitian diaspora to support gang activities in violation of U.S. sanctions. Cherizier, who leads the gang alliance Viv Ansanm that controls much of Port-au-Prince, is accused of numerous human rights abuses including the 2018 La Saline massacre where 71 people were killed. The U.S. is offering a $5 million reward for information leading to Cherizier's arrest, while Richardson was arrested in Texas last month for helping raise funds to pay gang leaders and purchase weapons. Haiti has experienced economic chaos, violent gang warfare, and humanitarian crisis since President Jovenel Moïse's assassination in 2021, with 5.7 million people facing acute food insecurity.

The Trump administration has substantially revised the US government's annual global human rights report, reducing criticism of allies like Israel and El Salvador while increasing scrutiny of countries like Brazil and South Africa. The restructured State Department document eliminates entire sections from previous reports, including coverage of government corruption and LGBTQ+ persecution, while officials claim changes were made to "remove redundancies" and "increase readability." The report also characterizes the human rights situation as "worsened" in close US allies including the UK, France, and Germany due to online hate speech regulations. Former State Department official Uzra Zeya criticized the changes as "gutting" decades of respected human rights work and signaling that the US might "look the other way" for governments willing to cooperate with the administration.

A CNN news segment featuring Christian nationalist pastor Doug Wilson and his supporters, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, has highlighted the growing visibility of fringe evangelical beliefs questioning women's right to vote. Wilson advocates for a patriarchal Christian society where men would cast votes for their households after discussion with family members. While Christian nationalism remains a minority viewpoint held by only about 10% of Americans, experts note these once-fringe ideas are gaining increased traction within the Republican Party. Wilson's views on gender roles, which include opposition to women's suffrage and promotion of patriarchal family structures, represent part of a broader conservative backlash against progressive movements for gender equality.

President Donald Trump has deployed 800 National Guard troops to Washington D.C. and taken control of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) under Section 740, which allows federal command during "emergency conditions" for 30 days. This action removes operational control from Mayor Muriel Bowser and places the MPD under federal command, with Terry Cole named as interim federal administrator. The approach contrasts sharply with the 1989 National Guard deployment under President George H.W. Bush, when then-Mayor Marion Barry maintained city control with Guard members serving only in support roles. Critics argue this federal takeover disproportionately impacts D.C.'s Black population and highlights the District's lack of statehood protections.

A gunman, identified as Patrick Joseph White, opened fire at the CDC headquarters in Atlanta on August 8, firing approximately 500 rounds and killing police officer David Rose who responded to the scene. Investigators revealed that White, who died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, had expressed distrust of COVID-19 vaccines and blamed them for making him depressed and suicidal. The attack damaged six CDC buildings with approximately 200 rounds striking the complex, though no civilians were injured during the incident. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. visited the CDC campus following the shooting to offer condolences to Officer Rose's widow and honor his sacrifice.

San Diego Unified School District began the 2025-2026 school year this week, welcoming nearly 95,000 students back to classes, including 750 at Bell Middle School in Paradise Hills. Bell Middle School is starting the year with new principal Tamara Muhammad, who previously led Franklin Elementary STEAM Magnet and brings a focus on equity and student-centered learning. The school offers numerous programs including visual and performing arts, athletics, and a wellness center, and has earned recognition as one of America's "healthiest schools" by the Alliance for a Healthier Generation. While the district reports improvements in assessment scores, with English Language Arts proficiency at 54.2% and math at 43.9%, significant performance gaps persist for students of color, which the district is addressing through literacy coaches and its "Goals and Guardrails" strategy extending to 2030.

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton has criticized three Republican-backed bills targeting the District of Columbia's local governance as "paternalistic" and undemocratic. The legislation, considered by the U.S. House Rules Committee, would override D.C.'s laws on noncitizen voting rights, police reform, and immigration cooperation. Norton defended D.C.'s right to self-governance for its more than 700,000 residents and condemned the timing of these bills, which followed a continuing resolution that reduced D.C.'s local budget by $1 billion. She urged Congress to respect D.C.'s democratically enacted laws and called for passage of her D.C. statehood bill to grant residents representation in Congress.

Janna Rodriguez, founder of Innovative Daycare Corp in Freeport, NY, was interviewed by BlackPressUSA about her work in early childhood education. As an advocate and educator, Rodriguez leads efforts through multiple organizations including the CDA Council and CSEA/VOICE Union to ensure children from underserved communities have access to quality education. She emphasizes that parents should consider program philosophy, developmentally appropriate practices, and cultural inclusivity when choosing early childhood education for their children. Rodriguez also highlights challenges in the early education workforce including low wages and limited benefits, while advocating for systemic change to address racial inequities in childcare access and affordability.

This summer, Black celebrities showcased their fashion prowess amid global chaos, transforming ordinary venues into fashion showcases. According to The Root's roundup, stars like Rihanna, Tyla, Megan Thee Stallion, and Tyler, the Creator made significant style statements through their distinctive looks and fashion choices. Other notable fashion standouts included Latto in vintage Chanel at Wimbledon, Tracee Ellis Ross channeling Jacquemus in New York, Doechii with futuristic footwear, Keith Powers in YSL at Paris Fashion Week, Lil Baby revitalizing denim-on-denim, and Ravyn Lenae sporting a relaxed summer outfit. These celebrities demonstrated that Black creativity in fashion is a constant, not just a seasonal phenomenon, with each look making a powerful statement.

Tajee Michael was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for the 2022 shooting death of high school football coach Greg Najee Grimes outside a Sacramento nightclub. Michael, who had prior felony convictions, accepted a plea deal in the presence of Grimes' parents, allowing them to avoid a traumatic trial. In response to this tragedy and other gun violence incidents, the Grimes family established the Greg Najee Grimes 212 Anchor Foundation, while California has launched the "Reduce the Risk" public awareness campaign through the Governor's Office of Emergency Services. The campaign aims to educate the public about gun violence protection orders and other legal tools to reduce firearm deaths, particularly in communities of color where gun violence disproportionately occurs.

Michigan transportation officials have paused the I-375 Reconnecting Communities Project, a $500+ million plan to replace a Detroit freeway with a surface boulevard that was intended to reconnect neighborhoods divided by the original 1964 construction. The Michigan Department of Transportation cited rising costs, durability concerns, and public opposition as reasons for delaying the project that had been scheduled to begin construction this year. The original freeway destroyed the historically Black neighborhoods of Black Bottom and Paradise Valley, displacing over 100,000 residents and erasing hundreds of Black-owned businesses and cultural landmarks. Critics, including Wayne County Executive Warren Evans, argue the current plan lacks genuine commitments to affordable housing, opportunities for descendants of displaced families, and protections for Black-owned businesses that would make the project truly reparative.

President Donald Trump has declared a "public safety emergency" in Washington DC, deploying 800 National Guard troops and taking control of the city's police force under the District of Columbia Home Rule Act. Trump claims the city is experiencing "complete and total lawlessness" and has been "taken over by violent gangs and bloodthirsty criminals," despite official statistics showing violent crime has decreased significantly since 2023. Mayor Muriel Bowser and other Democratic leaders have rejected Trump's characterization of the city, calling his actions "unsettling and unprecedented" while highlighting that homicides have dropped by 32% between 2023 and 2024. Trump also announced plans to address homelessness in the capital without providing specific details, stating he wants to ensure "everything should be perfect" when dignitaries visit.

Wei Qiang Lin, a Chinese man, has pleaded guilty in a US court to illegally exporting approximately 850 protected turtles to Hong Kong over a 15-month period ending in November 2024. The turtles, primarily eastern box and three-toed box turtles valued at approximately $1.4 million, were wrapped in socks and falsely labeled as "plastic animal toys" in more than 200 parcels. Both turtle species are protected under international conservation agreements and require proper permits for legal trade, with the eastern box turtle classified as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Lin, who also exported parcels containing venomous snakes, faces up to five years in prison with sentencing scheduled for December 23.

Victor Martinez-Hernandez, a 24-year-old illegal immigrant from El Salvador, has been sentenced to life without parole for the rape and murder of Rachel Morin, a 37-year-old American mother of five, on a Maryland hiking trail in August 2023. The court heard that Martinez-Hernandez assaulted Morin, bludgeoned her with rocks, strangled her, and hid her body in a drainage culvert before being arrested in June 2024 after a 10-month manhunt. Judge Yolanda Curtin imposed multiple sentences including life for first-degree murder, life for rape, and an additional 40 years for other offenses, which will be served in a Maryland prison. The case gained national attention during the presidential campaign when Donald Trump highlighted it to support his border security policies, with the Morin family subsequently becoming advocates for stricter border control.

A fatal explosion at US Steel's Clairton plant near Pittsburgh killed two people and injured ten others on Monday. Emergency responders conducted a search operation that continued into the evening, with five of the injured remaining in critical but stable condition. Authorities temporarily ordered residents within a one-mile radius to keep windows and doors closed due to pollution concerns from the resulting fire. An investigation into the cause of the blast is underway at the facility, which is North America's largest coking operation and employs approximately 1,300 workers.

President Donald Trump has nominated EJ Antoni, an economist from the Heritage Foundation, to lead the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) after firing previous commissioner Erika McEntarfer. Trump fired McEntarfer earlier in August, accusing her of rigging jobs figures, following weaker-than-expected employment data and significant downward revisions to previous months' statistics. Antoni, who has previously criticized the BLS's methodology and called its statistics "phoney baloney," must be confirmed by the Republican-controlled Senate before assuming the position. The unprecedented firing of McEntarfer has sparked concerns about the politicization of economic data, with critics including former Trump-era BLS commissioner William Beach calling it a "dangerous precedent."

President Donald Trump has taken control of Washington D.C.'s Metropolitan Police Department from Mayor Muriel Bowser by invoking Section 740 of the D.C. Home Rule Act under a "crime emergency" declaration. This unprecedented action places the police force under Attorney General Tom Cotton's command, allowing federal authorities to redirect officers from neighborhood patrols to federal buildings, monuments, and protests. Trump cited 2024 homicide and vehicle theft rates to justify the takeover, despite crime reductions in other cities with large Black populations that he has criticized. The indefinite control of D.C. police highlights the District's vulnerability due to its lack of statehood status.

The MI Black Student Project's Pipeline 2 Prosperity Initiative (MiBSP) is a comprehensive effort launched by educators, parents, students, and advocates to eliminate barriers to Black student success in Michigan. This initiative encompasses multiple programs including Commission REI, which teaches financial literacy and real estate education, and LIT Summer under Hip Hop 4 Change, both designed to empower Black students academically and economically. MiBSP combines educational interventions with academic research led by scholars like Dr. Erica Edwards and Dr. Rema Vassar from Wayne State University, while also supporting youth-led work through programs such as Students Leading Well. The initiative takes a holistic approach that extends beyond improving test scores to address economic justice and social healing, with research components analyzing literacy proficiency data from 120 Michigan districts to determine effective instructional strategies.

President Donald Trump has announced plans to deploy National Guard troops to Washington DC and take control of its police department, declaring a "crime emergency" in the nation's capital. Mayor Muriel Bowser counters that crime has significantly decreased, with the city experiencing 30-year lows in violent crime rates. Metropolitan Police Department data shows violent crime down 26% in 2025 compared to 2024, while homicides have dropped 12% over the same period. Despite Trump's claims of "out of control" crime, data from both the police department and independent organizations like the Council on Criminal Justice confirm a significant downward trend in violent crime since mid-2023, though Washington DC's crime rates remain above average compared to other major US cities.

Maryland's tax-free shopping week runs until August 16, allowing consumers to purchase certain items without paying sales tax, as part of a 2007 law designed to help families save money before the school year. Comptroller Brooke Lierman endorsed the initiative as a way for hardworking Marylanders to stretch their budgets while supporting local businesses. Despite projecting a $9 million revenue loss for the state, Lierman defended maintaining the tax holiday amid budget-balancing efforts. The program includes qualifying online purchases and additional promotions from retailers like Tanger Outlets, with Delegate Jazz Lewis praising the week as a strategy to stimulate the local economy and boost community-level growth.

California's Governor's Office is contesting findings from a July 2025 National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) study claiming that the state's minimum wage increase to $20 for fast food workers resulted in 18,000 job losses. The wage increase, established through Assembly Bill 1228 in September 2023, went into effect on April 1, 2024, and created the Fast Food Council to regulate industry wages. A contradictory UC Berkeley study found no negative employment effects from the wage increase, instead showing 8-9% wage increases for covered workers and minimal price increases of about 1.5%. The wage increase has particularly impacted California's fast food workforce, which consists of nearly 80% people of color and about two-thirds women, with workers reporting improved financial situations since implementation.

President Trump's recent executive order requires colleges receiving federal funding to submit detailed admissions data to prove they aren't using race in admissions decisions, with potential penalties including loss of federal aid. Critics view this as an attack on diversity initiatives, with Yale Law professor Justin Driver warning it could intimidate universities into reducing Black and Latino enrollment. The order follows the 2023 Supreme Court decision ending race-conscious admissions but targets what the administration calls "racial proxies" like personal essays and first-generation indicators. In California, which banned affirmative action in 1996 through Proposition 209, Black student enrollment remains below the state's population percentage despite recent modest gains across the UC system.

California's Assembly Bill 495, the Family Preparedness Act of 2025, aims to create a streamlined process for short-term guardianships to help families maintain stability when parents face sudden separation, particularly due to immigration enforcement. The bill would expand the definition of eligible caregivers, restrict school cooperation with immigration authorities, and provide temporary caregivers with legal recognition to make decisions about children's education and healthcare without parents giving up their rights. Critics worry the legislation could weaken parental rights or create custody dispute loopholes, while supporters argue it would prevent service disruptions for children. After clearing the Assembly, the bill now heads to the Senate Appropriations Committee for review.

Olympic bronze medalist Frederick Richard is challenging men's gymnastics uniform rules by wearing shorts with compression leggings instead of traditional stirrup pants at the U.S. Championships, despite receiving a 0.3 point deduction each competition day. Richard believes modernizing the uniform is essential to make gymnastics more appealing to young boys who might otherwise abandon the sport for alternatives they consider "cooler." Despite the deductions potentially affecting his competitive placement, Richard remains committed to this cause, arguing that updated uniforms could help address declining participation in men's gymnastics in the United States. While Richard wouldn't wear his modified uniform in team competitions, he's considering continuing his uniform protest on the international stage in individual events.

Republican Winsome Earle-Sears is running for Virginia governor with her "Operation Defend & Deliver" campaign against Democrat Abigail Spanberger in a race that will result in Virginia's first female governor. Earle-Sears, a former Marine, has faced campaign challenges including a contentious CNN interview, fundraising difficulties, and disunity within the Republican ticket following issues with the lieutenant governor nominee. The race has historical significance as Earle-Sears could become the first Black woman to serve as governor, though she currently trails in polls and fundraising, with Spanberger having raised over $27 million compared to Earle-Sears' significantly smaller war chest.

Gullah Geechee culture, rooted in West African traditions that survived slavery in the South Carolina Sea Islands, is being preserved through the efforts of elderly singers and scholars. Artists like Minnie "Gracie" Gadson, now in her 70s, perform traditional Gullah spirituals that were once sung in praise houses where enslaved people worshipped. These cultural custodians, including the touring group Voices of Gullah, travel across the country performing songs in the Gullah Creole language to maintain their heritage. Scholars like Eric Crawford have documented these authentic performances, recognizing that these singers represent perhaps the closest connection to how enslaved people originally performed these spirituals, while community leaders work to ensure younger generations continue this cultural legacy.