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The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) has identified 1,371 hate and antigovernment extremist groups operating across the United States in 2024, according to their latest Year in Hate & Extremism report. These groups are increasingly embedding themselves in politics while targeting marginalized communities through various tactics including intimidation, disinformation, and violence. Hard-right organizations have aggressively targeted diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, falsely framing them as threats to white Americans. The report details how extremist groups utilize platforms like Telegram to cross-recruit between various extremist ideologies, while militia movements reorganize, manosphere content radicalizes young men, and organizations like Turning Point USA push white nationalist rhetoric into mainstream politics.

Charlie Rangel, a significant figure in New York politics and the last surviving member of Harlem's "Gang of Four," has died at 94. Throughout his 46-year congressional career, Rangel became known for his charismatic personality and served as the first African American Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, where he advocated for progressive tax reform and social programs. Despite facing an ethics investigation in 2010 that cost him his committee chairmanship, Rangel defied President Obama's suggestion to resign and remained in Congress until retiring on his own terms in 2016 at age 86. Before Congress, Rangel served in various political roles including Assistant U.S. Attorney and New York State Assemblyman, and was a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus following his military service in Korea, where he earned a Purple Heart and Bronze Star.

During a high-profile Oval Office meeting, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and US President Donald Trump clashed over Trump's claims about white South African farmers being killed. When Trump showed a video purportedly depicting violence against white farmers, Ramaphosa noted he had never seen such footage and requested its location, while emphasizing that criminal violence in South Africa affects primarily Black citizens. Ramaphosa suggested that Trump needed to listen to South African voices "at a quiet table" to understand the facts, while Trump insisted the issue must be addressed before the November G-20 summit in South Africa. The meeting was attended by various leaders, Elon Musk, South African golfers, and reporters, with Trump briefly acknowledging the historical injustice of South Africa's apartheid system that enforced racial segregation from 1948 to 1994.

A new 19th News/SurveyMonkey poll reveals that 49 percent of Americans believe politicians should not focus on transgender issues at all, an increase from 43 percent before the election. Despite President Trump's efforts to restrict transgender rights during his first 100 days of his second term, 59 percent of Americans support transgender adults' access to gender-affirming care, though support drops to 43 percent for transgender youth. The poll shows changing attitudes across party lines, with more Democrats and Republicans now preferring politicians avoid focusing on trans issues, while 55 percent of Americans oppose laws restricting gender-affirming care for minors.

U.S. colleges are dismantling diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs in response to pressure from the Trump administration, which has threatened to cut federal funding for institutions maintaining such initiatives. The Education Department issued a February memo directing schools to eliminate race from decision-making in various aspects of campus life, including financial aid, admissions, and student activities. As universities like Michigan, Case Western Reserve, and the University of Virginia comply by closing DEI offices and eliminating specialized programs, students of color report losing vital support systems, scholarships, orientation events, and community resources that helped them navigate predominantly white institutions. While some universities are rebranding their programs or seeking alternative ways to support students, many students of color express concerns that these rollbacks threaten their sense of belonging and access to higher education.

Former U.S. Representative Barbara Lee has declared victory as the new mayor of Oakland, following a concession from her opponent Loren Taylor in the April 15 race. Lee, a 78-year-old Black female political trailblazer who served in Congress for over two decades, was endorsed by former Oakland mayors and Governor Jerry Brown as the experienced leader needed to unite the deeply divided city. She will inherit significant challenges including homelessness, crime, drug use, and economic stagnation that have prompted state intervention and business closures. Lee's platform emphasized balancing community services with police presence, economic development, job creation, and improving basic city services as she prepares to complete former Mayor Sheng Thao's term following Thao's recall and subsequent federal indictment.

Rev. Al Sharpton and the National Action Network (NAN) are considering boycotts against companies that have retreated from diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) commitments. Sharpton recently met with Target CEO Brian Cornell and PepsiCo executives to discuss concerns about their DEI rollbacks. Following the meetings, Sharpton plans to consult with NAN's board and other allies, including Rev. Dr. Jamal Bryant, before determining actions against these corporations. Target has already faced significant backlash from Black consumers through a "TargetFast" organized by Rev. Dr. Bryant, resulting in declining foot traffic at Target locations, with a 9% drop in February and 6.5% in March.

The San Diego Community College District (SDCCD) and its four colleges are participating in Black Student Success Week (BSSW) from April 21-25, in collaboration with the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office under the theme "Lift Up, Level Up: The Rise of Black Serving Institutions." The colleges will host numerous events including a regional sneaker ball, poetry performances, a mental health healing circle, and a districtwide summit on April 18. Throughout the week, daily #TheBlackHour webinars will be offered by the CCCCO to share insights on improving success among Black and African American community college students. The comprehensive schedule includes events like transfer fairs, scavenger hunts, workshops on mental health, and an Open Mic Night, all designed to support Black student success across the district that serves approximately 90,000 students annually.

Tanya Harris, an author and school district volunteer, hosted a Book Signing Experience for her new book "Journey of the Heart: Should I Stay, or Should I Go?" at the Joan B. Kroc Theatre on April 16th. The book explores relationship decisions through personal anecdotes, scriptures, and a curated playlist, offering guidance on self-discovery and decision-making. The signing event featured performances from artists including Debonaire, Darren Sherrill, Eddie Baltrip & Fulfillment, DJ MiGz, and Harris' son Tye Harris. When asked about her favorite part of the book, Harris credited divine inspiration, stating that God provided answers to the central question of the book.

Black Maternal Health Week is raising awareness about the alarmingly high death rates among Black pregnant women. Imani's Village, founded in 2020, works to advance infant and maternal health in Oklahoma's Black community through education and doula training. According to the CDC, 50 out of every 100,000 Black women died during pregnancy or childbirth in 2023, compared to just 15 white women. The organization provides free doulas, childbirth educators, and lactation educators to combat misconceptions about Black patients that can lead to dismissal of their medical concerns.

Target is experiencing significant challenges as consumer boycotts intensify, employees consider unionization, and the company faces financial difficulties following its rollback of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Led by Rev. Jamal Bryant's 40-day "Targetfast" campaign during Lent, organizations including the NAACP, National Newspaper Publishers Association, and The People's Union USA are organizing boycotts to protest what they describe as corporate surrender to bigotry. Target's problems are reflected in ten consecutive weeks of declining in-store traffic, a 21% drop in operating income in the most recent quarter, and stock prices falling to a five-year low of $94 in April from $142 in January. Internally, employees are reporting mass resignations, frustration with minimal pay raises, and increasing interest in unionization efforts to address workplace concerns.

Recent reports reveal Donald Trump has spent approximately $26.1 million in taxpayer money since 2017 to travel to his Florida club most weekends, costing nearly $800,000 per trip according to a 2019 Government Accountability Office report updated by HuffPost. Meanwhile, the Trump administration is discussing a potential military parade in Washington D.C. on June 14, which coincides with Trump's 79th birthday and the U.S. Army's 250th anniversary. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser acknowledged being contacted about hosting the event, which could extend from Arlington, Virginia into downtown Washington. Critics, including Rep. Troy Carter (D-La.), have expressed concerns about the excessive travel costs and the proposed parade's timing amid discussions about benefit cuts.

A major new analysis of U.S. mortality data from 1950 to 2019 reveals persistent racial disparities in child mortality, with Black children dying at approximately twice the rate of white children throughout the entire period. The comprehensive study, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine by researchers from Harvard, Yale, and other institutions, documented over half a million preventable infant deaths and nearly 690,000 childhood deaths among Black Americans over the seven decades. Despite overall improvements in life expectancy for both racial groups, the mortality gap for infants and children has actually widened since the 1950s, with Black infants in the 2010s dying at a rate of 1,073 per 100,000 compared to 499 per 100,000 for white infants. The researchers attribute these persistent disparities to systemic racism and structural inequities including housing segregation, unequal healthcare access, and socioeconomic disadvantages.

A group representing many white farmers whose land was seized during Zimbabwe's land reforms has rejected a compensation deal, criticizing the amounts as "token" and wanting to reopen negotiations with the government. The government has started paying compensation to some white farmers who lost land and property, approving $3.1 million (1% of the total $311 million claim), with the balance to be settled through treasury bonds over 10 years. The dissenting group, representing nearly half of the 4,000 commercial farmers affected, claimed those accepting payments were doing so out of desperation, calling the compensation "a tiny fraction" of the $3.5 billion previously agreed upon in 2020. The compensation deal is part of Zimbabwe's strategy to resolve debt issues and reengage internationally after years of sanctions.

The NAACP and NAACP Legal Defense Fund have sued the Trump administration over the Department of Education's threat to withhold federal funding from schools that maintain diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. The Department of Education sent a "Dear Colleague" letter in February warning schools that any race-related programs might violate federal law, followed by an April demand that schools end all DEI initiatives or risk losing funding. According to the lawsuit, this represents a misinterpretation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, which were designed to prevent discrimination rather than prohibit efforts to address it. The lawsuit comes amid other actions by the administration, including dismantling the Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights through layoffs and the withdrawal of students in Waterloo, Iowa from an annual African American Read-In event due to fears of retaliation.

A federal judge has denied a motion by Lennar/Five Point to approve a proposed $5.4 million settlement in the Hunters Point Community Lawsuit as a "good faith settlement." The lawsuit, originally filed in May 2018 by 6,500 plaintiffs represented by the Law Offices of Bonner & Bonner, sought to halt development on Parcel A of the Hunters Point Naval Shipyard until safety could be proven. US District Court Judge James Donato rejected the settlement, stating it provided insufficient details about over 9,000 listed plaintiffs and that he could not assess whether the agreement would be "fair and reasonable." The settlement would have included $3.5 million for named plaintiffs and current residents, $100,000 for former residents, and $400,000 for a public health fund.

The resentencing hearing for Erik and Lyle Menendez, who were convicted of killing their parents in 1989 and are currently serving life without parole, was postponed by a judge until May 9 after proceedings devolved into disputes between defense attorneys and prosecutors. During the contentious hearing, defense attorney Mark Geragos announced plans to seek recusal of the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, while prosecutors requested court review of a new risk assessment report about the brothers' potential danger to the public if released. Judge Michael Jesic agreed to delay the proceedings to give all parties time to review the risk assessment report, which was recently completed after California Governor Gavin Newsom ordered the state's parole board to examine the case. The resentencing bid represents one of three paths the Menendez brothers' attorneys are pursuing to potentially secure their release after serving three decades in prison.

The Freedom From Frame-Up Foundation has launched the "Mumia Freedom Tour" to support Mumia Abu Jamal, a former Black Panther Party member who they describe as a political prisoner wrongfully convicted. The campaign includes a Birthday Freedom Dinner Fundraiser on April 24, 2025, at the African American Art and Culture Complex in San Francisco, featuring Mumia's eldest son Jamal Ibn Mumia and former attorney Rachel Wolkenstein. The article highlights Mumia's urgent need for eye surgery due to cataracts and glaucoma, with claims that prison authorities at SCI Mahanoy are refusing necessary treatment. The Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, seeks donations to finance legal actions and medical intervention for Mumia and advocates for others they believe are wrongfully imprisoned.

In the first 100 days of the Trump administration, immigration enforcement has intensified nationally through restricted asylum access, student visa revocations, mass deportations, and increased border security, resulting in an 88% decrease in border crossings in San Diego since October. San Diego County is currently operating under "super sanctuary" status, limiting cooperation with federal immigration authorities, though this policy faces challenges from the Trump administration and local political divisions. A critical July 1 runoff election between Republican John McCann and Democrat Paloma Aguirre for a vacant supervisor seat will determine the partisan balance of the county board, potentially reshaping local immigration policies. Recent enforcement actions in San Diego include workplace raids, revocation of humanitarian parole for migrants under the Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan, and Venezuelan parole program (CHNV), and cancellation of student visas for international students at local universities allegedly connected to pro-Palestinian activism.

The House has passed the SAVE Act, officially known as the "Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act," with a 220-208 vote, requiring in-person documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote in federal elections. Critics, including the ACLU and Legal Defense Fund, warn this legislation could disenfranchise millions of eligible voters, particularly women, people of color, and rural residents who may lack easy access to required documentation. The bill would effectively end online and mail voter registration, restrict voter registration drives, and allow lawsuits against election officials who do not enforce the new rules. Rep. Joe Morelle of New York denounced the bill as "one of the most damaging voter suppression bills in modern history," while supporters frame it as a necessary election security measure despite evidence that noncitizen voting in federal elections is already illegal and extremely rare.

President Donald Trump has announced extensive new tariffs on approximately 60 nations, including a record 50% reciprocal tariff on Lesotho, citing trade imbalances that disadvantage American manufacturers. The White House justified the steep penalty on Lesotho by pointing to its 99% tariff on U.S. goods and $264 million trade surplus, despite importing only $8 million in American goods in 2022. These tariffs effectively signal the premature end of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which had allowed duty-free access to U.S. markets for many African exports before its scheduled expiration in September. Other African nations face similarly high tariffs: Madagascar at 47%, Mauritius at 40%, Botswana at 37%, and South Africa at 30%, coming at a particularly difficult time as many of these countries struggle with poverty, natural disasters, and public health crises.

D.E.T.O.U.R. held its 7th Annual Scholarship Awards Luncheon on March 22 at The Venue at Eastlake in Chula Vista from 2-5pm. The event began with welcome speeches from local officials, including California State Senator Dr. Akilah Weber-Pierson, followed by fashion-forward entertainment celebrating scholarship winners and graduating seniors. Seven students received the 2025 FANCY Scholarship awards: Makayla Gilliam, Kameryn Lee, Alaysia Patterson, Isabella Gutierrez Gonzales, Korinna Camacho, Janelle Rogers, and Nevaeh Valle-Ha. The article concluded by congratulating all awardees and graduating seniors.

The San Diego Continuing College of Education (SDCCE) opened a new Business Resource Center on April 9th at the Cesar Chavez campus to provide support and resources for entrepreneurs at all stages. Dr. Tami Foy, Executive Director of the SDCCE Foundation, developed the center at the request of SDCCE President Dr. Tina King, with assistance from Alex Waters of The Program Labs. The center will offer workshops, 1-on-1 business coaching, small group sessions, and free business needs assessments with referrals to community resources. This new facility replaces the previous business resource center at the Jo & Vi Jacobs Center, which donated furniture to the new location, and features podcast equipment, computers, and free informational resources for technological career training.

The 6th annual San Diego Writers' Festival took place on April 5, 2025, at Coronado High School, bringing together writers and book enthusiasts with a mission to provide affordable access to writing conference experiences. A notable panel hosted by Laura Cathcart of the "Only One in the Room" podcast featured Black journalists and novelists discussing challenges in the predominantly white publishing industry, where Black people represented only 5.1% of industry professionals according to the 2023 Lee & Low Books' Diversity Baseline Survey. Panelists including Lisa Deaderick from The San Diego Union Tribune, author Trisha R. Thomas, and Row House Publishing acquisitions editor Tamela Gordon shared personal experiences and advice, while other Black creatives like Dr. Catherine Grace Pope, Tembi Locke, Marilyn Harvey, Marcus McNeal, Maria Boyd, and Anthony Green Jr. showcased their works and initiatives throughout the festival. Despite being in the minority, Black writers at the festival were able to network, socialize, and exchange value with one another.

Early results in the District 1 Supervisor race show Chula Vista Mayor John McCann leading with 43.5% of the vote, while Imperial Beach Mayor Paloma Aguirre has 31.7% and District 3 Councilmember Vivian Moreno has 13%. With over 57,000 votes counted, McCann needs to reach 50% to win outright, otherwise the election will proceed to a July 1 runoff between McCann, a Republican, and Aguirre, a Democrat. The outcome of this election will shift the board's partisan balance, which is currently evenly split between two Democrats and two Republicans.