Demand for change: What you need to know today, Saturday

An organization created by LeBron James and other Black athletes and artists is raising money for felons in Florida who are unable to vote in elections because of outstanding fines and fees.

More Than A Vote was created this year in the wake of the killing of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man who died of asphyxiation in Minneapolis when a white police officer knelt on his neck for an extended period of time. The organization is committed to “combating systemic, racist voter suppression.”

The organization’s main initiative right now is to get individuals who have completed felony sentences registered to vote ahead of the November presidential election. It is donating $100,000 to the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition, which pushed a significant amendment to Florida’s lifelong voting ban on people who have been convicted of felonies. Read the rest of the story here.

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President’s Decision on Federal Agents Raises Questions

President Donald Trump offered few details when he announced this week that the government will dispatch hundreds of extra federal agents to Chicago and Albuquerque, New Mexico, to fight an uptick in violent crime. The absence of a clear, publicly available plan has left city leaders, residents and even federal agencies to speculate about exactly what will happen and when. Here’s a look at what’s known so far:

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COVID-19 Health Expert: Dr. Thomas Huth

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Congress asked to Help Blacks, Latinos

Health experts are asking Congress to do more to help older Black and Latino adults during the pandemic. Data from health care experts and health organizations shows that Blacks and Latinos are twice as likely to die from COVID-19 than Whites.

Samantha Manning, Cox Media Group Washington Bureau, reports that lawmakers and health experts point to limited access to health care and higher rates of chronic health conditions among minorities.Medical experts have called for more funding and outreach in those vulnerable communities.

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“Provide robust funding for the improvement and development of health care infrastructure including hospitals in medically underserved communities,” Dr. Dominick Mack, Morehouse School of Medicine said this week.

Dr. Mercedes Carnethon, professor of epidemiology, Northwestern University, said, “Without building a rapport or trust in these communities, there’s no guarantee that the highest risk population will get the vaccine or that they even want the vaccine.”

Sen. Bob Casey, D- Pennsylvania, said, “We have a chance right now in the next three weeks to begin to address these injustices.”

Congress is working to put together another round of relief aid meant to help those affected by the pandemic.

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Things you should know in the demand for change following the Memorial Day death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police:

• Funeral for civil rights icon John Lewis to be held at historic Ebenezer Baptist in Atlanta
• NFL’s former Redskins to play under different name this season

Cox Media Group