civil rights

Garifuna Heritage Celebrated at Bronx Borough Hall

By SÎLE MOLONEY
Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson joined author José Francisco Aviles and The Garifuna Coalition, USA, Inc. for an evening celebrating Garifuna culture, tradition, and music in the Rotunda of Bronx Borough Hall on Thursday, March 7. The colorful celebration included performances of traditional folk dances and songs.

JASA Older Adult Center Holds Memorial for Community Activists Nat Solomon & Cecilia Greene

By SHERICA DALEY
The lives of Nat Solomon and Cecilia Greene, described by those who knew them as dedicated community activists, were celebrated recently during a heartfelt memorial event held in Van Cortlandt Village after they recently passed away one day apart. The late Nat Solomon died on Monday, Jan. 22, aged 80, and as reported, the late Cecilia Greene died on Tuesday, Jan. 23, at the age of 91.

Vigil Held on 25th Anniversary of Death of Amadou Diallo

By SHERICA DALEY
Fervently chanting “Amadou! Amadou!” a large crowd of Bronx residents, activists, lawmakers, and clergy joined family members of both the late Amadou Balio Diallo and other young, Black men killed by police in the Soundview section of The Bronx on Saturday, Feb. 3, for a vigil marking the 25th anniversary of Diallo’s death. According to police and media reports at the time, Diallo, a Muslim Guinean, died after he was shot 19 times by police on Wheeler Avenue in Soundview shortly after midnight on Feb. 4, 1999. He was unarmed and aged 23.

Torres Announces $18,171,279 in Federal Funds for Community Projects

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Congressman Ritchie Torres (NY-15) announced $18,171,279 in federal funding for community projects across New York’s 15th Congressional District on Thursday, March 21. The funding, which his office said was secured through the Fiscal Year 2024 appropriations process, will support a range of initiatives aimed at improving infrastructure, expanding access to healthcare, and enhancing educational opportunities for constituents.

Espaillat, Ocasio-Cortez Introduce Temporary Protected Status for Ecuador Act

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Bronx Congressional Reps. Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), along with nine other original cosponsors, introduced the Temporary Protected Status for Ecuador Act (H.R. 7371) to the U.S. House of Representatives on Monday, Feb. 26. The bill, if passed, would grant Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to over 300,000 Ecuadorians in the U.S. who have fled the current mass outbreak of gang-related violence in Ecuador to seek safety for their families.

Health Care Expands March 5 to All Vets Exposed to Toxins during Military Service at Home or Abroad

By SÍLE MOLONEY
The U.S. Department of Veterans Services announced on Monday, Feb. 26, that all veterans who were exposed to toxins and other hazards while serving in the military, at home or abroad, will be eligible to enroll directly in VA health care beginning March 5. VA officials said this means all veterans who served in the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan, the Global War on Terror, or any other combat zone after 9/11 will be eligible to enroll directly in VA health care without first applying for VA benefits.