United States

Here’s a look at African American people and issues making headlines throughout the country.

California
The Crenshaw/LAX Transit Corridor Team will conduct a series of community workshops to provide project updates, discuss input received from previous workshops and present new information on station alternatives, station area planning, streetscape, and landscape design concepts. The project is expected to have a significant impact on business, employment, and tax revenue in the region.

District of Columbia
A man who believed he was assisting members of Al-Qaeda in a plan to launch bombs at several Metrorail stations was arrested this week, according to the U.S. Justice Department. After Farooque Ahmed, 34, of Ashburn, Va., was taken into custody, officials alerted the public and metro system workers that they were never in danger, because they—which included the FBI—had been well aware of Ahmed’s activities prior to the time he began his attempt. They also said that Ahmed had been closely monitored up until the time of his arrest. If convicted, Ahmed faces a maximum penalty of 50 years in prison.

Georgia

The 10th annual Silent No More! Candlelight Vigil was held at the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site, and was sponsored by Partners Against Domestic Violence (PADV). Many supporters against intimate partner violence attended, taking the opportunity to remember victims who were killed in 2009 and 2010. As each name was read, a candle was lit to represent a life lost. Mayor Kasim Reed honored PADV with the Phoenix Award for its work to end intimate partner violence and to empower its survivors. Atlanta City Council President Ceaser Mitchell presented the award.

Allergic reaction

Here’s a look at African American issues and people making headlines throughout the country.

District of Columbia
A group of roughly 40 current and former Washington, D.C. Black firefighters filed a class action lawsuit in the U. S. District Court against the D.C. Fire Department alleging racial discrimination in promotions and disciplinary actions. According to the firefighter’s attorney, Donna Rucker, the workers–who insist their action aims to achieve fairness rather than focusing on monetary damages–have discovered a pattern of discrimination that has existed for years, and targets African-American firefighters and emergency medical technicians for punitive treatment and limited promotion. “There appears to be disparity in treatment in terms of how the fire department deals with individuals,” Rucker said. “There seems to be a divided line. You can have one offense and have treatment for an African American handled one way, and treatment for someone who’s not African American handled another way.” The suit alleges that in addition to facing harsher disciplinary penalties, Blacks encounter what they term a hostile environment on the job, while their White counterparts receive lighter penalties and easier advancement.

Louisiana
Less than an hour after voting for it, Monroe City Councilman Eddie Clark said he would ask the council to reconsider its approval of a contract that could possibly be illegal. The two-year $180,000 professional services contract with X-Perience, LLC, a video company that operates in several cities, may represent a large conflict of interest problem. Clark said immediately after he learned that X-Perience does political ad campaign work for the mayor and some councilmen. City attorney Nancy Summersgill informed him that giving a $180,000 contract to a company without bids was legal, but Clark is having serious reservations.