TikTok asks federal appeals court to bar enforcement of potential ban
TikTok asked a federal appeals court on Monday to bar the Biden administration from enforcing a law that could lead to a ban on the popular platform until the Supreme Court reviews its challenge to the statute. The legal filing was made after a panel of three judges on the same court sided with the government last week and ruled that the law, which requires TikTok’s China-based parent company ByteDance to divest its stakes in the social media company or face a ban, was constitutional. If the law is not overturned, both TikTok and its parent ByteDance, which is also a plaintiff in the case, have claimed that the popular app will shut down by Jan. 19, 2025. TikTok has more than 170 million American users who would be affected, the companies have said. In their legal filing on Monday, attorneys for the two companies wrote that even if a shutdown lasted one month, it would cause TikTok to lose about a third of its daily users in the U.S. The company also would lose 29% of its total “targeted global” advertising revenue for next year as well as talent since current and prospective employees would look elsewhere for jobs, they wrote. “Before that happens, the Supreme Court should have an opportunity, as the only court with appellate jurisdiction over this action, to decide whether to review this exceptionally important case,” the filing said. It’s not clear if the Supreme Court will take up the case. But some legal experts have said the justices are likely to weigh in on the case since it raises novel issues about social media platforms and how far the government could go in its stated aims of protecting na- tional security. President-elect Donald Trump, who tried to ban TikTok the last time he was in the White House, has said he is now against such action. In their legal filing, the two companies pointed to the political realities, saying that an injunction would provide a “modest delay” that would give the incoming Administration time to determine its position — which could moot both the impending harms and the need for Supreme Court review.” Attorneys for the two companies are asking the appeals court to decide on the request for an
Kwanzaa festival celebrates African American culture
The Elegba Folklore Society will host its annual Capital City Kwanzaa Festival on Dec. 28, offering a daylong celebration of African American culture and heritage.
Nikki Giovanni, poet and literary giant, dies at 81
Nikki Giovanni, the poet, author, educator and public speaker who went from borrowing money to release her first book to spending decades as a literary celebrity who shared blunt and conversational takes on everything from racism and love to space travel and mortality, has died. She was 81.
Chisholm posthumously awarded Congressional Gold Medal
On Monday, U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) attended the signing of the Shirley Chisholm Congressional Gold Medal Act at the U.S. Capitol. This bipartisan legislation posthumously awards the Congressional Gold Medal to Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman elected to the U.S. Congress, in recognition of her groundbreaking contributions to politics, activism and civil rights.
Council celebrates achievements, prepares for new leadership
Richmond City Council’s final meeting of the year was an emotional one, as members reflected on past achievements and looked ahead to the future. Outgoing council members Andreas Addison, Ann-Frances Lambert and Kristen Nye were honored for their service, marking a poignant moment in the city’s leadership transition.
Legislators push for solutions to Virginia’s child care crisis
State legislators from both parties gathered Monday at the General Assembly Building to launch the 2025 “Gotta Have Child Care” campaign, a bipartisan effort to address the growing gap in funding for affordable child care in Virginia.
Panel to grapple with racial history of state colleges, universities
For decades, Virginia’s public colleges and universities expanded campuses to accommodate growing student populations – often at the expense of Black communities.
Where police are being investigated for excessive force, discrimination and other allegations
A U.S. Justice Department investigation into the Memphis Police Department after the beating death of Tyre Nichols found a pattern of unlawful use of excessive force and discrimination against the Black residents of the majority-Black city in Tennessee.
W.E.B. Du Bois found inspiration and hope in national parks, by Thomas S. Bremer
In his collection of essays and poems published in 1920 titled “Darkwater,” W.E.B. Du Bois wrote about his poignant encounter with the beauty of the Grand Canyon, the stupendous chasm in Arizona.
Why didn’t Biden keep his promise?, by Clarence Page
Just once. Just once amid all the times that reporters asked President Biden whether he would give a pardon to his son, Hunter, who was facing a possible federal prison sentence, I wish I could have heard jolly Joe give the sort of response that the late Chicago Mayor Rich- ard J. Daley offered to such unwelcome questions.
How faith calls us to tackle the climate crisis, by Ben Jealous
Reflections on God are common right now. We are about to enter a new year. Many of us are getting ready to celebrate Christmas or Hanukah. With 2024 “virtually certain” to be the hottest year on record, some may look at the symptoms of the climate crisis – the extreme heat, the fires and floods, the climate-charged cyclones - as signs of God’s wrath.
Insuring distrust
Once in a while, there comes a crisis or current event that lets us know how many Americans feel about a particular issue.
Activist Farid Alan Schintzius Dies at 76
Richmond activist and community leader Farid Alan Schintzius died Thursday, Dec. 5 at the age of 76.
VUU Gospel Choir performs on BET’s ‘HBCU Honors’
Virginia Union University’s Gospel Choir performed with Grammy-winning artist Fantasia and hip-hop legend MC Lyte at the HBCU Honors, a celebration of Historically Black Colleges and Universities. The performance, led by VUU Gospel Choir Director Joel T. Lester, and airing on BET on Dec. 1, marked a milestone for the choir.
“Up the Ridge” screening to highlight Red Onion prison issues
The Virginia Defenders for Freedom, Justice & Equality will host a public meeting on Saturday, Dec. 7, to examine issues at Red Onion State Prison, a supermax facility in Virginia. The event, titled “Crisis at Red Onion Supermax: How You Can Help!” will take place at Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church, 1720 Mechanicsville Turnpike in Richmond’s East End.
MMA Legends host fight night in Richmond
UFC icons Anthony “Showtime” Pettis and Kamaru Usman are set to host “APFC 15: Virginia Fight Night III,” an evening of mixed martial arts at the Greater Richmond Convention Center on Sunday, Dec. 8. Doors open at 2 p.m., with fights scheduled from 2:30 to 9 p.m., delivering non-stop action for fans of all ages.
River City Sportsplex expands with four new fields
The River City Sportsplex just got bigger and better. Last week, the complex unveiled four additional lighted turf fields, pushing its total to an impressive 16 fields.
Virginia Union makes history, advances to NCAA quarterfinals
Virginia Union University’s record-setting football season continued with a decisive 44-12 victory over Lenoir-Rhyne University on Saturday in the NCAA Division II Playoffs second round.
UR’s Grant named finalist for Buck Buchanan Award
University of Richmond defensive end Jeremiah Grant has been named among the nation’s top defensive players as a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award. Celebrating its 30th anniversary this season, the award is presented yearly to the national defensive player of the year in Division I FCS college football.
Louis Gossett, Jr. championed justice beyond Hollywood, by Ben Jealous
It was my last year as national president of the NAACP, at the end of 2013 Image Awards. I was with my dear friend Louis Gossett, Jr., the actor and activist who won an Oscar for his role in the film “An Officer and a Gentleman.” Lou said to me, “You know, Ben, I’ve been in this racial justice movement my whole life, but you know, sometimes, brother, I feel like we’re fighting over who’s in first class. What we should be doing is looking out the window, because the plane has fallen like 20,000 feet in the last two minutes.”
