Wednesday Morning Scoop: It Was 50 Years Ago Today
Amid New Wave of Activism, U.S. Marks the 50th Anniversary of MLK’s Assassination
Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated 50 years ago today, shot while standing on a balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tenn., where he had gone to support striking sanitation workers. The killing triggered riots and looting in many major cities.
At a time when non-violent protest has surged to the forefront of national consciousness — from student activism following the Parkland, Fla. school shooting to continued outrage over police killings of unarmed citizens — King’s message seems as relevant as it was in 1968.
Key events are set for King’s hometown of Atlanta, where his daughter will speak, and Memphis, where Rev. Jesse Jackson, Rev. Al Sharpton and U.S. Rep. John Lewis, along with rapper Common, will appear. Events are also scheduled at the MLK Memorial in Washington, D.C.
There are countless quotes and snippets of King’s speeches that still resonate today, but perhaps none more fitting than this: “Every man of humane convictions must decide on the protest that best suits his convictions, but we must all protest.”
[Sign up here to get the Morning Scoop as an email]
Looking For A Motive in You Tube Shooting
A woman, identified by authorities as Nasim Aghdam, opened fire at the YouTube headquarters in San Bruno, Calif. yesterday, injuring three people and then killing herself with a handgun.
Early information suggested the shooting was a domestic incident, but reports have surfaced this morning — including one that indicates her father reported her missing to police and warned she might go to YouTube headquarters — that Agham was angry with the company for it’s policies that prevented her own videos from gaining a large audience on the platform.
The identities of the wounded, a 36-year-old man in critical condition; a 32-year-old woman in serious condition; and a 27-year-old woman in fair condition, have not been released.
Today in a Tweet
OK. We can get behind this…
A Disturbing Study on ‘Food Insecurity’ and College Students
A recent report from Wisconsin HOPE Lab and Temple University has found that many college students have gone without food or housing at some point while pursuing higher education.
Thirty-six percent of university students and forty-two percent of community college students reported having trouble with “food insecurity” in the 30 days leading up to the survey. The survey consisted of over 66,000 students in 20 states and the District of Columbia.
Roxanneh Mousavi has more in her report for CMN.
Last But Not Least: The Election Bill No One Is Talking About
Hawaiian Congresswoman and potential 2020 presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard has introduced a bill in the House of Representatives recently that would strengthen voting infrastructure nationwide, addressing security concerns from the 2016 elections.
According to the congresswoman’s website, the bill would require the usage of voter-verified paper ballots or a paper ballot backup in federal elections in case of any audit or recount.
has full details in his roundup for CMN.
Today’s Morning Scoop was compiled by Natalia Kolenko, and the CMN Staff.
