WSSN Stories

By Antonio? ?Ray? ?Harvey? ?|? ?California? ?Black? ?Media?

To honor Women in Construction Week, Sen. Lola Smallwood-Cuevas (D-Los Angeles), a member of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC), introduced Senate Concurrent Resolution (SCR) 30 in the State Legislature on March 6. This resolution pays tribute to women and highlights their contributions to the building industry.

The measure designates March 2, 2025, to March 8, 2025, as Women in Construction Week in California. It passed 34-0 on the Senate floor.

“Women play an important role in building our communities, yet they remain vastly underrepresented in the construction industry,” Smallwood-Cuevas stated. “This resolution not only recognizes their incredible contributions but also the need to break barriers — like gender discrimination that continues to block women from pursuing construction careers.”

Authored by Assemblymember Liz Ortega (D-San Leandro), another bill, Assembly Concurrent Resolution (ACR) 28, also recognized women in the construction industry.

The resolution advanced out of the Assembly Committee on Rules with a 10-0 vote.

The weeklong event coincides with the National Association of Women In Construction (NAWIC) celebration that started in 1998 and has grown and expanded every year since.

NAWIC began in 1953 by a group of women to help create a support network for other women in the industry. Women In Construction Week (WIC) raises awareness about the role women play in the male-dominated profession.

The same week in front of the State Capitol, Smallwood, Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, Assemblymember Josh Hoover (R-Folsom), and Assemblymember Maggie Krell (D-Sacramento), attended a brunch organized by a local chapter of NAWIC.

Two of the guest speakers were Dr. Giovanna Brasfield, CEO of Los Angeles-based Brasfield and Associates; and Jennifer Todd, who serves as President and Founder of LMS General Contractors.

Todd is the youngest Black woman to receive a California’s Contractors State License Board (A) General Engineering license. An advocate for women of different backgrounds, Todd she said she has been a woman in construction for the last 16 years despite going through some trying times.

A graduate of Arizona State University’s’ Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, in 2009 Todd created an apprenticeship training program, A Greener Tomorrow, designed toward the advancement of unemployed and underemployed people of color.

“I always say, ‘I love an industry that doesn’t love me back,’” Todd said. “Being young, female and minority, I am often in spaces where people don’t look like me, they don’t reflect my values, they don’t reflect my experiences, and I so persevere in spite of it all.”

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, only 11.2% of the construction workforce across the country are female. Overall, 87.3% of the female construction workers are White, 35.1% are Latinas, 2.1% are Asians, and 6.5% are Black women, the report reveals.

The National Association of Home Builders reported that as of 2022, the states with the largest number of women working in construction were Texas (137,000), California (135,000) and Florida (119,000). The three states alone represent 30% of all women employed in the industry.

Sen. Susan Rubio (D-Baldwin Park) and the California Legislative Women’s Caucus supported Smallwood-Cuevas’ SCR 30 and requested that more energy be poured into bringing awareness to the severe gender gap in the construction field.

“We often talk about the importance of a workforce and workforce development, especially in support of good paying jobs here in the state of California,” Rubio said. “The construction trade are a proven path to a solid career. and we have an ongoing shortage and this is a time for us to do better breaking down the barriers to help the people get into this sector.”

Last week, the Los Angeles Black Workers Center (LABWC) reported that the Black community represents 9% of Los Angeles County’s population and 10% of all new construction apprentices. In 2009, the LABWC started as a project at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) Labor Center.

The center’s mission is to expand access to quality jobs, reduce employment discrimination, and enhance companies that employ Black workers through action and unionization.

Black Californians make up only 4.9% of the construction workforce and Black representation on publicly funded projects in the county is much lower, hovering around 3%, the LABWC disclosed.

“Adopting equity provisions in Project Labor Agreements and Community Benefit Agreements are crucial to closing these gaps. Let’s continue to support policies that uplift the next generation of women in the trades,” Smallwood-Cuevas stated.

The California Department of Industrial Relations, and its Division of Apprenticeship Standards (DAS) provided the second round of Equal Representation in Construction Apprenticeship (ERiCA) grant. It made $13 million available to improve access to training and employment opportunities for women, non-binary, and underserved populations to enter the building and construction trades.

The deadline to apply for the grant was March 12. The first round of the ERiCA grant awarded $25 million for the years 2023-2025. The applicants were from either the DAS Registered Apprenticeship or Pre-Apprenticeship program.

“When it comes to women in construction we’ve have made incredible strides. We see more and more women breaking barriers,” said Kounalakis, whose family owns a high-profile construction and development business. “I believe there is something fundamental in (women’s) psyche, core, you soul that makes you feel differently when you’re involved in building something tangible.

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Church World Service today expressed its alarm over the Trump administration’s decision to categorically revoke the humanitarian parole status that granted over 530,000 Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan, and Venezuelan (“CHNV”) nationals living in the United States protection from deportation and work authorization. The blanket revocations, which are set to go into effect on April 24, will place hundreds of thousands of people at risk of deportation to unsafe conditions, endanger and separate vulnerable families, and create chaos and uncertainty for communities. Today’s decision will also revoke work authorization for these groups, undermining their ability to be full participants in their communities, support local businesses and the economy, and provide for their families.

“Many Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezeulans joined our communities after fleeing brutal repression and violence imposed by gangs or authoritarian governments. .” said Danilo Zak, Director of Policy at Church World Service. “People impacted by today’s decision came here through a lawfully established program to seek protection through a legal pathway. They have helped local economies grow, they have paid taxes, they have embraced the spirit of their communities. This is nothing more than a betrayal of those who believed in the promise of America, and it undermines the future of all of us.”

Under today’s decision, on April 24 CHNV parolees will receive notices to appear in court and will lose their work authorization, unless they have applied for or received another immigration status, such as asylum, lawful permanent residence, or TPS.

Church World Service continues to call on the White House and Congress to reject policies that will separate families, deport those contributing to our communities, and instead return to the spirit of welcome—a proven national security bulwark—that has long-defined the United States.

For more information or to speak with Zak, contact media@cwsglobal.org.

By Craig J. DeLuz |  Special to California Black Media Partners

When California Democrats recently proclaimed their intention to “Make California Affordable Again,” it echoed a familiar refrain that has been heard time and again in the annals of political promises. However, a deeper examination reveals that this pledge may be more about optics than about sincere economic reform. Even more troubling is the historical context that shows a consistent pattern of policy failures rooted in overregulation and market manipulation — a pattern that risks repeating itself.

The notion of affordability in California has been stifled not by external factors but by the very policies enacted by the state’s leaders. Over the years, we have seen an alarming trend: excessive regulations that stifle job creation and create barriers to entry for housing development, driving up costs at every turn. These regulations have restricted the supply of jobs and housing. The idea that a few tweaks can remedy the situation overlooks the entrenched nature of the problem, which is a product of policies intended to protect certain interests rather than serve the broader population.

Consider the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), enacted in 1970, it aimed to safeguard the environment, yet its implementation has inadvertently morphed into a formidable barrier to affordable housing. Critics argue that it has been subverted by NIMBY factions, who wield the law as a bludgeon to obstruct new developments, particularly in affluent neighborhoods. For instance, a 495-unit housing project in San Francisco, which promised to include affordable options, languished in legal purgatory for years due to CEQA litigation and community pushback. Such protracted delays not only inflate development costs but also constrict the housing supply, exacerbating a crisis that leaves countless individuals and families priced out of the very urban centers they aspire to inhabit. The intended protections against environmental degradation have morphed into a tool of exclusion, revealing the paradox wherein efforts to protect the environment can simultaneously deepen the affordability crisis.

California’s requirement for developers of subsidized or public projects to pay “prevailing wages” serves as a prime example of well-intentioned policies leading to adverse outcomes. These wage mandates, which are frequently higher than market rates, inflate construction costs significantly — up to 40%, according to a 2020 study by the California Center for Jobs and the Economy. As a result, the very goal of creating affordable housing becomes increasingly elusive, with developers confronted by skyrocketing expenses that necessitate additional subsidies and, in many cases, project delays. This paradox highlights a broader truth: sometimes, policies that aim to protect workers can inadvertently hinder the very access to housing that those workers need.

Furthermore, financial giveaways, such as the recent proposal for housing subsidies, are not the panacea they are billed to be. While they may offer temporary relief to some, they do little to address the fundamental issues at play. Such measures have often resulted in inflationary effects that counteract any benefits. Essentially, the state rewards poor policy with more of the same, rather than confronting the underlying causes of the crisis.

Price controls also loom large in this discussion. California has flirted with the idea of implementing rent control measures that, while well-intentioned, have historically led to unintended consequences. Rather than stabilizing the market, price controls tend to deter investment in housing. Landlords, facing limitations on how much they can charge, often opt to sell, convert, or simply neglect their properties, further shrinking the available housing stock. 

The past actions of California Democrats have shown that tinkering around the edges — whether through subsidies, price controls, or draconian regulations — will not yield lasting solutions. The proposed reforms bear a striking resemblance to failed strategies of yore. For example, the $20/hr. fast food minimum wage. It was heralded as a savior for fast food workers, by guaranteeing them a “living wage”. In the end, even SEIU (one of the measures lead proponents) had to admit that the end result was lost jobs, fewer work hours and higher prices.

Until there is a genuine shift towards market-oriented solutions that empower rather than restrict, the promise to “Make California Affordable Again” will remain nothing more than a hollow slogan.

Deceptive slogans hide a reality that is too often ignored: that affordability is intrinsically tied to free market principles. Genuine affordability cannot be achieved through coercive policies; it must arise organically from an environment that encourages growth, competition, and innovation. The road ahead for California is fraught with challenges — but the initial step towards authenticity in addressing the affordability crisis is to acknowledge and rectify the mistakes of the past. Anything less will only serve to perpetuate the cycle of failure.

About the Author

Craig J. DeLuz has almost 30 years of experience in public policy and advocacy. He currently hosts a daily news and commentary show called “The RUNDOWN.” You can follow him on X at @CraigDeLuz.

By Sylvia Ghazarian

Every March, we celebrate Women’s History Month—a time to honor the trailblazers who fought for our rights and recognize how far we have come. But it is also a time to take stock of the battles we’re still fighting, and one of the most urgent is the fight for abortion care.

Abortion access isn’t just about healthcare; it’s about power, equality, and dignity. It’s about recognizing that pregnant people—should have the same autonomy, agency, and opportunities as anyone else. Yet, time and time again, legislation is used as a weapon to strip us of our rights, rendering us invisible in the eyes of those who hold power.

When abortion rights are restricted, the effects ripple far beyond the individual. The economic consequences are devastating. Studies have shown that being denied an abortion drastically increases the likelihood of a person living in poverty. The landmark Turnaway Study found that people who were unable to access an abortion were four times more likely to experience financial insecurity, struggle with housing instability, and be trapped in cycles of domestic violence.

This is not just a coincidence—it’s by design. Anti-abortion legislation is not about “life”; it’s about control. It’s about keeping people, especially women and those who can become pregnant, economically vulnerable and dependent. It’s about ensuring that the structures of power remain unchallenged, forcing people to carry pregnancies they cannot afford while denying them the resources to escape poverty.

The hypocrisy is staggering. Many of the same politicians who push for abortion bans are the ones gutting social safety nets—cutting funding for childcare, slashing paid family leave, refusing to raise the minimum wage, and the list goes on. They claim to care about “life” while making it impossible for parents to provide for their children. This is not pro-life; it is anti-equality.

The United States already has the highest maternal mortality rate among developed nations, and the numbers are even more alarming for Black and Indigenous people, who die at three to four times the rate of their white counterparts during childbirth. When states restrict abortion access, they force more people into dangerous pregnancies, increasing these mortality rates even further.

The recent surge of abortion bans and restrictions has created a healthcare crisis. Patients experiencing pregnancy complications—such as miscarriages or ectopic pregnancies—are being turned away from hospitals or left to suffer until their lives are at imminent risk. Doctors fear prosecution for providing necessary care, and pregnant people are treated as legal liabilities rather than human beings.

In a system where half the population can be denied life-saving medical care, how can we claim to value equality?

Women’s History Month exists because, for centuries, women’s contributions were erased, dismissed, or outright stolen. Today, we see that same erasure in real-time when lawmakers craft policies that disregard the needs and realities of half the population.

Look at how abortion laws are written—by men who will never face the consequences of an unwanted pregnancy, let alone a dangerous one. Look at how reproductive healthcare is treated as an afterthought, even though it is central to economic stability, personal freedom, and public health.

Every time a law is passed that strips away abortion access, it is another message that we do not matter. That our health, our futures, our choices are secondary. That we are expected to sacrifice our bodies and our well-being to maintain a system that was never built for us in the first place.

This isn’t just an attack on reproductive rights; it’s an attack on gender equality itself.

Abortion access is not a fringe issue—it is fundamental to equality. If we want a world where women and pregnant people are not just tolerated but truly valued, we must fight for policies that recognize our full humanity.

That means protecting abortion access at every level—through legislation, through the courts, through elections and through supporting each other. It means funding organizations that help people get the care they need, regardless of where they live – organizations like WRRAP. It means holding politicians accountable and refusing to let them silence us.

Women’s History Month is a reminder that progress is not given—it is won. The right to vote, the right to work, the right to own property, the right to make decisions about our own bodies—none of these rights were freely handed to us. They were fought for, tooth and nail, by those who refused to be invisible.

Now, it is our turn. The battle for abortion justice is the battle for equality itself, and we cannot afford to lose.

Sylvia Ghazarian is Executive Director of the Women’s Reproductive Rights Assistance Project (WRRAP), a nonprofit abortion fund that provides urgently needed financial assistance on a national level to those seeking abortion or emergency contraception. She is an active Council member on the California Future of Abortion Council and past Chair of The Commission on the Status of Women.

By Manny Otiko | California Black Media   

A number of California groups, officials and individuals are taking proactive steps to educate immigrants subject to deportation about their legal rights as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids escalate.

One of them is Assemblymember Mia Bonta (D-Oakland), who represents a district encompassing Oakland, Alameda and Emeryville.

“Communities in Assembly District 18 and the entire nation are confronting direct attacks on our fundamental rights as citizens,” said Bonta in a press release. “ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) raids and presence in our neighborhoods are threatening our safety in the workplace, schools, and places of worship, breaking apart families and disrupting commerce — all while costly federal delays threaten funding for schools, healthcare, and countless other aspects of our lives.”

Bonta listed several immigrant rights resources in her newsletter.

• Know your rights: How to Communicate with ICE Agents. This is a series of videos explaining what to do if ICE officers show up at your door.

• A listing of state, national, and local resources in different languages such as Spanish and Haitian Creole.

• California Rapid Response Networks. This features a listing of hotline numbers that help immigrants.

• A link to the California Department of Justice’s website featuring resources and information for immigrants.

Ethnic Media Services (EMS) also recently hosted a press conference featuring experts who offered advice and tips on how immigrants can grapple with Trump administration immigration policies.

Amanda Alvarado-Ford, deputy directing attorney at the Immigration Institute of the Bay Area, was one of the speakers at the news conference.

She said most of her clients are from Latin America, but she has also represented people from Asia and Africa.

Alvarado-Ford said in this climate of anti-immigration raids, it’s important to know that immigrants, whether undocumented or legal, have rights.

She said anybody in this country has the right to be protected from unlawful searches and the right to remain silent. She advised immigrants to exercise both rights.

“One important thing to know is that people in this country for more than two years have a right to a hearing. So, even if they are arrested, they still have to go through a procedure,” said Alvarado-Ford.

She also recommended that immigrants keep documents that prove they’ve been in this country on their cell phones. Also, it’s important to keep information to show that you are going through the immigration procedure such as applying for a visa.

Alvarado-Ford said immigrants must inspect documents if ICE officers show up at their doorstep.

A U.S. district judge must sign an immigration arrest warrant, she said. However, in many cases, they are signed by ICE officers. That doesn’t make it valid.

She recommended never letting ICE officers in the door and asking for them to either shove the documents under the door or show them on the screen door.

“You have the right to inspect the warrant,” said Alvarado-Ford.

She added that if you are arrested, you should demand to speak to an immigration attorney, even if you don’t have one. And mention that you fear being sent back to your country.

Alvardo-Ford advised immigrants to be calm when faced with this kind of situation.

 “Don’t open the door,” she said. “We have to breathe and remember our rights.”

Alvarado-Ford also said immigrants have specific laws they can use if they are faced with an ICE raid at work. ICE is allowed to enter public places at work, but not allowed to enter private areas, such as break rooms.

However, workplaces and homes are not the only place where the government can go after undocumented immigrants.

The Trump administration has also given ICE the green light to target undocumented immigrants in schools. There have been news reports of ICE agents raiding school buses and asking students for documentation.

And that’s where Viridiana Carrizales, comes in. Her organization, Immschools, advocates for undocumented students and parents of undocumented students.

Immigrant parents are aware of ICE’s new directive, said Carrizales, who also spoke at the EMS news conference. And that means many are now wary about sending their children to school.

“It has caused a lot of fear in immigrants,” she said.

According to Carrizales, more than 5 million children have undocumented parents or at least one undocumented parent. And now many of them are contemplating pulling them from school She added that its harmful to the entire community to have that many children removed from the education system.

Carrizales added there are laws that protect both students and parents. One of them is the 1982 Plyler Vs. Doe decision. This law establishes that all children within the United States have the right to an education, no matter their status. It also prevents schools from revealing information about a student’s or their parents’ immigration status.

Another law that protects immigrant students and families is the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). This law protects students’ educational records.

Because of FERPA, schools can’t release student information unless the family approves it.

During education seminars, Carrizales also tells families ICE agents can’t get this information unless they have a judicial warrant.

“We’re telling families about those laws,” she said.

Carrizales added that even in these tense, anti-immigrant times, it’s essential children of immigrant families get an education. She advises them to stay informed and attentive.

“Be alert, be aware, but bring your kids to school,” she said.

By Ty Jones

Many people take the stand that violence should never be used to combat violence, believing it only breeds more violence, and as some believe, corrupts the moral center of a liberation movement. However, history has endlessly chronicled that the ruling class only wakes up to how they exploit the working class when the threat of violence is on the table. Those who find this idea abhorrent, feel free to sit this one out. For those still with me, as the young folks say—L.F.G!

I would argue that the reaction to the death of the UnitedHealth CEO Brian Thompson was not joy but the release of years of rage at the policies and ruthless exploitation embedded in our for-profit healthcare system. And rather than just debating whether Luigi Mangione was right or wrong, part of the equation should be: Is his choice the only way?

This is where theatre comes in.

Specifically, I’m speaking to those in the “working class” realm of theatre—those without permanent spaces or endowments but with the ability to engage communities. Imagine if theatre could be a vehicle to challenge the exploitation of the American healthcare system without resorting to violence, yet still have an uncompromising impact on universal healthcare.

How? Young theatermakers, you need an audience. Healthcare in the U.S. affects everyone, across class and political lines. Reach out to your communities—local Facebook groups, neighbors, civic organizations—and ask them to share their healthcare horror stories. Record them. Write them down. Meet with them in person.

Gather 10-12 stories and find a venue to present them. If possible, have actors perform these stories. The people who share them will invite others, ensuring engagement is high. Start small, but be consistent—weekly if possible. Capture videos and photos to spread awareness.

Once momentum builds, invite local politicians. Research their campaign contributions—are they taking money from Big Pharma? If they aren’t, seeing their constituents’ stories may keep them that way. If they are, public accountability will pressure them to reconsider. Storytelling has the power to change minds, policies, and futures. If a politician continues to take Pharma dollars, let them know their constituents (the audience you’ve organically built) will rally to vote them out.

Some theatre practitioners have organized national performance movements, where artists across the country present work on the same day. Imagine a nationwide theatrical event dedicated to a singular conversation about universal healthcare—with thousands of contributors.

Theatre today is often focused on identity and hyper-individualism. However, those individuals all need healthcare too. This is a moment to shift attention outward and serve something bigger—something necessary.

Violence has a place in progress, though it often breeds more violence. History is filled with evidence of what happens when an unarmed minority faces an armed majority. Yet sometimes, when you bring a knife to a knife fight, people may actually lay down their arms in the interest of progress. The pen can be as mighty as the sword, if we dare to wield it for historic change.

Fate vs. free will. The human condition.

For thousands of years, theatre has sparked conversations on community maintenance. It serves as a mirror up to nature, reflecting our hopes, fears, and complexities – including rage. I am persuaded that we can lay down our arms and use language, storytelling, and collective action to spark substantive, lasting legislative change.

Remember, employ patience – it’s the type of marathon where a baton is passed on.  So—L.F.G!

Ty Jones is an OBIE Award and NAACP Award winner and the Producing Artistic Director of the Classical Theatre of Harlem (CTH).

SELMA, AL — The Southern Black Girls and Women’s Consortium (Southern Black Girls) proudly announces the appointment of Chanceé Lundy as its new Executive Director. A distinguished environmental engineer, entrepreneur, and social justice advocate, Lundy brings decades of leadership experience to an organization dedicated to empowering Black girls and women across the South.

Founded in 2017, Southern Black Girls channels resources to underfunded Black women-led organizations that empower Black girls and women in 13 Southern states. The consortium has awarded over $10.2 million to more than 220 Black girl and women-led organizations and empowered over 800 girls with microgrants totaling nearly $500,000 since its inception. Lundy’s appointment signals a bold step forward in expanding the organization’s influence, sustainability, and commitment to investing in Black girls and women.

“Chanceé embodies everything our organization stands for – vision, resilience, and a deep commitment to uplifting Black girls and women,” said LaTosha Brown, Visionary Founder. “When I first met Chanceé as a bright-eyed 14 year old, I glimpsed a spark that has since blazed into a powerful force for change. As a founder of Southern Black Girls and Women’s Consortium, I am profoundly confident she will elevate our vision to extraordinary heights. I’m blessed to call her my mentee, and now, with immense pride, my leader.” Lundy’s relationship with Brown began in 1995 when Brown was working with a youth activism and social justice organization in Selma, Alabama.

For Lundy, leading Southern Black Girls represents a full-circle moment in her journey. Growing up in Selma, Alabama, she directly benefited from the type of community organizations that Southern Black Girls now fund. “I am honored to lead an organization that is transforming the landscape for Black girls and women across the South,” said Lundy. “My own life trajectory was forever changed by community organizations that invested in me as a young Black girl in Selma. These programs gave me access to opportunities, mentorship, the confidence to pursue a career in engineering, and the social consciousness to understand systemic injustices and fight against systems of oppression.”

In 2024, Lundy was invited by the U.S. Embassy in Bogotá, Colombia to engage with Colombian leaders, activists, youth, and women entrepreneurs to discuss shared challenges around climate change, equity, and economic empowerment. “Whether in the US South or South America, communities of color face similar systemic barriers that demand both grassroots action and institutional support,” Lundy reflected. She has consistently demonstrated her commitment to providing transformative experiences for Black girls and women in the South. She founded Destination Liberation to enhance cross-cultural connections and learning for Black girls through travel in the African Diaspora. She also co-designed Harvard University’s Power, Innovation, and Leadership program to boost Southern women leaders’ effectiveness and penned the anthology “It’s Just High School” to aid girls in navigating adolescence. These initiatives underscore her deep commitment to empowering Black girls and women.

Lundy also brings a wealth of business experience to her new role. She co-owned an engineering and planning firm, Nspiregreen, LLC, for over eleven years before selling it in 2020. She has served as the National Chair of the National Society of Black Engineers and as the National Co-Chair of Black Youth Vote. Her accomplishments have been recognized by Ebony Magazine, which named her one of the “30 Leaders of the Future,” and US Black Engineer, which included her among the “Top 100 Most Important Blacks in Technology” and  she has been recognized with a day in her hometown “Chanceé Lundy Day.”

Lundy holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science from Alabama A&M University and a Master of Science in Civil Engineering from Florida State University. She is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.

For more information about the Southern Black Girls and Women’s Consortium, visit www.southernblackgirls.org.

About Southern Black Girls and Women’s Consortium:

Southern Black Girls and Women’s Consortium (SBGWC) has been committed to channeling greater resources to underfunded Black women-led organizations across the South. Founded in 2017 by LaTosha Brown, Felecia Lucky, and Alice Eason Jenkins, the Consortium operates in  in 13 southern states, and employs a participatory grantmaking approach that centers Black girls’ voices and experiences while supporting racial justice, education, health and wellness, economic mobility, and leadership development.

By Lou K. Coleman | WSS News Contributor

Because the repetition of “listen” and “hear” underscores the urgency and necessity of heeding divine guidance. Give ear and hear My voice, listen and hear My words you deaf; and look, you blind, that you may see. Heed, instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it. If you do your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying; This is the way, walk in it, when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left. – [Isaiah 28:23; Isaiah 30:21; Isaiah 42:18; Proverbs 8:33]. For when the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come [John 16:13]. So, watch out! Don’t let your hearts be dulled by carousing and drunkenness, and by the worries of this life. Keep alert at all times. And pray that you might be strong enough to escape these coming horrors and stand before the Son of Man.” [Luke 21:34-36].

For the water is boiling, and the pot is about to explode. You have got to choose and choose NOW!  It is the last hour! Receive the saving grace of God. Waiting any longer is like playing with fire while soaked in gasoline because you never know when your time in this world is up.  The day is near; It will be a day of clouds, a time of doom for the nations. [Ezekiel 30:3]. No more procrastination, you have got to choose and choose NOW!  For the trumpets are sounding; the mountain is engulfed and smoking; the earth is quaking; thunders are clapping; lightning is flashing; people are trembling [Exodus 19:19–20].

O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the Lord! [Jeremiah 22:29]. Listen to God’s warnings and instructions [Isaiah 28:23].

Why do you play so loose with your life? Not this physical life but the one coming after – the eternal life. Consider today with some urgency your eternal life. Choose Christ NOW, for NOW is the acceptable time, NOW is the day of salvation [2 Corinthians 6:2].

Understand the value of time. The brevity and uncertainty of life: [James 4:14]. The importance of making the most of every opportunity: [Ephesians 5:16]. The consequences of wasted time and missed opportunities: [Proverbs 10:5]. The danger of procrastination: [Proverbs 27:1]. The eternal implications of temporal decisions: [2 Corinthians 4:18].

Turn to God before it’s too late [Hebrews 9:27] because God is about to turn up the heat. He has sent an eagle to fly above the earth and send out one last warning before a period of unexampled warfare, distress and suffering come upon this troubled world. Give your life to Christ NOW before the Rapture to avoid the horrible tribulation period, which includes the Antichrist, Armageddon, and the Final Judgment. For the tribulation period will be the most horrible, horrible time for those who are not saved.

Understand, Jesus said something really tough for us to hear. He said, “you can be sure that if you don’t turn back to God, every one of you will die.” [Luke 13:5]. Choose Christ NOW! Don’t wait until it’s TOO LATE! The matter is URGENT! NOW is the time for repentance!

When God Repeats Himself Over and Over ?We Better Listen!

Five Cries from Hell –

The Rich Man – “In Hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried… I am in agony in this fire” [Luke 16:23-24].

Cain cries again and again, “My punishment is greater than I can bear” [Genesis 4:13].

The people in Noah’s day crying, “Let us in! Let us in!” But it was too late for them to enter in! [Genesis 7:16].

Judas screaming over and over, “I have betrayed…innocent blood” [Matthew 27:4].

King Agrippa crying, “He cries out, “Almost! Almost! Almost thou persuadest me!” The Apostle Paul witnessed to him, but he rejected Christ. He was almost converted, but he waited too long. [Acts 26:28].

You too have been almost persuaded. You say in your heart, “Someday” but there is great danger in saying, “Someday.” Satan has told you to wait a little longer. The Devil knows that he will get you if you keep waiting and putting off your salvation. But one of these days death will slip up on you. You won’t be ready, and it will be too late forever.

These people had resisted the call of God too long. They fiddled and played and procrastinated. They put off their salvation too long. They forgot that “it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” [Hebrews 9:27].

Oh, if God grows impatient, the sweet Spirit offended, if no longer He calls you, doom is yours when He’s gone. Then how sad facing judgment you’ll recall with no mercy, that you tarried and lingered till the Spirit was gone; what reproaches and mourning, if when death finds you hopeless, you have tarried and lingered and have waited too long. [If You Linger Too Long” by Dr. John R. Rice ?1895-1980].

Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision [Joel 3:14].

“Take away from Me the noise of your songs; I will not even listen to the sound of your harps [Amos 5:3].

And just as He called and they would not listen, so they called and I would not listen,” says the Lord of hosts [Zechariah 7:13].

So awful and terrifying was the [phenomenal] sight that Moses said, I am terrified, aghast and trembling with fear [Hebrews 12:21].

They refused to listen. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might [2 Thessalonians 1:9]. Throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. [Matthew 13:50]. For they refused to listen to the Lord their God and obey Him [2 Kings 18:12].

I Tell You, When God Repeats Himself Over and Over, We Better Listen!

CHICAGO, CA— When he was 17 years old, Troshawn McCoy was arrested, convicted and sentenced to 55 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. In 2017, after being incarcerated for more than 20 years, McCoy’s conviction (along with those of three other men) was overturned, leading to a lawsuit in which the City of Chicago settled with the four men for a combined $50 million.

McCoy was the first of four teenagers arrested in Chicago in 1995 for a double murder and robbery. Despite the lack of physical or forensic evidence linking the teens to the crime, all were convicted and given lengthy prison sentences.

“My experience serves as a powerful reminder of the urgent need for systemic reform and the human capacity to overcome profound adversity,” McCoy said.

Chicago’s legacy of overturned convictions and hundreds of millions of dollars in lawsuit settlements has led the Innocence Project to nickname Illinois the “wrongful conviction capital of the country.” But no amount of money can compensate McCoy and other wrongfully imprisoned people for the years they’ve lost.

“While my settlement has provided financial stability, it underscores a poignant reality: material wealth cannot reclaim lost time,” McCoy commented. “I cannot buy back the 22 years taken from me.”

McCoy’s harrowing story underscores the personal and familial toll of wrongful imprisonment and the systemic failures in the criminal justice system. Demonstrating remarkable resilience and strength, he is working toward rebuilding his life while fighting for others facing similar circumstances.

And McCoy’s case isn’t an isolated one. Chicago has a long and troubling history of corrupt policing, particularly in cases involving young Black men. According to the Innocence Project, 540 wrongfully convicted people in Illinois have been exonerated — more than in any other state.

“I don’t know how it feels to be in your twenties, fall in love, dream of building a family, and create the stepping stones for your future,” McCoy said. “All of that was taken away from me as I sat in a cold jail cell, knowing the truth, but being unable to do anything about it. I was robbed of my young adulthood, almost like a time glitch, where you look up and your life is just starting at 37 years old.”

By Lou K. Coleman | WSS News Contributor

For those of you who are not paying attention or have not grasped the latest announcements, you are going to be eaten alive. Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? [Mark 8:1-18]. Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you [Proverbs 4:27] because your life depends on it. Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance [Proverbs 1:5]. Stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place and to stand before the Son of Man [Luke 21:36].

In these days of quite obvious prophetic fulfillment, the Rapture and the Seven-Year Tribulation, also known as the 70th Week of Daniel, appear to be right upon our very doorstep. The devil’s puppets are operating full force in the religious realms, the political realms, the news realms, the financial realms, the medical realms, the educational realms, the social media realms, the entertainment realms, the sports realms, the weather manipulating realms, and in what has become painfully obvious, the evil globalist realms. These mega-wealthy, evil globalist creatures openly brag about the sinister plans they have for you and for me.

Consider the now-famous words of Klaus Schwab and Yuval Noah Harari. For example, “You will own nothing and like it,” and “Humans are nothing more than useless eaters that are hackable.” Those two maleficent wholeheartedly support transhumanism and the globalists’ UN Agenda 2030 to depopulate the world by about seven and one half billion people.

Satan puppets are tooting their horns. They are telling us. They are showing us. They are freely announcing it on the news. They are not hiding it anymore. The announcements that are being made are clear on what’s about to happen. Pray for discernment, because if you are not grasping these announcements that are being made, you will be deceived. The veil has been pulled backed, and the announcements have been made. Time to Decide! Christ or the Mark of the Beast!

Think about it! Choose carefully! [Joshua 24:15]. Keep in mind, “Resistance will cost you. Submission will cost you more.

For the consequences for those who resist, DO NOT receive the Mark of the Beast, who refuse to worship the image will be killed. [Revelation 13:15]. But fear not them which kill the body but are not able to kill the soul but rather fear Him which is able to destroy both soul and body in Hell [Matthew 10:28].

For those who choose Christ “have gotten the victory and will be resurrected and reign with Christ for 1,000 years. [Revelation 15:1-3; Revelation 20:4].

The consequences for those who submit, WHO receive the Mark of the Beast, are dire and eternal. [Revelation 14:9-11] provides a vivid and sobering description of the fate that awaits them.

A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives its mark on their forehead or on their hand, they, too, will drink the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. They will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment will rise for ever and ever. There will be no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name.” [Revelation 19:15-20].

Anyone who takes the Mark of the Beast will spend eternity in Hell.

Theologically, this judgment reflects the ultimate consequence of idolatry and rebellion against God. By receiving the mark, you are making a conscious choice to reject God and worship the beast. This decision is not a trivial one; it signifies a deep-seated allegiance and commitment to the forces of evil. As such, the judgment is both just and warranted. [Revelation 13:16-17].

The warning of Scripture is clear. Take the Beast Mark during the tribulation and you will be eternally condemned.

The call is to remain faithful to God, resist the allure of the beast, and endure in faith, knowing that your ultimate reward is eternal life with Christ. Be like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego who refused to worship Nebuchadnezzar’s image, facing consequences but standing firm in their faith. [Daniel 3].

Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. [Revelation 2:10].

The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?  [Psalms 118:6].

God promises redemption from death. Eternal life and freedom from the fear of death. [Hosea 13:14;].

Standing Firm in Faith!

Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also, I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the Word of God, and those who had not worshiped the Beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. [Revelation 20:4; James 1:12].

After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in Heaven, crying out, “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, for His judgments are true and just; for He has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality and has avenged on her the blood of his servants.” Once more they cried out, “Hallelujah! The smoke from her goes up forever and ever.” And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who was seated on the throne, saying, “Amen. Hallelujah!” And from the throne came a voice saying, “Praise our God, all you His servants, you who fear Him, small and great.”  [Revelation 19:1-21].

The Announcements Have Been Made. Time to Decide – Christ or the Mark of the Beast!