WSSN Stories

By McKenzie Jackson | California Black Media

Californians who are Asian American or Pacific Islanders (AAPI) were the targets of an escalated number of hate crimes and hate incidents during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Many AAPI people, particularly the elderly, reported being too scared to leave their homes.  Others experienced firsthand hateful incidents stemming from deep-rooted prejudices and stereotypes — such as verbal or physical assaults in public. Yet, too many of them were hesitant to voice their emotions, according to Yu Wang, an associate marriage and family therapist at the Asian Pacific Counseling and Treatment Center in Los Angeles.

“A space for healing is critically needed,” Wang said, also noting that some Asian cultures don’t put a heavy emphasis on sharing feelings and vulnerabilities. “It makes it difficult to talk about experiences related to racism. Also, many of us lack to the language to express emotions, which exacerbates feelings of isolation and fear.”

The Asian/Pacific Islanders (AAPI) Equity Alliance in collaboration with other Asian American community groups recently launched the Healing Our People through Engagement (HOPE) pilot program in Los Angeles County geared at healing racial trauma experienced by Asian American community members by providing healing spaces and reducing isolation. Based on the successes of the initiative, supporters and organizers believe the “culturally centered” program could become a model for other cities around the state.

Ethnic Media Services hosted an hourlong Zoom press conference on the last day of May, which was AAPI Heritage Month, to allow HOPE program facilitators and allies the opportunity to provide details of the initiative to the media.

HOPE is a healing space for five distinct Asian American communities — Cambodian, Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, and Korean — created to make sense of their experiences with racism and recent surges in hate crimes. The psychology of the program is radical healing, a framework that has aided Black people in dealing with years of prejudice-caused trauma. HOPE is funded by a grant from the California Department of Social Services.

More than 11,000 stories of hate have been reported to the California-based online resource, Stop AAPI Hate, since 2020.

AAPI Managing Director of Programs Michelle Sewrathan Wong called HOPE vital and said Asian Americans endured episodes of brutality on a scale not seen in generations in the U.S. during the pandemic.

“They were scapegoated by politicians for transmission of COVID-19, targeted for violent physical attacks, made to feel unsafe and unwelcome in their own communities and bullied and ridiculed by neighbors and strangers alike,” she stated.

HOPE opened healing spaces in Los Angeles County that offer six two-hour sessions conducted in groups by facilitators, who are staff from partner community organizations. The initiative’s curriculum encourages self-reflection and dialogue, and it facilitates connections among participants.

DePaul University Associate Professor of Psychology Dr. Anne Saw said the radical healing framework promotes healing over merely coping with the traumatic impacts of racism. She said radical healing is about becoming whole despite racism.

“We believe the radical healing framework provides a powerful set of tools/approaches to help people of color heal from racism,” Saw explained. “Healing may be lifelong because racism is ongoing, yet a program like ours reminds people of the cultural, community, family, and individual strengths they have to resist racism. We believe that healing in a group can be more powerful than an individual engaging in healing on their own because of the support they receive.”

Wang, a HOPE facilitator, recalled a gathering of four Chinese and Chinese Americans people she met.

“The participants shared their feelings of helplessness and fear,” Wang said.

She noted how one of the participants, a woman who grew up in a predominantly White community, was initially reluctant to talk about her feelings because she didn’t grow up in a Chinese majority neighborhood.

“However, after seeing how others shared their stories openly, she felt encouraged and shared her own story,” Wang recalled. “I think because our community tends to internalize traumatic experiences rather than talking about them, this healing space was so powerful and allowed us to express and validate these feelings. The group let us learn how to support each other.”

HOPE facilitator Xueyou Wang, a social services program assistant at Little Tokyo Services Center in Los Angeles, said the center’s officials were uncertain if members of the community they served would benefit from HOPE.

“The participants talked a lot about microaggressions that would build up during the pandemic,” she said.

Wang said the group included new Japanese Americans and multi-generational Japanese Americans, who discussed and bonded over their concerns of loss of culture and history and how to combat gentrification in Little Tokyo.

“It was very interesting to see participants meet each other where they were and hold space for each other,” she said. “Newer Japanese immigrants fearing the loss of culture and Japanese Americans, who have been here for longer, fearing the loss of the history.”

HOPE is meant to empower people and to fight racism.

Next year, the program will focus on outreach to older adults.

“The concept of radical healing can be empowering,” Saw stated.

This resource is supported in whole or in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library in partnership with the California Department of Social Services and the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs as part of the Stop the Hate program. To report a hate incident or hate crime and get support, go to CA vs Hate.

By Bo Tefu, Lila Brown and Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media

California State Supreme Court Justices last week heard oral arguments from attorneys representing both sides in a lawsuit questioning the constitutionality of Proposition 22.

Prop 22 is the controversial gig worker law that voters approved in a 2022 ballot measure that reversed AB 5, a law that went into effect in 2020 that mandated tech companies to reclassify independent contractors as full-time W-2 employees.

During the court hearing, advocates questioned whether the initiative conflicts with the Legislatures’ constitutional power to implement a complete worker’s compensation system for gig workers. Currently, Prop 22 states that independent contractors for gig companies are ineligible for workers’ compensation.

Digital tech companies, including Uber, Lyft, and DoorDash supported Prop 22.

John Logan, a professor of labor and employment at San Francisco State University, said the state supreme court ruling will have national significance.

“Everyone is watching what the California Supreme Court will decide and whether or not these companies have a right to classify their workers as independent contractors,” Logan said.

Tech companies Uber, Lyft, and DoorDash spent $200 million backing the initiative and helped reclassify 1.4 million drivers as contractors rather than employees.

California labor groups argue that Prop 22 is unconstitutional and goes against state law since the legislature codified workers’ compensation in 1911. The state’s largest labor union, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) argued against Prop 22 alongside four drivers affected by the lawsuit.

However, gig companies Uber and Lyft threatened to leave the cities and states that classify drivers as employees following their large investment in the initiative.

During the hearing, company representatives from Uber said that removing the law would be, “devastating for thousands of drivers and couriers who turn to Uber for flexible work.”

“Millions of Californians would see major service reductions and cost increases,” Uber representatives said.

Following the arguments, the court justices have 90 days to deliberate, take a preliminary vote, and then issue a final ruling on the lawsuit.

By Edward Henderson | California Black Media

Amid escalating tensions stemming from clashing and entrenched opinions about the conflict in Gaza – and the ongoing chaos on college campuses nationwide — Jewish American Californians paused to celebrate Jewish American Heritage month this May.

On college campus and in neighborhoods across California, many Jewish Americans from different backgrounds representing various perspectives about the conflict in the Middle East reported fearing for their lives and safety.

Despite making up only about 3% of the California’s population, the Jewish community has faced a disproportionate share of religiously motivated hate crimes, with a surge in antisemitic attacks in recent years. According to the Anti-Defamation League Central Pacific Region, antisemitism has spiked in the U.S by about 140% and by a staggering 202% in Northern California Alone.

“It’s been a challenging time for our community. It’s been a dark and difficult seven months,” said Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, Vice President Kamala Harris’ husband, referring to the period of time since Oct. 7,2023, when Hamas terrorists attacked Israel and killed nearly 1,200 people.

Since that attack, more than 30,000 Palestinians have died in Israeli retaliative attacks.

Emhoff, a former entertainment industry lawyer based in Los Angeles before moving to Washington DC, was speaking at the White House on May 20 at a Rose Garden ceremony organized to celebrate Jewish American Heritage Month.

“I know a lot of us are feeling alone, afraid, and in pain,” Emhoff continued.  “There is an epidemic of hate, including a crisis of antisemitism, in our country and around the world.  We see it on our streets, our college campuses, and our places of worship.”

Earlier in May, Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a proclamation declaring it Jewish American Heritage Month.

“California is home to the second largest Jewish population in the U.S., with thriving communities in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego and other parts of the state,” Newsom said in a statement.

“This month, we recognize the enduring faith, perseverance, and resilience of the Jewish people and lift up the many ways that Jewish Americans enrich our culture, politics, civil society, and countless other areas.”

“Amid brazen displays of antisemitic hate, California is taking action to protect our communities and ensure that future generations never forget the lessons of the past, including the deliberate murder of approximately six million European Jews during the Holocaust,” Newsom continued.

The California Legislative Jewish Caucus (CLJC) is advancing legislation its members authored to help combat the increase in antisemitic sentiments and violence.

Members of the CLJC recently announced their priority legislation for the 2024 legislative season.

Those bills, according to the CLJC, seek to protect Jewish students on campus, better educate young people about the Holocaust and modern forms of antisemitism, and address the rise in hate crimes. The Jewish Caucus is also working to implement key strategies outlined in the recently released Golden State Plan to Counter Antisemitism.

Additionally, the state has launched the CA vs. Hate online resource, a platform that allows victims and witnesses of hate acts to anonymously report them.

“I am proud that the Jewish Caucus is laser-focused on legislation that prioritizes combatting this hate and making our state a safer, more compassionate, and more understanding place for all people,” said Sen. Josh Becker (D-Menlo Park), Vice Chair of the CLJC.

“The Jewish Caucus stands united and fully committed to working with other communities to advance our legislative package and ensure that the California Dream is achievable for all of us,” Becker said.

The following bills are included in the Jewish Caucus’s priority package:

AB 2925: Including Antisemitism in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion  Author: Assemblymember Laura Friedman (D-Glendale)

AB 2925 requires that any campus that chooses to provide DEI training must include training about discrimination against the groups most likely to be targets of hate, including the Jewish community.

AB 3024: Stop Hate Littering Act Author: Assemblymember Chris Ward (D-San Diego)AB 3024 seeks to prevent the distribution of hateful flyers, posters, or symbols that are intended to terrorize vulnerable communities.

SB 1277: Teachers Collaborative for Holocaust and Genocide Education Author: Sen. Henry Stern (D-Malibu)

SB 1277 will enshrine the California Teachers Collaborative for Holocaust and Genocide Education as a statewide professional development program for teachers under the Department of Education. The Collaborative will focus on the Holocaust and other genocides, as well as identifying and confronting hate and antisemitism in modern society. 

SB 1287: Protecting Free Speech at Institutions of Higher Education Author: Sen. Steve Glazer (D-Orinda)

SB 1287 will require colleges and universities to update and enforce student codes of conduct to better prevent violence, harassment, intimidation, and discrimination that is intended to interfere with free speech and other constitutionally protected rights.

“Jewish leaders are on the frontlines fighting antisemitism through education, advocacy, and building bridges with other communities.  It’s because of your leadership that we will dismantle prejudice and ensure Jewish safety,” Emhoff said.

This resource is supported in whole or in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the?California State Library?in partnership with the?California Department of Social Services?and the?California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs?as part of the?Stop the Hate?program. To report a hate incident or hate crime and get support, go to?CA vs Hate.

By Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media

A delegation of youth and college students added a charitable touch when they participated in the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) California-Hawaii State Conference (Cal-Hi State Conference) annual “Legislative Day” in Sacramento on May 20.

The young members of NAACP branches from all over the state attended the daylong event to learn about public policy and participate in the legislative process. They also discussed legislation focused on reparations and environmental justice.

The group’s benevolent gesture involved distributing packages of personal care and hygiene items to the less fortunate and unhoused population in the state capital.

The initiative is the brainchild of Zowee Williamson, the Housing Committee Chairperson for NAACP Cal-Hi State Conference’s Youth and College division.

“These are ‘blessing bags,’” said Williamson, a 15-year-old resident of Stockton. “They are about blessings for people who may need blessings. We wanted to provide resources that people could use to get off the streets. I just see a lot of people – old and young — on the streets who are in need. We look at our community and say, ‘What can we do?’”

The NAACP Stockton Branch’s Youth Council prepared the rose and blue-colored blessing packages in advance and stored them in boxes while participating in the event’s orientation held at the Sheraton Grand Hotel in downtown Sacramento.

All of the members spent the morning going through orientation before visiting lawmakers at the State Capitol and the nearby Capitol Annex Swing Space where temporary offices are set up for legislators while the 73-year-old State Capitol is undergoing a facelift.

“This (is) a great day for all friends and members of the NAACP to gather together,” said Venus Butler, a member of the NAACP Branch of Los Angeles. “This also a day we could recognize the 70th-year anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling on Brown v. the Board of Education.”

The young members dropped off some of the blessing packages to individuals they met as they walked to the facilities three blocks away and handed out a few more on their way back to the hotel.

“It was only about 100 bags but hopefully at future events like this we can give out more,” Williamson said.

According to the National Chapter of the NAACP, the Youth Council and Junior Youth Council are part of the oldest civil rights organization’s local units that provide training and leadership development for young adults under the age of 25.

The Youth and College Division of the NAACP Cal-Hi State Conference is known to perform community work across the state by organizing a variety of workshops, including the thought-provoking “Stop the Hate Mock Trial,” a Youth Focused Dinner, an informational Juvenile Justice Workshop, and a comprehensive Health Forum.

At the NAACP Cal-Hi State Conference’s 36th Annual State Convention in San Francisco last October, Williamson said youth delegates also gave out blessing packages of personal items to the homeless – a popular program at her local branch in Stockton. l

Williamsons’ hope is to get all 57 branches in the state involved and potentially expand the program nationwide among other NAACP Youth Councils.

“It’s just a start,” she said. “Once we have more resources to build it up, we can help get people off the streets, out of the cold, away from pollution. The world will be a better place.”

By Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People California-Hawaii State Conference (NAACP Cal/Hi State Conference) hosted its annual “Legislative Day” at the State Capitol and Capitol Annex Swing Space on May 20.

The day of activities is organized to inspire members to participate in the political process at the state level.

“NAACP CA-HI Day at the Capitol provides a platform for our branch members and youth leaders across California to partake in dynamic, collaborative sessions and dialogues with our state legislators who directly impact policy impacting communities of color,” said Rick Callender, President of the NAACP Cal-Hi State Conference.

NAACP members attending the day-long event came from over 50 branches all over the state, including areas of the state with the highest Black populations: Los Angeles, Oakland, San Bernardino, Stockton, San Jose, San Diego, San Francisco and Stockton.

Assemblymember Mike Gipson (D-Carson) spoke on behalf of the California Legislative Black Caucus during the morning session. He explained the importance of the oldest civil rights organization, how it is essential to the Black community, and its effect on the legislative process.

“Let me just simply say that I appreciate each and every one of you because America would not be America if it wasn’t for the NAACP,” Gipson said. “I am grateful for the NAACP. Though there are only 12 members of the California Legislative Black Caucus, we would not be where we are today if it weren’t for you.”

The NAACP Cal-Hi State Conference advocates for legislative and policy reforms in areas critical to improving the lives of African Americans and all people who have been historically marginalized or underserved during legislative proceedings.

Representatives of Cal-Hi State Conference discussed six reparations and environmental justice priority bills it supports this legislative season at the Sheraton Grand Hotel in downtown Sacramento before the attendees visited the State Capitol in the afternoon to engage lawmakers.

The six bills are: Assembly Bill (AB) 1827, Low-Water User Protection Act; AB 3089, Formal Apology for Chattel Slavery; Senate Bill (SB) 1050, Racially Motivated Eminent Domain; SB 1403, California American Freedmen Affairs Agency; AB 1567,  Climate Resilience Bond Bills; and SB 867, a measure that proposes to fund projects that reduced fire risk and protects wetlands, waterways, coastal resources, and fish and wildlife populations.

Teneicia Herring, Cal-Hi State Conference’s Government Relations Specialist, and Carolyn Veal Hunter, the Cal-Hi Political Action chairperson, provided an overview of each bill, detailed how a bill becomes law and explained the role of a lobbyists.

CLBC members, Assemblymembers Reggie Jones-Sawyer (D-Los Angeles) and Isaac Bryan (D-Ladera Heights) served as guest speakers at the orientation held at the Sheraton Hotel. After that, Callender led the large group, marching three blocks to the State Capitol and nearby Swing Space.

The spacious Capitol Annex Swing Space is a temporary home for legislators and staff while the 73-year-old State Capitol undergoes a $1.2 billion facelift. It is located at 1021 O Street in Sacramento.

“We made it where we were going to have an impact,” Callender said of members of the NAACP meeting with lawmakers. “We made sure that they understand what is important to us.”

Calendar, Cal-Hi State Conference’s Second Vice President Zephanii Smith-Eisenstat, and State Director Lujuana Bivens accompanied the NAACCP members to the Swing Space to meet and discuss bills with legislators and legislative staff.

“This (was) a jammed-packed week for the legislators as they were processing bills (in the Assembly and Senate),” Herring said. “The fact that they were taking their time to meet with us, we asked everyone to be respectful of their time.”

On Monday, June 10, the NAACP Cal-Hi State Conference will hold its  12th Annual Legacy Hall of Fame celebration  honoring our 2024 inductees, Civil Rights icon Rev. Dr. Amos C. Brown, and film actor Danny Glover.

The event will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., at the Sheraton Hotel in downtown Sacramento.

By Bo Tefu, Lila Brown and Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media

The California Assembly passed a bill that would legalize cannabis cafes, inspired by Amsterdam-style restaurants and clubs where marijuana is openly smoked.

If the bill passes in the Senate and is signed into law by the Governor, Assembly Bill (AB) 1775 would grant local governments the authority to approve cannabis clubs that make and sell non-cannabis food and non-alcoholic drinks.

Assemblymember Matt Haney (D-San Francisco) said he proposed the bill to benefit small businesses and help them expand their goods and services.

“This is a bill that supports our legal small businesses that just want to diversify their businesses and do the right thing,” Haney said.

The bill allows small businesses to compete with the illegal drug market, Haney added.

“The illicit illegal market is continuing to grow and thrive, while our legal cannabis market is struggling,” he said.

Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed an earlier version of the bill last year to “protect smoke-free workplaces.” The updated version of the bill, however, separates cannabis consumption from other workspaces.

Haney is confident that Newsom will not veto the updated version of the bill. Under the new bill, consumers are prohibited from smoking cannabis in the back of restaurant kitchens and food prep areas to protect non-smoking employees.

Currently, California has four cannabis cafes in operation — two of them are in West Hollywood and the other two in Palm Springs. The cafes are similar to lounges and offer cannabis-infused snacks and prepackaged foods.

However, it is illegal for food establishments to offer alcohol and cannabis under the same roof.

The bill would give city officials the power to approve the cannabis lounges.

By Lou K. Coleman | WSS News Contributor

Planning for the future without planning for one’s eternal future. How crazy is that! Whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow.  For what is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. [James 4:14]. You can’t assume that you will even be alive one minute from now. Planning for the future without planning for one’s eternal future. The depth of foolishness!

Man boasts that he is ultimately in control of his life and future. Man says that he is “Master of his fate” the “Captain of his soul.” Lies, all lies! So many people today have become hoodwinked into believing that they are actually in control of their own lives and destinies. They believe that if they just work hard enough, look good enough, position themselves in the right places, or posture themselves in the right ways, that all of their dreams will come true. We hear it all the time our cultural clichés: “I can do anything if I set my mind to it!” “Where there is a will, there is a way!” “You just have to follow your heart!” “It’s my life, I can live it however I want!” All of these lines initially sound good and right, but they are the lies of the devil.  How much control do you think you have over your life? Are you unconquerable? Do you think that you are the master of your own fate and the captain of your own soul? Contrary to the belief that we are all the masters of our own fate and captains of our own souls, the doctrine of the sovereignty of God affirms that the Lord rules over all. All things belong to His kingdom and are under His dominion. Nothing is plainer and express in Scripture than both His reign and the extent of it [Psalm 93:1-2; Psalm 97:1-2; Psalm 99:1; 1 Chronicles 29:11-12; 2 Chronicles 20:6; Psalms 103:19; Nehemiah 9:6].

How easy it is for us human beings to be deceived into thinking that we are in control of our own lives. But no worries, God has ways of showing us that he is sovereign, and we are not! He uses many life circumstances to humble us and remind us that we are not in control.

Humble yourselves,” writes Peter, “under the mighty hand of God” [1 Peter 5:6]. For pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall [1Corinthians 10:12]. As [Ephesians 5:15-16] says—the wise man lives life carefully, not carelessly, for these days are evil.

Every breath that you take, and all your ways is a gift from God— [Daniel 5:23]. For it is the Lord who gives to all life, breath, and all things” [Acts 17:25]. For in Him we live and move and have our being” [Acts 17:28]. Don’t get it twisted!

Being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart; [Ephesians 4:18].

The Depth of Foolishness! Repent- Jesus is Coming Quickly!

By Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media

On May 16, the Senate Appropriations Committee voted 5-0 to advance legislation that would require social media platforms to report cyberbullying incidents and remove posts depicting youth violence online.

Senate Bill (SB) 1504, titled “Cyberbullying Reporting and Accountability,” “addresses the online safety for youth,” said the bill’s author Sen. Henry Stern (D-Calabasas).

“We must do everything in our power to protect our children from the dangers of social media,” Stern said. “By establishing a mandatory process for removing and blocking cyberbullying material and providing transparency to survivors and parents, we aim to create a safer online environment for all.”

Senators Brian Jones (R-San Diego) and Kelly Seyarto (R-Murrieta) abstained from voting. California Legislative Vice Chair Sen. Steven Bradford (D-Inglewood) was one of five Democrats who voted for the bill. It now moves to the Senate floor for a full vote.

SB 1504 is designed to make social media platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and others “respond compassionately and predictably” to reports of cyberbullying or they must explain why the content is “aligned with their platform’s policies,” Sen. Stern said at a May 14 news conference in front of the State Capitol.

Another child safety focused bill, SB 1444 — titled the “Parents Choose Protection Act of 2024” — died in committee on May 16 “due to fiscal implications,” Stern stated. This bill would have required companies to issue alerts to parents about potentially harmful content.

Two fathers, Samuel P. Chapman and Chris Didier, who lost their young sons to Snapchat drug dealers came to the Capitol to support the child safety bills.

“Social media has become a super-highway of illegal and nefarious activity that is bringing harm to our youth,” Didier said. “It is time for new legislation to bring needed and appropriate safeguards to protect our communities.”

According to Stern’s office, 56% of teens have reported being cyberbullied, and that youth are likely to struggle with depression and substance abuse due to online intimidation.

Black or Hispanic teens are more likely than their White counterparts to be targets of cyberbullying, according to the California Department of Justice (DOJ). ??Black teens are about twice as likely as Hispanic or White teens to express that their race or ethnicity made them a target of online mistreatment, according to a 2002 survey by the Pew Research Center.

Cyberbullying has been associated with suicide or the newly termed “cyberbullicide,” according to a February 2023 report by the Journal of the Academy Psychiatry and the Law (JAPL).

The phenomena of cyberbullying and teen suicide are becoming more common. Data provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention through the JAPL report states that 14% of adolescents have been cyberbullied and 13.6% percent of teens have made suicide attempts.

If passed, SB 1504 would “authorize any person,” including, “a parent or legal guardian of a minor,” who bring forth a report of cyberbullying to the “social media platform, a city attorney, a district attorney, or a county counsel to bring an action to enforce the act.”

Sen. Rosilicie Ochoa-Bogh (R-Yucaipa), the first Republican Latina to serve in the Senate, is the co-author of SB 1504.

“I’m happy to co-author SB 1504 to help safeguard our youth and empower families to pursue legal action against platforms that fail to remove cyberbullying content, providing much-needed recourse in the face of online harassment,” ??Ochoa-Bogh said at the May 14 news conference.

Stern said the legislation will help combat the growing popularity of “fight pages” created by adolescents and uploaded to social media platforms.

Those fight pages feature videos of elementary, middle school and high school youth physically fighting in bathrooms, classrooms, lunchrooms, playgrounds and other places. In many cases, campus violence happens in unsupervised spaces and in the presence of adults.

The popularity of the videos caught the attention of Stern. He shared the story about a teen from a local high school in his area who was paralyzed after three of his peers approached him “out of the blue” while he was walking down a street, Stern said. The aggressors were members of a “knockout club.”

“It was three kids. One with a camera and one got their phone on,” Stern said. “They cold clocked him. Not just knocked him out but paralyzed him and put him in a life of trauma that he can never recover from.”

Stern said the fight pages are “proliferating everywhere.” Earlier this year, a report stated that 14 schools within the Fresno Unified School District were identified as having social media pages promoting school fights.

The social media accounts were not administered by the schools, but the fight pages did display schools’ logos, and mascots and urged other students to contribute videos of fights for viewership.

“Incidentally, there are also pages around sexual content of students rating people using artificial intelligence to generate nude images. (SB 1504) covers all bad behaviors,” Stern said. “That kind of bullying, we nip it in the bud before it starts. When those fight pages emerge, anyone observing it can report it to that platform. They would have to respond to it within a matter of days and actually in a matter of hours.”

Act Your Age” is now streaming on Netflix, featuring all sixteen episodes. This comedy follows the journey of three accomplished women in their 50s from the DMV area, each at a personal turning point. Together, they discover that the best way to navigate life is by embracing it with humor and heart, starring Kym Whitley (“Next Friday”) and Tisha Campbell (“My Wife and Kids”), with a special appearance by Yvette Nicole Brown (“Community”).

Whitley portrays Bernadette as a driven and accomplished real estate developer. Campbell brings to life Keisha, the unpredictable member of the group who is always embarking on new adventures. Lastly, Brown embodies Angela, the former First Lady of Norfolk, Virginia, seeking to rediscover herself after the loss of her husband, a highly esteemed career politician.

This captivating series was brought to life by Alyson Fouse, the brilliant mind behind “Big Shot,” “Everybody Hates Chris,” and “The Wanda Sykes Show.” Alyson created the series and leads as showrunner and executive producer. Mark Burnett, Barry Poznick, and Bradley Gardner, known for their work on “Hot in Cleveland,” join as producers. Ken Ornstein, co-executive producer of “Everybody Loves Raymond,” rounding out the talented team.

The beloved multi-generational sitcom features the talented Mariah Robinson (“The Wrong Valentine”) and Nathan Anderson (“All About the Washingtons,” “Richie Rich”) as the engaging young adult children of Angela and Bernadette, bringing a fresh and dynamic energy to the show.

Act Your Age comes from Eric C. Rhone’s & Cedric The Entertainer’s production company A Bird & A Bear Entertainment.

Be sure to keep up with the cast on Instagram by following @kymwhitley, @tishacampbellmartin, @yvettenicolebrown, @hotboynato, and @themariahrobinson don’t forget to hashtag #ActYourAgeNetflix.

Struggling schoolteacher Madison strikes a lucrative book deal to help solve her financial troubles. As she dives into her dark past surrounding the “College Town Slayings,” she realizes it may still be a part of her present after all.

Queen Rising follows a young woman, Madison, who’s on the brink of losing everything. Struggling to make ends meet as a schoolteacher, Madison is approached with a life-changing opportunity: to turn her dark past into a thriller novel. Skeptically, Madison accepts, and dives into her history of a once terrorized community during the “College Town Slayings”.

As her trauma unfolds, Madison discovers unsettling connections and soon realizes her past may not be as dormant as she once believed. With the specter of danger looming over her, she must confront the demons to secure her future, navigating a treacherous journey of redemption and self-discovery where the line between fiction and reality blurs.

QUEEN RISING is directed and produced by Princeton James. Written by Allison Chaney and Henry E. Reaves III. Produced by Emily James, Mitch Martin, and May Todd. Executive produced by Reaves III. Edited by Martin. Cinematograpy by Jordan Danelz. A Nero Studios production. An Enhanced Media production.

Genre: Mystery, Drama

RT: 82 min | Not Yet Rated

Language: English | U.S.