Vice President Kamala Harris’ visit to Atlanta for the national conference of 100 Black Men of America allowed her to promote the Biden-Harris administration’s historic investments in economic development ahead of the looming Nov. 5 Election Day.
A majority Black audience of several thousand people packed into a downtown Atlanta Hyatt Regency ballroom to participate in a half-hour conversation with Harris while she’s on the latest leg of her so-called national Economic Opportunity Tour.
During the discussion moderated by TV host and comedian Steve Harvey, Harris stressed the importance of Black people accessing hundreds of billions of dollars of federal dollars allocated to infrastructure projects, small business loans, and other government programs that have been available over the past couple of years.
Harris said President Joe Biden’s administration has delivered historic progress in economic opportunities that are being underleveraged by Black entrepreneurs and others who have long faced systemic barriers to financial resources.
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Harris urged the crowd to spread the word about programs for small business loans, government contracts, a proposal for $25,000 down payment credit for first-time home buyers, and the student loan forgiveness program that so far has provided more than $160 billion in debt relief to 5 million Americans.
Harris also discussed steps taken to support community banks that can provide financial advice and support tailored for a specific community more than a traditional bank.
She also mentioned the steps taken to achieve a goal of a 50% increase in federal government contracts for minority-owned firms since entering office in 2021.
“When we talk about the need for people to have access to economic opportunity we have to take into account what holds people back because we don’t lack for hard work, work ethic, good ideas and vision and inspiration,” Harris said. “But there are obstacles built into the system that have to be addressed to give people the opportunity. It’s not about a handout. It’s about giving hardworking people the opportunity and not just to get by.”
Biden and Harris are entering the final stretch of their 2024 re-election campaign ahead of the Nov. 5 election showdown against former President Donald Trump in a rematch of their 2020 contest.
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Harvey expressed frustration about hearing from Black people calling his national morning radio show criticizing the Biden-Harris administration and other Democratic officials for not doing enough to support Black people.
“This administration needs to get the word out of what they are actually doing and what they actually accomplish so we just stop saying ‘what did you do for Black people,’” he said.
Harris’ trip to Atlanta Friday was her fourth visit to Georgia this year. In April, the most recent stopover, she visited Atlanta to highlight the area’s award of a $158 million grant from the Department of Transportation’s Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods Program.
On Tuesday, Harris will return to Atlanta to attend rapper Quavo’s inaugural Rocket Foundation Summit to discuss policies to prevent gun violence in communities. Quavo, whose real name is Quavious Marshall, gained national fame in 2013 as one-third of the Lawrenceville-based Migos rap group. The group disbanded following the November 2022 shooting death of Marshall’s nephew and Migos rapper Kirsnick “TakeOff” Ball.
Trump’s April visit to a west Atlanta Chick-fil-A became a viral moment nationally prior to Trump attending a fundraiser for his campaign later that evening. It was the first time Trump visited Georgia since he turned himself into custody at Atlanta’s Rice Street Jail in August after being indicted on charges of conspiring to illegally overturn the 2020 presidential election results in Georgia.
Atlanta United FC (4-8-5, 12th in the Eastern Conference) vs. DC United (4-7-7, ninth in the Eastern Conference)
Washington; Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. EDT
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BETMGM SPORTSBOOK: LINE DC United -101, Atlanta United FC +226, Draw +279; over/under is 3.5 goals
BOTTOM LINE: D.C. United and Atlanta United square off in Eastern Conference action.
D.C. United is 3-7-5 against Eastern Conference opponents. D.C. United has scored 25 goals while giving up 32 for a -7 goal differential.
Atlanta is 4-6-3 in conference games. Atlanta has a +1 goal differential, scoring 24 goals while conceding 23.
Wednesday’s game is the second time these teams square off this season. D.C. United won the last meeting 3-2.
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TOP PERFORMERS: Christian Benteke has 13 goals and two assists for D.C. United. Jacob Murrell has one goal over the last 10 games.
Giorgos Giakoumakis has five goals for Atlanta. Thiago Almada has three goals over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: D.C. United: 2-5-3, averaging 1.3 goals, 4.5 shots on goal and 5.6 corner kicks per game while allowing 2.0 goals per game.
Atlanta: 1-6-3, averaging 1.2 goals, 4.0 shots on goal and 5.9 corner kicks per game while allowing 1.6 goals per game.
NOT EXPECTED TO PLAY: D.C. United: William Conner Antley (injured), Jackson Hopkins (injured), Christopher McVey (injured), Steve Birnbaum (injured), Russell Canouse (injured).
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Atlanta: Tyler Wolff (injured), Bartosz Slisz (injured), Luis Abram (injured), Stian Gregersen (injured), Saba Lobzhanidze (injured).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – A metro Atlanta man accused of leaving his 22-month-old son to die in a hot car has been released from prison.
Justin Ross Harris was released from Macon State Prison on Sunday after serving 10 years, according to the Georgia Department of Corrections.
Harris was originally given a life sentence in 2016 for the death of his son Cooper.
In 2022, the Georgia Supreme Court decided to overturn Harris’ murder conviction, but he still served time for sex crimes included in the original conviction.
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Murder conviction overturned for Justin Ross Harris, who left son in hot car in 2014
Prosecutors said Harris left his son in his car in June 2014. Harris was supposed to drop Cooper off at daycare on the way to his job at Home Depot but did not do so.
Cooper was discovered seven hours later in the back seat. The temperature that day was in the 80s.
Harris claimed it was an accident and blamed sleep deprivation. Prosecutors claimed that Harris wanted to get out of his marriage because he wanted to have sex with as many women as possible.
During the trial, the state argued Harris was a sexual deviant who intentionally left Cooper to die so he could pursue women he met online – some of whom were teenagers. Harris reportedly had exchanged sexual text messages with multiple women on the day his son died. One of the text exchanges was with a 16-year-old.
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The Georgia Supreme Court ruled the information should have been excluded because it was “needlessly cumulative and prejudicial.” The court also stated that the evidence used to show Harris maliciously caused his son’s death was far from “compelling” or “strong.”
The Cobb County District Attorney’s Office later said they would not retry Harris on murder charges in his son’s death.
MORE COVERAGE:
Justin Ross Harris will not be retried in son’s hot car-related death
Justin Ross Harris’ attorney: Client ‘delighted’ he will not be retried
Lee and White Building 929 White St Atlanta, GA 30310
Type:
Watch Party
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COME EXPERIENCE SOCCER THROUGH THE EYES OF THE DEFENDING WORLD CUP CHAMPIONS, ARGENTINA!
Family – friendly and free to attend!
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Let us know you’re coming and RSVP to get your free tickets!
Wild Heaven Brewery West End & Monday Night Garage, located at the Lee + White development in West End, are the setting for an evening of everything that is Argentinian soccer!
As Argentina prepares to take on Canada at Mercedes Benz Stadium on June 20th in the opening match of Copa America 2024, the Atlanta-Argentinian community and soccer fans from all over will come together to celebrate and rally behind Messi and the Argentinian team!
The evening will feature:
A screening of the 2022 World Cup Documentary “Muchachos” RAFFLE OF SIGNED ARGENTINA JERSEY BY LIONEL MESSI! (raffle by Passion Soccer and to benefit Passion Soccer) Native Argentinian empanada, ice cream & tea vendors Trivia, games & contests Authentic drums, cheers & songs to celebrate Argentina! PLUS…you never know just who you might see! (wink, wink)
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Don’t miss this unique experience, as we KICK OFF our #SummerofSoccer here in Atlanta, at Wild Heaven Brewery West End and Monday Night Garage, your Copa America and Euro Cup Headquarters!