New Panthers QB Teddy Bridgewater plays the game his own way TheThe CharlotteCharlotteTHE VOICE Post PostOF THE BLACK COMMUNITY SINCE 1906 WEEK OF AUGUST 13, 2020 VOLUME 46, NUMBER 49 WWW.THECHARLOTTEPOST.COM $1.50 Lawmaker demands new postal leader By Herbert L. White [email protected] U.S. Rep. Alma Adams wants Postmaster General Louis DeJoy re- turned to sender. The Charlotte Dem- ocrat and colleague Peter A. DeFazio (D- Oregon) are calling for DeJoy’s resignation or firing after he launched a flurry of reassignments of Postal Service officials Adams last week. DeJoy, a major financial donor to President Donald Trump’s campaign, has no previous experience with the postal service, which is struggling to remain solvent under cutbacks PHOTO | GAGE SKIDMORE VIA FLICKR and competition from commercial U.s. Sen. Kamala Harris’ nomination as the Democrats’ vice presidential pick could energize Black and women voters in North Carolina. delivery services. Adams and DeFazio led a letter signed by 130 lawmakers support- ing the Postal Service. “The United States Postal Service In battleground NC, Harris was established by our Constitu- tion, and this year it will play an unprecedented role in guarantee- ing our right to vote,” Adams said. “However, Postmaster General lends demographic muscle Louis DeJoy continues his uncon- stitutional sabotage of our Postal Joe Biden’s pick for vice president could energize women and Black voters Service with complete disregard for the institution's promise of the By Herbert L. White dates might not have been able to do,” moment – and it is one of the most sig- ‘safe and speedy transit of the [email protected] Davidson College political science pro- nificant steps forward I’ve seen in my mail’ and the ‘prompt delivery of fessor Susan Roberts said. “And not just lifetime,” said U.S. Rep. Alma Adams, a its contents.’” Will Kamala Harris’ selection as Joe say, [Sen.] Elizabeth Warren, or just be- Charlotte Democrat whose congres- The Postal Service has come Biden’s vice president nominee move cause of race because Elizabeth Warren sional district covers most of Mecklen- under fire from Trump recently as the electoral needle in North Carolina? had a lot of support from burg County. “Joe Biden voting rights advocates push for The California senator and checks off African American women.” knows what it takes to pick more absentee ballot access due to critical demographic boxes in North Car- Warren, who is white, was the best vice president to coronavirus concerns. Trump olina: She’s the first black woman on a a rival to Biden and Harris run alongside him, and Ka- contends voting by mail – which major party’s ticket, has name rec- for the nomination during mala Harris is just that. Her he’s done in the past – is open to ognition as a progressive challenger to the primary cycle. Harris experiences as [California] fraud. Biden in the presidential primaries and and Warren ultimately attorney general and U.S. Adams and DeFazio have blasted as a former prosecutor whose interroga- dropped out after the senator make her an excep- Please see ADAMS | 2A tions of Attorney General Bill Barr and former vice president tionally qualified and out- Roberts Hurd Supreme Court nominee (now Justice) racked up a string of wins standing candidate to serve Brett Kavanaugh as a member of the Sen- starting with overwhelming Black sup- alongside President Biden.” ate Judiciary Committee made for must- port in southern states. There are 1.4 Delores Johnson Hurd, president of the Coronavirus see TV among political junkies. million Black registered voters in North nonpartisan Mecklenburg County chap- “I think that she will turn out on the Carolina, who make up 21% of the state’s ter of the League of Women Voters, said Black vote in North Carolina in ways that electorate. Harris will break barriers for women in or your life? perhaps that some of the other candi- “This is, without question, a historic Please see HARRIS | 2A Biden pledges $280M in Black media buys Black folks By Stacy M. Brown others. Campaign officials said they will paigns. aren’t so sure NATIONAL NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION continue to add other media outlets tar- Green has also enlisted the services of geting African Americans as the cam- Converging Media, a predominately By Herbert L. White Presumptive Democratic Presidential paign moves forward. Black-owned media buyer, to aid his [email protected] Nominee Joe Biden is ramping up his “We are not taking any chances; the company’s efforts. Nearly half of Black Americans campaign with a record-setting $280 Black vote is very important,” a cam- “This is just who [Biden] is as a candi- would rather stay home with million advertising buy. paign spokesperson said. “We will en- date and person,” U.S. Rep. Cedric Rich- symptoms of a cardiovascular During an Aug. 8 telephone call with gage at a much higher level with NNPA mond (D-La.), co-chair of the Biden emergency than seek treatment for the National Newspaper Publishers As- and other outlets than we did for the pri- campaign, told NNPA Newswire. “He got fear of contracting COVID-19, ac- sociation, Biden campaign officials said mary. We are trying to reach all Black into politics because of civil rights, and cording to a national study. they will spend $280 million for televi- American voters, and we must reach all he understands the value that African An online survey conducted by sion ads, print and digital advertising, as of the outlets.” Americans bring to the country, to the the Harris Poll for the American well as for social media in the run-up to The campaign has hired Truxton Cre- campaign and the electorate.” Heart Association found 45% of the general election on Nov. 3. ative, owned by Terrance Green, an Afri- Benjamin F. Chavis Jr., NNPA’s pres- Blacks would be afraid of being The Biden Campaign will also spend on can American media strategist and ident and CEO, responded: “Black Lives treated at a hospital for stroke or ad buys with African American-owned creative director who was a key contrib- Matter. Black Voters Matter. Today’s an- heart attack. A third reported media, including the NNPA, TV One and utor in President Barack Obama’s cam- Please see BIDEN | 2A they’d rather stay home if they thought they were experiencing such an event. Hispanics are even more reluctant to seek medical Curtailed GOP convention plan: Keep distance help at 55% of respondents, with By Herbert L. White speech – were removed from Charlotte “Our top priority continues to be the 41% saying they’d rather stay home during an emergency than [email protected] by Trump after Gov. Roy Cooper would- safety and health of all attendees, partic- go to the hospital. When Republicans gather for the Char- n’t commit to bending Phase 2 rules at ipating vendors, staff and the Charlotte Historically excluded com- lotte portion of their national conven- Spectrum Center. Trump directed those community,” said Max Everett, the RNC’s munities of color are dying of tion, it’ll be in accordance with North activities to Jacksonville, Florida in June, vice president and chief information of- COVID-19 at disproportionately Carolina rules on battling the coronavi- only for that state to be hit by a spike in ficer. “We were extremely thorough in higher rates, in part due to under- rus. COVID-19 cases that scratched those our planning and grateful for our local lying health conditions like hyper- The Republican National Committee’s plans as well. Trump is exploring other partners, including Atrium Health, No- tension and diabetes. Mecklenburg Committee on Arrangements submitted sites for his speech. vant Health, city and county officials and County reported 22,304 confirmed its strategies to state officials Aug. 3 with The committee consulted with Jeffrey other stakeholders who are working to positive cases as of Aug. 10, with the state’s Phase 2 restrictions and pro- Runge, M.D., who formed an internal ensure that the official convention busi- 239 deaths. Blacks, who make up tocols in mind. The rules would be in ef- Safety and Health Working Group to de- ness conducted here in the Queen City 31% of Mecklenburg’s population, fect for the RNC business meeting Aug. velop a safety and health plan for Char- is a healthy and safe experience for all.” accounted for 16.4% of confirmed 21-23 and convention business on Aug. lotte that integrated with local health Six delegates from each state and U.S. COVID-19 cases as of Aug. 5 but 24. officials, health care systems, emer- territory 336 in all – are expected for the 41% of deaths outside of long-term The major portions of the convention gency management as well as state and Charlotte portion of the convention. The facilities in which race is listed. – including the nomination and Pres- federal agencies to mitigate risk associ- delegates, as well as vendors and staff, By comparison, 40% of whites ident Donald Trump’s acceptance ated with the meeting. will follow the health and safety plan. would be afraid to go to the hospi- Please see CORONAVIRUS | 2A INSIDE Digital edition: Please STAY IN TOUCH Sports 5A Snapchat: thecharpost www.thecharlottepostnewspaper.com Recycle Life 1B Twitter: @thecharpost A&E 5B To subscribe: (704) 376-0496 or online Facebook: The Charlotte Post Classified 4B http://tcppc.com/Subscribe Instagram: @thecharlottepost #PaperThursday 2A NEWS | The Charlotte Post Thursday, August 13, 2020 Harris lends demographic Coronavirus or your life? Continued from page 1A and health advocates contend the muscle in NC campaign tal if they thought they were having a hospital is the safest place for treat- heart attack or stroke because they ment of heart attack and stroke symp- Continued from page 1A porters via an email isn’t going to help Joe might contract COVID-19, while 24% toms.