Author: On Common Ground News

Dr. Rashad Richey will be guest speaker  DeKalb County Sheriff Melody M. Maddox is on a mission to inspire boys in the community to fulfill their dreams and to equip them with life skills they will need as they become men. The first class of her “Boys to Men” summer day camp for 9-to-16 year-old males ends Friday, June 18, with a formal graduation ceremony. The in-person event to be attended by parents and guardians will conclude a week of instructional classes and recreational activities led by DeKalb deputies and community volunteers. Local/national radio personality, community leader and political/social commentator…

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today(June 17), President Biden and Vice President Harris  signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law. The historic, bipartisan legislation establishes Juneteenth National Independence Day, June 19, as a federal holiday. The new federal holiday will commemorate the anniversary of June 19, 1865, the day enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, finally learned they were free, thanks to the Emancipation Proclamation.   Georgia’s Congressman Hank Johnson and Senators Raphael Warnock and Jon Osoff  attended the ceremony at the White Houaw.   Here is the link to the ceremony, which was broadcast live:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HJW_J4o_1s

Community organizations and family members of Gregory Gallishaw will hold a Stop the Violence Rally and balloon release in Gallishaw’s memory on Saturday, June 19, at noon, 2200 Godby Road, College Park. The site is the former Old Town Villas apartment complex. On May 28, 2017, Gallishaw noticed an individual shooting a firearm within the vicinity of children in the Old Town Villas apartment complex. Gallishaw approached the individual asking him to stop before someone was hurt. In response, the perpetrator shot Gallishaw in the back. “My son was a loving father and he meant the world to us.…

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA—ON Saturday, June 19, \Gwinnett County government will join the United Ebony Society to celebrate Juneteenth — the oldest celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States — at 11 a.m to 4 p.m., at Rhodes Jordan Park, 100 East Crogan Street in Lawrenceville. This year’s Juneteenth festival includes historical presentations, performances, music, games, and food trucks.

Rockdale County government offices and courts will be closed on Friday, June 17, in observance of the Juneteenth Holiday. This year marks the first time that the county has officially observed the holiday, which is June 19, and falls on a Saturday this year. Rockdale residents should also mark their calendars for the following:  Board of Commissioners Voting Session: Tuesday, June 22, 10 a.m., Rockdale Auditorium, 903 Main Street, Conyers Link to the Agenda: Rockdale Board of Commissioners’ Meeting Agenda – Welcome to Rockdale County, Georgia! (rockdalecountyga.gov) Cancelled – Zoning Public Hearing: Thursday, June 24, 7p.m. Holiday: Monday, July 5, Independence Day…

CONYERS, GA—The Conyers Police Department is offering a free, educational opportunity and a glimpse into the world of law enforcement for young people ages 10-17. The Conyers Police Department will offer the Junior Police Academy from July 12 – 15, culminating with an academy graduation.   The daily sessions are from 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. and will be held in the Conyers Police Department training room at 1194 Scott Street. There is no cost for students to participate in the Junior Police Academy. The academy is limited to the first 20 applicants. Participants are not required to be residents of…

In response to President Biden’s bill signing today(June 17) making Juneteenth a federal holiday, Congresswoman Nikema Williams, chair of the Democratic Party of Georgia, released the following statement: “Designating Juneteenth a federal holiday is an essential step in recognizing that the full liberation of Black Americans is a central part of the story of American freedom. As we celebrate Juneteenth this weekend, we must remember that the fight for liberation and equality has not stopped, especially as Republicans push legislation suppressing Black voters. Georgia Democrats are committed to the continued pursuit of liberation, justice, and equality, and we will not stop…

ATLANTA – The Georgia State Senate Interstate Cooperation Committee, chaired by Senator Donzella James, will hold its second public hearing on Friday, June 18, 11a.m. to 2 p.m.,  in room 450 of the Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta. At the public hearing, Congressional members, Committee members, Georgia General Assembly leadership, statewide elected officials and representatives from key community organizations will discuss the importance of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and what it means to Georgia and other states. “The Interstate Cooperation Committee wants to provide a platform for this important initiative where dissemination of information, transparency, accountability and are…

Today, the Supreme Court ruled to uphold the entirety of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in California v. Texas, a lawsuit brought by several Republican Attorneys General – including Georgia’s Chris Carr – in an attempt to do away with the health care law. “Today’s decision by the Supreme Court is a huge victory for Georgians and their right to quality, affordable health care. After Republicans’ decade-long battle to dismantle the ACA and rip coverage away from millions of people, Georgians can rest easy today knowing the ACA is here to stay,” said Congresswoman Nikema Williams, Chair of the Democratic Party of…

ATLANTA – The House Legislative & Congressional Reapportionment Committee, chaired by State Rep. Bonnie Rich (R-Suwanee), and the Senate Reapportionment and Redistricting Committee, chaired by State Senator John F. Kennedy (R-Macon), will hold its next series of joint town hall hearings across the state of Georgia. The schedule for the next three in-person hearings is as follows: Monday, June 28, 2021, from 5 – 7 p.m. in room 341 of the State Capitol; Tuesday, June 29, 2021, from 5 – 7 p.m. at South Forsyth High School (Cafeteria) in Cumming; Wednesday, June 30, 2021, from 5 – 7 p.m. at…