Patriot News

BET Present Special Telecast, On-Line Coverage Honoring Life of Coretta Scott King

- BET.com to Carry Live Video Stream of King Funeral Service Tomorrow at Noon ET
- BET News Tribute Special 'Coretta Scott King: Married to the Mission' Premieres at 7:30 p.m. ET/PT

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Her life's journey moved in lockstep with Black America's fight for Civil Rights where she stood alongside her late husband as catalysts for nonviolent social change. As millions now mourn the death of Coretta Scott King, widow of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., BET News will examine the life, significance and influence of this spiritual icon of freedom and equality.    » read more »

Celebrities and Family Members Reflect on Life of Richard Pryor in BET News Special Salute

- Comedian Dave Chappelle Breaks His Controversial Silence to Celebrate Pryor's Influence and Address Issues Around His Own Career
- BET News Special 'Richard Pryor: The Funniest Man Dead or Alive' Premieres Monday, December 19 at 7:30 p.m. ET/PT

WASHINGTON, Dec. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Richard Pryor's ground-breaking, irreverent style of comedy created hysterical laughter laced with race, sex, drugs, adult language and controversy. Before his death last week at age 65, Pryor inspired multiple generations of comedians who have pushed the envelope of their art form in his image. BET will honor the memory of Pryor in a celebrity-filled BET News special 'Richard Pryor: The Funniest Man Dead or Alive' premiering Monday, December 19 at 7:30 p.m. ET/PT with an encore showing at 11 p.m. ET/PT. BET News personality Jacque Reid hosts this poignant salute to the talented comedian and actor.    » read more »

The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Set to Spend Their 26th Christmas with Troops in Korea

WASHINGTON, Dec. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- The USO will deploy the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders on their 59th USO tour to entertain troops in Korea Dec. 15-26. This tour also marks their 26th Christmas visit to the men and women of America's military serving in Korea. Once there, the troupe will visit as many service members as possible, then perform their 90-minute revue-style show.    » read more »

Richard Pryor's Life Appreciated

Richard Pryor 'Influenced Nearly Every Major Comic Working Today.' He 'Didn't Tell Jokes. He Became Them.'

NEW YORK, Dec. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Richard Pryor didn't tell jokes. He became them. Sometimes, the effect was pure hilarity, like the time he jumped off the stage in the middle of his Vegas act, took off his clothes, walked into the casino and hopped on a table yelling "Blackjack!" Most of the time -- and even in that casino joke, if you think about it -- Pryor's comedy came wrapped in barbed wire, write Senior Writer Marc Peyser and National Correspondent Allison Samuels in the December 19 issue of Newsweek (on newsstands Monday, December 12).    » read more »

The USO's 'Hope and Freedom Tour 2005' Brings Cheer to Troops in the Persian Gulf

WASHINGTON, Dec. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Sergeant Major of the Army Kenneth Preston and a group of celebrities will soon embark on a USO tour to the Persian Gulf region. During the tour, the celebrities will perform shows, visit with troops, sign autographs and tour military facilities at a number of locations in the region.    » read more »

Red Cross Statement Regarding Adoption of Third Additional Protocol

WASHINGTON, Dec. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Red Cross is extremely pleased that governments have adopted the Third Additional Protocol to the Geneva Conventions.    » read more »

Public Citizen: Prosecutors Are Urged to Investigate Ralph Reed’s Covert Lobbying

Reed Reportedly Received Millions to Lobby In Texas—But He Never Registered With State as Required

Dec. 1, 2005 -- Austin, Texas - Texans for Public Justice, Common Cause Texas and Public Citizen today petitioned Travis County Attorney David Escamilla to investigate the Texas lobby activities of Ralph Reed.

According to state records, Reed did not register as a Texas lobbyist in 2001 or 2002, when he reportedly received $4.2 million to lobby Texas state officials to shut down two Indian casinos in Texas. Embattled gambling lobbyists Jack Abramoff and Michael Scanlon—working for a tribe that operated a competing casino in Louisiana—reportedly paid Reed to pressure Texas officials to close the Texas casinos. The watchdog groups contend that available evidence, including Reed’s own electronic correspondence, indicates that Reed was engaged in lobbying activities that would have required him to register as a Texas lobbyist.    » read more »

U.S. Marks 50th Anniversary of Montgomery Bus Boycott

Rosa Parks' bravery sparked a national civil rights movement

30 November 2005
By Michael Jay Friedman
Washington File Staff Writer

Washington -- The successful African American boycott of segregated Montgomery, Alabama, buses, which began with the arrest of Rosa Parks on December 1, 1955, transformed the civil rights cause into a mass political movement. It demonstrated that African Americans could unite and engage in disciplined political action, and marked the emergence of Martin Luther King Jr.—the indispensable leader who inspired millions, held them to the high moral standard of nonviolent resistance, and built bridges between Americans of all races, creeds and colors.    » read more »

American Red Cross Op-Ed: Thank You America

Wednesday, November 23, 2005

WASHINGTON — If there was such a thing as a “Disaster Dictionary,” under the word “unprecedented” the definition would simply say “See Year 2005.” On the very next line, I am sure it would say “See also ‘Generosity of the American People.’”    » read more »

American Red Cross and Tsunami Recovery Efforts: One Year Later

WASHINGTON, Nov. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- When the Indian Ocean tsunami washed away coastlines of more than a dozen countries on December 26, 2004, communities around the world responded with overwhelming generosity. Today, one of the largest coordinated relief efforts ever mounted is helping to restore hope to the survivors of this disaster and the American Red Cross is one of many humanitarian organizations still working to help tsunami survivors. More than 10 million people have been assisted by the American Red Cross tsunami relief and recovery efforts.    » read more »

Muhammad Ali Returns to Louisville to Open New Muhammad Ali Center

International Center Based on Life and Ideals of Ali Aims to Promote Personal Empowerment, Respect, Hope and Peace

LOUISVILLE, Ky., Nov. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Muhammad Ali will be joined by family, friends, colleagues and admirers from 12 countries and 32 states in his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky this weekend to celebrate the grand opening of the new Muhammad Ali Center. Based on the iconic life and contributions of the boxer known as "The Greatest" and recent recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom Award, the Center will offer one-of-a-kind exhibits and programs designed to preserve and share the legacy and ideals of Muhammad Ali, and inspire people worldwide to realize their own "personal greatness."    » read more »

Veterans Day: Friday Begins 51-house Build on National Mall With Habitat for Humanity, Freddie Mac

PRNewswire -- Nov. 10, WASHINGTON, D.C. - "America Builds on the National Mall," Habitat for Humanity International's and Freddie Mac's week of building 51 house frames to help hurricane-affected families, begins Friday. In honor of Veterans Day, a special kickoff is planned for the first wave of volunteers and the Maryland, Virginia and D.C. congressional delegations.    » read more »

US Flag Market Stable Mainly Due to Patriotism

MT. LAUREL, N.J., Nov. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- The Flag Manufacturers Association of America (FMAA) is pleased to report US flag penetration and usage in the US is large and stable with 62% of the US population having a US Flag in their household. According to a recent consumer survey sponsored by the FMAA, 45% of people who have a flag display it daily while 32% fly it on designated US holidays. Thirty six percent of Americans believe they should display their flags more often.    » read more »

International Soccer Stars Help Impoverished Children in Haiti

Donation announced as new OAS report released on situation in Haiti

26 October 2005
By Eric Green
Washington File Staff Writer

Washington -- International soccer stars Ronaldo de Lima and Zinédine Zidane have donated $120,000 to help pay for school supplies for more than 4,300 children who live in the Haitian seaside slum of Cité Soleil. In an October 26 statement, the U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) said the money also will be used for health and sanitation supplies in the Haitian slum, located in the nation's capital city of Port-au-Prince. The announcement about the donation came as the Organization of American States (OAS) released a new report that same day about the situation in Haiti.    » read more »

Civil Rights Catalyst Rosa Parks Dead at 92

Refusal to give up bus seat ignited movement of 1950s and 1960s

25 October 2005
By Michael Jay Friedman
Washington File Staff Writer

Washington -- On December 1, 1955, African-American seamstress Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a segregated Montgomery, Alabama, bus and subsequently was fined and jailed. In the words of [W], this "show of defiance was an act of personal courage that moved millions" and an example that "helped touch off the civil rights movement and transformed America for the better." In 1995, when President [Clinton] awarded Rosa Parks the Presidential Medal of Freedom, he declared that Parks had "ignited the single most significant social movement in American history.”    » read more »