Victoria Monét, JT And GloRilla, Twitter Feud, X, posts, tweet, tweets, social media
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

April 9, 2024

Victoria Monét Axes Social Media Manager For Response To Hip-Hop Beef

Victoria Monét was forced to terminate a staffer for accidentally liking a post related to rappers JT and GloRilla's recent Twitter war.

Singer Victoria Monét was forced to terminate a member of her team for accidentally liking a post related to rappers JT and GloRilla’s recent Twitter war.

The Grammy award-winning singer was minding her business rehearsing for her upcoming set at Coachella when she caught wind of her good name getting intertwined into the messy back and forth between JT and GloRilla. In a short video shared online Friday, April 5, Monét clears up any confusion for fans who might’ve been triggered by her Twitter likes related to JT and Glo’s X, formally Twitter, spat.

“I have an entire team logged into my account to make tweets and posts for me when I’m busy,” she explained. “I got pulled out of rehearsal to be told that someone on my social media team did something that they weren’t supposed to do, thinking that they were logged into their account.”

The “On My Mama” singer explained how the since-terminated staffer had been logging in and out of their personal and work accounts when they mistakenly got caught up in the rap feud on Monét’s behalf.

“I guess they were going back and forth between their account and my account, and pressed some buttons that they shouldn’t have fu*king pressed,” the singer said.

“Which is really irritating because I really have no problem with either of them [GloRilla and JT]. I’m sending so much love. I don’t fu*k with Black women beefing online. I want everyone to love each other, hug each other, support each other.”

Noting the backlash she was receiving for the slip-up, Monét said her fans had every right to “cuss me out” since they were under the impression she was liking the shady tweets about the female rap beef.

But the “Jaguar 2” singer confirms that “I would never do that. I support my Black women. I only uplift them.”

She concluded her video post by confirming that the staffer who liked the shady tweets under her account has since been “fired.”

JT has been involved in a series of X/Twitter feuds in the last week including one messy back-and-forth with Memphis rapper GloRilla and most recently her own City Girls group member Yung Miami. The feud with GloRilla took new heights after the rapper name-dropped JT on her “Ehhthang Ehhthang” track “Aite.”

GloRilla was recently asked about her Twitter spat with JT while attending the 2024 CMT Music Awards, to which she seemingly responded with a subtle plug to her latest musical release.

“Everything just always everything,” she told Billboard. “At the end of the day, that day gon’ motherf—in’ end. Everything is everything. That day gotta end.”

RELATED CONTENT: GloRilla Stays Mum On Politics During CNN Appearance After Meeting Biden And Harris

Money, Basic Income Program, Black Women, income
by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

April 9, 2024

Georgia Finds Success In Basic Income Program For Black Women

Georgia's success in its Universal Basic Income program for Black women is contributing to a national push for its expansion.

Georgia’s installment of a universal basic income (UBI) program has found success among its Black women participants. Its favorable outcome could lead to an expansion of similar programs nationwide.

The In Your Hands initiative started through the Georgia Resilience and Opportunity (GRO) fund. The nonprofit selected 654 women in a lottery system to receive an average of $850 a month to help with everyday expenses, as reported by Daily Kos. The women will collect the monthly allotments for two years, with the GRO fund partnering with another nonprofit, Give Directly in New York, for the operation.

Most of the women with In Your Hands have children, all earning less than 200% of the federal poverty level. The additional money was significantly used toward their children’s needs, such as childcare and groceries. However, the participants were also 60% more likely to enroll in higher education programs. The realities of this program further dismantle the “welfare queen” trope historically associated with Black women who use public assistance.

Data collected from the participants showed that many spend the additional funds to lessen the stress of living expenses in Georgia. The findings detailed that 45% allocated the money toward bills, while nearly a third were able to pay off debt. Almost 30% used the extra cash to create a “rainy day” fund for any unexpected emergency.

The results hope to prove the value of implementing guaranteed UBIs for Americans. Currently, private sources fund the Georgia-based In Your Hands and other initiatives in cities like Washington, D.C. However, their findings seek to encourage lawmakers in enacting federally-supported programs across the country.

“The vast majority of people [receiving guaranteed income] don’t leave their jobs, and they use the money either to pursue their goals or to supply staples on the table,” explained social policy professor Stephen Roll at Washington University in St. Louis.

UBIs continue to aid communities of color while defying conservative beliefs that it prompts people to abuse the funds. Its next step, beyond cities’ implementing UBI in their budgets, would be for these programs to build wealth for individuals.

RELATED CONTENT: $13M ‘In Her Hands’ Initiative Empowers Struggling Women With Guaranteed Income In Georgia Communities

Yung Miami, lawsuit, Act Bad merch
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

April 9, 2024

Yung Miami Faces Trademark Infringement Allegations Over ‘Act Bad’ Merch Amid Legal Controversy

Yung Miami was served legal papers at a Houston club.

Yung Miami’s “Act Bad” slogan might bring on some not-so-good results amid reports of a trademark infringement claim.

On April 6, the City Girls rapper was reportedly served with trademark infringement paperwork for her “Act Bad” merch. A man named Larry Taylor took to Instagram with a video testimonial claiming to have attended the rapper’s (real name Caresha Brownlee) nightclub appearance in Houston to serve her with the legal docs.

Taylor claims to represent the alleged trademark owner, Charlie Cee (real name Charles Kenyatta Jr.). Cee claims to owns Act Bad Entertainment and believes the “Act Bad” merch conflicts with his company’s image. Following Miami’s run-in with Taylor, she took to Twitter to refute claims of selling any “Act Bad” merch.

“Tryna serve me some paper over MERCH that I’m not selling is LAME!!! Like everybody wanna go viral so bad let’s go viral I’m tired!!!!!!!!” she wrote.

Yung Miami was featured on Diddy’s 2023 single “Act Bad” along with rapper Fabolous and appeared in the music video. In May 2023, she released an “Act Bad” merch line that included $230 varsity jackets and T-shirts with the single’s title.

The trademark infringement paperwork comes amid heightened attention to Miami’s alleged involvement in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ latest lawsuit that accuses him and his entourage of sexual harassment and assault, along with other unlawful conduct. According to 25 pages added to Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones’ suit, the “Act Up” rapper was accused of transporting drugs for Diddy, including a narcotic known as “pink cocaine,” “2C-B,” or “Tuci.”

Diddy has denied the claims made in Jones’ suit that was filed one month ahead of his homes being raided by federal agents in Miami and Los Angeles. Combs’ attorney, Aaron Dyer, credited the raids to the multiple civil lawsuits filed against the rapper-mogul, including claims of sex trafficking.

“This unprecedented ambush — paired with an advanced, coordinated media presence — leads to a premature rush to judgment of Mr. Combs and is nothing more than a witch hunt based on meritless accusations made in civil lawsuits,” Dyer said. “There has been no finding of criminal or civil liability with any of these allegations. Mr. Combs is innocent and will continue to fight every single day to clear his name.”

RELATED CONTENT: ‘Hey Papi’: Yung Miami Reportedly Cuts Diddy From BET Reality Show

Daymond John, Disney Dreamer, Te’Lario Watkins II
by Rafael Pena

April 8, 2024

Shark Tank’s Daymond John Grants Disney Dreamer A Once-In-A-Lifetime Opportunity

At Walt Disney World Resort, 'Shark Tank' investor Daymond John bestowed a life-changing invitation upon Te’Lario Watkins II.

Amid the enchantment of Disney Dreamers Academy at Walt Disney World Resort, the magic took an extraordinary turn when Shark Tank investor Daymond John bestowed a life-changing invitation to an ambitious young entrepreneur, Te’Lario Watkins II.

Sixteen-year-old Watkins, hailing from Blacklick, Ohio, found himself at the heart of a remarkable moment during a media interview at Disney Dreamers Academy when John made a surprise appearance. With a personalized invitation, John extended an offer to Watkins, inviting him to join him on the set for a taping of Shark Tank. For Watkins, this unexpected gesture marked the realization of a cherished dream.

“Extremely excited for the opportunity; I’m very amazed, and I’m very happy. There’s just so many emotions I can’t really put them all into words,” said Watkins during his Disney Dreamers Academy interview.

Since the tender age of 7, Watkins has been the driving force behind Tiger Mushroom Farms, his small business dedicated to cultivating gourmet mushrooms and offering dry mushroom products. Furthermore, he is the visionary founder of the Garden Club Project, a nonprofit endeavor to combat food insecurities within his community. Watkins’ entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to social impact have garnered admiration and acclaim, making him a beacon of inspiration for aspiring young leaders nationwide.

Daymond John’s surprise visit and heartfelt invitation epitomize the essence of Disney Dreamers Academy, a transformative mentoring program hosted annually at Walt Disney World Resort. 

“These little things can help Telario on his journey to solve hunger in his neighborhood, and now that he likes technology, he may solve it around the world. There is nothing that can stop him because he’s a dreamer. I just hope I was a little part of his dream,” stated John.

Now in its 17th year, the Academy is a beacon of hope and opportunity for 100 Black high school students and teens from underrepresented communities across America. Supported by sponsors AT&T, Sprite, and Delta Airlines, this immersive five-day event offers a platform for aspiring young minds to explore career pathways, cultivate leadership skills, and connect with influential mentors and industry leaders.

In addition to John, a constellation of luminaries graces the Disney Dreamers Academy, including Olympian Sanya Richards-Ross, Hollywood veteran Lance Gross, and Disney actress Dara Renee, among others. These esteemed mentors impart invaluable wisdom and guidance through workshops, seminars, and presentations, empowering participants to pursue their passions with confidence and conviction.

As the curtain rises on another chapter of Disney Dreamers Academy, the legacy of inspiration and empowerment continues to flourish. For Te’Lario Watkins II and his fellow dreamers, the journey toward realizing their fullest potential has just begun, fueled by the transformative power of mentorship, perseverance, and boundless imagination.

Hope Wiseman, Maryland, Cannabis, Mary & Main
by Stacy Jackson

April 8, 2024

Cannabis Entrepreneur Faces Pushback From Maryland Lawmakers And Residents

Maryland lawmakers' push to restrict new cannabis dispensary locations have presented a new obstacle for Mary & Main CEO Hope Wiseman.

Hope Wiseman, a 31-year-old former investment banker, faces resistance from residents and lawmakers in Prince George’s County, Maryland, as she strives to expand her cannabis business, Mary & Main.

After six years in operation, Wiseman is poised to capitalize on the legalization of recreational cannabis use, partner with new licensees, and offer consulting services in an industry she knows can be challenging. However, according to The Washington Post, her efforts have been met with opposition from county lawmakers and residents who are torn over whether new dispensaries should occupy prime retail spaces or be confined to industrial zones, revealing a deeper rift over the potential for cannabis legalization to uplift communities or cause detriment.

Left-of-center County Council members Krystal Oriadha (D-District 7), who is skeptical about the impact of cannabis on Prince Georgians, and Wala Blegay (D-District 6), whose district encompasses Mary & Main, have led the push to restrict new dispensary locations. Blegay supports limiting dispensaries to industrial zones.

“We don’t need to be marginalizing these businesses…The businesses, and the state, and the counties should work together to alleviate all concerns. I feel like we can all win if we work together,” the former Atlanta Falcons cheerleader asserted. She said that the pushback is “not doing anything to be progressive in an industry that could genuinely create wealth for Black people,” noting that many applicants for social equity licenses hail from the county.

Residents of the affluent, predominantly Black suburb have voiced concerns that while they lack desirable amenities like grocery stores, certain neighborhoods are inundated with liquor stores and smoke shops. Other concerns include marijuana odor, impaired driving, and the normalization of cannabis use for children who may encounter stores on their way to school. “There has to be a balance,” Blegay said. “Black businesses have the opportunity to do more than just cannabis. You can bring a restaurant. I’m not stopping you from that.”

With recreational cannabis use now legal in Maryland, Wiseman is actively pursuing efforts to make the industry more accessible for entrepreneurs like herself through collaborations with lawmakers to increase loan and grant opportunities, extending her network of vendors and investors with aspiring cannabis entrepreneurs. The Main & Mary CEO previously discussed the barriers Black women face entering cannabis with BLACK ENTERPRISE. “It’s always going to be a situation where we’re going to have to continue to show our excellence,” she said after questioning why her working operations were insufficient at the time. “That’s how I’ve combatted those obstacles.”

The Spelman College alum launched Mary & Main in 2018 with financial backing from her family and co-founders Octavia S. Wiseman and Larry Bryant. In 2021, she gained national recognition from CBS News as the youngest Black woman dispensary owner in the U.S.

Prince George’s County ranks third in the state, with 10 dispensaries. The county and neighboring Montgomery County are poised to welcome nine additional dispensaries.

Mary J. Blige, Universal Music Group
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

April 8, 2024

Sample In Mary J. Blige’s ‘Real Love’ Sparks Copyright Infringement Lawsuit Against Universal Music Group

UMG was sued by Tuff City Records for an allegedly unauthorized sample in Blige's 1992 hit song 'Real Love.'

Mary J. Blige’s “Real Love” is causing legal trouble for Universal Music Group after it was sued for copyright infringement over an allegedly uncleared sample.

On March 28, UMG was sued by Tuff City Records for an allegedly unauthorized sample in Blige’s 1992 hit song “Real Love,” Reuters reports. The New York-based label filed the suit in New York federal court accusing the music empire of using part of the Honey Drippers’ frequently-sampled 1972 funk track “Impeach the President” without receiving official clearance.

Tuff City alleges that Universal Music Publishing has consistently declined to enter meaningful negotiations regarding the sample due to a previous agreement made by a different UMG unit, UMG Recordings, to license the “Real Love” sample.

“Plaintiff has advised Defendant repeatedly of the presence of the uncleared sample from ‘Impeach the President’ in ‘Real Love,’ and Defendant has repeatedly refused to engage Plaintiff in substantive negotiations to rectify the foregoing, let alone agreed to compensate Plaintiff for the past infringement or on an ongoing basis,” the suit states.

The single was a smash hit for Blige at the start of her career, peaking at No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1992. Its use of the legendary drum breakdown on the Honey Drippers’ “Impeach The President” has been used on numerous hip-hop tracks, including songs by Run DMC and, most recently, Doja Cat’s 2023 single “Can’t Wait.”

As the copyright owners to “tens of thousands of musical recordings and compositions from the genres of Blues, Rhythm and Blues, Jazz, Funk, Soul, Hip-Hop, New Orleans, and Latin Music, much of which might otherwise fall into obscurity,” Tuff City has filed past lawsuits against big names acts like Beastie Boys, Jay-Z, Kanye West, and Frank Ocean.

While most of the lawsuits were dismissed, the suit against Kanye was settled for an undisclosed amount. Tuff City is now accusing UMG of causing its company “great and irreparable injury that cannot fully be compensated or measured in money.” They are seeking an undisclosed amount in damages in addition to preliminary and permanent injunctive relief.

RELATED CONTENT: Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey, Lenny Kravitz, A Tribe Called Quest, And More Among 2024 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Nominees

Mae Bailey, Habitat For Humanity
by Stacy Jackson

April 8, 2024

Habitat For Humanity Of Central Arkansas Dedicates 5th Home Of 2024 To 79-Year-Old Woman

The mother of five is thankful to God for Habitat's Central Arkansas branch and the collaboration from volunteers and the city of North Rock.

At the age of 79, Mae Bailey has achieved her dream of becoming a first-time homeowner, thanks to the efforts of the Central Arkansas branch of Habitat for Humanity.

Bailey, a mother of five, has been handed the keys to the fifth home completed by the organization in the past six months, according to KATV. “I want to thank all of Habitat,” Bailey expressed gratitude during the March 29 dedication.

“The employees, workers, everybody that know Habitat. I want to thank God for you all. You all are a blessing to Little Rock, Arkansas.”

Bailey’s home was constructed through the collaborative efforts of volunteers and a partnership between Habitat for Humanity and the City of North Little Rock’s neighborhood stabilization program.

“We believe that we bring people together to build homes, communities, and hope,” Kelly Fleming, the Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity of Central Arkansas, said of the organization’s mission.

Habitat for Humanity of Central Arkansas is driven by the belief that everyone deserves a decent and affordable place to call home, which serves as a launchpad for a brighter future. Their website states, “We partner with hard-working individuals and families to help them build a better life for themselves and their loved ones – because we know that decent, affordable shelter offers strength, stability, and self-reliance.”

The organization provides affordable mortgages, ensuring homeowners pay less than 30% of their monthly income to foster financial stability.

Since 2024, the Central Arkansas branch has dedicated homes to several residents, including Cornell and her faithful companion, Marilyn the miniature dachshund, who received a new, safe, and secure space in March.

Habitat for Humanity, established in 1976, has been committed to advancing Black homeownership and closing the homeownership gap.

Tawkiyah Jordan, Habitat for Humanity International’s vice president of housing and community strategy, stated, “Our experience and scale uniquely position us to increase Black homeownership, a commitment we want to make absolutely explicit.”

Aspiring homeowners can learn more about the requirements to become a Habitat homeowner on their website.

Black Girls Code, Cristina Jones, Kalani Jewel
by Daniel Johnson

April 8, 2024

Black Girls Code Announces Coding Program For Young Coders

Code Along Jr. is an outgrowth of Black Girls Code's Code Along program and is aimed at young coders ages 7 to 10.

Black Girls Code recently continued its partnership with GoldieBlox in their shared mission to educate and inspire the next generation of coders through a free video-based academy, Code Along. According to an April 2 press release, their latest collaboration, Code Along Jr, launched at a live event in March in Los Angeles, is aimed at young coders. Child actress Kalani Jewel will host it, and it has been designed with children ages seven through 10 in mind.

Black Girls Code CEO Cristina Jones said in the press release that the group’s latest venture and its host are perfectly aligned.

“Together, we can change the face of technology,” Jones said. “Kalani, as a vibrant and energetic 12-year-old, is the perfect host for Code Along Jr. She shows girls that tech is fun, not scary. She reaches them at their level and shows them that they can do anything they want. This is so important because tech is at the center of everything we do, and Black girls absolutely have a lot to offer as entrepreneurs, executives, creators, and artists of the future.”

GoldieBlox Founder and CEO Debra Sterling said in the press release that the partnership with Black Girls Code employs a similar synergy as the collaboration between Jewel and Black Girls Code.

“GoldieBlox lives at the intersection of technology, play, and girl power,” Sterling said. “A partnership with Black Girls Code on Code Along Jr. is a natural fit for us. We are thrilled to help expose girls to the magic of tech-enabled creativity and support them on their learning journey.”

GoldieBlox is a toy company that focuses on interactive toys designed for girls. According to its website, its mission “is to reach girls at a young age, and introduce them (and oftentimes, their parents) to Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.”

Black Girls Code is filling a critical need in the technology industry. As Fortune reported, only 2% of STEM workers are Black women. Furthermore, only two Fortune 500 companies have Black women as their CEOs. 

Jones told Fortune that the group’s mission is to prioritize inclusion and diversity by empowering Black girls to feel like they belong in the tech industry despite the dismal representation numbers of Black women in the space. 

“We need girls in the room; we need more inclusion in the room,” Jones said. “But the way that we go about it is by creating space for people themselves to understand what their own value proposition is—that they are in the room because they are smart, they’re capable, they’re creative.”

Jones continued, “I really can’t tell you how inspiring it was to be standing there to see little Black girls coming in saying that they’re excited to code and leaving saying that they wanted to come back every day for the rest of their life.”

Jones also described her ambitions to Fortune, “I want to create tables for these girls so that they can create tables so that we can affect change at scale. Because it’s the momentum—once we get going hopefully, it’s like a snowball effect.”

Young coders are encouraged to follow and subscribe to the Black Girls Code YouTube channel and to follow it on social media to receive updates about both Code Along projects. 

RELATED CONTENT: Founder Of Black Girls Code Delivers Cautionary Lessons At Women of Power TECH

Missy Elliott, North American Tour
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

April 8, 2024

Missy Elliot Prepares First-Ever North American Tour

Busta Rhymes, Ciara, and Timbaland will join her on the road.

Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliot has just announced her first-ever North American tour, labeled “Out Of This World.”

The multi-talented songwriter, rapper, producer, and singer will not be going out alone on this tour. She is bringing heavyweights to take the stage alongside her. Busta Rhymes, Ciara, and Missy’s co-creator, Timbaland, will join her on the road.

“This is an incredible time in my life as I am experiencing so many milestone ‘firsts.’ Being the FIRST female Hip Hop artist to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and now going out on my FIRST headline tour,” shares Elliott. “Fans have been asking me to tour forever, but I wanted to wait until I felt the time was right because I knew if I was ever going to do it, I had to do it big, and I had to do it with family! So get ready to be taken OUT OF THIS WORLD with me, Busta Rhymes, Ciara, and Timbaland! We can’t wait to share this experience with the fans!”

🚨🚨🚨ATTENTION IT’S TIME

“OUT OF THIS WORLD” TOUR across NORTH AMERICA!!!! With my family @ciara @bustarhymes & @timbaland This Spaceship will be Landing NEAR YOU🫵🏾
RUN 4 COVER!👽🛸🚀🔥

Tickets go on sale for Verizon customers on April 9. The sale for all others will start on April 12 at 10 a.m. local time and can be purchased at Missy-Elliott.com. The Verizon Presale for customers for the OUT OF THIS WORLD—The Missy Elliott Experience can be bought through Verizon Up until April 11 at 10 p.m. local time. For more details, visit Verizon Up.

The concert is being produced by Live Nation, along with Missy’s manager and CEO of Monami Entertainment, Mona Scott-Young. The tour will be a 24-city run in Canada on July 4 at Rogers Arena in Vancouver. The artists will make stops in major cities in the U.S. before ending the tour on August 22 in Rosemont, Illinois, at Allstate Arena.

Scott-Young said, “Missy has always been an iconic groundbreaker and continuously pushes herself to be bolder and go where she has never been before – and surprisingly, one of those places is headlining her tour! For decades, fans and peers worldwide have clamored for Missy to tour, and they’re finally going to get what they’ve been asking for as she teams up with Ciara, Busta, and longtime partner-in-rhyme Timbaland to deliver a start-to-finish, nonstop, high-octane, OUT OF THIS WORLD concert experience. This will be one for the books, so trust me, you don’t want to miss it!”

OUT OF THIS WORLD — THE MISSY ELLIOTT EXPERIENCE TOUR 2024 DATES: 

Thursday, July 4 — Vancouver, BC — Rogers Arena

Saturday, July 6 — Seattle, WA — Climate Pledge Arena

Tuesday, July 9 — Oakland, CA — Oakland Arena

Thursday, July 11 — Los Angeles, CA — Crypto.com Arena

Saturday, July 13 — Las Vegas, NV — T-Mobile Arena

Tuesday, July 16 — Denver, CO — Ball Arena

Thursday, July 18 — Austin, TX — Moody Center

Saturday, July 20 — Houston, TX — Toyota Center

Sunday, July 21 — Fort Worth, TX — Dickies Arena

Wednesday, July 24 — Tampa, FL — Amalie Arena

Thursday, July 25 — Sunrise, FL — Amerant Bank Arena

Saturday, July 27 — Atlanta, GA — State Farm Arena

Thursday, August 1 — Baltimore, MD — CFG Bank Arena

Friday, August 2 — Hampton, VA — Hampton Coliseum

Saturday, August 3 — Belmont Park, NY — UBS Arena

Monday, August 5 — Philadelphia, PA — Wells Fargo Center

Thursday, August 8 — Washington, DC — Capital One Arena

Friday, August 9 — Newark, NJ — Prudential Center

Saturday, August 10 — Boston, MA — TD Garden

Monday, August 12 — Brooklyn, NY — Barclays Center

Thursday, August 15 — Detroit, MI — Little Caesars Arena

Saturday, August 17 — Montreal, QC — Bell Centre

Monday, August 19 — Toronto, ON — Scotiabank Arena

Thursday, August 22 — Rosemont, IL — Allstate Arena

Abortion, Trump, anti, rights, states, president, presidential race, democrats, Biden
by Sharelle Burt

April 8, 2024

Trump Shocks Anti-Abortion Groups By Declining To Endorse National Ban, Says ‘Its Up To The States’ 

Things just got interesting.

Former President Donald Trump shook things up by announcing his stance on a nationwide abortion ban, saying abortion should be left to the states and declining to endorse any national limit. 

Trump made the announcement on Truth Social on April 8, backtracking his initial position, projecting the idea of a 15-week ban in early 2024. After celebrating himself for overturning Roe. v. Wade, Trump now thinks the issue of abortion should be “up to the states to do the right thing.” “My view is now that we have abortion where everyone wanted it from a legal standpoint, the states will determine by vote or legislation, or perhaps both,” he said in a lengthy video. 

“And whatever they decide must be the law of the land. In this case, the law of the state. “Many states will be different. Many will have a different number of weeks, or some will [be] more conservative than others, and that’s what they will be. At the end of the day, this is all about the will of the people.”

President of the anti-abortion group Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, Marjorie Dannenfelser, released a statement shortly after calling his stance “deeply disappointing.” “We are deeply disappointed in President Trump’s position. Unborn children and their mothers deserve national protections and national advocacy from the brutality of the abortion industry,” she wrote. 

“The Dobbs decision clearly allows both states and Congress to act.” 

The issue of reproductive rights has been an up-and-down battle for Republicans since the Supreme Court overturned the ruling in 2022. In early 2024, the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos are children, causing backlash and leaving GOP leaders scrambling for politically acceptable responses. Trump started his message by celebrating the GOP-controlled legislature for approving a bill that protects IVF — putting the candidate more at odds with the anti-abortion movement.

Democrats have been playing offense on abortion, with abortion rights advocates supporting successful campaigns to implement abortion rights into the state constitutions in several red-leaning states like Ohio and Florida. 

In early April 2024, the Sunshine State’s high court issued two blockbuster rulings on access to abortion. According to The Hill, one ruling upheld the state’s 15-week abortion ban, allowing a ban after six weeks of pregnancy to go into effect in May 2024. The other ruling granted permission to a measure that would protect access to abortion in the state if passed in November.

Following the news, President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign released a memo saying Florida will be a target to flip in the upcoming presidential election. 

But he may be in for a fight with Dannenfelser’s group. She vowed that  her group “will work tirelessly to defeat Biden and extreme congressional Democrats.” “Saying the issue is ‘back to the states’ cedes the national debate to the Democrats who are working relentlessly to enact legislation mandating abortion throughout all nine months of pregnancy,” Dannenfelser said. 

“If successful, they will wipe out states’ rights.”

RELATED CONTENT: Ruby Garcia’s Family Upset Over Trump’s Claims He Talked To Them

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