Biden, President Joe Biden, BET, Ed Gordon

by Sharelle B. McNair

December 5, 2024

Biden Pushes To End Depression-Era Program Paying Subminimum Wage To Disabled Workers

Everyone deserves equal pay!

CBS News reports that the Department of Labor, under the Biden-Harris administration, proposed repealing a controversial Depression-era program allowing some employers to pay disabled workers less than the federal minimum wage.

Under the current federal law, the agency provides certificates to employers, enabling them to pay certain workers less than $7.25 an hour based on the idea that disabled employees hinder productivity. Intending to help those with disabilities secure employment, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Disability Employment Taryn Williams says there are currently close to 40,000 American workers working for half the minimum wage or less. “Many earn less than half; some earn just pennies on the dollar,” Williams said.

The proposal comes after a review, noting that the new rule won’t take effect until Jan. 17, 2025, when the public comment period ends just days before President-elect Donald Trump takes office. The Trump-Vance administration would be given the chance to review and respond to the comments and initially issue a final rule—or withdraw it entirely.

The Labor Department would immediately stop any issue of certificates under Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, according to The Hill, which grants employers permission to pay less than the minimum wage and begin a three-year phase-out period for hundreds of employers that have permits. Under the act, the program was initially designed to provide jobs for injured military veterans.

Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su says the move shadows President Joe Biden’s commitment to giving “good jobs for workers with disabilities.” “With this proposal, the department expects that many workers currently paid subminimum wages under Section 14(c) will move into jobs that pay full wages, which will improve their economic wellbeing and strengthen inclusion for people with disabilities in the workforce,” Su said.

There are moves that concerned parties can make. Jessica Looman, administrator of the department’s Wage and Hour Division, encourages interested parties to submit proposal comments after the department hears concerns from advocates, workers with disabilities, service providers, and certificate-holding employers. “One of the guiding principles of the American workplace is that a hard day’s work deserves a fair day’s pay, and this proposal ensures that principle includes workers with disabilities,” Looman said in a statement.

If the proposal doesn’t go through, it’s possible that subminimum pay for disabled workers could disappear across state lines. More than a dozen states, including the District of Columbia, have already banned the program. In Illinois, lawmakers have already passed legislation to end subminimum wage for disabled workers by 2029, while California, Nevada, and Virginia have also made moves to phase the program out.

DR. Jaqueline COPELAND FLOYD JONES BLACK PHILANTHROPY MONTH

by Stacy Jackson

December 5, 2024

New Leadership Emerges As Black Philanthropy Month Founder Dr. Jacqueline Copeland Steps Down

Dr. Copeland is passing the reins to BackBlack Founder Floyd Jones to move Black Philanthropy Month into its new era.

Black Philanthropy Month (BPM) Founder Dr. Jacqueline “Bouvier” Copeland is leaving her role as leader and chairwoman of the global coalition she created in 2011 to pass the reins to BackBlack Movement Founder Floyd Jones.

As BPM’s International Chair Emerita, Copeland will continue to support the international movement that has been observed across 60 countries by over 100 million people, fulfilling a mission to spotlight global Black philanthropic efforts and advance Black giving and funding equity. “BPM has been an affair of the heart, representing my passion to advance our culture of giving as a core element of Black identity, unity, and shared funding capital everywhere,” Copeland stated in a press release.

Passing the mantle to Jones, a longtime advocate for Black Diaspora funding equity, Black Philanthropy Month anticipates moving into its next era, backed by a Global Leadership Council Black Philanthropy leaders from all over the world and guided by the Global Black Funding Equity Principles. Copeland is confident that BPM is in great hands as Jones represents the next generation and continues to elevate BPM as a cultural landmark. “With Floyd’s leadership and the support of our Global Council, BPM is primed to become an even greater force in the ongoing struggle for funding equity and economic justice,” she said. Jones brings a wealth of expertise to the role, raising over $2 million for 1,000 Black-led organizations, establishing essential funding pipelines for the community, and scaling social impact.

Looking forward, Copeland is delighted to witness the activation of BPM’s rich philanthropic and creative economy with Afro-descendant communities and the coalition’s allies. “It is an incredible honor to build on the extraordinary foundation Dr. Copeland has created for Black Philanthropy Month over the past 20 years,” the new BPM leader stated. As Jones builds on Copeland’s foundation, BPM will continue to foster engagement with diverse leaders, sponsors, and advisors, and build on year-round initiatives like the Global Black Funding Equity Pledge and survey to empower Black communities.

As the visionary founder steps down, she is grateful for the leaders and funders who’ve helped make Black Philanthropy Month a success and culminate its national summit every August.

by Kandiss Edwards

December 5, 2024

O.J. Simpson Audio Confession Claims Are Proven False

Iroc Avelli, a former bodyguard for O.J. Simpson, claimed to have audio of the late NFL player confessing to the killing of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman. An examination of the audio determined the claim was false, according to The New York Post.

In June 2024, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) contacted the Bloomington, Minnesota, police department to access thumb drives confiscated during Avelli’s 2022 arrest.

The Bloomington Police Department apprehended Avelli for an alleged assault in 2022; at the time of the arrest, police seized Avelli’s backpack and obtained a warrant to collect relevant evidence at the scene of the incident. The backpack contained multiple thumb drives, which the former bodyguard claimed contained Simpson’s confession.

According to Yahoo! News, “a search warrant filed in Hennepin County, officer George Harms applied for a court warrant to search for the imaging of thumb drives, so that, ‘full forensics examination can be conducted on all thumb drives to try and obtain the recording.’”

The Bloomington Police Department did not return the drives, opting instead to conduct a forensic examination internally. After examining the drives through a Digital Forensics Examiner, Bloomington PD revealed no information of “evidentiary value” to the LAPD.

The continued investigation into the Simpson and Goldman murders is odd, as O.J. Simpson was acquitted on all charges on Oct. 3, 1995. The former San Francisco 49er maintained his innocence until he passed away from cancer on April 11, 2024.

After his acquittal, O.J. Simpson continued to capitalize on his fame. In 1996, the Buffalo Bills player released a book titled If I Did It: Confessions Of The Killer. Many found the book’s title and content distasteful and criticized the Naked Gun actor’s continued presence in celebrity culture.

However, many people believe Simpson’s acquittal should have been enough to accept his presence in all spaces. BLACK ENTERPRISE reported on rapper Cam’Ron’s response to critics after inviting Simpson on his sports show before his passing.

The It Is What It Is host and businessman believes accusations—proven false in a court of law—should not lead to ostracization. Cam’Ron believes Simpson’s race may have played a part in the continued questioning of his innocence throughout his life.

“Look, if he was guilty, we wouldn’t have him on the show,” he said. “Y’all want to keep convicting an innocent man. He’s innocent. If it was somebody else whiter, y’all would say, “Oh, he’s innocent,'” BE reported.

It seems as if the questioning and investigation into Orenthol James Simpson’s role or lack thereof in his ex-wife’s murder will continue even after his death.

by Kandiss Edwards

December 5, 2024

Denzel Washington Drops Gems To 8 Lucky HBCU Students

Denzel Washington bestows wisdom on 8 HBCU students.

Denzel Washington lent his wisdom to a new generation of students during a virtual event on Nov. 19. The roundtable discussion was an opportunity for eight students from seven historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) to gain insight from the Gladiator ll star.

“This was a timeless & legendary moment to curate an HBCU roundtable discussion with eight current students and, of course, our hero, Mr. Denzel Washington — thank you for pouring your knowledge and wisdom into our next generation of future leaders! It’s always a blessing to receive guidance from experience as the torch is being passed,” said DJ Jae Murphy, who posted a snippet of the virtual roundtable on his Instagram account.

The students expressed their appreciation and admiration for the Training Day actor’s body of work. Denzel graciously wished the future creators well and prayed for their continued success.

“There’s no question about it — I have been blessed. There’s no question about you being the future. So, my prayer for you is that you take the baton in whatever your given field is and that you run with it. That you excel, which I know you are doing; that you would excel and do your best.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Jae Murphy (@jaemurphy)

Usually a recluse, Denzel has been promoting the Gladiator ll film, recently released in theaters. Fans and foes alike are seeing more Denzel than ever. The elder icon has been spreading his wisdom to anyone who will listen.

BLACK ENTERPRISE recently reported on the Fences producer and star’s candor in his recent interviews. The Man On Fire actor revealed his longtime battle with substance abuse during an interview with Esquire.

“I never got strung out on liquor. I had this ideal idea of wine tastings and all that — which is what it was at first. And that’s a very subtle thing.”

The subtle taste of wine escalated into a habit of two bottles a day for the Othello actor. He admits his habit was destructive, but he claims the substance abuse never interfered with his work.

“The film veteran, who has over 65 acting credits under his belt, was able to discipline himself not to drink while filming a movie. But he admitted he would get right back to his habit once filming wrapped,” BE reported.

houston, food insecurity, Goodr grocery store Atlanta

by Kandiss Edwards

December 5, 2024

Goodr Teams Up With Atlanta Mayor To Create Free Grocery Store

Mayor Andre Dickens hopes to eliminate food insecurity for Atlanta's elderly residents.

Goodr Grocery Store is partnering with Mayor Andre Dickens to combat food insecurity in Metro Atlanta.

The Fulton County location, at William Walker Recreation Center Fairburn Rd in Southwest Atlanta, is intentional, as the area is considered a food desert.

The community store is sorely needed as the area no longer hosts any food retailers. Food instability is growing in Metro Atlanta, and thousands of families and the elderly are struggling to afford food due to rising grocery inflation on low or fixed incomes.

Mayor Andre Dickens spoke about the city’s continued fight to support low-income areas in Atlanta, where food insecurity is most prevalent.

“Communities without fresh food options are often in low-income areas, and only 76% of Atlanta residents live within a half mile of fresh food. That’s a gap too big for too many people. Our administration city Council said we have got to work on that.”

Fulton County is home to 1.64 million people, and close to 500,000 residents identify as Black. Nearly a quarter of those residents lack access and resources to obtain adequate food.

“In Fulton and DeKalb Counties, 23% and 20% of Black people, respectively, are ‘food insecure’ or unable to consistently access adequate nutrition due to cost, location, or other barriers,” Yahoo! News reported.

Oct. 17, the CEO and Founder of Goodr, Jasmine Crowe Houston, commented about her excitement surrounding the new Goodr store in an X post.

“Super excited to bring a Goodr Grocery Store to the Edgewood community to serve seniors and the unhoused community in our city,” Houston wrote.

Super excited to bring a Goodr Grocery Store to the Edgewood community to serve seniors and the unhoused community in our city. @TheGoodrCo https://t.co/wdrRG8oF1u
— Jasmine Crowe-Houston (@jasminecrowe) October 17, 2024

The Edgewood location is not the first partnership between Goodr and the city of Atlanta. The company, in partnership with Mayor Dickens’s office, opened the Goodr Grocery Store for Atlanta Public schools on Nov. 20.

Focused on uplifting students and their families, the store is open to all students in Fulton County.

“If you have a student that is sitting in class wondering when and where their next meal is coming from, you’ll never be able to teach through that.”

Goodr is doing phenomenal work all over the country. The company has hosted multiple food drives and pop-up pantries and is working with communities all over the nation to solve the hunger crisis in America.

The company has an extensive list of locations where services can be found on its official website.

by Roz A. Gee

December 5, 2024

Dr. Shirley K. Clark Talks New Book, ‘Rich Mind Rich Life’

She is a multiple best-selling author, life coach, and business success strategist.

Dr. Shirley Clark is a phenomenal trailblazer in her own right. She is a multiple best-selling author, life coach, and business success strategist. She is also a curriculum developer, ghostwriter, and publisher with decades of industry experience under her belt. BLACK ENTERPRISE caught up with Clark to talk about her life and latest book, Rich Mind Rich Life.

BLACK ENTERPRISE: Briefly share your background and backstory.

Shirley Clark: I’m the youngest of seven and grew up impoverished. For four generations, no one in my family had a higher educational degree. Daily life was simply a survival mode—will I eat or will the water be on when I wake up?

My father was illiterate and an alcoholic and my mother only had a 6^th-grade education. For three years, we were in foster care and abused. When I graduated from high school, I could not write a complete sentence. We had no frame of reference regarding the “American Dream.” Then one day, I was told if I give my life to Jesus, it would be better. I did. The rest is history.

Being that you’re well-accomplished, can you give a synopsis of everything that you’re doing today?

For 25 years, I have been the CEO of Clark’s Consulting Firm, which is comprised of six businesses (publishing, public relations, marketing, branding, coaching & consulting services, a business university, event planning, and a speaker & entertainer’s professional hub). We also own seven digital magazines and under our publishing imprint, we have 400-plus books. I am an award-winning 12x #1 Amazon Best-selling author with over 50 books in print. We have trained and coached over 30,000 entrepreneurs in small business development, certified over 100 coaches and speakers, and have assisted with making 10 millionaires. For me, it has been truly God, so now, I am paying it forward.

What is the inspiration for you to write Rich Mind Rich Life?

In 2009, we were deeply in debt and told by our attorney to file for bankruptcy. But the Lord said very strongly in my spirit, “No!” It was time for me to become a millionaire. I sought Him for direction, and He gave me two foundational scriptures: Hebrews 11:6 (“He will reward those who diligently seek Him”) and Deuteronomy 8:18 (“I’m going to give you power to produce wealth.”). So, on January 1, 2010, from 2 a.m. to 4 a.m., I started my transformation journey by “soaking” in His presence and learning what I did not know. I kept this discipline for four years, and God taught me how to create wealth by tapping into divine intelligence. Today, we are tremendously blessed—home and vehicles paid off. It has been my study (increasing my intellectual capital) and the use of scriptures that have garnered me great success. Now, most of our clients are six, seven-, and eight-figure earners. So, today, I pray and grow richer; this is what inspired me to write this book. It works!

What are five (5) takeaways from Rich Mind Rich Life?

1. Rich People Educate Themselves; Poor People Entertain Themselves

It is true: we don’t know what we don’t know. As entrepreneurs and small-business owners, can we all agree that billionaires might just know something we don’t? With that said, self-education is a major key to your success, growth, and sustainability in the marketplace. You want to spend more time acquiring knowledge and skills that keep you relevant in the market.

2. Operate in Rich Habits

The purpose of education is to reframe our mindset with a new “governing” knowledge that positions us for future financial benefits. Your habits and personal values are always connected to tangible achievements. You have to develop a stronger sense of self as a producer, not a consumer.

3. Become Better Storytellers for Our Future

We live in a voice-activated world filled with a lot of noise. To create the world we want for our lives, we must train our brains to focus only on stories that feed our dreams and visions. Therefore, when we speak, we share from the very essence of our future. Your future responds to your voice only. What you say will frame and define your world. We must become better storytellers of our future.

4. Know That You Were Made for More

One of my former pastors would say, “Find out what God wants you to do, confer no longer with flesh and blood, and get it done at all costs.” Inside everyone are seeds of greatness. But it is what we do with these seeds that determines our outcomes. You are made for more, so find out what you are called to do and persevere until you see it in your life. Never give up on your dream. If someone else has done it, so can you.

5. Master the Art of Starting

The common mistakes many people make in fulfilling their dreams and visions are waiting for all the pieces to line up perfectly and expecting everything to be in place before working toward their dreams. According to most wealthy people, if 70% of what you are working toward is in place, start then. Don’t overthink it; just get started. The good news is that Oprah Winfrey, Bill Gates, and many other successful people started in the same place you are right now. You have to choose yourself to be next.

For more information or to order a copy of the book, click here.

by Daniel Johnson

December 4, 2024

Village People Member Changes Tune on Trump Using ‘YMCA,’ Cites ‘Financial Benefits’

Victor Willis’ sentiments did not escape criticism on social media.

Victor Willis, a member of the disco-era group Village People and a co-writer of “Y.M.C.A.,” has changed his mind about allowing President-elect Donald Trump to use the group’s 1978 hit song.

According to MSNBC, in a Dec. 2 Facebook post, Willis now feelsTrump “seems to genuinely like Y.M.C.A. and he’s having a lot of fun with it,” and also threatened to sue news outlets who refer to the song as a “gay anthem.”

The Village People's Victor Willis is upset people call YMCA a "gay anthem," wants that to stop & calls it "defamatory" & says his wife will sue anyone who still says that starting in January (lol). https://t.co/dT6llb6w1y pic.twitter.com/BkyK9k8QFb
— Taniel (@Taniel) December 4, 2024

Gay man is angry that the anti-gay man he voted for is anti-gay. Village People founder is angry that the gay anthem he wrote is gay. These things are related by delusion. https://t.co/THGeTUVRT2 pic.twitter.com/ymxpxLMACD
— Matthew Rettenmund (@mattrett) December 3, 2024

https://twitter.com/gabalexa/status/1864098126761431395?s=19

Willis also acknowledged that his newfound acceptance of Trump’s use of the song has come with an estimated “several million dollars” since Trump has played the long-ago hit at his rallies and events.

“As such, I simply didn’t have the heart to prevent his continued use of my song in the face of so many artists withdrawing his use of their material,” Willis wrote. In 2023, the manager for the Village People sent a cease and desist to the Trump campaign.

Despite Willis’ protest that Y.M.C.A. is not a gay anthem, according to an essay commemorating Pride Month for the Library of Congress’s National Recording Registry, written by Josiah Howard in 2021, gay communities have adopted the song as their unofficial anthem for decades.

In large part, according to Howard, the messaging present in the song and from the group’s presentation of themselves lent to the adoption of the group and their songs by gay Americans.

Although Howard notes that Willis, a heterosexual man, has consistently pushed back on the conceptualization of the song as a gay anthem, it has largely fallen on deaf ears because gay people have decided that it is a song that represents them.

“Regardless, they were a hit. The gay messaging in their songs, the gay fantasy stripper costumes, the gay dancing and faux macho posturing seemed to go over the heads of the audience–or they just didn’t care,” Howard wrote.

Although Willis did threaten to sue “each and every news organization that falsely refers to Y.M.C.A., either in their headlines or alluded to in the base of the story, that Y.M.C.A. is somehow a gay anthem,” beginning in January 2025, he also indicated that he doesn’t mind that gay people have adopted his group’s biggest hit as their anthem. Of course, Willis’ sentiments did not escape criticism on social media.

Trump’s awkward dancing to “Y.M.C.A.” has spawned imitators, notably professional athletes like Las Vegas Raiders rookie tight end Brock Bowers and UFC star Jon Jones.

In an appearance discussing the seeming acceptance of Trump’s dancing by professional athletes on CNN, former NFL player Donte Stallworth called attention to the hypocrisy around how players like Bowers have not been held to the same kind of scrutiny or accountability as former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick.

Former United States Men’s National Team goalkeeper Tim Howard forcefully called out the hypocritical nature of the celebrations in an op-ed for The Daily Mail.

“If someone feels strongly the other way, no problem. But if you’re going to make a political statement, then be bold and brash enough to stand behind it,” Howard wrote. “Doing the Trump dance is stupid. Regardless of whether it’s the President of the United States or my neighbor, I cannot support someone I believe to be racist. I won’t glamorize that, not for any reason. You cannot have it both ways. You’re either on one side or the other. If you’re bold enough to publicly make a statement, I don’t have a problem with that. But own it.”

by Sharelle B. McNair

December 4, 2024

NYC Mayor Eric Adams Pushes For Meeting With Trump’s Border Czar Over Migrants ‘Harming Citizens’

Guess he said what he said.....

During a press conference, New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced that he is open to meeting with President-elect Donald Trump’s appointed border czar, Tom Homan, to combat violent migrants in the city, ABC 7 reports.

The announcement came down on Dec. 3 as the troubled mayor seemingly welcomed some of the ideology for the new Trump-Vance administration. “Those who are here committing crimes, shooting at police officers, raping innocent people, have been a harm to our country. I want to sit down and hear the plan. I would love to sit down with the border czar and hear his thoughts on how we are going to address those who are harming our citizens,” Adams said.

“Find out what his plans are, where our common grounds are. We can work together.”

NYC Mayor Eric Adams says he will work with Trump and Border Czar Tom Homan to "stop those who are committing crimes… harming our citizens… Cancel me." pic.twitter.com/p3OqgdWlyV
— unusual_whales (@unusual_whales) December 4, 2024

For a matter of months, Adams has expressed a desire to have violent migrants deported and said he has no problem with being “canceled” over it. He touched on past statements from former President Barack Obama and former Secretary of State Hilary Clinton on their views of violent migrants. “I want y’all to all go back and Google Hilary Clinton and Barack Obama. Google what they said about those who commit crimes in our city and what they said. They said those who commit crimes need to get out right away,” Adams said.

“That was their position, so this is not a new position. Because in the era of cancel culture, no one is afraid to be honest about the truth. Well, cancel me cause I’m going to protect the people of this city, and if you come into this country and this city and think you’re going to harm innocent New Yorkers and innocent migrant and asylum seekers, this is not the mayor you want to be in the city under.”

Since there was a time when 4,000 migrants arrived in the Big Apple every week, the city has reportedly spent over $6.4 billion to assist migrants bused here, which is more than the yearly budget for NYPD and double the budget of the fire department.

Homan has already allegedly answered Adams’ call, promising to reach out. “I plan on calling him either tonight or first thing in the morning. I certainly will meet with him,” Homan said, according to The Hill. “I’m looking for partnerships. I’m not looking for enemies.”

In addition to Trump promising the “largest mass deportation in history” on day one of his second term, the former Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) director committed to combat the growing concerns of migrant crime and unaccompanied children at the border, taking aggressive action to protect public safety and youth. “I’m tired of children dying at the border,” he said.

“I’m tired of children being sexually assaulted by cartels. Some of these kids could be in human trafficking, forced labor, or forced sex slavery. We need to rescue these kids and get them back to their families.”

howard basketball, investment, Kaleena Smith, Wilberforce University, Unrivaled,

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

December 4, 2024

Wilberforce University Becomes First HBCU To Be Sponsored By AND1

The school will receive $100,000 in sporting gear

AND1 and Wilberforce University have collaborated to form a partnership that will see the educational institution receive $100,000 in sporting gear.

The oldest HBCU (historically Black college and university) in the nation, Wilberforce University has garnered AND1’s first official sponsorship of an HBCU athletic program. The popular streetwear company was on campus to give the men’s and women’s basketball teams new gear, which included uniforms, travel sweatsuits, practice apparel, and travel bags.

The teams also took part in a professional photoshoot.

“I’ve never had a basketball shoot like that before for our team media day, and they truly made me feel like a star. Our team is incredibly thankful for the opportunity AND 1 has given us. Thank you so much!” “It was incredible,” says Dayania Johnson, a junior at Wilberforce. “AND 1 made us feel like superstars!”

“I am incredibly excited about this sponsorship with AND1,” says Wilberforce Women’s Basketball Head Coach Rachel Naughton in a written statement. “The AND1 sponsorship marks a historic moment for our men’s and women’s basketball program, not only for Wilberforce but for all HBCUs. This partnership signifies recognition of the talent and dedication of our athletes. With AND1’s support, we aim to elevate our program, inspire future generations, and demonstrate that women’s basketball deserves a prominent spotlight. We’re thrilled for what lies ahead!”

Each basketball player received several pairs of AND1’s performance basketball shoes — the “Attack 3’s” and the “Mad Game” line. There will also be special edition sneakers for the Wilberforce basketball teams that the players will wear on the basketball court this season.

AND1 Brand Director/ Head of Sports Marketing, Dexter Gordon, said, “We are honored to partner with Wilberforce University, a pioneer in education and a beacon of cultural heritage. When Coach Rachel Naughton proposed the sponsorship, she highlighted the numerous benefits of our partnership, and we were eager to embrace this opportunity. This collaboration allows us to support and uplift the student-athletes who represent the future of basketball. Seeing the excitement on the students’ faces as they received their new gear was incredibly rewarding for our team. We look forward to a successful partnership and many great moments on and off the court.” 

Along with the partnership, AND1 has committed to producing film and photo content that will document this historic collaboration between both parties.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

December 4, 2024

YSL Trial Ends With Young Thug’s Final 2 Co-Defendants Being Acquitted

The YSL trial has finally come to a close after nearly two years.

Georgia’s longest criminal trial concluded on Tuesday, and the final two co-defendants in the YSL case were acquitted after receiving not-guilty verdicts.

Defendants Deamonte Kendrick, a rapper known as Yak Gotti, and Shannon Stillwell were acquitted on Tuesday after a jury of 12 found them not guilty of charges related to Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) statute, NBC News reports. The charges included the 2015 drive-by shooting of an alleged rival gang member and conspiracy to violate RICO.

Stillwell was also facing murder charges in connection with the 2022 killing of another alleged rival gang member. He was found guilty of one felony gun possession charge, which Superior Court Judge Paige Whitaker sentenced him to 10 years with credit for two years served since his arrest and the rest on probation.

Kendrick and Stillwell’s acquittals come weeks after other co-defendants, including rapper Young Thug, reached plea deals. Judge Whitaker expressed gratitude to the jurors selected in January 2023, who spent nearly two years on a trial marked by numerous surprising developments.

“I cannot express the degree of thanks that Fulton County owes you for your service given the length of this trial,” Whitaker told the jurors.

Some of the trial’s most talked-about moments included prosecutors using Young Thug’s (real name Jeffery Lamar Williams) rap lyrics to link him to violence and illegal activities, the rapper’s lawyer being arrested and sentenced to 10 weekends in jail for contempt of court, allegations of drug exchanges between co-defendants, uncooperative key witnesses, the previous judge’s recusal after holding a private meeting with prosecutors and a key witness, and Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis facing backlash for a “waste of time” motion, among other notable events.

By the end of the trial, the state had called over 175 witnesses for 26 of the 28 co-defendants, while the defense for Stillwell and Kendrick called no witnesses. The final verdict came days after Kendrick was stabbed on Sunday in a Fulton County Jail annex. He embraced his lawyer upon hearing the not-guilty verdict on Dec. 3.

Willis’ spokesperson, Jeff DiSantis, released a statement about the verdict on her behalf, saying, “We always respect the verdict of a jury.”