Four protesters have been awarded nearly $700,000 after they were jailed for writing anti-police slogans in chalk on a temporary police barricade on Jan. 1, 2021.

A leading Black Lives Matter activist in Los Angeles has lost her lawsuit against the city’s police department over its handling of hoax calls that brought a large law enforcement response to her home.

Two new studies track the effect of police violence on Black Americans.

Seattle has agreed to pay $10 million to 50 demonstrators who sued over the police department's heavy-handed response to racial justice protests in 2020.

A national Black Lives Matter nonprofit that was widely criticized for purchasing a sprawling California mansion with donated funds recently opened the property to dozens of families who lost loved ones in incidents of police violence.

A national Black Lives Matter nonprofit, whose philanthropic fortunes grew almost overnight during historic racial justice protests three years ago, raised just over $9 million in its last fiscal year, new IRS tax filings show.

Jury selection has begun in the trial of a U.S. Army sergeant charged with murder in the 2020 fatal shooting of an armed protester in Texas.

U.S. Department of Homeland Security officials under then-President Donald Trump compiled intelligence dossiers on people who were arrested at Black Lives Matter protests in Portland, Oregon.

In an exclusive interview, Patrisse Cullors, the former leader of the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation, tells The Associated Press that neither she nor anyone else in leadership has misused millions of dollars in donations.

Four anti-racism demonstrators have been cleared of criminal damage in the toppling of a statue of a 17th-century slave trader during a Black Lives Matter protest in southwestern England.

A project to add six different murals to the outside of a downtown church is moving forward.

Authorities say three teenagers driven by racial hatred were behind hoax calls that brought major police responses to the home of one of the leading Black Lives Matter activists in Los Angeles.

Quinton de Kock has returned to South Africa’s team for the T20 World Cup game against Sri Lanka in Sharjah.

Vaccine mandates are expanding in New York.

While many Americans have a vast array of knowledge about Juneteenth, others don’t know as much about the holiday and the history behind it.

Did you realize that Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States?

It’s been more than a year since a disturbing video clip showing a Minneapolis police officer killing George Floyd sparked a national movement.

An activist who has played a leading role in anti-racism demonstrations in Britain is in critical condition after being shot in London.

Following the conviction of Derek Chauvin in the murder of George Floyd, and after nearly a year of outrage at the handling of some police departments and the Black community, it seems as though the entire nation is laser focused on justice and equality for Black communities everywhere.

The guilty verdict in the trial over George Floyd's death was not just celebrated in America.

A former president of the organization that hosts the Golden Globes has been dropped from the group’s board after calling Black Lives Matter a “racist hate movement” in an email.

A body of experts that advises the United Nations on human rights concerns has slammed a widely criticized British government-backed report that concluded there was no systemic racism in the country.

The commission behind a report that concluded that Britain does not have a systemic problem with racism has defended itself against critics, some of whom have argued that it downplayed the country’s historic role in slavery.

Black Lives Matter is seen along East Green Street where is passes under South Aurora Street, Monday, March 22, 2021, in Ithaca, N.Y. The nationwide reexamination of policing after the killing of George Floyd has led the Ivy League town in New York to consider an ambitious and contentious plan to remake its force. A proposal would replace the 63-officer Ithaca Police Department with a new Department of Community Solutions and Public Safety. The Ithaca Common Council unanimously approved a series of reform recommendations Wednesday night that included reconstituting the city police force to add unarmed officers to handle nonviolent calls like petty thefts. AdArmed officers of the 63-officer force would be able to keep their positions, and supporters of the plan said the new unarmed officers would be able to engage more with communities distrustful of police.

(AP Photo/Frank Augstein, FILE)LONDON – The most senior Black adviser to U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has resigned, the government said Thursday, the day after a report on racial disparities concluded that Britain does not have a systemic problem with racism. But Simon Woolley, a former government equalities adviser and a member of the U.K. House of Lords, said Kasumu’s exit was connected to the “grubby” and “divisive” report. The Conservative government launched the inquiry into racial disparities in the wake of anti-racism protests last year. The panel of experts concluded that while “outright racism” exists in Britain, the country is not “institutionally racist” or “rigged” against ethnic minorities. “There are very serious issues that our society faces to do with racism that we need to address,” he said.

As Minneapolis braces for Mondays opening statements in the trial of Derek Chauvin, the ex-officer who is charged with murder and manslaughter in George Floyds death, so does the world. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole, File)MINNEAPOLIS – National civil rights leaders appeared alongside several family members of George Floyd at a prayer service Sunday night, hours before opening statements were set to begin in the murder trial of the former Minneapolis police officer charged in his death. Several dozen attendees congregated in the benches at Greater Friendship Missionary Church, where preachers led worship, a choir sang and members of George Floyd's family were joined by the Rev. The speakers called for justice in George Floyd's death, mirroring the words spoken by leaders during a protest earlier Sunday in downtown Minneapolis. George Floyd, who was Black, was declared dead on May 25 after Chauvin, who is white, pressed his knee on George Floyd’s neck for about nine minutes while George Floyd was handcuffed and pleading that he couldn’t breathe.

(AP Photo/Noah K. Murray, File)ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. – Atlantic City says it will redo a Black Lives Matter tribute on a street because the original painting of those words across the entire road confused motorists who didn't know where to drive on it. Instead, the words “Black Lives Matter” will be painted onto the repaved road in a manner that does not obscure lane divider markings, Mayor Marty Small said Thursday. “The words ”Black Lives Matter" will still be on the street." The road painting was a compromise that averted a potential confrontation between activists who wanted to paint the words “Black Lives Matter” on the famous Boardwalk, and city officials who would not allow it. City Council member LaToya Dunston accused the city of wasting taxpayer dollars by painting the road without knowing the rules governing it.

Des Moines Register reporter Andrea Sahouri, facing, hugs her mother, Muna Tareh-Sahouri, after being found not-guilty at the conclusion of her trial at the Drake University Legal Clinic, Wednesday, March 10, 2021, in Des Moines, Iowa. (Kelsey Kremer/The Des Moines Register via AP, Pool)IOWA CITY, Iowa – An Iowa jury on Wednesday acquitted a journalist who was pepper-sprayed and arrested by police while covering a protest, in a case that critics have derided as an attack on press freedoms and an abuse of prosecutorial discretion. Robnett, 24, said he was sprayed and handcuffed after telling the officer that Sahouri was a Register journalist. Sahouri was the first working U.S. journalist to face a criminal trial since 2018, according to the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker. Another Register reporter, Katie Akin, was near Sahouri and quickly informed police that they were journalists.

Judge Peter Cahill seated two more jurors to go with the three picked Tuesday for Derek Chauvin’s trial on second-degree murder and manslaughter charges. In a separate development, the Minnesota Supreme Court declined to hear Chauvin's appeal to block a third-degree murder charge from being reinstated. The Minnesota Court of Appeals last week said it settled the law with its ruling last month affirming the conviction of Mohamed Noor in the 2017 shooting death of Justine Ruszczyk Damond. Legal experts say giving the jury another option for convicting Chauvin of murder raises the chance of a conviction. “Go ahead and throw me under the bus with your fiancée.”___Find AP’s full coverage of the death of George Floyd: https://apnews.com/hub/death-of-george-floyd

Speedlin Gonzalez and a team of five graduate students began a study that would ask law enforcement officers across the state what they would like to see when it comes to diversity training. Three hundred twenty-four current law enforcement officers across the state were asked about this training, and the results were surprising. They found it highly unsatisfactory, and that doesn’t even include those who found it slightly unsatisfactory,” Speedlin Gonzalez said. While the goal of police reform is well-intended, the study, which is one of a kind because it asks law enforcement about their experience, offers a different perspective. The program should be fluid and adaptable to fit into the communities where officers work.

Protests erupted in Seattle and across the country after George Floyd was killed by a Minneapolis police officer. The latest findings are separate from three other investigations into Seattle officers by the Office of Police Accountability. In the latest reports, investigators found that officers and one commander violated department policies while responding to demonstrations in Seattle. As she walked toward a group of people, the officer threw the blast ball and it hit her in the chest. Investigations found that the officer violated department policy by throwing the blast ball overhand toward a person who was unarmed and not throwing projectiles at officers.

Ezequiel Allen, a Buffalo Soldier who participated in this year’s festivities, said the group is counting to honor the life and legacy of King. “I definitely think Dr. King believes in Black Lives Matter,” Reiffert said. “There’s a vaccine out for COVID, but there’s still nothing being done about racism,” Reiffert said. Local activist Kimiya Factory said she believes it is important for people to live King’s legacy through their own actions. It’s not good.”Related: San Antonio community leaders reflect on Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy

EL PASO, Texas – An El Paso man who posted a video online threatening to kill Black Lives Matter protesters has been sentenced to nearly two years in federal prison, officials said. Manuel Flores, 43, was sentenced Tuesday to 21 months in prison after pleading guilty last year to posting a threatening communication over the internet. He's been in custody since his arrest in June, the El Paso Times reported. In the video, Flores displays an AR-15-style rifle and said it was his “dream” to kill Black protesters who had gathered in response to George Floyd's death last year. According to court records, Flores was remorseful and apologetic when he was questioned by agents and said he’d been drinking when he posted the video and didn’t recall making the threats.

SAN ANTONIO – Watching largely white mobs rampage through the U.S. Capitol, supporters of the local Black Lives Matter movement said the disparity was painfully obvious. “If those were black people, what we would have saw was a bloody Wednesday,” said Valerie Reiffert, a founder of Radical Registrars. Dr. Gregory Hudspeth, president of the San Antonio branch of the NAACP, agrees with Reiffert. Hudspeth said President Donald Trump has “invited” domestic terrorism, one of the reasons why the NAACP wants him impeached. Factory said what needs to happen are “uncomfortable conversations” and support for groups that advocate change like Black Freedom Factory.

FILE - In this Sept. 26, 2020, file photo, Proud Boys leader Henry "Enrique" Tarrio wears a hat that says The War Boys during a rally in Portland, Ore. Police in the nations capital on Jan. 4, 2021, arrested the leader of the Proud Boys, who is accused of burning a Black Lives Matter banner that was torn down from a historic Black church in downtown Washington in December 2020. (AP Photo/Allison Dinner, File)WASHINGTON – A judge has banned the leader of the Proud Boys, a far-right extremist group, from the nation’s capital after he was accused of vandalizing a Black Lives Matter banner at a historic Black church and found with high-capacity firearm magazines when he was arrested. Tarrio was arrested Monday by the Metropolitan Police Department and accused of burning a Black Lives Matter banner that was torn down from a historic Black church in downtown Washington last month. A large Black Lives Matter sign was ripped from Asbury United Methodist Church property, torn and set aflame in December. Tarrio was seen with the sign in video of the incident posted on YouTube, according to a police report.

FILE - In this Sept. 26, 2020, file photo, Proud Boys leader Henry "Enrique" Tarrio wears a hat that says The War Boys during a rally in Portland, Ore. Police in the nations capital on Jan. 4, 2021, arrested the leader of the Proud Boys, who is accused of burning a Black Lives Matter banner that was torn down from a historic Black church in downtown Washington in December 2020. (AP Photo/Allison Dinner, File)WASHINGTON – Police in the nation’s capital on Monday arrested the leader of the Proud Boys, who is accused of burning a Black Lives Matter banner that was torn down from a historic Black church in downtown Washington last month. By nightfall, vandals tore down a Black Lives Matter banner and sign from two historic Black churches in downtown Washington and set the banner ablaze. Tarrio told The Washington Post he had participated in the burning of the Black Lives Matter banner and said he would plead guilty to destruction of property and pay the church the cost of the banner. Another video showed men removing a Black Lives Matter sign at the Metropolitan A.M.E. Church.

The NBA painted “Black Lives Matter” on the courts inside their Orlando, Florida, “bubble" and social justice messages were emblazoned on the backs of jerseys. Paul met with NBA players, and they decided awareness wasn’t enough anymore. “Black Lives Matter” also was featured prominently on the league’s courts. Wallace, the only full-time Black driver at the NASCAR national level, first began speaking out against racial injustice in America in the spring. His car featured a “Black Lives Matter” paint scheme.

Demonstrations for racial justice and against police violence began in Texas and across the country after the killing of Houston native George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police. But as November’s general election approached, Republican politicians began to rally behind police, decrying protesters and campaigning on law and order. June 4Events — and their own words — put Texas Republicans in an election year bindTexas Democrats convened last week. But it was the state's Republicans giving them the most hope about the coming November elections. June 8With elections coming, Texas Republican leaders join the thin blue lineFreezing local taxes in Texas cities that cut police funding sounds better than it works.

(Photo by Nathan Howard)In addition to the COVID-19 pandemic, 2020 might go down as the year of social activism and protests. Here are some photos of social activism around the country in 2020. Protesters clash with Washington D.C. police at Black Lives Matter Plaza on Dec. 12. Photo by Michael M. Santiago (Getty Images)Demonstrators attend a Blue Lives Matter protest on July 25 in Chicago. Photo by Scott Olson (Getty Images)Protesters hold peace signs in support of Black Lives Matter on July 25 in Oakland, California.

The site of Middle Collegiate Church, which was devastated by a fire earlier in the month, is seen in New York on Dec. 14, 2020. The facade and the New York Liberty Bell are the only parts of the 128-year-old church that remain. Middle Collegiate had previously occupied two other locations in Manhattan beginning in 1729. Middle Collegiate has also welcomed 25 new parishioners since the fire, she said. “The church is made up of the congregation and what the people in the congregation believe and do,” said Slacik, who married her wife at the church.

Each year, Google creates a video reviewing the year, and in 2020, there was a lot to unpack. “And in a year that tested everyone around the world, ‘why’ was searched more than ever.”A few:Why is Democracy important? As a whole, we may not have found all the answers we were searching for, but we kept asking. The questions inspired joy, excitement, some made us cry, and some made us worry about where the human race could be heading. But if there’s anything this video highlights, it’s that we all kept the strength to continue, and we were not defeated -- we persevered.

(2020 Getty Images.) (2020 Getty Images)A man holds up a sign near a burning building during protests sparked by the death of George Floyd while in police custody on May 29 in Minneapolis. (2020 Getty Images)A girl holds her fist in the air while visiting the memorial for George Floyd on June 9 in Minneapolis. (2020 Getty Images)An injured man rests in a chair after a large explosion on Aug. 4 in Beirut, Lebanon. (2020 Getty Images)

FILE - In this July 11, 2020 file photo, Alycia Pascual-Pena, left, and Marley Ralph kneel while holding a Black Lives Matter banner during a protest in memory of Breonna Taylor, in Los Angeles. The document, labeled “restricted to law enforcement only,” is one of the few publicly available materials on its website. The law enforcement association, known by its nickname ILEETA, says in a mission statement that it's “committed to the reduction of law enforcement risk” and saving lives through high-quality training. The paper claims that those who participated in months of protests earlier this year in Portland and Seattle were “useful idiots” designed to give cover to the “hard-core, terrorist trained troops” that would follow. Goff, whose group works with departments to make policing “less racist and deadly,” said the document showed why it's important for critics to engage directly with local law enforcement to seek changes.

Back the Blue police supporters, left, stand next to Black Lives Matter protesters calling for defunding the police, Thursday, Nov. 5, 2020, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Paula Bronstein)

“Black Lives Matter saved us, because we had nobody,” said Jones. Now, BLM’s influence faces a test, as voters in Tuesday’s election consider candidates who endorsed or denounced the BLM movement amid a national reckoning on race. Enter Black Lives Matter. Across social media platforms, the Black Lives Matter movement boasts a following of millions. “Black Lives Matter,” as a slogan, elicited “All Lives Matter” and “Blue Lives Matter” responses from foes.

Is there a racial divide when it comes to voting wait times at precincts? In 2016, white voters waited an average of 10 minutes, according to a survey of voters conducted by the Bipartisan Policy Center and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In comparison, Black voters waited an average of 16 minutes and Latino voters were in line an average of 13 minutes, according to the survey. During the 2018 election, Black voters waited an average of 11.5 minutes, Latino voters an average of 11.7 minutes and white voters an average of 8.8 minutes, according to the Bipartisan Policy Center. In precincts with 90% or more non-white voters, the average wait time was 32.4 minutes and the median was 13.3 minutes.

The federal lawsuit alleges the U.S. government violated federal environmental law by deploying “an unprecedented amount of dangerous chemical weapons” without assessing their environmental impacts beforehand, as required by the National Environmental Policy Act. Oregon’s Department of Environmental Quality noted that “the repeated deployment of tear gas in downtown Portland has led to elevated levels of certain contaminants” in stormwater drains. But state officials said air-quality monitors aren’t located nearby and don’t measure tear gas exposure. Medical experts say there are few studies on health effects of tear gas. A European Union agency says it “is very toxic to aquatic life.”Figuring out precisely what tear gas components are in the environment is also a challenge.

A 24-year-old white man has been charged with ethnic intimidation and other counts for firing shots into the Hall's home just north of Detroit after the family put a Black Lives Matter sign in their front window. (AP Photo/Corey Williams)WARREN, Mich. – A white man accused of firing shots into the home of a Black suburban Detroit family who put a Black Lives Matter sign in their front window asked for forgiveness during a court hearing Thursday. Frederick told Judge Michael Chupa that he wanted Eddie and Candace Hall to forgive him, though he didn't specify what he did to make him seek their forgiveness. Outside, they discovered the swastika and found that someone had written “terrorist Black Lives Matter,” “not welcome” and a phrase containing an expletive on their pickup truck. A neighbor’s home surveillance video showed a masked and hooded man carrying what appears to be a handgun outside the Halls' home.

Black Lives Matter protesters march, Friday, Sept. 25, 2020, in Louisville. Breonna Taylor's family demanded Friday that Kentucky authorities release all body camera footage, police files and the transcripts of the grand jury hearings that led to no charges against police officers who killed the Black woman during a March drug raid at her apartment. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

TOLEDO, Ohio – An Atlanta-based activist and actor has been arrested for fraudulently utilizing a Black Lives Matter non-profit and posing as an organization leader, according to the Cleveland Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. “In June 2020, BLMGA’s social media page received approximately $36,493.80 in donations; in July 2020, it received approximately $370,933.69 in donations; and in August 2020, an additional $59,914.69 in donations. In early September 2020, Page used a personal bank account in his name to accept a transfer of funds from the BLMGA account to purchase a pistol and two rifles. Page posted numerous videos and showcased newly purchased items on live-streams on social media platforms, the FBI said. Related: FBI: Man arrested in San Antonio for providing support to ISIS, discussing possible terror attacks on U.S. soil

One of the cookie-decorating kits she offers has a Black Lives Matter theme. Other examples of homespun BLM merchandise include wine stoppers and even garden gnomes — objects more often associated with white suburbia. The yellow-and-black-clad gnome — a nod to the colors used on a Black Lives Matter website — wears a “BLM” hat. “Hopefully, someone who sees it is not offended.”He has since gotten a few orders for either Black Lives Matter gnomes or African American gnomes. Kate Mayer, 37, of Cincinnati, decided to offer a Black Lives Matter wine bottle stopper among her dozens of handmade wine stoppers.

SAN ANTONIO – A San Antonio teacher was fired for continuing to wear a Black Lives Matter face mask, even though it was against school policy, according to a CNN report. Lillian White, an art teacher at the Great Hearts Western Hills public charter school in San Antonio, started wearing the face mask once the school reopened for in-person classes. When she was wearing the mask, which read “Black Lives Matter” and Silence is Violence," students were not back on campus, CNN reports. White told CNN she wore the mask to “demonstrate her support for Black students and faculty,” and to also “advocate for an anti-racism action plan and a more diverse curriculum." On Sept. 5, White was told by the school her employment was terminated for her refusal to wear a different mask, CNN reports.

Protesters spend time in a church lot, Friday, Sept. 25, 2020, in Louisville. Many briefly ended up back at a downtown square that has been a focal point of protests. Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer had urged continued peaceful protests in an appearance at a news conference Saturday evening. Cameron said the other officers were not charged with Taylor’s killing because they acted to protect themselves. Since when does freedom and civil rights have a curfew?”___Associated Press writer Claire Galofaro contributed to this report from Louisville.

Over the summer, two Texas teachers faced disciplinary action from their schools, one for wearing a mask and the other for displaying a Black Lives Matter sign, among other signs, in her virtual classroom. Meanwhile in Ohio, a Taco Bell worker was fired for refusing to take off his Black Lives Matter mask; the same happened to a convenience store worker in New Jersey. Ma'kiya Congious, 19, lost her job at the fast-food chain shortly after her supervisor told her to remove her Black Lives Matter mask, when a white customer complained, said her attorney Jason Smith. In the complaint, Congious said she was let go by the fast-food restaurant because of her race and for having the words “Black Lives Matter” on her mask. I hope she sues,” said Ashton P. Woods, founder of the Houston chapter of Black Lives Matter, in a statement.

SAN ANTONIO – A San Antonio activist who has organized peaceful protests and made strides in registering demonstrators to vote said Gov. Greg Abbott’s proposals aimed at creating stiffer penalties for those who riot and loot at protests are proof that Black lives don’t matter to him. Reiffert said she understands how rioters and looters distract from the message of the Black Lives Matter movement. Reiffert believes new legislative proposals centered around current events need to address ways to help outraged communities heal and improve people’s trust in government systems. The governor’s ideas are currently legislative proposals, which means before they become actionable, the state House and Senate must pass the bills before the governor signs them off.

It's a scene that has unfolded in many other cities and small towns this year, the product of fear and conflict stoked by bogus posts on social media, right-wing news outlets and even some of the nation's most powerful leaders. A man suspected of fatally shooting a Trump supporter after a pro-Trump caravan in Portland, Oregon, last month had described himself in a social media post as “100% ANTIFA." They’re trying to blame all this stuff on antifa, and I’m like, ‘Who exactly is antifa? Adam Klein, an associate professor of communication studies at Pace University, analyzed social media posts by far-right extremists and antifascist activists leading up to the Charlottesville rally three years ago. “You don’t get the sense online that there is an organization as much as there are some prominent (social media) accounts associated with antifa,” he said.

SAN ANTONIO – Ron Reyes, a San Antonio Realtor, has been let go from Keller Williams Realty after posting controversial comments on Facebook earlier this week. WE ARE GONNA FOLLOW YOU TO THE HOLES YOU LIVE IN AND TAKE IT STRAIGHT TO YOU. Reyes is referring to an incident that occurred in downtown San Antonio Saturday when a man appeared to drive a Ford pickup truck, adorned with American and Trump 2020 flags, through a group of Black Lives Matter protesters yelling for them to "get the f**k out of the way, MySanAntonio.com reported. No injuries were reported due to the incident but police have said they are looking into the incident. There no longer appears to be an active social media page on Facebook for Reyes.

SAN ANTONIO – A woman is facing a charge of child abandonment after deputies say they found her children home alone while she attended a Black Lives Matter meeting. Deputies arrested Jourdyn Parks after they were called to the home in northeast Bexar County. When deputies asked them where their mother was, they say the older child told them that Parks was at a Black Lives Matter meeting and would be home soon. Deputies also said the child claimed that Parks would leave them alone often. Parks was taken into custody when she arrived home.

NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas The Mayor of New Braunfels, Rusty Brockman, has released a statement following an incident where a Black Lives Matter flag was dragged under a pickup truck during a parade supporting President Trumps reelection. The parade, organized by a group called Trump Train NB, took place over the weekend and was intended to be in support of our current president, his policies and his administration, according to Trump Train NB founder Steve Ceh. Officers with the New Braunfels Police Department have been present for demonstrations and protests in the city and will continue to provide a presence at events like Trump Train NB to help ensure the safety of participants, onlookers and bystanders, the mayor said. It has been my honor to work with citizens who are deeply committed to doing the right things to make New Braunfels a better place. We live here because this is the kind of community that we all want to live and raise our families in, Brockman said.

NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas – Outrage is erupting over an image that shows a Black Lives Matter flag being dragged under a pickup truck during a weekly parade supporting President Trump in New Braunfels. And members of the Martin Luther King Jr. Association in New Braunfels are now calling for action and accountability. And we certainly don’t want that to happen,” said Bishop Michael Franklin, president of the Martin Luther King Jr. Association. Ceh sent the following statement, denouncing the act:New Braunfels residents who felt threatened by the image say they are hoping for this type of accountability. Related: New Braunfels mayor responds after image surfaces of BLM flag dragged under truck at Trump rallyNew Braunfels Mayor Rusty Brockman on Wednesday sent the following statement:"In recent days, New Braunfels has experienced divisiveness.

NEW YORK The New York Police Department says it is trying to find a car that drove through a group of Black Lives Matter protesters blocking a street in Times Square. Video posted on social media shows the car jerking through the crowd Thursday night with its horn blaring as demonstrators scream and scramble out of the way. No one appeared to be seriously injured. The NYPD said on Twitter that the car wasnt a police vehicle.

Black Lives Matter protests, vigils and speeches marking the occasion are planned over three days and Trump supporters are planning another caravan rally. But smaller protests have continued, with groups of 100 to 200 people marching nightly. The protesters want city officials to slash the police budget and reallocate that money to Black residents and businesses. The tension reached a new high last weekend when the pro-Trump caravan motored into downtown, with some shooting paintballs and spraying bear repellent at Black Lives Matter protesters who tried to block the streets. Lost amid the escalating tensions are the voices of the citys Black residents, who are divided about the best way to keep up the momentum of the Black Lives Matter movement.

A protester holds a flag during a Black Lives Matter march Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2020, in Kenosha, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)If you need help with the Public File, call 210-351-1241.

Thousands are expected at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on Friday, where the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his historic I Have A Dream address, a vision of racial equality that remains elusive for millions of Americans. A livestream of the event is expected to begin at 10 a.m. and it will be livestreamed in this article. Weve got to create a different consciousness and a different climate in our nation, said Martin Luther King III, a son of the late civil rights icon and co-convener of the march. Following the commemorative rally that will include remarks from civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who represents several of the victims families, participants will march to the Martin Luther King, Jr. memorial in West Potomac Park, next to the National Mall, and then disperse.

I guess once that happened I knew that it might be a rocky road, but considering being put on leave? Roma school officials said that several parents and community members filed complaints to the district about the Black Lives Matter and LGBTQ posters. Thousands of parents, students and community members have expressed outrage at the school district for punishing Lifka. Scott Schneider, an Austin lawyer who specializes in education, said the school district was likely employing a scare tactic to discourage her from displaying the posters. I think thats baseless.Sign up for The Brief, The Texas Tribunes daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news.

The American Civil Liberties Union has filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020, challenging the legality of the actions taken by U.S. agents sent by President Donald Trump to subdue protests in Portland. The federal agents exceeded the limits of their authority, making illegal arrests and using tear gas, rubber bullets, pepper spray and other tactics to squelch the protests, the lawsuit alleges. A video of plaintiff and Navy veteran Christopher David's encounter with U.S. agents outside the Portland courthouse circulated widely on social media. It showed one agent hitting David with a baton and another dousing him in the face with pepper spray. Local police have arrested hundreds of people over the three months and federal agents arrested at least 94 people at the height of the demonstrations in July.

This time, the town is Kenosha, Wisconsin, which has about 100,000 people and sits just south of Milwaukee. The city is now trying to quell racial tension after police were caught on camera shooting 29-year-old Jacob Blake in the back multiple times. (2020 Getty Images)A car attempts to drive through a crowd of protesters on Aug. 24, 2020 in Kenosha. (2020 Getty Images)Demonstrators chant in front of a burning truck on Aug. 24, 2020 in Kenosha, Wisconsin. (2020 Getty Images)A man stands with a sign on Aug. 24, 2020 in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

A small group of Black Lives Matter protesters pray near the sight of a police shooting Monday, Aug. 24, 2020, in Kenosha, Wis. Kenosha police shot a man Sunday evening, setting off unrest in the city after a video appeared to show the officer firing several shots at close range into the man's back. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

The St. Louis couple who waved firearms at Black Lives Matter protesters outside their home in June will appear virtually at next week’s Republican National Convention to express their support for President Donald Trump. A Trump adviser on Monday confirmed the participation of Patricia and Mark McCloskey. The news was first reported by The Washington Post. The McCloskeys, who are white, have claimed they were protecting themselves from protesters marching on their private street, but they were each charged by a local prosecutor with one felony count of unlawful use of a weapon. White House decries gun charges for St. Louis coupleTrump has been critical of their treatment and has spoken out in defense of the couple.

Fashion designer Stella Jean talks during an interview with the Associated Press, in Rome, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2020. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)MILAN The only Black designer belonging to Italys influential fashion council is demanding a "long overdue cultural reform from her colleagues under the slogan: Do Black Lives Matter in Italy? A frequent refrain from Black creatives in Italian fashion is that they are often the only person of color in the workplace. Stella chafes at the Africa Hub, which promoted five brands during Milan Fashion Week in February. While she won't show in September, she has asked Capasa to host a Black Lives Matter event to kick off "the immediate launch of a long-overdue fashion cultural reform.''

In a recent interview with Billboard, country music icon Dolly Parton shared her support for the Black Lives Matter movement and protesters against police brutality and white supremacy. I understand people having to make themselves known and felt and seen, she said in an interview with Billboard. Theres such a thing as innocent ignorance, and so many of us are guilty of that, Parton said in the interview with Billboard. The Dixie Chicks also removed the word Dixie from their band name. The band is now known as Lady A.RELATED: The Dixie Chicks officially change their name to The ChicksFor the full Dolly Parton interview with Billboard, click here.

(Getty Images)Scenes from the Watts Riots in Los Angeles in 1965. (Getty Images)Scenes from the Watts Riots in Los Angeles in 1965. (Getty Images)Scenes from the Watts Riots in Los Angeles in 1965. (Getty Images)Scenes from the Watts Riots in Los Angeles in 1965. (Getty Images)Scenes from the Watts Riots in Los Angeles in 1965.

FILE - In this July 26, 2020, file photo, federal officers launch tear gas at demonstrators during a Black Lives Matter protest at the Mark O. Hatfield U.S. Courthouse in Portland, Ore. The Associated Press found that there is no government oversight of the manufacture and use of tear gas. Instead, the industry is left to regulate itself. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File)

SAN ANTONIO Next time you drive through downtown San Antonio, keep your eyes on the road to see the newly installed art mural. Surrounding Travis Park on East Pecan, Jefferson and Travis streets, youll notice yellow letters that make up San Antonio Poet Laureate, Andrea Vocab Sandersons words that celebrate dark skin. (KSAT)According to Vocab Sanderson, the poetry is meant to bring joy as well as amplify the 2020 Civil Rights Movements call for systematic reforms. This was my form of resistance for those who feel kind of like stuck in a place where they know they need a glimmer of something to get them through.Centro San Antonio said the location was strategically chosen in partnership with the City of San Antonio. For more information of Centro San Antonio and its initiatives, click here.

If that wasnt enough, the quality of play is so good that its almost like the NBA hadnt stopped playing for 4-1/2 months. In all honestly, its better than I was expecting ... talking about all the teams in general, San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich said. So, you see some of the talents these guys have are coming out.The numbers inside the bubble are ridiculous. Try 36 points again, 18 rebounds and eight assists in the Bucks loss to Houston on Sunday night. The Rockets beat the Mavs 153-149 in overtime Friday and then tried 61 3-pointers to tie an NBA regulation-game record Sunday.

Leshan Terry hold his son Leshan Terry, Jr., 6, during a Black Lives Matter protest at the Mark O. Hatfield United States Courthouse on Friday, July 31, 2020, in Portland, Ore. A group identified as Firefighters for Black Lives Matter gathered in a small park a couple miles west of the courthouse. A parade of cars with Black Lives Matter signs taped to their windows slowed traffic in the city. Since then, there have been no visible signs of any federal law enforcement presence outside the Mark O. Hatfield Federal Courthouse. And while thousands have marched and rallied peacefully, Portlands federal courthouse became a target for some protesters.

Marshals Service and Immigration and Customs Enforcement pulled back, troopers with the Oregon State Police took over. There were no visible signs of any law enforcement presence outside the Mark O. Hatfield Federal Courthouse, where a protest lasted into early Friday. Protests have roiled Portland for more than two months following the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. And while thousands have marched and rallied peacefully, Portland's federal courthouse became a target for some protesters. He apologized to peaceful demonstrators exposed to tear gas used by Portland police before federal officials arrived.

The NBA had a strong, powerful re-opening night message. Tonight we witnessed sober, powerfully moving and heartfelt demonstrations by our players of their commitment to the pursuit of justice," National Basketball Players Association Executive Director Michele Roberts tweeted. And all the players, all the coaches, are united in that fact and committed to do what we can do to effect long-term change.Many players warmed up wearing shirts that said Black Lives Matter." Thursday also marked the debut of new jerseys bearing messages that many players chose to have added, such as Equality" and Peace." NBA players have used their platforms both in the bubble and on social media to demand equality, to demand justice for Taylor.

For weeks Bayern Munich players had been showing solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement at games when Jerome Boateng was approached by teammates for a deeper conversation. Before our break, I talked actually to Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka about it, Boateng recalled on a video call. There are some situations of course that are really hard to help, but you can always help in a situation, the defender said. Now the German champions are preparing to take the field again in the Champions League next week, in the round of 16 against Chelsea where they lead 3-0 from the first leg in February. I think about racism you never can do enough as you see how bad it is still in the world right now," Boateng said.

During demonstrations the previous night federal agents repeatedly fired tear gas to break up rowdy protests that continued into the early morning Saturday. Authorities say six federal officers were injured and one person was arrested. Trump said he sent federal agents to Portland to halt the unrest but state and local officials say they are making the situation worse. There were demonstrations for police reform and against the increased presence of federal law enforcement in cities across the country Saturday. The Federal Protective Service had declared the gathering in Portland that began Friday evening an unlawful assembly.

SAN ANTONIO A University of Texas at San Antonio book club was created following the George Floyd and Black Lives Matter Protests this year. The idea of the book club came up during a UTSA online community gathering. Incoming sophomore Kennedy Caskey is part of the new book club. Through readings and discussions, the book club will address issues of racism throughout history with a focus on what they need to do now to change the course of racism. Related: UTSAs Food for Thought webinar tackles food insecurity in San Antonio

The New York Yankees and the Washington Nationals kneel while holding a black ribbon to honor Black Lives Matter before playing an opening day baseball game at Nationals Park, Thursday, July 23, 2020, in Washington. before the start of the first inning of an opening day baseball game at Nationals Park, Thursday, July 23, 2020, in Washington. Players from both clubs wore T-shirts saying Black Lives Matter during batting practice, and the letters BLM were stenciled into the back of the mound at the center of the diamond. In a poignant reference to the racial reckoning happening in the U.S., players and other members of both teams held a long black ribbon while standing spaced out along the two foul lines. That followed a series of videos: about Black Lives Matter, showing major league players such as New Yorks Aaron Judge and Washingtons Howie Kendrick; about the Nationals postseason run; about the COVID-19 outbreak.

Smoke fills the sky as federal officers try to disperse Black Lives Matter protesters on Wednesday, July 22, 2020, in Portland, Ore. A federal judge is hearing arguments on Oregon's request for a restraining order against federal agents who have been sent to the state's largest city to quell protests that have spiraled into nightly clashes between authorities and demonstrators. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

(AP Photo/Noah Berger)Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today:1. MAYOR OF PORTLAND TEAR GASSED BY FEDS Mayor Ted Wheeler, a Democrat, was tear gassed by U.S. government agents as he stood at a fence guarding a federal courthouse during another night of raging protests. WHAT VIRUS-WRACKED COUNTRIES HAVE IN COMMON When it comes to battling COVID-19, nations led by populist leaders like the U.S., Britain and Brazil are faring poorly compared to more traditional liberal democratic models. CHINA JOINS RACE TO RED PLANET China launches its most ambitious Mars mission yet in a bold attempt to join the U.S. in successfully landing a spacecraft on the red planet. (FINALLY) Four months after it was originally scheduled, Major League Baseballs opening day is here with the World Series champion Nationals hosting the New York Yankees.

New York Police Department officers attempt to detain a protester who defaced with black paint the Black Lives Matter mural outside of Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue Saturday, July 18, 2020, in the Manhattan borough of New York. The Black Lives Matter street mural in front of Manhattans Trump Tower has been defaced with paint for the third time in a week. In the latest incident, two women were arrested around 3 p.m. Saturday after police said they poured black paint on the block-long mural outside Trump Tower on Manhattans chic Fifth Avenue. Meanwhile, police are continuing to look for a man in black shorts and a dark blue T-shirt who was seen splashing red paint on the Black Lives Matter mural around noon on Monday. Mayor Bill de Blasio helped paint the mural in front of President Donald Trumps namesake tower last week.

A Black Lives Matter billboard is seen next to a Confederate flag in Pittsboro, N.C., Thursday, July 16, 2020. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)A Black Lives Matter sign now fills a billboard next to a big Confederate flag that greets people coming into a small town outside Raleigh, thrilling some community organizers and angering the property owner. Friends called and asked if they could put a Confederate flag on my property," White said. He says they did it because the county commissioners had removed the Confederate statue.White has leased the billboard to Lamar Advertising, which sent representatives to notify him before putting up the Black Lives Matter sign on it. They wanted to know how I would react to it, and I told them I would not want a Black Lives Matter sign on that billboard, he said.

(AP Photo/Matt Dunham)LONDON An artist has erected a statue of a Black Lives Matter protester atop the plinth in the English city of Bristol once occupied by the toppled statue of a slave trader. Marc Quinn created the likeness of Jen Reid, a protester photographed standing on the plinth after demonstrators pulled down the statue of Edward Colston and dumped it in Bristols harbor on June 7. The statue, titled A Surge of Power (Jen Reid) was erected before dawn on Wednesday without approval from city officials. Colston was a 17th-century trader who made a fortune transporting enslaved Africans across the Atlantic to the Americas. Now were crystallizing it.Reid told The Guardian newspaper that the new statue was incredible and would help continue the conversation.City authorities fished the Colston statue out of the harbor and say it will be placed in a museum, along with placards from the Black Lives Matter demonstration.

Crystal Palace's Wilfried Zaha takes a knee in support of the Black Lives Matter movement before the English Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Crystal Palace at Villa Park in Birmingham, England, Sunday, July 12, 2020. (Tim Keeton/Pool Photo via AP)LONDON A 12-year-old boy was arrested by police after Crystal Palace player Wilfried Zaha highlighted racist abuse he received ahead of Sunday's Premier League match at Aston Villa. The Premier League has launched a reporting system to allow players to report abuse that can be followed up by authorities. This behavior is completely unacceptable and the Premier League stands alongside Wilfried Zaha in opposing this, and discrimination in any form," the league said in a statement. We will continue to support players, managers, coaches and their family members who receive serious discriminatory online abuse."

Mayor Bill de Blasio, third from left, participates in painting Black Lives Matter on Fifth Avenue in front of Trump Tower, Thursday, July 9, 2020, in New York. Al Sharpton as he helped paint the racial justice rallying cry in giant yellow letters on Fifth Avenue in front of Trump Tower. Our streets!When we say Black Lives Matter, there is no more American statement, there is no more patriotic statement because there is no America without Black America, de Blasio said. We are acknowledging the truth of ourselves as Americans by saying Black Lives Matter. We are righting a wrong.The mayor announced the plan to paint Black Lives Matter in front of Trump Tower last month after earlier saying the slogan would be painted on streets at several locations around the city. Trump lived in Trump Tower before he took office as president but has spent little time there since.

Work on another Black Lives Matter mural in New York City started on Thursday -- this one situated directly in front of Trump Tower in midtown Manhattan. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said the new mural will send a message that "Black lives, in fact, do matter," CBS New York reports. "We are acknowledging the truth of ourselves as Americans by saying 'Black Lives Matter.' The Black Lives Matter movement was started in 2013 after the acquittal of George Zimmerman for the death of Trayvon Martin. RELATED CONTENT:D.C. Paints 'Black Lives Matter' on Street Leading to White HouseVanessa Bryant Appreciates Kobe Murals Being 'Saved' Amid Protests15 Powerful Songs That Embody and Support Black Lives Matter Movement

SAN ANTONIO Two San Antonio City Council members were the recipients of anger for their positions over the Black Lives Matter movement and other recent controversial issues that have recently surfaced during city meetings. I believe that Black lives matter. I believed Black lives mattered before I ever heard the term Black lives matter. I will continue to believe Black lives matter. District 10 Councilman Clayton Perry also sparked some anger from people during that June meeting, when he did not raise his fist in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement.

Will Smith is addressing the Black Lives Matter movement and getting candid about his own experiences facing prejudice and racism. Smith was born in West Philadelphia in 1968, four years before Frank Rizzo became mayor and began to push his anti-desegregation platform. "I've been called n**ger by the cops in Philly on more than 10 occasions," Smith recalled. Which is why he's been excited to see the universality of the Black Lives Matter protests and how they've garnered the attention and consideration of the entire world. RELATED CONTENT:Black Lives Matter: Where to Donate to Victims' Families and MoreJanelle Mone Wants Black Lives Matter Allies to Have 'Tough' ConvosWill Smith's Production Company Sued Over 'King Richard' Film

Keke Palmer is continuing to be outspoken about her beliefs and the issues that are important to her, including when it comes to President Donald Trump. "It was so euphoric," Palmer tells the magazine of how she felt during the powerful moment. "He's inciting a race war," Palmer says of the president. I have to find a way to let my voice be heard and to let people know that I'm not with this.'" Palmer isn't the only celebrity who has directly denounced Trump's response to protestors and the Black Lives Matter movement.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are continuing to learn about the Black Lives Matter movement. "We cant deny or ignore the fact that all of us have been brought up and educated to see the world differently," Harry said. Meghan went on to acknowledge that racism and unconscious bias "lies and hides and thrives" not just in big moments, but moreso in the quiet ones. It wasn't that this wasn't always happening, it's that it's come to a head at time where people just said, 'Enough.'" RELATED CONTENT:How Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Are Celebrating First 4th of JulyMeghan Markle Speaks With 18-Year-Old Victim of an Alleged Hate CrimeMeghan Markle & Prince Harry Sign With Agency for Speaking Engagements

World champion Lewis Hamilton, the only black driver in F1, wore a T-shirt with Black Lives Matter on the front and End Racism on the back. Hamilton attended a Black Lives Matter march in London and is setting up a commission to increase diversity in motorsport. Soccer players on fields in England and Germany have taken the knee together simultaneously before games in support of the Black Lives Matter movement, and F1 drivers discussed what they should do during a drivers briefing on Friday evening. Mercedes is competing in an all-black car instead of the usual silver, while Hamilton and Bottas have End Racism written on the cars halo. Hamilton praised some drivers for speaking out against racism, but he still feels others need to do more and he raised that in their briefing.

MILWAUKEE Harley-Davidson said it is pulling its Facebook ads for the month of July and severing ties with a Tennessee dealership whose owner was accused of posting racist comments on social media disparaging Black Lives Matter protesters. The post was allegedly made on the Facebook page of Abernathy's Cycles, a Union City, Tennessee, motorcycle and ATV dealership, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported Thursday. The derogatory nature of the comment in no way aligns with my personal beliefs or that of Harley-Davidson Motor Co. Racism, hate or intolerance have no place in the Harley-Davidson community or anywhere in person or online. More than 500 companies that officially kicked off an advertising boycott Wednesday intended to pressure Facebook into taking a stronger stand against hate speech.

Carl Reiner was showing his solidarity for the Black Lives Matter not long before his death. In pics posted to Twitter by Reiner's manager, George Shapiro, the Hollywood legend and his longtime best friend, Mel Brooks, wore matching Black Lives Matter T-shirts. In one photo, Reiner and Brooks are lying in bed with Reiner's daughter, Annie, who is also wearing a BLM shirt, while flashing big smiles. MY HEROS CARL REINER ANNIE REINER & MEL BROOKS pic.twitter.com/yimJbwoqCU George Shapiro (@georgeshapiro) June 28, 2020HAPPY BIRTHDAY MEL BROOKS, 94 & LOVING LIFE pic.twitter.com/jOBLDBC61k George Shapiro (@georgeshapiro) June 28, 2020In a 2016 interview with ET, Reiner expressed how important it was that the Dick Van Dyke Show cast Black people on the sitcom. Check out more of ET's exclusive interview with the Hollywood legend where he reminisces about his time on The Dick Van Dkye Show.

The White House, however, trumpeted the administration's continuing support of law officers in the now subsiding protests. If there was a shred of evidence, the administration would have presented fact witnesses to support this gaslighting, Rep. Jared Huffman, a California Democrat, said. The clearing of Lafayette Square is the subject of an Interior Department inspector-generals review and at least one lawsuit brought by those wounded. At a separate briefing Monday, a House Oversight subcommittee addressed the treatment of protesters and journalists at demonstrations across the country, including Lafayette Square. The administration has denied that authorities forced protesters from the square that day so Trump could stage a law-and-order photo op nearby, clinching an upheld Bible.

SAN ANTONIO – The outgoing Metropolitan Health Director in San Antonio wants a person of color to replace her, she wrote in her resignation letter. “These are very extraordinary and unpredictable times and for many families, it’s even been a bit traumatizing,” Emerick wrote. Emerick was preceded by Dr. Colleen Bridger, who is now an assistant city manager in San Antonio, though Bridger also has plans to resign in July. “While staff, community members and residents, have warmly embraced me, it’s time for the City of San Antonio to appoint a person of color to lead one of the largest public health departments in the country,” Emerick wrote. Emerick wrote that her last day on the job will be July 3.

San Antonio Almost all of the San Antonio City Council members raised fists in solidarity with police reform advocates at a meeting Thursday. And city council, I am calling on you to raise a fist or take a knee if you stand in solidarity with us today.Almost all of the council members could be seen raising their fists during the the moment of silence. If you truly cared and wanted to make a change, you would put together some things that would make a change now, impact now, Pharoah Clark told council members. The council members were considering a resolution outlining priorities for discussions with the San Antonio Police Officer Association for the next union contract. Some of the speakers criticized the council for the upcoming break, though council members and the mayor said that doesnt mean they are going anywhere.