Thousands of people across the country rallied in solidarity to support black trans-rights, Sunday.  

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Black transgender activist Raquel Willis explained the movement to CNN in an interview: "This collective of folks is particularly powerful because it's modeling what is possible when you do have allies and folks who do care and also want to make sure that they're building something that speaks to the hearts of the actual people that they're representing," she said. "So often that doesn't happen." 

Willis led the crowd in New York City in a chant during the protest saying "I believe in my power," while the crowd echoed the words back. "I believe in your power. I believe in our power. I believe in black trans power."

Melania Brown, the sister of Layleen Xtravaganza Cubilette-Polanco, a black transgender inmate at Rikers Island who died last year, spoke to the same crowd as well.

"Black trans lives matter," she said. "My sister's life mattered. All of the loved ones we have lost, all of these beautiful girls that we have lost. There lives matter. We have to protect them."

"We can't just talk about trans people when they're dying," Eliel Cruz, one of the co-organizers of the event, explained to CNN. "But what are we doing actively and intentionally to create space for them to be safe and well?"

The Fulton County, Georgia, Medical Examiner’s Office has listed the manner of death for Rayshard Brooks as a homicide, confirming he died as a result of gunshot wounds to the back.

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“[Brooks] did not seem to present any kind of threat to anyone, and so the fact that it would escalate to his death just seems unreasonable,” DA Paul Howard told CNN’s Fredricka Whitfield on Sunday. “It just seems like this is not the kind of conversation and incident that should have led to someone’s death.”

Brooks, 27, died after being shot by a police officer in a Wendy’s parking lot, Friday night. While being arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence, Brooks resisted arrest by grabbing an officers taser and sprinting away. He was then fatally shot in the back.

“Today, members of my staff had the unfortunate duty of witnessing the autopsy of Mr. Brooks as part of our continued investigation,” Howard said. “Because this is a homicide investigation, there are several technical requirements that must be met before we are able to reach a decision. That includes the confirmation of the ballistics involved and obtaining a preliminary report from the Medical Examiner.”

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New York Governor Andrew Cuomo says the Christopher Columbus statue in New York City should not be taken down, as it is a symbol of Italian American appreciation.

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Cuomo was asked about the statue, which is located at Columbus Circle, during a press conference, Thursday. A reporter asked Cuomo is if was "time for" the statue "to go."

"I understand the dialogue that has been going on for a number of years. The Christopher Columbus statue, in some ways, represents the Italian American legacy in this country. I understand the feelings about Christopher Columbus and some of his acts, which nobody would support," said Cuomo. "But the statue has come to represent and signify appreciation for the Italian American contribution to New York. For that reason, I support it."

Cuomo is of Italian descent.

Statues of historical figures with racist ideology across the globe have been taken down or vandalized by protesters in recent weeks. In Richmond, V.A., protesters threw a Columbus statue into the lake in the city’s Byrd Park. In Boston, a similar statue was decapitated. 

Similarly, the upcoming Columbus Day holiday has been renamed Indigenous People’s Day in several states, in response to the brutality of Columbus' actions.

Starbucks is reversing its ban on employees wearing independent Black Lives Matter clothing while working. “Just be you,” the COO and vice president for inclusion and diversity of Starbucks said together in a new letter to partners, Friday.

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“As we talked about earlier this week, we’re designing new t-shirts with the graphic below to demonstrate our allyship and show we stand together in unity,” wrote Roz Brewer, the COO of Starbucks, and Zing Shaw, Starbucks’ vice president for inclusion and diversity. “Until these arrive, we’ve heard you want to show your support, so just be you. Wear your BLM pin or t-shirt. We are so proud of your passionate support of our common humanity. We trust you to do what’s right while never forgetting Starbucks is a welcoming third place where all are treated with dignity and respect.”

“Together, we’re saying: Black Lives Matter and it’s going to take ALL of us, working together, to affect change,” the letter continues. “That means using our voice to vote in our elections, volunteering in our black communities, joining local peaceful protests, ensuring our diverse slates of job candidates translate into diverse hires, mentoring and sponsoring partners of color so they can reach their maximum potential and taking steps to build greater understanding with empathy.”

Brewer and Shaw have told employees to expect more guidance on June 15.

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Today is Donald Trump's 74th birthday, but rather than celebrate, many Twitter users are instead taking today to make the point that ALL birthdays matter, to prove to him—and every All Lives Matter believer—just how stupid that saying is. The hashtag #AllBirthdaysMatter began trending on Sunday (June 14th) in response to the POTUS turning 74, in an effort to steer the attention away from his birthday festivities by focusing on every person's birthday, the same way the All Lives Matter crowd does to the Black Lives Matter movement.

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Most of the tweets that include the hashtag are in some way condemning Trump for the abhorred (although, unsurprising) way he's handled the aftermath of George Floyd's murder and the resurgence of the BLM movement in the public consciousness. Others decided to shine the spotlight on Barack Obama instead, some even declaring June 14th to be Obama Day. Many users simply took the opportunity to amplify and honour the lives of the many Black people who have been killed at the hands of police.

The Wendy's fast food restaurant where 27-year-old Rayshard Brooks was killed is engulfed in flames, after protesters set fire to the building Saturday night. Footage of the burning restaurant can be found below.

Mike Hewitt / Getty Images

Brooks was killed Friday night after an altercation with a police officer in Atlanta. While resisting arrest, Brooks wrestled a taser away from one of his arresting officers and began to flee. "The fight started when they tried to make an arrest ... after that he took a taser and took off," an eyewitness said. The officer then shot his firearm at Brooks.

Brooks was rushed to the hospital, where he died soon after.

Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms has condemned the actions of the officer who shot Brooks saying,   "There is a clear distinction between what you can do and what you should do."

"I do not believe this was a justified use of deadly force," she added.

Atlanta Police Chief Erika Shields has resigned from her position. "APD has my full support, and Mayor Bottoms has my support on the future direction of this department. I have faith in the Mayor, and it is time for the city to move forward and build trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve," she said.

Former NYPD spokesman and detective Michael DeBonis admits “we killed Eric Garner,” in a lengthy new post on Instagram.

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“In writing this post I’m fully aware that some of my cop friends may call me a traitor, a hypocrite or even unfollow me,” DeBonis wrote. “I’m ok with that because if you don’t agree with what I’m about to say then we definitely don’t see eye to eye when it comes to policing.”

DeBonis then says Garner’s arrest “was legal, the initial forced [sic] used to stop him from resisting was fine, but in the end … WE PUNISHED HIM FOR RESISTING ARREST … WE WATCHED HIM DIE … WE DIDN’T EVEN SIT HIM UP AND RENDER HIM BASIC AID.”

He adds, “It was a horrible injustice that is forever a part of our history. … I’m a hypocrite for saying this now, because I didn’t say it publicly then, but WE ALL need to hold ourselves accountable.”

DeBonis ends his post by ensuring his followers know he stills supports the police: “The Police are NOT the enemy … One bad cop doesn’t define who we are or what we have done for this city … WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO HELP THESE COMMUNITIES?”

Garner died on July 17, 2014, after being put in a chokehold by the NYPD.

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Killer Mike has responded to the death of Rayshard Brooks on Instagram, saying he will continue to support grassroots organizations who are working to end police killings. 

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“#RayshardBrooks should be alive this morning,” Killer Mike begins his Instagram post. “He should be waking up (hungover or drunk in the tank depending on whether he was apprehended) and not dead. If I’m the Wendy’s worker who called the police, I feel like shit this morning because a call for a man sleeping in a car should not have ended with his killing. If I’m the people with the child in the car, I feel helpless and hurt. If I’m that child, I’m scared shitless of anyone with a uniform and a gun. If I’m the angry white or black guy who was filming and saying, ‘I watched y’all for twenty minutes,’ I’m wondering what else I could have done? I am mad as hell and I am saddened beyond consolation. At a minimum, we need a law that prevents shooting a person while they’re fleeing. If there is no weapon, fleeing from an officer should be a foot chase and radio race. If a person gets away, they get away. As I have said before, I will continue to look to and support grassroots organizations who are doing the work, day in and day out. If there are groups who you know are organizing to end police killings, @ them so we can follow and support.”

Brooks died Friday night after a confrontation with police in a Wendy’s parking lot. The Atlanta police chief has since stepped down.

“Let us Continue to #PlotPlanStrategizeOrganizeMobilize! If you are in ATL and want to know who is doing the work already brother Kalonji Changa (@whohetalkingto) is. His org is Commumitymovementbuilders.org. A true organizer he ain’t polite! He is effective! His org does the work. Please @ others that do as well!,” Killer Mike continued.

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Michael Flor, the longest-hospitalized COVID-19 patient, has survived the illness, but the cost of his life comes with an unfathomable price tag. Flor is facing hospital bills totaling 181 pages and $1.1 million in costs. 

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“I opened it and said ‘holy [bleep]!’ “ Flor, 70, told The Seattle Times.

He stayed in Swedish Medical Center in Issaquah for 62 days. “He was as sick as you can get, with basically every organ system shutting down,” Dr. Anne Lipke, a Swedish pulmonary and critical-care physician, says of Flor.

At one point during his stay, he told his wife “You gotta get me out of here, we can’t afford this.”

Luckily for Flor, he’s on Medicare and much of the bill will be covered. Congress has also granted $100 billion to help hospitals and insurance companies during the pandemic. Without these safety nets in place, Flor could be facing life-crippling debt.

“I feel guilty about surviving,” he said. “There’s a sense of ‘why me?’ Why did I deserve all this? Looking at the incredible cost of it all definitely adds to that survivor’s guilt.”

“It was a million bucks to save my life, and of course I’d say that’s money well-spent,” he said. “But I also know I might be the only one saying that.”

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If and when the NBA season comes to a close, Ja Morant will probably end up walking away with rookie of the year honors. He has been phenomenal for the Memphis Grizzlies and his talents have helped turn the Grizzlies into a playoff team. Prior to this season, Morant played college basketball for Murray State which is located in Kentucky. Morant loved his time in Murray, and now, he is trying to create some valuable social change in the area.

Recently, Morant sent a letter to a judge in Kentucky asking for a Confederate statue in downtown Murray to be removed. As Morant notes, the Confederacy was quite racist and while the statue reminds us of history, it's a history that is shrouded in hate, and ultimately, it makes many uncomfortable.