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Carl B. Stokes, the first Black mayor of Cleveland and of a major American city By Kathy Wray Coleman, editor, associate publisher CLEVELAND, Ohio-  The city of Cleveland officially recognized former mayor Carl B. Stokes on Mon., June 30, 2025 as the city's first Black mayor, naming it Carl B. Stokes Day, Stokes the first Black mayor of Cleveland and of a major American city.  June 30 is now Carl B. Stokes Day, and his life and legacy will be celebrated annually in Cleveland.  Current mayor Justin Bibb, who led Monday's event, pointed to the portrait of Stokes during a ceremony held in the Rotunda at City Hall that included family members of Stokes, community affiliates, and elected officials.  Bibb is Cleveland' fourth Black mayor, behind Frank Jackson, his immediate predecessor, Michael R. White, and Stokes, the city's 51st mayor who won office in 1967 when Cleveland, a majority Black major American city, was largely White. All of Cleveland's Black mayors were Dem...

CLEVELAND, Ohio- Nationwide "Good Trouble" rallies are planned for Thurs., July 17, 2025  to commemorate the legacy and the death date of the late Congressman John Lewis and Black-led groups of Cleveland, Ohio say Black activists and organizers are being shut out by White-led suburban groups with help from the mainstream media and others. The activists say this goes against the unity standard set by Lewis, a revered and respected congressman and Civil Rights advocate from Atlanta, Georgia who died on July 17, 2020. Lewis coined the term "Good Trouble" during his time in Congress. "We call for a unified, diverse, and inclusive coalition for any "Good Trouble" rallies in Cleveland, a largely Black major American city," said Black activist and organizer Kathy Wray Coleman, who leads the Cleveland-based groups Women's March Cleveland and Imperial Women Coalition, which fight for women's rights and against violence against women.  Activist Alf...

Ohio 13th Congressional District Congresswoman Emilia Sykes (D-13), an Akron Democrat Rep. Emilia Sykes Speaks on House Floor on June 24, 2025: "Dobbs Decision Set Wave of Chaos, Cruelty, and Control in Motion"    WATCH : Rep. Sykes' Full Remarks from the Floor of the United States House of Representatives   WASHINGTON, D.C.  — Tuesday, June 24, 2025 marked the third anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s June 24, 2022 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade per its controversial Dobbs decision. On this historic and tragic day three years ago, the nation's high court stripped women of federal protection for abortion access and gave respective states the authority to legislate abortion and reproductive rights. Ohio voters, in November of 2023, passed an Issue 1 referendum that enshrined the legal right to abortion in the Ohio Constitution, but proponents of Issue 1 fear that state and national measures are underway to undermine Issue 1 and that a national abortion ban is po...

Protesters rally and march on June 21, 2025 in Cleveland, the weekend before the June 24, 2025 third anniversary of the fall of Roe v Wade, a 1973 landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision that was reversed by the Supreme Court on June 24, 2022 via its Dobbs decision CLEVELAND, Ohio -Women's March Cleveland hosted its "Third Anniversary of Roe Reversal March and Leave Women Alone Rally" on Sat., June 21, 2025 with a noon rally on the steps of City Hall in downtown Cleveland and a march through city streets. About 500 people were in attendance Organizers said the event was a rally and march for reproductive and Civil Rights and an effort to continue the fight for choice for women in Cleveland and Northeast Ohio, including Black women. "We thank all who participated in this annual event," said Women's March Cleveland head organizer Kathy Wray Coleman, a seasoned Black Cleveland activist and community organizer who leads Women's March Cleveland. "The fall o...

Above: Women's March Cleveland on Oct. 2, 2021 at a march from Market Square Park in Cleveland that drew some 2,500 people. Photo by David Petkiewicz of Cleveland.com CLEVELAND, Ohio -Women's March Cleveland will host its "Third Anniversary of Roe Reversal March and Leave Women Alone Rally" on Sat., June 21, 2025 with a noon rally and 1 pm march from the steps of City Hall in downtown Cleveland. Facebook event page link:  https://www.facebook.com/event.. Organizers say the event is a rally and mass march for reproductive and Civil Rights and an effort to continue the fight for choice for women in Cleveland and Northeast Ohio, including Black women. "We must keep up the fight for Civil Rights for women and the fight for Black and other women to have a choice to decide what to do with their bodies," said Women's March Cleveland head organizer Kathy Wray Coleman, a seasoned Black Cleveland activist and community organizer who leads Women's March Clevela...

Protesters rally in downtown Cleveland, Ohio on Sat., June 14, 2025 as part of "No Kings" rallies and marches, a national day of action against President Donald Trump's agenda Clevelandurbannews.com and   Kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com Breaking and quality news straight out of Cleveland, Ohio from Ohio's Black digital news leader Staff article CLEVELAND, Ohio- "No Kings"  ra llies and marches were held in Washington, D.C. and across the country on Sat., June 14, 2025 to protest President Donald Trump's policy agenda, nationwide events that coincided with the president's $45 million military parade held in D.C. Saturday evening. It was notably the president's 79th birthday. The president's parade is to commemorate 250 years of service by the U.S. Army and to showcase the nation's military, though his critics say he is merely grandstanding and wasting taxpayer money on unnecessary events. Hundreds of “No Kings” demonstrations were plan...

Clevelandurbannews.com and   Kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com By Kathy Wray Coleman, editor, associate publisher EDITOR'S NOTE: Since the publication of the article below on Sun., June 8, 2025, President Donald Trump has begun to mobilize some 700 U.S. Marines to join the more than 2000 members of the National Guard that he has deployed to Los Angeles, California in the midst of ongoing protests there LOS ANGELES, California - Protests in Los Angeles, California that began last week over President Donald Trump's immigration policies have reached the third day, with the president deploying more than 2,000 members of the federal National Guard to the city to quell what he says are violent outbursts and rioting in America's second largest city. Protesters, however, claim they are not rioting but simply exercising their free speech rights and the right to peacefully assemble. A local police convoy has stopped traffic on the major freeway in downtown LA as the protest gains...

Clevelandurbannews.com and Kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com Staff article CLEVELAND, Ohio -   Pride in the CLE, an annual parade and festival held in downtown Cleveland by the Greater Cleveland LGBTQ+ Center, stepped off on Sat., June 7, 2025,  with a morning parade followed by a festival at Public Square. It was the 50th anniversary of the existence of the Greater Cleveland LGBT+ Center. Thousands came out to the popular event, including the Cleveland Pride Marching Band, dignitaries, community organizations, activists, vendors, and a host of local mainstream and other media. This year's event highlighted anti-LGBTQ+ legislation coming out of Washington, D.C. under President Donald Trump. The festivities took place from 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. and are part of month-long Pride activities taking place across Northeast Ohio. Clevelandurbannews.com and Kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com ,   the most read Black digital newspaper and blog in Ohio and in the Midwest T el: (216) ...

                               Former East Cleveland mayor Brandon King and former East Cleveland councilman Ernest Smith Clevelandurbannews.com and   Kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com By Kathy Wray Coleman, editor, associate publisher EAST CLEVELAND, Ohio - A Cuyahoga County jury on Thursday found suspended East Cleveland mayor Brandon King and former councilman Ernest Smith guilty of public corruption charges.  The trial followed months of legal manoeuvrings and claims of corruption by judges and prosecutors from the defense team. East Cleveland is a neighboring Black suburb of Cleveland of some 15,000 residents, and one of the poorest cities in the nation. King, 57, was convicted of three fourth-degree felonies – theft in office and two counts of having an unlawful interest in a public contract – as well as misdemeanor offenses. He faces up to 18 months in prison on the felony convictions alo...