Hundreds gather in Sonora to honor Martin Luther King Jr.

Laurie Sylwester / courtesy Diane Magid presents Jay Bell with the Humanitarian Award in recognition of a life of service to economic justice and a commitment to civil rights and Dr. King's ideals. Laurie Sylwester / courtesy photo Diane Magid presents Sylvia Alden Roberts with the Humanitarian Award in recognition of a life of service to economic justice and a commitment to civil rights and Dr. King's ideals.

NAACP head calls Sessions ‘unfit’ for attorney general

The head of one of the largest African-American civil rights organization told Congress on Wednesday that Sen. Jeff Sessions is "unfit to serve" as attorney general as a 1986 letter from the widow of Martin Luther King Jr., surfaced strongly expressing opposition to the Alabama senator. Cornell Brooks, the head of the NAACP, said the organization "firmly believes" that Sessions is unfit to serve as attorney general in the incoming Trump administration.

Republicans Propose Bill To Impose Fines For Live-Streaming From House Floor

Likely in response to the 25-hour sit-in staged by Democrats earlier in 2016, protesting the lack of gun reform, House Speaker Paul Ryan has proposed new fines and ethics violations for House members that take photo and video from the floor of the chamber. Digital Trends reports: According to Bloomberg , the first violation will net violators a $500 fine, which will be deducted from member's paychecks.

Rep. John Lewis campaigns for Gottheimer as 5th District race heats up

With just two weeks to go before Election Day, the campaign for New Jersey's 5th District ratcheted up Tuesday with an appearance from a civil rights icon, food-policy advocates canvassing in Maywood, and nearly $1 million in new advertising announced. More than 100 people gathered at the Logan Family Life Center on Tuesday for a campaign rally on behalf of Josh Gottheimer, the Democrat running in a tight race against incumbent Scott Garrett.

Larry Wilmore to speak at Harvard

Larry Wilmore , whose Comedy Central show was canceled over the summer, has been chosen to deliver the Theodore H. White Lecture on Press and Politics at Harvard Nov. 15. He's in good company: Past lecturers have included Ben Bradlee , Judy Woodruff , William F. Buckley Jr. , Rachel Maddow , former senator Alan K. Simpson of Wyoming, and Representative John Lewis . Prior to "The Nightly Show With Larry Wilmore," Wilmore was "Senior Black Correspondent" on "The Daily Show With Jon Stewart ," and was creator, writer, and executive producer of "The Bernie Mac Show," which earned him an Emmy Award and a Peabody Award.

New York Times’ Huetteman Delivers Anti-Conservative Mockery in Three Acts

As the country heads into an election where control of both Congress and the White House hangs in the balance, reporter Emmarie Huetteman wrote a " three act " comedy in loosey-goosey style mocking conservatives, for Friday's New York Times : " What the House Spends Time On, Before Its Recess ." Paul Ryan can't find his agenda, "Democrats are thrilled" at the prospect of being penalized for June's sit-in, and a defeated conservative representative is compared to a "recalcitrant student trashing the principal's office after he learns he's been expelled."

Obama: African-American museum tells ‘story of all of us’

President Barack Obama on Friday celebrated the pending opening of the Smithsonian's new African-American museum and said the institution, decades in the making, is a powerful place because it tells "the story of all of us," not just the famous. Obama also said he hoped the museum would help people bridge divides that were re-exposed by the latest fatal, police-involved shootings of black men.

American Canyon woman leads trip to new African American Smithsonian museum

Brenda Knight of American Canyon has been to Washington, D.C. many times, but the trip planned for next month is special, she said. The former Napa College Trustee, professional event planner and founder of the Ladies In Red women's empowerment group, is leading 107 group members on a trip early next month to the National Museum of African American History and Culture at the Smithsonian Institution.

Williams: Dems unified, GOP isn’t

Recently returned from the Democratic Nation convention in Philadelphia, State Rep. Al Williams, D-Midway, said the political event was "absolutely fantastic." Recently returned from the Democratic Nation convention in Philadelphia, State Rep. Al Williams, D-Midway, said the political event was "absolutely fantastic."

Scott, Clyburn to co-host panel with Charleston shooting families at Capitol

Sen. Tim Scott and Rep. Jim Clyburn will co-host a panel discussion on racial reconciliation at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday evening, joining survivors and family members of victims of the Charleston shooting a year ago. Scott, South Carolina's junior Republican Senator and Clyburn, the third-ranking House Democrat, will speak about the bipartisan civil rights pilgrimage they led to South Carolina in March with the Washington-based nonprofit Faith and Politics Institute.

Loretta Lynch testifies before lawmakers over Clinton email probe

Attorney General Loretta Lynch defended her decision in front of the House Judiciary Committee to close the Hillary Clinton email investigation without criminal charges, insisting the Justice Department had no reason to reject the unanimous recommendation of FBI investigators. Two days after recommending Hillary Clinton not be prosecuted for her use of a private email server, FBI Director James Comey testifies before the House Oversight Committee on the FBI's investigation into the case, and the decision to not recommend criminal charges against her.

‘America is weeping’: Taking stock after 3 days of tragedy

Three tumultuous days have brought echoes of decades past and made clear a public that elected a black president hasn't reconciled its fractured history with race, that a country that lived through unrest and assassinations in the 1960s and 1970s still bubbles with resentment and rage, and that bloody images of violent tragedy aren't going away. "America is weeping," said Rep. G.K. Butterfield, head of the Congressional Black Caucus, reflecting an entire nation's mounting anger, tension and despair.

Dems, GOP Seem on Collision Course Over Gun, Terror Bills

House Democrats and Republicans seem just as destined for an election-season clash over guns as they did before a Democratic sit-in on the chamber's floor ushered in lawmakers' July 4 recess two weeks ago. Nearly a month after the Orlando mass-shooting catapulted the issue back onto the nation's radar, the two parties were meeting separately Wednesday to map strategy.