US NATIONAL NEWS
Reps. Frost and Wilson Call on President Biden to Pardon Civil Rights Leader, Nobel Peace Prize Nominee Desmond Meade
Published
3 years agoon
WASHINGTON DC — In a joint letter, Congressman Maxwell Alejandro Frost (FL-10) and Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24) are urging President Biden to pardon Nobel Peace Prize nominee and Florida Rights Restoration Coalition (FRRC) leader Desmond Meade.
“One of the greatest honors of my life was Organizing to help pass Amendment 4, a movement that Desmond Meade started. Desmond’s life’s work is a powerful reminder of the importance of forgiveness and second chances. A civil rights leader, Desmond has created a movement powered by love and compassion. That leaders like Ron DeSantis have chosen to continue to support his disenfranchisement proves that our justice system isn’t centered on rehabilitation but on incarceration,” said Congressman Maxwell Frost. “No one has done more for voting rights in Florida than Desmond, which is why alongside Congresswoman Wilson, I wholeheartedly call on President Biden to do what Governor DeSantis will never be willing and able to do — grant Desmond Meade a Presidential pardon to restore his rights fully.”
“Desmond Meade’s life is a testament to the incredible power of second chances. As a veteran, renowned civil rights leader, and Nobel Peace Prize nominee, Mr. Meade has devoted his life to restoring the rights of millions who were once incarcerated. His journey and commitment to service are embodied through his advocacy to others and serves as an inspiration and role model, particularly for young men of color who find hope in his story and see Mr. Meade as an example that it is possible to turn their lives around,” said Congresswoman Wilson. “As he has advocated for millions of returning citizens, I am proud to advocate for the pardon of Desmond Meade. Together with Congressman Frost, we urge President Biden to grant Mr. Meade a Presidential pardon, a recognition long overdue for the enduring impact he has made.”
The letter recounts Mr. Meade’s early struggles with the law and his journey to becoming a modern civil rights leader. In 2018, Mr. Meade spearheaded the passage of a landmark constitutional amendment to restore the voting rights of more than one million Floridians with a felony conviction, repealing the state’s 150-year-old Jim Crow-era law. Today, Mr. Meade is credited with the most significant expansion of voting rights in the United States in over 50 years, earning him a Nobel Peace Prize nomination, a McArthur Genius Grant, and a mention in Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People list in 2019.
The full letter is included in this link and below:
May 25, 2023
The Honorable Joseph R. Biden
President of the United States of America
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20500
Dear President Biden:
We urge you to pardon veteran, civil rights leader, and Nobel Peace Prize nominee Desmond Meade for his 1985 court-martial conviction and reverse his dishonorable discharge.
Mr. Meade has unequivocally atoned for the 30-year-old offense he committed during his Army service. Moreover, he has transcended his past to become a civil rights leader and a champion for millions of formerly incarcerated people. We wholeheartedly believe that Mr. Meade deserves a second chance.
As an Army servicemember stationed in Hawaii in 1985, Mr. Meade was introduced to drugs and was induced into uncharacteristic behavior to support his habit. As a result, he was imprisoned for three years for grand larceny and dishonorably discharged. After his release, he struggled with substance use disorder and became homeless. Hitting rock bottom, he frequently contemplated suicide. Thankfully, he managed to turn his life around.
Mr. Meade earned undergraduate degrees from Miami Dade College and a Juris Doctorate from Florida International University. Yet, despite this turnaround, he faced barriers to securing his law license, employment, housing, voting access, and more because of his prior convictions. Thus, Mr. Meade committed his life to restoring the rights of formerly incarcerated people.
As the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition (FRRC) leader, Mr. Meade joined forces with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and others to spearhead a landmark constitutional amendment campaign to restore voting rights for more than one million Floridians with a felony conviction: Amendment 4. The herculean effort repealed Florida’s 150-year-old Jim Crow-era law that banned anyone with a felony conviction from voting. It is the most significant expansion of voting rights in the United States in over 50 years. Moreover, Mr. Meade has joined forces with community leaders, CEOs, legislators, entertainers, athletes, entrepreneurs, and celebrities to fight for the re-enfranchisement of millions of returning citizens nationwide. For example, he recently met with Nebraska legislators to advocate for legislation repealing a two-year waiting period, and he worked with groups in Minnesota that recently passed legislation to expand voting rights. Yet, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis refused to restore Mr. Meade’s civil rights multiple times due to his court-martial conviction and dishonorable discharge until overwhelming public support compelled the Governor to do so.
Mr. Meade’s life is a testament to the power of a second chance. His service as a civil rights leader has not gone unnoticed. Time magazine named him one of the 100 Most Influential People in 2019. The University of Florida’s Bob Graham Center for Public Service selected him as the 2019 Floridian of the Year. In 2021, Mr. Meade was named a McArthur “genius grant” winner for his work on re-enfranchisement. In February 2023, Quaker Peace and Social Witness and the American Friends Service Committee nominated Desmond Meade and the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition for a Nobel Peace Prize. In his commencement address to Duke University students, Grammy-winning artist John Legend said, “Duke Class of 2021: I wish you live with Desmond’s kind of love: Love for our neighbors—and for people who feel like they’re a world apart. Love for justice—defined by a spirit of mutuality and community.”
Thank you for your attention and consideration of this matter.
Sincerely,
Frederica S. Wilson
Member of Congress
Maxwell Alejandro Frost
Member of Congress
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Politics
FORMER PRESIDENTS, CIVIL RIGHTS LEADERS GATHER FOR OPENING OF OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL CENTER
Published
2 days agoon
June 18, 2026
CHICAGO (FNN NEWS) — The long-awaited Barack Obama Presidential Center officially opened Thursday with a star-studded dedication ceremony on Chicago’s South Side, drawing former presidents, national leaders, celebrities, and thousands of invited guests.
The ceremony began at 11 a.m. CDT with Chicago native and Grammy Award-winning singer Jennifer Hudson performing the national anthem.
Obama Center Opens
Former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama delivered remarks celebrating the opening of the center, which is designed to serve as a cultural, educational, and civic engagement hub.
The opening marks the formal debut of one of the most anticipated presidential centers in modern history. The campus opens to the public on Juneteenth and is expected to attract visitors from across the United States and around the world.
Former Presidents in Attendance
Among the dignitaries attending the ceremony were:
- Former President Joe Biden
- Former President George W. Bush
- Former President Bill Clinton
- Former First Lady Jill Biden
- Former First Lady Laura Bush
- Former Secretary of State and former First Lady Hillary Clinton
National Leaders and Celebrities Attend
The event also attracted prominent political leaders, civil rights advocates, entertainers, and business leaders, including:
- California Gov. Gavin Newsom
- Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro
- Civil rights leaders Andrew Young and Al Sharpton
- Media icon Oprah Winfrey
- Comedians David Letterman, Conan O’Brien, and Stephen Colbert
- Actor Tom Hanks
- Tennis legend Billie Jean King
- Chicago Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts
Several attendees, including Newsom and Shapiro, are widely viewed as potential contenders for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination.
A Landmark for Chicago’s South Side
The opening of the Obama Presidential Center represents a significant milestone for Chicago’s South Side, bringing national attention, tourism, and economic development opportunities to the community.
Thousands of invited guests attended the ceremony, while residents and supporters gathered at a free public watch party to celebrate the historic occasion.
The center is expected to serve as a lasting tribute to the legacy of the nation’s 44th president while inspiring future generations of leaders through civic engagement, education, and public service.
About the Obama Presidential Center
The Obama Presidential Center is a world-class campus dedicated to preserving and advancing the legacy of President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. The center includes museum exhibits, public gathering spaces, educational programming, and community resources aimed at fostering leadership and civic participation.
Politics
State Department Offers Up to $15 Million in Rewards for MS-13 Leaders Wanted on Terrorism, Drug Trafficking Charges
Published
3 days agoon
June 18, 2026
WASHINGTON (FNN NEWS) — The U.S. Department of State announced Thursday that it is increasing reward offers totaling up to $15 million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of two senior leaders of Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13), a transnational criminal organization designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO).
Reward Offers Increased
The State Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs announced a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Yulan Adonay Archaga Carías, also known as “Porky,” and up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Víctor Eduardo Morales Zelaya, also known as “Cuervo.”
The reward offers were announced by Thomas “Tommy” Pigott, spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State.
MS-13 Leadership in Honduras
According to federal court documents, Archaga Carías and Morales Zelaya are the highest-ranking members of MS-13 operating in Honduras. Authorities allege they direct the gang’s criminal operations, including:
- Drug trafficking
- Money laundering
- Murder
- Kidnappings
- Other violent criminal activities
Federal authorities also allege the two men are responsible for coordinating the importation of significant quantities of cocaine into the United States. Both remain fugitives.
Among America’s Most Wanted
Archaga Carías is listed on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list and is also among the most wanted fugitives sought by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
The case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) established under Executive Order 14159. The task force is a permanent, whole-of-government initiative focused on dismantling criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking networks operating in the United States and abroad.
How to Provide Information
The reward offers were authorized by the Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security under the Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program (TOCRP), which supports global law enforcement efforts to combat transnational criminal organizations.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the FBI through WhatsApp, Signal, or Telegram at +1-832-267-1688.
Individuals located outside the United States may also contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. Those within the United States may contact their local FBI field office.
Confidentiality Guaranteed
U.S. officials emphasized that all identities of individuals providing information will be kept strictly confidential. Government officials and employees are not eligible for rewards based on information obtained through their official duties.
US NATIONAL NEWS
Rubio, Jaishankar Discuss Strait of Hormuz Security During Diplomatic Call
Published
1 week agoon
June 13, 2026
WASHINGTON (FNN NEWS) — U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar to discuss recent developments in the Strait of Hormuz, according to a State Department readout released Friday.
According to Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott, the conversation focused on maritime security and commercial shipping in one of the world’s most strategically important waterways.
Focus on Maritime Security
During the call, Rubio stressed that commercial vessels operating in the Strait of Hormuz should immediately comply with instructions issued by U.S. forces as they work to maintain regional peace and security.
The secretary also emphasized U.S. concerns regarding the transportation of Iranian oil and warned that violations of U.S. enforcement measures would not be tolerated.
Critical Global Waterway
The Strait of Hormuz serves as a vital shipping route connecting the Persian Gulf to international markets and is one of the world’s most important energy transit corridors. Any disruption to commercial traffic through the region can have significant implications for global energy supplies and international trade.
The call highlights continued diplomatic coordination between the United States and India on regional security issues and freedom of navigation in key international waterways.
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