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Reps. Frost and Wilson Call on President Biden to Pardon Civil Rights Leader, Nobel Peace Prize Nominee Desmond Meade

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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

Profile

Trump Targets Birthright Citizenship, ‘Birth Tourism’ in New Immigration Actions

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WASHINGTON (FNN NEWS) — President Donald Trump announced new executive actions Thursday aimed at restricting birthright citizenship and curbing so-called “birth tourism,” renewing his administration’s effort to narrow who automatically becomes a U.S. citizen at birth.

Trump said he was signing two immigration-related actions, including one seeking to limit automatic U.S. citizenship for certain people born in the United States and another targeting foreign visitors who travel to the country for the purpose of giving birth.

The latest move represents another attempt by the Trump administration to reshape the application of birthright citizenship, a contentious constitutional issue that has generated extensive litigation.

New Order Takes Narrower Approach

The executive order released Thursday appears narrower than Trump’s previous attempt to restrict birthright citizenship.

The new action focuses on specific categories, including children born to certain people connected to foreign embassies or international organizations and those considered “alien enemies” of the United States.

The order also seeks to restrict automatic citizenship in cases involving parents who the administration determines “engaged in fraudulent activity to obtain citizenship.”

Trump said he believes the new approach is constitutional.

The latest action is expected to face close legal scrutiny over how far presidential authority extends in determining citizenship rights under the Constitution and federal law.

Trump Targets ‘Birth Tourism’

A separate executive action seeks to tighten restrictions on foreign visitors who obtain visas with the intention of traveling to the United States to give birth.

Trump described the practice as “birth tourism.”

The administration’s action seeks additional restrictions aimed at preventing visitors from using temporary entry into the United States primarily to secure U.S. citizenship for a child born while they are in the country.

Constitutional Fight Could Continue

Birthright citizenship is rooted in the 14th Amendment, which states that people born or naturalized in the United States “and subject to the jurisdiction thereof” are citizens of the United States and the state where they reside.

The meaning and reach of that provision are central to the continuing legal debate over whether a president can restrict birthright citizenship through executive action without congressional legislation or a constitutional amendment.

It remains uncertain whether Trump’s latest approach will survive expected legal challenges.

The administration’s renewed effort signals that birthright citizenship will remain a significant part of Trump’s broader immigration agenda as the White House seeks to change how federal immigration and citizenship laws are applied.

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Sports

Talladega Superspeedway Announces 2027 NASCAR Race Dates as The Chase Returns

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TALLADEGA, Ala. (FNN SPORTS) — Talladega Superspeedway will once again play a pivotal role in NASCAR’s championship battle, with two race weekends scheduled for April and October 2027 at the legendary Alabama track.

NASCAR will return to Talladega April 24-25 and Oct. 29-31, 2027, giving fans two opportunities to experience racing on the superspeedway’s iconic high banks.

The October weekend will carry major championship implications as all three NASCAR national series compete at Talladega during The Chase.

Talladega’s Spring 2027 Weekend

Talladega’s traditional spring race weekend returns April 24-25, featuring the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, ARCA Menards Series and NASCAR Cup Series.

The weekend will provide drivers with an early-season opportunity to secure valuable points in one of NASCAR’s most unpredictable superspeedway races.

The schedule includes:

Saturday, April 24: NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and ARCA Menards Series races

Sunday, April 25: NASCAR Cup Series Jack Link’s 500

The Chase Returns to Talladega in October

The stakes will increase significantly when NASCAR returns to Talladega from Oct. 29-31, 2027, with championship contenders battling for position late in the season.

All three NASCAR national series will compete during the weekend, which is expected to play an important role in determining the drivers who remain in contention for their respective championships.

The October schedule includes:

Friday, Oct. 29: NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Love’s RV Stop 225

Saturday, Oct. 30: NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series The Progress Group 250

Sunday, Oct. 31: NASCAR Cup Series YellaWood 500

“It’s an honor for Talladega Superspeedway to continue to have two race weekends giving our fans multiple opportunities to experience high-stakes action at this incredible venue,” said Josh Harris, region president of Talladega Superspeedway and Darlington Raceway.

“Looking up into the grandstands and seeing the passion the fans have for NASCAR in the heart of Alabama is extremely rewarding and we look forward to seeing action-packed racing return next spring and fall.”

Carson Hocevar Earned Breakthrough Talladega Victory

Earlier this year, Spire Motorsports driver Carson Hocevar captured his first career NASCAR Cup Series victory at Talladega, edging Chris Buescher in a dramatic finish.

The 23-year-old Michigan native celebrated the milestone by sitting on the window ledge of the No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet during a victory pass in front of the Talladega grandstands.

2026 YellaWood 500 Weekend Still Ahead

Before attention turns to 2027, Talladega will host another major weekend of racing this fall as part of The Chase.

The action begins Friday, Oct. 23, with the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Love’s RV Stop 225.

The NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series follows with The Progress Group 250 on Saturday, Oct. 24, before NASCAR Cup Series drivers take on Talladega’s famous 33-degree banking in the YellaWood 500 on Sunday, Oct. 25.

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Business

U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Brings 47th Annual National Conference to Fort Worth Sept. 14-16

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FORT WORTH, Texas (FNN NEWS) — The United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce will bring its 47th Annual National Conference to Fort Worth, Texas, Sept. 14-16, 2026, convening Hispanic business leaders, corporate executives, policymakers and entrepreneurs from across the country.

The three-day conference will be held at the Fort Worth Convention Center and is expected to serve as a major national platform for business development, networking, economic opportunity and deal-making.

Nearly five decades after its launch, the USHCC National Conference has grown into what the organization describes as the nation’s largest gathering of Hispanic business decision-makers.

The selection of Fort Worth highlights the North Texas city’s growing position as a center for business, entrepreneurship and culture while providing a national stage for Hispanic-owned businesses and their economic impact.

Fort Worth Selected to Host 2026 National Conference

USHCC announced Fort Worth as the 2026 host following its 46th Annual National Conference in Atlanta.

“We are thrilled to bring the USHCC National Conference to Fort Worth in 2026,” said Jackie Puente, vice president of external affairs at Comcast and chairwoman of the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. “This city showcases the innovation, diversity, and economic impact of Hispanic-owned businesses nationwide. At Comcast, we are proud to support the USHCC’s mission of opening doors and creating opportunities for our community to thrive.”

Fort Worth business leaders also welcomed the opportunity to host the national gathering.

“Fort Worth is proud to host the USHCC National Conference in 2026,” said Ericka Garza, president and CEO of the Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. “This event highlights our city’s vibrant culture and the impact of Hispanic-owned businesses in driving economic growth.”

Connecting Hispanic Businesses With Opportunities

Connection building will be a major focus of the 2026 conference, with programming designed to bring business owners directly together with corporate executives, policymakers, industry leaders and potential partners.

Through curated networking opportunities and informal gatherings, participants will have opportunities to establish relationships that could lead to collaborations, contracts, partnerships and long-term business growth.

The conference also provides companies and organizations seeking to expand their engagement with Hispanic-owned businesses an opportunity to connect with entrepreneurs and business leaders from markets across the United States.

National Leaders Take the Main Stage

The conference’s main-stage sessions will feature influential leaders and nationally recognized voices discussing major issues affecting business, entrepreneurship and economic advancement.

Sessions are expected to provide perspectives on economic trends, public policy, market opportunities and emerging challenges facing businesses.

The discussions are designed to help entrepreneurs and executives better understand changing markets and position their organizations for future opportunities.

Breakout Sessions Focus on Business Growth

Attendees will also have access to industry-focused breakout sessions featuring subject-matter experts addressing specific business challenges and opportunities.

The interactive sessions are designed to provide participants with practical strategies, tools and information they can apply to their companies and organizations.

Topics and speakers for the 2026 conference are expected to be announced as the event approaches.

Hispanic Businesses Take Center Stage in Fort Worth

The conference comes as Hispanic-owned businesses continue to play an increasingly important role in entrepreneurship, job creation and economic development across the United States.

For Fort Worth, hosting the national conference provides an opportunity to showcase the city’s business community while connecting local entrepreneurs with corporate and government decision-makers from across the country.

47th Annual USHCC National Conference
Dates: Sept. 14-16, 2026
Location: Fort Worth Convention Center
City: Fort Worth, Texas

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