A digest of Baltimore news from local sources.
From City Paper: Hundred gather in Station North to mourn Orlando Victims
"A crowd of hundreds filled the Ynot Lot in Station North to capacity and spilled out onto Charles Street as part of a candlelight vigil Monday night organized by the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Community Center of Baltimore and Central Maryland (GLCCB) to mourn the 49 victims of a mass shooting at a LGBTQ club in Orlando, Florida.
"Politicians, community leaders, religious leaders, artists, activists, and individuals affected by the killings at Pulse nightclub stood on the stage to express their sadness over the killings and pledge solidarity the the LGBTQ community in Baltimore and elsewhere.
"With the 41st edition of Baltimore Pride set to take place next month, several speakers touched on the importance of that event, which earlier this year was reportedly suffering financial troubles.
"Jabari Lyles, president of the GLCCB, reminded the audience that the festival began as an act of political dissonance.
"'It's times like these when Pride is most important,' he said. 'So don't cower in your houses.'
"Kevin Holt, the outreach coordinator for the organization, later gave a fiery speech urging people that 'we're here to celebrate life and love.'
"After telling the gathered crowd that a friend of his was one of the victims in Orlando, he implored, 'We do not have to let ignorance and hatred kill Pride.'
"Mostly, though, the vigil was a time for mourning and unity.
"An emotional Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake gave heartfelt remarks pledging support to the city's LGBTQ citizens.
"'I stand with you and Baltimore stands with you,' she said to applause, later adding, 'I want you to know that I love you and I want you to love yourself.'
"Referring to the absence of media during the moments of rebuilding following the Baltimore Uprising, she told the crowd, 'We're gonna be there whether the cameras are there or not.'
"Some vigil attendees however, turned their back while Rawlings-Blake spoke.
"Police Commissioner Kevin Davis received an even colder reception. The city's top cop was audibly booed as his name was announced, which appeared to shock the police working the vigil. After he closed his remarks by saying his department understands the 'civil rights struggle that is uniquely the LGBT [community's],' someone to the right of the stage loudly yelled, 'Fuck you!'
"Speaking of the GLCCB's efforts to work with the police department, Lyles said: 'It is certainly nice to see we have the BPD's attention on this. And we're gonna hold them accountable.' The crowd cheered.
"Two of the candidates running to replace Rawlings-Blake, Joshua Harris (Green) and State Sen. Catherine Pugh (Democrat), also spoke.
"Many of the most impactful moments came from activists and organizers within the LGBT community."
From the Baltimore Sun: Facing shutdown threat over youth funding, Rawlings-Blake announces cuts to Baltimore services
"Funding for public health services, libraries and housing inspections will be cut in next year's budget to free up more than $4 million for youth programs, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake announced Monday.
"Members of the Baltimore City Council had threatened a government shutdown unless the mayor included the money for after-school programs and community schools in her $2.6 billion budget proposal.
"Rawlings-Blake released few details of the new cuts, saying the administration 'sharpened our pencils and made even more difficult budget cuts that will directly impact city services' in response to council leaders.
"'Clearly there is little willingness on the part of the City Council leadership to enter into good faith negotiations to get things done,' the mayor said in a statement. 'Instead they have relied on pointless rhetoric versus meeting their fiscal obligations to the City.
"'The City needs a balanced budget. Not grandstanding. That is what we are elected to do.'
"By law, the City Council must approve a balanced budget by June 26.
"Rawlings-Blake's action drew mixed reactions.
"City Council President Bernard C. 'Jack' Young said he was pleased to see the money for the youth programs — which serve thousands of children and teens — but frustrated by Rawlings-Blake's approach. She announced her decision publicly before speaking to Young and other council members, he said.
"'I'm dissatisfied with some of the cuts,' Young said. 'They should've included us and not blindsided us.'"
From the AFRO: Lillie Carroll Jackson Civil Rights Museum Showcases Baltimore’s Civil Rights History
"The Lillie Carroll Jackson Civil Rights Museum reopened on June 11, after being closed for twenty years. The newly renovated museum, which is six minutes away from Penn- North where the April uprising took place after the death of Freddie Gray in police custody, is a showcase for African American civil rights history.
"Originally opened in 1976, The Lillie Carroll Jackson Civil Rights museum closed in 1996 because of funding woes. For twenty years Jackson’s paraphernalia, awards, and artifacts remained in storage at Morgan State University, until funding was recently provided by the state of Maryland. Morgan State University currently owns and operates the museum as well as The James E. Lewis Museum of Art and Culture, which is also in Baltimore.
"Jackson served as president of the Baltimore NAACP for 35 years until her retirement in 1970. She died in 1975 in Baltimore. She was known as the 'Mother of the Civil Rights Movement' because she was an early advocate for racial equality and helped increased the membership of the NAACP throughout her tenure.
'The museum, which once served as Jackson’s home for twenty-two years, has three floors of exhibits displaying Jackson’s rise as a civil rights activist and the lasting legacy she had on the community.
"On the third floor of the museum, there is an exhibit that focuses on police brutality and Jackson’s daughter’s work as a civil rights activist. Jackson and her daughter, Juanita, started a police training school in Baltimore in 1943 for African-Americans that was designed to increase the number of qualified Black police officers."