Florida
Page: 2
HipHopWired Featured Video
Source: Handout / Getty
YNW Melly has been given a charge of witness tampering by Florida prosecutors as he’s approaching a retrial for double murder.
According to reports, Broward County prosecutors charged YNW Melly with witness tampering on Wednesday (October 4) ahead of his retrial for double murder. They allege that the rapper, who is affiliated with the Bloods street gang, used phone calls by other jail inmates at his request as well as letters passed between them to get messages out to other Blood members on the street. Those gang members then made sure a key witness in the case didn’t testify, said prosecutors.
YNW Melly, also known as Jamell Demons, remains incarcerated without bond. He and Cortlen “YNW Bortlen” Henry are accused of shooting and killing Christopher “YNW Juvy” Thomas and Anthony “YNW Sakchaser” Williams inside of an SUV after a late-night recording session in 2018 and then staging it to look like a drive-by shooting. If convicted, YNW Melly faces a potential death sentence. The first trial ended in July with a hung jury which voted 9-3 to convict.
YNW Bortlen was arrested on Monday (October 2) in Miami-Dade County for witness tampering. A co-defendant in the double murder trial, YNW Bortlen was on house arrest when detained with documents detailing the charge as “misleading conduct toward another person with the intent to cause or induce (that person) to withhold testimony”.
The rapper’s legal team is set to appear in court on Friday and plans to present a case before Broward County Circuit Judge John J. Murphy that Broward County State Attorney Harold Pryor and lead prosecutor Kristine Bradley conspired to cover up information about the lead detective, Mark Moretti of the Miramar Police Department, in the case. They aim to call for Bradley’s dismissal.
“This is a transparent and desperate attempt by the State Attorney’s office to distract the public from the deposition of an Assistant State Attorney who accused this case’s lead detective and lead prosecutor of felonies by falsifying and covering up evidence damaging to the state’s case,” Raven Liberty, YNW Melly’s attorney, said of the additional charge.
HipHopWired Featured Video
The shooting in Jacksonville that was enacted by a gunman who targeted Black people was revealed to be a white supremacist by authorities investigating the matter. The shooting took place over the weekend, claiming three victims and officials are still piecing together the evidence leading up to the fatal event.
The shooting took place Saturday afternoon at a Florida Dollar General store in Jacksonville, Fla. around 2 PM local time.
Jacksonville County Sheriff T.K. Waters shared in a news conference that the shooter left behind disturbing messages on his computer and that he altered his father about where to find his writings ahead of firing a rifle similar in scope to an AR-15 weapon inside the store. The gun, according to reports, was adorned with swastikas, and the shooter was also armed with a handgun.
Related Stories
“This shooting was racially motivated and he hated Black people,” Sheriff Waters, who is Black, said over the weekend at the news conference. “He wanted to kill n*ggers.”
According to a report from the Associated Press, the 21-year-old white male shooter took his own life shortly after the shooting. While details of his manifestos have not been shared publicly since this is a recent matter, authorities say that his writings were motivated by racist ideology and hate speech.
Gov. Ron DeSantis attended a Sunday afternoon vigil in honor of the three Jacksonville shooting victims but was loudly booed when he took the microphone to speak to the crowd. DeSantis, who is Republican and running for his party’s presidential nomination, has made obtaining high-powered guns easier in the state due to freeing up gun laws and has been critical of issues important to Black people such as critical race theory.
Sheriff Waters identified the names of the victims during the press conference. Angela Carr, 52, was shot while sitting in her care. Dollar General employee A.J. Laguerre, 19, was shot as he tried to run away. Customer Jerrald Gallion, 29, was shot as he entered the Dollar General.
The gunman’s name has not been revealed.
[h/t NewsOne]
—
Photo: Getty
HipHopWired Radio
Our staff has picked their favorite stations, take a listen…
HipHopWired Featured Video
Source: Mike Brown / Getty
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. has announced its decision to move its upcoming general convention from the state of Florida, citing its “racist” policies as the main factor.
On Wednesday, the oldest Black intercollegiate fraternity in the United States announced that it would move its 99th General Convention and 119th Anniversary Convention from Orlando. In a statement, General President Dr. Willis L. Lonzer, III said that the move was due to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and his “harmful, racist, and insensitive policies against the Black community.” The convention was slated to take place in 2025.
Dr. Lonzer estimated that their decision to yank the convention from Orlando would cost the state $4.6 million in revenue generated by the event. “We will not spend our money where Black people and other marginalized communities are continuously harmed by policies at the highest level of government,” he said, also stating that the other members of the Divine Nine of historically Black fraternities and sororities were all “aligned” on the spirit behind the decision.
The recent controversy over the state’s adoption of educational standards was the last straw. “Earlier this week, the Florida Board of Education approved a controversial new K-12 curriculum for African American history, which erases Florida’s role in slavery and oppression, blames the victims, and declares that African Americans who endured slavery benefited from the horrific and torturous institution,” the statement from Alpha Phi Alpha said. At the direction of the governor, the state’s educational board also rejected students’ access to an AP course focusing on African American studies. DeSantis has consistently affirmed his desire to eliminate “wokeness” in the curriculum.
In May, the NAACP issued a travel advisory for Black people traveling to Florida in response to DeSantis’ policies explicitly targeting the community in the state, and other groups have begun pulling their conventions from Florida within the past couple of weeks. Dr. Lonzer did encourage those in Florida to get to the polls. “We have not forgotten our membership or the citizens of Florida,” he said. “We are committed to encouraging them to stay vigilant and to ensure that they are in the voting process. We will continue to make our voter education opportunities available as we funnel funds to the state of Florida to ensure that they can hold various forums and can have the appropriate conversations. When the time comes to vote, we will get them out to vote.”
HipHopWired Radio
Our staff has picked their favorite stations, take a listen…
HipHopWired Featured Video
Source: Marion County Sheriff’s Office / MCSO
A prosecutor in Florida has declined to pursue murder charges against Susan Lorincz, who shot and killed Ajike “AJ” Owens, who was unarmed.
On Monday (June 26th), State Attorney William Gladson publicly announced the criminal charges brought against Lorincz for Owens’ killing, and cited “insufficient evidence” as a reason that his office would not upgrade the charge of manslaughter to murder, claiming that they couldn’t establish that she showed “a depraved mind toward the victim at the time of the killing.” Gladson said that he had consulted with Owens’ family before the announcement. “My office will do all it can to seek justice for Ms. Owens and her family,” he said.
Pamela Dias, Owens’ mother, expressed that the family was “devastated” by the decision. “How do I explain to AJ’s children, my young grandbabies, that the loss of their mother’s life is still not being taken seriously?” she said to a local news network. “Only a living, breathing AJ would be true justice, and today’s charge could not be further from that.” Reverend Al Sharpton also blasted the decision in a statement: “The fact that this woman hurled insults including the N-word at her children and proclaimed, ‘this isn’t the underground railroad, slave,’ should be enough for the Justice Department to investigate this as a federal hate crime.
The mother of four, who is Black, had gone to Lorincz’s door in their Ocala neighborhood to confront her for taking an iPad that belonged to one of her children on June 2nd. Lorincz, a white woman who has a history of documented racist behavior, shot through the door striking Owens who was standing next to her 9-year-old son at the time. Owens died later at a local hospital. Lorincz wouldn’t be arrested until June 6th, after heavy public pressure about the case prevailed. The Marion County Sheriff’s Office claimed that the delay was due to investigating if the incident fell under the “Stand Your Ground” law, which would make it justified.
The 58-year-old Lorincz is being held on a $154,000 bond at the Marion County Jail on a charge of manslaughter with a firearm. Protests over the decision were scheduled for Monday evening. Owens’ family has also created a website where those concerned can take action in addition to a surging GoFundMe campaign, with one of those actions including a petition to repeal Florida’s controversial “Stand Your Ground” gun laws.
HipHopWired Radio
Our staff has picked their favorite stations, take a listen…
HipHopWired Featured Video
CLOSE
Joseline Hernandez knows a thing or two about drama as fans have seen since her years on the Love & Hip Hop franchise and her reality series, Joseline’s Cabaret. The “Puerto Rican Princess” is back in headlines again after reports that she and former Joseline’s Cabaret star Big Lex were involved in a backstage altercation after Floyd Mayweather and John Gotti III’s fight, which erupted into a brawl as well.
Joseline Hernandez, 36, was captured on camera phone video walking backstage at the FLA Live Arena over the weekend. After the Mayweather-Gotti fight erupted into a brawl when the grandson of the famed Italian mobster was disqualified in the 6th round and continued to try and hit the former champion. This came after it was waved off by the referee. Mayweather’s team came to stop Gotti’s advances, which was largely ineffective, and things got heated naturally.
What sparked Hernandez to dish out the taper and fade on Big Lex has plenty of moving parts, and it took a group of people to separate the two but not before Big Lex was pulled out of her top. Big Lex was largely bested by Hernandez, and another man, reportedly Hernandez’s husband, was involved in the fracas. Even after they were split, Hernandez continued swinging at anyone in the vicinity and eventually had a drink flung at her which only egged the situation on further.
Fans on Twitter, which is where we gathered much of this information thus far, shared clips of Big Lex in previous times having some choice words for Hernandez. Big Lex also reportedly dissed the Zeus Network and anyone affiliated with the outfit.
In a new TMZ report, it revealed that Hernandez was arrested and booked on four charges.
On Twitter, folks have plenty to say about Joseline Hernandez putting the beats on Big Lex and anyone else who wanted. We’ve got those reactions below.
—
Photo: Prince Williams / Getty
HipHopWired Featured Video
Source: Theo Wargo / Getty
Broadway actress Denée Benton added more surprise to the Tony Awards as she blasted Florida Governor and presidential candidate Ron DeSantis onstage.
The veteran actress from Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812, Hamilton, and Into the Woods, was presenting the Excellence in Theatre Education Award from Carnegie Mellon University during the live broadcast of the awards on CBS and Paramount+ Sunday night. “Hi, I’m Denée Benton, actor, and proud CMU alum,” she began after taking the state at the United Palace Theatre in New York City. The awards were held without writers due to the ongoing Writers Guild of America strike, leaving presenters to sculpt their remarks.
“Earlier tonight, CMU and the Tony Awards presented the 2023 Excellence in Theatre Education Award,” The Gilded Age actress continued. “And while I am certain that the current Grand Wizard… I’m sorry, excuse me – governor of my home state of Florida will be changing…. I am sure that he will change the name of this following town immediately. We were honored to present this award to the truly incredible and life-changing Jason Zembuch Young, enhancing the lives at students at South Plantation High School in Plantation, Florida.”
Benton’s words left some shocked with their mouths open while the audience cheered mightily. Those at home watching also took note, including veteran reporter and entertainment correspondent Bobby Rivers, who tweeted: “I bet DeSantis will try to get the Tony Awards telecast canceled. He’s probably watching and stomping the ground like Mr. Applegate at the end of DAMN YANKEES.”
The “Grand Wizard” reference comes from the white supremacist Ku Klux Klan organization, which bestows that title upon its top leader. Since being elected as governor in 2019, DeSantis has actively made policy decisions that have angered civil rights advocates such as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill targeting educators trying to aid LGBTQ teens and their parents in addition to openly fighting the Walt Disney Company as it voiced opposition to his policies. He has also targeted Black students through the state’s educational board and their refusal to implement an advanced AP course on African-American studies in high schools. There was no immediate response from DeSantis or his representatives, as he is currently out at the beginning of his campaign for president on the Republican ticket.
HipHopWired Radio
Our staff has picked their favorite stations, take a listen…
HipHopWired Featured Video
CLOSE
Source: rarrarorro / Getty
It’s 2023, and the NAACP Board of Directors has issued a travel advisory for Florida, citing that the state is “hostile toward African Americans.” Considering MAGA-friendly Governor Ron Desantis’ blatantly racist legislation aimed at the “woke,” often a replacement for the n-word in far-right circles, where is the lie?
On Saturday, May 2020, the NAACP issued its damning travel advisory. Part of it reads, “Florida is openly hostile toward African Americans, people of color and LGBTQ+ individuals. Before traveling to Florida, please understand that the state of Florida devalues and marginalizes the contributions of, and the challenges faced by African Americans and other communities of color.”
In the past year, Desantis has overseen the kneecapping of AP African American Studies courses for high school students, banned the teaching of critical race theory and has signed four bills that restrict LGBTQ rights including an expansion of the infamous “Don’t Say Gay” law.
Added NAACP President & CEO Derrick Johnson, “Under the leadership of Governor Desantis, the state of Florida has become hostile to Black Americans and in direct conflict with the democratic ideals that our union was founded upon. He should know that democracy will prevail because its defenders are prepared to stand up and fight. We’re not backing down, and we encourage our allies to join us in the battle for the soul of our nation.”
Another feasible question is, when is Texas going to be added to that travel advisory list? History has shown that one way to handle blatant racists in power is to hit them in the pockets.
See some of Twitter’s reactions to the NAACP’s chess move in the gallery.
HipHopWired Featured Video
Source: Jesse Grant / Getty
NBA Hall-of-Famer Dwayne Wade recently cited how Florida’s policies against the LGBTQ community played a factor in moving his family from the state.
The former Miami Heat superstar sat down for an interview on the latest episode of the Showtime series Headliners with Rachel Nichols. Nichols asks him about the hypocrisy of state politicians who are big fans of his but vocally support policies against LGBTQ individuals and their families. “That’s another reason why I don’t live in that state,” Wade replied. “A lot of people don’t know that. I have to make decisions for my family, not just personal, individual decisions.”
Wade is the father of his fifteen-year-old daughter, Zaya, who came out as transgender in 2020. She was granted a legal name and gender change in February at the end of a lengthy legal battle with her mother, Siohvaughn Funches. “I mean, obviously, the tax [situation] is great. Having Wade County is great,” he continued. “But my family would not be accepted or feel comfortable there. And so that’s one of the reasons why I don’t live there.”
The 41-year-old, who’s married to actress Gabrielle Union, is also father to 8-year-old son Xavier Zechariah, 20-year-old son Zaire and daughter Kaavia James, 4. He cites his father as a major influence on his own parenting in the interview. “I tell my dad all the time, I’m just a mirror image of the way he loved us and the way that he accepted not only myself and my brothers but other kids in the community that didn’t have father figures,” Wade said. “And so I don’t know any difference. And so yes, I had to educate myself and yes, I had to get a better understanding. And yes, I had to lose some friends along the process, but I never wavered on loving my kids and trying to find space to get the chance to understand them,” he concluded.
The revelation by Wade comes weeks after Governor Ron DeSantis signed more expansive elements to a bill that has come to be known as the “Don’t Say Gay” law for its highly restrictive policies including bans on classroom education on gender identity and sexual orientation. DeSantis is currently locking horns with Disney over their opposition to his agenda, recently nominating a board that oversees the entertainment giant’s district of theme parks. That board, however, was stripped of its powers after being elected.
HipHopWired Featured Video
Source: @JustInMyView / R1 Digital
Tekashi 6ix9ine is speaking out on getting jumped at an LA Fitness in Florida. Cue the tiny violin music since it’s difficult to feel too much sympathy for this guy considering his entire career seems like one big troll.
But, for archival purposes, let us recount what’s going through the alleged Brooklyn rapper’s head in the aftermath of getting jumped near the sauna of an LA Fitness a couple of weeks back. Per current rapper protocol, he took to Instagram to share his thoughts, posting them with a clip of the brutal beating where he can be seen getting blessed with the hands and feet by three assailants, including one wearing mismatched Crocs).
“For 2 years I been walking around with no security,” read part of 6ix9ine’s caption. “Not saying I promote that BUT now you see I really never hid from anything. If you ever crossed my path or ever came to my house (you girls know who you are) ya can tell the world ‘Danny drives his own cars and be solo’ You know how many of you people seen me in real life by myself in gas stations, supermarkets, restaurants, etc. Anyway what happen here was nothing but cowardly.”
Maybe so, but 6ix9ine surely knew that his behavior has never exactly exuded “good will.” Anyway, he continued, “I’m not mad this happened. In the street there’s no rules so I cant say they were wrong. Obviously it wasn’t fair but again the streets has no rules. Just imagine having nothing to do to with a situation and feel obligated to make it your business. (Very weird) I’m happy to be here still. And I want to say I love my fans. Thank you.”
He also added a post script, “I never knew we respected jumping people. When did that ever become a W???”
True indeed, jumping 6ix9ine doesn’t exactly earn you points, but keeping it a buck, it does get an approving nod from many. It also will probably mean jail time.
Three of the men who put hands on 6ix9ine have been arrested, with one of them reportedly being a high-ranking member of the Latin Kings gang. We trust that 6ix9ine will have no problem pointing out these guys in court since he had no issue dropping dime on his associates, which allowed him to walk out of jail despite multiple felony charges. And that, along with the aforementioned and unrepentant trolling, is why 6ix9ine kind of does need to roll around with security, at all times.
Just sayin’.
HipHopWired Featured Video
Source: John Parra / Getty
If you thought the brutal beatdown that Tekashi Snitch9ine caught the other day at LA Fitness would’ve humbled the outspoken and often annoying Hip-Hop pariah, think again.
Remaining as defiant as ever, the rainbow haired rapper considers the beating of a lifetime a small hiccup during his recent stint in Florida. According to TMZ, he feels that he doesn’t need security 24/7 even as he continues to pull a Croc out his ass. Still, the “FuFu” rapper feels safe enough in Trump country to remain there and try to live the “normal” life of a government informant who stands out like a sour, colorful thumb.
From TMZ:
Sources close to Tekashi tell TMZ … he’s actually been going out in public without his hired muscle pretty regularly over the last year — without issue. We’re told he’s not about to let one incident change the way he lives. He wants to continue to live as normal a life as possible … and is chalking up the gym beatdown as an outlier.
What’s more, Tekashi has no plans on leaving South Florida, despite the attackers saying snitches weren’t welcome in their neighborhood.
Yeah, we give it a few weeks before Tekashi is run out of town and holes up somewhere in Seattle like Henry Hill did after snitching on the mob. Watch Macklemore catch him lacking out there too though.
While we wait and see if authorities catch up to the men who caught 6ix9ine slipping in the locker room, another video has surfaced of Tekashi catching the universal. Man, it was not pretty. If you get stomped out by a guy in Crocs (different colored ones on top of that), you might as well just never come back outside. Just sayin’.
What do y’all think of Tekashi 6ix9ine saying he’s not leaving Florida? Is he cappin’ to save face or do y’all think he’s seriously staying put in the Sunshine state? Let us know in the comments section below.