M.A.R.C.H Newsletter: May 2025

This e-newsletter shares what the MLK Association and its Community Outreach Providing Empowerment (COPE) Program is doing and offers other news, events, and stories that align with its efforts. Below are some items that are noteworthy. 

As always, feel free to share any or all of these items or the entire e-newsletter.

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Friends, 

The first 100 days of a president’s term are seen as a time for them to set the tone of their administration by showing their ability to lead in pushing key policies. The first 100 days of the Trump administration has just ended. What have we seen and learned? 

The Trump administration, the Republican party, and its supporters have with eagerness, glee, and determination intensified attacks on things like Black history, DEI, education, government agencies, social service programs, as well as targeting the rights and freedoms of Blacks, Latinos, women, immigrants, non-Christians, and members of the LGBTQ community. 

We must stay mindful of the fact that the path to justice requires patience and endurance. Apathy creates impatience while ignorance breeds contempt. They create hardships and setbacks that plant doubts that wither our spirit. 

Dr. King often spoke about the lessons learned from the 1955 Montgomery bus boycott. In his speech “Our Struggle” he pointed out that “The basic conflict is not really over the buses. Yet we believe that, if the method we use in dealing with equality in the busses can eliminate injustice within ourselves, we shall at the same time be attacking the basis of injustice—man’s hostility to man. This can only be done when we challenge the white community to reexamine its assumptions as we are now prepared to reexamine ours. We do not wish to triumph over the white community. That would only result in transferring those now on the bottom to the top. But, if we can live up to nonviolence in thought and deed, there will emerge an interracial society based on freedom for all.” 

As the days go by, we are seeing more people in America wrestling with the fact that the world is not divided by two sides “them” or “me” but reality there are no sides, just an “us” reality. Folks have or will come to realize the wisdom of Dr. King’s admonishment “We must all learn to live together as brothers, or we will all perish together as fools…This is the message. And if we as a nation will but discover this, if we as individuals will but turn away from this foolishness, the morning stars will sing together, and the sons of God will shout for joy.” 

The goal of the Trump administration and its supporters is to overwhelm us with negativity. To convince us to succumb to injustice. Stay strong! You are a light in the darkness and together we create a brightness that rivals the sun. It is we who shall overcome! 

Jonathan McCoy 
VP of the MLK Association 
Editor of the M.A.R.C.H newsletter

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*Announcement*

The MLK Association’s Scholarship Committee has extended the deadline for submitting an application to Thursday May 22nd. Click this link to go to our website to learn the criteria, download a Scholarship Application form, and instruction as well as the required recommendation forms.

If you have any questions, please send them to mlkavlscholarships@gmail.com.

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National News

• Here is a tracker of President Trump’s progress in fulfilling his campaign promises. article 
• For now, the US Supreme Court has blocked new deportations under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798. article 
• The Trump administration has told migrants who entered legally under policies enacted by Biden administration they must leave the US immediately. article 
• A federal judge ruled that the government could not punish the Associated Press for exercising their First Amendment right of freedom of speech. article 
• A federal judge allows the Trump administration’s policy that all illegal immigrants must register with the US government. article 
• Trump’s executive orders have led Gannett, the largest newspaper chain in the nation, to stop publishing diversity information. article 
• Multiple political figures from the state of Arkansas are staunch supporters of President Trump; Gov. Sarah Sanders, Sen. Tom Cotton, and US Ambassador to Israel Michael Huckabee, but that wasn’t enough for him to support their plea for FEMA aid after the state experienced 14 tornados. article 
• 12 states sued the Trump administration for “illegally imposing” tax hikes on Americans through tariffs. article 
• These new tariffs will even impact hair care. article 
• The Health and Human Services budget looks to end services for LGBTQ youth who call 988, the national suicide and crisis hotline. article 
•  These companies remain committed to supporting DEI initiatives. article

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The MLK Association & City of Asheville’s 2025 Juneteenth week of events

• Mon. 6/16 – “A Time to Yell” film and discussion on removing Confederate monuments, 5:30pm-8pm, Stephens Lee Community Center directions 
• Tues. 6/17 – “Rosenwald” film on the life of Julius Rosenwald and his work with Booker T. Washington to create over 5,000 Rosenwald schools for Black children across the south. Also, a remembrance program of the June 21, 1964, killing in Mississippi of civil rights workers James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner. 5:30pm-8pm, Stephens Lee Community Center directions 
• Wed. 6/18 – Dinner & Discussion: Sasha Mitchell gives insights and tips on tracing your family tree. 5:30pm-8pm, Stephens Lee Community Center  directions 
• Thurs. 6/19 – Juneteenth Celebration through song by Mary D. Williams, noon-2pm at the Shiloh Friendship Center (142 Shiloh Rd. Asheville, NC 28803) directions 
• The Gala and fashion show is 7pm-9pm at the AB-Tech Conference Center (16 Fernihurst Dr., Asheville, NC 28787) directions *Information about reserving tickets and tables will be coming soon on the MLK Association and City of Asheville websites. 
• Fri. 6/20 – Downtown After 5 at Pack Square Park, 5pm-9pm

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Local News

• FEMA has denied the state’s request to extend the full reimbursement period for Hurricane Helene recovery efforts. article Gov. Stein has appealed this decision. article 
• Rep. Chuck Edwards claimed that President Trump had appointed him to the FEMA review council, but he is not named in the final announcement. article 
• Helene has increased food insecurity in Swannanoa. article

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Join us for a special evening honoring the life and work of Wilma Dykeman at her 105th Birthday Anniversary Celebration.

‍Honoring a Legacy of Change

Wilma Dykeman was a trailblazer in environmental integrity, social justice, and the power of words. Her legacy lives on through the Wilma Dykeman Legacy’s talks, workshops, events, books, and programs designed to inspire and educate communities. This celebration will be an evening filled with music, food, presentations, and dancing, bringing together those who are passionate about continuing her mission.

• Doors open at 5 p.m., Program starts at 5:30 p.m.
• Each ticket holder will receive a copy of the Digital Keepsake “Birthday Card” (Journal)
• Sales end for tickets and sponsorships Thursday, May 15
• Childcare services will be available — more details coming soon.

Sponsor and Ticket information:https://www.wilmadykemanlegacy.org/events/party-wilma-dykemans-105th-copy

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State News

• The NC state pension plan has a $16 billion deficit. article 
• The attempt to limit the scope of Gov. Stein’s power to appoint State Election board members continues.  Though a 3-judge panel ruled he has the power article another judge ruled that the NC auditor could make appointments while an appeal to the panel’s decision continued. article 
• The NC House passes ban on DEI in state agencies. article 
• NC bills are progressing through the General Assembly to allow approved school employees to conceal carry at private schools. article 
• The CDC investigation into the toxic chemicals discovered in 2023 at Poe Hall on the campus of NC State has been closed due to cuts in its funding. article

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Issues in Education

• The Justice Department has ended a decades-old school desegregation order. article 
• A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration orders that threatened to cut federal funding for public schools with DEI programs. article 
• The Trump administration blames its authoritative demands against Harvard on a mistakenly sent email. article 
• Wisconsin’s Democrat governor used his veto power to increase the state’s spending on public education for the next 400 years. article

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Ticket, sponsor, vendor, and volunteer information can be found at: https://grindfestavl.com/

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Racism

• Historic Black sites are under threat! article This situation was brought to light by the Black Press USA exclusive report that the Greensboro sit-in lunch counter exhibit at the National Museum of African American History and Culture was to be removed which prompted the Smithsonian to issue this response 
• A Wisconsin teen allegedly killed his parents to help fund a right-wing extremists plot to kill President Trump and start a race war. article 
• A white man in Tampa, FL, posted on Facebook that if he had been home, he would’ve enjoyed shooting a young Black girl who stopped at his house trying to sell candy. article 
• Under the Trump Administration the National Park System worked to whitewash the history of the Underground Railroad and Harriett Tubman then following a public backlash they stopped. article 
• The Trump administration terminated “an illegal DEI and environmental justice” settlement to clean-up raw sewage in poor, majority-Black populated communities in Alabama. article 
• The Department of Justice has cut or paused funding to hundreds of programs that aid victims of hate crimes, child abuse, school violence, and domestic terror. article 
• Vanderbilt University Medical Center has ended all of their DEI programs. article 
• Small local African American history sites across the nation are threatened with the potential loss of federal funding. article

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***Reparations***

• The Asheville and Buncombe County Community Reparations ComissionCommission webpage
• The Reparations Stakeholders Authority of Asheville has created the RSAA Hurricane Helene Relief Fund.Here is the link to the donation page.
• The Asheville Racial Justice Coalition (website)

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Monthly Community Events

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Suffering from Burnout?

Aisha Adams is a writer, equity advocate, and community leader who has dedicated her career to empowering communities and fostering inclusivity. Based in Asheville, North Carolina, Aisha is the founder of Aisha Adams Media, where she develops innovative programs and initiatives that address critical issues such as affordable housing, mental health, and environmental justice.

In mission-driven work, it’s common to face multiple challenges at once. You can be dealing with funding uncertainties, leadership transitions, and the impacts of natural disasters such as hurricanes and wildfires all at the same time.  

While strategic plans are helpful, they aren’t meant to fully prepare us for every obstacle that will come our way. During transition, it’s important to focus on what matters for the organization—its people, culture, and performance. These are the critical parts of the organization that keep it connected to the communities it serves, help us stay focused on our mission, and allow us to deliver our mission even in difficult times. 

Are you a leader navigating disruption and feeling the weight of burnout? Join Armstrong McGuire’s Wellness Wednesday series. I’ll be there next month on Wednesday, May 21, sharing insights on Tiny Shifts—small changes that make a big impact. Register here.

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Resources of Interest

Ways To Learn & Take Action

The Listing of Ways to Take Action and Be Informed was created in February. Many people have expressed, in emails or in conversation, that they are looking for ways to resist and oppose the efforts of those who are working to reverse the progress that has been made in the US over the years. 

Readers can save and/or bookmark this “Listing” as a way to access ongoing opportunities to take action and learn about a variety of social justice issues. This saved document can then be viewed independently of these periodic e-newsletters. Since the listing is a google doc, changes will be updated as new actions and opportunities become available.

The Color of Asheville’s Black-Owned Businesses and Community Directory 

• The NC African American Heritage Commission (AAHC) created in 2008, the commission works across the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources to achieve the mission of preserving, protecting, and promoting North Carolina’s African American history, art, and culture, for all people. website 
• The Freedom to Learn Network is a coalition of leading civil rights and social justice organizations; national teachers unions; education advocates; parents; students; and other interested parties across the nation and world focused on fighting against attempts to limit antiracist education in US schools. website 
• The North Carolina State Capitol Historic Site has begun a “From Naming to Knowing” project. The goal of this project is to name and, as much as possible, share the stories of the enslaved men who built and maintained the State Capitol between 1833 and 1865. https://namingtoknowing.org/ 
• The National Museum of African American History & Culture has 500,000 pages of Freedman’s Bureau records available online. https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/freedmens-bureau 
• The Official mapping Police Violence database – https://mappingpoliceviolence.us/ 

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Remembrance Projects Nationally & Locally

Learn More

The Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) has been the important partner not only to Buncombe County but to all communities willing and working to address their history of racial injustice. As in each edition of this e-newsletter, we will continue to highlight several items from the EJI. 

1. EJI is currently working with nearly 100 communities to advance Community Remembrance Projects. More than half have erected historical markers. You can find out more about the communities that have erected EJI sponsored Community Remembrance Project markers here.
2. You can view what is on each of the markers for Buncombe County, front and back, here as compiled by the Equal Justice Initiative. To see the markers, go to the following sites: for Mr. John Humphries – College & Spruce Streets; for Mr. Bob Brackett – Triangle Park; and for Mr. Hezekiah Rankin – Craven Street & Emma Road.
3. The full stories about each of the three men who were lynched are captured in this document. 
4. The Equal Justice Initiative shared this webpage of the Historical Markers Installation Ceremony In Asheville on October 30th of 2021.

     Please remember:

1. Do you want to stay connected to the work of the Equal Justice Initiative? Sign up for updates about their work here.
2. Every day of the year offers important racial justice history. If you want to get a daily reminder of that history, the Equal Justice Initiative offers this sign-up. Go here to get today’s reminder.

The NC Black Alliance offers this webpage with a page entitled – “Access to Healthcare: What You Need to Know” along with other pages that have articles and information concerning the Black community.