About Skyler Johnson

SF Beer Week Kick Off Party

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1st Amendment Brewery hosts the official SF Beer Week 2022 Kick Off Party (East Bay) at its San Leandro brewery with 29 East Bay craft breweries pouring their latest releases this Friday, February 11, 2022. One of the biggest nights in California craft beer, the Bay Area Brewers Guild teams up with 21st Amendment and four other breweries across the greater SF Bay Area region for five epic parties on February 11 to represent each of the Guild’s five chapters (SF, East Bay, North Bay, Silicon Valley, Coast). The Kick-Off events sub in for the annual Opening Gala to showcase Guild members within their local beer scenes while keeping the celebrations more intimate, and safe.

For the SF Beer Week Kick Off Party (East Bay), 21st Amendment Brewery opens up 11,000 square feet of indoor capacity plus their beer garden for the annual fundraiser for the Bay Area Brewers Guild. In addition to 29 breweries pouring unlimited tasters of their amazing beers, an array of food trucks (21A Food Truck, Square Pizza, Roadside Rotisserie) and live music (Charles Wheal Band) will ignite an unforgettable evening with hundreds of different beers available for attendees to taste.

The following breweries will participate in the SF Beer Week 2022 Kick Off Party (East Bay): 21st Amendment Brewery, Almanac Beer Co., Altamont Beer Works, Bruehol Benicia Brewing, Buck Wild Brewing, Calicraft Brewing, Canyon Club Brewery, Canyon Lakes Brewery, Danville Brewing, Del Cielo Brewing, Drake’s Brewing, East Brother Beer Co., Epidemic Ales, Faction Brewing, Federation Brewing, Fieldwork Brewing, Five Suns Brewing, Ghost Town Brewing, Gilman Brewing, Headlands Brewing, Heretic Brewing, Oakland United Beerworks, Ocean View Brew Works, Origin Brewer, Original Pattern, Pennyweight Craft Brewery, Shadow Puppet Brewing, Side Gate Brewery, and Temescal Brewing.

Along with a stellar lineup of East Bay breweries spotlighting their new beer releases, five Bay Area Brewers Guild SF Beer Week Collaboration Beers will also be available for tastings throughout the event: Red Whale (Tropical West Coast Red IPA), Hop Drip (Sour Fruit IPA), Juxtapose (DDH West Coast IPA), Pure Harmony (Cold IPA), and Intrinsic (Enhanced West Coast IPA).

21st Amendment Brewery pours many of its beloved beers at the SF Beer Week Kick Off Party (East Bay), including its latest small-batch release in their Chalkboard Project: Double Happiness (Double IPA, 8.75% ABV). The Chalkboard Project features astonishingly fresh 21st Amendment limited-edition beers (16 oz. cans in 4-packs) that commemorate the creative minds behind chalkboard designs for thousands of beers at breweries across the country. Double Happiness is a Double IPA with big brash hop flavors and aromas of pineapple, tangerine zest, and orange marmalade. Double Happiness is vibrantly packaged with a colorful label celebrating Valentine’s Day with candy hearts having fun phrases such as “Brew & Me,” “Luv U Beerly,” “Wheat Heart,” “Hoppy 4 You,” “Cheers 2 You,” “Hey Hop Stuff,” and more.

VIP and General Admission sessions are available for purchase online with VIP admission from 4:30pm – 6:00pm, and GA admission from 6:00pm – 10:00pm. To purchase tickets to the SF Beer Week Kick Off Party (East Bay), please visit Eventbrite. Please note that there will be no tickets sold at the door.

All attendees will be required to show proof of vaccination against COVID-19 (both doses for Moderna and Pfizer, single dose for Johnson & Johnson). Proof of vaccination is one of the following: CDC Vaccination Card (photos will be accepted) or a CA Digital Vaccine Card available HERE.

About 21st Amendment Brewery22 years ago (established in 2000), Nico Freccia and Shaun O’Sullivan opened the doors to the 21st Amendment brewpub in San Francisco’s historic South Park neighborhood. In addition to quickly becoming one of the city’s favorite pubs, 21st Amendment began expanding beyond the Bay Area by helping to pioneer the movement to canned craft beer. Known for their witty names and delicious brews, 21st Amendment offers year-round selections, as well as seasonal offerings and their infamous once-in-a-while limited-edition releases. Sold in 33 states plus Washington D.C., 21st Amendment produces beer in its state-of-the-art brewery headquarters in San Leandro, California, and is among the top 50 craft beer brewers in America.

Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends

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It’s Spidey time! The new SPIDEY AND HIS AMAZING FRIENDS FREE COMIC, a promotional comic that kids are sure to love, will be available in comic shops on May 4! Arriving in stores just days before Free Comic Book Day, it’s a perfect comic for retailers to hand out to younger readers and families looking to celebrate the spirit of comic books together.

Based on the hit Marvel’s Spidey and His Amazing Friends animated series now airing on Disney Junior, Disney+, YouTube, and Marvel HQ, the SPIDEY AND HIS AMAZING FRIENDS FREE COMIC is a collection of stories from the My First Comic Reader series. These thrilling adventures starring Spidey, Miles Morales, and Ghost-Spider, as well as Spider-Man’s greatest villains including Green Goblin and Doc Ock provide kids with a great entry point into comics reading and an exciting introduction to the world of Spider-Man! The not-to-be-missed comic also includes pages and pages of fun interactive activities that are sure to engage even the youngest of Spidey readers!

Enjoy the SPIDEY AND HIS AMAZING FRIENDS FREE COMIC when it swings into comic shops on May 4!

About Marvel Entertainment

Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of more than 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media for over eighty years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing, publishing, games, and digital media.

Shang-Chi Twelve

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A new weapon that could rival the might of the Infinity Stones will emerge this May in “SHANG-CHI #12!” In this crucial issue, Shang-Chi‘s greatest enemies have gathered under his vengeful grandfather, and in order to protect his bloodline, Shang-Chi will have to confront his dark side and unleash the power he was destined to wield… THE TEN RINGS! The devastating consequences of this action will have a major impact on Shang-Chi’s role in the greater Marvel Universe and further complicate his already tense relationship with the Avengers.

The legend of Marvel’s greatest fighter has been redefined for a new age in acclaimed writer Gene Luen Yang and superstar artist Marcus To‘s hit run on SHANG-CHI. Since the very beginning, Shang-Chi’s ongoing solo series has revealed long-hidden secrets about his origins, introduced readers to his warrior siblings, and saw him sacrifice his good standing with Marvel’s heroes in order to honor his newly found family. Now, Earth is under attack from Shang-Chi’s grandfather and the forces of Ta Lo! To save his world, Shang-Chi must succumb to his late father’s wishes and inherit the deadly Ten Rings. But will he be able to wield its power, or will its temptations be too much? Find out when “SHANG-CHI #12” arrives in May!

About Marvel Entertainment

Amelia Moore – vinegar

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Amelia Moore gives a stunning live performance of her new single, “vinegar,” in this video, which received a YouTube Premiere earlier today. The 21-year-old Georgia native is backed by a string quartet in the intricate production.

Praising “vinegar” for having “the most powerful chorus of 2022, thus far,” PAPER observed, “The height of the song pulls back almost everything, like a stomach dropping after receiving that text from an ex.” Check out Moore’s Q&A with PAPER HERE. PLNKWIFI.com said, “If you enjoyed devouring Amelia Moore’s debut single ‘sweet and sour,’ get ready for seconds!” U.K. magazines Notion and The Line of Best Fit immediately added “vinegar” to their playlists. Combined, “vinegar” and “sweet and sour” have already amassed nearly five million global streams.

Moore will support Capitol Records label mate FLETCHER on her sold-out North American tour, starting on February 28 at The Fillmore in San Francisco, CA. The run includes two-night-stands at the Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles (March 2 & 3) and Webster Hall in New York City (March 22 & 23). See below for itinerary.

In a whirlwind journey she describes as “homeschool to Hollywood,” Moore got her start singing in the church choir as a child, followed her dreams to Los Angeles at age 18, and soon attracted a massive following on the strength of her bold, vulnerable songwriting. Ones To Watch said, “the rising star demonstrates a penchant for infectious experimentation, pulling from the worlds of ominous pop, alluring R&B, and mesmerizing electronic textures” and added Moore to their “25 Artists to Watch in 2022” list.

Amelia Moore Tour Dates – Supporting FLETCHER

2/28 – San Francisco, CA – The Fillmore

3/2-3 – Los Angeles, CA – Fonda Theatre

3/5 – San Diego, CA – The Observatory North Park

3/13 – Atlanta, GA – Terminal West

3/14 – Nashville, TN – Brooklyn Bowl Nashville

3/17 – Boston, MA – Paradise Rock Club – Music Hall

3/18 – Philadelphia, PA – The Foundry at The Fillmore

3/20 – Washington, DC – 9:30 Club

3/22-23 – New York, NY – Webster Hall

Medjet × FMCA

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Medjet, the industry leader in air medical transport and crisis response memberships for travelers, has partnered with Family Motor Coach Association (FMCA), the leading association for RV owners, dealers, suppliers, manufacturers, campgrounds, service facilities and other firms servicing the RV owner or the RV industry, to help make RV travel safer. Medjet becomes the newest offering in FMCA’s RV Club Members-Only Benefits program, just as RV enthusiasts begin planning their 2022 travel roadmap. Medjet offers its members air medical transport to a home hospital of choice should they find themselves hospitalized more than 150 miles from their residence. FMCA members can save up to 20% on annual Medjet memberships.

“Over 10 million travelers are hospitalized abroad each year,” said Medjet CEO Mike Hallman. “Millions more while traveling domestically. Most health insurance, travel insurance and high-end credit card travel benefits will only evacuate someone to the ‘nearest adequate’ hospital. Medjet gets its members moved to a hospital at home, and we pay for the transport.”

While most people may only think about air medical transport protection programs for added safety while traveling internationally, Medjet has previously stated that almost 50% of its patient transfers each year involve members hospitalized domestically. “It can be just as frustrating to be stuck in an unfamiliar hospital three states away as it is to be stuck in one halfway around the world,” said Hallman.

With the COVID-19 pandemic curtailing international air travel in 2020 and 2021, many RV sales and rental entities, as well as RV share platforms and industry associations, reported record-breaking increases in RV vacationers in America. Many predict that more RV travelers will be out on the road in the spring and summer of 2022, as well.

“At FMCA, we educate, equip and empower RV owners,” said FMCA CEO Chris Smith. “With a lot of less experienced, first-time RVers hitting the road, and COVID still a factor, safety and back-up planning are more important than ever. Having a solid plan for how to handle a medical emergency is essential. We hope our members will take the time to learn about this great traveler protection membership and take advantage of the discounts we’ve arranged for them.”

About Medjet

Medjet is the industry leader in travel protection and medical transport, forging a global network of air medical transport affiliates and security providers over the past 30 years. Medjet is the traveler protection program-of-choice for AARP, the NFL, the five top luxury travel advisory consortia and numerous other well-respected organizations and corporations, offering both consumer and corporate/organizational membership programs. The company most notably differentiates from other players in the market through their commitment to arrange air medical transfer to the member’s home country hospital of choice (not just “nearest acceptable”), regardless of medical necessity. Similarly, unlike other travel security and response membership programs, the company’s MedjetHorizon option does not rely on hard triggers, such as government-issued evacuation orders, to act on behalf of members.

JAJA × The Chainsmokers

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To celebrate National Margarita Day (2/22/22), JAJA is harnessing the power of twos as Grammy-winning duo and JAJA co-owners The Chainsmokers have created two new JAJA margaritas for tequila lovers to enjoy!

With this palindrome day in history, The Chainsmokers‘ Drew Taggart and Alex Pall have each infused their own personality into a delicious, refreshing and easy-to-make margarita. Drew has chosen to make a JAJA Watermelon Lime Mashup Margarita utilizing JAJA Blanco’s ($35) subtle notes of black pepper and citrus fruit paired with ingredients including limeade, spiked seltzer and watermelon.

On the other hand, Alex selected JAJA Anejo’s ($45) full-bodied, complex tequila with notes of vanilla, almond, honey and oak to complement a cocktail with hibiscus tea, sparkling water and blood orange for the JAJA Hibiscus High Margarita.

About JAJA Tequila

JAJA Tequila is one of the fastest growing tequila brands in the United States, seeing triple-digit growth over the past two years, outpacing the premium tequila category. Whether utilizing humor and memes in their eye-catching brand campaigns or creating unique fan experiences, JAJA is appealing to consumers who don’t take themselves too seriously but do have a sense of civic responsibility.

Each bottle of JAJA is made from 90% recycled glass and zero plastic, and pulp from the agave is composted and returned to the fields as fertilizer. In addition, JAJA has highlighted and supported different organizations such as Tequila Interchange Project, as well as a give-back program designed to help local Mexican community partnerships.

NBOTB: A Salute to the Battle

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Webber Marketing (WM), creators of the National Battle of the Bands (NBOTB), releases a new documentary film titled: National Battle of the Bands: A Salute to the Battle. The film is presented by Pepsi Zero Sugar and will air throughout February in honor of Black History Month.

The new film captures the essence and showcases the spirit of the HBCU band battle, highlighting both the field and stand performances, and features Bethune Cookman University, Marching Wildcats; Langston University, “Marching Pride” Band; North Carolina A&T State University, The Blue and Gold Marching Machine; Norfolk State University, The Spartan “Legion” Marching Band; Southern University, Human Jukebox; Jackson State University, The Sonic Boom of the South; Talladega College, Great Tornado Band, and Tennessee State University, Aristocrat of Bands.

“A Salute to the Battle is a documentary film that brings the action, energy and pageantry of the ‘Battle’ performance to viewers, in an up close and personal perspective, right into comfort of their homes where they can experience the action with their friends and family,” says Derek Webber, Executive Producer & CEO of Webber Marketing. “There is so much pride and prestige that accompanies the HBCU band experience and the long legacy of trailblazers who paved the way for HBCU bands to exist. We are honored to play a part in continuing the celebration and sharing of their stories with the masses through our films and events.”

The eight Historical Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) marching bands appearing in the film participated in the 2021 NBOTB in Houston, Texas. The goal of the documentary is to continue amplifying the importance and impact of the National Battle of the Bands event, the participating bands, and its members and the HBCU community at large.

“At Pepsi, we’ve committed to supporting HBCUs year-round and I’m honored to help shine a light on these talented marching bands with this new documentary release,” said Chauncey Hamlett, VP and CMO of PepsiCo Beverages North America (South Division). “These bands are part of the driving force in the celebrated HBCU culture, bringing the energy, hype, and history to every game.”

The historical significance of HBCU bands is sown into the fabric of society. HBCU marching bands continue to be front and center at some of the biggest moments in history; filling the air with their unified sound while marching proudly and dancing unapologetically in celebration of their ancestors who paved the way for their rhythm to be on display for all to see, hear and feel.

For more information about the NBOTB and its “A Salute to the Battle” documentary film, click HERE and stay updated on social media on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

About the National Battle of the Bands

The event’s mission is to enhance the exposure of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and their marching bands, the roles they play in educating aspiring musicians and developing our future leaders. Event organizers have generated more than $700,000 in scholarships for the participating colleges and universities.

Col. Charles Young

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By: Charles Blatcher III

One hundred years, one month, and nine days to the date of Colonel Charles Young‘s death in Nigeria on January 8, 1922, February 17, 2022 will mark the day that the United States Army will bestow the rank of Brigadier General of the United States Army on Colonel Charles Young. Also, this promotion serves as an affirmation that perseverance and dedication to a goal have been rewarded. This honor to Brigadier General Charles Young is the result of a 41-year advocacy by the Coalition of Black Veterans headquarters in Oakland, California, and a promise I made to retired Sergeant Samuel Waller.

The advocacy began in 1977 when I met and became friends with retired Sergeant Samuel Waller, the last surviving veteran of the Spanish American War in California. Sergeant Waller had served with then Captain Charles Young in the Philippine Islands (1901) as a member of the 24th Infantry Regiment. Young was the Commanding Officer of the Ninth Calvalry Regiment in the country. According to Waller, Young was the best Officer in the United States Army. He said that Black troops loved and respected Young and would follow him to hell and back. Waller was adamant when he added that the only reason Charles Young was not a General was based upon his color. Sergeant Waller planted a seed that day. As I began learning about Colonel Young, I had to concur with Sergeant Waller that there was only one reason as W.E.B. DuBois said, “There was no place for a Black General in the United States Army.”

In 1978 while consulting with Sergeant Waller regarding the “March for Recognition” Sam made a request: to not let them [Black soldiers] be written out of history. As a young Black man and a veteran, I promised to do my best to honor his request. My promise has been kept with Colonel Charles Young’s promotion to Brigadier General. My sincere thanks to the organizations, associations, and many individuals who have contributed to this milestone.

Young’s promotion is a great day for many people including his descendants as well as to the State of Kentucky. Any day that a nation can face its past mistakes and put forth the efforts to correct those mistakes is a Great Day. It is a sign of growth and hope. Growth in that we have taken steps to mature beyond the foolishness of not understanding that the strength of our Nation resides in our unity of purpose and Hope that we continue to do the necessary work to preserve our Democratic Republic. However, this is not the end of the advocacy for Brigadier General Charles Young.

We have submitted a request for the Department of Interior to consider annexing the General’s birth cabin which is in May’s Lick, Kentucky, into the National Park Service. We are looking at the tourism possibilities of getting the highway between May’s Lick and Wilberforce, Ohio designated the “Brigadier General Charles Young Corridor.” The designation covers the route from his birthplace to his residence at the time of his death.

In addition to making Young’s birthplace part of the National Park Service, we are leading an effort to erect a bronze statue of Brigadier General Charles Young on horseback in Washington, D.C. This statue will memorialize the General’s 497-mile walk/horseback ride from Wilberforce, Ohio to Washington D.C. in 1917. The trip was to prove his fitness to return to active duty after forced into medical retirement. The statue could welcome visitors to the National African American Museum of History and Culture. Our military involvements are the cornerstone of our claim for Civil Rights. Currently, there are bronze maquettes on public display in the Kentucky Center for African American Heritage, in Louisville, and the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum in Houston. We have called upon Lonnie Bunch, the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institute, for guidance.

The United States Army is in the process of renaming Army bases that currently honor Confederate generals. Army tradition dictates that the rank of General is the qualification for being considered for a base name. Naming a base after a Colonel would represent a break in that tradition. We submitted Colonel Young’s name anyway on the merits of his history. In February 2020, Governor Andy Beshear granted Young a state promotion of honorary Brigadier General in the Kentucky National Guard. However, this honorary promotion was limited to the State. Governor Beshear joined us in writing to President Joe Biden to federalize the State promotion that would qualify Young to be considered a candidate for a base to bear his name. Now, this recent Federal promotion may have a significant impact on our request.

The Coalition is optimistic that along with Young, we have sent recommendations for four other Generals to be considered: Brigadier General Benjamin O. Davis, Sr., the first Black General in the Regular Armed Forces; General Roscoe Robinson, Jr., the first Black 4 Star General in American History; Brigadier General Hazel W. Johnson, the first Black Woman General in American History; and Major General Charles C. Rogers, the only Black General recipient of the Medal of Honor. The Commission’s decision will be released in October.

Coalition members are in talks regarding an event to mark Young’s promotion. More than likely, the event will be planned for the Spring or Summer in Kentucky or Washington, D.C. It would be appropriate to host a ceremony in Section C of Arlington National Cemetery. The Arlington visit would allow us to have a site visit of the grounds at the National African American Museum of History and Culture. The public will be welcome to join the “Salute”. I end with a personal “Salute” to all of you who contributed toward the promotion. I “Salute” the late Sergeant Samuel Waller, United States Army for giving purpose to my life. Ready & Forward!

Remote Control

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This week, Vera List Center at the New School is pleased to partner with High Line Art, writer and researcher Arthur Holland Michel, and The Clemente Soto Vélez Cultural and Educational Center to present Remote Control: Surveying Drones and Culture Today. Our three-day online symposium kicks off on Wednesday, February 9 with Soundscapes of Conflict, a panel discussion that will explore the embodied experience of drone warfare. (Please note: Guillermo Galindo‘s live performance of Remote Control at The Clemente has been postponed to a later date.)

On Thursday, February 10, Imaging War: Drones from the Ground will address the disconnect between depictions of drone warfare in Western and American media with the lived reality of those who experience it. The panel Aerial Empowerment: Drones for Art, Activism, and Collective Journalism brings together artists and activists in a discussion on the empowering possibilities of consumer-level drones and their implications for the broader discourse on technology, power, and surveillance, while Algorithms and Warfare explores the contested ethical implications of algorithmic warfare that separates human decision making from the effects of their actions.

On Friday, February 11, Shifting Focus: Representing Drones considers filmic and artistic representations of drones, while Surfacing the War on Terror Today focuses on the twenty-year evolution of the “War on Terror” and the central role that drones have played in enabling its international reach. And finally, a closing lecture later that day features activist Kathy Kelly, whose peace activism contests the decades-long international disruption of US drone policies and occupation.

The Vera List Center for Art and Politics at The New School is generously supported by members of the Vera List Center Board and individual donors as well as the following institutional funders: The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Boris Lurie Art Foundation, Dayton Foundation, Ford Foundation, Kettering Fund, the Native Arts and Cultures Foundation, Pryor Cashman LLP, and The New School.

Rooney Rule Replacement

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Civil rights leaders who met with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell called for the League to establish specific recruiting and hiring procedures for executive and coaching positions, with meaningful consequences for teams that do not abide by the rules.

The Rooney Rule, a policy established in 2003 that requires teams to interview candidates of color for head coaching and senior football operation positions, must be replaced, the leaders said.

National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial, National Action Network Founder and President Rev. Al Sharpton, National Coalition on Black Civic Participation President and CEO Melanie Campbell, NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson, and National African American Clergy Network co-convener Dr. Barbara Williams-Skinner requested the meeting after former Miami Dolphins coach Brian Flores accused the NFL and three of its teams of racial discrimination in a proposed class-action lawsuit filed last week.

“However well-intentioned, the effect of the Rooney Rule has been for team decision-makers to regard interviews with candidates of color as an extraneous step, rather than an integral part of the hiring process,” Morial said, noting that the NFL currently has only one Black head coach, two fewer than when the Rule was established. “The gravity of the situation is long past the crisis point.”

“The Rooney Rule has been proven to be something the owners used to deceptively appear to be seeking real diversity,” Sharpton said. “We must have firm targets and timetables.”

Sharpton said the National Action Network will be approaching states and municipalities to stop public funding and tax incentives to NFL stadiums until these firm commitments on timetables and goals are solid and public.

“NAN also has begun talking to members of Congress about Congressional hearings since public funds are being used to uphold this biased enterprise,” Sharpton said. “Lastly, we will be going to major advertisers telling them they cannot continue to use our dollars in this unacceptable economic arrangement.”

The leaders, who have long advocated for an investigation into the NFL’s hiring practices, said they welcomed Goodell’s announcement of an independent review of the NFL’s diversity, equity, and inclusion policies and initiatives, and emphasized that the civil rights and racial justice community must be part of that review.

“It’s simply not enough for the League to declare its good intentions,” Johnson said. “This is a long-standing crisis that must be confronted with diligence and rigor.”

The influence of professional football on the national culture lends a heightened urgency to the diversity issue, the leaders said.

“While the NFL has begun making strides with regard to social justice and racial equity, it’s clear that voices of color are not being entirely heard in the executive suites,” Sharpton said. “Good intentions are not enough.”

The leaders also reiterated their wholehearted support for Flores.

“Coach Flores has taken a principled stand for justice, at no small risk to himself and to his career,” Campbell said. “He has risen to meet a crucial moment in history.”

Williams-Skinner added, “We agree that Coach Flores’ lawsuit presents the League with an opportunity to engage in substantive change and we will do everything in our power to make sure that opportunity is not squandered.”

The leaders and Commissioner Goodell agreed to continue working together to achieve diversity, equity, and inclusion at every level of the NFL and its member teams.