Thursday May 21, 2026 | Vol 40 No 10

The Supreme Court has done something remarkable.

It has ruled that the Constitution means what it says. The Equal Protection Clause forbids racial discrimination. Apparently, this is controversial.

The court's decision striking down Louisiana's court-mandated congressional map has sent Demo- crats into theatrical fits of outrage. Chuck Schumer calls it a return to Jim Crow. Barack Obama says the court is abandoning its role in protecting minority rights. Kamala Harris warns of a grand conspiracy to suppress the Black vote.

But before accepting this narra- tive, it is worth asking a straight- forward question: if Democrats are so deeply concerned about Black Americans, why does their con-

• WESTSIDESTORY NEWSPAPER
• Election Day Is Right
• Around the Corner.
• Here's How to Prepare
• Letter to the Editor:

Democrats Don't Want to Protect the Black Vote. They Want to Own It

By Solomon O. Smith | California Black Media

• By Craig J. DeLuz
• Officia
• Voter
• Primary
• Election
• Information

Tuesday, June 2, 2026 Don't Delay, Vote Today!

• BLACK VOTERS
• VOTI RIGHTS IGHTS
• MATTER JOTING RIGH CIVIL RIGHT
• Make a plan to VOTE EARLY!

ARE Voters in California have two ma- of their registration or reregister.

cern so reliably align with their own electoral interests?

To understand what is actually at stake, one must be honest about history. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was not born from paranoia or partisan calculation. It was born from documented, systematic, le- gally enforced brutality against Black political participation across the Deep South. States deployed literacy tests designed to be failed. Poll taxes priced Black citizens out of the ballot box. Registrars turned away qualified Black applicants on technicalities invented on the spot. In some counties where Black resi- dents constituted a majority, vir- tually none appeared on the voter rolls. Those who pressed the mat- ter risked their livelihoods, their safety, and sometimes their lives.

jor elections coming up this year:

the state primary election on June 2, and the midterm election on No- vember 3.

To help make sure eligible state residents understand the voting process, the state has created re- sources to inform the public.

Shirley N. Weber, California's Secretary of State and chief elec- tions officer, has created a range of online tools to build confidence in the process.

"We are working to make sure that people can see what we do and so that people know that our voting is safe and secure. And that every registered voter has a right to vote in a safe place," said Weber in a conference on voting rights. First Stop, Registration On the Secretary of State's web- site, registertovote.ca.gov, voter registration is a click away. Us- ers can register, check the status Continued from page 6

Online registrants will need a California driver's license, the last four digits of their social security num- ber and date of birth.

There is also a pre-registration for California residents 16 to 17 years old, which automatically registers them when they turn 18 years old. People without access to a com- puter can use paper forms which can be found at local libraries, the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), post offices and even some government buildings. For fur- ther help registering Californians can call the Election Division at (916)657-2166, the voter hotline at (800) 345-VOTE (8683) or fill out a help form online.

There is even a step-by-step guide.

To continue, visit westsidestorynewspaper.com

To continue, visit westsidestorynewspaper.com

Civil Rights Landmark Becomes New Hub for Student Success Valdez Educational Services public schools. The new Valdez headquarters served as Johnson's command center. Valdez Educational Services has refurbished the site to serve as a beacon of academic empowerment. Johnson's daughter, Kae Johnson, and nephew, former San Bernardino City Councilmember Rickie Van Johnson, will speak at this grand opening ceremony.

"Valdez Educational Services is honored to work in the building that a civil rights icon used as her base of operations," said Valdez Educa- tional Services President Aaron Valdez. "We will use this facility for tutoring and student mentoring. Our goal is to equip students with the tools to succeed in employment and in life, providing interventions that will positively im- pact their future."

Valdez Educational Services has established a statewide reputation for providing comprehen- sive tutoring and mentoring services, serving school districts from San Bernardino to Madera County.

Its methodology pairs students with knowl- edgeable, relatable, and diverse mentors, often recent university graduates, who focus on en- hancing academic skills and fostering positive behaviors vital to long-term success.

The organization provides a comprehensive range of complimentary, district-funded servic- es, including instructional recovery, high school mentorship, and specialized assistance for fos- ter youth and students with learning difficulties.

"We train our tutors to be kind, gentle, and supportive," explains Director Chad Brammers. "That support is developed collaboratively with parents and leadership to ensure maximum edu- cational progress."

For more information, contact Eva Valdez at (909) 362-3620 or via email at Info@ValdezE- ducation.com.