Omarosa Manigault causes uproar at Black Journalists convention

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Organizers at the National Association of Black Journalists convention in New Orleans decided to add Omarosa Manigault at the last moment to the event, and other participants aren’t having it.

“The majority there don’t want her involved. It’s heavy drama — even the moderator is refusing. Everyone sees it as extremely offensive,” a source told PageSixof the change.

Originally, New York Times journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones was scheduled to moderate a panel on Friday on police brutality. The panel was supposed to feature Valerie Castile, Sandra Sterling, and the New Yorker’s Jelani Cobb. However, both Hannah-Jones and Cobb pulled out, with Bounce TV’s Ed Gordon set to take over as moderator.

Cobb later told PageSix that the problem “wasn’t simply the addition of Omarosa. It was that she was added at the eleventh hour and it was unclear whether we would be able to discuss substantive issues regarding the administration and its policing policies. Also, the panel was very disorganized, and basic things like format were not clear.”

Omarosa has not made herself any friends in the Black community for her continuing, outspoken support of President Donald Trump and his policies and rhetoric, so it’s little wonder that her inclusion, especially at the last minute, has caused a stir.

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Marshawn Lynch sits during the national anthem

Marshawn Lynch was back for his first NFL game since 2015 on Saturday night, and while he didn’t get on the field for the Raiders’ preseason opener, he did get noticed.

Lynch sat during the national anthem, echoing the actions of Colin Kaepernick, who began a national conversation when he sat during the anthem during the preseason last year. Lynch did not speak to reporters after the game and has not explained why he sat.

Raiders coach Jack Del Rio said he believes in standing for the anthem but isn’t going to attempt to force Lynch to do so.

“I’m going to respect you as a man. You do your thing and we’ll do ours,” Del Rio said he told Lynch.

Kaepernick has said through his representatives that if he signs with a team this year, he’s going to stand for the anthem. Other players who joined Kaepernick in kneeling during the anthem last year have signaled that they’re going to stand this year as well. But Lynch has always been his own man, and he’s going to do his own thing.

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