#melinee

[lejournaldupeintre]

Resistance fighters Mélinée and Missak Manouchian to be inducted into the Panthéon

Misak Manushyan and Meline, two children orphaned by the genocide, joined France and continued their struggle  against the Nazi occupiers as part of the FTP-MOI. Armenian resistance fighters Missak and Melinée Manouchian are to be inducted into the Panthéon, a person close to Emmanuel Macron confirmed to France Inter on Saturday.   The pantheonization will take place on 21 February…

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#fighters #manouchian #melinee #missak #nazis #Pantheon #resistance #WW2

[kvetchlandia]

Jeff Pott Panthéon, Paris March, 2024

The Panthéon is the monument in Paris where many of the officially recognized French national heroes are buried. The banner that’s hanging commemorates the re-entombing of Missak Manouchian and his wife, Melinee, in the Panthéon. Missak Manouchian was the leader of the FTP-MOI anti-fascist movement in the city of Paris for most of 1943 until his arrest, along with many of his comrades, in Nov. 1943. All of them were ultimately executed by the Nazis in early 1944. Manouchian himself was a survivor of the Armenian genocide, as was his wife and colleague, Melinee. They settled in France and quickly fell into Communist circles. When the war came, Missak became the head of the Armenian-language section of the French communist party. Soon, he transferred to the FTP-MOI, a n armed resistance group made up primarily of immigrant laborers. The letters MOI, in fact, are the French initials for the phrase “The Power of Immigrant Labor.” After the capture and murder by the Nazis of Boris Holban, a Russian Jewish immigrant and head of the Parisian FTP-MOI, Manouchian became the leader of that FTP-MOI branch. Manouchian and many of his comrades were captured by the Nazis and 14 of them were tried in a big show trial, rather than simply executed, as the Nazis usually did. Of the 14 tried, most were immigrant Jews, but the anti-fascist fighters also included anti-Nazi German refugees, anti-fascist Italian refugees and refugees Spanish leftists, veterans of the losing Republican side in the Spanish Civil War. The Nazis, trying to whip up antisemitic and anti-immigrant hatred in occupied Paris, plastered the city with posters accusing their victims of being the “Army of Crime.” That backfired completely, as residents of Paris, much to own risk, placed bouquets of flowers below the posters hung on advertising kiosks and pasted to city walls. All of the FTP-MOI members on trial were executed in early 1944. The residents of Paris then took to writing “Mort pour La France” ("Died for France,” the official slogan for those who died fighting in French wars and found on monuments throughout the country, on the posters, again, at great risk to themselves. It might have taken nearly 80 years, but these heroes of anti-fascist resistance, all of them communists, have now been honored in the Panthéon. Missak and Melinee are buried there and the names of all 14 martyrs are prominently featured by their tombs.

[nodynasty4us]

From the December 21, 2023 item:

Poor Black voters like these know they form the backbone of the Democratic Party, but feel that Biden has been taking them for granted for too long and are losing interest in him. A state organizer for Black Voters Matter, Melinee Calhoun, said: "It's: We did what we were asked to do, and nothing has changed." It's not that Biden has done nothing. For example, the infrastructure bill, which Republicans opposed, has $2.2 billion in help for Black farmers, but voters are not aware of it. They are also not aware of the $9 billion in the infrastructure bill for roads, bridges, airports, and public transit in Georgia. The money in the bill will not only improve the infrastructure in Georgia, but will create jobs making the improvements. In rural Georgia, Democrats are simply not visible, despite the state being a priority. When rural Black voters hear about Biden, he is talking about saving democracy, which they regard as far from their daily lives. Whipping up fears of Donald Trump as an autocrat doesn't make much of an impression on these voters.

#georgia #blacks #joe biden #2024

[ausetkmt]

Young Black Voters Motivated By Issues, Not Candidates - Capital B Atlanta

It’s a late Saturday morning at Fort Valley State University, and Jayden Williams is sounding the alarm like Dap Dunlap in “School Daze.”

“Knock knock! It’s time to vote!” the 19-year-old shouted inside a residence hall just before noon in mid-September. Williams serves as the youth and college division president for the Georgia NAACP. He and his team members spent about 20 minutes venturing through the building’s third-floor corridor, knocking on every door.

Several drowsy students wearing scarfs, bonnets, and du rags cracked open their doors and poked their heads out. FVSU freshman class president Kennedy McIntyre was there to greet some of them. Moments later, dozens of students flooded a first-floor common area before making their way outside and across the lush, freshly landscaped campus during the hot and sunny day. Williams, McIntyre, and campus NAACP president Aniya Warfield led the way.

Their destination was a grassy field across the street from Wildcat Stadium where voter engagement activists from the Black Voters Matter Fund, the NAACP, the ACLU, Represent Georgia and Georgia Stand-Up, among other groups, had set up tents and tables to catch the attention of people who came to watch the school’s undefeated football team take on the Allen University Yellow Jackets.

A DJ blasted southern rap music while some students stood in line for Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. Others couldn’t resist snapping selfies in front of the eye-catching Black Voters Matter charter bus parked nearby. FVSU’s Blue Machine Marching Band and drill team members strolled down a nearby street as volunteers passed out Black Voters Matter T-shirts, drawstring backpacks, bracelets, and other swag to students and alumni.

This was day two of the Black Youth Renaissance Tour, a collaborative, nonpartisan, get-out-the-vote effort organized by Black Voters Matter and several of its local grassroots partners.

The goal of the five-day caravan and charter bus trek to six HBCU campuses across the state — beginning a day prior at Albany State University on Sept. 16 and ending at the Atlanta University Center on Sept. 20 — was to register and energize as many Black students as possible before Nov. 8.

All of the fanfare — the fancy bus, the music, the ice cream, and the free apparel — is designed to attract crowds, particularly young, Black potential voters.

Georgia’s last gubernatorial matchup in 2018 was decided by fewer than 55,000 votes. Since then, at least 1.6 million more people have registered to vote across the state. An additional crop of potential new voters resides at the state’s HBCU campuses. FVSU alone has a population of more than 3,000 students, most of whom are adults between the ages of 18 and 34.

That demographic group of young voters cast ballots in record numbers in 2020 and last year, helping Democrats in Georgia secure landmark victories in the process. Young and rural Black voters are expected to play pivotal roles in the outcome of this year’s midterm contests as well, despite being among the least motivated groups.

Violent crime, COVID, monkeypox, lack of affordable housing, low-wage employment, hospital closures, student loans, higher utility bills, and overall inflation are some of the major issues disproportionately impacting Black Georgians this midterm election season.

BVM’s Georgia state organizing manager Melinee Calhoun is one of the activists who’ve worked tirelessly in recent years to mobilize the state’s rural Black population. She acknowledged that Black voters she’s encountered this year aren’t as energized as they were during the past two election cycles.

“People aren’t as motivated right now, but that’s why we’re pushing hard,” Calhoun said.

Represent Georgia Executive Director Kimberlyn Carter also recognized the frustrations that Black voters she’s encountered this year have expressed. Many voters in rural parts of the state voted for the first time ever during previous election cycles, only to have problems plaguing their communities get worse during the pandemic economy.

“Every presidential year, we go, ‘This is the election of the lifetime,’” Carter said. “We have gotten voters to the point where, ‘OK, we’re tired of hearing that.’”

Focused on issues, not candidates

Many students who participated in the voter engagement festivities said they don’t usually follow politics closely. Some were only vaguely familiar with household names like Gov. Brian Kemp, Stacey Abrams, Raphael Warnock, and Herschel Walker.

But most were aware of and concerned about the issues affecting their state and local communities. One major issue was the recent reinstatement of Georgia’s 2019 abortion restriction law following the U.S. Supreme Court’s overturn of Roe v. Wade, which had a galvanizing effect on young voters this summer.

“Once those rights have been taken away from you, it kind of makes it harder on you,” said Albany State University sophomore Chasely Sellers. 

Some time before Election Day, BVM will mail those pledge forms back to those who signed them to remind them of their promise and the campaign issues they said they care about the most.

BVM also works with volunteer residence hall captains on campus to ensure students have what they need to vote on or before Election Day.

“If they need a ride to the polls, their hall captain is going to ensure that,” Miller said. “If they need to vote by mail, their hall captain ensures that they get that vote by mail application.”

Freshman BreAnna Mitchell, 18, was one of the FVSU students who registered to vote for the first time. The nursing major said addressing gun violence is her top issue this year following the fatal shooting of her cousin in Atlanta three years ago.

Mitchell recalled Kemp enacting a law earlier this year that made it legal for “lawful weapons carriers” to carry concealed handguns without a permit.

“It should be illegal to carry a gun,” she said. “Even if you have a license, you just shouldn’t have it.”

Addressing gun violence was a recurring desire for students and activists throughout the five-day tour. One of those people was FVSU freshman Tynika Howell, 18, whose family moved from Buffalo, New York, to nearby Warner Robins, Georgia, about five years ago.

Howell recalled a 13-year-old boy being arrested and charged in Warner Robins last year in the fatal shooting of his own mother.

“When I was in high school, there were 15-year-olds with guns,” she said. “There is no reason anybody 13, 14, 15 should have a gun in my opinion.”

‘We have no jobs’

Catholine Walton, 31, was more focused on getting her new podcast idea up and running than who’s running for office when BVM activists did some door-to-door canvassing in her Buena Vista neighborhood on Sept. 18.

The Blessed Crown Beauty Supply store she opened in March 2020 recently closed due to slow business caused by the pandemic, she said. Walton suggested financial literacy and entrepreneurship are better paths to empowering Black folks than politics.

“If we are not out here being a part of the system making money, putting jobs into the community, I mean, what do we really benefit from whoever is in [office]?” she said.

Like many Black residents in Buena Vista, Jade Kendrick sees the poor local job market as a major concern. The 26-year-old is a stay-at-home mother of two who said she’s been unemployed for about a year after dropping out of nursing school at Valdosta Tech to take care of her children amid the pandemic.

“We have no jobs for moms down here who don’t have help,” she said. “We need more babysitting. We need more income, period, for moms who don’t get it.”

An Atlanta Journal-Constitution poll from September showed Abrams receiving about 80% support from Black voters who were surveyed. Black voters tend to favor Democrats by an overwhelming margin in most elections. Abrams received 93% of the Black vote during her first matchup against Kemp in 2018. 

Georgia and beyond

The largest crowds on the bus tour occurred at the AUC in Atlanta on Sept. 20, where hundreds of students from Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, and Spelman College participated in National Voter Registration Day festivities. 

Members of a local Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. chapter led a step show in front of CAU’s student center during the early afternoon.

Louisiana native Rayven Bryant, 19, is a sophomore at Spelman who said she plans to vote absentee in her home state’s midterm elections this year. She’s most concerned about abortion rights after a Louisiana judge blocked a trigger law from taking effect in July following the Supreme Court’s overturn of Roe v. Wade.

“Just being on campus with women, it’s always very hard to continuously see us be oppressed,” Bryant said. “My heart is still in Louisiana. … I want to be an active part of those politics and changing those issues as well.”

Several of the students who showed up for the fun were already registered to vote in other states, which Miller said is common at HBCU campuses.

“They don’t have to change their voter registration because they still are impacted by issues in their home state, but what we do is we give them a plan and a pledge to vote wherever they are,” she said. “Hopefully, a majority will choose to register here. Most college students stay in the state where they went to school or graduated from college.”

Morehouse senior Jalen Curry is a Rock Hill, South Carolina, native who plans to vote absentee in his home state.

“I think right now it’s very hard just to live,” he said. “It’s hard to go to school. It’s hard to get a job. It’s hard to find somewhere to stay. It’s just hard to exist.”

#Young Black Voters Motivated By Issues #Not Candidates #ATL #Black Voters Matter #Black Votes Matter

[popularbioofficial1]

[maharaniweddings]

Happy Fourth of July Maharanis!

Fireworks, barbecue and the arrival of Summer are all reminiscent of today's holiday! At Maharani Weddings we feel completely blessed to celebrate the Declaration of Independence and the birth of the United States of America as an independent nation. Brides near and far visit our site on a daily basis and each and every one of you remind us everyday how lucky we are to be in this industry and help make your wedding day dreams come true. So relax and grab a cool drink; you deserve it! Let's take a spin down memory lane and visit some features of 2017.  Melinee and Karmvir | Bridal Inspiration For The Ages Sarika and Jamaal | Parisian Fair Tale! Sobashi and Indy | Sri Lankan Sweeties  10 Inspirational Mandaps For Your Big Day 14 Ways To Slay Your Indian Bridal Look!  Photographer | Events Capture http://dlvr.it/PS8v9n

[maharaniweddings]

Queens, NY Indian Fusion Wedding by Events Capture

Wow - we have a beautiful whirlwind of a wedding film for you today, created by Events Capture! This feisty couple planned their wedding over a two year period, brainstorming creative details together, and assembling an all-star team of vendors - the final results are unbelievable! The video shows that Melinee and Karmvir's wedding was a sumptuous feast for the eyes. Every detail was designed and planned to utter perfection by Exclusive Events NY. The quick-on-their-feet couple (who organized their reception to ensure they had at least three solid three hours of dance time to music by DJUSA) were so playful and adorable with each other during the weekend - We were utterly swept up in their love story while watching the film! Maharani Melinee was such a radiant bride, adorned in fashions by Armaans Bridal and Lotus Bazaar, with superstar glam makeup by Beauty by Tamanna! Melinee has some incredible words of wisdom that's we'll close with: "Always remember how you felt the day of your wedding. Take that feeling and always bring joy and laughter into your home. A happy marriage is a balancing act of meeting your own needs and each other’s needs. Learn to listen, be present in the moment, and think before you speak, but don’t lose your sense of self in the process of giving." So well said! For more from Melinee, scroll down to read our interview with her! For even more wedding deets, click here for our previous coverage of Melinee and Karmvir's dazzling wedding photos! http://dlvr.it/NgzVrt

[maharaniweddings]

Queens, NY Indian Fusion Wedding by Events Capture

Today’s Maharani on our Platinum Guide blog knew that she wanted the best of both worlds! If you haven’t read about her blockbuster Sikh and Hindu wedding, click here! Planning two different ceremonies and multiple days of celebration required more coordination than your average wedding. However, when Exclusive Events takes a hold of the reigns, you know you are going to experience a celebration of a lifetime. Melinee was absolutely breathtaking in an elegant, subtle fit gown that showcased sparkling beads and a flowing train. The Jericho Terrace was bathed in sophisticated illumination with Exclusive Events NY spearheading floral and decor. The sweetheart stage included satin backdrops and a crystal chandelier with two peacock pillars on each side. Guests dined on cuisine and desserts baked in house at the Jericho Terrace, a win win for all! Melinee ensured that the Midas touch was the theme for her wedding cake that included gold, hand rolled flowers that toppled a fondant infused multi tiered cake. The dance floor was the place to be after guests were fed fine cuisine and decadent desserts with DJUSA on the turntables. The couple’s elegant wedding invitations were designed at Parekh Cards. Head into the Pinterest inspired gallery for all the images shot by Events Capture. http://dlvr.it/NHBgp1

[maharaniweddings]

Queens, NY Indian Fusion Wedding by Events Capture

Happy Friday Maharanis! Today we have an enchanting trifecta wedding celebration that will melt your heart! From the fashion lenghas, to the impeccable decor right down to the sizzling love between Maharani Melinee and Karmvir, we cannot wait to dish out the deets! This carefully planned fusion wedding celebration planned and designed by Events Capture who also helmed all the images, was a cornucopia of fun! Not a single detail was spared as you will soon come to find! Melinee is one stunning bride! Each image portrays this bride with class and style, after all this bride donned six different outfits for her series of multiple events! Both Armaans Bridal and Lotus Bazaar played a crucial role in ensuring that this bride has the ultimate in Indian bridal wear. Beauty by Tamanna was brought on to helm all beauty duties and it was a tough decision deciding which wedding look we liked the best! The bride and groom fused both of their Indian backgrounds into their wedding ceremony with a Sikh wedding at the Gurdwara Mata Sahib and Hindu ceremony held at the Ganesh Temple. In each ceremony, this bride was dripping with exquisite class. A pink and orange wedding lengha with heavy stone work took center stage in the Gurdwara and a red and silver ensemble was fit for a queen in the Ganesh Temple. Take note of the bridal jewelry  from Lotus Bazaar that was the perfect ensemble to both of these gorgeous outfits. Major bridal inspiration, Maharanis! Both venues were outfitted with the decor for the ages by Exclusive Events NY who have put forth originality and spunk in any venue they touch. The gallery is just brimming with sophisticated pizzaz with all the images personally cultivated by Events Capture. http://dlvr.it/NH0mtV