My News LA: Bernard Parks’ Letter to Ridley-Thomas Judge Prompts Ethics Complaint

by Contributing Editor August 26, 2023 Former City Councilman and Police Chief Bernard Parks was hit with an ethics complaint this week alleging he illegally used the seal of the City of Los Angeles and an image of his Los Angeles Police Department badge on a letter he wrote to

A KBLA Talk 1580 Editorial: Areva Martin on the MRT Sentencing

Click here to listen.

Our Weekly Op-Ed: ‘Kissing babies’,We don’t support Dr. Mark Ridley-Thomas because he kissed babies. We support him because he took care of business.

Support for Dr. Mark Ridley-Thomas By Joan V. Crear, Gloria Davis, Harry McElroy and Sonya Vasquez Guest Op-Ed We don’t support Dr. Mark Ridley-Thomas because he kissed babies. We support him because he took care of business. When the few grocery stores left in South Los Angeles were burned

Ten Myths vs. Ten Facts About the Mark Ridley-Thomas Case

MYTH #1 “Long-time politician Mark Ridley-Thomas was found guilty by a jury today of bribery in a scheme in which his son received substantial benefits [emphasis added in italics] from the University of Southern California…in exchange for Ridley-Thomas’ political support for lucrative county contracts and contract amendments with the

L.A. Focus: Ethics Complaint Filed Against Bernard Parks Over Letter Recommending Harsh Sentencing of Mark Ridley-Thomas

An ethics complaint was filed this week against Former City Councilmember/Police Chief Bernard Parks alleging illegal use of the City of L.A. official seal and LAPD badge in a letter received by United States Attorney Martin Estrada regarding the sentencing of Mark Ridley-Thomas. “The United States Attorney for

Details for the August 28, Dr. Ridley-Thomas Sentencing Hearing

DETAILS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THE HEARING: WHEN: Monday, August 28, 2023 at 8:30 a.m. (new date) LOCATION: Courtroom 7D of the First Street United States Courthouse – Central District of California, 350 W. 1st Street, Los Angeles, California 90012 JUDGE: Honorable Dale S. Fischer If you would like

LA Times: Hurricane threat pushes Ridley-Thomas sentencing back a week

BY DAKOTA SMITH STAFF WRITER AUG. 19, 2023 | 8 AM PT A tropical storm heading for Southern California has triggered a delay in Monday’s sentencing of longtime politician Mark Ridley-Thomas. Ciaran McEvoy, a public information officer for the U.S. attorney’s office, said Friday that the storm threat

🚨Ridley-Thomas Sentencing Hearing POSTPONED to Aug. 28🚨

We just got notice from the court that the Dr. Mark Ridley-Thomas sentencing hearing is being postponed to Monday, August 28, 2023. Due to this update, Sunday's Silent Candlelight vigil will be rescheduled to Sunday, August 27, 2023. Please stay tuned for additional updates. For the most up

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WHERE WE STAND - The Sentence

Dr. Mark Ridley-Thomas (MRT) will appear for sentencing in federal court on Monday, August 28, at 8:30 a.m. for guilty verdicts on one charge of  bribery, one charge of conspiracy, one charge of honest services mail fraud and four charges of honest services wire fraud. The Court has

Our Weekly: Ridley-Thomas overcharged and overly punished

OUR WEEKLY LLC | August 16, 2023 . 3:32 PM |  2 min read Sentencing scheduled for Aug. 21 By Tavis Smiley | Guest op-ed As Black folk, we know how to fade tragedy and not fall into despair. And yet, sometimes the points of pain are felt so acutely; especially when we

Tune Into KBLA 1580AM 8/17, 4-6PM

Tune into Areva Martin In Real Time on KBLA 1580 AM on Thursday, August 17 from 4pm-6pm, for "The Sentencing of Dr. Mark Ridley-Thomas: The Quest for Justice and The Role of Race". Click here to listen online. Spread the word!

Shine the Light for Justice -- Silent Candlelight Vigil 8/27/23

Please join SCLC Southern CA and South LA Clergy for Public Accountability Sunday, August 27, 2023 at 6:30pm for a silent candlelight vigil across the Mark Ridley-Thomas Bridge from the La Cienega entrance of Kenneth Hahn Park (4100 S. La Cienega Blvd.). Limited free parking is available prior to

Our Weekly: Prosecution, Defense File Competing Responses to Sentencing Memorandum

OUR WEEKLY LLC August 9, 2023 . 1:26 PM 3 min read By | Michael Bustamante Los Angeles’ weather isn’t the only thing heating up this month. On Monday, both the defense and prosecution filed competing responses to Judge Dale S. Fischer in the matter of the United States of

Witness LA: Deconstructing The Conviction Of Mark Ridley-Thomas – Part 3: The Trial Penalty

August 9, 2023 by Celeste Fremon On Monday, August 21, Mark Ridley-Thomas and his team of defense attorneys will come before U.S. District Court Judge Dale S. Fischer in order to persuade the judge that Los Angeles County’s long-time and much revered policy maker should not be sentenced

LA Focus: Marking Time: As Mark Ridley-Thomas Awaits Sentencing, The Community Weighs the Impact of a Conviction On His Legacy

August 8, 2023 | lafocus Lisa Collins When Judge Dale S. Fischer sentences Mark Ridley-Thomas (MRT) on August 21, it has the potential to bring an ignoble conclusion to an otherwise stellar career of public service.  According to federal sentencing guidelines, Dr. Ridley-Thomas could face 97 to 121 months in federal

LA Focus: Prosecutors Seek Six-Year Prison Term for Mark Ridley-Thomas

August 9, 2023 | lafocus Prosecutors are seeking a six-year sentence in federal prison for former L.A. Councilmember Mark Ridley-Thomas, who was convicted of one count of bribery, conspiracy, honest services mail fraud and four counts of honest services wire fraud earlier this year for funneling a $100,000 donation

Empowerment Congress Charter Reform Working Group

Please join us along with the Empowerment Congress as we meet with Council President Pro-Tempore Marqueece Harris-Dawson to discuss a range of topics including transparency, accountability, and more. This event will take place tomorrow, August 8th, 2023 from 6:00-7:00 PM. Due to the popularity of this event, please

Save The Date: Dr. Mark Ridley-Thomas Sentencing Hearing 8/21/23

Witness LA: Deconstructing The Conviction Of Mark Ridley-Thomas: Part 2

By Celeste Fremon | July 17, 2023 (If you’ve not yet read Part 1 you can find it here.) Two weeks ago, at 9:58 a.m. on Monday, June 26, U.S. District Judge Dale S. Fischer entered her 7th floor courtroom at the United States Courthouse at 350

L.A. Magazine: As Mark Ridley-Thomas’ Prison Sentence Looms, Veteran Politician’s Latest Legal Maneuver Is Rejected

Cityside Column: Community support stands strong despite a guilty verdict for conspiracy, bribery and wire fraud related to contracts and dealings with the USC School of Social Work By Jon Regardie - July 12, 2023 The latest development in the legal saga of Mark Ridley-Thomas was no surprise. On June

"When We Fight, We Win"

"...fundamental fairness, due process, and the presumption of innocence!"

WHERE WE STAND

Judge Dale S. Fischer’s ruling on the Rule 29 (Acquittal) and Rule 33 (New Trial) motions was disappointing, but not entirely unexpected. A favorable ruling, though possible, was improbable and the motions filed by Dr. Mark Ridley-Thomas’ defense team were a necessary procedural step in pursuit of truth, fairness

L.A. Focus: Judge to Decide if Jury Verdict in Ridley-Thomas Trial Can be Set Aside

June 28, 2023 | Staff A decision on whether or not the jury verdicts rendered in the March 30 conviction of former City Councilmember Mark Ridley-Thomas for bribery, honest services and mail fraud will be set aside could come as early as this week. After hearing attorneys for Mark Ridley-Thomas and

Summary of Public Hearing: USA vs MRT Motions for Acquittal or New Trial

Yesterday, Dr. Mark Ridley-Thomas and his legal team appeared before Judge Dale S. Fischer to argue motions calling for either acquittal or a new trial. The hearing convened at 10 a.m. and lasted approximately one hour and five minutes. The 7th Floor Court Room was filled to capacity, largely

Witness LA: Deconstructing The Conviction Of Mark Ridley-Thomas: Part 1

June 26, 2023 | Written by Celeste Fremon On Monday morning, June 26, Mark Ridley-Thomas and his team of defense attorneys will come before U.S. District Court Judge Dale S. Fischer in order that his attorneys may argue two motions on behalf of their client. The first of the two