INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Two Indianapolis police officers have been indicted by a grand jury in the death of a Black man who died last year after being taken into police custody at his parents’ home, prosecutors said Thursday.
The indictment of officers Adam Ahmad and Steven Sanchez comes nearly a year after Herman Whitfield III’s death. His family sued the city of Indianapolis and six police officers in June over the 39-year-old pianist’s death.
Sanchez was indicted on two counts of involuntary manslaughter, while Ahmad was indicted on one count, Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears said in a news release. Both were also indicted on charges of reckless homicide, battery resulting in serious bodily injury and battery resulting in moderate injury — all felony charges — and on a misdemeanor battery charge.
Herman Whitfield Jr., father of Herman Whitfield III (pictured on poster), speaks alongside members of faith in Indiana, Concerned Clergy of Indianapolis, and other community members, Tuesday, April 11, 2023, in Indianapolis. (Mykal McEldowney/The Indianapolis Star via AP)
Online court records did not list an attorney for either Ahmad or Sanchez.
Five officers with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department and a recruit trainee were called to the home of Whitfield’s parents on April 25, 2022, while he was in the throes of a mental health episode, The Indianapolis Star reported. During that interaction, police used a stun gun on Whitfield and handcuffed him naked and facedown on the ground, according to the newspaper.
He died shortly after arriving at a hospital. An autopsy determined that he died from heart failure while under law enforcement restraint and ruled the death a homicide, the newspaper reported.
The lawsuit filed by Whitfield’s family claims responding officers used a stun gun on him and then “crushed the breath out of an unarmed, non-violent” man. It also alleges that the officers ignored Whitfield’s cries of “I can’t breathe.”
Whitfield, whom officers described as about 6-foot-2 (1.9 meters) and around 280 pounds (127 kilograms), was experiencing a mental health issue and needed an ambulance, responding officers have said.
The officers told investigators that they tried negotiating with Whitfield and using de-escalation tactics for more than 10 minutes before Whitfield moved quickly toward an officer, police said.
“The officer activated the Taser twice and the man continued to resist,” police said in a news release at the time.
Officers handcuffed Whitfield, but medics received no response from him, and they began CPR, police said.
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The film takes place in 1936 Pittsburgh during the aftermath of the Great Depression, The Piano Lesson follows the lives of the Charles family in the Doaker Charles household and an heirloom, the family piano, which documents the family history through carvings made by their enslaved ancestor.
The Broadway revival of August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson starring Samuel L Jackson and John David Washington recently concluded its run at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre, having played 27 previews and 124 regular performances. The production is the highest-grossing revival of a play on Broadway and the highest-grossing Wilson production on Broadway ever.
The Piano Lesson is part of Wilson’s 10 plays “American Century Cycle” and includes Fences and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom was released globally on Netflix in 2021. The film received five Academy Award nominations (Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Production Design, Best Makeup, and Hairstyling, and Best Costume Design) and two Academy Award wins (Best Makeup and Hairstyling, Best Costume Design). Directed by George C. Wolfe and adapted for the screen by Ruben Santiago-Hudson, the film stars Viola Davis, Chadwick Boseman, Colman Domingo, Glynn Turman, Michael Potts, Taylour Paige, Dusan Brown, Jeremy Shamos and Jonny Coyne.
In 2010 Denzel Washington and Viola Davis starred in the revival of August Wilson’s Fences on Broadway. They both won Tony Awards for their roles. In 2016 Washington directed and starred alongside Viola Davis in the film adaptation of Fences which received 3 Academy Awards nominations for Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Adapted Screenplay, and an Academy Award win for Viola Davis.
Cousins! A man driving on the wrong way of the Belt Parkway in Brooklyn, New York caused a major accident that tragically claimed both his life as well as an elderly male!
According to reports from Pix 11 the tragic incident occurred on Tuesday morning around 1AM near exit 13 as 52-year-old Winston Ramdeen of Queens drove a a black Infiniti eastbound in the westbound lanes, on the wrong side of the road. He is said to had been driving within the wrong direction for two complete exits.
Ramdeen viciously side swiped several vehicles and ultimately hit a Sentra Altima head on which was occupied by a 79 year old male.
Officials state that both men were taken to Brookdale hospital where they were ultimately pronounced dead.
As per ABC 7 News, residents within the area said that the sounds of the crushing metal from the tragic incident startled them. “ I’m not gonna lie, I didn’t see it, the head-on collision, but from hearing it I knew it was crazy,” said a resident from the area.
?: Winston Ramdeen, 52, was driving the wrong way when he slammed head-on into another motorist at the Rockaway Parkway exit in Canarsie, cops said. ( NY Post ) Dakota Santiago/FNTV
Sources confirm that traffic had been shut down on the westbound side of the highway for several hours following the ordeal.
“That’s a dangerous highway, it’s not the first time I’ve heard of situations because sometimes people are speeding, it’s really unfortunate,” said a Brooklyn resident by the name of Doris Lewis said.
It has been indicated that officials are actively investigating into how and why Ramdeen had been driving on the wrong side of the road.
We send prayers to the victims and their families at this time.
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A student at Radloff Middle School was attacked by a group of students just before spring break. According to the victim’s father, she texted her parents saying she didn’t feel safe anymore at school. She said she sat with one student and another approached them asking, “How much for your monkey?” The student responded with the price of $450. The student sitting beside the girl looked at her and said, “Alright, I own you now n—r. Do my homework, slave.”
When the parents went to the school the next day, they said administrators confirmed the teacher didn’t report it. The principal sent out a letter, calling the incident despicable. The students were suspended and are now facing criminal charges.
The father told Fernandes that he is satisfied with how administrators handled things, but they don’t understand why the teacher didn’t take this seriously enough to report it.
“There’s no safe place. There should be several options for kids in that type of situation where they can walk out immediately, go to someone immediately, have something done immediately,” the victim’s father said.
After failing to respond appropriately, the teacher is now under investigation by the school district’s human resources department, according to Channel 2. The students involved could face criminal charges. Hopefully, this student receives the justice she deserves. There is nothing more heartbreaking than hoping for a teacher to help you stand up against bullies and they either do nothing or not enough.
A new featurette, “A World Reimagined,” from Disney’s “The Little Mermaid,” which provides an exclusive look at the live-action reimaging of the studio’s animated musical classic, is now available. “The Little Mermaid,” helmed by visionary filmmaker Rob Marshall, opens exclusively in theaters nationwide on May 26, 2023.
“The Little Mermaid” is the beloved story of Ariel, a beautiful and spirited young mermaid with a thirst for adventure. The youngest of King Triton’s daughters and the most defiant, Ariel longs to find out more about the world beyond the sea and, while visiting the surface, falls for the dashing Prince Eric. While mermaids are forbidden to interact with humans, Ariel must follow her heart. She makes a deal with the evil sea witch, Ursula, which gives her a chance to experience life on land but ultimately places her life – and her father’s crown – in jeopardy.
The film stars singer and actress Halle Bailey (“grown-ish”) as Ariel; Jonah Hauer-King (“A Dog’s Way Home”) as Eric; Tony Award® winner Daveed Diggs (“Hamilton”) as the voice of Sebastian; Awkwafina (“Raya and the Last Dragon”) as the voice of Scuttle; Jacob Tremblay (“Luca”) as the voice of Flounder; Noma Dumezweni (“Mary Poppins Returns”) as The Queen; Art Malik (“Homeland”) as Sir Grimsby; with Oscar® winner Javier Bardem (“No Country for Old Men”) as King Triton; and two-time Academy Award® nominee Melissa McCarthy (“Can You Ever Forgive Me?” “Bridesmaids”) as Ursula.
“The Little Mermaid” is directed by Oscar® nominee Rob Marshall (“Chicago,” “Mary Poppins Returns”) with a screenplay by two-time Oscar nominee David Magee (“Life of Pi,” “Finding Neverland”). The songs feature music from multiple Academy Award® winner Alan Menken (“Beauty and the Beast,” “Aladdin”) and lyrics by Howard Ashman, and new lyrics by three-time Tony Award® winner Lin-Manuel Miranda.
The film is produced by two-time Emmy® winner Marc Platt, p.g.a., (“Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert,” “Grease Live!”), Miranda, two-time Emmy winner John DeLuca, p.g.a., (“Tony Bennett: An American Classic”), and Rob Marshall, p.g.a., with Jeffrey Silver (“The Lion King”) serving as executive producer.
A 1950s road sign to mark an historical event describes the massacre of over 100 recently freed slaves during Reconstruction as “the end of carpetbag rule,” April 10, 2021, in Colfax, Louisiana. (Photo by Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis via Getty Images)
Editor’s note: The following article is an op-ed, and the views expressed are the author’s own. Read more opinions on theGrio.
Boys, this is a struggle for white supremacy.”
Ku Klux Klansman Dave Paul, April 13, 1873
Whenever the subject of, well, anything having to do with politics, history or race arises, someone whose knowledge of America’s past is limited to the whitewashed version of history they learned in 11th grade will invariably respond by pointing out that “The Ku Klux Klan was Democrats.” Other versions include:
“The Republicans freed the slaves.”
“The Democrats were the real racists.”
The GOP is the party of Lincoln
What about …
Although those claims are easily refuted, a historian once taught me a too long; didn’t read version of the story of America’s political partisanship:
The Colfax Massacre.
When a group dedicated to making America great again rallied at the capital of Grant Parish, Louisiana, 150 Easters ago, they were not representing political parties. They knew they were part of an insurrection. They were keenly aware that they were soldiers in the war for white supremacy. What this motley crew of Klansmen, former confederates and gun-toting White Leaguers did not know is that they were setting the stage for Jim Crow, school shootings and 150 years of debate over gun control.
They knew they were doing it for white people.
Insurrection Sunday
On Sunday, April 13, 1873, an armed brigade of Black men surrounding the Grant Parish Courthouse in Colfax, Louisiana, knew a fight was coming.
Newly elected State Rep. William Ward had already tried every imaginable way to avoid conflict, to no avail. Ward, a Black Union veteran, knew that the white minority hated the fact that he had been sent to the parish to control the racial terrorism in the surrounding area, so he sent a letter alerting the governor to impending trouble. Unfortunately, Ward’s messenger was captured by Klansmen Paul Hooe, Jim Hadnot and Bill Cruikshank, who had already issued a call for the sheriff to disperse the Black men. There was just one problem:
As far as Colfax’s Black citizens were concerned, there was no sheriff.
In fact, there wasn’t really a governor; there were two. In the 1872 election, Louisiana’s Liberal Republicans teamed up with Democrats to fight for white people’s voting rights (former confederates were forbidden from voting after the Civil War because of the whole treason thing.) The pro-white Fusionists claimed their candidate John McEnery won the 1872 election, while McEnery’s opponent, William Pitt Kellogg, also declared victory. McEnery, a former confederate soldier, enlisted the help of his fellow race warriors to create an entirely separate state government and put confederates in charge of voting across the state. So, depending on where you lived in Louisiana, you got to pick your governor. Most of the majority white parishes respected the authority of pro-white McEnery. In New Orleans and a few majority-Black parishes, the only governor they acknowledged was Kellogg.
Down in Grant Parish, the majority-Black electorate had outvoted whites 776-660, so they weren’t worried about those crazy election deniers. They had no idea McEnery’s Stop the Steal boys had sent fake certifications to the state government saying the pro-white candidates won Grant Parish by a landslide. When they heard rumors that the sheriff and judge they defeated at the ballot box had been sworn in anyway, the Black citizens of Colfax knew they had to take action (or, as I’m sure someone said, has a “trick for they a**”). On March 25, in the middle of the night, a makeshift Black militia of actual proud boys grabbed their guns and shovels, dug trenches around the courthouse and waited for the white people to show up.
Remember, after the Civil War, Union troops occupied the Southern states to prevent white people from white people-ing. As the commanding officer of Company A, 6th Infantry Regiment of the Louisiana State Militia, Ward deputized a group of Black men to raid Cruishank’s, Hadnot’s and Judge William Rutland’s homes on April 5. Outraged that Black men were asserting their authority over their red-blooded whiteness, the trio of white men picked a random Black bystander, Jesse McKinney, and shot him in the head in front of his wife and children. McKinney’s wife, Laurinda, loaded him into a wagon “while the whites in the yard mocked them, hooting lecherously and calling them bad names,” writes historian LeeAnna Keith. The next day, it got even worse:
The Black women showed up.
They had guns, too. Outnumbered, Cruikshank and his boys sent out the call to Klansmen, confederate soldiers, the White League and any white man who believed in the supremacy of their skin color. Their clarion call included the worst fear of all:
Black men were going to have sex with white women.
“The Negroes at Colfax shouted daily across the river to our people that they intended killing every white man and boy, keeping only the young women to raise from them a new breed,” wrote George Stafford in a letter to the Louisiana Democrat.
“We were all startled and terrified at the news by a Courier who had just gotten in from our Parish Site,” recounted a citizen of a nearby parish. “[T]he Negroes under the leadership of a few unprincipled white men had captured the Court House & driven all white inhabitants out of the Town, were raiding stealing & driving the cattle out of the surrounding country. The Negro men making their brags that they would clean out the white men & then take their women folks for wifes.”
Meanwhile, on April 11, Ward fell ill from tuberculosis and had to leave the courthouse. On April 13, Easter Sunday, Christopher Columbus Nash, the new sheriff, came to the courthouse with 300 riflemen riding on horseback, dragging an automatic cannon that shot four-pound iron slugs and all the whiteness that ever was. He demanded that the Black men turn in their weapons and leave the courthouse. Most of the men who showed up were former confederate soldiers.
Now remember, the Black guardsmen had the approval of Ward, an elected state representative, a government-appointed official who was in charge of stopping insurrections. All the white men had were guns, a fake election and the imaginary authority provided by their whiteness.
The Black men did not move.
After giving the Black defenders 30 minutes to remove the women and children, the white men opened fire. The first cannon shot tore through the abdomen of Adam Kimball, who ran inside the courthouse before his intestines fell on the courthouse floor. The supremacists mowed down the defenders of democracy and burned down the courthouse. When the smoke cleared, between 50 and 280 Black men were dead, according to Keith. No one knows for sure how many. Some of the bodies were tossed into the Red River and buried in unmarked graves. Others were burned.
Three white men had been killed.
And Justice for None
The Colfax Massacre is not important because it was the single bloodiest incident in the bloodiest period of American history. It created the America we know today.
Unlike most of America’s racial massacres, 97 of the paramilitary forces were indicted by the Supreme Court under the recently passed Enforcement Acts. Also known as the Ku Klux Klan Acts, the laws prohibited groups of white supremacists from going “in disguise upon the public highways, or upon the premises of another” with the intent to violate the rights of other people. Three men were found guilty, but the judge unilaterally overturned the conviction and released the murderers on bail. When the Department of Justice appealed, the Supreme Court overturned the convictions in the landmark case United States v. Cruikshank.
How?
See, the men were indicted for denying the Black citizens their right to bear arms for a lawful purpose. The justices ruled that the Enforcement Acts actually robbed the Klansmen of their right to bear arms and peaceably assemble. Furthermore, they noted the 14th Amendment only granted Black people equal protection from the federal government. It did not protect formerly enslaved people from individual or even state-sponsored racism.
Blacks gathering dead and wounded from the Colfax Massacre’ Lousinia. Published in Harper’s Weekly. (Photo by MPI/Getty Images)
Why was this important?
Well, imagine if you had oppressed people for more than 250 years and were looking for a way to continue it. Imagine if the highest judicial authority in the land told you that taking away a group’s constitutional rights was perfectly fine as long as it wasn’t an act of Congress.
Ladies and gentlemen, meet Jim Crow.
This is the loophole that created segregation. This is why Southern states could write constitutions that disenfranchised Black voters. This is how unequal schools and voter suppression and Black codes and the era known as Jim Crow came to be. As the Smithsonian Magazine notes:
This ruling essentially neutered the federal government’s ability to prosecute hate crimes committed against African-Americans. Without the threat of being tried for treason in federal court, white supremacists now only had to look for legal loopholes and corrupt officials to continue targeting their victims, Gates reports. Meanwhile, principles of segregation were beginning to work their ways into law, with Plessy v. Ferguson officially codifying “separate but equal” just 20 years later.
Smithsonian Magazine
But there was one more thing.
Remember that part about illegally taking away Black people’s guns? Well, the Supreme Court didn’t really debate that part. In fact, the Supreme Court had never decided a case based on the Second Amendment. Before Cruishank, the general consensus was that the Second Amendment authorized militias to carry firearms. But the court essentially ruled that “the right to keep and bear arms exists separately from the Constitution and is not solely based on the Second Amendment, which exists to prevent Congress from infringing the right.”
The justices believed that everyone had the right to own a gun, and Congress couldn’t do anything about it.
The Colfax Massacre wasn’t the first racial massacre or its deadliest. But the events of April 13, 1873 begat the Cruikshank, which begat the end of the Enforcement Acts, which begat the Compromise of 1877, which begat the removal of federal troops from the South, which begat Jim Crow, which begat separate but equal, which begat redlining, which begat unequal schools, which begat mass shooting after school shooting after racist shooting after white supremacist insurrection.
For 150 years, America’s inequality has rested upon this bloodstained pillar of injustice. And whenever anyone tries to do anything about it, the name of the man who helped spark a racist massacre is resurrected. Not even Ron DeSantis and all the critical race theory laws in the world will never erase the memories of the Black resistance that happened in Colfax. And if you ever wonder why we can’t do anything about school shootings, remember Cruikshank …
He is risen.
Michael Harriot is a writer, cultural critic and championship-level Spades player. His book, Black AF History: The Unwhitewashed Story of America, will be released in September.
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Cousins! The tragic story of a heroic and selfless Atlanta teen is circulating as a young male risked the life of his own by stepping in to help four small children in immediate danger!
16 year old Bryce Brooks alongside his parents Crystal and Shivy Brooks had been vacationing within the Pensacola area of Florida earlier this month when the incident occurred on April 6th.
As the family had been enjoying their time at Johnson Beach in Perdido Key, things took an unforgettable turn as Bryce witnessed four small children frantically screaming. Reports from USA Today reads that the kids had been caught within an exceedingly strong rip tide.
The teen immediately snapped into into action and ran directly into the water to save them. Unfortunately the strong current pulled Bryce under just as he was able to save all of the kids none of which he personally knew. A friend of the Brooks family was also present at the time of tragedy and had joined them at the beach. A man identified as Chuck Johnson had saw Bryce struggling and ran in to save him. Sadly, both Chuck and Bryce passsed away within the tragic ordeal.
Appearing in a recent news conference the heavy hearted parents spoke proudly upon their son’s selfless bravery and their friend’s life altering courageousness. He literally saved the lives of four kids at the expense of his own,” said Shivy he also honored Chuck’s noble behavior for attempting to save his son. “What he sacrificed for our son is what any other fathers in our village would have done.”
“Being selfless, our son Bryce, while being pulled by currents himself, literally called for help. But not for himself, he was calling out for the little kids he was looking out for.”
“We’re never going to get to see Bryce grow up to be the full man that he was going to be,” said Bryce’s mom, Crystal Brooks. “But we know that he stepped into his manhood to save those children. And that makes me proud.” She continued in expressing that nothing could heal her pain, “but it makes me proud of our son and what he sacrificed.”
Updated reports confirm that the small children Bryce saved were air-flown to a local hospitals and listed in critical condition. The fourth child is detailed as being in serious condition at this time. Officials state that First responders arrived at the beach within six minutes after being alert of the incident. The family has stated that they believe that if lifeguards had been present originally they would have been able to save the deceased victims lives.
In response, Escambia County has stated that they aren’t allowed to place lifeguards on the beach since it’s listed as a private property. However they did declare that they would place warning signs around the beach in efforts of bringing awareness about rip current risks.
Sources confirm that an education group named ‘Get Your Teach on’ held a fundraiser for the Brooks family and had raised over $75,000 via a launched GoFundMe account.
Bryce’s family described him as a very “creative” kid, who had a passion for music as well as fashion. In addition to being a member of his school’s fashion club, he was very sharp and “just made honor roll a week ago.”
While remembering Chuck, a devoted husband and father of three, Shivy noted the the family friend as “a person that looks after everyone.”
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On March 3, LaTavia Washington McGee, Eric Williams, Zindell Brown and Shaeed Woodard were kidnapped as they were driving to a medical procedure located in Matamoros, Mexico. The attack happened in broad daylight, with investigators believing that the American group were mistaken for Haitian drug smugglers.
Woodard and Brown were both killed. “They didn’t deserve that. None of us deserved it. But we’re alive – we have a lot of recovering to do,” Washington McGee told Cooper in an interview Tuesday. They were driving when they heard a car blow a horn behind them. Brown warned the group not stop the car.
“Zindell and Shaeed, they jumped up to run and they were gunned down,” Williams recalled. Williams jumped out of the driver’s side of the vehicle when someone began beating on the car window with a gun. “That’s when I was shot on both legs,” Williams said.
Washington McGee was forced to go into the bed of a pickup truck at gunpoint while the rest were carried onto it. This moment was caught on video and shared with officials after the kidnapping. However, she and Williams told Cooper that Brown and Woodward were both still alive when they were dragged onto the truck bed.
The group was then taken to another spot, where they were questioned. “That’s where Shaeed said, ‘I love y’all, and I’m gone.’ And he died right there,” Williams said. “I told him [Woodard] was sorry,” Washington McGee remembered. Brown also died from his gunshot wounds shortly after.
Washington McGee and Williams said they were taken to various places as hostages and that they were blindfolded as they were moved between locations. Williams also shared how armed people in red, plastic “Diablo” masks “[pointed] the guns to our head, telling us not to look up.”
Ultimately, they were dropped off at a shack where they were rescued on March 7. According to Mexican officials, at least six people have been arrested. An apology letter was reportedly issued from the Gulf Cartel, the people believed to be responsible for the kidnapping. However, its authenticity has yet to be substantiated.
Today, Howard University announced the appointment of Stacey Abrams, Esq., as the first Ronald W. Walters Endowed Chair for Race and Black Politics.
In this position, Abrams will facilitate interdisciplinary collaborations across the University regarding critical issues of race and Black politics, especially those that impact African diaspora Americans. According to an article published in Howard’s The Dig written by Misha Collins, the chair’s purpose is to motivate research and encourage extensive discussions of scholarship for real-world solutions to complex societal issues that adversely affect African diasporic communities and other vulnerable populations.
In this position, Abrams will also lead the Ronald W. Walters Speakers Series, inviting guests to discuss various topics representing diverse perspectives.
The Ronald W. Walters Leadership and Public Policy Center at Howard University will house the chair. Howard University President Wayne A. I. Frederick expressed his pleasure with the appointment, stating that Abrams is a critical voice in protecting American democracy for all individuals who have the fundamental right to express their views.
“I am honored to serve as the inaugural Ronald W. Walters Endowed Chair for Race and Black Politics, having had the privilege of knowing and learning from Dr. Walters,” said Abrams. “We are at an inflection point for American and international democracy, and I look forward to engaging Howard University’s extraordinary students in a conversation about where they can influence, shape and direct the critical public policy decisions we face. From my alma mater, Spelman College, I have carved out a career that allows me to weave together policy analysis, political leadership, social justice, business, environmental, entertainment, and more. Through this post, I hope to emulate Dr. Walter’s diasporic lens on our world and be a part of how Howard University continues to contribute to the broader political discourse.”
Cousins! Please join us in sending our deepest condolences to the family and friends of S Club 7 group member Paul Cattermole!
In a post to Instagram on April 7th, Friday morning the chart topping U.K group penned an open letter to fans upon the 46 year old’s passing.
“We are truly devastated by the passing of our brother Paul. There are no words to describe the deep sadness and loss we all feel. We were so lucky to have had him in our lives and are thankful for the amazing memories we have.”
The shared statement continues, “There are no words to describe the deep sadness and loss we all feel. We were so lucky to have had him in our lives and are thankful for the amazing memories we have.”
“He will be so deeply missed by each and every one of us. We ask that you respect the privacy of his family and of the band at this time.”
According to reports from CNN, Paul was discovered on Thursday April 6th within his Dorset located home. He was pronounced dead later in the day.
Though there has been no details forwarded of what Paul’s cause of death was at this time, local officials have confirmed that there were no signs of foul play.
S Club 7 was originally founded within the 90’s era consisting of members Rachel Stevens, Jo O’Meara, Tina Barrett, Jon Lee, Bradley McIntosh and Paul. Together the international phenomenons successfully earned four No. 1 singles in the U.K including a chart topping album.
Their fan favorite songs include hits such as: “Never Had A Dream Come True,” “Bring It All Back,” “Don’t Stop Movin’” and “Have You Ever.”
S Club 7 also had a show aired exclusively on the BBC network titled ‘Miami 7.”
In 2002 Paul had exited the group and a year later S Club eventually split all together in 2003.
“We were closer than many pop groups,” said Paul in a 2019 interview with the Guardian. “People that used to work with us said: ‘Wow, you guys actually speak, you actually stay in the same room.’ Most of them don’t.
“It was five years of my life,” he told the Guardian. “I definitely thought, when I was 20, that by the time I was 40 it would be a done thing. And it’s not … I’ve been answering S Club questions for 20 years. It will be great — it will be bliss — to one day not have to, but it’s part of it, and I totally accept that.”
Just a few week prior to Paul’s passing the group had announced their plans to reunite and hit the stage in celebration of their 25 years in the business with a tour.
