LOCAL CANDIDATES WEIGH IN ON MADISON COUNTY ELECTION RESULTS page 3
thursday, 11.05.20
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MALCOM X’S DAUGHTER SPEAKS ON HIS LEGACY page 4
vol. 74 no. 10
The Student Voice Since 1960
Warrant issued for suspect in shooting at off-campus apartments
support beyond the polls
A stretch of land on the side of Highway 140 in Bethalto, Illinois, boasts several conservative-leaning signs and flags, along with a vendor selling President Donald Trump memorabilia. The vendor, who wished not to be named, came to Missouri to “turn the river red” and said he was asked to sell on the land. He offers discounts to those who hold positions such as first responders, teachers and who are veterans. He plans on continuing to sell merchandise after the election. I Mackenzie Smith / The Alestle
Group for statue removal holds first protest GABRIEL BRADY reporter
Senior psychology major Mahdi Gourdine, of Edwardsville, shares prose about what it’s like to be Black in America and how statues often serve as microaggressions. I Khoi Pham / The Alestle
With the process of renaming Ninian Edwards Plaza officially underway, Our Edwardsville has made it clear their work is nowhere near done. This weekend, they showed this in a new way: they hosted their first protest. The protest, which took place in the plaza, consisted of about 50 people. Those people chanted, sang and read poetry. Information was read on Edwards’s history as a slave owner and active opposer of Indigenous people. At the end of the protest, chains were wrapped around the statue’s ankles, and a sack was placed over its head. This was done while Asher Denkyirah, a
graduate student in business administration management from Glen Carbon, Illinois, read the names of Edwards’ slaves, and the protest observed a moment of silence for the slaves and Indigenous people that Edwards harmed. The statue’s head was covered in this way so that Edwards would not be present for the memorialization of the dead. One of the speakers during the protest was Deb Lovekamp, of Collinsville, Illinois, who is a member of FOURward, a local group that promotes educational equity and policy reform. Although she is not Black, Lovekamp said she feels this movement is important to everyone, regardless of identity. Lovekamp also said
A warrant has been issued for the arrest of Keath C. Smith-Bogay, a 19-year-old from St. Louis, who is accused of shooting a woman at The Reserve apartment complex in Edwardsville Saturday afternoon. Smith-Bogay has been charged with aggravated battery with a firearm, and his bail has been set at $250,000, according to the warrant. Police arrived at the scene at 2:23 p.m, finding the victim with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound. Edwardsville Police Chief Jay Keeven confirmed that the victim was transported to a St. Louis-area hospital. “The victim knew the suspect and we are waiting to speak with her,” he said on Saturday. “At this point, we do not believe her injuries are life-threatening.” He said they believe the victim and the suspect were romantically involved. Police are still searching for Smith-Bogay, who fled the scene before they arrived. He was last seen at a MotoMart on Riverview across the river in Missouri. Major Michael Fillback from the Edwardsville Police Department said the area is safe. “We don’t believe there’s any danger to the community or the campus,” Fillback said. Fillback said the victim is expected to recover from her injuries. He advised anyone who sees Smith-Bogay not to approach him and instead call their local police department.
SEE SOMETHING? If you see the suspect, contact your local police department. You contact SIUE Police Department at
650 - 3324
see PROTEST on page 2
In case you missed it: Republicans lead in Madison County ELIZABETH DONALD copy editor
Republicans took the lead in final but unofficial results this week for Madison County’s leadership. County Chairman Kurt Prenzler defeated former regional superintendent Bob Daiber with 70,539 votes to Daiber’s 62,327, winning a second term despite several controversies and infighting between Prenzler’s administration and the Demo@thealestle
cratic leadership that had held most of the leadership roles in Madison County since World War II. Prenzler called the election “a good night for the citizens of Madison County,” and thanked voters for “their vote of confidence” in supporting him and the other Republican leaders taking county-wide offices. In other county races, Republican Tom McRae won the circuit clerk race against Democrat Amy Gabriel; Republican Tom @thealestle
Haine defeated prosecutor Democrat Crystal Uhe for state’s attorney; and Republican David Michael defeated Democrat Joe Silkwood for auditor. However, longtime Democratic coroner Steve Nonn won reelection over challenger Adam Micun. Vote totals include all 225 precincts in Madison County, including the early and absentee vote totals. Among county board members, all but one contested race went to the Republican candidates. This solidifies a Republican The Alestle
majority on the board established in 2016, which was the first time Madison County’s board was majority-GOP since World War II. Democratic incumbent Jack Minner held his seat for District 18, but the board is now 18 Republicans to 11 Democrats, picking up three seats. A binding referendum reducing the county’s maximum tax rate from 0.20 to see ELECTION on page 3 alestlelive.com