Arkansas Times - July 16, 2015 by Arkansas Times

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JULY 16, 2015

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VOLUME 41, NUMBER 45 ARKANSAS TIMES (ISSN 0164-6273) is published each week by Arkansas Times Limited Partnership, 201 East Markham Street, Suite 200, Little Rock, Arkansas, 72201, phone (501) 375-2985. Periodical postage paid at Little Rock, Arkansas, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to ARKANSAS TIMES, 201 EAST MARKHAM STREET, SUITE 200, Little Rock, AR, 72201. Subscription prices are $42 for one year, $74 for two years. Subscriptions outside Arkansas are $49 for one year, $88 for two years. Foreign (including Canadian) subscriptions are $168 a year. For subscriber service call (501) 375-2985. Current single-copy price is 75¢, free in Pulaski County. Single issues are available by mail at $2.50 each, postage paid. Payment must accompany all single-copy orders. Reproduction or use in whole or in part of the contents without the written consent of the publishers is prohibited. Manuscripts and artwork will not be returned or acknowledged unless sufficient return postage and a self-addressed stamped envelope are included. All materials are handled with due care; however, the publisher assumes no responsibility for care and safe return of unsolicited materials. All letters sent to ARKANSAS TIMES will be treated as intended for publication and are subject to ARKANSAS TIMES’ unrestricted right to edit or to comment editorially.

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JULY 16, 2015

COMMENT

Trump, hatred and the economy I hope The Donald has to cancel his appearance in this state, because if he makes a speech here he’ll probably inspire more anti-Hispanic hatred. He’s the No. 1 Republican candidate, because most Republicans hate for any Hispanics to be living in this country, despite the circumstances. It’s like, for many Arkies, the war against Mexico didn’t really end in the 1800s. I wasn’t disappointed by Hillary’s economic proposals. I’d be feeling very disappointed now if my expectations had been high. But when it comes to the Clintons, I have Walmart-style expectations — always the rock-bottom-low expectations — always. Our economy keeps getting worse — and I don’t expect that to change. It’s a crisis due to a combination of problems: too many big corporate mergers, outsourcing, and increased automation and computerization, two factors that can’t be stopped and will get worse. Private enterprise has never provided enough jobs that pay a living wage or even just enough jobs — and it never will. Here’s what we need: an upper-wealth limit and an upperincome limit. A minimum wage that stays at the optimal amount that computers at the U.S. Treasury and the Federal Reserve say it is. A government works program that provides a livingwage job to every American who wants or needs one. A guaranteed minimum income for every American, whether they’re working or not. Randal Bean Pine Bluff

Create school campuses The only avenue available for a plain person to talk with the Little Rock School District’s Powerful People (PP) is randomly called public meetings. At these forums, one has a few minutes to express oneself in a room of nonpliable, often angry, people. Such meetings allow the PP to say that they listen to us. Have you ever noticed the uncomfortable facial expressions of the PP and their supportive agents at such meetings as they dutifully listen to the comments of common folks? Not giving people quality time to talk with the PP assures that the LRSD acts in the Same Old, Same Old (SO, SO) way — worse, now the business model is being foisted onto the district by Arkansas’s most powerful PP as if our schools were a part of Wally World. Congratulations to the Little Rock superintendent who said that school leaders 4

JULY 16, 2015

ARKANSAS TIMES

needed more power and that the district could sell schools. Now if only he became fully aware of three successful schools within his district: Lisa Academy, eStem Charter School and Forest Heights to a lesser degree. All three schools have a campus structure. Two of the schools serve pre-K through 12th grade with K-8 attending Forest Heights. The superintendent could also study the successful private schools in our town. Guess what? They use a campus system, and they serve pre-K through 12. There is plenty of open space in Little Rock to create attractive Pre-K–12 campuses. A campus by design is not attached to a particular neighborhood, but rather an instructional space serving the community. For example, think of UALR, Children’s Hospital, the medical school and Episcopal Collegiate. Those places are associated with what they do, not with where they are located. The same thing will be true for good public school campuses wherever they are situated. Therefore, Mr. Superintendent, I hate to rain on your parade, but the millions you spend on Baseline Elementary will not significantly change its effectiveness. The worn-out school is locked into a neighborhood, and no matter who runs it, and

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how much you spend, you will not create a diverse population or better school. For you to think that the former employees were the problem is stinking thinking. The PPs generally use and support their own churches, clubs and schools, and that diverts their attention from public schools. Because they separate themselves from the public, it is difficult for them to have concern for us. However, Little Rock and Arkansas might decide to end SO, SO schooling and build a campus system. The Finns have a saying that the school building is another teacher. That is certainly true for a school village. Little Rock and Arkansas are ripe for a new vision of public education. Will our superintendent open the door for change or keep it shut with the SO, SO lock? Richard Emmel Little Rock

Children should become priority Thank you for this excellent first report of the upcoming series on Arkansas’s child welfare system in the Times, and for your readers’ help in funding Kathryn Joyce to conduct this series. She is an outstanding reporter and her journalistic skills are so

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evident in this first report. I have worked with children of incarcerated parents for 30 years, and many of the children have been in our child welfare system. I know the flaws of the child welfare system too well, and the long-lasting impacts of priority failures and politicized policy-making and practices of the system. The urgent need for prioritizing of these children, who are in every way OUR children when the state takes custody, will require new policies and substantive improvements in our judiciary system, which is often imperial in its many decisions. We need to recognize our own accountability for permitting legislators to put these children on the back burner when it comes time for budgeting. A more uniform system would certainly help, removing the countybased culture as the primary decisionmaker, often defying the senior management and the mission of this system. We can see the lack of priorities that permit children to be so destabilized that they are packing up multiple times a year for placements in myriad different settings. One child I served had moved 13 times in three months. The mantra of “if in doubt, take ’em out,” which I have heard more times than I ever wanted to, is an inadequate response to these children. It is a CYA malady and does harm to the children. It is also playing cavalierly with the very serious effects of attachment disruptions and the lifetime harm of such. We the citizens of this state need to recognize the urgency to take a more substantive role to create state policies to protect these children. Dee Ann Newell, founder and director of Arkansas Voices for the Children Left Behind Little Rock Correction Last week’s cover story, “Foster care crisis,” included a photo caption that misidentified Davaeyia Brown as Kristin Brake and inaccurately stated a statistic from the Arkansas Department of Human Services. We said, “Last year, only 18 percent of children in the state foster system had lived in two or fewer homes for more than two years.” The sentence should have read, “Last year, only 18 percent of children who had been in foster care for more than two years had lived in two or fewer homes.” The online version of the story has been corrected to reflect this change. Some passages in Ivy Brake’s account of her time in the foster system have also been edited for greater clarity and accuracy.

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JULY 16, 2015

EYE ON ARKANSAS

WEEK THAT WAS

Quote of the Week: “Today, we have stopped the spread of nuclear weapons in this region.” — President Barack Obama, in a televised address Tuesday, announcing a groundbreaking nuclear deal with Iran that would restrict the country’s ability to rapidly construct a bomb for the next 15 years in return for lifting sanctions. Criticism quickly followed from Israeli leadership and many Republicans in Congress, including U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton, who called the deal “a terrible, dangerous mistake.”

Gov. Asa Hutchinson seems to get what he wants. Last week, the state Board of Education voted 4-2 to accept a proposed contract for a new standardized test for Arkansas schools called the ACT Aspire, which the governor has aggressively pushed. The Aspire will replace the PARCC test used this last school year, which itself replaced the old Benchmark exam given in previous years. That means Arkansas students will have had three different tests in three consecutive years. The state board’s decision to accede to the governor’s wishes reverses a 7-1 vote in June to reject the ACT contract. Board members said at the time that they felt the state should seek bids from multiple vendors before it switches to yet another test — but with Republican legislators standing behind Hutchinson and threatening to block any alternative to ACT Aspire, they had little choice. Two members, Vicki Saviers and Jay Barth, withheld their votes in protest of the autocratic process. (Also helping the governor’s cause: He was able to fill three vacancies on the board at the beginning of the month. Guess which way those appointees voted.)

Bad advice Ever since Obergefell v. Hodges made same-sex marriage legal, a number of Arkansas county officials have flirted with defiance of the law. Last week Van Buren County Clerk Pam 6

JULY 16, 2015

ARKANSAS TIMES

BRIAN CHILSON

Pro-test vote

STEPS AT CENTENNIAL PARK: The park, at 1501 S. Battery St., was the scene of gang activity in the 1990s, as captured in “Bangin’ in the Rock.” After recent reports of an uptick in loitering at the park, the city put up a sign stating that entry after dark is prohibited.

Bradford went the furthest: She issued a memo announcing that her office would not be issuing same-sex marriage licenses. “Other than this being against my Religious beliefs and 1st Amendment Rights, the US Supreme Court has overstepped their boundaries,” she wrote, adding that she’d gotten legal advice from a group called the Liberty Council. Bradford backed off, though, and agreed to issue licenses after she spoke with Mike Rainwater, an attorney who advises local officials through the Association of Arkansas Counties. Rainwater evidently said the same thing as Gov. Hutchinson and Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge: Arkansas’s county clerks have to do their jobs.

Who’s your mama? Here’s a new same-sex marriage wrinkle: Are both parties in such a marriage presumed to be parents of kids born into the union? On Monday, a lawsuit was filed on behalf of three couples — all married women — who have been unable to get both mothers’ names on their children’s birth certificate forms, given that the state Health Department currently only provides a space on the

form for a man and a woman. A change to the form would require action from the state Board of Health — and therefore legislative review. Uh oh.

The Devil and Jason Rapert Lucien Greaves, a co-founder of the Satanic Temple, again urged Sen. Jason Rapert (R-Conway) to accept his challenge to a public debate. The group is planning to place a goatheaded “Baphomet” statue on the Capitol grounds as a counterpart to a proposed Ten Commandments monument; last session, Rapert sponsored a bill that would allow for the Ten Commandments to be installed at the Capitol. “The Devil is a liar — why would I want to debate anyone who worships a liar?” Rapert wrote on his Facebook page. Greaves responded in a letter: “Is this not, in fact, the [best] reason to debate somebody — to shine the light of truth upon lies and/or misinforma-

tion? … You may argue that the majority of Arkansas doesn’t want a Satanic monument on Capitol grounds. That being the case, should you not be made to explain why you clearly opened the door to our inclusion, or how exactly you intend to keep us out?”

An original take on self-defense The mother of a 4-year-old boy filed a lawsuit against Anderson’s Taekwondo Center in Little Rock that alleges the boy was physically abused. An employee of the center was arrested for seconddegree battery, the state Department of Human Services has reprimanded the center, and the American Taekwondo Association has ended its licensure of Anderson’s. The suit claims the child was paddled until his buttocks were raw for sticking out his tongue at another student.

Correction In our July 2 Arkansas Reporter “The banned old flag,” we mistakenly described Dale Charles as president of the Little Rock chapter of the NAACP. He is president of the Arkansas State Conference of the NAACP.

OPINION

The balance of power

rkansas has always had a weak istrative agency executive branch of government. rules, it could not A simple legislative majority outright block can override a gubernatorial veto. The them. The constituability to raise money, when needed, is tional amendment complicated by the extraordinary major- — which enjoyed MAX ity needed to raise most taxes. Spending broad voter supBRANTLEY maxbrantley@arktimes.com is constrained by the 75 percent vote port — gives the requirement on many spending bills. legislature the veto Some governors — through party domi- over rules. nance, tenure and skill — have commanded To date, the legislature has resisted more power than others. But the legislature the fullest application of the law. It hasn’t always had the hammer. asserted dominion over colleges, highways Now things are even worse and not only and Game and Fish. Yet. The damage is bad enough. The state because of unified single-party domination. A coterie of powerful legislators Board of Education last week voted, with referred to voters in 2014 a constitu- less than a majority of its nine members, to tional amendment that further destroyed junk a student proficiency test after only balance-of-power protections in the one year and replace it with a lightly used Arkansas Constitution. Where the leg- test favored by Gov. Asa Hutchinson. The islature once could “review” all admin- issue is balled up in the rising resistance,

Some Southern heritage to remember

ould it be wonderful if the scene in the South Carolina legislature — a Republican descendant of Jefferson Davis tearfully begging colleagues to repudiate the Confederate battle flag as a symbol of bigotry — proved to be prophetic? That old Henry Grady’s new South was arriving at last and old racial stereotypes and fears were fading way? It will take more than symbolic steps like removing from government ground the flag and other tokens of that ancient treason, but all those remarkable events of the past three weeks may indicate that the sea change has picked up a little momentum. What is important is not the lopsided votes in the South Carolina legislature or the acts of removing flags and monuments, but the acknowledgment by political

leaders like South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, Alabama’s rightwing governor and the mayor of ERNEST New Orleans that DUMAS those symbols were not celebrations of “Southern heritage” or the essential goodness of Confederate leaders, but of the cause for which they stood, which was to prevent citizenship and then equality for black people. In Arkansas, we have not officially honored the flag but we celebrate the birthday of Gen. Robert E. Lee and counties and streets are named after Confederates, including the dastardly Nathan Bedford Forrest. But this is about Lee, a good person by everyone’s account, a reluctant secessionist who quietly grieved about slavery and who commanded

particularly on the far-right wing, to the Common Core curriculum, which aims at similar education goals nationwide. Hutchinson isn’t ready to junk Common Core, but junking a test closely identified with the curriculum was an interim snack he cooked up for the angry wingers. Merits of the test argument aside, the outcome illustrated the brawnier legislative branch. Common Core opponents could not pass legislation in 2015 to junk the Common Core-related test. But they have the power on the legislature’s review committee to defeat a rule for its continued use. That’s why the state Board of Education, against its wishes, folded. Expect more of the same. A test change depicted as a victory for Hutchinson was really a victory for legislative dominance. That’s why we see Sen. Jason Rapert angrily demanding more help from Gov. Hutchinson on the issue of discriminating against gay people. Rapert and his crowd have the muscle to achieve their will by other means, such as by interference with Hutchinson’s executive agencies. I fear we may see this come soon in the matter of the state Health Department’s current refusal to list both parents of a

married same-sex couple on a newborn’s birth certificate. The Health Department has said it is moving to amend its rules — as other states have done — to accept declarations of parenthood for same-sex parents just as it does for heterosexual couples. It’s vital to protect the interests of children in health care, schooling, parental benefits, property and custody issues. The Health Department insists it has good intentions. But a rule must be adopted by the state Board of Health. And then that rule must be approved by a legislative committee. The identical issue has inflamed Religious Right bigots in other states. They tend to oppose anything but husband-wife sex to procreate and oppose same-sex parents. In a balanced three-part government, the state judiciary might save us from a legislature that dominates the executive. But our Supreme Court couldn’t decide an “expedited” case on same-sex marriage in eight months and, according to reliable reports, at the end was prepared to declare that the U.S. and Arkansas Constitution do not provide equal rights to gay people. They are captive of the legislative will, too. As in the 1960s, at least we still have the federal courts.

the revolution against his country because he would have had to kill Virginians rather than Vermonters if he had joined the forces of the USA. Since 1947, by an act of the Arkansas legislature, Lee’s birthday has been celebrated as an official state holiday. As a token of appeasement when we gave Rev. Martin Luther King a holiday, the two men since 1985 have shared a holiday so that people can feel like they are honoring one man or the other without feeling too much pain about the other’s recognition. Perish the idea that Lee was honored because he was a kind man who didn’t much like slavery and who after the war urged people to forget the lost cause and consider themselves Americans. It was because he led the struggle to preserve the right of Southern states to keep black people in bondage, which we later translated into preserving white superiority in all things. Let’s return to those halcyon days when the legislature passed the bill creating a Lee state holiday and it was signed into law by Gov. Ben T. Laney, a leader of the Dixiecrat rebellion against the Democratic Party and Harry S. Truman, who had integrated the armed forces. It was the early stage of the civil rights movement and lots of people were

scared. Throughout the Depression, in east and south Arkansas where I lived, there had been rumors of black uprisings. Homer M. Adkins defeated Gov. Carl Bailey in the Democratic primary in 1940 by advertising a picture of Bailey speaking to a black woman. Adkins, a former leader of the Ku Klux Klan, bristled throughout the war over Roosevelt’s orders that defense contractors in Arkansas be open to hiring blacks. A. Phillip Randolph of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters had threatened a march on Washington if the government did not require nondiscriminatory hiring. A Defense Department training program in the construction trades at Little Rock actually took in African Americans over Adkins’ objections. Arkansas newspapers regularly carried stories of incidents involving uppity black soldiers. When the allblack 94th Engineers Battalion sang as it marched near Gurdon, a state trooper ordered the soldiers to keep quiet in the presence of whites, but the officer of the patrol responded that his men were as good as whites, which earned him a whipping. The black soldiers guarded German and Italian prisoners of war, who could eat in Arkansas cafes while the soldiers could not. CONTINUED ON PAGE 37 www.arktimes.com

JULY 16, 2015

The Arkansas Times is launching its second annual Women Entrepreneurs issue in October, and we want to know who you think we should feature. Here is what to keep in mind: • Your nominee must be a woman who started her own business or took over a business and is still the owner/ operator. • She must be an Arkansan.

• She must be in business currently and have at least one year in business by the time of your nomination. • We welcome nominees who are LGBTQ.

• She must fit in one of these industry categories: food, professions (teachers, doctors, attorneys, financial advisors, etc.), nontraditional, retail and design, and two new categories - trailblazers (women who do not have their own business but have led their profession to success – pastors, teachers, CEOs, writers, etc.), and those women entrepreneurs outside of Pulaski County.

NOMINEES WILL BE ACCEPTED UNTIL SEPTEMBER 4, 2015. Submit your nominee and her contact info to Kelly Lyles, kelly@arktimes.com and we will announce those selected in September. A panel of judges will determine the finalists and they will be announced by industries in the following issues:

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Bringing down Hillary

aving coined the phrase “Clinton Rules” to explain the national news media’s obsession with phony scandal narratives involving Bill and Hillary Clinton, I should be gratified to see it pass into general circulation. First came New York Times columnist and liberal MVP Paul Krugman, casting doubt upon that newspaper’s virtually incomprehensible 4,400-word treatise insinuating that Secretary of State Clinton had peddled a Wyoming uranium mine to the Russians in return for contributions to her family’s charitable foundation: “If you are old enough to remember the 1990s,” Krugman wrote “you remember the endless parade of alleged scandals, Whitewater above all — all of them fomented by right-wing operatives, all eagerly hyped by mainstream news outlets, none of which actually turned out to involve wrongdoing. The usual rules didn’t seem to apply; instead it was Clinton rules, under which innuendo and guilt by association were considered perfectly OK, in which the initial suggestion of lawbreaking received front-page headlines and the subsequent discovery that there was nothing there was buried in the back pages if it was reported at all.” Actually, Krugman first used the term during the 2008 Democratic primaries to characterize some Obama supporters’ hostility toward Hillary Clinton, an attitude Barack Obama himself appears never to have shared. Social media conversations among Democrats shows that it’s happening again among Bernie Sanders supporters, also without his cooperation. To some degree, hard feelings are inevitable in politics. The Times has recently documented how successful conservative groups such as Karl Rove’s American Crossroads are at planting anti-Clinton messages among Democrats. That Hillary-Hater on Facebook may be a professional troll. They’re also spending big bucks on focus groups studying how to make the party’s likeliest nominee look like a gold-plated bitch come November 2016. “They’re trying to make her Mitt Romney in a pantsuit,” said David Brock, former right-wing hit man turned liberal culture warrior. I’d have said Leona Helmsley, the New York hotel heiress

who declared that paying taxes was for little people. There’s an unmistakable whiff of woman-hating GENE about the whole LYONS enterprise. Recently, Vox reporter Jonathan Allen made a halfway brave attempt to describe “the media’s 5 unspoken rules for covering Hillary,” and his own conflicted role in applying them. I say “halfway” brave because the unvarnished truth probably couldn’t be written by any insider who wasn’t prepared to quit Washington journalism altogether. That said, Allen cuts close to the bone, making it clear that among political reporters “the scoop that brings down Hillary Clinton” ranks as “the ultimate prize in contemporary journalism.” He adds that regardless of how ultimately baseless and even ludicrous the allegation, “the act of choosing, time and again, to go after the same person has the effect of tainting that person, even when an investigation or reporting turns up nothing.” Why does Hillary so dislike the political media? Because any normal person would, Allen thinks, if her first experience of them was being treated as a suspect in the death of a dear friend (Vince Foster) who’d committed suicide. And no, it wasn’t just Rush Limbaugh. It was Newsweek, Time, the Washington Post, the TV networks, basically everybody. So a CNN interviewer asks the former secretary of state why nobody trusts her and she’s supposed to show contrition or be derided as “inauthentic?” Allen’s Rule 5 is “everything she does is fake and calculated for maximum political benefit.” If so, what answer can she possibly give? Maybe the one she did give: that right-wing apparatchiks have been peddling this line to reporters for 25 years, but she’s won elections anyway. So aides used a rope line to keep reporters out of her face while she walked in a parade? Boo-hoo-hoo. They ought to be glad she didn’t break out stock whips and cattle prods. Because that would be really bitchy. Meanwhile, these guardians of public morality can be awfully selective CONTINUED ON PAGE 37

JULY 16, 2015

ARKANSAS TIMES

The limits of direct democracy

allot measures have begun a rebirth in Arkansas during the last decade after losing popularity in the middle of the last century. Proposals covering an array of topics have been placed on the ballot and a much larger percentage of those that make it to the voters — especially through the legislative process — have passed as compared to past decades. This rejuvenation has been driven by a combination of the relative ease and cheapness of doing direct democracy work in Arkansas, policy entrepreneurs who wish to make a name for themselves (like former Lt. Gov. Bill Halter, who promoted the lottery amendment in 2004) or make a difference in terms of public policy (like Regnat Populus’ Paul Spencer), the interest of national groups in propelling policy change through state initiatives (the marijuana legalization movement) and those interested primarily in promoting turnout for other races on the ballot (the minimum wage effort in 2014). The 2016 cycle could well be a modern peak for ballot measure appearances on the statewide ballot. In addition to the three constitutional amendments forwarded to the voters by the General Assembly, eight ballot measures have been approved for the petitioning process and at least that number of additional initiatives or constitutional amendments is at some stage between drafting and approval for distribution by Attorney General Leslie Rutledge’s office. Some efforts will inevitably peter out (an effort to overturn the ban on expansive local antidiscrimination ordinances already falls in this category) and it remains unclear how debilitating a 2014 constitutional amendment ratcheting up signature requirements for the initial July 2016 deadline will be, but an array of measures ranging from shortening legislative term limits loosened in 2014 to legalizing medical marijuana in the state seem to have the infrastructure in place for a successful signature-gathering effort. Even with the new strictures on signature deadlines in Arkansas, all signs are that advocates will invest more of their energy in ballot measures in the years ahead because direct democracy remains a potent tool for policy change that bypasses the legislature. Because of the conservative bent of the legislature, in the near future most of these efforts will come from the left (last week in announcing his group’s new emphasis on ballot measures, the ACLU’s national executive director explicitly mentioned Arkansas

as a possible future target in the effort to move away from mass incarceration of nonviolent offenders to “smart JAY justice” that invests BARTH in drug counseling and job training) or from groups wanting to regulate the legislature directly (the term limits measure and a new Regnat Populus effort to enhance campaign finance disclosure fall into this category). When done smartly, direct democracy work is a great investment of political capital. However, those employing direct democracy should also be aware of its limitations. These advocates often emphasize the measures’ impact on engaging new voters in the process, creating a positive impact elsewhere on the ballot. In 2014, for instance, advocates of the increase in the state minimum wage and of expanding alcohol sales across the state strongly believed that those measures could create an electorate more favorable to Democrats in general. Undoubtedly, in certain situations the presence of ballot measures on the ballot does alter the composition of the electorate (for good or ill); a decade ago, amendments that limited access to same-sex marriage clearly brought infrequent voters to the polls — including, as Janine Parry of the University of Arkansas and I argued examining turnout data, white rural voters in Arkansas in 2004. But, cases like that appear exceptional. A new study of Arkansas data from 2014 by Parry, myself and another political scientist shows that voters had almost no knowledge of the five measures on the ballot that year — including measures such as those about alcohol and the minimum wage that had been much discussed. Fewer than half of voters claimed to know that any initiatives or referendums were on the ballot just a few weeks before the election and nearly twothirds of that group was unable — when pressed — to recall a single measure correctly. (Only 15 percent of all voters knew that the minimum wage measure, in which Democrats had invested such great hopes, would be on their ballot.) The opportunity to vote on individual ballot measures seemed also to make no impact on voters’ excitement about voting in the election. Thus, however important direct democracy is for reshaping key public policies in the state, its proponents need to understand what the tool can (and can’t) accomplish.

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Film Society Little Rock Presents

July 30 - August 2, 2015 At The Studio Theatre 320 W. 7th St., Little Rock Kaleidoscope celebrates the diversity of the LGBT community and filmmakers by presenting poignant and thought-provoking films documenting LGBT lives truthfully and with respect.

www.kaleidoscopefilmfestival.com 10

JULY 16, 2015

ARKANSAS TIMES

Player hype, fall reality

ype is the sort of thing that can bedevil a player and burden a program. Arkansas only went 7-6 last year, but the improvement was so astounding from 2013 to 2014 that it couldn’t escape the public’s attention. Consecutive home shutouts of LSU and Ole Miss did wonders for the overall morale around the team, and vindicated Bret Bielema’s steadfastness in program construction. Winning a little now is never as important as winning a lot later. That the philosophy has gained a foothold is exceedingly clear in the rash of preseason magazines that sit around in grocery stores and such. Tight end Hunter Henry is on the John Mackey Award Watch List and is an Athlon preseason All-American. Offensive anchors Sebastian Tretola and Denver Kirkland both made the Outland Trophy Watch List and similarly garnered preseason All-America and All-SEC nods. The backfield duo of Alex Collins and Jonathan Williams, naturally, finds haven on the Maxwell Award list, and is generally and fairly regarded as the most lethal running back tandem nationwide. There isn’t much risk associated with these nods. All of these offensive stalwarts were leaned upon heavily in the Jim Chaney offense, which was erratic and inexcusably safe at the wrong moments. The Dan Enos offense, which is pitched to be more dynamic and yet fundamentally stable as well, probably does nothing but likely enhance everyone’s production, to say nothing of what it will do for Brandon Allen’s crescendo toward respected senior quarterback. All of this is, of course, on one side of the ball. Arkansas flourished so much defensively last year that Robb Smith, then-unknown coordinator by way of Rutgers, became arguably the most beloved guy in the state for a good two or three months. That the unit lost its figureheads — Darius Philon, Trey Flowers and Martrell Spaight — and is still being viewed as a returning asset overall is credit enough to how it has evolved. For those departures, it’s evident that the confidence being invested in successors like Deatrich Wise, JaMichael Winston, Taiwan Johnson and Brooks Ellis is well rooted. None of those guys currently has assumed much long-view attention, but that’s frankly inconsequential.

There are those who wave off whatever alleged prestige might come along with placement BEAU on one of these WILCOX honorary ledgers, but a watch list isn’t totally valueless. An omission can sting someone like, for instance, Dan Skipper. He’s universally liked here for two years of solid work up front, but his history of ill-timed penalties may have played a role in his omission from offensive line consideration. The 6-foot-10 junior stands out physically, as always; will he look at a snub as a means of mental motivation, too? Keon Hatcher may or may not have made his way onto the Biletnikoff list by the time this column is released — the preseason contenders for the best wide receiver award will be announced on July 15 — but there’s ample spin either way. Hatcher was a nonentity as a redshirt freshman in the lost year of John L. Smith, and had equal parts triumph and trouble as a sophomore with Allen running a much more makeshift offense than the one that hummed along last fall. The senior from Owasso, Okla., seemed to find his niche in 2014, though, catching 43 passes, including six touchdowns, and he emerged as a change-of-pace runner and heady downfield blocker as well. Is he one of the premier receivers in the country? Conventional wisdom still says no, but he looks like a great prospect at this point of his career, which is remarkable given his legacy as one of the last Bobby Petrino recruits and one of the few at the position who wanted to still ply his trade after Bielema took over (remember Mekale McKay, anyone?). All told, when a program’s been left in ruin by prior coaching regimes, the newfound attention is nice. Bielema can and will give it all the appropriate treatment. It may be symbolic stuff in July, but by the time October and November roll in, if all the various list inclusions are living up to the billing and the omissions are still fueled by their snubs, then take the entirety of the Hogs off whatever “watch list” you’ve put them on for 2015, for the actual product is making one more substantive, sizable leap forward.

THE OBSERVER NOTES ON THE PASSING SCENE

Pluto on horizon

s The Observer writes this on Tuesday morning, one of the greatest Observational opportunities in a generation is hurtling through space and time to make its impression upon the third planet from the sun sometime this evening. Well, insofar as such subjective designations have any meaning when nonterrestrial matters are concerned — “evening” and “night” and other such functions of Earth-shadow all start to seem pretty petty in the context of space. Sometime in the next 12 hours, NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft will reach a frozen trans-Neptunian object we decided in the 1930s we’d call Pluto, the consummation of a 9-and-a-half year journey across 3 billion miles. And we’re going to get to see it. The idea that a species of such demonstrably weak-willed, violence-prone, sex-crazed primates could get their shit together enough to send anything at all into outer space seems unbelievable. Pics or it didn’t happen. But there they are, indelible images from a half-century of exploration: Mariner, Viking, Voyager, the Mars rovers, the Philae lander that thunked down on a comet last fall. And now, New Horizons. The photos are only the tip of a vast iceberg of data returned to us by the little burbling robot children we’ve sent out to explore and measure the solar system on behalf of our soft, fleshy selves, and with each generation of craft we learn more and more. That Jupiter’s moon Europa holds a sea of liquid water vaster than all the oceans of Earth, locked beneath an icy crust and kept unfrozen by the tidal pull of its parent planet. That beneath the opaque cloud ceilings of Titan, a moon of Saturn, there are lakes of hydrocarbons and an entire atmospheric “methane cycle” of evaporation, condensation and precipitation — like the Earth’s water cycle, but occurring at a temperature of around -290 degrees Fahrenheit. Miracle after miracle, uncovered through the Promethean gifts of science. Whoops, hold up. Ugh. That right there is the problem with getting caught up in romance. One minute you’re learning about a beautiful thing; the next, you’re

waxing grandiloquent with such BS phrases as “the Promethean gifts of science” or “the inky black shores of the cosmos.” Or worse, Manifest Destiny-laden metaphors about intrepid explorers sighting the shores of the New World — an event which, let’s not forget, begot 500+ years’ worth of genocide, plague, rape and chattel slavery in this blood-soaked hemisphere. Grandiloquent waxing is always suspicious, be it over science or God, liberty or equality, local food, punk rock, Sarah Palin’s Real America, or whatever. And that brings us to the ultimate killjoy question when it comes to NASA: Ehhhhh, but what about the costs? The price tag for New Horizons is going to run in the neighborhood of $700 million of public money. It’s honestly a shoestring budget, considering the scope of the mission, and damn it’s going to be thrilling to see Pluto, but still … that’d pay for an awful lot of pre-K teachers, malarial drugs or solar panels. Of course, you can play that game all day. At $700 million, New Horizons will cost about $100 million less than the cash Americans collectively shelled out for Girl Scout cookies last year. NASA’s budget of $18 billion is about 1/28th the size of what the Department of Defense is asking for FY 2015 ($496 billion). Still, if The Observer were sitting in front of $700 million in cash, with the Pluto lobby on one hand and a Syrian refugee camp on the other, we’d have to concede that the population of Pluto can probably cope just fine without us. Thankfully, we’re not. And anyway, if The Observer had been in charge of NASA from the birth of the space program, we probably would have blown our budget launching truckloads of basketballs and cantaloupes into orbit, perfectly content with the sheer awe factor of the concept of spaceflight itself. Briefings to Cold War-era Congressional oversight committees would have read something like, “They’re actually up there! Just floating around! How nuts is that, senators?” The lesson here, as usual, is that it’s fortunate for everyone that The Observer isn’t in charge of much of anything.

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JULY 16, 2015

INCOGNITO: A homemade mask made from a bandana, seized from a Little Rock street gang member in the 90s.

BANGIN’

AN ORAL HISTORY OF THE LITTLE ROCK GANG WARS BY KAYA HERRON & DAVID KOON

t’s been 20 years now since the worst of the gang violence in Little Rock, when the neighborhoods south of Interstate 630 crackled with gunfire and the streets ran with blood. In those days, Little Rock was very much a city of nations, each invisibly bordered, each with a standing army ready to die to keep their territory unmolested by rivals. In 1993, the number of homicides in the city spiked to a record high of 76, then the highest per-capita murder rate in the country. Most of the dead were young black males, most of them shot with handguns, many of them killed either while protecting gang territory or conducting open-air transactions for 12

JULY 16, 2015

ARKANSAS TIMES

powder or crack cocaine. Around the time the murder rate hit a peak, a crew with HBO came to town. While HBO’s original plan was to show gang life in multiple American cities, when the crew got to Little Rock, the magnitude and diversity of gang life they saw here convinced them that this was the only stop

they needed to make. The resulting documentary, “Gang War: Bangin’ in Little Rock,” debuted in 1994 and gave the city a lasting black eye, driving away business and accelerating the white flight that had been going on for years. But, as several of those we’ve talked with have noted, it also made the issue of gangs and gang violence in the city impossible to ignore. We have left behind those bloody days, thank God. Not the gangs, however. The Little Rock Police Department’s chief gang intelligence detective says there are currently over two dozen active street gangs in Little Rock, including the vast majority of the gangs that filled the city’s most desperate neighborhoods with death in the 1990s. Don’t

be mistaken: This is a problem that has gone somewhat quiet, not one that was cured. History is not required to be pretty. It’s usually anything but. Whether we like it or not, the gangs of Little Rock stitched themselves into the historical fabric. Before more time and memories slip away, we decided to go and seek out some of the people who lived through those bloody days. What follows are digests of over 15 hours of interviews with key players: prosecutors, law enforcement, community activists, the gang members themselves. Every one of them, in his or her own way, is a survivor of terrible times. The biggest question we had for all of them was: Did we learn anything?

When we asked him his real name, he said: O.G.T.A. For him, O.G.T.A. is as real as it gets. One of the founders of Little Rock’s Highland Park Pirus, a Blood set that originated in the nowdemolished Highland Park housing project that once stood on 12th Street, O.G.T.A. is currently working on a memoir and a film script, and wants to try to steer the next generation of kids away from life in the gangs. He’ll always be affiliated, he said. Nothing can change that. Even at 44 years old, he still never says the hated word “blue,” he says “flue.” He never says the hated word “Crip.” He always says “Crab.” It was HCC at first — Highland Court Crew. We were a dance group. We used to battle against local gangs: Vice Dice, 8-Ball Gangsters, Granite Mountain, East End. We used to battle against them, dancing. Our fights with them were just over dancing, and them losing. They couldn’t stand to lose. Those were our fights. But in ’87 or ’88, a few Crabs came to town. But at the time, they weren’t with the nonsense. L.A. Moe, he got big-headed. He seen how the dope was flowing. He went back home, got some dope from his homies, and came back with it and some more homies and tried to take over. They took over East End and half of the Central neighborhood. When they tried to ease over on 12th Street, that’s when we changed our name from HCC to Highland Park Posse. “Highland Park Posse” was just a way to keep us from using the C’s. That way, they wouldn’t mistake us as Crabs. Even though our color was red, you had some folks still say we was Crabs. Originally, it was a good 27 [members]. I can’t mention their names because they don’t want their names mentioned, but the original was 27. We’d been friends ever since elementary — from elementary to junior high, from junior high to high school, from high school to the penitentiary. If one fought, we all fought. If you messed with one, you messed with all. There was no such thing as you fight one person

BRIAN CHILSON

O.G.T.A.

REPRESENTING IN HIGHLAND PARK: O.G.T.A. was a local founder of the Pirus.

from Highland and think it’s going to be over with. We’re coming to get you the same day. We don’t mess with your parents’ house. We don’t mess with your sisters or brothers. We go for who we into it with. We don’t shoot your parents’ house up. We didn’t believe in that. I think Highland is the only ones who didn’t believe in drive-by shootings on your parents’ house. We believe in going to get who we got beef with. I never sold dope. I always worked. My first job was at Rally’s. I saw what crack did to friendship and what it did to families, so I never sold dope. My associates, and all them, that’s what they did. But I never touched it. With us getting into it, we all fought with our hands. Baseball bats. Tire irons. Back then, whatever we could get our hands on we used as a weapon, but you’d live to see another day. The pistols came in when the Crabs came in. That’s when the pistol play came in. They came in at the end of ’89 and the beginning of ’90. That’s when it took a turn for the worse. We didn’t believe in representing no California ’hood. We believe in representing our project, representing our neighborhood. We looked at it and felt like: We didn’t bang in California. We didn’t put work in in California. Why should we represent their ’hood when we’re not from their ’hood? We put work in on our block, in our project, in our state. So I felt that, if we’re represent-

ing California, we’re being busters. We didn’t put no work in there. We didn’t sell dope there, the ones who sold dope. We can’t tell you who the true OGs are. We can’t tell you how many homies are gonna die for their ’hood. But in our ’hood, we can tell you who the true OGs are, how many are locked up, how many done died. We can tell you that. We was mostly killing and shooting and fighting because you representing your ’hood in our ’hood. It was about protecting our neighborhood. Protecting our women. Back then, the Crabs felt like for those who sold dope, if they weren’t selling for them, they can’t sell dope. If you were dating a girl, and one of them liked the girl, they think you should stop talking to her so one of their homeboys can talk to her. That’s really what sparked everything. It just turned ugly. I can’t say I’ve shot anybody, I can’t say I didn’t. I’ll just put it that way there. I plead the Fifth. I can’t say I did or didn’t. I’ll just put it this way here: I’m standing on the ground. Above the ground. Back then, I’d give you an opportunity. You could either be a man and drop your pistol and let young Mike Tyson whup your ass, or you can be an asshole and grab a gun. But you’re gonna lose. Because when one shot, we all shot. We were never alone. We never walked the streets alone. We were always 3, 6, 12,

13. We didn’t walk alone. You could be in your car and we’d hold traffic up in the neighborhood just walking. You’re going to have to wait until we get where we’re going to go past us. If you honk your horn or cuss us out, then your car gonna get shot up or bricks threw at it. You had to wait until we got where we were going. That’s the way it was back then. When everybody from Highland got locked up, that’s when everybody started saying they were Bloods. Six months after we got locked up, everybody started saying they were Bloods. I’m talking from Oak Street Posse to West Side Posse, East Side Posse, Granite Mountain Posse, Park Street Posse. It all went from Posse to Piru, and from Posse to Bloods. Once Highland got locked up, it was just like a domino. Once the domino falls, everybody falls. Early 1990s was when all of us got locked up. When they cleaned Highland out, that’s when 21st Street formed, Murder Mob, Hilltop Hustlers, Monroe Street. All them started forming. My momma came down to visit me. I was at Cummins Unit. They let her in with the newspaper. She slapped it down on the table, and she said, “Look what the fuck y’all got started.” A lot of homies died over nonsense, but none of them died because of the hands of a Crab. They might have got time for putting work in on them, got a lot of time, but none of them died at their hands. That’s one thing I can say. We didn’t lose none of our homies, during the time when we was banging, to the hands of a Crab. I can say that much. I couldn’t see myself letting no Crab hurt me. That wasn’t my MO. I could never lose to a Crab. I don’t care how big, how small, how tough you are. I can’t do it. Respect is worth dying for. Respect and my turf. I don’t believe in arguing. If you’ve got a problem, go on and fight. If you’ve got a problem, go on and shoot. Arguing can cause you to get hurt. My daddy called it swapping spit. He don’t believe in arguing, and my Uncle Baby, may he rest in peace, told me the same thing. When I got my first pistol, a .22, he told me, “When you pull the pistol, pull the trigger. You ain’t gotta kill them. But you let the person know that you will pull that trigger. Once they know www.arktimes.com

JULY 16, 2015

A SECRET HISTORY DURING HIS CAREER AS A GANG INTELLIGENCE DETECTIVE WITH THE LRPD, Det. Todd Hurd collected a trove of gang-related artifacts, from the mundane to the chilling, photos to handcrafted belts, bandanas to crack pipes, beads to hand-decorated t-shirts. The Polaroids and photos of artifacts that accompany this article represent a small portion of Hurd’s prodigious collection. To see a much longer slideshow of items from Hurd’s collection, visit our website: arktimes.com

A TIME OF VIOLENCE Major crimes, major prosecution marked the era. 14

JULY 16, 2015

ARKANSAS TIMES

that, they’re gonna stay out your way.” That’s how it works. I watched [HBO’s “Bangin’ in Little Rock”], but I didn’t approve of it. It was fake. Most of them just told on themselves. They were just glad to be on TV. They were on video, so they said some of the things they had and some of the things they didn’t have. They wanted to be seen as important. Most of them said they had something, and they didn’t have it. That’s why I’m writing a movie now called “Hood Territory,” which is to get everybody to understand how Bloods and Crabs actually started in Little Rock. If I can just save 10 kids from joining the lifestyle I joined, then I’ve accomplished something. That’s how I feel. If I can influence 10 kids not to join the gang lifestyle or the drug lifestyle, then I’ve accomplished something. I’ll be on Facebook asking for help, asking for the so-called OGs and Big Homies to help me talk to the youth. It’s going to take more than just one to do it, because I can’t go to a Crab neighborhood, or a Vice Lord neighborhood, or a Gangster Disciple neighborhood trying to talk to them youth over there. It’s going to take the OGs to stand up and take the streets back. It’s going to take the OGs to stand up and take the neighborhood back, and take it back the right way. But we’ve still got OGs out here putting guns in the kids’ hands, putting dope in the kids’ hands. I got two kids, and they’re not a part of nothing. They know everything. I’m not going to keep nothing from them. They know who I am, what I was. When they’re with me, they see me get love and show love to the homies out here, because I still show love to them, even though I’m inactive now because of what I’m trying to accomplish with my book and my movie. I’m trying to show my kids that just because your daddy was a gang member or a gang leader, that don’t mean I can’t change and do something productive.

1985

Crack comes to Little Rock As early as 1980, reports of crack use were appearing in Los Angeles, San Diego, Houston and the Caribbean. By the end of 1986, crack was available in 28 states and the District of Columbia. By 1987, crack was reported to be available in all but four states in the United States. Since then, use of the drug has continued to spread throughout North and South America and into Europe and the rest of the world.

JUDGE WENDELL GRIFFEN Born in Delight (Pike County), Pulaski County Circuit Judge Wendell Griffen also serves as the pastor of New Millennium Church in Little Rock. In the 1990s, as the pastor of Little Rock’s Emmanuel Baptist Church on West 12th Street, he saw the insidious creep of gang violence. It was in the ’80s that those of us who had some direct involvement in community life could see things changing. We knew we had more and more young people and young adults that were being involved with the gangs in one way or another. We were seeing incidents that were more than the run-of-themill youthful indiscretions. More armed confrontations. More drug-related confrontations involving firearms. We were getting the impression that the forces behind the drug movement had shifted inland from California and Miami to the heartland. We could see it in the kinds of things that were happening to kids. The ministers could see it. Jim Dailey was the mayor at the time, and the ministers were trying to tell him we had a gang problem. [City leaders] would say, “Stop saying that. It’s bad for business. Bad for tourism.” I was in the room. These are people who were saying to the public, “We don’t have a gang problem.” Folks were burying kids. Their mamas were calling me in the middle of the night, saying, “My kid just got jumped into a gang” or “My kid got jumped on because he won’t join a gang.” There were people who had positions of power and influence who heard the truth, which they chose not to heed. There are none so blind as those who choose not to see. But we weren’t surprised we weren’t being

heeded. I was the pastor of the congregation of Emmanuel Baptist Church between 1988 and 2001. Gang signs were painted on the side of our church. I didn’t need the mayor of Little Rock to tell me whether we had a gang problem. I didn’t need the mayor talking to me, I needed the mayor listening to me. I had young people in the congregation who were living in the ’hood, dealing with the Oak Street Posse, the Bloods and the Crips. These kids knew to get in the bathtub when gunfire started. They had the hypervigilance of combat, which means they no longer were kids. When a kid has to go to a funeral of a classmate shot by a stray bullet in a drive-by, you’re no longer a kid. When the mayor said, “We don’t have a gang problem,” that kid’s parents know their kid’s life doesn’t matter. Young people saw that their lives didn’t matter. We ended up on HBO as entertainment. The HBO documentary wasn’t fair to the city, nor to the community. One of the hooks of the story is that nobody would expect heartland like Little Rock, Ark., to be a place where gang warfare happens. When the HBO thing came up, folks in Little Rock and our leaders were doing a backfill about how surprised they were. We weren’t surprised. When the reality came home, the city leaders scrambled, as politicians do, to try and find a fix. The fix they found is the kind of mess we see responsible for police-community relations being bad in New York, Ferguson, Baltimore and around the country. What you do is you militarize the cops. You call this a war on drugs, when actually it is people who don’t have jobs, who don’t have work. They are being forced into an underground economy. We poured money on the police. Instead of putting supermarkets in black neighborhoods that will hire black people as stockers and assistant managers and give them career choices, we moved

2/5/1986

Rev. John L. Phillips Jr. shot at Ward Chapel AME Rev. Phillips was shot twice in the back by Larry King of Little Rock as Phillips walked down the center aisle of the church. King then shot Dr. Worthie R. Springer twice in his left shoulder and stomach as he tried to offer aid to Phillips. King was charged with two counts of first-degree battery. The shooting prompted Bishop H. Hartford Brookins to urge Gov. Bill Clinton to appoint a task force to study ways of fighting black-on-black crime; activist Robert “Say” McIntosh criticized the clergy for speaking up only after “one of their own” had been shot, though, he said, violence and gangs had been problems for years.

factory. How much can you preach: Don’t do drugs, don’t steal, don’t join a gang, when the only people with money were drug dealers? I am no apologist for gangs. But nature abhors a vacuum. And when there is an economic vacuum of jobs, when the education system is being systematically re-engineered against the interests of your community and your family, when the political establishment is both willfully ignorant and callously dismissive of your concerns about safety and security, when a young person has a choice between being killed individually or having a sense of being safe as

1/1/1987

CDC begins tracking African-American homicides The federal Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta began tracking causes of violent death among black males, ages 13 to 24, as it would track an epidemic. From 1988 to 1992, the arrests of murder suspects aged between 18 and 24 rose by 93 percent in Arkansas. For those younger than 18, murder arrests increased by 256 percent. Between 1990 and 1992, the Arkansas homicide rate for black males ages 15 to 19 doubled.

COURTESY LITTLE ROCK POLICE DEPARTMENT

supermarkets. We allowed neighborhoods to become food deserts and allowed people to rely on convenience stores, which also are places where folks can gather to exchange contraband. Every week, week in, week out, churches, pastors, youth leaders were trying to come up with programs. But it is more than the local community can do alone. When Little Rock moved from a manufacturing to an informationbased economy and people in business were not investing in the neighborhood, you’ve got two options: leave if you can, or survive as best you can. No churches have enough resources to build a Timex

part of a gang, we are given a devil’s set of options. We could have invested in the black kids but we chose not to. We’re not dealing with root causes. These are kids who need us to invest in them, give them a more excellent way, other choices other than killing themselves or other people. They aren’t the problem. We are. My problem with “Bangin’ in Little Rock” was it made it look like these folks were the problem. The gangs were a symptom, a glaring symptom. But the root cause was not the gangs. The root cause was City Hall and the Chamber of Commerce and folks sitting in air condi-

7/31/1987

LL Cool J concert at Barton Coliseum After the Def Jam '87 concert headlined by LL Cool J, a fight broke out outside the coliseum. Police said it was gang related, but witnesses at the scene refuted that claim. They said it was just a fight, not related to any gangs or gang members. In our interviews, the infamous concert was quoted by many as the beginning of the violence in Little Rock.

tioned buildings making deals to export precious city resources west of University and west of Shackleford, away from communities that needed us to invest in them. We created the disease that produced a symptom called “Bangin’ in Little Rock.” We chose to disinvest in the health of our center city and mis-invest in the wealth of what was at that time woodlands. Now, of course, they go out to Chenal and play rounds of golf and talk about their kids going to Pulaski Academy or CAC and Episcopal Collegiate and they don’t give a damn about how things are going in the Little Rock School District. There was a colossal and calculated

4/29/1988 ‘Colors’ premieres

The movie “Colors,” featuring two white cops [Sean Penn and Robert Duvall] teamed together in a unit that patrols East and South Central L.A., gives Middle America its first depiction of gang life on the streets of a major city.

www.arktimes.com

JULY 16, 2015

JIM DAILEY Former Little Rock Mayor Jim Dailey was elected mayor by the Little Rock city Board of Directors under the old

1988

New Futures for Youth Originated as an after-school program for 20 youths headed by Ken Richardson. It expanded to include the Youth Initiative Project program to provide at-risk youth with academic help, counseling and recreational activities. In 1992, New Futures started a summer program for 150 youths and expanded year-round programming.

JULY 16, 2015

ARKANSAS TIMES

system in 1993. In 1995, he became the first popularly elected Little Rock mayor since the 1950s. He served three four-year terms before leaving public office in 2006. I can still almost see myself sitting there when we realized we were in the headlines nationally as one of the highest homicide-rate cities in the nation. Most of it at that time was young people against young people and it was gang related. There were several things that went on at that time to try to address the problem. Everybody was aware of it. I can remember the business community calling me and the city manager and saying, “This has got to stop. What are you going to do about it, mayor?” Part of it is public safety, policing. Part of it is, how do we get to the root of the problem? I remember that one of the things we tried to do at that time was to make sure to pull the community together and we also put together what was called the Future Little Rock. That ended up being about a 2-yearlong community goal-setting process. The reason we were successful passing a half-penny sales tax was primarily because people were scared about the crime issues, scared about the national attention. The Convention Bureau was sitting there saying, “We have people calling questioning whether they should come to Little Rock.” It hit us economically. Alltel was saying, “We’re recruiting people to Little Rock to work here and their families are saying, ‘Oh my God! That place is crazy. You’ll get killed just by being in the town.’” I disagree with anybody who says we tried to cover up the problem. I don’t think there was ever any attempt to keep it quiet. In fact, when “Bangin’ in Little Rock,” the HBO special, hit, that was probably the straw that broke the camel’s back community wide. I totally disagree that there was any attempt to

COURTESY LITTLE ROCK POLICE DEPARTMENT

decision to invest away from people who needed the city to invest most in them. And I will say this to my dying day: There is a special place in a bad place for folks who have the power to make a difference for good for those who are the least who intentionally use their power to make the privileged more comfortable. Simply put, it was racism. People who did it will say that’s an unfair charge because they don’t have a bigoted bone in their body. That’s because they don’t understand the insidious and pernicious nature of racism. I use the term “cultural incompetence” because it’s less threatening. At bottom, it is racism. And here’s the nasty, unpopular truth: The dominant society in Arkansas and this nation has never cared about communities of color except to the extent that communities of color could serve their interests for profit. Did Little Rock learn anything from those days? It has learned something, but has it learned the right things? And the answer is no. We haven’t learned that Little Rock cannot succeed if poor people are treated as the problem, as opposed to a reflection of our insincerity and hypocrisy. Little Rock cannot succeed if we believe we can heal violence with more violence, and exchange the dollars of street gangs with dollars for police officers and task forces that run around and throw flash bangs in people’s houses. Police officers are the containment force. The reason the black community has such a distrust of the term “community policing” is that the police have never been part of our community. They have been the force applied to our community, by people who wanted us to be kept separate from them.

hide it. I do think that there was probably ignorance on the part of everybody at the level this thing was bubbling up to. I think we were shocked when we suddenly realized that this was not just something that was a blip on a radar screen, something that was going to go away. I can remember Lou Caudell, who was our police chief at the time, coming before us when we started to see the numbers going up. He said this had slipped up on them. It was like, all of a sudden, wham, it was here. He explained part of it as Little Rock being a crossroads of Interstate 30 and Interstate 40 and the trafficking of drugs from Texas or wherever it was coming

from — Mexico, or you name it. But trafficking of drugs became the business model. This is a huge problem. How do we address it? It was an incremental thing. It was like, let’s work through this process and let the public get engaged in it. I chaired the public safety task force, which was one of probably a dozen or so task forces we had. And what came out of that public safety task force was, No. 1, we needed more police. That was part of it. And No. 2, we needed to get to the root cause of this. Why are these kids doing this and what can be done about it? The more you dig into that, the more you find that maybe they were without

9/14/1990

7/12/1992

9/26/1992

Jonathan Nooner, 19, of Sheridan was shot and killed after a fight broke out on a parking lot at Baseline and Geyer Springs roads. At the time, Geyer Springs was a popular destination for teens cruising on Friday and Saturday nights. Police said the fight was a face-off between a group of white youths and a group of black youths, but they declined to call the fight a racial or gang confrontation.

A drive-by shooting killed 13-yearold Lamesha Burton and paralyzed her friend Nicole Chunn.

Shots were fired inside the mall during a gang-related brawl that involved as many as 100 youths. A press conference was called, city leaders spoke, and the message was clear: The violence has spread out of the city's poorer neighborhoods.

Nooner shooting on Geyer Springs

Shooting at 15th and Oak streets

Shooting at Park Plaza Mall

years a change in behavior, a change in patterns, and what needed to be done to connect to these individuals. So anyway, that’s the long way to tell you what was going on and that this was a serious problem, multilayered, with law enforcement needs, with social needs, with intervention needs. One of the things that I did at that time, and fortunately the media honored it and did not publicize it, is that I started visiting the homes of the families of every victim that was killed. Ultimately, I put together a small group of folks, and we’d go to the homes, visit with the family members. We would say, “We just want you to know we care. What can we do to help you?” Sometimes it was a family that had no money and the electricity was just about to be turned off. It wasn’t always that they were bad kids. Some of them were incidental victims. Some of the families, you’d go into their homes and you could tell it was really very unsettled. And then you’d go into another one and they’d want to show you the pictures of their family and their kids. I remember going into one home. It was a rainy afternoon. They let us in, and the grandfather of this young man who had been killed was in home care, in a bed there in what was the living room. The grandmother was sitting in another room with a fireplace going, sitting there in a rocking chair. We came in, and she didn’t so much want to talk about the loss of her grandchild. She showed us the certificates of her granddaughter, who was living with her, who was in school and was doing well with her grades. She wanted to show us that. That’s what she wanted to focus on. Her husband is here dying in the living room, she’s just lost her grandchild, and she’s focused on the future. That’s the good we saw. Over a period of probably three years

I would imagine that I visited with about 100 families. I still, every now and then, will run into one of these individuals. They will just come up and give me a hug and say, “Mayor, I’ll never forget that you came to visit us when we were hurting.” I think it would be hard not to have learned something. Probably the thing I learned, that took a little while for it to sink in, was that we must deal with these major problems at the human level. I grew up in the business world. There’s a balance between the natural reaction, particularly for a businessman or a conservative, to say, “We can fix that now,” and the reality that you can’t, in most cases, just fix it now. You’ve got centuries of history. And to change that, you don’t just walk in and say, “We’re going to take over and everything is going to be fine,” and declare martial law in the streets of your city. In reality, you’ve got offenders out there that have made bad choices. Are there things that we can do, even though it takes time, to reduce the

number of those individuals? If we just got them off the street, things might be better. But if we just get them off the streets, we haven’t addressed the neighborhood issues and the [inequality] of different parts of the city. We haven’t addressed the code enforcement in East Little Rock. We haven’t shuttered or boarded up or removed certain houses that are the places that the gangs have their meetings and all that. We don’t bring people together in the neighborhoods. The thing I’ve learned is that there’s just no simple answer to the issue.

DETECTIVE TODD HURD A 23-year veteran of the Little Rock Police Department, Det. Todd Hurd is the only law enforcement officer in Arkansas who is certified as an expert witness in both state and federal court on the subject of gangs. During his career, he has worked undercover extensively, developing intelligence on Little Rock gangs. We spoke with him at Community Bakery on Main Street,

BRIAN CHILSON

a job. Maybe they had a dysfunctional family. Maybe they had no incentive to try to do something that was positive. Their family, many times, became the gangs. Then it became a gang war that ended up with kids being killed by kids. Ultimately we passed a half-penny sales tax to fund some of the initiatives of that Future Little Rock vision. Part of the reason that passed was because people knew a big chunk of that money was going to hiring new police officers. So part of it was to get it under control and get new police officers in place. But the other part that we did in Future Little Rock was working with New Futures for Youth and other groups. We had some of these contracts that helped us set up some programs that could be a benefit to the neighborhoods and a benefit to connecting with young people in ways that hopefully would solve some of the problems. We established what we called neighborhood alert centers in 15 or so neighborhoods that were most affected by the high crime rate, each kind of a miniature city hall. You had the police department that worked out of there, code enforcement that worked out of there, and you had someone who was kind of the neighborhood advocate, the neighborhood connector, so they helped to bring people together. We also worked harder on supporting the idea of the growth of neighborhood associations and City Hall working with neighborhood associations so you get that kind of feedback back and forth. We also created a fund that we still call PIT — Prevention, Intervention and Treatment. We have about $3 million set up per year in that initial PIT fund. We had a couple of agencies we were already working with like New Futures for Youth and we continued to fund them. But then we advertised for certain types of programs that might work with youth and hopefully that would begin to develop over a period of 5 or 6 or 10

HURD: “A lot of times you end up almost as a surrogate parent for some of these guys.”

5/15/1993

Officer Henry Callanen murdered Officer Henry Callanen, a 35-year Little Rock Police Department veteran, was working off-duty at a McDonald's restaurant at 3100 W. Roosevelt Road when robbers entered and attempted to take the day’s bank receipts. Callanen was shot three times and later died. Everett Lamont Foreman and Durrell Childress, identified as gang members by people interviewed by the Times, were both brought to trial and sentenced to life in prison for murder and aggravated robbery.

6/8/1993 Shooting at Next Generation Teen Club

Club owner Claude Gregory Stuart, 35, was shot and killed in a driveby as he was taking tickets and checking for guns at the door of his club at 4200 Asher Ave.

www.arktimes.com

JULY 16, 2015

Before LRPD, I was a detention officer with the North Little Rock Police Department. Before that, I was a residential treatment counselor at Youth Home Inc. out there on Col. Glenn, working with psychiatrically disturbed young people. Now I work with psychiatrically disturbed older people, my coworkers mainly. Youth Home is what got me interested in it, because I had close contact with kids who were active gang members. I was fresh out of college, and I had a Blood, a Crip, a Gangster Disciple, a white supremacist skinhead, and they’re all living in the same house. As a white kid from West Little Rock, I picked up on a lot of stuff very quickly. It was at that point that I decided I wanted to do law enforcement, especially gangs. In 1992, I got hired by LRPD. The officers that were on the streets knew we had a gang problem. When I hit the streets, it was all people talked about. At the time, it was City Hall that was in the denial phase of it. In all reality, it’s because it was bad for business. Nobody wants that to be the heading of the first thing that people think about as far as your city goes. The problem with that is, when the HBO special hit the air, they lost all control over that. Then it was, at that time, it was about trying to mitigate the damage that the nationwide press coverage was giving. You’ve also got to remember Clinton was running for president at that time period, too. At the same time we were guarding him at the Governor’s Mansion, you were hearing gunfire every night from the surrounding neighborhoods. These Secret Service guys who aren’t from here, they’re diving under their vehicles. We’re trying to explain to them, “Look, this is just how it is. Nobody is shooting at you.” Then we

COURTESY LITTLE ROCK POLICE DEPARTMENT

just blocks from what had once been some of the city’s most violent neighborhoods.

made national news with the shooting that happened at 1519 Hanger. That probably would not have made the news, but for Clinton and the attention that Little Rock and Arkansas was getting at the time. A couple of kids were shot. The baby was shot severely, and it was done with an AK-47 type rifle. I mean, it was like a one-two punch for the mayor and the city board of directors. Helen Keller could not have denied it at that point. It was everywhere. They started with small units around the police department. The first one

was just called “The Goon Squad.” It was several guys and a sergeant that had citywide run, and they went to hot calls, did a lot of stuff in the housing projects, a lot of narcotics arrests, a lot of gun arrests. When we got to the point where we needed more bodies doing this type of work, then they created the Zero Tolerance Task Force. Zero Tolerance was a combination of patrol officers that were pulled out of the neighborhoods that had been working these areas previously, combining them with plainclothes narcotics detectives and

7/1/1993

10/21/1993

In a case that made national news, a gang member named Carl Dermott Adams, 23, fired into a home at 1519 Hanger St. with an AR-15 assault rifle. A bullet hit Terrence Caffey, 20 months old, in the leg before ripping through his abdomen and exiting his right buttock. His brother, Michael, 10, was shot in the arm, leaving a cavity the size of a baseball in his arm. Both children miraculously survived. Adams was sentenced to 154 years in prison under a new state law on terroristic acts.

Attorney General Winston Bryant named 27 Arkansans from education, law enforcement and other community-service fields to serve unpaid, open-ended terms on the gang task force. They held hearings to gather gang-related data to propose laws to lessen gang activity.

1519 Hanger St. shooting

JULY 16, 2015

ARKANSAS TIMES

Gang task force formed

plainclothes intelligence detectives that were gathering information on street gangs. So within the intelligence unit, there was the seed corn, if you will, of the formation of what we have today. Back then, with Zero Tolerance, we had face-to-face contact with these guys. We weren’t working accidents or domestic disturbances. We were going from shooting to shooting, from robbery to drug deal. We were dealing with gangmember-specific complaints and incidents, so we were going all over the city to the gang hot spots. As we got there

11/28/1993

South University Burger King shooting About 20 customers were inside the restaurant across the street from the busy University of Arkansas at Little Rock campus as teenage gang members exchanged gunfire. Only the shooters were injured, but the case brought the issue of gang violence back to the fore.

12/12/1993

Voting for Future Little Rock tax A permanent half-cent sales tax was approved, generating $12.5 million annually for more police officers, crime prevention programs, street lights and bus system improvements. The tax also funded a Race Relations Commission and youth intervention programs.

and I say, “Give it up!” He hits the ceiling, and all his buddies start laughing at him: “Hey man, Hurd got you, man!” So I introduce them to my daughter, and of course, they look like the Arkansas Razorbacks with the colors, head to toe in red. This is when the Power Rangers were big. They said, “Hey little Hurd, what do you want for Christmas?” She said, “I want a yellow Power Ranger!” And in unison, they said, “Nooooo! You want a RED Power Ranger!” She’s 3, and she’s looking at these 15 gang members and she’s giving them the stink eye and a wrinkled-up nose. She’s like, “red?!” Stuff like that happens, but then you get other stuff that happens when violence occurs. You go from getting out of the car and hugging on some of these guys to the bitter end of something as horrible as [a murder]. It can change at a moment’s notice. I do care for some of them. I’ve lost some. You’ve got to remember, they’re still in the gang. It’s tough. You’re involved with these people. You hear when they’re having problems with their old ladies. You hear when they’re having trouble at work. When they’re having money trouble. When somebody is trying to get them to do something they’re trying to get out of. You hear all that stuff and a lot of times you end up almost as a surrogate parent for some of these guys. I had one dude, he got out of prison, and I was driving him around. We were just talking about where he needed to get a job. He said he’d turned in an application at this particular place. I said, “Dude, I’m really proud of you.” And this guy a lot of times you end up almost as a surrogate parent for some of these guys a lot of times you end up almost as a surrogate parent for some of these guys — muscled up, just out of prison — this guy started bawling in my front seat. He said, “Nobody has ever told me that they’re proud of me.” A lot of the time, those relationships

are formed under the most adversarial conditions. We’re not sitting down in a coffee shop and kickin’ it. A lot of times, many of these relationships are formed when I’m jumping out of a vehicle with a gun in my hand. It starts from there. I’ve been married a couple times. The first one didn’t work out. The second one is hopefully the last. So I’ve only proposed to two women. Officially. But in my role as a gang intelligence detective, I’ve actually proposed to three. I’d never proposed to an African-American woman before, until I was on my knee in a house in midtown, giving this girl a ring and reading a letter to her from her boyfriend that was in prison. He’d sent me the proposal. I had gotten a deal for him from the local jeweler for the tiniest, most bullshit diamond you can imagine. I proposed to her for him. So you do all sorts of different things that never make the paper. I hate to say it’s the job, because that’s not part of the job. It’s just something that kinda goes along with the job. Most of the news people get comes from the Police Beat, which is three to

five stories. They think Police Beat is all that happened. For their sanity, that may be a good thing, because knowing all that I know, it sort of makes the town haunted. If I’m driving through a neighborhood, I can’t help but think, “OK, we hit a search warrant at that house. We had a shooting right there. A kid burned up in a house fire right there.” You can’t go anywhere in the town without running into something. As I’m sitting here, I’m thinking of all the stuff that used to happen when Juanita’s was just down the street, and they’d let out, and they’re shooting in the parking lot. Just craziness. It’s sort of like, if you’re driving down the interstate and you see a grouping of flowers? Well, a lot of people think, “Probably somebody had a wreck there and somebody probably died.” If they did that where all these killings had taken place in Little Rock, it would freak you out.

KEN RICHARDSON Little Rock City Director Ken Rich-

BRIAN CHILSON

and we made contact with those individuals, we could take their photographs, we could check them for tattoos, specifically gang-related tattoos, we could do things like hopefully obtain information on what their nickname was, their street name, and get these guys while they were in a group. That one-on-one contact with these gang members was very important. It really took us from being the per-capita murder capital of the United States down to somewhat of a manageable level. We knew all the players, we knew how to lay hands on them if need be. A lot of the interactions I had differed from gang member to gang member, neighborhood to neighborhood. There were some neighborhoods where I could get out of the car, and you’d hear 20 gang members going “Huuuuuurd!” as I’m getting out. There would usually be one or two that would run, because they’re the ones with the guns and the dope on them while the others were yelling my name. But there was an acceptance. I was part of their culture. Some of them would do little rap songs and my name would be in the rap song and stuff like that. They knew my days off. They knew if I gained weight, lost weight, cut my hair, changed my partner. Anything like that. I went with my daughter when she was little to Park Plaza to go Christmas shopping, and I see a group of about 15 Blood gang members that I had this better relationship with. I’m thinking: I’ve got my 3-year-old kid with me. I knew there was no way I could get out of this place without them seeing me. So I had a choice to make: either they see me sneaking off, or I go up and say something to them. So, the biggest one had his back to me. Even though he was the biggest one, he was the softest one out of the bunch. So I go up to him, and I’ve got my daughter by the hand. I go up to him and I stick my finger in his back

KEN RICHARDSON: “You never know the impact you’re going to have on someone.”

12/14/1993

12/18/1993

A public ceremony in Little Rock's Centennial Park intended to promote trust and peace between gang members and community leaders. It was sabotaged by the untimely public arrest of Leifel Jackson, the event's organizer and leader of the Original Gangster Crips, on drugtrafficking charges.

A parking lot brawl at John F. Kennedy and North Hills boulevards in Sherwood preceded the shooting of Jason Hatcher, a 19-year-old North Little Rock high school athlete. The fight purportedly started when the Southwest Kings, an exclusively white street gang, flashed gang signs. Seven shots in all were fired. Hatcher was killed, and a 17-year-old was shot in the leg.

Peace Tree ceremony and arrest of Leifel Jackson

Southwest Kings parking lot shootout

www.arktimes.com

JULY 16, 2015

ardson grew up near 12th Street, and has been involved in youth intervention and trying to steer kids away from the gangs since he moved back to his home state of Arkansas from California in 1992. He currently serves as the director of program services for the Little Rock nonprofit group New Futures for Youth. If you ask people why they join gangs, it’s basic human needs. None of them join to do drive-by shootings and sell drugs. They ultimately do that. When you ask them why they joined, it’s a sense of family, love, acceptance, power, respect, money, a sense of belonging. We all need that. You expect to get those things from your home, but if you’re coming from a broken home, you won’t get that. Once upon a time, when I was growing up — and I don’t want to date myself — but if your home didn’t provide it, then your extended family would. Your blood family or your community. So you’ve got these folks coming from fractured communities and fractured homes and they tried to find anywhere they could to get that sense of belonging, acceptance, love, respect, power, power over your own life. That’s why they would join. When I came back to Little Rock, I saw remnants of what I saw in California. I saw a lot of colors. I saw a lot of graffiti. Obviously I saw a lot of the violence in certain parts of the community. I saw the community disintegration in the inner core of our city. When I left [Arkansas] in ’84, it wasn’t like that at all. We certainly didn’t have the gang violence. We certainly didn’t have the high number of young people disconnected from positive institutions. It was a good place. A nice place to live. If you had a homicide, if a young person was killed, and especially if he was killed by another young person, that was an aberration. If a young person

2/1/1994

Citywide juvenile curfew goes into effect Little Rock’s curfew set restrictions to keep juveniles off the streets between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m., with exceptions for interstate travel, emergencies, travel to and from work or with an adult 21 years or older.

JULY 16, 2015

ARKANSAS TIMES

was killed back then, everything would stop. Unfortunately, I think that’s why our gang problem grew to what it was: We didn’t have that same mindset. We had young people dying in record numbers, and we were going about business as usual. We had young people dying in record numbers, where both the victim and the perpetrator were 14 or 15 years old, and society would not stop. We kept having our banquets. We kept going about our day-to-day routine. I think that sent the wrong signal to young people: that your lives don’t matter. That we don’t value you. They would internalize that and play that out among their

as strong of a gang problem as we had. When I came home, I was doing direct coordination of a YIP site, the Youth Initiative Project. It was the first gang intervention and prevention program in the city of Little Rock. Once we got them in the program, we’d provide activities for them. We had a threepronged approach. There was recruitment, enrichment and empowerment. The enrichment phase is where we talk to them about conflict resolution, getting them to get away from those abnormal-normal cultures — the cultural norms they accepted which were abnormal.

REAL ENOUGH TO GET YOU KILLED: A BB gun taken off a young gang member by LRPD detective Todd Hurd in the 1990s.

peer groups. Look at these communities that produced these gangs. Do a drive-through right now. What are you going to see? A bunch of boarded-up, vacant homes. Empty, vacant lots. It’s almost like one of those old war movies, where they’ve dropped a bomb on a city. In Little Rock, the bomb that was dropped wasn’t a neutron bomb, or an atom bomb. It was a bomb of crack cocaine, and it tore families. That’s why a lot of those kids weren’t getting the basic human needs from their home. Had it not been for crack, you probably wouldn’t have had

4/27/1994

Bobby Banks charged Banks, one of the city’s most notorious gang leaders, was charged in the drive-by shooting at 15th and Oak streets that killed Lamesha Burton and permanently disabled Nicole Chunn.

A lot of those kids didn’t see any hope. They didn’t see a future for themselves. What we had then, and I think it’s creeping back, is a dangerous combination of hopelessness and fearlessness. They didn’t have any hope for anything. They didn’t fear anything. So all bets are off. What we were trying to do is trying to give them a chance to see themselves in the future. Give them a chance to see themselves doing something differently. All they thought they had in their lives was what they were doing. They didn’t think they had anything else beyond bangin’ and slangin’ and

7/22/1994

Zero Tolerance Policy goes into effect The LRPD’s first Zero Tolerance Policy Unit hits the streets. Headed by Lt. Mike Sylvester, the group was composed of eight narcotics officers, 15 uniformed officers, a K-9 officer and two warrants officers. In the unit’s first five days, it made 95 arrests.

hangin’ and gangin’. Out of my initial group, I lost five. Five out of 25. The youngest was 14 and the oldest was 17. All of them were killed in drive-by shootings. It was terrible. It was like you were losing your own kid. It’s the worst feeling. To watch the impact it has on the other kids in the program was one of the most disheartening parts. It gives them a different mindset. It gives them the opportunity to say, “If it happened to Cray, it’s probably going to happen to me. If it happened to Cedric, it’s probably going to happen to me. If it happened to Robert, it’s probably going to happen to me.” The sense of hopelessness creeps in and gets reinforced. We had that idiotic documentary [“Bangin’ in Little Rock”] come out that really reinforced some idiotic actions. That was horrible, too. I was approached about letting some of my kids participate, and I said, “No, we’re not going to do that.” They ended up filming some of my kids anyway. There are some kids in that documentary that were hardcore gang members, and there were others that were just acting out for the camera. A lot of those kids in that documentary weren’t hardcore gang members. After that came out, they were labeled as, viewed as, and unfortunately unfairly penalized as hardcore gang members. They’d go to school after that documentary came out and get identified as troublemakers, get singled out. They were labeled. I think if President Clinton had not won that election that year, we never would have seen that documentary. This is always a big challenge: How do you generate sympathy and empathy for a group of people that society, both black and white, wants to write off and throw away, just because of their income level and just because, geographically, where they live? I’ve gone to far more funerals of young people than I care to remember or acknowledge. And the disheartening thing is to be in

Director Marc Levin (left) during production of “Bangin’ in Little Rock”

BRIAN CHILSON

a church with about 100 young people and 10 adults. You’ve got these young people trying to help figure this out, trying to help each other figure it out, trying to help make sense out of nonsense. And you go to the church and there’s a hundred kids in there and 10 adults, and that’s the pastor and the ushers and the people that belong to that church. You didn’t have a community of adults trying to help these kids figure this out, to help them grieve, to help them understand what it is that’s happening with them and to them. None of those kids have the maturity — no training, no experience — to help another youngster through grief. That was the insane part about it in my mind. You’ve got these babies holding each other, crying, and trying to provide for each other and console each other. What I learned personally from those days is the value of consistent, caring adults in the lives of young people, and what that means. You can’t measure that. You can’t quantify it. I know it means a hell of a lot. I had a young lady who was in my program who posted on Facebook on Father’s Day: “Happy Father’s Day, Pops.” She always called me Pops. She let everybody know that I’ve done more for her than her own father has. That resonates, when you see something like that. She was in my program 20 years ago. These kids, I see them now and they’re grown. They’re 30, 35. And they still call me Mr. Ken. They still look at me as Mr. Ken. You never know the impact you’re going to have on someone. I didn’t know it then. I was just doing it because I was concerned about them. I didn’t want them to get in trouble. But it stays with them. I see them today and know how important that is. That’s what I learned: the importance of that. I didn’t know it then. You wouldn’t know it. There were people who were mentors of mine growing up and they probably don’t even realize the impact they had on my life.

KEYON NEELY: “You’re not an official set if you didn’t get someone from The Land to come here.”

I think about the things they instilled in me. When you make those kinds of connections, they become your extended family. They’re not numbers. They’re family. They stay with you for the rest of your life, in your mind and your heart.

Thirteenth and Elm. Right there where it all started at. That’s why our ’hood is 14th and Elm. West Side Piru. We actually had a guy that come down from California. You’re not really an official set if you didn’t get someone from The Land to come here. Cali. Someone to actually put their feet down here and be like, “Yeah, this gonna be my new stomping ground. Right here.” He was West Side Piru.

KEYON NEELY A member of the West Side Pirus, a Blood set centered near 14th and Elm streets, Keyon Neely might be the oldest 37-year-old you’ll ever meet. He’s been shot multiple times, once severely enough to leave him paralyzed for months while nerve damage healed. His eyes are the eyes of a man who has

8/2/1994

COURTESY HBO

I was coming down here in the summer from Georgia. My mom was married to a guy in the military, Fort Benning. But I was coming down here for the summer and staying with my grandparents. There weren’t any gangs then. Maybe a year or two later was when the guy came from Cali and it began. We went way back before all of that, our brotherhood. We were like family. Everybody stayed across the street from each other. We weren’t a gang then. You just couldn’t come in this neighborhood. Wasn’t no breaking into Mrs. Parker’s house. Ain’t no stealing Mrs. Jones’ car. I mean, you had friends back then. But more or less, we just went out to the

10/1/1994

1/9/1995

Seventeen members of the Oak Street Posse are federally indicted on charges of sale and distribution of crack cocaine. Eventually, the majority of the gang's leadership was put behind bars, effectively gutting its street operations.

A Little Rock School District bus was stopped at gunpoint at 17th and Boyce streets by armed masked men who stepped into the street, pointed a handgun at the bus driver and threatened to shoot if he drove away. Three men boarded the bus in search of a student. Their intended target wasn’t on the bus, so they robbed the bus passengers, taking gold chain necklaces and some cash.

Oak Street Posse members indicted

HBO’s “Gang War: Bangin’ in Little Rock” premieres COURTESY LITTLE ROCK POLICE DEPARTMENT

seen things he shouldn’t. Along with plentiful tattoos representing his love for West Side and his neighborhood, his arms are covered in the tattooed names of the dead.

School bus hijacking and robbery

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1/18/1995

Shooting of Setendias Matthews Curtis Hawkins, 15, a member of the Vice Lords, fatally shot Matthews, 16. His arrest sparked a lunch-hour melee between gang members at J.A. Fair High School, where Matthews was a student. The arrest of five Fair students that followed brought to 23 the number of Little Rock students arrested in gang-related school fights since the first of the year. 22

JULY 16, 2015

ARKANSAS TIMES

COURTESY LITTLE ROCK POLICE DEPARTMENT

Heights stealing bikes. Man, y’all making me go back. That was a great time. Worry-free. You start out killing. Muscle. Off the top, your foundation is built on muscle. It’s built on fear. A lot of people are like, “I don’t want people to fear me.” But it’s whatever it takes for you to respect me. You’re going to need that [fear] in all situations and you’re always gonna need understanding. You’ve got to have that. You don’t want your people to hate you. You never want your constituents to hate you, because they are the only ones that can get to you, they are the closest ones to you. Everybody needs to eat and everybody is gonna follow money, even the people that don’t like you are going to follow the money. Now no one is going to rob you, no one’s going to come to your neighborhood. No one’s going to sell in your neighborhood and even if someone’s over in your neighborhood, they’re selling your dope. Now, here comes the help. Here comes the humanitarian that you have to have in you with being a leader. This comes with feeding your people. The guys that don’t have the hustle or the drive that we have to get up, get out and go get it, you still got to feed them, too. You have to feed your people. You feed your people and they’re less likely to tell on you. Less likely to stab you in the back. Less likely to be the ones to set you up or to take a couple dollars from the police to make a phone call to you. Because it’s like, “Nah, dude, last time I was over here, man, he gave me $50 when I told him my phone was getting cut off.” You never turn nobody down, you making too much money to turn somebody down. Never turn nobody down, that’s what’s keeping these people in check. All that comes with building a great foundation. A great foundation will stand firm even though everything else around you is in disarray. No matter who’s at the top, different

changes, the foundation was built right. That’s why we had generations of West Side. We didn’t come and go. We kept on a business mind. Back then you had people, seven or eight people, out here on this block, all shuffling for these dope sales that’s pulling up in these cars. When the cars pull up, people were actually running to these cars trying to get to these people. Guess they call that proper networking. But these guys were actually building something then, they didn’t know it. They were building something then on respect. That’s

what we did back then and those guys were really out there just like corporations today, muscling to get to the demand. You had to do certain things so that nobody runs up to your certain cars, and when someone does run to your car, you say, “Hey, man. Come over here and come holla at me right quick behind that house,” and hopefully the other guy can fight just as good as his heart thought he could for running up on my sale, ’cause I’m gonna beat his ass. He’s taking money out of my pocket. Once you’ve done that, then you’ve

got it established. No one fucks with your sales, when you see the white fourdoor Honda Accord, everyone knows don’t run to that car, that’s such-andsuch’s car, and no one would fuck with them. I went to Varner Unit when I was 15. I was down in Marianna, Phillips County. I had about $1,100 in my pocket, and I had another guy with me. He was older than me. We went down there to get some dope. I’m sitting in the backseat. He in the front and the other guy is in the front. The other guy reached

6/5/1995

7/18/1995

10/12/1995

Frederick Schmon Walker, 17, fatally shot Damon Dulaney, 19, because Dulaney was wearing red in a Crips neighborhood. Walker was sentenced to life in prison.

An 18-year-old identified as a member of the Murder Mob jumped off a picnic table three times onto the head of Michael Daniel. Daniel died of his injuries in May 1996 after the beating put him in a coma.

A North Little Rock man was found beaten, his body sticking out from a piece of discarded carpet on the street. His brother said his red cap put him in danger.

to the back like he was pointing a gun, I grabbed the gun, he shot and it shot him — shot the guy in the front. So I pull my gun out and I shoot him: “Boom!” He gets out the car, he’s running, so I jump out the car. My mind was crazy back then. I’m shooting. I’m just a-shooting. He gets hit a couple more times, but he lived. We ended up getting locked up for that. I got 10 years with seven suspended under Act 371, First Time Offenders Act. Never been in no trouble before. Never got caught before, because I lived by that: not getting caught. Prison was different then. No one from West Side was in prison yet. It was a younger gang, established but still young. It was Highland Court, Granite Mountain, and 21st, things of that nature. These guys were in their 40s. So I was the first one from my neighborhood to come to prison. And when I got there they were asking me, “Who you know? Where you from?” And it was great that the guy who originated our set was from California so we had the stamp. We were certified. That protected me somewhat. You still have to have a certain way you carry yourself, as a man, going the way prison goes. It’s not quite where Martha Stewart was. In those days, we were over here straight at war. Like literally at war. I was shot five times in my back and on the same day my brother was shot two times. I had a colostomy bag put in because of it. Dude tried to shoot me in the head and I hit the gun. It shot me in the back and it came out here. God was taking care of me back then ’cause I was a fool. God only protects fools and babies, man, fools and babies. We didn’t know any better. Religion is 100 percent based on faith, believing in your heart something that you cannot see. History is something that you can’t deny. I try to separate religion and history. It’s what helped me stop being so violent. I found some

11/15/1996 Operation Old Folks

The two-year investigation led to 31 arrests and the confiscation of 2 kilograms of crack cocaine, 25 pounds of marijuana, $109,000 in cash, three guns and seven cars. A total of 35 gang members were federally indicted: 26 from Little Rock, five from North Little Rock, two from Helena, one from Arkadelphia and one from Dallas, all members of the Folk street gang.

of the pieces that were missing. I went to private school and we read the Bible, and it opens with: “Let us create man in our image.” If you believe in that, that’s a great thing, because I do, too. Hell, I was gonna die for my neighborhood. Who’s to say someone wouldn’t die for your soul? How can you be from the streets and claiming a neighborhood, and not believe someone was going to die for your sins? You don’t even own a house over here! Yet you were willing to die for someone who was willing to steal from you and lie to you. How can you

beat a couple of charges, did a couple of bids, but I always did it right. And I’m not the only one. That’s why it’s still going on, because I’m not the only head that played it right. There’s a lot of heads that played it right. I’m amazed I’m still alive. That’s why I’m always smiling all the time! Nothing bothers me! My wife be like, “Can you tell the kids to be quiet?” Man, I was in prison with some motherfucking voices I was forced to listen to. You couldn’t shut ’em up or tune ’em out, even with headphones. You didn’t have any control over that.

PARAPHERNALIA: An assortment of used crack pipes seized by LRPD detectives in the 1990s.

deny the man who showed you His true intentions? He was nailed to a cross for your sins. I always question: “What the fuck did you get out of that, man, besides some bullet holes and not being able to bear arms and protect your family ’cause you’re a felon?” I learned then what not to do in grown life. I realized that I didn’t know there were that many people following, that many people watching, even outside of your neighborhood. I didn’t understand that. But I always did it right and I’m glad I did. I’m still in good standing with everybody, ’cause I did it right. I always broke bread, made sure everybody ate. I split a few hairs,

2/20/1996 After he saw a man talking to a girl in a rival gang at a nightclub, Emmanuel Lee Hart, 18, fired into the window of the man’s car as both drove on Interstate 30. Shedrick Sabb, 18, died as a result of the shooting.

Those are my kids. I love their little voices down there yelling. I missed that, so it doesn’t bother me, because I know I was supposed to be dead and gone, man. Like seriously, no bullshit. All my homeboys are either in prison or tattooed on my arm. Now I see the product of those cracked-out moms: these crazy motherfuckers out here right now. I see that and it kind of scares me. That’s the part that hurts; the part that makes you wake up and say, “We’ve got to end this, now.” I didn’t understand that back then. That the dope you’re selling is destroying two generations, the mother and the child that’s inside her.

4/13/1996

Retaliatory house fires Five vacant homes on Cumberland Street, from 17th to 21st, were burned in retaliation for prosecutions of three gang members on drug charges. Residents accused the police of interrupting a birthday celebration and throwing a pregnant teenager to the floor.

When I talked to my wife about it, she asked if I felt guilty. Now I do. But you can’t escape reality. That book never closes. If you were real, if you were serious, a real gangsta, you never really leave the streets. The guys that you killed back in the day, the ones that got locked up, their sons are 20 years old now. They shooting now. Somebody is telling them, “The guys who shot your daddy are over there.”

JOHN JOHNSON John Johnson is the chief deputy prosecutor in the Pulaski County Prosecutor’s Office. He’s worked there since 1990, and served as the gang division chief through the worst of the violence. We tried a lot of murders. When I started, I had been in circuit court a very short amount of time before I tried my first murder case, so I didn’t know any different. It was just the norm to be trying murder case after murder case. It was so tit-for-tat — a lot of retaliatory homicides, graffiti related to someone being killed. And once it was able to be interpreted, there were more clues. It was a different world for the investigations and the investigators. You went from one case to the other. That’s just what you did. At the time, when you’re doing it, it never made sense. You always wanted to believe that there was something more to it. I think that was the general public perception to it, too. It was hard to believe that that [gang affiliation] was the cause for people being killed and killing. To some extent, Little Rock was in a weird circumstance. It would be an interesting sociological study. The state used to be so agrarian, then you had all the people who were raised here who went to the cities to raise their families, but they left Grandma and Grandpa back home. Things went to hell in the cities,

6/4/1997

Kenneth Johnson, a.k.a. ‘Crip Moe/L.A. Moe’ released from prison Johnson, instrumental in bringing the Crips to Little Rock, was released after serving 4 1/2 years of a 15year sentence for felony convictions on charges including aggravated assault, possession of a handgun and possession and manufacture of a controlled substance.

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JULY 16, 2015

so they started sending their kids back to good ol’ Arkansas, to live with the grandparents. And that’s how a lot of the gangs got to Arkansas. It’s weird to think about how all that came about. We knew there was a gang problem early on because the police knew. City Hall was denying that we had gangs or that there was a problem. But you heard it from the police. You saw it in your case files. It’s hard for me to speculate on the part of city officials, but I think that it was sort of like having a disease and not wanting to believe it was true. It was happening everywhere else, just not here. It was happening in Los Angeles. You look back now and it’s like Mayberry. I don’t know if that’s a good analogy. But the innocence — and by innocence, I mean not knowing, the lack of awareness of what was going on — was pretty amazing. It wasn’t spelled out the way it would be now. The police would talk about things being gang-related, but they were really undefined terms for us back then. You didn’t have a sense of what it meant when it was gang-related. Back then it was an amorphous term that lacked definition. It was about what area you were in, what colors you were wearing, what side your hat was turned to. Back then, gang-related meant that someone was killed because they were in the wrong part of town, claiming different colors. Someone gets shot. Then there would be a very direct and specific retaliation against the people who did that. Of course it didn’t make much of a difference if they got the actual person who did it, so long as they got the group of people that did it. You asked me about a case that stood out. There was a group called the Southwest Kings. They started out in Southwest Little Rock and because of white flight, they went to Cabot. All these kids went to school out there. There was a fight [between gang members and ath-

6/24/1996

Drive-by on 21st St. A 17-year-old identified in press reports only as “Bucky” was shot to death in a drive-by as he was walking near 21st and Elm streets. The boy cried “help me”; the man who went to him to help was the father of a child killed one year earlier.

JULY 16, 2015

ARKANSAS TIMES

letes] that turned into a shootout on the parking lot in Sherwood. There was a kid that was killed. All the shooters were Southwest Kings. So you had one guy who was initially involved in the fight and all these other high school kids who showed up to watch the fight. Then a Honda pulls on the lot and [the kid inside] starts shooting. The beginning, the genesis of it all, was the Southwest Kings throwing up gang signs at the athletes and following them onto the parking lot. This was at the beginning of the gang warfare thing. The judge, Judge [Marion] Humphrey, refused to allow any testimony that they were in a gang. For obvious reasons the defense didn’t want the jury to know that their clients were gang members, but from our standpoint that was the motive for the fight. That was why there was a confrontation on the parking lot. That’s why they were there: One guy who was in the fight and the two others who showed up out of loyalty to back him up, they pull out their guns and end up shooting our victim. He’s running away and catches a bullet in the back. The rationale that the judge used is, “How are you going to prove he’s in a gang?” Well, we have people who can say they’ve seen them throwing up the gang sign at parties, they wore L.A. Kings hats because of the crown. The traditional way you would prove it now. He called it hearsay and asked, “What’s the difference between being a part of that organization and being in the Boy Scouts?” It was very frustrating. As time went by, we would be able to qualify somebody from LRPD as the gang expert and put them on the stand to talk about clothing and signs and initiations and graffiti. It was a process that you just had to go through. It was hard to get people to flip. It wasn’t other gang members who were testifying, it was other people who had

witnessed the crime or other evidence that led you back to who the actual shooter was. I had one witness who was a kid and he plain ol’ disappeared. He was at the alternative school. I would go pick him up and bring him in to talk. It was Friday one day when I was taking him back. He wanted to stop at the Kroger down the street and get some groceries. We pull up to the store and there’s some guys sitting outside. Well here I am, a white guy, and he’s in my crappy car that I was driving at the time. So they’re giving him a hard time about being with me, and he was like, “That’s my lawyer.” It was funny at the time, but it was a relationship you had to build up. And then he disappeared. I don’t know what happened to him. I never found out what happened to him. They were kids and you did feel sympathetic. When you do this job, you need both sides of the coin. There were the people that fell prey to that. But there were just as many if not more people living in those same circumstances that did not. They made a different choice. Yeah, you feel bad not just for the kids, but also for any person in those circumstances. But you look at what they did. It never makes the victim’s family feel any better to say, “Hey, he had a tough life.”

BARBARA MARIANI Barbara Mariani is a deputy Pulaski County prosecutor. She was hired in January 1997, at the tail end of the gang wars, and once served as the office’s gang division chief. She has the unfortunate distinction of being the only prosecutor ever physically attacked in Pulaski County Circuit Court. In July 2004, George Larue Hall, who had just been convicted of two counts of capital murder, lunged across the courtroom and punched her in the face before Little Rock homicide detective Ron-

7/5/1997

Stop the Violence ’97 Tour Kenneth “L.A. Moe” Johnson, released June 4 from prison, attended the concert at the Statehouse Convention Center, organized by Ken Richardson and Impact Productions of Dallas, and a brawl broke out.

nie Smith and fellow prosecutor John Johnson could pull Hall off her. The blow crushed bones in her cheek and eye socket, which required extensive reconstructive surgery to correct. I came in pretty idealistic. When I first started, I saw everything black and white. There was wrong and right. That was it and that’s just the way it was. I just thought, “I’m going to fight the good fight.” I was always on the right side. And the more I do this, the more I realize there’s a whole lot of gray out there; it’s just not that clear. Obviously crime is awful and you have to have laws for everyone to abide by for society to work, but motivations are interesting. I’ve seen some reasons why people will do things, and it’s not always necessarily that they’re bad. It’s a combination of things that led them there. With maturity I look at them differently. Where did this person come from? How did they get here? Why are they doing what they’re doing? It’s different. When I came in, it wasn’t like the early ’90s at all. But there was gang violence. Sometimes now, different gangs will work together, especially to make money, however that may be. When I came in on it during the tail end, they were pretty separate. The Bloods and Crips did not get along, Folk [Nation] didn’t get along with Vice Lords. They were pretty compartmentalized. They still had territories and they still claim those territories, but it was starting to melt away. Now there just aren’t defined territories. People are claiming them, but they don’t really exist. They are so young, using social media. There are new gangs popping up everywhere. Like, “Hey I’m claiming Crip Polo Group.” That’s just an example. But it’s stuff you’ve never heard of. When I was doing it, there were set gangs. You knew where they were. They called themselves the Oak Street Posse,

7/10/1997

Four killed in 5 days Retaliatory shooting sparked by the fighting at the Stop the Violence concert plagued the city for five days; four died in the shootings.

BRIAN CHILSON

DEPUTY PROSECUTOR BARBARA MARIANI: Gang territories are less defined.

and you knew they were from Oak Street. It’s not like that anymore; I think it’s changed. Part of that is due to all the prosecutions. After a while, people start to catch on. I think social media has a

10/10/1998

Anarian Chad Jackson convicted on drug charge Leader of the West Side Pirus, Jackson was convicted of possession of cocaine with intent to deliver and sentenced to 56 months. He was released on $21,000 bond while his case was being appealed.

big impact on it, too. I do know when I was [in the gang division], the West Side Piru Anarian Chad Jackson was definitely the leader and the head of that. I prosecuted him

8/27/1999 Quincent Jerome James’ murder

Quincent Jerome James was defending his 10-year-old nephew, Patrick James, from a roughhousing gang member called “O-Dog” when, according to police, the man backed away, pulled a gun and shot James in the belly. James died a short time later at a Little Rock hospital. It was his 30th birthday.

on two homicides. He’s locked up for life. Another one was Antoine Baker. He was a Gangster Disciple. I think they were the last two that were definitely organized. They were the heads of their respective organizations. They had a structure, with people under them. After that it became looser. People were still in the gangs, but I wouldn’t say, “That’s the leader of that gang.” So it’s different. I don’t know how organized they are, but the belonging is still there. When I was in the gang unit, I would actually meet gang members and defendants through negotiations. We’re talking to them in court with their attorneys, and I’m like, “You know, I kind of like this guy, honestly.” I’d meet some of them and think, “That guy is really scary, and is pretty void and would think nothing of killing anyone.” The young kid that’s 16 or 17 — he comes from nothing, doesn’t have any family, no support system — they get involved because the gangs are a support system. Someone cares about what they’re doing. That’s just sad, really. I see a kid that could’ve gone either way, and unfortunately they went the wrong way. That’s still is an attractive thing. There’s money, let’s face it. I mean, what are you going to do? Get a job at McDonald’s, and make what? You can take dope somewhere and make so much more. It’s quite enticing. There was some organization, with the police department identifying gang members. Obviously we had a gang unit here; there was a targeted prosecution and law enforcement to try and get those gang leaders, and we did. After Chad Jackson went away to prison for the rest of his life, the West Side Pirus kind of fell apart. There are still people claiming it. Gangster Disciples, I think the same thing; they’re still around but they are not a cohesive unit. I think they have cells within them. You can say, “I’m a Blood, but I’ve got this group of

guys here, this group of guys over here, this group of girls here,” because every once in a while you’ll see that, too. You didn’t use to see that, but that goes on too. I think that there are kind of little groups, what I’d call cells, there isn’t a hierarchy like I first saw when I started. I was working with some scary people, but I was never really afraid. Looking at the case files, some of them were crimes of opportunity, some were just really sad situations, people who went really wrong and others were just scary individuals. I never thought of retaliation. A lot of the threats I saw were against witnesses. “You know what happens to snitches” [they’d say], which made it really hard to get people to cooperate. That was the only retaliation I saw. I never saw a retaliation against any prosecutor. When I came, no one in our office had been retaliated against, at least that I was aware of. And I had never seen one attacked in court, I can tell you that [laughs]. It didn’t really enter my mind. I guess you might think of it, but you think like everything else: “Well, if it hadn’t happened before, why would it happen all of a sudden? It didn’t happen in the ’90s, why would it all of sudden happen now?” I guess that was my attitude about it. I’ll tell you, “no snitches” is a real thing. It still persists. That’s what I consider a code of silence. There are people who have information about unsolved homicides here in Little Rock that could solve them but won’t come forward because they are scared. I understand that. Among gang members themselves, it depends. There were some: “I don’t care what you give me, I’m not testifying against my brother, I’m not doing it.” And there were others who’d say, “I’m looking at too much time, I’ll testify against him.” I think it just depends on who you talk to. In the high days of the Mafia, no one talked, that’s why it worked. But by the time I got here I don’t

9/5/2001

Anarian Chad Jackson convicted on murder charge Anarian Chad Jackson was convicted on federal murder charge in the Jan. 5 shooting death of Charles Raynor, 23, and sentenced to life in prison. He was also charged in Pulaski County Circuit Court for two counts of unlawful discharge of a weapon from a vehicle in a March 19, 1999, drive-by shooting near Asher Avenue and Fair Park Boulevard; one count of unlawful discharge of a weapon from a vehicle in a Sept. 8, 1999, drive-by shooting at 20th and Maple streets; first-degree murder in Raynor’s death; and aggravated robbery and theft of property.

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JULY 16, 2015

think it was still that organized. In the early ’90s I could see the city thinking that gangs are not that big of a deal. “It’s Little Rock. Stop focusing on it.” That wouldn’t surprise me. But by the time I got here, Little Rock was trying. Todd Hurd worked really hard. He had geographical areas mapped out. He had the areas where the gangs were and where they weren’t. He even qualified as an expert on gang identification. He had a pretty extensive database. They were tracking gang members. With other jurisdictions, it was a little bit harder. North Little Rock did all right, but I remember with the other jurisdictions I had to remind them, “When you arrest someone, note their tattoos.” We had to constantly ask them to note their tattoos, so we could track them. I saw a ton of overlap from case to case. I guess you would call it cyclical. I prosecuted this guy on a pretty bad homicide, and he was found not guilty. The identifying witness went south on the witness stand. There’s not much you can do about that, so that was that. And that family was pretty hostile towards the prosecutor and the police. About five or six years later he gets shot in his car in the back of the head and gets killed. All of a sudden I’m real close to the family, I’m working with the family. I mean, that happened. It’s a strange thing. My attitude was, a life is a life. It doesn’t matter what this person’s done in the past or what kind of person he is. No one deserves to be shot in the back of the head and killed. It’s difficult to get juries to care. That was one of those difficult things in gang cases. Oftentimes, your deceased victim wasn’t the nicest person. The biggest thing is that no one deserves to die horribly, bleeding out, alone out on the street. I don’t care what they’ve done. The second thing is: Is it OK to murder someone so long as they were a “bad person” or as long as they live in a certain area, or as long as the people around them don’t care? As a society, is that what you want? It’s really easy to villainize defendants and co-defendants until you sit down and talk to them. They become so much more human to you. I always fight 100 percent for the victims, but I can’t have a point of view that excludes sympathy or empathy. I grew up really poor and I am where I am, but at the same time I realize I could have gone another way, save for a few good things that happened in my life. I could have gone another way. You always have to keep that in consideration. I’ve sat down with a lot of co-defendants who flipped and just thought to 26

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ARKANSAS TIMES

started claiming stuff just because of the music or whatever neighborhood they lived in. The music becomes a part of you; once it’s in your bubble it’s hard to tune it out. They were really only killing over colors. I didn’t know much about killings over drugs; a lot of these killings were over colors, nothing more, nothing less. And territory. A few of the gangs were actually, like Leifel and them, that were really selling drugs and killing over them. But that was still more of a territory thing, really.

COLORS: A collection of belts and buckles made by gang affiliated inmates in Arkansas prisons.

myself, “What a waste. An incredibly awful waste.” You get people who say, “I just thought it was going to be aggravated robbery, no one was going to get hurt. We were just going to get some money so we could get a Playstation.” Then, all of the sudden, the co-defendant shoots someone. And now it’s murder. I sit and talk to them and I’m always wondering: What was going through their minds?

WALTER CROCKRAN The current director and co-founder of Arkansas Stop the Violence, Walter Crockran is a former gang member turned violence-prevention advocate. It’s like there are two cities, West Little Rock and Little Rock. If something happens in West Little Rock, they’re going to camp out, but south of 630, not a chance. As the city moved west and the violence increased, the city didn’t help or care what was happening in our communities. In the black areas of town they put up all these package stores. In West Little Rock and North Little Rock that kind of stuff wasn’t allowed to be put up in as high numbers as they were in West End and East End. They were selling items they shouldn’t have, encouraged loitering, and no one cared because of where the stores are, who they are serving, and what happens near them. Selling loose cigarettes and other things that are illegal, but no one stops it. Even after the feds have come through and busted them. Those stores are still operating. Woodrow Street and the 12th Street corridor has always been a problem area. Anti-loitering laws were passed and enforced in the ’90s, but now not so much. Every day you’ve got the same people sitting outside these stores, loitering, gambling. You don’t see that in West Little Rock. It’s almost as if the only way for the neighborhoods to get

help is for white residents who live in these neighborhoods to complain. Like the white man who wrote a letter to the mayor about the gang members being in Centennial Park, which was a Crip territory in the ’90s. He responded almost immediately and had a sign posted that says you can’t be in the park after sunset. Now they’re stopping anyone in the park barbecuing and wearing blue because they think they’re gang members. But when the real gangsters were out there we couldn’t get them to do a damn thing. The gang violence really started down here when [the 1988 film] “Colors” came out. The California gangs, the Bloods and the Crips, that’s when the nonsense started. People were getting killed over shoestring colors. You had the ones who couldn’t make it in the California or Chicago gangs and they came down here and started their own. From Chicago you had the Gangster Disciples, Vice Lords, Shorty Folk and them. A lot of that was copycat. The Folks and the Gangster Disciples that came down here from Chicago weren’t Gangster Disciples or Folk in Chicago, they were something else. In Chicago they stacked; down here they only threw up signs. I lived in San Diego for a little bit and it was about colors. In Chicago, not so much. It was more hats and jerseys. A lot of them when they came down here did what they saw on TV. They weren’t real. They were copycats. Every area was claiming different things. A large part of it was the music I was listening to. It became a part of me. I wanted to do it, too. You had to be careful what you were listening to. MC Eiht was making music for the Crips, the Bloods were listening to Suge Knight. They were claiming their areas in their music, too. When the rappers were claiming their set and their area, they were banging on wax. Down here you had Wolfe Street come out with a tape, you had the 490 Clic out on Fourche Dam, they put it on record. People

LEIFEL ‘O.G.’ JACKSON Leifel Jackson, one of the founders of Little Rock’s OG Crips, was — by his own admission — one of the city’s most ruthless gang leaders until he went to the federal penitentiary in 1993. Now 53, Jackson has served for over a decade as the director of a nonprofit that offers after-school programs and mentoring for underprivileged children in the old Rock Island Depot in North Little Rock. I moved to California back in ’89 to get away from the drug set here and to go become one of the best chefs in the world. I was 28 when I went to California. I could cook. I won the Junior Chef of the Year award for like three years straight. I worked at Pleasant Valley Country Club, the Little Rock Country Club. We opened up the Capital Hotel. The Packet House. I could cook my butt off, but I had this problem because I started using drugs. Hollywood! That’s what I was picturing in my mind. When my brother Dewitt came and picked me up from the bus station, though, we rolled right past the Hollywood sign. I ended up in the projects in Watts and Imperial Courts. That was Crip territory. I’ll never forget. I saw some dudes hug dudes. My dad raised me to where he always said, “A guy shouldn’t hug another guy,” because if he did there was something kind of wrong with him. When I moved to California and I seen them dudes hug each other, I was like, “Wow!” They looked like straight guys to me, and they huggin’ each other, and they’re telling each other “I love you.” I’m like, “What am I missing out of my life?” Right there, they had me. When I came home, my mom was sick from cancer. I always said that was God’s way of preparing me for what was to come next. That was the worst death I’ve ever seen in my entire life, was my mom dying from cancer. I’ve seen people shot up close, heads took off. To me,

that we had gangs here — wow. When they finally recognized it and came forward on it was when the shooting happened out on University at the Burger King. That’s when it became, “OK, yeah, we’ve got a problem.” Once the HBO documentary thing happened, after that, money started coming in, funding the programs. You saw the change. There’s some people that would argue differently. I think that “Bangin’ in Little Rock” and the second one, “Back in the Hood,” did something that needed to be done. A light needed to be shined on what was going on. We tend to say, “Whatever happens in our house, let’s keep hid. Don’t tell nobody.” But we couldn’t do that with the whole state of Arkansas. People were getting killed daily. It wasn’t something that should have been just brushed up under the carpet. But once they did it and aired it, money poured into the intervention

He’s in Tucker Max. I came home and started working with the youth, and I’ve been at this program for 15 years. He sent me a letter. He said, “I seen you in the newspaper. Man, you did what you said you was gonna do. So I know I can do better.” He started a program down in Tucker Max called UNITY. So I think that, at the end of the day, we have a chance. I have a lot of trouble myself. I stay up most of the week, because I work, and then I’ll take something to make me rest, basically, on the weekend. My mind is bad. I’m always in my mind thinking, “They’re gonna come. They’re gonna eventually come.” I’m always feeling like that. I’m jumpy. I watch everything. I always feel like they’re coming. I know that sounds strange, and it may seem like I’m crazy. But I always feel like they’re eventually going to come get me. They’re going to come in. They think I

BRIAN CHILSON

that was my worst death. At that point, I stopped getting high. I’ll never forget that evening. I walked out on the back porch and said, “I’m done.” I can truly say I haven’t touched anything since. As a person who has an addictive personality, I started selling drugs. That was my high. I went to Radio Shack and ordered a whole lot of walkie talkies. We had a base. I would employ young dudes, give them a hundred dollars a day; soldiers to go out and stand on the corners. They would always let me know if some police was coming or something looked strange. That was our drug operation. Fourteenth and Booker. They call it the Four Block. At that point, I didn’t know not one Blood. But things changed really fast. As we started to be a lot more aggressive, I started seeing a whole lot more neighborhoods choose colors. Then you start seeing all the other neighborhoods switch up and become either Crip or Bloods. Within about two or three months, we had gang wars. At first, it was about confrontation. After the confrontations, then the territory popped in. In carving out territory, more people were killed than you could even imagine. One day you’re here, the next day you’re gone. Shooting every day. We’d go out just to do that. We used to sit at night, planning ways to get the other sets. It was crazy. I felt like I was at war. I’m looking at some of these people going over to Afghanistan. That’s how we felt. Every other night, the whole neighborhood smoked. Not from burning fire. From gunshots. I know I had 70 guns. I had assault rifles. Fifteen or 20. I had an AK-47 that would fold up and go under my arm. I was very guerrilla warfare-like. I would pull right into the Blood neighborhood with all my blue on, but I would have two dudes up on the corner with rifles way up out of the way. I would ride through a neighborhood and shoot one time in the air, or have a girl ride through in another car and shoot one time in the air. They’d run out from between the houses, and there’d be two cars. They’d be right behind the other car [that shot once] and we’d catch them all in the streets. We were guerrilla, and that’s what made us so dangerous. We would set up tactics. We wouldn’t just do silly stuff. When we come to get you we were coming to get you, basically. But be mindful: I’m telling you this not in boasting. Don’t take it boastful. It’s sad that so many people lost their lives in the midst of our ignorance. I think the city purposely ignored it. Just to have that hanging over you —

LEIFEL ‘O.G.’ JACKSON: “We were guerrilla, and that’s what made us so dangerous.”

programs. I went to federal prison and got out in 2000, then did two years in the halfway house. When I went away, I’ll never forget, I was in a cell with a friend of mine, a little homeboy. He had to come back and do life in state, but he was doing federal time. He asked me, “What are you gonna do when you get out?” I said, “Man, I don’t want to see not one more black man getting killed doing stupid stuff. I’m gonna work with kids.” He told me, “Oh, man. You’re going to have 150 dudes follow you out here doing wrong. Ain’t nobody gonna follow you doing right!” Fast forward, I did my 10 years, he ended up going to the state.

did the HBO thing and I’ve got a whole lot of money, or somebody that I have hurt. I don’t know. It’s just to show you how it is. This has really bothered me. I was doing coats for kids. I always do a coat drive, and this one guy came in and he needed three coats for three girls and one for his grandson. I had the three girls’ coats. I stayed on 11th Street in Little Rock then. This was about two years ago. I said, “I’m going to have to go to my center and get the boy’s coat, and I’ll bring it tomorrow.” I said, “I’ll have my neighbor to call you. What’s the name to call?” He said, “I can call you. I know you, man.” I said, “You know me?” He said,

“Yeah, you saved my life.” I said, “How’d I save your life?” So now I’m looking at him. He said, “You shot me.” He opened up his mouth. He said, “You shot me in my mouth. You shot me in my head, and when I turned to run you shot me in the back of my neck. You shot me in my back and in my butt. I fell right in the ditch.” Then it all dawned on me. I thought this guy was dead. I had went to go take some drugs to someone. I was like, really Crippin’. I didn’t care. So I’m in a blue ’Vette with a blue rag around my head, and I’m taking a pound of cocaine to somebody who was a Blood. When I got out the car, the first thing the dude said was “You C-Rab. You comin’ over here with all that [b] lue on?” He brought his hands up. I didn’t care. I didn’t really argue much. Right when he ran up to me, I started shooting. I didn’t know what his intentions was. But the part that he said saved his life was: He was able to sit there and watch me hand his homeboy the drugs, and his homeboy left him. He said, “They went off and left me in a ditch.” He said, “You know, that saved me. None of my babies are involved in gangs. You saved my life, because I would have put my life on the line for them.” That was deep. Right then, I’m looking at this guy and saying, “Thank you, Lord.” Because that was one of my nightmares. I’ve learned that when you take a life, there’s no coming back from that. When you shoot someone, and they die, there’s no second chance. When you take someone from someone, from their kids, from their mother and the father, you can’t go back and recreate that person. It has the same effect on you. Once you pull that trigger, you can never go back. Ever. There’s something else that I’ve learned. I’ve learned that one person can make a difference. All you’ve got to do is start doing something positive. I’m living proof. I’m not even supposed to be here. Let me tell it: I thought I was going to die back in those days. I’ll never forget, I was coming back from the [horse] races about a month before I went to prison. The person I was riding with asked me, “Where do you see yourself in six months?” I told him, “I see myself dead or in prison for the rest of my life.” That was my outlook on myself. So I can imagine the outlook that a lot of these kids have on their selves. But they can make a difference. As long as they’re breathing, they can make a difference in this world. www.arktimes.com

JULY 16, 2015

THE TO-DO

LIST

BY KAYA HERRON, LINDSEY MILLAR AND WILL STEPHENSON

THURSDAY 7/16

LANDLADY, BAD MATCH

9:30 p.m. White Water Tavern.

'SACRED HEARTS, HOLY SOULS': The Times will screen Mark Thiedeman's award-winning film and host a panel discussion as part of a fundraiser for our forthcoming publication Out in Arkansas at 7 p.m. Thursday, $25.

THURSDAY 7/16

OUT IN ARKANSAS: ‘SACRED HEARTS, HOLY SOULS’

7 p.m. Ron Robinson Theater. $25.

Thursday night, the Arkansas Times, Little Rock PFLAG and Central Arkansas Pridefest will host a special screening of Little Rock director Mark Thiedeman’s “Sacred Hearts, Holy Souls” to benefit Out in Arkansas, the Times’ coming LGBT publication. Tickets are $25. A coming-of-age story about a gay

teenager at a Catholic boarding school, “Sacred Hearts” has been widely praised: It won the Charles B. Pierce Award for Best Film Made in Arkansas at the 2014 Little Rock Film Festival, and Philip Martin of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette called it one of last year’s best releases. Filmmaker magazine has called Thiedeman “a star,” and The Hollywood Reporter said he was a director to watch. After the screening, Hendrix College professor and

Arkansas Times columnist Jay Barth will lead a panel discussion with Thiedeman and local LGBT leaders about the post-Obergefell fight for equality in Arkansas. A reception in the lobby of the theater will follow with complimentary drinks and light appetizers. Out in Arkansas will be a daily online publication focused on the LGBT community in Arkansas. To donate or for more information, visit arktimes.com/ outinark. LM

Adam Schatz is a New Yorkbased concert promoter, founder of the jazz nonprofit Search & Restore and occasional saxophonist for the indie rock bands Vampire Weekend and Man Man. His own band, Landlady, shares some of Man Man’s manic, carnivalesque energy. The group is known for its effusive live shows, which might feature two drummers or audience sing-alongs or cover the entirety of George Harrison’s “All Things Must Pass.” “Surprise is so important,” Schatz told Paste Magazine recently. “You want to remind people that magic is possible, and it sounds kind of cheesy but I really believe it, and this is such an excellent way to engage that magic. You gain their trust within the song, and then you change it up. It all makes sense in the way that a listener didn’t know it could make sense.” Landlady is managed by (and releases music through) Hometapes, the Durham, N.C., record label run by Arkansas natives and Little Rock DIY/punk scene veterans Sara Padgett and Adam Heathcott, so this particular tour spot is a significant one. They’ll share a bill at White Water with Bad Match, the great local super-group featuring members of Amasa Hines, SW/MM/NG, Collin vs. Adam and fronted by singer Sarah Stricklin. WS

THURSDAY 7/16

JUVENILE

9 p.m. Revolution. $20 adv., $25 day of.

A few months ago the great New Orleans rapper Juvenile turned 40, which got me thinking about the passage of time and about the two- or three-year period at the end of the last century during which New Orleans dominated the rap world, with Juvenile right at the front lines, a scout for the genre’s strange Southern future. In those days, Juvenile, who was born Terius Gray, wore Phat Farm denim suits and drove a vibrant yellow 28

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ARKANSAS TIMES

Hummer. He was in his mid-20s, and was known for distributing money and tennis shoes around the New Orleans projects that had produced him. If you listened to rap, or listened to the radio, or owned a radio, Juvenile was on your radar, slurring his words over spacey, stuttering beats by Mannie Fresh. The songs: “Ha,” “Back That Azz Up,” “Follow Me Now.” His market penetration was effective and total. The South had something to say, whether or not it was literally incomprehensible to the rest of the country. (“That’s just

the way we talk around here,” he told a baffled interviewer from Spin Magazine.) “Juvenile can flip from any subject,” Fresh once said of him. “He can go from Jesus to murder whenever he wants.” But that was back in the day — before he was arrested for assaulting his barber, before Hurricane Katrina, before his 4-year-old daughter was shot and killed (along with her mother). As one of his colleagues in the Hot Boys once put it, “Gangstas don’t die, they get chubby and they move to Miami.” WS

IN BRIEF

FRIDAY 7/17

WIDESPREAD PANIC

7:30 p.m. Walmart AMP. $31-$55.50.

We remember the 1980s Athens, Ga., music scene as a primarily post-punk phenomenon, a subculture of well-read freaks and art-damaged eccentrics. But the frat guys had to dance, too, and that’s where Widespread Panic came

THURSDAY 7/16 in, offering an alternative to the city’s official alternative — a good-vibes, jamband remedy to the angular Athens cool. Their records were bad — even the fans thought so — but they borrowed a leaf from the Grateful Dead’s playbook and went on tour forever, opening their arms to the desperate tape-traders and business majors and

Allman Brothers super-fans and stoner guitar teachers of the world, who worshipped their endless heavenly groove. Throw a rock at a Panic show and you’ll hit someone eager to lecture you about musical virtuosity, and they will likely be on mushrooms, and what’s with the rock, bro? WS

FRIDAY 7/17

'THE WORLD'S LARGEST MAN': Author Harrison Scott Key will read from his new memoir at the Oxford American Annex at 4 p.m. Saturday, free.

4 p.m. Oxford American Annex. Free.

Harrison Scott Key is a contributing editor of the Little Rock-based Oxford American magazine, where for several years now he has been publishing travel dispatches and personal essays and eccentric missives on a wide range of subjects profound and personal and ridiculous. He chronicled a journey he took on a Greyhound bus, which

“would take four days, with no stops for anything but gas and cigarettes and the occasional disemboweling of one passenger by another.” He has written frequently about his childhood in Mississippi and his father, who taught him “how to fight and work and cheat and how to pray to Jesus about it, how to kill things with guns and knives and, if necessary, with hammers.” He has written, most recently, about his relationship to his own name and the question — often

raised — of whether or not he’s related to Francis Scott Key. “Every name tells a story,” he observed, “and sometimes the story is, ‘My parents are idiots.’ ” His new book, “The World’s Largest Man,” is a memoir that promises to cover all of these topics and countless more, his most ambitious and entertaining and fully realized work to date. Key will read from the work Saturday afternoon at the annex, next door to South on Main. WS

took the pop charts by storm with his charm and sing-song raps. His music was catchy, his face was plastered on every teen magazine and preteen girl’s wall and he made numerous appearances on Nickelodeon and the Disney Channel, where once he starred in an episode of “Lizzie McGuire.” He even had his own action figure! Aaron Carter was a bona fide boyband-superstar, minus the boy band. Fast forward 20 years and he’s now an

alumnus of “Dancing with the Stars” season 9, still dedicated to his fans and on his way to Little Rock. Carter will be performing all of his classic hits and hosting a dance contest at the ’90s Throwback Party at Discovery Saturday night. One lucky person will even be selected to dance with “AC.” General admission is $15 at the door and VIP tickets are $40 presale and include a meet and greet, autograph signing/photo in front of the stage. KH

SATURDAY 7/18

AARON CARTER

9 p.m. Discovery Nightclub. $15.

As a preteen, there was no one more crush-worthy than Aaron Carter. The younger brother of the Backstreet Boys’ Nick Carter, Aaron stole the heart of girls worldwide when he toured with the band in 1997 and 1998. With a string of hits, including “I Want Candy,” “Aaron’s Party,” “Bounce” and “That’s How I Beat Shaq,” Carter

Steve Clark, co-founder of Noble Impact, speaks at the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute in Morrilton, 7 p.m. Beloved local metal band Iron Tongue plays at the Ron Robinson Theater with Adam Faucett & The Tall Grass as part of the Arkansas Sounds concert series, 7 p.m., $10. Fort Worth blues rock band The Quaker City Nighthawks play at Stickyz at 9 p.m., $7. Max Recordings artist The Yellow Hope Project —whose latest record “Hope” features locals Jason Weinheimer, Greg Spradlin, Chris Michaels, Isaac Alexander and more — performs at the White Water Tavern with Little Rock’s Indy Grotto and Woodson Lateral, 9:30 p.m.

SATURDAY 7/18

HARRISON SCOTT KEY

Nashville’s Irenka performs at Juanita’s, 7 p.m. Comedian Julie Scoggins is at the Loony Bin at 7:30 p.m., $7 (and at 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, $10). String band Old Crow Medicine Show plays at the Clinton Presidential Center at 7:30 p.m., $25-$35.

Former Arkansan, first lady, senator and secretary of state and Democratic contender for the presidency Hillary Clinton speaks at the Jefferson-Jackson Dinner at Verizon Arena, $200. The Arkansas Brewers Festival is at the Arkansas State Fairgrounds at 7 p.m., $9.99$19.99. Eureka Springs’ Mountain Sprout performs at Stickyz with The Honeycutters, 9 p.m., $8 adv., $10 day of. Here Come the Mummies, who dress up like mummies, play at Juanita’s with The Big Dam Horns and Laura Reed, 9 p.m., $15. Four on the Floor is at Revolution at 9 p.m., $5. Weakness for Blondes is at White Water, 9:30 p.m., $5.

WEDNESDAY 7/22 The Drum Corp International Tour is at War Memorial Stadium, 7 p.m. Locals Flowers and Dirt, featuring Amy Garland, Mark Currey and Trey Johnson, perform at South on Main as part of Local Live, 7:30 p.m., free. “The Goonies” screens at First Security Amphitheater as part of Movies in the Park, 8:25 p.m., free. Rapper Mickey Avalon is at Juanita’s, 9 p.m., $10-$15. Sway hosts “Drageoke with Chi Chi Valdez.” www.arktimes.com

JULY 16, 2015

AFTER DARK All events are in the Greater Little Rock area unless otherwise noted. To place an event in the Arkansas Times calendar, please email the listing and all pertinent information, including date, time, location, price and contact information, to calendar@arktimes.com.

tertavern.com.

COMEDY

“HOGNADO!” An original production by The Main Thing. The Joint, 8 p.m., $22. 301 Main St. No. 102, NLR. 501-372-0205. thejointinlittlerock.com. Julie Scoggins. The Loony Bin, 7:30 p.m.and 10 p.m., $10. 10301 N. Rodney Parham Road. 501228-5555. www.loonybincomedy.com.

THURSDAY, JULY 16

MUSIC

Arkansas River Blues Society Thursday Jam. Revolution, 7 p.m., free. 300 President Clinton Ave. 501-823-0090. www.rumbarevolution.com/ new. “Inferno.” DJs play pop, electro, house and more, plus drink specials and $1 cover before 11 p.m. Sway, 9 p.m. 412 Louisiana. 501-907-2582. Irenka. Juanita’s, 7 p.m., free. 614 President Clinton Ave. 501-372-1228. www.juanitas.com. Jim Dickerson. Sonny Williams’ Steak Room, 7 p.m. 500 President Clinton Ave. 501-324-2999. www.sonnywilliamssteakroom.com. Jocko (happy hour), Pamela K. Ward (headliner). Cajun’s Wharf, 5:30 and 9 p.m. 2400 Cantrell Road. 501-375-5351. www.cajunswharf. com. Juvenile, Young Freq, Yung 2, Errol Westbrook, Eason 550, Country Boyz, ESide Shawty. Revolution, 9 p.m., $20 adv., $25 day of. 300 President Clinton Ave. 501-823-0090. www. rumbarevolution.com/new. Landlady, Bad Match. White Water Tavern, 9:30 p.m. 2500 W. 7th St. 501-375-8400. www. whitewatertavern.com. Live music. No cover charge Sun.-Tue. and Thu. Ernie Biggs. 307 President Clinton Ave. 501372-4782. littlerock.erniebiggs.com. Old Crow Medicine Show. Clinton Presidential Center, 7:30 p.m., $25-$35. 1200 President Clinton Ave. 370-8000. www.clintonpresidentialcenter.org. Open Jam. Thirst n’ Howl, 8 p.m. 14710 Cantrell Road. 501-379-8189. www.thirst-n-howl.com. Open jam with The Port Arthur Band. Parrot Beach Cafe, 9 p.m. 9611 MacArthur Drive, NLR. 771-2994. RockUsaurus. Senor Tequila, 7-9 p.m. 10300 N. Rodney Parham Road. 501-224-5505. Roy Book Binder. Argenta Arts Acoustic Music Series. The Joint, 7:30 p.m., $20. 301 Main St. No. 102, NLR. 501-372-0205. thejointinlittlerock.com. Ted Ludwig Trio. Capital Bar and Grill, 7:30 p.m., free. 111 W. Markham St. 501-370-7013. www. capitalbarandgrill.com.

COMEDY

Julie Scoggins. The Loony Bin, 7:30 p.m., $7. 10301 N. Rodney Parham Road. 501-228-5555. www.loonybincomedy.com.

DANCE

Contra Dance. Park Hill Presbyterian Church, 7:30 p.m., $5. 3520 JFK Blvd., NLR. arkansascountrydance.org. “Salsa Night.” Begins with a one-hour salsa lesson. Juanita’s, 9 p.m., $8. 614 President Clinton Ave. 501-372-1228. www.littlerocksalsa.com.

EVENTS

ARKANSAS SOUNDS: Beloved local metal band Iron Tongue plays at the Ron Robinson Theater with Adam Faucett & The Tall Grass at 7 p.m. Friday, $10.

LECTURES

POETRY

POETluck. Literary salon and potluck. The Writer’s Colony at Dairy Hollow, third Thursday of every month, 6 p.m. 515 Spring St., Eureka Springs. 479-253-7444.

BENEFITS

Ales for ALS. Flying Saucer, 5 p.m. 323 President Clinton Ave. 501-372-8032. www.beerknurd. com/stores/littlerock.

KIDS

Storytime. Mosaic Templars Cultural Center, 10 a.m. 501 W. 9th St. 501-683-3593. www.mosaictemplarscenter.com.

FRIDAY, JULY 17

MUSIC

All In Fridays. Club Elevations. 7200 Colonel Glenn Road. 501-562-3317. Hydrogen Child. Juanita’s, 7 p.m. 614 President Clinton Ave. 501-372-1228. www.juanitas.com. Iron Tongue, Adam Faucett & the Tall Grass. Ron Robinson Theater, 7 p.m., $10. 1 Pulaski Way. 501-320-5703. www.cals.lib.ar.us/ronrobinson-theater.aspx. Lauryn & Matt (happy hour), Ramona & The Soul Rhythms (headliner). Cajun’s Wharf, 5:30 and 9 p.m. 2400 Cantrell Road. 501-375-5351. www.cajunswharf.com. Live music. No cover charge Sun.-Tue. and Thu.

Ernie Biggs. 307 President Clinton Ave. 501372-4782. littlerock.erniebiggs.com. Quaker City Nighthawks. Stickyz Rock ‘n’ Roll Chicken Shack, 9 p.m., $7. 107 River Market Ave. 501-372-7707. www.stickyz.com. Rhiannon Presents: Legendary Children of Glitterrock. Sway, 9 p.m. 412 Louisiana. 501907-2582. Route 66. Agora Conference and Special Event Center, 6:30 p.m., $5. 705 E. Siebenmorgan, Conway. Sam Pace & The Gilded Grit. Another Round Pub, 9 p.m. 12111 W. Markham. 501-313-2612. www.anotherroundpub.com. State of Being, Poor Richard. Vino’s, 8 p.m. 923 W. 7th St. 501-375-8466. www.vinosbrewpub.com. Tawanna Campbell, On Call Band. Revolution, 9 p.m., $20. 300 President Clinton Ave. 501823-0090. www.rumbarevolution.com/new. Ted Ludwig Trio. Capital Bar and Grill, 9 p.m., free. 111 W. Markham St. 501-370-7013. www. capitalbarandgrill.com. Upscale Friday. IV Corners, 7 p.m. 824 W. Capitol Ave. Widespread Panic. Walmart AMP, 7:30 p.m., $31-$55.50. 5079 W. Northgate Road, Rogers. 479-443-5600. www.arkansasmusicpavilion. com. Woodson Lateral, The Yellow Hope Project, Indy Grotto. White Water Tavern, 9:30 p.m. 2500 W. 7th St. 501-375-8400. www.whitewa-

EVENTS

Antique/Boutique Walk. Shopping and live entertainment. Downtown Hot Springs, third Thursday of every month, 4 p.m., free. 100 Central Ave., Hot Springs. Glitterrock Shop & Sip. Sway, 6 p.m. 412 Louisiana. 501-907-25 Out in Arkansas presents: “Sacred Hearts, Holy Souls.” A movie screening, panel discussion and fundraiser for Out in Arkansas. Ron Robinson Theater, 7 p.m., $25. 1 Pulaski Way. 501-320-5703. www.cals.lib.ar.us/ron-robinson-theater.aspx.

JULY 16, 2015

ARKANSAS TIMES

LGBTQ/SGL weekly meeting. Diverse Youth for Social Change is a group for LGBTQ/SGL and straight ally youth and young adults age 14 to 23. For more information, call 244-9690 or search “DYSC” on Facebook. LGBTQ/SGL Youth and Young Adult Group, 6:30 p.m. 800 Scott St.

1620 SAOY V

NEW SUMMER MENU IS HERE Join Us For Blue Oyster Monday Blue Point Oysters $2 each $6 Asian Pear Martinis $3 Stella longnecks $5 Pinot Grigio 1620 Market Street | West Little Rock 501 221 1620 | 1620SAVOY.COM

Steve Clark. A presentation by the co-founder of Noble Impact. Winthrop Rockefeller Institute, 7 p.m. 1 Rockefeller Drive, Morrilton. 501-7275435. www.uawri.org.

SATURDAY, JULY 18

MUSIC

3 Doors Down. Magic Springs’ Timberwood Amphitheater, 8 p.m., $54.99. 1701 E. Grand Ave., Hot Springs. Aaron Carter. Discovery Nightclub, 9 p.m., $15. 1021 Jessie Road. 501-664-4784. www. latenightdisco.com. Burnt Lollipops, Chimp Chimp Chimp. Vino’s, 8 p.m. 923 W. 7th St. 501-375-8466. www.vinosbrewpub.com. Chillary Clinton: The After Party for the After Party for the Jefferson-Jackson Dinner. Sway, 9 p.m. 412 Louisiana. 501-907-2582. Four on the Floor. Revolution, 9 p.m., $5. 300 President Clinton Ave. 501-823-0090. www. rumbarevolution.com/new. Here Come the Mummies, Laura Reed, The Big Dam Horns. Juanita’s, 9 p.m., $15. 614 President Clinton Ave. 501-372-1228. www. juanitas.com. K.I.S.S. Saturdays. Featuring DJ Silky Slim. Dress code enforced. Sway, 10 p.m. 412 Louisiana. 501-492-9802. Live music. No cover charge Sun.-Tue. and Thu. Ernie Biggs. 307 President Clinton Ave. 501372-4782. littlerock.erniebiggs.com. Mountain Sprout, The Honeycutters. Stickyz Rock ‘n’ Roll Chicken Shack, 9 p.m., $8 adv., $10 day of. 107 River Market Ave. 501-3727707. www.stickyz.com. Pickin’ Porch. Bring your instrument. All ages welcome. Faulkner County Library, 9:30 a.m. 1900 Tyler St., Conway. 501-327-7482. www. fcl.org. Some Guy Named Robb (happy hour), Raising Grey (headliner). Cajun’s Wharf, 5:30 and 9 p.m. 2400 Cantrell Road. 501-375-5351. www.cajunswharf.com. Ted Ludwig Trio. Capital Bar and Grill, 9 p.m., free. 111 W. Markham St. 501-370-7013. www.

capitalbarandgrill.com. Weakness for Blondes. White Water Tavern, 9:30 p.m., $5. 2500 W. 7th St. 501-375-8400. www.whitewatertavern.com.

COMEDY

“HOGNADO!” An original production by The Main Thing. The Joint, 8 p.m., $22. 301 Main St. No. 102, NLR. 501-372-0205. thejointinlittlerock.com. Julie Scoggins. The Loony Bin, 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m., $10. 10301 N. Rodney Parham Road. 501228-5555. www.loonybincomedy.com.

EVENTS

Arkansas Brewers Festival. Arkansas State Fairgrounds, 7 p.m., $9.99-$19.99. 2600 Howard St. 501-372-8341 ext. 8206. www. arkansasstatefair.com. Falun Gong meditation. Allsopp Park, 9 a.m., free. Cantrell and Cedar Hill Roads. Hillcrest Farmers Market. Pulaski Heights Baptist Church, 7 a.m.-2 p.m. 2200 Kavanaugh Blvd. Historic Neighborhoods Tour. Bike tour of historic neighborhoods includes bike, guide, helmets and maps. Bobby’s Bike Hike, 9 a.m., $8-$28. 400 President Clinton Ave. 501-6137001. Jefferson-Jackson Dinner: Hillary Clinton. Verizon Arena, $200. 1 Alltel Arena Way, NLR. 501-975-9001. verizonarena.com. Little Rock Farmers’ Market. River Market Pavilions, 7 a.m. 400 President Clinton Ave. 375-2552. www.rivermarket.info. Pork & Bourbon Tour. Bike tour includes bicycle, guide, helmets and maps. Bobby’s Bike Hike, 11:30 a.m., $35-$45. 400 President Clinton Ave. 501-613-7001.

BOOKS

Harrison Scott Key. The author will read from his new book “The World’s Largest Man.” Oxford American Annex, 4 p.m., free. 1300 Main St.

SUNDAY, JULY 19

MUSIC

B.J. Barham (American Aquarium). White Water Tavern, 9 p.m., $15. 2500 W. 7th St. 501-375-8400. www.whitewatertavern.com. Irish Traditional Music Session. Hibernia Irish Tavern, 2:30 p.m. 9700 N. Rodney Parham Road. 501-246-4340. www.hiberniairishtavern.com. Kept in Line, Reach. Vino’s, 7:30 p.m. 923 W. 7th St. 501-375-8466. www.vinosbrewpub.com. Live music. No cover charge Sun.-Tue. and Thu. Ernie Biggs. 307 President Clinton Ave. 501-3724782. littlerock.erniebiggs.com.

EVENTS

Artist for Recovery. A secular recovery group for people with addictions. Quapaw Quarter United Methodist Church, 10 a.m. 1601 S. Louisiana.

SPORTS

Arkansas Travelers vs. Springfield. DickeyStephens Park, 6:10 p.m., $6-$12. 400 W. Broadway, NLR. 501-664-1555. www.travs.com.

MONDAY, JULY 20

MUSIC

Live music. No cover charge Sun.-Tue. and Thu.

Ernie Biggs. 307 President Clinton Ave. 501-3724782. littlerock.erniebiggs.com. Monday Night Jazz. Afterthought Bistro & Bar, 8 p.m., $5. 2721 Kavanaugh Blvd. 501-663-1196. www.afterthoughtbistroandbar.com. Open Mic. The Lobby Bar. Studio Theatre, 8 p.m. 320 W. 7th St. Richie Johnson. Cajun’s Wharf, 5:30 p.m. 2400 Cantrell Road. 501-375-5351. www.cajunswharf. com.

SPORTS

Arkansas Travelers vs. Springfield. DickeyStephens Park, 7:10 p.m., $6-$12. 400 W. Broadway, NLR. 501-664-1555. www.travs.com.

All American Food & Great Place to Party On The Patio!

TUESDAY, JULY 21

MUSIC

Eve to Adam, Nomara. Revolution, 8:30 p.m., $10. 300 President Clinton Ave. 501-823-0090. www.rumbarevolution.com/new. Jeff Ling. Khalil’s Pub, 6 p.m. 110 S. Shackleford Road. 501-224-0224. www.khalilspub.com. Jim Dickerson. Sonny Williams’ Steak Room, 7 p.m. 500 President Clinton Ave. 501-324-2999. www.sonnywilliamssteakroom.com. Live music. No cover charge Sun.-Tue. and Thu. Ernie Biggs. 307 President Clinton Ave. 501372-4782. littlerock.erniebiggs.com. Music Jam. Hosted by Elliott Griffen and Joseph Fuller. The Joint, 8-11 p.m., free. 301 Main St. No. 102, NLR. 501-372-0205. thejointinlittlerock.com. Tuesday Jam Session with Carl Mouton. Afterthought Bistro & Bar, 8 p.m., free. 2721 Kavanaugh Blvd. 501-663-1196. www.afterthoughtbistroandbar.com.

COMEDY

Stand-Up Tuesday. Hosted by Adam Hogg. The Joint, 8 p.m., $5. 301 Main St. No. 102, NLR. 501372-0205. thejointinlittlerock.com.

DANCE

“Latin Night.” Juanita’s, 7:30 p.m., $7. 614 President Clinton Ave. 501-372-1228. www.littlerocksalsa.com.

upscale

EVENTS

downtown

Trivia Bowl. Flying Saucer, 8:30 p.m. 323 President Clinton Ave. 501-372-8032. www.beerknurd. com/stores/littlerock.

day–Saturday

Piano Bar Tues

FILM

e Bar

Martini & Win

“Lord Love a Duck.” Vino’s, 7:30 p.m., free. 923 W. 7th St. 501-375-8466. www.vinosbrewpub.com.

Of Wine - 335 Selections s - 35 By The Glas rld Wo e Th s ros Ac m - Fine Spirits Fro m Every - Scotch List Fro and Region Of Scotl Bourbons - 6 Single-Barrel

SPORTS

Arkansas Travelers vs. Springfield. DickeyStephens Park, 7:10 p.m., $6-$12. 400 W. Broadway St., NLR. 501-664-1555. www.travs. com.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 22

MUSIC

Acoustic Open Mic. Afterthought Bistro & Bar, 8 p.m., free. 2721 Kavanaugh Blvd. 501-663-1196. www.afterthoughtbistroandbar.com. Brian and Nick. Cajun’s Wharf, 5:30 p.m. 2400 Cantrell Road. 501-375-5351. www. cajunswharf.com. Drageoke with Chi Chi Valdez. Sway. 412

In The River Market District 501.324.2999 #ErniebiggsLR

sonnywilliamssteakroom.com Free Valet Parking www.arktimes.com

JULY 16, 2015

AFTER DARK, CONT. Louisiana. 501-907-2582. Flowers and Dirt. South on Main, 7:30 p.m., free. 1304 Main St. 501-244-9660. southonmain.com. Jim Dickerson. Sonny Williams’ Steak Room, 7 p.m. 500 President Clinton Ave. 501-3242999. www.sonnywilliamssteakroom.com. Live music. No cover charge Sun.-Tue. and Thu. Ernie Biggs. 307 President Clinton Ave. 501-372-4782. littlerock.erniebiggs.com. Mickey Avalon. Revolution, 9 p.m., $10-$15. 300 President Clinton Ave. 501-823-0090. www.rumbarevolution.com/new. Open Mic Nite with Deuce. Thirst n’ Howl, 7:30 p.m., free. 14710 Cantrell Road. 501379-8189. www.thirst-n-howl.com. Ted Ludwig Trio. Capital Bar and Grill, 7:30 p.m., free. 111 W. Markham St. 501-370-7013. www.capitalbarandgrill.com.

COMEDY

The Joint Venture. Improv comedy group. The Joint, 8 p.m., $7. 301 Main St. No. 102, NLR. 501372-0205. thejointinlittlerock.com.

DANCE

Little Rock Bop Club. Beginning dance lessons for ages 10 and older. Singles welcome. Bess Chisum Stephens Community Center, 7 p.m., $4 for members, $7 for guests. 12th and Cleveland streets. 501-350-4712. www.littlerockbopclub.

EVENTS

Drum Corp International. War Memorial Stadium, 7 p.m. 1 Stadium Drive. 501-663-0775.

FILM

Movies in the Park: “The Goonies.” First Security Amphitheater, 8:25 p.m., free. 400 President Clinton Ave.

POETRY

Wednesday Night Poetry. 21-and-older show. Maxine’s, 7 p.m., free. 700 Central Ave., Hot Springs. 501-321-0909. maxineslive.com/shows. html.

SPORTS

Arkansas Travelers vs. Springfield. DickeyStephens Park, 7:10 p.m., $6-$12. 400 W. Broadway St., NLR. 501-664-1555. www.travs. com.

ARTS

THEATER

“American Idiot.” The Weekend Theater, through Aug. 9: Fri., Sat., 7:30 p.m.; Sun., 2:30 p.m., $20. 1001 W. 7th St. 501-374-3761. www.weekendtheater.org. “Xanadu: The Musical.” Studio Theatre, through July 19: Thu.-Sat., 7 p.m.; Sun., 2 p.m., $20. 320 W. 7th St. Young Artist Showcase. The Senior Showcase (ages 16-23) of The Rep’s Summer Musical Theatre Intensive training program. Arkansas Repertory Theatre, Mon., July 20, 6:15 p.m., $5. 601 Main St. 501-378-0405. www.therep. org.

NEW GALLERY EXHIBITS, EVENTS

New shows in bold-face

ART CONNECTION, 204 E. Fourth St., NLR: Artwork, including a giant ice cream cone, by high school students in program. CANTRELL GALLERY, 8206 Cantrell Road: “A Range of Options,” collages by Eric 32

JULY 16, 2015

ARKANSAS TIMES

Spann, July 17-Sept. 4, reception 6-8 p.m. July 17. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Sat. 224-1335. CO-OP ART, Tanglewood Shopping Center: “2nd Anniversary Open House,” 1-5 p.m. July 18. GALLERY 26, 2601 Kavanaugh Blvd.: Recent works by Julie Holt, John Kushmal and James Hayes, opening reception 7-10 p.m. July 18 with music by Kevin Kerby, show through Sept. 12.10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tue.-Sat. 664-8996. GREG THOMPSON FINE ART, 429 Main St., NLR: “Southern Abstraction,” work by Dusti Bongé, Ida Kohlmeyer, Andrew Bucci, Wolf Kahn, Sammy Peters, Robyn Horn, James Hendricks, Pinkney Herbert and Gay Bechtelheimer, reception 5-8 p.m. July 17, Argenta ArtWalk, show through Sept. 12. 664-2787. HEARNE FINE ART, 1001 Wright Ave.: “Beautiful Influences,” ceramic sculpture and mixed media paintings by Chukes, through Sept. 3; artist reception 5-8 p.m. July 17, artist talk 2 p.m. July 18. 9 a.m.5 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sat. 3726822. MUGS CAFE, 515 Main St., NLR: “Movement and Sound,” paintings by Emily Wood, photographs by John Sykes Jr., reception 5-8 p.m. July 17, Argenta ArtWalk, show through Aug. 19. 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Mon.Sat. 960-9524. ST. JAMES UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, 321 Pleasant Valley Drive: Exhibition by members of Co-Op Art, through Sept. 7. Batesville BAAC GALLERY ON MAIN, 226 E. Main St.: “White Noise & Black Lines,” work by Holly Laws and David Bailin, through Aug. 1, reception 5-7 p.m. July 17. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tue.-Fri., 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sat. 870-7933382. Bentonville CRYSTAL BRIDGES MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART, One Museum Way: Spotlight Lecture and Dance Performance: “Dancing into the Future,” dance scholar Alice Bloch on Isadora Duncan, 7-9 p.m. July 17; “Warhol’s Nature,” from the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh, through Oct. 5, $4; “American Encounters: The Simple Pleasures of Still Life,” 10 still-life paintings from the 17th and 18th centuries from the High Museum, the Terra Foundation, the Louvre and the Crystal Bridges collection, through Sept. 14; “Fish Stories: Early Images of American Game Fish,” 20 color plates based on the original watercolors by sporting artist Samuel Kilbourne, through Sept. 21; American masterworks spanning four centuries. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Mon., Thu.; 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Wed., Fri.; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sat.-Sun., closed Tue. 479-418-5700.

CALL FOR ENTRIES The Arkansas Arts Council is seeking submissions for the juried “2016 Small Works on Paper Exhibition.” Juror Kati Toivanen of the University of MissouriKansas City will select entries and purchase award winners. The show travels to 10 venues across the state. Deadline to enter is July 24. Entry forms are available at www.arkansasarts.org or by calling 501324-9766; for more information call Cheri Leffew at 501-324-9767.

MOVIE REVIEW

SILK AND SOUL: Nina Simone, in the new Netflix documentary “What Happened, Miss Simone?”

Nina Simone: Never nonviolent Netflix doc explores the singer’s troubled life, politicization. WILL STEPHENSON

ina Simone was an insomniac. She preferred absolute silence from the audience while she performed. She smoked Kool cigarettes and wore mink coats and for many years lived next door to Malcolm X. She believed in magic. She was highly distractible and wanted to be famous and did not enjoy fame. She once had an affair with the prime minister of Barbados. She dreamed of becoming the first black female concert pianist. Asked in an interview to define freedom, she replied, “It’s just a feeling.” Late in life, she was diagnosed as manic depressive and prescribed Trilafon. After she left the U.S. in the 1970s, she began referring to the country exclusively as the “United Snakes of America.” Simone is the subject of a new documentary portrait released exclusively on Netflix and directed by Liz Garbus, who has previously produced films

about deadly car crashes, the reclusive chess champion Bobby Fischer and Abu Ghraib. The movie borrows its epigraph and title, “What Happened, Miss Simone?” from Maya Angelou; I assumed the source was a poem, but when I looked it up, I learned it was a 1970 profile published in the fashion magazine Redbook. ”But what happened, Miss Simone?” Angelou writes. “Specifically, what happened to your big eyes that quickly veil to hide the loneliness? To your voice that has so little tenderness, yet flows with your commitment to the battle of Life? What happened to you?” This is the guiding mystery at the center of the film, which proceeds in straightforward chronological fashion from her modest roots in segregated North Carolina to her early New York success, from her breakthrough stints performing at Carnegie Hall and Hugh Hefner’s strange talk show “Playboy’s

FEATURING A SPECIAL SCREENING OF “SACRED HEART’S HOLY SOULS” AND A PANEL DISCUSSION WITH LEADING MEMBERS OF THE LGBT COMMUNITY. ARKANSAS TIMES, LITTLE ROCK PRIDE FEST AND PFLAG LITTLE ROCK PRESENT A FUNDRAISING EVENT FOR OUT IN ARKANSAS, ARKANSAS TIMES’ COMING LGBT PUBLICATION. 7 P.M. THURSDAY, JULY 16

RON ROBINSON THEATER 100 RIVER MARKET AVE LIGHT APPETIZERS AND BEER AND WINE WILL BE PROVIDED BY TRIO’S AND LEGACY WINE AND SPIRITS.

Penthouse,” to her strident political conversion during the civil rights movement, which would come to define and, she believed, ultimately sabotage her career. There are many brilliant clips of her live performances in the film, most of them frustratingly brief. Still, they in themselves probably justify the existence of the movie. Viewed in succession this way, all in a row, they are especially moving. She was an extraordinarily hypnotic and physically immediate performer — her mannerisms were as prominent and as interesting as her pitch or timbre, which were also alien and fascinating — and she felt at home in indescribably complex time signatures. Her versions of pop standards like “I Love You, Porgy” and “Lilac Wine” were mangled and painful and profound — she was, as her longtime guitarist Al Shackman explains, “not interpreting it, but metamorphosing it.” Much of the film’s drama — like that of her career — is rooted in her transition from aesthetic to political modernism. This was the case with many artists who came of age creatively in the late ’60s. Think of Jean-Luc Godard, who alienated his pop-cinephile audience when he turned Maoist, or John Lennon, who spooked the middle-brow when he aligned himself with Timothy Leary and Yoko and the anti-war left. So it was with Nina Simone, who authored the greatest, most harrowing protest song of the late 20th century, “Mississippi Goddamn,” and spoke at civil

rights demonstrations, where she asked audiences, over bongo drums, if they were “ready to smash white things?” She agreed with Malcolm X that revolutions are “never peaceful, never loving, never nonviolent,” and she was right, and it ruined her as a commercial entity. Few biographical documentaries entirely avoid the stylistic and storytelling cliches of PBS and Ken Burns — all the solemn narration over slow pans across black-and-white images — and neither does Garbus’ film escape this trap, for the most part. There are interminable talking-head interviews, which manage to extract sometimes shockingly banal observations from even the most redoubtable artists and critics, like Stanley Crouch. Much more interesting are the dated trappings of ’60s music promotion: the flyers and posters and unrecognizable TV programs. Also the actual pages from Simone’s diaries, which were previously explored in Joe Hagan’s essential 2010 essay “I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free,” published in The Believer. “To stay alive as a family we had to work at it,” Simone says of her upbringing at one point. “We had to keep secrets.” Among her generation, there was no more fundamentally enigmatic performer, and if the film doesn’t solve the enigma, it at least brings us closer to the performances. She deserved better, is the story’s inescapable conclusion. If the documentary seems overly sad, it’s only because the life was.

$25 FOR TICKETS, CALL KELLY LYLES 492-3979.

presents…

Roy Book Binder Thursday July 16 7:30 p.m. The Joint

301 Main Street North Little Rock

A legend included in The Blues Who’s Who and The Big Book of Blues who has toured with the likes of Bonnie Raitt and J.J. Cale

Tickets $20

Available at the door or online at www.argentaartsacousticmusic.com Sponsored by…

www.arktimes.com

JULY 16, 2015

Dining

Information in our restaurant capsules reflects the opinions of the newspaper staff and its reviewers. The newspaper accepts no advertising or other considerations in exchange for reviews, which are conducted anonymously. We invite the opinions of readers who think we are in error.

B Breakfast L Lunch D Dinner $ Inexpensive (under $8/person) $$ Moderate ($8-$20/person) $$$ Expensive (over $20/person) CC Accepts credit cards

WHAT’S COOKIN’ JUANITA’S RESTAURANT, WHICH HAS had a Mexican jumping-bean style ownership change in the past five years, is on the market again, so that owners can focus on the music part of the business, a news release said. The sale price, $159,000, is for equipment and name only; the 8,000-square-foot restaurant, bar and music venue is operated as a sublease. Juanita’s has changed ownership three times since it moved to 615 President Clinton Ave. from its longtime address on South Main Street, now the home of the Oxford American magazine. Joe Cates and Jim O’Brien purchased Juanita’s in 2010 from Johnny and Alicia Weaver. They sold the business in 2014 to Erin Hurley, Trey Jordan, Reed Lewallen, Bill Puckett and James Snyder. It was listed in 2012 for $250,000.

DINING CAPSULES

AMERICAN

BEST IMPRESSIONS The menu combines Asian, Italian and French sensibilities in soups, salads and meaty fare. A departure from the tearoom of yore. 501 E. Ninth St. Beer and wine, all CC. $$. 501-907-5946. L Tue.-Sun., BR Sat.-Sun.BUTCHER SHOP The cook-your-ownsteak option has been downplayed, and several menu additions complement the calling card: large, fabulous cuts of prime beef, cooked to perfection. 10825 Hermitage Road. Full bar, all CC. $$$. 501-312-2748. D daily. CACHE RESTAURANT A stunning experience on the well-presented plates and in terms of atmosphere, glitz and general feel. It doesn’t feel like anyplace else in Little Rock, and it’s not priced like much of anywhere else in Little Rock, either. But there are options to keep the tab in the reasonable range. 425 President Clinton Ave. Full bar, all CC. $$$. 501-850-0265. LD Mon.-Fri., D Sat. CHEDDAR’S Large selection of somewhat standard American casual cafe choices, many of which are made from scratch. Portions are large and prices are very reasonable. 400 S. University. Full bar, all CC. $-$$. 501-614-7578. LD daily. CHICKEN KING Arguably Central Arkansas’s best wings. 2704 MacArthur Drive. NLR. No alcohol, CC. $-$$. 501-771-5571. LD Mon.-Sat. 5213 W. 65th St. No alcohol, all CC. $-$$. 501-562-5573. LD Mon.-Sat. COAST CANTINA A variety of salads, smoothies, sandwiches and pizzas, and there’s breakfast and coffee, too. 400 President Clinton Ave. No alcohol, all CC. $-$$. 501-371-0164. LD Mon.-Sat. COMMUNITY BAKERY This sunny downtown bakery is the place to linger over a latte, bagels and the New York Times. But a lunchtime dash for sandwiches is OK, too, though it’s often packed. 1200 S. Main St. No alcohol, CC. $-$$. 501-375-7105. BLD daily. 270 S. Shackleford. No alcohol, all CC. $-$$. 501-224-1656. BLD Mon.-Sat. BL Sun. 34

JULY 16, 2015

ARKANSAS TIMES

CHORIZO SOPE: Spicy sausage in a masa shell.

A howl-out for Santo Coyote Quick, affordable and good Mexican fare.

ancy eating is great sometimes, and we’ve certainly never hesitated to fill ourselves with plates of rich, exotic food at white tablecloth joints where the waiters will sneak in like ghosts to fold up your napkin every time you step away from the table. But we’re simple folks at heart, and that means that we’re also right at home at more casual restaurants —even the occasional chain place. Which brings us to Santo Coyote, which might be one of the best options around for consistent, inexpensive chain dining. The menu is pretty much exactly what regular eaters of Americanized Mexican should expect, and we feel like there’s nothing at all wrong with that if the food tastes good. After several trips out to the West Little Rock location, we’ve had enough tasty things to endorse what Santo Coyote is cooking up. Eating at a place like Santo Coyote means starting off with an order of cheese dip ($3.95 small/$7.99 large), and

this version of the Arkansas favorite is velvet smooth with just the right hint of salt and spice. A small order is easily enough for two people to share, but we admit that we’ve bought the large to split on nights when drowning our sorrows in queso was the only solution. And, of course, the only thing better than cheese dip is cheese dip with chorizo in it, so for an extra indulgent way to get rid of the complimentary basket of chips, there isn’t anything much better than the Chori-Queso ($8.95). Cheese dip not your thing? Get an order of guacamole ($7.95), which we have found to be fresh every time we’ve ordered it. On nights when we want a light meal, we like to follow up our queso with an order of Sopa Azteca ($4.99), a tasty chicken soup served with pico de gallo, fresh avocado and tortilla strips. This soup is hearty without being heavy, full of the deep rich flavor of chicken and stock, but kept light with the addition of the fresh tomatoes and avocado. That fresh taste is something not seen in many

soups, so we return to this one time and time again for that unique twist. When it comes to the main event, choosing is often hard for us. On nights where we arrive with a heartier-thannormal appetite, we get the Chimi Rica ($10.75) with chicken, and the huge fried burrito is generally large enough that we carry some home. The crisp golden shell is never overcooked, and unlike some chimis we’ve eaten that have a large pocket of air inside, this big boy is stuffed full with spicy shredded chicken, making it one of the best bang-for-yourbuck dishes on the menu. Of course, not everyone likes to have their food deep fried, in which case one of Santo Coyote’s regular burrito options may be preferable. Our favorite is the Supremo ($9.95), which, as the name implies, is a pile of food that includes beef or shredded chicken wrapped in a flour tortilla, then topped with lettuce, tomato and crema fresca. There are some tasty black beans and rice on the side, but, given the size of the burrito, we’ve never managed to do more than take a few complimentary bites. Tamales are another favorite, especially since they are part of a “pick two” combination menu for $9. That ability to get two is a plus here, because it allows us to get one pork tamale in red sauce and a chicken tamale with salsa verde. Each style is moist without being mushy, and the tangy sauces soak into the masa quite well. The pork has a bit more flavor to it than the chicken, but we don’t blame Santo Coyote — it’s hard to beat classic pork for tamales. The part of the menu where we really indulge ourselves is labeled with two favorite words: Sopes and Tacos ($2.99 each) The first few times we tried the place, we stuck with tacos, and were very pleased with the tender texture and grilled beef flavor of the al carbon, the citrus tang of the al pastor and the smoky flavor of the char-grilled chicken. These tacos are relatively authentic, served in corn tortillas with onions and cilantro, ready for a healthy squeeze of lime to bring everything together into perfection. Fans of ground beef crunchystyle tacos will find them here, too, and although we thought they were just fine, the more authentic offerings are so well done that we rarely order them. At some point, we decided to branch

BELLY UP Check out the Times’ food blog, Eat Arkansas arktimes.com

DINING CAPSULES, CONT. out to the sopes, and we’ve been there ever since. The sope is a little bit of everything — it has a masa shell like a tamale, only flattened and fried, and it’s topped like a taco, but there are also refried beans. They are nearly impossible to eat with your hands (which is how we do it at the taco trucks), but having a knife and fork handy means the ability to put down a number of these in short order. The sopes come with the same selection of meats as the tacos, with our personal favorite being chorizo. Chorizo works with a sope better than a regular taco simply because the thicker masa shell soaks up all that lovely grease and spice that sweats off the sausage. Of course, given that the taco and sope menu is set up for a la carte ordering, it’s easy (and recommended) to mix and match different meat combinations and just throw yourself a sope party every time you head in. Santo Coyote is the sort of place we head to after a hard day of work because it’s quick, it’s affordable and there’s never any hassle about getting good food, no matter what we order. It’s easy to make a meal at Santo Coyote go as cheap or as expensive as you want — there are delicious food items at every price point on the menu. So, while it isn’t fancy fine dining, we’re fans of the place, and as far as chain Mexican joints go, it gets the vote of our pocketbooks nearly every time.

Santo Coyote

11610 Pleasant Ridge Road Pleasant Ridge Town Center 501-225-1300 2513 McCain Blvd. 501-753-9800 www.santo-coyote.com QUICK BITE Like a growing number of restaurants in Central Arkansas, Santo Coyote works with the Chef Shuttle delivery service. Whether it’s an office lunch or a laid-back dinner at home, this pairing will do you right for Mexican cuisine that is inexpensive, arrives hot and tastes delicious. HOURS 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday. OTHER INFO Full bar. All credit cards accepted.

DAVE’S PLACE A popular downtown soupand-sandwich stop at lunch draws a large and diverse crowd for the Friday night dinner, which varies in theme, home cooking being the most popular. Owner Dave Williams does all the cooking and his son, Dave also, plays saxophone and fronts the band that plays most Friday nights. 201 Center St. No alcohol, all CC. $-$$. 501-372-3283. L Mon.-Fri., D Fri. DAVID FAMILY KITCHEN Call it soul food or call it down-home country cooking. Just be sure to call us for breakfast or lunch when you go. Neckbones, ribs, sturdy cornbread, salmon croquettes, mustard greens and the like. Desserts are exceptionally good. 2301 Broadway. No alcohol, all CC. $-$$. 501-371-0141. BL Tue.-Fri., L Sun.YANCEY’S CAFETERIA Soul food served with a Southern attitude. 1523 Martin Luther King Ave. No alcohol, No CC. $. 501-372-9292. LD Tue.-Sat. ZACK’S PLACE Expertly prepared home cooking and huge, smoky burgers. 1400 S. University Ave. Full bar, all CC. $-$$. 501-6646444. LD Mon.-Sat. ZIN URBAN WINE & BEER BAR This is the kind of sophisticated place you would expect to find in a bar on the ground floor of the Tuf-Nut lofts downtown. It’s cosmopolitan yet comfortable, a relaxed place to enjoy fine wines and beers while noshing on superb meats, cheeses and amazing goat cheese-stuffed figs. 300 River Market Ave. Beer and wine, all CC. $$-$$$. 501-246-4876. D daily.

ASIAN

BANGKOK THAI CUISINE Get all the staple Thai dishes at this River Market vendor. The red and green curries and the noodle soup stand out, in particular. 400 President Clinton Ave. No alcohol, all CC. $-$$. 501-374-5105. L Mon.-Sat. FLAVOR OF INDIA Southern Indian food, including chaat (street food), dosas with lentils, rice and other ingredients, lentil soup, coconut chutney, and northern dishes as well. 11121 N. Rodney Parham, Suite 40B. 501-554-5678. GENGHIS GRILL This chain restaurant takes the Mongolian grill idea to its inevitable, Subwaystyle conclusion. 12318 Chenal Parkway. Beer and wine, all CC. $$. 501-223-2695. LD daily. OSAKA JAPANESE RESTAURANT Veteran operator of several local Asian buffets has brought fine-dining Japanese dishes and a well-stocked sushi bar to way-out-west Little Rock, near Chenal off Highway 10. 5501 Ranch Drive. $$-$$$. 501-868-3688. LD daily. SKY MODERN JAPANESE Excellent, ambitious menu filled with sushi and other Japanese fare and Continental-style dishes. 11525 Cantrell Road, Suite 917. Full bar, all CC. $$$-$$$$. 501-224-4300. LD daily.

BARBECUE

CHATZ CAFE ‘Cue and catfish joint that does heavy catering business. Try the slow-smoked, meaty ribs. 8801 Colonel Glenn Road. No alcohol, all CC. $-$$. 501-562-4949. LD Mon.-Sat. WHITE PIG INN Go for the sliced rather than chopped meats at this working-class barbecue cafe. Side orders — from fries to potato salad to beans and slaw — are superb, as are the fried pies. 5231 E. Broadway. NLR. Beer, all CC. $-$$.

THE EVERYDAY SOMMELIER Your friendly neighborhood wine shop. #theeverydaysommelier

2011 ADELSHEIM WINERY, ELIZABETH’S RESERVE PINOT NOIR REG. $59.89 SPECIAL - $45.99 “90 pts” – W+S “This delicious effort from one of the godfathers of Oregon Pinot Noir is a blend from the best of the best from 2011 and winemaker David Paige. A stellar, rich, delicious, balanced glass of strawberries and red fruit, the Elizabeth’s Reserve deserves your attention. And mine. I’m opening a bottle right now! – O’Looney

Rahling Road @ Chenal Parkway 501.821.4669 • olooneys@aristotle.net • www.olooneys.com

Do more. Hurt less. WE OFFER EXPERT ADVICE AND GUIDANCE • Strength and flexibility training • Corrective exercise for pain relief • Fitness programs for injury recovery • Biomechanical analysis of joint function and mobility • Massage therapy

REGENERATION FITNESS KATHLEEN L. REA, PH.D.

(501) 324-1414 117 East Broadway, North Little Rock www.regenerationfitnessar.com Email: regfit@att.net www.arktimes.com

JULY 16, 2015

DINING CAPSULES, CONT. 501-945-5551. LD Mon.-Fri., L Sat.

EUROPEAN / ETHNIC

WHOLE HOG benefiting

Argenta Arts District

SATURDAY, AUGUST 29 Argenta Farmers Market Events Grounds

5 until 9 PM

Amateur Teams are considered individuals, not connected to any particular restaurant, food truck or catering companies. Amateur teams will be preparing at least 30 pounds of any part of a hog (butt, ribs, etc). Edwards Food Giant is offering 20% discount on meat purchases. Entry fee: $150

Entry fee: $150

Professional Teams are considered restaurants, catering companies and food trucks. Professional teams will be preparing a whole hog from Ben E. Keith Company.

Entry fee: $500 and includes the whole hog, pick up by Aug. 26

Each team must provide two sides serving at least 50 people each.

A winner will be chosen from each of the two categories.

Ticket holders will cast all the votes via The Amateur and Professional team that has “tokens” (two provided to each ticket holder) the most votes are the official winners! and tokens are also available for sale. Trophies will be awarded. Celebrations will be happening!

BEER & WINE GARDEN

GET DETAILS

Gated festival area selling ONLINE THE TIME beer &ALL wine ($5 each) PLEASE VISIT US AT WWW.EDWARDSFOODGIANT.COM Aadditional information and registration: Drue Patton Phyllis Britton

DPATTON@ARGENTADC.ORG PHYLLIS@ARKTIMES.COM 36

JULY 16, 2015

ARKANSAS TIMES

CAFE BOSSA NOVA A South American approach to sandwiches, salads and desserts, all quite good, as well as an array of refreshing South American teas and coffees. 2701 Kavanaugh Blvd. Full bar, all CC. $$-$$$. 501-614-6682. LD Tue.-Sat., BR Sun. DUGAN’S PUB Serves up Irish fare like fish and chips and corned beef and cabbage alongside classic bar food. The chicken fingers and burgers stand out. Irish breakfast all day. 401 E. 3rd St. Full bar, all CC. $-$$. 501-244-0542. LD daily. TAJ MAHAL The third Indian restaurant in a onemile span of West Little Rock, Taj Mahal offers upscale versions of traditional dishes and an extensive menu. Dishes range on the spicy side. 1520 Market Street. Beer, all CC. $$$. 501-8814796. LD daily. TAZIKI’S MEDITERRANEAN CAFE Fast casual chain that offers gyros, grilled meats and veggies, hummus and pimento cheese. 8200 Cantrell Road. Beer and wine, all CC. $$. 501-227-8291. LD daily. 12800 Chenal Parkway. Beer and wine, all CC. $$. 501-225-1829. LD daily. THE TERRACE MEDITERRANEAN KITCHEN A broad selection of Mediterranean delights that includes a very affordable collection of starters, salads, sandwiches, burgers, chicken and fish at lunch and a more upscale dining experience with top-notch table service at dinner. 2200 Rodney Parham Road. Full bar, all CC. $$-$$$. 501-217-9393. LD Mon.-Fri., D Sat. YA YA’S EURO BISTRO The first eatery to open in the Promenade at Chenal is a date-night affair, translating comfort food into beautiful cuisine. Best bet is lunch, where you can explore the menu through soup, salad or half a sandwich. 17711 Chenal Parkway. Full bar, all CC. $$-$$$. 501-821-1144. LD daily, BR Sun.

ITALIAN

BRAVO! CUCINA ITALIANA This upscale Italian chain offers delicious and sometimes inventive dishes. 17815 Chenal Pkwy. Full bar, all CC. $$$. 501-821-2485. LD daily. BR Sun. BRUNO’S LITTLE ITALY Traditional Italian antipastos, appetizers, entrees and desserts. Extensive, delicious menu from Little Rock standby. 310 Main St. Full bar, CC. $$-$$$. 501-372-7866. D Tue.-Sat. GRAFFITI’S The casually chic and ever-popular Italian-flavored bistro avoids the rut with daily specials and careful menu tinkering. 7811 Cantrell Road. Full bar, all CC. $$-$$$. 501-2249079. D Mon.-Sat. JIM’S RAZORBACK PIZZA Great pizza served up in a family-friendly, sports-themed environment. Special Saturday and Sunday brunch served from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Flat-screen TVs throughout and even a cage for shooting basketballs and playing ping-pong. 16101 Cantrell Road. Beer and wine, all CC. $$. 501-868-3250. LD daily. OLD CHICAGO PASTA & PIZZA This national chain offers lots of pizzas, pastas and beer. 4305 Warden Road. NLR. Full bar, all CC. $$-$$$. 501-812-6262. LD daily. 1010 Main St. Conway. Full bar, all CC. $$. 501-329-6262. LD daily. PIZZA CAFE Thin, crunchy pizza with just a dab of tomato sauce but plenty of chunks of stuff, topped with gooey cheese. Draft beer is appealing on the open-air deck — frosty and generous. 1517 Rebsamen Park Road. Beer and wine, all CC. $-$$. 501-664-6133. LD daily 14710 Cantrell Road. Beer and wine, all CC.

$$-$$$. 501-868-2600. LD daily. PIZZA D’ACTION Some of the best pizza in town, a marriage of thin, crispy crust with a hefty ingredient load. Also, good appetizers and salads, pasta, sandwiches and killer plate lunches. 2919 W. Markham St. Full bar, all CC. $-$$. 501-666-5403. LD daily. RISTORANTE CAPEO This excellent, authentic Italian restaurant was the trailblazer in the now-hot Argenta neighborhood of downtown North Little Rock, the Isaac brothers opening it in 2003. It remains a popular destination for classic Northern Italian favorites and features an outstanding wine list and cellar. 425 Main St. NLR. Full bar, all CC. $$-$$$. 501-376-3463. D Mon.-Sat. VINO’S Great rock ‘n’ roll club also is a fantastic pizzeria with huge calzones and always improving home-brewed beers. 923 W. 7th St. Beer and wine, all CC. $-$$. 501-375-8466. LD daily. ZAZA Here’s where you get wood-fired pizza with gorgeous blistered crusts and a light topping of choice and tempting ingredients, great gelato in a multitude of flavors, call-yourown ingredient salads and other treats. 5600 Kavanaugh Blvd. Beer and wine, all CC. $$-$$$. 501-661-9292. LD daily. 1050 Ellis Ave. Conway. Full bar, all CC. $$-$$$. 501-336-9292. LD daily.

LATINO

JUANITA’S Menu includes a variety of combination entree choices — enchiladas, tacos, flautas, shrimp burritos and such — plus creative salads and other dishes. And of course the “Blue Mesa” cheese dip. 614 President Clinton Ave. Full bar, all CC. $$-$$$. 501-372-1228. LD Tue.-Sat. LA SALSA MEXICAN & PERUVIAN CUISINE Mexican and Peruvian dishes, beer and margaritas. 3824 John F. Kennedy Blvd. NLR. Full bar, all CC. 501-753-1101. LD daily. ROSALINDA RESTAURANT HONDURENO A Honduran cafe that specializes in pollo con frito tajada (fried chicken and fried plaintains). With breakfast, too. 3700 JFK Blvd. NLR. No alcohol, No CC. $-$$. 501-771-5559. BLD daily. SENOR TEQUILA Typical cheap Mexcian dishes with great service. Good margaritas. 10300 N. Rodney Parham Road. Full bar, all CC. $$. 501-224-5505. LD daily. 9847 Maumelle Blvd. NLR. 501-758-4432. SENOR TEQUILA Typical cheap Mexican dishes with great service. Good margaritas. 10300 N. Rodney Parham Road. Full bar, all CC. $$. 501-224-5505. LD daily. 9847 Maumelle Blvd. NLR. 501-758-4432; 14524 Cantrell Road. Full bar, all CC. $$. 501-868-7642. LD daily. TACO MEXICO Tacos have to be ordered at least two at a time, but that’s not an impediment. These are some of the best and some of the cheapest tacos in Little Rock. 7101 Colonel Glenn Road. No alcohol, No CC. $. 501-4167002. LD Wed.-Sun. TACOS GUANAJUATO Pork, beef, adobado, chicharron and cabeza tacos and tortas at this mobile truck. 6920 Geyer Springs Road. No alcohol, No CC. $. LD Wed.-Mon. TAMALITTLE RESTAURANT Authentic Mexican food, including pastes, flour-based small empanada-like pastries stuffed with a variety of Mexican ingredients, and other traditional dishes. 102 Markham Park Drive. No alcohol, all CC. $-$$. 501-217-9085. BLD Mon.-Fri., LD Sat. TAQUERIA EL PALENQUE Solid authentic Mexican food. Try the al pastor burrito. 9501 N. Rodney Parham Road. Beer, CC. $-$$. 501-3120045. Serving BLD Tue.-Sun.

DUMAS, CONT. Fears of a race war spread after a Little Rock policeman killed Sgt. Thomas B. Foster, a black soldier with the 92nd Engineers, who had intervened in the beating of a drunk soldier from Camp Robinson on Little Rock’s West Ninth Street. The cops severely beat Foster, too, and, as he lay semiconscious on the steps of a church, policeman Abner J. Hay shot him five times in the head and chest. A grand jury found no wrongdoing. An Arkansas Democrat editorial blamed the sergeant’s murder on the newly emergent NAACP in Arkansas, which was egging blacks on. The U.S. Supreme Court held in 1941 that states could not differentiate in the pay of white and black teachers. Backed by the NAACP, Susie Cowan Morris, a black English teacher at Little Rock’s Dunbar High School, sued over the huge difference in pay. Little Rock’s white supervisor of teachers testified that “no white primary teacher in Little Rock is inferior to the best Negro teacher.” That satisfied Judge T.C. Trimble, who ruled the big pay difference OK, but the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that it wasn’t. The school district fired Morris. But the real threat was black voting. In 1944, the U.S. Supreme Court held that Arkansas and other Southern states could no longer prevent blacks from voting in party primaries. “The Democratic Party in Arkansas,” Gov. Adkins assured alarmed voters, “is a white man’s party” and would remain so. Adkins and the legislature set up two

primaries, so that blacks could only vote in one where the president and congressional representatives were nominated but not in the primary where Arkansas offices would be filled. The Supreme Court would say, in a South Carolina case, that this also was illegal. Besides, the expense of two primaries in 1946 was too much. The registration campaign of the NAACP had raised the number of black voters in Arkansas from 4,000 in 1940 to 47,000 in 1946, a cause for alarm. So when the legislature convened in January 1947, it capitulated to the courts and budget restraints and repealed Adkins’ double-primary law. Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia were showing other ways to keep blacks from the polls. If nothing else the legislators and Gov. Laney could take a symbolic step to show the state’s anger over the repeated loss of the state’s right to discriminate. They passed Act 215 giving General Lee a holiday alongside George Washington, the father of our country. The day the House was considering the Lee holiday bill, the Arkansas Gazette published an editorial that, avoiding mention of Lee, extolled a worthier honoree, Gen. Patrick Cleburne of Helena, a brilliant general who urged the Confederate president to free the slaves and who, on the morning of his death, gave his boots to a shoeless soldier with bloody feet at Franklin, Tenn., and strode barefoot into battle to take the fatal bullet. See, it was all about Southern heritage.

LYONS, CONT. about admitting their own mistakes. Consider the experience of Sidney Blumenthal, the former Clinton White House aide dragged before the latest House Benghazi investigation for emailing Hillary information about Libya offered by a retired CIA analyst they both knew. Supposedly, according to a heavybreathing New York Times story, Blumenthal had highly suspicious financial interests in Libya. Supposedly, too, “the committee’s investigators are ... interested in whether the planned business venture in Libya posed any potential conflicts for Mr. Blumenthal or Mrs. Clinton.” Washington Post columnist David

Ignatius depicted Blumenthal as Hillary’s “Svengali,” cunningly manipulating the secretary of state for his own devious ends. It was all terribly suspicious, emblematic of Hillary’s well-known propensity for skirting the law. Except that Blumenthal (a friend) had no such business ties, as his attorney and his subsequent testimony have made clear. He’s labored in vain to have that testimony released by seemingly embarrassed GOP investigators. So when will the Times and Post correct the damage to Blumenthal’s reputation? I’m guessing never: Clinton rules.

GROW grow LOCAL ARKANSAS TIMES

Early Shopping • Thursday, July 16 • 5-7 p.m. Main Library Basement Open to FOCAL members and non-members with $5 wristband.

River Market Books & Gifts Open to the public; FOCAL members and non-members with $10 wristband receive discount.

ROCK < < SPANISH Q Apartments Q $199 MOVE-IN SPECIAL • NEW MANAGEMENT! UNDERGOING MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR RENOVATION • Close to Schools & Shopping • Swimming Pools Fitness Center • Tennis Court Washer/Dryer Connections 24 hour Emergency Maintenance • Bilingual Staff Feed the Kids After School Program OFFICE: 501-221-6080 11300 MESA DRIVE LITTLE ROCK, AR 72211 www.arktimes.com

JULY 16, 2015

ARKANSAS TIMES MARKETPLACE MUSIC BY GREEN DAY Book by Billie Joe Armstrong and Michael Mayer Lyrics by Billie Joe Armstrong

July 17 - Aug 9, 2015 Fri, Sat 7:30pm; Sun 2:30pm $20 Adults; $16 Students & Seniors

SEEKING FULL-TIME LINKS PARATRANSIT OPERATORS

DIRECTED BY FRANK O. BUTLER MUSIC DIRECTION BY LORI ISNER For more information contact us at 501.374.3761 or www.weekendtheater.org

1001 W. 7th St., LR, AR 72201 On the corner of 7th and Chester, across from Vino’s.

Support for TWT is provided, in part, by the Arkansas Arts Council, an agency of the DAH, and the NEA.

shop LOCAL Shop

Requires good driving record and customer service skills. Requires CDL, will train for CDL! Start $11.08/hr, group health plan, paid vacation, sick leave, & holidays. Apply at CENTRAL ARKANSAS TRANSIT at 901 Maple, NLR, AR or cat.org.

ARKANSAS TIMES

Smiles

BEAUTIFUL make HAPPY PEOPLE!

Children and Adults

We accept: AR-KIDS, Medicaid, Care Credit and all types of insurance.

PAYMENT PLANS AVAILABLE

ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS

O U R DO C T O R DR. CHRISTOPHER LARSON, D.D.S.

JULY 16, 2015

ARKANSAS TIMES

• Gentle Teeth • Cleaning • • Tooth Extractions • • Ceramic Crowns • & Bridges • • Tooth Colored Fillings •

Implants X-rays Root Canals Orthodontic Braces Sleep Apnea (OSA)

Faith Dental Clinic 7301 Baseline Rd · Little Rock Monday–Saturday

(501) 565-3009 (501) 562-1665

www.faithdentalclinic.com

Celebrate American Style Wyeth

ON 9/11

Warhol

with a trip to

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art on the Arkansas Times ART Bus

FRIDAY, SEPT. 11, 2015

for three exhibitions featuring the distinctively American art of Jamie Wyeth, Andy Warhol and Frank Lloyd Wright

“Jamie Wyeth” features work by the third generation of Wyeth artists, paintings of the people of the Brandywine Valley and the coast of Maine the artist made over six decades. “Warhol’s Nature” exhibit features the pop artist’s natural turn, including

119

per person

lithographs of poppies and other flora and fauna.The BachmanWilson house, the Frank Lloyd Wright design in his “Usonian” style for everyday Americans, is being reassembled on the grounds after its move from New Jersey.

Price includes: Round-trip Tour Bus Transportation Light pastries & hors d’oeuvres Beer/Wine en route Ticket into both the Jamie Wyeth and Andy Warhol exhibits Dinner at Eleven, the restaurant at Crystal Bridges

ARKANSAS TIMES

RESERVE YOUR SEAT BY CALLING 501.375.2985 OR EMAILING KELLY LYLES AT KELLYLYLES@ARKTIMES.COM

Round-trip bus transportation provided by Arrow Coachlines. Admission into Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is free. www.arktimes.com

JULY 16, 2015

Learn to code in Little Rock. Life’s too short for the wrong career.

T H E I R O N YA R D.CO M/ L I T T L E R O C K G I V E U S A C A L L : (5 01) 2 6 0 - 7 9 98

JULY 16, 2015

ARKANSAS TIMES