Florida Courier - August 29, 2014

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The Final Call shares images from protests, service in Ferguson See Page B1

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VOLUME 22 NO. 35

AUGUST 29 – SEPTEMBER 4, 2014

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IT’S ON

The fight for the governor’s mansion is expected to be the nastiest and most expensive political race in recent Florida history. It officially began on Tuesday.

COMPILED FROM WIRE REPORTS

Republican Rick Scott and Democrat Charlie Crist easily knocked off their respective competitors Tuesday night and now the gloves really come off in the battle of the governors.

The race between Scott and his predecessor Crist is already one of the nation’s most-watched, and expensive, campaign throw-downs.

Crist was elected in 2006 as a Republican governor and served a single term before

losing a 2010 bid for the U.S. Senate as an independent to Marco Rubio. Crist, who defeated former lawmaker Nan Rich on Tuesday, registered as a Democrat less than two years ago.

“On to November. It’s us against Rick Scott – and for the people of Florida, we’re going to win. Are you in?”

Crist posted on Twitter shortly before addressing supporters in Fort Lauderdale Tuesday night. After taking the See ELECTION, Page A2

CHARLES TRAINOR JR./MIAMI HERALD/MCT; HECTOR GABINO/EL NUEVO HERALD/MCT

Gov. Rick Scott and First Lady Ann Scott stopped by his campaign headquarters in Miami on Tuesday, while Charlie Crist hugged his running mate Annette Taddeo-Goldstein in Fort Lauderdale.

Laid to rest

MICHAEL JOSEPH JACKSON / 1958-2009

Police stand down in funeral aftermath

Happy birthday, MJ!

FROM WIRE AND STAFF REPORTS

After more than two weeks of protests over the killing of 18-year Michael Brown Jr., peace is being restored in Ferguson, Mo. Police made that announcement on Wednesday and said they were scaling back their presence.

Missouri State Highway Patrol Capt. Ron Johnson said that troopers and St. Louis County police have dismantled their command center on West Florissant Avenue, which was the site of numerous nighttime protests in the suburb of St. Louis.

The announcement came two days after Lesley McSpadden and Michael Brown, Sr. buried their 18-year-old son Michael Jr., who was shot and killed on Aug. 9 by Darren Wilson, 28, a White Ferguson police officer. A grand jury is considering whether to indict Wilson in connection with the shooting.

“Peace could not have been achieved without this community coming together,” Johnson said in a televised news conference on Wednesday.

Police defend methods Johnson noted that protests in recent days have been peaceful with few arrests. Police made scores of arrests during the last two weeks along West Florissant, investigating five shootings, Johnson said, noting that the shootings did not involve protesters.

Many of those arrested came from outside the area, but Johnson said “it would be unfair to say all the people who visited our state were a problem.”

Some outsiders, he said, turned out to be peacemakers. Johnson emphasized, “not a single bullet was fired by police.”

See FERGUSON, Page A2

Florida justice opines on Ferguson

BY ASHLEY THOMAS FLORIDA COURIER

Michael Jackson, shown here doing promotional activities for his last tour, “This Is It,” would have turned 56 years old on Friday Aug. 29, had he lived.

SNAPSHOTS FLORIDA | A3

1 in 5 Central Florida homes need help with groceries

ALSO INSIDE

NATION | A6

Law makes it easier for vets to receive financal help for college

ENTERTAINMENT | B5

Essence Festival to continue in New Orleans through 2019

DAYTONA BEACH – Florida Supreme Court Justice James E. C. Perry spoke to a group of students and faculty at the Civic Engagement Center on the campus of Bethune-Cookman University on Monday and addressed the events in Ferguson, Mo. “Don’t be afraid to pursue the truth,” he told BCU students. “Have the will to never compromise what you know to be true.”

Perry spoke on a number of topics, concluding that it’s important to be represented by people who make a difference and support “your issues” while in offices.

“Voting effects everything,” Perry told the young people. “Politics are local; all politics are local. In Ferguson, only 12 percent of the registered Blacks vote. Twelve percent,” he said, clarifying that he was not referring to 12 percent of all Blacks, but 12 percent of those who are registered voters.

“Voting determines who is the mayor, who makes the decisions, who makes the rules. It is a sacred responsibility. You can’t wait for your ship to come in at the airport.

See JUSTICE, Page A2

COMMENTARY: CHARLES W. CHERRY II: RANDOM THOUGHTS OF A FREE BLACK MIND | A4 COMMENTARY: DR. JULIANNE MALVEAUX: NOT JUST POLICE BRUTALITY, POLICE MENTALITY | A5

A2

FOCUS

AUGUST 29 – SEPTEMBER 4, 2014

Don’t expect a conviction in the killing of Michael Brown A state grand jury in Ferguson, Mo. has been convened and local prosecutor Robert McCulloch will present evidence over the next few weeks to the secret panel which must determine whether Officer Darren Wilson, 28, used unreasonable or excessive force in killing Mike Brown, 18, who was unarmed at the time of the encounter.

The Ferguson grand jury consists of 12 individuals who are unknown to the public. Prosecutors will present testimony from a number of eyewitnesses to the shooting, including perhaps Officer Wilson, at which time the grand jury must determine whether probable cause exists to charge Wilson with a crime.

Can remain silent Wilson is under no obligation to appear before the grand jury because as he faces potential criminal charges, he has a constitutional right to remain silent.

Still, under normal circumstances, one would think that an officer who feels justified in his actions, one who claims to have been beaten to the extent that his eyesocket is broken, would testify to show the grand jury that he acted reasonably under the circumstances.

But these are not ordinary circumstances and the heightened media scrutiny makes it highly unlikely that Wilson will testify.

However, any treating physicians who tended to his alleged facial and other physical injuries could be called to establish what they

CHUCK HOBBS GUEST COLUMNIST

observed from a medical standpoint and what they were told by Wilson was the cause for said injuries.

No attorneys for the Brown family are allowed to be present at the grand jury proceedings.

Therefore, any testimony that is favorable to Wilson will not be subject to challenge via cross-examination.

Once the evidence has been presented, the grand jury is then charged with the task of determining whether “probable cause” exists to indict Wilson for a crime. Generally, probable cause is defined as “a reasonable amount of suspicion, supported by circumstances sufficiently strong to justify a prudent and cautious person’s belief that certain facts are probably true.”

The standard for probable cause is not as high as the reasonable doubt standard that would apply if Wilson is later charged with an offense.

Slim chance I am skeptical that the grand jury will issue an indictment against Wilson. Grand juries very rarely do so against local law enforcement unless it is a very clear case of wrongdoing by said offi-

cer, or as I call it, the officers often receive the “benefit of the blue (uniform).”

So if no state charges hail forth, what happens next?

Attorney General Eric Holder visited Missouri last week. A federal investigation is underway and more than 40 FBI agents and Justice Department prosecutors are in the field trying to interview witnesses, review the three autopsy reports, and piece together whether federal charges in criminal or civil court will ensue.

The feds have a few legal doctrines at their disposal. One federal law provides federal oversight, collection of data and potential civil remedies in court against the local law enforcement agency. From a criminal standpoint, should the state grand jury decline to indict Wilson, the federal government could seek to indict him for violating Brown’s civil rights.

Feds have intervened Over the past 50 years, there have been two famous instances in which the feds stepped in.

The first was following the deaths of slain civil rights workers James Chaney, Andrew Goodman and Mickey Schwerner when the Neshoba County, Ms. grand jury refused to indict Deputy Cecil Price and 18 other Klansmen in 1964. The Justice Department convened a federal grand jury that indicted the group. They were charged with conspiring to deprive the three men of their civil rights by mur-

FERGUSON Police have drawn criticism for firing beanbags, smoke and tear gas canisters into the crowds of protesters. At Wednesday’s briefing, St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar defended the crowdcontrol methods, saying they caused less long-term injuries than nightsticks and police dogs.

“It’s unpleasant, but at the end of the day, there aren’t any longlasting effects,” Belmar said.

from A1

stage to “Here Comes the Sun,” Crist said he is focused on “giving Florida back to the people of Florida.”

‘Talk versus action’ As of 9 p.m. Tuesday, Crist had captured nearly 75 percent of the vote, including in Rich’s Broward County backyard, the bastion of Democratic voters in Florida.

Scott handily defeated two obscure GOP opponents, Yinka Abosede Adeshina and Elizabeth Cuevas-Neunder, on Tuesday.

But the Scott team’s primary focus has been on Crist.

“The next few months are about talk versus action. That means Florida will have a choice between a governor who sent our state into a tailspin and a governor who gets results. Charlie Crist failed as governor, lost 830,000 jobs, and tried to run off to Washington – and now he wants his job back. We’ve come a long way in the last few years, but there’s plenty of work left to do.

Let’s keep working,” Scott said in a statement after the polls closed

Seven years ago, while serving as general counsel for the Florida State Conference of NAACP Branches, I attended a meeting with Justice Department officials along with Benjamin Crump, at-

Remembering a gentle giant

Military tactics

ELECTION

One example

report, but you can find a video?” Sharpton said. “How do you think we look when young people marched nonviolently, asking for the land of the free and the home of the brave to hear their cry, and you put snipers on the roof pointing guns at them?”

from A1

Belmar also defended the use of military equipment by local police. The White House announced last week a review of the practice providing military-grade equipment to local law enforcement agencies.

He said St. Louis County police need military equipment to mitigate “certain terrorist activities” and handle armed barricades and search warrants.

Johnson did not defend the military tactics, emphasizing instead the success of community policing over the last two weeks.

“The first Sunday I stood on that hill I wondered if there would be a day when law enforcement and the community would see peace together,” he said. He added that in recent days he has seen police playing with local children, talking to residents and protesters on the street.

“I’ve seen police listening and I’ve seen arms come unfolded,” he said. Johnson said troopers

dering them.

In October 1967, another jury found seven of the men guilty.

The seven were sentenced to federal prison stints that ranged from three to 10 years. They avoided life sentences which would have been automatic had they been tried and convicted in state court.

The second instance occurred during the early 1990s in the Rodney King case. After a Simi Valley, Cal. jury acquitted four officers charged with King’s brutal beating which caused grotesque injuries, the Bush Justice Department indicted Sgt. Stacey Koon and Officers Laurence Powell, Timothy Wind and Theodore Briseno with “willfully and intentionally using unreasonable force.” Wind and Briseno were acquitted of federal charges. Koon and Powell were convicted and sentenced to 32 months in federal prison.

The specter of a federal investigation is promising for the many millions of Americans who have followed the Brown case, and are concerned with the over-militarization of law enforcement officers and the increase in policeinvolved shooting and beatings.

However, federal investigations, in my experience, typically do not result in charges.

ROBERT COHEN/ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH/MCT

Lesley McSpadden is comforted during the funeral services for her son Michael Brown on Monday at Friendly Temple Missionary Baptist Church in St. Louis. and county police would continue to patrol and respond to emergency calls on West Florissant.

Clarion call for justice A day of mourning and a day for peace were called in the small Missouri city that has captured the world’s attention and reignited age-old discussions about race relations and police brutality in America, At the 18-year-old’s funeral at Friendly Temple Missionary Baptist Church in St. Louis, speakers

Tuesday evening.

Thurston defeated In other major races, George Sheldon, a former Department of Children and Families secretary, defeated state House Minority Leader Perry Thurston on Tuesday after a mostly cordial primary campaign.

Sheldon, who received a concession call from Thurston just after 8:30 p.m., was leading with more than 61 percent of the unofficial tally at 9 p.m. Tuesday, according to the state Division of Elections.

Sheldon now faces Florida Attorney Pam Bondi in the November general election.

“I believe the attorney general is the people’s lawyer, not the governor’s lawyer, and not the Legislature’s lawyer,” Sheldon told supporters during a victory party at in Tallahassee. “Help me give Pam Bondi the job she really wants – as an anchor on Fox News.”

Incumbent senators easily won primary contests Tuesday, dominating races that never seriously threatened their bids for re-election.

Black senators win Democrat Geraldine Thomp-

including the Rev. Al Sharpton delivered a clarion call for justice for Brown, Jr. and countless young Black men and women slain at the hands of police.

Sharpton said in his eulogy at Brown, Jr.’s killing and the people’s fight for justice is about fairness, and that America must come to terms with the disparate ways law enforcement agencies police communities of color.

“America, how do you think we look when the world can see you can’t come up with a police

son of Orlando and Oscar Braynon of Miami Gardens, both Black senators, held on to their seats.

Thompson was expected to have the most competitive race, as she ran in Senate District 12 against former Sen. Gary Siplin – but she nearly doubled his share of the vote, winning by a margin of 64 percent to 35 percent.

Thompson will face Republican primary winner Edward DeAguilera, who edged Fritz Jackson Seide 54 percent to 45 percent.

Braynon beat his primary opponent, North Miami Democrat Anis “Auguste” Blemur, by a margin of 69 to 31 percent in the contest for Senate District 36, which includes parts of Miami-Dade and Broward counties. Braynon faces write-in candidate William Burton Moreland in November.

House winners In a closely watched state House of Representatives race, Ed Narain, an AT&T employee backed by the Florida Chamber of Commerce, defeated former state Insurance Consumer Advocate Sean Shaw in a Democratic primary in Hillsborough County.

Narain had almost 41.5 percent of the vote to about 34.9 per-

As a family member spoke on her behalf at the funeral, Brown, Jr.’s mother rocked back and forth looking straight ahead at the deep brown and gold coffin holding her son’s six foot, four inch physique. He had declared “one day the whole world will know my name,” relatives said, and no truer words were spoken.

The 18-year-old affectionately called a gentle giant was memorialized and martyred in the escalating fight against police killings. He was remembered as an aspiring rapper and recent high school graduate on his way to a technical college. The emotional service sought to consecrate the young man’s death as another in the long history of the civil rights movement and implored Black Americans to change their protest chants into legislation and law.

“Show up at the voting booths.

Let your voices be heard, and let everyone know that we have had enough of all of this,” said Eric Davis, one of Michael Brown’s cousins.

Homegoing service More than 4,500 mourners filled Friendly Temple Missionary Baptist Church in St. Louis for the service, which at times

cent of the vote for Shaw; two other candidates split the rest.

The winner faces only a writein candidate in the general election to replace Rep. Betty Reed, D-Tampa, in House District 61.

Another newcomer headed to the House is Fort Lauderdale Democrat Bobby DuBose, who received about 67 percent of the vote in his primary against Levoyd Williams in Broward County’s District 94. That seat became open because Perry Thurston faces term limits.

Hastings, Wilson win Meanwhile, the eight members of Congress from Florida facing party opposition easily moved on to the general election, each receiving about 70 percent or more of the primary vote.

Overall, most of the eight incumbents who won their elections Tuesday – Republicans Jeff Miller, Ted Yoho, Ander Crenshaw and John Mica and Democrats Alan Grayson, Alcee Hastings, Ted Deutch and Frederica Wilson – are expected to roll through the general election.

The News Service of Florida was used in compiling this report.

torney for 14-year-old Martin Lee Anderson. Anderson was killed while in custody at a Panama City juvenile detention facility.

While the Anderson family had received a multiple milliondollar settlement for the officers’ actions, a state criminal jury acquitted the defendants who were charged with excessive force. The Justice Department launched an investigation. Despite a videotape that showed Anderson being manhandled to death in which an ammonia cloth was placed over his face that asphyxiated him, we received a letter (two years after the meeting) that the feds would not press charges.

A federal investigation is ensuing in the Trayvon Martin case. I would be surprised if charges are ever pressed in federal court.

I sense that when protests are mounting and the potential for greater civil and “uncivil” disobedience is in the air, the feds wisely swoop in to help establish calm and placate the hopeful who, after a few years have passed and the issue is no longer on the front burner, will be less likely to make a given city “burn, baby, burn” if the result is not to their liking.

Chuck Hobbs is former prosecutor who is now a Tallahassee-based defense attorney in his own firm, the Law Office of Charles Hobbs II. Contact him at chuck_hobbs@yahoo.com.

Click on this story at www.flcourier.com to write your own response.

seemed like a cross between a gospel revival and a rock concert. It began with upbeat music punctuated by clapping. Some people danced in place.

The crowd included the parents of Trayvon Martin, the unarmed 17-year-old fatally shot by a neighborhood watch volunteer in Sanford, along with a cousin of Emmett Till, a 14-year-old murdered by several White men while visiting Mississippi in 1955.

Young Till’s killing galvanized the civil rights movement.

Other Black parents who have lost children or loved ones to violence came out to support the family of Michael Brown, Jr.: the father of Jordan Davis, killed by a White man who argued that his music was too loud; the mother of Sean Bell, killed by undercover New York police officers the night before his wedding day; and the uncle of Oscar Grant, shot to death while shot to handcuffed on a California subway platform.

Poster-size photos of Brown, Jr. wearing headphones were on each side of the casket, which had a St. Louis Cardinals baseball cap atop it. Large projection screens showed a photo of him clutching his high school diploma while wearing a cap and gown. Two days after his death, he had been scheduled to start training to become a heating and air conditioning technician.

He was buried in a St. Louis cemetery.

Reports by Richard B. Muhammad and Charlene Muhammad of The Final Call and Molly Hennessy-Fiske of the Los Angeles Times were used in this article.

JUSTICE from A1

“Be a part of history. The 2014 election will have an impact for days to come.

What you vote is private, but it is your obligation to make sure you vote.

“Vote for people who have your interests at heart. Look at what they do when they come before you. If you don’t see them any other time, you won’t see them then. But when you vote, at least they know they have to pay attention to you.”

Perry also touched on days of his youth, recalling the marches and protests of the 1950s and ‘60s.

“The civil rights movement was led by students.

Remember, (Martin Luther) King was 26 years old when he led the (Montgomery, Ala.) march. You have the power. Use it.”

FLORIDA

AUGUST 29 – SEPTEMBER 4, 2014

DJJ cancels contract with Youth Services International Ineffective behavioral interventions, safety of boys in program cited

BY MARGIE MENZEL THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

TALLAHASSEE – The Florida Department of Juvenile Justice has canceled a contract with a controversial operator of a 40-bed residential facility in Santa Rosa County, with potentially far-reaching implications for the way the state rehabilitates juvenile offenders.

Department officials said the Santa Rosa Substance Abuse Treatment Center hadn’t corrected problems involving safety and security for the 14- to 18-year-old boys in its program. They also pointed to the program’s failure to provide “effective behavioral interventions and appropriate reporting of incidents,” according to a news release.

Excessive force In a June 26 letter to the provider, Youth Services International (YSI), the department said the facility saw four YSI staff members terminated in a two-month period for excessive or un-

Darren Soto

Gordon Weekes

necessary use of force or the failure to report safety and security issues.

“I think we were very thorough in our process in identifying where the deficits were with the program,” said the department’s interim secretary, Christy Daly. “The actual decision to default on the contract was not a difficult one, because at all times we are focused on the safety of these children and holding our providers accountable.”

The canceled contract means Youth Services International can’t bid on new contracts with the state for at least 12 months.

‘Wake-up call’ The company continues to operate nine private, for-profit juvenile facilities in Florida, but cannot re-

spond to a current invitation to negotiate the contract for one of them, the St. Johns Juvenile Correctional Facility.

Youth Services International did not return calls requesting comment.

“YSI is an organization that’s long been troubled,” said Roy Miller, president of the Children’s Campaign, an advocacy group.

“This sends a real wake-up call – not only to them but to other providers.”

In November, the Huffington Post reported that “Florida’s Department of Juvenile Justice has continued to award tens of millions of dollars’ worth of prison contracts to YSI, despite a civil rights investigation by the Justice Department and probes into negligence and violent conditions by authorities in at least five states. In the past year alone, the company has already received four new contracts in Florida totaling nearly $37 million.”

More scrutiny The investigative series resulted in a successful effort during the last legisla-

tive session by Sen. Darren Soto, D-Orlando, and Sen. Rob Bradley, R-Fleming Island, to insert language in the state budget requiring the Department of Juvenile Justice to consider a contractor’s history in other states among the criteria by which the department awards its contracts.

Soto said Monday he was pleased to see the department “taking the safety and welfare of our youth more seriously,” but that he planned to return in the 2015 legislative session with a proposal that would increase the department’s number of full-time employees to allow for greater oversight of juvenile detention facilities.

Soto said the measure failed in the last session due to budgetary constraints.

He added that he would be scrutinizing the department’s new contracts as well.

“No one should be doing any victory laps as long as there are facilities where youth are being abused in our system,” Soto said.

Mixed reaction

The reaction from children’s advocates was mixed as well.

“We are gratified to see DJJ take action to respond to the abuse of children in one of its privately-run facilities,” said Tania Galloni of the Southern Poverty Law Center.

“Incarcerated children are at risk of mistreatment, and that is why juvenile prisons should be used sparingly, if at all.

While closing one facility is a good first step, there are still far too many children exposed to abuse in for-profit juvenile prisons around Florida.”

Gordon Weekes, who as Broward County’s chief assistant public defender has investigated Youth Services International facilities, said nothing had really changed.

“In the past when they’ve shut down YSI facilities, they’ve just popped back up under a different name, with the same staff, and DJJ has absolutely no problem with that,” he said.

Just a name change For instance, Weekes said, after the department did not renew its contract with Youth Service International’s Thompson Academy following charges of physical and sexual abuse, “that program reconstituted itself under a different name, right down the street.”

Weekes said he saw some of the same guards

A3 transporting youths to court, and they told him they still worked for Youth Services International.

He said that the youths in Department of Juvenile Justice facilities need intervention, hands-on mentoring and attention from qualified staff. But by definition, he said, a forprofit juvenile facility has an incentive to skimp on staff salaries or operating costs – even food – at the expense of the youths in its care.

“And when you cut back on both of those areas, you get low quality,” he said.

Low qualifications, pay Miller of the Children’s Campaign said virtually all juvenile providers are having “huge workforce issues” due to low qualifications and low pay.

Daly, however, said the department was dealing with its providers on an individual basis – including Youth Services International and its Santa Rosa facility.

The department sent technical teams to the program, shared the deficiencies they found with Youth Services International and gave the provider the chance to make good. It did not.

“The leadership at individual programs is the critical component of program success,” Daly said.

“And we do see strength at most of our programs.”

1 in 5 Central Florida homes need help with groceries Study reveals it’s not ‘welfare moms’ using food pantries the most

Cherise James was recently laid off.

She has a college degree and a 3-year-old child. The number of professional people asking for food help at food pantries has increased over the summer, especially at Christian HELP food pantry in Casselberry.

BY KATE SANTICH ORLANDO SENTINEL (MCT)

ORLANDO — As one snapshot of a larger national study, Central Floridians who turn to food pantries for help are often college-educated, part-time or even full-time workers, military veterans or children, a new in-depth study reveals.

Nearly half are White.

Only 12 percent are homeless.

“The stereotype of who needs help should be shattered,” said Dave Krepcho, president and CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, whose nonprofit organization participated in the study.

“For one thing, the problem — especially in Central Florida — is huge. I’ve been doing this work for 21 years across the country, and it still boggles my mind how many people are struggling right now.”

The Central Florida portrait is part of a national study by the hunger-relief agency Feeding America, which found that more than one in seven U.S. households experienced “food insecurity” at some time in 2012, meaning people couldn’t always afford to buy the groceries they needed.

In Central Florida, the rate was higher — one in five households — a problem Krepcho blames on a particularly slow economic recovery.

Nearly half are White For Second Harvest’s seven-county service area — Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Lake, Brevard, Volusia and Marion — residents sought groceries or meals from the food bank’s partner agencies 3.7 million times during the course of a year. In a typical week, that’s 71,600 people.

Across Central Florida, the study found: Three-quarters of those needing food are at least high school graduates.

Twenty-seven percent have at least some postsecondary education —

GEORGE SKENE/ ORLANDO SENTINEL/MCT

toward professional licensure or certification or in college.

In 60 percent of the households served, at least one person has been employed at some point in the past year, if not for the entire year.

Nearly one in five households included someone who is a military veteran or on active duty.

Nearly half — 46 percent — of food-pantry clients are White, 25 percent Black and 18 percent Hispanic.

More than a quarter are kids younger than 18, and 11 percent are age 60 and older.

“It’s not the welfare moms that everybody imagines,” said Sandi Vidal, executive director of Christian HELP in Casselberry, where clients can seek employment, job training, food and other assistance. “Many of the people we see have at least a high-school diploma or GED, and many of them are working but underemployed. They need better-paying jobs and more hours.”

On a recent day at the faith-based charity, roughly 80 percent of 106 clients were already working but looking for higherpaying positions.

able to work, but his minimum-wage fast-food job doesn’t bring in anywhere near the income he once earned — and Cannon relies on $692 a month in Social Security.

“Right off the bat, $104 of it goes to (supplemental) Medicare insurance,” Cannon said. “And three years after my heart attack, I still owe the hospital money. …

What happened to us can happen to anyone.”

Tough choices

GEORGE SKENE/ORLANDO SENTINEL/MCT

The number of professional people asking for food help at food pantries has increased over the summer, especially at Christian HELP food pantry in Casselberry, where volunteers fill baskets to order for clients.

Help for college grad One of them was 26-yearold Cherise James, a professionally dressed, wellspoken college graduate with a bachelor’s degree in fashion merchandising. After moving from Miami to Orlando 18 months ago in a job transfer, she was laid off in June. She turned to Christian HELP for aid in both her search for a full-

time job and food.

“Without them, I’d be pretty much starving,” she said. “They are a blessing.”

Though the few friends James has told have been supportive, Bea Cannon, a 66-year-old area resident, said she has encountered widespread misunderstanding.

“People can be so judgmental,” said Cannon, who

has turned to the nonprofit Lake Cares since suffering a major heart attack and needing nine prescription medications each day.

‘Can happen to anyone’ Cannon has helped support her adult son since the 40-year-old was crushed between forklifts at an orange-juice plant. He is still

Recently, Cannon gave up her car to repossession rather than forgo her prescription medications, and most Central Floridians surveyed said they often chose between buying food and paying for other necessities: 70 percent chose between food and medicine or food and rent.

And nearly three quarters chose between buying food and making car payments or food and paying the power bill.

“They’re watering down the milk, they’re pawning possessions and they’re having to make these awful decisions,” Krepcho said.

“Do they eat, or do they get the medication they’re supposed to take? Either way, they’re stuck between a rock and a hard place.”

EDITORIAL

A4

AUGUST 29 – SEPTEMBER 4, 2014

A movement, not a moment, is long overdue

The recent killing of Michael Brown, the unarmed Black teenager from Ferguson, Missouri by a White police officer has brought to surface the many challenges and struggles African-Americans face with law enforcement. With so many reports of police brutality recently from what happened in Ferguson, Missouri with Brown to the death of Eric Garner in New York after a police officer used a chokehold on him (which is unlawful), the theme that seems to be circulating around many people committed to activism and justice is that we need a movement not another moment.

In examining the theme, ‘we need a movement not another moment,’ my spirit is vexed at how are we going to accomplish this. Will we simply talk about it and make it a good slogan or will we understand the words and embrace it to bring about change?

DR. SINCLAIR GREY III GUEST COLUMNIST

For so long, people (not all) have been emotionally charged with words but fail to act according to those words. Effective change will never happen as long as people refuse to get involved in making a change. Complaining about injustice and inequality doesn’t mean a thing without a strategy implemented. Transitioning from a moment to a movement requires everyone to work together.

A better understanding Establishing a movement is a social issue. People can pray all day every day for something to happen, but ‘faith without

works’ is dead.

We need a movement in ending not only police brutality, but violence within the community as a whole. We need a movement to ensure that children get the adequate education they deserve.

We need a movement to promote more Black-owned businesses and in supporting them. We need a movement to decrease the unemployment rate within the African-American community which is higher than any other community. We need a movement to increase homeownership of minorities. And we need a movement to ensure everyone obtains quality healthcare.

Let’s work together We can begin this movement by doing the following: • Learning to work together instead of against one another. We must stop being jealous over the

VISUAL VIEWPOINT: BACK-TO-SCHOOL ANGST

Charles W. Cherry II, Esq.

Police violence against Blacks

Channel anger elsewhere

Writing in Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community? Dr. King stated in 1967: “The persistence of racism in depth and the dawning awareness that Negro demands will necessitate structural changes in society have

As we say of faith-witnessing in the Black church tradition, “Lord, have mercy, we sure have received a lot of unearned suffering…… now it is time for us to get some redemption.”

Too often we live in communities where we have

PUBLISHER

lost to Scott in 2010-primarily because she was advised to take Black voters for granted.

In Thurston, Democrats could have had a credible Black candidate to canvass for votes statewide in an election year in which the Black vote is critical. Still, on a shoestring budget, Thurston got 300,000 votes – more than Crist’s opponent Nan Rich (who campaigned for two years) did in the gubernatorial race.

How Charlie Crist can win – In random order, Crist must get a new team to handle his Black voter outreach, get Thurston onboard for the duration, start beating back the “Chain Gang Charlie” media narrative that’s buzzing among Black voters, and get serious about courting them.

Next week: How Republicans are in trouble; how Rick Scott can win.

Contact me at ccherry2@gmail.com.

THE CREDO OF THE BLACK PRESS The Black Press believes that Americans can best lead the world away from racism and national antagonism when it accords to every person, regardless of race, color or creed, full human and legal rights. Hating no person, fearing no person. The Black Press strives to help every person in the firm belief...that all are hurt as long as anyone is held back.

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From ‘hands up, don’t shoot’ to ‘hands up, vote’

quick takes from #2: straight, no chaser

Opinions expressed on this editorial page are those of the writers, and do not necessarily reflect the editorial stance of the newspaper or the publisher.

Subscriptions to the print version are $69 per year. Mail check to P.O. Box 48857 Tampa, FL 33646, or log on to www.flcourier.com; click on ‘Subscribe’.

Dr. Sinclair Grey III is an inspirational speaker, motivator, radio personality, author, life coach, and committed advocate for change. Contact him at drgrey@sinclairgrey.org or on Twitter @drsinclairgrey. Write your own response at www.flcourier.com.

generated a new phase of white resistance in the North and South.’’

Dr. King’s prophetic words, written 47 years ago, are equally true today. With the “browning of America,” there has been a steady increase in racially-motivated police violence against Blacks and Latinos.

The tragic murder of Michael Brown by police officer Darren Wilson in the St. Louis suburb of Ferguson has reverberated around the world. It is just the latest example of a society that refuses to end racial oppression or acknowledge its racist past.

Random thoughts of a free Black mind, v. 224

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promote what needs to be done locally and nationally • Educating ourselves and becoming more financially literate • Stop supporting things that seek to destroy our value, worth, and generation The time for waiting for someone to take the lead will only further delay what needs to be done.

Aggressively wanting change and working for change must be embraced by those who desire better.

This is a personal decision that will have a rippling effect. Let’s begin today.

Out of every momentous national tragedy that Black Americans have continued to endure in the United States, there has always emerged a redeeming moment to push harder and further on the long journey toward freedom, justice and equality. The continuing unrestrained fatal police killings of Black American males in St. Louis County, Missouri is now described as part of a national “open season” to kill Blacks in America. What should we do now? What is the redeeming action that should be taken?

In the aftermath of the murders of Michael Brown, Eric Gardner, Trayvon Martin, Jordan Davis and so many others, what should be our next course of action? Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., writing in his last book, pointed the way.

PAT BAGLEY, SALT LAKE TRIBUNE

Why Florida Democrats are in trouble – We’ve been telling our Black Democratic friends that Black Floridians ain’t feeling Charlie Crist this election cycle. Tuesday’s election statistics prove us right.

There’s an enthusiasm gap. In a race in which Rick Scott had no serious competition, 953,000 GOP voters turned out and cast ballots; Scott got more than 835,000 votes. On the Democratic side, 839,000 voters cast ballots; that’s 113,000 fewer Democrats voting than Republicans.

Charlie Crist got 624,000 votes; that’s 211,000 fewer votes than Scott got. And the turnout was dismal in Miami-Dade (14.4 percent) and Broward (10.76 percent), the epicenter of Black voting power in Florida. (The state average was 17.57 percent.)

Another challenge: Perry Thurston was defeated in his bid for attorney general by George Shelton and the Lawton Chiles “good ol’ boy” wing of the Florida Democratic Party, a network of 75-year-old White male “he-coons” and their bootlicking Black consultants who have lost almost every statewide race for Democrats since 1998. The single exception? Alex Sink. She was elected Florida’s chief financial officer in 2006, then ran one of the worst campaigns in the country when she

gifts and talents of each other and discover how we can use our resources to make a difference • Staying informed of what’s happening locally and nationally.

We must deal with injustice faceto-face. Whether it’s Black-onBlack or White-on-Black, we must be vigilant in our efforts • Undoing the slave mentality.

If you think it can’t be done, then you’re already defeated. Nothing worth having is ever easy and that’s why we cannot give up or give in when tough times manifest itself • Getting involved in organizations that are making a difference.

Not only must there be financial support, but participation in meetings and recruitment of other like-minded individuals • Keeping a track of progress being made and highlighting positive achievements • Using social media as a tool to

Charles W. Cherry, Sr. (1928-2004), Founder Julia T. Cherry, Senior Managing Member, Central Florida Communicators Group, LLC Dr. Glenn W. Cherry, Cassandra CherryK ittles, Charles W. Cherry II, Managing Members Charles W. Cherry II, Esq., Publisher Dr. Glenn W. Cherry, Sales Manager Dr. Valerie R awls-Cherry, Human Resources Jenise Morgan, Senior Editor Angela VanEmmerik, Creative Director Chicago Jones, Eugene Leach, Louis Muhammad, Lisa Rogers-Cherry, Circulation Ashley Thomas, Staff Writer Delroy Cole, K im Gibson, Photojournalists MEMBER National Newspaper Publishers Association Society of Professional Journalists Florida Press Association Associated Press National Newspaper Association

DR. BENJAMIN F. CHAVIS, JR. NNPA COLUMNIST

the potential margin of victory for local, congressional, statewide and national elections, but we simply do not go to the polls and vote, even though so many of our people died, bled, went to jail, and “suffered” for us to get the right to vote. We all must exercise the right to vote not once but in every election. It’s extremely important that we do so this year because people expect us to because Obama’s name will not be on the ballot and mid-term voting is traditionally lower than in presidential years.

Voting our political, economic and spiritual interest is not only “redemptive,” it is also the right thing to do.

I was so proud to see thousands of people marching nonviolently every day in Ferguson in protest to Michael Brown’s murder with the unified chant, “Hands Up, Don’t Shoot,” Election Day should be Pay Back Day. Let’s also begin to chant “Hands Up, Vote!”

Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr. is the Interim President and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA).

Write your own response at www.flcourier.com.

Residents of Ferguson need to make a change I’m gonna make a change, for once in my life It’s gonna feel real good, gonna make a difference, gonna make it right…

I’m starting with the man in the mirror I’m asking him to change his ways And no message could have been any clearer If you wanna make the world a better place Take a look at yourself, and then make a change –From Michael Jackson’s hit song “Man in the Mirror” This song is very appropriate for the situation going on in Ferguson, Mo. Regardless of what happens during all the legal wrangling, one thing is certain: the residents of Ferguson have had all the power they ever needed to make the change they have been seeking. And they haven’t used it.

Lack of representation Well, it’s kind of hard to make these arguments when Blacks are almost 70 percent of Ferguson’s population. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, there are 14,297 Blacks and 6,206 Whites; 22 percent live in poverty; the mayor is White; there is only one Black on a 6-member city council (.096 percent); three Blacks out of 53 policemen (5.6 percent); and the St. Louis suburb is the sixth most segregated city in the U.S.

RAYNARD JACKSON NNPA COLUMNIST

Juxtapose this with the voting history of Ferguson.

In this year’s elections, only 12.3 percent of eligible voters actually voted (17 percent White, 6 percent Black); 11.7 percent in 2013; and 8.9 percent in 2012.

How can one argue that Blacks have no power?

Don’t be a scarecrow A more accurate statement is that Blacks have refused to exercise their power. You can’t blame that on the “White man” or “racism” or the “system.” In the Wizard of Oz, the Lion already had courage; the Tin man already had a heart, and the Scarecrow already had a brain; but they had all been so psychologically abused that they couldn’t see the power they already had. The Wizard just simply reminded them of what they already had. Upon the prompting from the Wizard, they then began to actually believe again in themselves and the power lying dormant inside of them.

Many across the country are asking: ‘What do the residents of Ferguson want?’

Thus far, their response has been “justice;” meaning they want the White policeman who killed Michael Brown, Darren Wilson, in-

dicted, convicted, and sent to jail. Well, that is out the control of any one person.

The facts of what happened must be established and then let the justice system function.

All politics are local The fact that Blacks have the power of the vote is undeniable. They have the power to control the political climate in Ferguson – that is no fairytale. The question is do they have the courage to look at the man in the mirror and make that change? Do they have the heart to change their apathetic approach to voting as a perpetual tribute to Michael Brown? Do they have the brains to understand the power dynamics of voting?

Just like the Wizard did nothing to change the conditions of Dorothy and her friends, there is nothing America needs to do for Ferguson that they can’t do for themselves. They have everything they need. Maybe the death of Brown will be the reminder of what has been lying dormant in the residents of Ferguson all along.

Raynard Jackson is president & CEO of Raynard Jackson & Associates, LLC., a Washington, D.C.-based public relations/government affairs firm. Write your own response at www.flcourier. com.

AUGUST 29 – SEPTEMBER 4, 2014

Not just police brutality, police mentality Except for the Good Lord, everybody has someone or something to “check” him or her. Unfortunately President Obama has an unresponsive Congress to check him, and Supreme Court to do the same. Elected officials are checked by voters (when they vote), and the Securities and Exchange Commission usually check corporate crooks. Reputable media sources correct their errors and plagiarists lose their jobs. Everybody has to answer to somebody. There are consequences for everyone except the police. At least that’s part of the story Sunil Dutta tells in an article he wrote for the Washington Post: “If you don’t want to get shot, tased, pepper-sprayed, struck with a baton or thrown to the ground, just do what I tell you.

Don’t argue with me, don’t call me names, don’t tell me that I can’t stop you, don’t say I’m a racist pig. Don’t threaten that you’ll sue me and take away my badge.

Don’t scream at me that you pay my salary, and don’t even think of walking aggressively towards me.

Most field stops are complete in minutes. How difficult is it to cooperate for that long?”’

DR. JULIANNE MALVEAUX TRICEEDNEYWIRE.COM

sue the police!” he writes. Did he spend his LAPD years assigned to the Disneyland precinct? Given his demand that people should just shut up and put up, Bugs Bunny would be sitting in the back of a blue and white.

‘Shut the hell up’

Ties across the nation

This is the police mentality: I have the power and you don’t so just shut the hell up and submit to any outrage. I have a badge and you don’t, so I have the right to stop you while driving because you are too Black and too young to have this new car. I have a right to stop you while you are running for the bus because you might, just might, have been running from a robbery. I have the right to harass you while you are standing still, just because. I have a right to talk to you rudely and belligerently. My badge gives me the ability to violate your rights.

Dutta, who served on the LAPD for 17 years and is now a professor of homeland security, acknowledges that cops can be wrong, and suggests that those who have “a beef” – “ask for a supervisor, lodge a complaint, or contact civil rights organizations. Feel free to

When African-American southerners came west during World War II because work was plentiful, Oakland was among the cities that looked south for their new White police officers, officers so adept at harassing Black people without reason that they didn’t need to be trained. One of the reasons the Black Panther Party was started was in resistance to police brutality.

At one point Panthers and others legally armed citizens with books of law, chosen to help them evaluate police officers by following them as they so-called patrolled the streets. This did not stop police harassment, but it put a spotlight on it. It didn’t put enough of a spotlight for a group of rogue officers to beat and frame more than 100 people, and to cost the city millions to settle lawsuits that resulted from their actions.

JAMES CLINGMAN NNPA COLUMNIST

Remember Walker?

Eleven years ago Kenneth Walker was shot and killed by a police officer on I-185 in Columbus, Georgia. He was in a car that was pulled over by mistake. He was on the ground, unarmed, when a police officer shot him twice in the head. After protesters and marchers went home, the officer was acquitted.

There are many instances of Black men killed by police with impunity. So what’s my point?

Well, as I watched the church services and listened to the speeches in Ferguson, I eagerly awaited the speakers’ solutions. I could have missed it, but I never heard a solution that centered on econom-

ics. I heard the obligatory voting solution, in light of an embarrassing 12% turnout among Black voters, but an “I Voted!” sticker will not stop a policeman’s bullet, and voting alone will not change our condition in this nation.

I also heard the praying solution, and I do believe that prayer changes things. However, I am suggesting that the folks in Ferguson and all across this country not only pray but fast as well. That combination will definitely create change.

Be clear now; I am not talking about giving up food for a period of time. The kind of fasting I am suggesting is a “product fast,” which does require doing without and less buying; but isn’t the cause worth it? Maybe the “leaders” who came to Ferguson were afraid to call for a product fast because they could lose a check or a contract or an endorsement or their status among corporate giants. Capitalism can tolerate marches that call for voting

Stop the war on young Black men in America “Never did we think we would be planning a funeral, we were waiting on his first day of school. They robbed us of that.”

–Lesley McSpadden, mother of Michael Brown “In too many communities around the country, a gulf of mistrust exists between local residents and law enforcement.

In too many communities, too many young men of color are left behind and seen only as objects of fear.”

– President Barack Obama I had originally planned to use this column to denounce the July 17th death of Eric Garner, a 43-year-old, unarmed Black man following the unlawful use of a chokehold by New York City police officers who suspected Garner of selling untaxed cigarettes on a Staten Island street corner.

Then came the August 9 fatal police shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri. Brown, who was unarmed and was preparing for his first year in college, was stopped and then shot by Officer Darren Wilson for the alleged crime of jaywalking, or specifically according to Ferguson police chief Thomas Jackson, of “walking down the middle of the street blocking traffic.

Not enough I have never witnessed a situation more poorly handled than this one. For almost two weeks following Brown’s death, his family, community and outraged citizens across the nation have sought answers and justice from the local authorities, who have been

MARC H. MORIAL NNPA COLUMNIST

The death of Michael Brown has once again exposed the widespread and dangerous mistrust that exists between law enforcement and too many communities of color in America.

A5

VISUAL VIEWPOINT: FERGUSON EXIT

Praying and fasting in Ferguson Remember the Jena Six? Some 15,000 to 20,000 protesters went to Jena, Louisiana in 2006 to demonstrate against injustice. After all the speeches, threats, marches, and church rallies, the people went home and nothing really changed. The prosecutors did their thing and the system rolled right over Mychal Bell and the other five defendants. It was business as usual. Did we learn anything from Jena that we can apply in Ferguson?

What will take place in Ferguson when the protesters leave?

What happened in Sanford, Florida when they left? What has happened in Staten Island since Eric Garner was choked to death and the marches have ended? The latest report says the prosecutor is still trying to “collect the dots,” much less connect the dots, and most have forgotten about Garner and his family and moved on to Ferguson, as it now becomes the crisis du jour for Black people.

EDITORIAL

a Beavercreek, Ohio Walmart, after responding to a call that a man was wielding a gun in the store. It turns out that Crawford was holding a BB rifle which he had picked up while shopping in the store. Clearly, racial suspicion and harassment of Black men, especially by law enforcement, has become an often deadly epidemic in many parts of the country.

Call to action That is why we are urgently calling upon the White House, the Department of Justice and congressional leaders to review and address the ongoing pattern and practice of racial violence and systemic discriminatory treatment by law enforcement in so many of our communities.

As we look to solutions to ensure that a higher value – a human value – is placed on the lives of our Black men, legal remedies are absolutely needed, but this is essentially a problem of the heart. Until white Americans and police departments begin to see and treat young African-American and Latino males with the dignity and deference afforded to their white counterparts, nothing will change. The death of Michael Brown has once again exposed the widespread and dangerous mistrust that exists between law enforcement and too many communities of color in America. For the sake of our nation, our communities and equal justice, we must bridge that divide.

slow to respond and quick to blame the victim, leading to intense demonstrations. Our thoughts and prayers are with Michael Brown’s family. Now that the Justice Department and FBI have entered the investigation, we have confidence that justice will ultimately prevail. Attorney General Eric Holder is doing the right thing by conducting a comprehensive parallel investigation and not waiting for local authorities – a refreshing departure from the traditional approach. But this is not enough.

The tragedies in Ferguson and Staten Island are not isoMarc Morial is president of lated incidents. Just four days before Brown’s death, on Au- the National Urban League. gust 5, police shot and killed Write your own response at 22-year-old John Crawford in www.flcourier.com.

STEVE SACK, THE MINNEAPOLIS STAR TRIBUNE

In 2003 OPD agreed to reforms, but they have come so slowly that a federal judge is now supervising them. Ten years AFTER a reform agreement, a judge has to step in? Oakland is not the only police department that is deficient, but what ties Oakland, California to Ferguson, Missouri is police mentality, not just brutality.

How to stop the mentality that leads to brutality? REQUIRE every police officer to have a body camera, and invalidate the arrests of those who do not wear one. REQUIRE every police vehicle to have

a video camera. I can already hear people objecting to regulation and requirement. I can hear others saying we need to talk. Dr. Martin Luther King said, “the law will not make you love me but it will keep you from lynching me.” Talk later. Stop this madness by requiring electronic police supervision now!

The police should be policed, they should have a system that checks them and protects us.

Julianne Malveaux is a Washington, D.C.-based economist and author. Write your own response at www.flcourier.com.

and prayer, but it has a great deal marching for decades, and we of angst when a decline in con- got Michael Brown, Eric Garner, sumption and sales occurs.

Trayvon Martin, Sean Bell, Oscar Grant, Timothy Thomas, NathanMore than a day iel Jones, Kenneth Walker, Patrick “Black-Out” Days and other Dorismond, Amadou Diallo, John shotgun approaches are nice ges- Crawford, Ezell Ford, and nametures but have no overall affect; less others. they are simply more symbolism Stop the insanity of doing the without substance. They make same thing and hoping for difyou feel good but won’t cause ferent results. We need leaders anyone to change. Folks just go who are unafraid to call for ecoout the next day and buy what nomic solutions, not leaders they want. who will hurt you if you get beA product fast is quite different.

For instance, Black folks consume tween them and a news camera a lot of soft drinks, gym shoes, li- or microphone. Get the folks who quor, fast foods, and other items are really in charge of this counwe don’t think we can do without. try to speak out, and we will see Just stop buying some of these a positive change. Start your loproducts until corporate CEO’s cal Prayer and Fasting campaign tell the politicians who would now; and use the money you save tell the governors who would tell to build businesses, create jobs, the mayors and prosecutors who and recreate real Black commuwould tell the police chiefs who nities. would tell their officers to stop violating our rights. You better beJim Clingman is one of the lieve their voices will be heard. nation’s most prolific writer on economic empowerment for Insanity Black people. Write your own Al, Jesse, and others have been response at www.flcourier.com.

It’s disgusting I can’t recall a time when I’ve heard the words, “It’s disgusting,” as many times in such a short number of days.

I’m sure many readers can say the same thing. Events in Ferguson, MO these past two weeks have had that effect.

Based on available information, the first thing I would consider disgusting is the wanton murder of 18 year old Michael Brown! I am utterly disgusted by the loss of his future potential. What little I know of Michael has been learned from television reports. I do know that whatever potential he had was snuffed out on August 9th. The mysteries of Michael’s future are the same we all faced as 18 year olds. We anticipated stumbles and failures, but most of us looked into our futures with faith and hope that things would be okay. The strength of his family and Michael’s college enrollment strongly suggest that his eyes were on a special prize.

Demonization of Black males I am disgusted by police efforts to paint Michael as a sub-human with a propensity for crime and violence.

This repeat of the same demonization leveled at Trayvon Martin and Jordan Davis is becoming a predictable tactic for the police to justify the murder. This effort is made more objectionable by the police chief’s admission that the officer who shot Michael did so without benefit of the oldest excuse in the book, “He looked like a reported suspect.” My best guess is that few will find the perfect 18 year old of any race, but I am disgusted that so many would require perfection for our young Black men to survive.

It’s disgusting to be faced with the realization that those who are sworn to protect and serve the interests of our neighborhoods have come to think of Black Americans in the neighborhoods they police as “the enemy” or “animals.” I won’t attempt to debate the issue of the militarization of the police since some on the other side would rationalize a remote or future application for the equip-

DR. E. FAYE WILLIAMS, ESQ. TRICE EDNEY WIRE

ment they’ve received from the military. I do think it’s a disgustingly horrible indictment of those who administer police actions that their initial position would be to demonstrate sufficient animus to direct the use of instruments of war in their own communities against their fellow citizens.

Opportunistic criminals On the flip-side, I am thoroughly disgusted by the criminally opportunistic who would turn this tragedy into an event they could use for personal enrichment or for the advancement of an illegal political objective.

I’ve heard protesters described as looters. I’ve even heard some Black leaders describe some as anarchists.

Whatever their interest or objective, besmirching the character, reputation and memory of Michael Brown with their ulterior motives is inexcusable.

Whether the greater political participation of Ferguson’s Black people could have impacted the outcome of August 9th is debatable. I find it heartening, however, that many Black people seem to have been rudely awakened to their responsibility to be engaged.

Voter registration activities at the numerous rallies for Michael Brown and the demonstrated frustration of the residents foreshadow different political outcomes in future elections.

A top Missouri Republican finds these voter registration activities to be “Disgusting!” No, that’s what the murder of Michael Brown is.

Dr. E. Faye Williams is president and CEO of the National Congress of Black Women, Inc. Write your own response at www.flcourier. com.

NATION

TOJ A6

AUGUST 29 – SEPTEMBER 4, 2014 leaving the military. The law also covers spouses and dependent children of veterans meeting certain criteria.

Effective July 1, 2015, the law would apply to any public college or university receiving federal funding through the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

In 2013-14, the average in-state published tuition and fees at public colleges was $8,893, compared with $22,203 out of state.

“I think that because student veterans spent their careers defending the United States, it’s important to welcome them back to the United States with an education wherever they would like to study, not just in their home of record,” said Kinch, who spent more than two years working for the passage of the Florida legislation.

Millions helped

GERRY MELENDEZ/THE STATE/MCT

Army Sgt. Maj. Chris Fletcher, left, talks with instructor Duane Norell during a resume writing course, part of the South Carolina National Guard employment services division. With the military downsizing after the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, many soldiers, airmen and Marines will have to enter the civilian job market for the first time.

In-state tuition break for vets Obama signs law making it easier for vets to receive financal help to attend college

BY ADRIENNE LU STATELINE.ORG

As president of the Collegiate Veterans Association at Florida State University, Abby Kinch often

heard from veterans who ran into a stumbling block before they even started their college careers.

Veterans new to the state who enrolled at Florida State soon discovered they had to pay out-of-state tuition for their first year –– an additional $15,000.

(By the second year, they had lived in the state long enough to have established residency.) For some, that meant the difference be-

tween attending college or not. For many others, it meant the burden of student loans they hadn’t planned on.

In May, however, Florida joined a growing list of states that have made it easier for veterans to qualify for in-state tuition.

And starting next year, recent veterans in every state should be able take advantage of in-state tuition rates, thanks to a lit-

tle-publicized provision in a $16 billion federal law signed by President Barack Obama this month.

Average tuition Aimed primarily at improving veterans’ access to health care, the law allows any veteran who has served at least 90 days of active service to pay resident tuition rates in any state within three years of

Veterans and veterans’ advocates applaud the measure, which will help alleviate the problem of veterans failing to qualify for in-state tuition after leaving the military because they have been required to move for their service. But others wonder what the change will cost state colleges and universities, and what the effect might be on tuition or services, which may be impossible to know until veterans start taking advantage of the new law.

More than 1 million people have attended college with the help of the Post-9/11 GI Bill, which covers most in-state tuition costs and fees in a veteran’s state of residency.

In the next few years, 1.5 million more veterans will be discharged from the military, and about a third are expected to use GI Bill to attend college, accord-

ing to Wayne Robinson, president of Student Veterans of America, a nonprofit coalition of student veterans groups on college campuses.

Suzanne Hultin, a policy specialist with the National Conference of State Legislatures, said at least 32 states already offer veterans resident tuition rates.

Many states have adopted legislation in recent years.

In some states, such as Alaska and Georgia, public university systems have created such policies.

Rules in other states The rules vary across states. Some require veterans to declare or establish residency, some cover only veterans who have been honorably discharged and some call for veterans to live within the state throughout their enrollment in college, for example. Rules for spouses and dependents also differ across state lines.

Washington was among the states that enacted legislation this year to remove a waiting period for veterans to be eligible to pay resident tuition. The state is home to the largest naval station on the West Coast, on Whidbey Island, as well as Joint Base Lewis-McChord, which joined the Army’s Fort Lewis and the Air Force’s McChord Air Force Base.

“I hope that we will keep our veterans and their families when they separate from the military here,” said state Sen. Barbara Bailey, the Republican who sponsored the legislation. “They are great members of our communities.”

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Walter Mosley gives us another complex character See page B4

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SECTION

B

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A view of

FERGUSON

from the 1.

BLACK PRESS

2.

The Final Call is sharing images, impressions of the protests from a Black perspective

T

he Final Call, the official newspaper of the Nation of Islam, has been in the thick of the action in Ferguson, Mo., providing live updates and extensive coverage for the Chicagobased publication as well as for the Black Press.

From a Black perspective, Final Call Editor Richard B. Muhammad has kept readers informed through his numerous Facebook posts, tweets and online submissions.

“I think the police officers need to understand our people are not second-class citizens,’’ Muhammad told the Florida Courier on Wednesday.

On this page are images from Michael Brown’s funeral on Monday as well as from protests in Ferguson provided to the Florida Courier from the Final Call.

Today we mourn On Monday, the day of the funeral of the 18-yearold, Muhammad posted his personal thoughts on what he has experienced in Ferguson in his “Straight Words’’ column.

Here’s an excerpt from his column: There have been protests and there have been marches and meetings, analysis and forums, editorials and interviews, petitions and legal pleas.

There has been overall

a spirit of love and unity, a rebirth of Black affection, a reconnection through pain, outrage and humiliation. There has been kindness to one another in warm embraces, tight hugs and firm handshakes.

But today we mourn.

We mourn for Michael Brown, who did not choose to be a martyr.

We mourn for the mother and father of Michael Brown, who did not choose to sacrifice their son.

We mourn for the Brown family and Big Mike’s friends, who did not choose to be thrust onto the world’s stage and who did not choose to have their hearts ripped out.

We mourn for our youth who have suffered the humiliation and the oppression of police departments and institutions that should be serving and not targeting them.

We mourn for our people, who regardless of age, gender, income or location are fed up with injustice.

We mourn today.

Tomorrow we return to the fight for justice.

Follow Richard B. Muhummad at @RMFinalCall for live Twitter updates. Visit the Final Call at www.finalcall. com.

3.

4.

7 1: Young, Black and male, this protestor asks “Am I Next?” CARTAN MOSELEY/THE FINAL CALL 2: Officers keep a watchful eye on suit-clad men. D.L. PHILLIPS /FINAL CALL 3: Members of the media spread for family and friends of Mike Brown to pass. D.L. PHILLIPS

5.

/FINAL CALL

4: Richard B. Muhammad interviews Missouri Highway Patrol Capt. Ron Johnson.

CARTAN MOSELEY/THE FINAL CALL

“I think the police officers need to understand our people are not secondclass citizens.’’

5: Rev. Al Sharpton (left) and Rev. Jesse Jackson (right) are greeted by the citizens of Ferguson. D.L. PHILLIPS /FINAL CALL

Richard B. Muhammad Editor, The Final Call

7: Hands Up, Don’t Shoot. Going beyond the hashtag. D.L. PHILLIPS /FINAL CALL

6: Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin, the parents of Trayvon Martin, participate in a Peace Fest rally at Forest Park in St. Louis on Aug. 24. D.L. PHILLIPS /FINAL CALL

6.

SPORTS AND EVENTS

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AUGUST 29 – SEPTEMBER 4, 2014 coaches, teammates and families along for the ride of their lives, for themselves, and for a country that embraced their enthusiasm and a city that sorely needed their example.

Nobody’s saying JRW’s success in winning the U.S. championship will stop one African-American teenager on the South Side from going down the wrong path, but you can say this team just gave thousands of at-risk kids a reason to take the right one.

Nobody’s saying 13 Black youths can cure all the problems that plague urban culture in their Chicago neighborhoods, but we can say they make us feel better about there being a solution. Nobody’s saying you will remember every player’s name after Labor Day, but it’s a good guess people never will forget their smiling faces and hustling style and touching sportsmanship.

DJ Butler. Marquis Jackson.

Brandon Green. Josh Houston. Eddie King. Jaheim Benton.

Cameron Bufford. Ed Howard.

Prentiss Luster. Darion Radcliff.

Lawrence Noble. Trey Hondras.

Pierce Jones.

The Jackie Robinson West little league team in Chicago has won the hearts of many around the country. The team lost to South Korea 8-4 on Sunday in Williamsport, Pa.

All-Black baseball team uplifts Chicago, nation Jackie Robinson West loses Little League World Series final but wins the hearts of many Americans

BY DAVID HAUGH CHICAGO TRIBUNE (MCT)

When the late-inning rally you knew the Jackie Robinson West players had in them fell just short Sunday in an 8-4 defeat to South Korea in the Little League World Series final, everybody at the watch party on the Far South Side immediately rose to their feet.

They screamed. They clapped.

They hugged. Within seconds, they even were dancing inside the Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center as Kool and the Gang’s familiar sports anthem blared through the speakers.

Celebrate good times, come on!

Good advice for a great accomplishment, even if the JRW kids with all the heart couldn’t beat a team from Seoul.

Chicago’s boys of summer lost a game but will return home winners in ways they should appreciate by the time they’re men reflecting on this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

They supplied Chicago what

the Cubs and Sox didn’t: latesummer baseball excitement in a city starving for some. They captivated an audience of millions beyond America’s third-largest city and captured the imagination of all generations.

The talented 13 The enduring memory of this team won’t be the final out when JRW shortstop Ed Howard grounded to second base on a fielder’s choice. It will be the vim and vigor JRW players invested in every pitch for a payoff that had nothing to do with fame or money ESPN made off their popularity.

They wanted to win for their

TAMAR BRAXTON

The Unity Fest featuring Future and Tamar Braxton is set for Aug. 31 beginning at 7:30 p.m. at Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena.

JOHNNY GILL EL DEBARGE

Tickets are on sale for an Oct. 3 concert featuring Keith Sweat, El Debarge and Howard Hewitt at the Times Union Center for the Performing Arts.

FLORIDA COMMUNITY CALENDAR Kissimmee: The Allstate Tom Joyner Reunion takes place through Sept. 1 at the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center. More information: www.blackamericaweb.com.

Coral Gables: Israel Houghton and New Breed along with Miel San Marcos are scheduled at the Almavision Miami radio anniversary on Sept. 12 at BankUnited Center.

Orlando: The 10th annual MEAC/SWAC Challenge will be played at Bright House Networks Stadium on the

Tickets are on sale now for Tampa Funk Fest 2014 with performances by Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, Bobby Brown, Ralph Tresvant, Johnny Gill, Fantasia and Doug E. Fresh. The festival will be Oct. 18 at Raymond James Stadium. More information: www.funkfest2014.com.

campus of the University of Central Florida. The Aug. 31 game will feature North Carolina A&T and Alabama.

More info: http://espnevents. com/meac-swac.

Miami: The Back to Love Tour with Anthony Hamilton and Chrisette Michelle makes a stop at the James L. Knight Center on Sept. 20.

Michelle also is scheduled at the Ritz Theatre in Jacksonville on Sept. 19.

Ponte Verde Beach: Reggae artist Beres Hammond will perform Aug. 29 at the Ponte Vedra Concert Hall.

St. Augustine: Tickets are on sale now for an Oct. 11 show at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre featuring Earth, Wind & Fire.

West Palm Beach: Drake vs.

Lil Wayne is scheduled Sept.

3 at the Cruzan Amphitheatre. On Sept. 4, the show will be at the MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa.

Tampa: Candy Lowe hosts Tea & Conversation every Saturday from 2 to 4 p.m. at 3911 N. 34th St., Suite B. More information: 813-3946363.

St. Petersburg: Macy Gray is scheduled Oct. 10 at Janus Live.

St. Petersburg: The Steve Harvey “Act Like A Success’’ Tour will stop at The Mahaffey on Oct. 18.

‘The pride of Chicago’ Move over Jay-C and D-Rose, Kaner and Toews. These young stars own the city for a while, having just authored the best Chicago sports story of the year.

A community came together Sunday, from 119th Street on the South Side to State and Lake in the Loop, from the suburbs to the inner city, to watch a World Series game in Chicago. It isn’t every decade you write that sentence.

“They are the pride of Chicago,” said Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who high-fived Gov. Pat Quinn after JRW scored its first run.

“This team has electrified our city and rallied people from every neighborhood to support these great kids. … They are great ambassadors for the city — and for the world.”

A sense of history hung in the air as Emanuel spoke, but the kind that had to do more with this team opening doors than the mayor closing their South Side schools — the kind that had to do with progress, not politics. A note sent to every JRW player and their terrific manager, Darold Butler, by Rachel Robinson, Jack-

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ie Robinson’s 92-year-old widow, summed it up best.

“To have an African-American squad from Chicago, the first from the city to qualify for the series since 1983, succeed and inspire other young men and women is so meaningful,” Rachel Robinson wrote in a letter obtained by the Tribune. “Thank you for upholding my husband Jack’s, your namesake’s, legacy through your hard work, dedication and excellent teamwork.”

Down memory lane Ernie Banks felt so much gratitude to JRW for the way they represented the name of his mentor, Jackie Robinson, that he asked to extend an open invitation for a team dinner on Mr. Cub. Watching Sunday’s final took Banks down memory lane to September 1953 at Wrigley Field when Robinson, the Brooklyn Dodgers star, visited him just days after Banks signed a Major League Baseball contract that made him the Cubs’ first AfricanAmerican player.

“Jackie wanted to make sure I knew how important it all was,” Banks said. “What these kids did is important to notice too. This Little League story is big, big, big, considering everything going on in Ferguson (Mo.) and on the South Side. These are powerful kids. This was remarkable. All of Chicago should be proud of this team.”

More kudos Another Hall of Fame player who became a legend in Chicago agreed.

“They only play the game in Chicago for a few months a year because of the weather so to win the U.S. title is priceless,” former White Sox slugger Frank Thomas said in a text message. “Congratulations to JRW.” Similar sentiments flooded social media, with everybody from Chicagoan Isiah Thomas to broadcaster Robin Roberts to rapper Lupe Fiasco among those celebrities tweeting love for JRW. President Barack Obama called Butler after the game, one South Side product consoling another.

More praise will follow.

“None of these boys will ever forget these moments,” Gov. Pat Quinn said in a yellow JRW Tshirt. “Neither will any of us.”

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FOOD

AUGUST 29 – SEPTEMBER 4, 2014

Date night

101

Creative ways to plan a date at home FROM FAMILY FEATURES

D

ate night doesn’t have to require reservations at an over­priced restaurant or an over-the-top production.

You can easily turn your own home into the perfect romantic setting for a special night you both deserve.

Spice up the night with these exciting and memorable new activities you and your significant other can enjoy together in the comfort of your own home.

Create a wine bar Add a touch of sophistication by creating a “wine flight” experience with a selection of different varietals to taste. Pair sweet wines (such as Moscato, Late Harvest and Sauternes) with assortments of nibbles and noshes, such as chocolates, or one of the delicious flavors from Breyers Gelato Indulgences. For red wine varietals, (Merlot, Cabernet, Sauvignon) have plenty of cheeses and gourmet crackers on hand. Remember, presentation is essential, so make sure you break out your best glassware and serving pieces for this intimate tasting for two.

Tip: Intended for adults of drinking age. Please drink responsibly.

Special occasions at home Most relationships have milestones and other special events that call for celebration, so why not do so from the comfort and serenity of home? Here are some ways to make those special times even more unique and memorable.

It’s the little things Having the perfect date night in the comfort of your own home is simple if you add small touches. Consider printing up a menu for the evening along with place cards for you and your significant other listing each other’s best qualities. And don’t forget to capture the mood by crafting the perfect playlist to play during the meal. You want music that’s easy to talk over so no heavy metal, unless that’s your thing. If that’s the case, rock on.

New Year’s Eve Fun “al fresco” It’s easy to turn your backyard or patio into the best outdoor dining experience in town. By adding small unique touches to surprise your significant other, like a string of lights for some dim lighting or even a new tablecloth, the evening will feel special. You can also extend the evening by turning it into a great camping experience. All you really need is an open mind, a tent and a little bit of backyard space! With the help of a stargazing app, you can make sure to catch all the action happening in the sky.

Adults-only game night Take a cue from your kids and have a game night with fun games that let you laugh out loud, get creative and challenge each other to some friendly competition. Charades or even interactive games on your tablet let you stay engaged with each other while having fun.

Make it a classic film night Select a timeless, big-screen love story, like “Casablanca,” “Gone With the Wind” or “The Shop Around the Corner,” for a classic cinema-inspired experience.

Try making a meal to match the movie beforehand, such as a Southern feast for “Gone With the Wind” or Moroccan for “Casablanca.” After dinner, dim the lights and cuddle up on the couch with a delicious dessert, such as Breyers Gelato Indulgences. Savor decadent flavors like Vanilla Caramel, Tiramisu, Raspberry Cheesecake or Triple Chocolate.

For ice cream recipes and more information on Breyers Gelato Indulgences, visit www.breyers.com.

WHAT TYPE OF DATE NIGHT COUPLE ARE YOU? A wonderful evening together means engaging in activities you both are passionate about.

Here are a few of the activities different couples can enjoy based on their passions.

Artsy

Pampering

Outdoorsy

A quiet outing at the ballet, check­ ing out the newest exhibit at the fine arts museum or listening to a local band are a few of the activities artsy couples enjoy.

These couples enjoy the finer things in life, such as pedicures, couples massages and other spa treatments.

Inspired by nature and adventure, this kind of duo enjoys hiking, off-road driving and camping in the great outdoors.

Fitness focused This pair loves to get their heart rate up by engaging in physical activities, such as running, biking or playing sports together.

DIY couple From the perfectly maintained yard to the always updated kitchen, the do-it-yourself couple loves to work on their home or engage in craft projects.

Against the backdrop of bubbling refreshments, and of course a kiss at midnight, create a list of the 10 most memorable moments in the last year, as well as a bucket list of things you want to do in the year ahead.

Valentine’s Day Celebrate this day of love in style. Warm up the oven and create heart-shaped pizzas together with all your favorite toppings. Serve them as a romantic picnic on the floor, complete with fluffy pillows and blankets.

Anniversary Order carry-out from a restaurant that holds special meaning for your relationship, such as where you had your first date or the restaurant that catered your wedding. Or, try and recreate a favorite meal from one of your favorite restaurants on your own. Complete the romantic evening by reading your old love letters and notes out loud, with your favorite songs or wedding video playing in the background.

Holiday season Start your own traditions together by baking cookies and sharing your creations on social media with your friends and family. Or pick a handful of your favorite holiday movies for an at-home holiday film marathon, and share your favorite lines from the movies on your social channels.

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BOOKS

AUGUST 29 – SEPTEMBER 4, 2014

Mosley examines life of another complex, compelling character

X-rated protagonist In “Debbie Dare’’ (also known as Sandra Peel Pinkney), Mosley has created a complex, compel-

ling, X-rated protagonist.

Debbie likes to read; one of her favorite books is “The Autumn of the Patriarch.’’

Although she enjoys discussing the work of D.H. Lawrence and Virginia Woolf, she (and presumably, Mosley) has no patience with literary critics and professors who look for “structure and underlying intention” instead of ar-

Troubling past Unlike most people, who do not look a person in the eye or “say anything that means something,” everything Debbie says “is on the ground floor,” a police officer, who falls for her, points out. “You’re right there in

BOOK REVIEW Review of “Debbie Doesn’t Do It Anymore: A Novel.’’ By Walter Mosley. Doubleday.

265 pp. $25.95 front of me like nothing I ever saw.”

Debbie keeps telling herself that a willingness to die inoculates a person against the allures of wealth, sex, and domination by powerful, charismatic men, but every time she imagines ending her life the wish for death turns into a need for sex.

Once she realizes she can no longer live on the path she has already traveled, Debbie tries to move backward in time (with the help of her psychiatrist), “from the smelly john’s car, down La Cienaga Boulevard,” to the home of her mother, brothers and step-sister, where the smells, sounds, and air on her skin remind her of an existence “I once loved, then hated, and finally forgot for a while in a haze of drugs, sex, and glitter.”

Mysteries remain The plot of “Debbie Doesn’t Do It Anymore’’ and, alas, the motivations of the characters, are not always convincing or coherent.

Mosley doesn’t adequately explain why Debbie withholds important information from the police, why she turned to porn following the murder of her father, or why she has become so obsessed with suicide. And some readers may second-guess, as I did, Mosley’s decision to withhold revelations about Theon’s virtues until the very end of the book.

That said, no one, I suspect, will quibble with Mosley’s decision to end with Sandy Peel’s moving, simple, and, yes, a bit simplistic, eulogy for Theon – and for Debbie Dare.

“Save yourself. Know that you can do anything.

Don’t look down on anyone. Don’t forgive them or condemn them. And when they tell you to get down on your knees, you tell them to get down there with you.

Tell them you can take the pain if they will too.”

And most readers will suspend disbelief, at least for a moment, as I did, when beneath a lovely California sunset, the former porn star announces that she has “arrived at a place where no one could bring me down on my knees.”

Dr. Glenn C. Altschuler is the Thomas and Dorothy Litwin Professor of American Studies at Cornell University. He wrote 5.6 this review for the Florida Courier.

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ing to grab on” feeling of Los Angeles and, more importantly, African-American family and religious values in a context of closed doors, limited options, and failed dreams.

resting phrases and human feelings.

Just about everyone likes (or loves) her, including, Theon’s gay friend, Theon’s girlfriend, Theon’s racist mother, and, of course, the son of a 1980s porn star who died of pancreatic cancer who Debbie put through college and medical school.

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As “Debbie Doesn’t Do It Anymore,’’ the new novel by the prolific Walter Mosley, who is best known for the Easy Rawlins mysteries, begins, Debbie Dare, a Black porn queen, is in trouble.

Her husband, Theon Pinkney, has been electro-

cuted while “auditioning” a 16-year-old girl in his bathtub. Loan sharks are threatening to maim or murder Debbie if she doesn’t make good on Theon’s debts.

And, as she struggles to extricate herself from her sordid life, Mr. Suicide has begun to appear at her side, “all silence and smiles.”

Throughout the novel, Mosley captures the “noth-

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COMMUTING MADE EASY.

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AUGUST 29 – SEPTEMBER 4, 2014

FINEST & ENTERTAINMENT

Meet some of

FLORIDA’S

finest

submitted for your approval

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Think you’re one of Florida’s Finest?

E-mail your high-resolution (200 dpi) digital photo in casual wear or bathing suit taken in front of a plain background with few distractions, to news@flcourier. com with a short biography of yourself and your contact information. (No nude/ glamour/ fashion photography, please!) In order to be considered, you must be at least 18 years of age. Acceptance of the photographs submitted is in the sole and absolute discretion of Florida Courier editors. We reserve the right to retain your photograph even if it is not published. If you are selected, you will be contacted by e-mail and further instructions will be given.

Florida Courier photojournalists were on board Royal Caribbean ships with thousands of “Tom Joyner Morning Show” fans on previous Fantastic Voyage cruises. We’re featuring some of the “Finest” cruisers.

PHOTOS BY TONY LEAVELL/ FLORIDA COURIER AND DELROY COLE/ FLORIDA COURIER

tendees for its July Fourth weekend 20th anniversary celebration.

More than 80 performing artists—including some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry such as Prince, Mary J. Blige and Lionel Richie—performed at the event’s nighttime concerts and over 150 speakers—including Robin Roberts, Alicia Keys, Steve Harvey and Rev. Al Sharpton—participated as part of the festival’s daytime experience.

Top holiday destination

KATINA REVELS/DETROIT FREE PRESS/MCT

Alicia Keys performs during the 2005 Essence Music Festival in New Orleans on July 2, 2005.

Essence Festival to continue in New Orleans through 2019 “Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne and Mayor Landrieu – along with their teams – have embraced the Essence Festival as their own. Through collaboration, we have created a one-of-a-kind experience that enables the community to revel in culture, be entertained, informed and inspired—within the rich heritage that only New Orleans, Louisiana can provide.”

The festival contributes

more than $231 million annually in economic impact.

Epps lands Pryor role over several serious contenders

Michael B. Jordan, Marlon Wayans and Nick Cannon.

Epps has been lobbying for the part since 2005 when he was chosen to play Prior in a biopic directed by Walter Hill. That project fell through.

EURWEB.COM

Essence Communications President Michelle Ebanks has announced an extended agreement with the state of Louisiana and the City of New Orleans to host the Essence Festival through 2019.

“We are so pleased to extend our partnership with the State of Louisiana and City of New Orleans for another five years,” said Ebanks.

FROM WIRE REPORTS

Actor and comedian Mike Epps has been chosen to play comic legend Richard Pryor in the upcoming biopic directed by Lee Daniels. The news was first announced on Oprah Winfrey’s Instagram ac-

count when she posted a photo of herself, Epps and Daniels together, saying – “just finished a great 1st read session. #RichardPryorMovie.’’ Daniels also retweeted the photo confirming the casting.

Epps won the role over other serious contenders –

From panels to Prince The annual four-day event features entertainment, empowerment and cultural experiences during the day and the world’s best performers each night. Touted as the country’s largest live event – the Essence Festival attracted more than 550,000 at-

Tweets from Hart Fellow comedian Kevin Hart tweeted out congratulations to Epps for getting the part. Hart congratulated Epps in a series of tweets

The state of Louisiana and New Orleans played a key role in enticing Essence to agree to a contract extension.

“Essence Festival has become an integral part of New Orleans and Louisiana from a tourism standpoint,” Dardenne said. “We are pleased that the partnership we’ve built with Essence will continue for another five years.”

“Essence has been a tremendous partner over the past 20 years,” added Mayor Mitchell J. Landrieu.

“This event attracts artists and participants from around the world and creates an international platform to both celebrate culture and engage in critical conversations that affect our communities. In addition, the festival creates a lasting economic impact in our city and has positioned New Orleans as a top Fourth of July destination.”

that said despite their differences, he was proud of and happy for Epps.

The “differences” Kevin Hart referred to in his tweets is in regards to a feud between Hart and Epps that spilled on to Twitter after Epps called Hart “one overrated comedian” during a radio interview. It led to name calling, like Epps calling Hart “D.L. Hughley Jr.” and Hart tweeting that Epps should kill himself.

Beyonce is shown at the Aug. 24 MTV Video Music Awards with her husband and daughter.

Beyonce receives top MTV video award EURWEB.COM

For a couple that’s supposed to be in the throes of a divorce, Beyonce and Jay Z (and daughter Blue Ivy) looked real chummy and family like at the MTV Video Music Awards.

At the end of her 15-minute set, Beyonce brought her husband and daughter on to the stage as she accepted the night’s most esteemed prize — the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award.

While holding Blue Ivy, Jay Z gave Beyonce a serious kiss, then gave her the award while telling the world that she’s “the greatest living entertainer.”

“Yeah, Mommy,” add-

ed Blue.

“I have nothing to say,” Beyoncé glowed. “But I’m full of gratitude.”

Rumors have been swirling for months that the Carters were having problems during their “On the Run’’ tour and were heading for a separation.

‘Diddy’ plans Revolt TV Conference in Miami Sean “Diddy” Combs is celebrating the one-year anniversary of launching his TV network, Revolt TV and has announced a 2014 Revolt TV Music Conference. The conference is scheduled for Oct. 16-19 at the Fountain Bleu in Miami.

The celebrity list includes panels and performances from Russell Simmons, Andre Ferrel and Necole Bitchie.

Mike Epps, right, poses with Lee Daniels and Oprah Winfrey.

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AUGUST 29 – SEPTEMBER 4, 2014

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