LAWT 01-31-2013 by LA WATTSTIMES

W E E K E N D E R

Vol. XXX, No. 1321

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Thursday, January 31, 2013

L.A. Watts Times

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Thursday, January 31, 2013

HOROSCOPES

Jan. 31 - Feb. 6 Inside This Edition Councilman Perry

Dedicates South Los Angeles Intersection

Perry joins members of the Evening Star Missionary Baptist Church to Unveil “Dr. William M. Brent Square” at the Intersection of 59th and Brentwood

RIES ~ A party or gathering with friends from the past gives you the opportunity to strut your stuff a bit. You’ve made tremendous strides and accomplished much in your life, so be pleased with yourself this week. Pass some of your wisdom along to others. Soul Affirmation: All that I need is within me. AURUS ~ Do not throw a wrench in someone’s else plan and undermine their project to get ahead in what you are trying to do this week. Be peaceful and seek harmony in the relationships you have in your personal and professional life. You will go further than you think by helping co-workers and friends. Soul Affirmation: I get because I give. EMINI ~ This week your fortune will delight you in ways that you’ve never experienced before. Don’t be slow in sharing good fortune with others who helped you achieve what you have. Fill their coffers as yours are being filled. A wonderful gift to have is the ability to give to others. Soul Affirmation: The success of others is the investment I make in myself. ANCER ~ This week do not seek the “highest” source of information for your answers. Look towards a humble source for the truth about your vibrations this week. The ability to learn from any of God’s creation will lead to better answers than finite human knowledge will produce. Soul Affirmation: Truth is revealed in the smallest grain of sand. EO ~ This week your strong fortitude will be able to carry you though hurdles that you once perceived as insurmountable. Don’t begrudge your situation or begrudge others for what they have. You will become a better person when you overcome any stumbling blocks in your path. You will look back and count it as a milestone. Soul Affirmation: What life has given me is sufficient to any task. IRGO ~ One of your greatest talents and gifts is the ability to give freely to others. Exercise it this week with a passion. You are very timely when others are in need. Your capacity to be a stronghold for others is remarkable. The power of giving will always supersede the feelings of neediness. Soul Affirmation: Being there for others is a way of being there for myself.

C L

IBRA ~ Living in the past has been one of your favorite things, do it this week. Memory will give you clues to the answer to a pressing problem. Ask for help in finishing up the week’s work. Be diplomatic and you’ll get all the help you need. Pretending to be a little bit helpless can work to your favor. Soul Affirmation: My needs will be met if I just ask. CORPIO ~ There is a fresh discovery about yourself that you can make this week by taking a poll of friends. They are especially aware of your real self. It shines through on the surface of your life. Ask others what they see and listen well. Situate yourself so you’ll be ready for it. Soul Affirmation: I enjoy the love that others have for me. AGITTARIUS ~ It is amazing how a restless soul like you can button down when you have to. This week is the kind of week when obligations must be met. The best way to get it done is to think about it with only half your mind. Let the other half roam around restlessly like you like your mind to do. Soul Affirmation: This week silence speaks loudest and truest. APRICORN ~ You’ve done a lot of things in life that no one has agreed with at the beginning. Finding agreement this week will be difficult, but it should not deter you from moving forward. Feeling sorry for your loneliness will discolor what you are doing. Be happy that you are alone. Soul Affirmation: I accept fate and see good in it. QUARIUS ~ You should know by now that trying to be in two places at once is very taxing to your nerves! Slow down a bit and trust that you’ll get what needs to be done accomplished. Give yourself a head start on all road trips so that you have time to enjoy the view. Soul Affirmation: Seeing my past clearly this week gives me a clear vision of my future. ISCES ~ An afterglow surrounds you during the week, and you may not feel like getting immediately into work-mode this week. It’s okay to go with your feelings; the world will wait for a little while. Treasure happy moments. Soul Affirmation: Facing down challenges makes me feel good about myself.

A P

Councilwoman Perry with first lady, Mary Louise Matthew Brent; Dr. J. Roy Morrison, President of the California State United Baptist Convention; Rev. K. B. Williams, Pastor of Evening Star Missionary Baptist Church; and family from of the late Dr. Brent.

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For over four decades, Dr. William Matthew Brent shared his passion for community through his work at the Evening Star Missionary Baptist Church. Councilwoman Jan Perry was joined by L.A. County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, Mary Louise Matthews Brent, the late pastor’s wife, and members of the Evening Star Missionary Baptist Church to posthumously honor the life and legacy of the late Dr. Brent. As part of the tribute, Perry led the effort to erect signs declaring the intersection “Dr. William M. Brent Square” adjacent to the church at 59th and Brentwood Streets. “Dr. Brent dedicated his entire life to serving South Los Angeles. Through his commitment to community, he made a real difference in the lives of so many and changed the

Legislation proposed for earthquake warning system

Beverly Cook – Publisher, Managing Editor 1976 – 1993 Charles Cook – Publisher 1976 – 1998 Melanie Polk – Publisher 1998 – 2010

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way people viewed their community,” said Perry. “This is a special way to remember an incredibly special man.” Ridley-Thomas applauded Perry’s motion to erect the square in Dr. Brent’s memory. He told the congregation: “It is not a good thing to lose our sense of history and Dr. Brent is part of our history, the history of Los Angeles—a history that we all need to recall.” Overwhelmed by the outpouring of support, Dr. Brent’s wife, Mary Louise Matthews Brent thanked her family, neighbors, and the congregation for honoring her late husband: “Thank you for taking the time to come. This has been such a great day.” Mrs. Brent then joined Perry, See PERRY, page 11

BlackFacts.com

January 31, 1914 Boxer Jersey Joe Walcott is born Arnold Raymond Cream in Merchantville, New Jersey. Walcott won the World Heavyweight Championship from Ezzard Charles, whom he knocked out in the 7th round of their 1951 title bout in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Walcott had 69 professional fights. He won 30 of them by knock-out and was elected to the Boxing Hall of Fame in 1969.

A San Fernando Valley lawmaker introduced proposed legislation Monday January 28 that would create an $80 million earthquake-warning system designed to give California residents as much as 60 seconds of advance notice of a temblor. “California is going to have an earthquake early warning system; the question is whether we have one before or after the next big quake,” Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Van Nuys, said at a news conference at Caltech in Pasadena. Padilla said the system would work using a system of sensors located throughout the state that would provide as much as one minute of warning of a pending quake. He cited a recent study by Caltech and the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology that concluded such a system could be implemented. “A fully developed earthquake early warning system would provide

Californians critical seconds to take cover, assist loved ones, pull to the side of the road or exit a building,” Padilla said. “It could allow time to stop a train or power down other critical infrastructure. The earthquake warning would not only alert the public, it would also speed the response of police and fire personnel by quickly identifying areas hardest hit by the quake.” Michael Gurnis, director of the Caltech Seismological Laboratory, said such a system “would save lives and help California in many ways if it is rolled out as a fully operational system.” “For decades Caltech and UC Berkeley have worked with the U.S. Geological Survey on science that can help the public in the event of a major quake,” Gurnis said. “Earthquake Early Warning is a ripe area for development of a system that can provide a few seconds to tens of seconds of advance notice for many people in the event of a major earthquake.”

Thursday, January 31, 2013

Reverend Jackson speaks on Annual Economic Summit Jesse Jackson, Sr. The “Rainbow PUSH Wall St. Project” Interview BY KAM WILLIAMS CONTRIBUTING WRITER

pivotal role in virtually every movement for empowerment, peace, civil rights, gender equality, and economic The Reverend Jesse Louis and social justice. Jackson, Sr., founder and president of On August 9, 2000, President Bill Clinton awarded Reverend Jackson the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor. He is known for bringing people together on common ground across lines of race, culture, class, gender and belief. Born on October 8, 1941 in Greenville, South Carolina, Jesse Jackson graduated from the public schools in Greenville and then enrolled in the University of Illinois on a football scholarship. He later transferred to North Carolina A&T State The Rev. Jesse Jackson University and graduated in 1964. He the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, is one began his theological studies at of America’s foremost civil rights, Chicago Theological Seminary but religious and political figures. Over deferred his studies when he began the past forty years, he has played a See JACKSON, page 11

LA County plans move on immigrant birthing hotels LA County officials plan crackdown on immigrant birthing hotels as conditions draw complaints ASSOCIATED PRESS Los Angeles County is planning a crackdown on makeshift maternity wards where mothers from other countries stay while giving birth so their children will be U.S. citizens. The county has received 60 complaints about such facilities in the past month, according to a report by the Planning Department submitted to the Board of Supervisors, the Los Angeles Times reported. That compared to just 15 complaints in the previous five years. The surge might be due to publicity over the closure of a house in Chino Hills that authorities contended had been used to house as many as 30 Chinese women. It isn’t illegal for foreign citizens to give birth in the U.S., but authorities say the maternity tourism hotels frequently are remodeled single-family homes in areas that aren’t zoned for hotels or boarding houses. County Supervisor Don Knabe

wants to develop a county law that would specifically outlaw such facilities. “They’re a moneymaking machine. They’re totally unsafe,” Knabe said. “It’s so obvious that they jeopardize not only the health of the baby, but the mother as well.” The Planning Commission report said efforts were being made to crack down on the hotels for zoning, building and health code violations. Pregnant women, many from Asia, can pay thousands of dollars to stay in the facilities, authorities said. Officials who went to the Chino Hills home in November said the single-family home had been divided into 17 bedrooms and 17 bathrooms. Neighbors complained of a sewage spill from an overloaded septic tank. The house was shut down after the city sued the owners. Elsewhere, joint inspections have been staged by the planning, public works and child welfare departments, See BIRTHING HOTELS, page 4

Compton says NO to hate crimes

Community leaders denounce alleged hate crime in Compton BY CHARLENE MUHAMMAD CONTRIBUTING WRITER Hate crimes will not be tolerated in Compton or in any other community, declared a coalition of civic, religious, and educational leaders and community activists during a Jan. 28 press conference in front of Compton City Hall. This response stems from the recent arrests of three alleged Latino gang members whom police say tried to force an African American family from their home on 153rd Street. The family recently moved into the home when one of them was attacked on Dec. 31, 2012, according to L.A. County Sheriffs. Police have arrested the three suspects - one a juvenile, whose name was not released, along with 21-yearold Efren Marquez of Riverside

LAWT Photo

(L-R) Compton City Councilmember Janna Zurita, Basil Kimbrew, chair of the California Friends of the African American Caucus; Rev. K.W. Tulloss, L.A. president of the National Action Network and Rev. Eric Lee (California State president of the Black Community Clergy Alliance). Coalition of civic, religious and community leaders conducts press conference at Compton City Hall Jan 28 regarding an alleged hate crime. County, and 19-year-old Jeffrey Aguilar of Compton. Marquez allegedly pointed a gun at the male victim and threatened to shoot him, while he was allegedly being beaten by Aguilar, Captain Mike Parker informed in a press release. After the attack, the suspects fled but returned 30 minutes later with a group of 15-20 gang members, “who surrounded the front of the victims’ home shouting racial epithets and telling them that members of the African American race (using the ‘nword’) were not allowed to live in the

neighborhood. One unidentified member of the group threw a large beer bottle through the front living room window, shattering the window,” Captain Parker’s statement read. “I don’t care who committed the hate crime. Hate crimes are unacceptable in Compton or anywhere else in our society” stated Compton City Councilmember Janna Zurita. Assemblyman Isadore Hall, a Compton native, is working with neighborhood and law enforcement leaders to help form a pro-active plan See HATE CRIME, page 11

Thursday, January 31, 2013

Hunter fights for rights Files lawsuit against Bethel SF BY CORA JACKSON-FOSSETT LAWT RELIGION EDITOR

Rev. Dr. John J. Hunter have garnered steady public attention since his appointment last October. Media across the country reported when Bethel members blocked his entry into the sanctuary and in December, the FAME congregation filed suit against the Hunters contending mismanagement of church funds and property. Earlier this month, Mrs. Hunter captured news headlines by denouncing all allegations and declaring the family’s innocence of all charges. While the community response is far from decided, one entity, the A.M.E. Church Judicial Council, addressed Bethel’s actions. In a recent decree, the body admonished the congregation and confirmed Dr. Hunter’s assignment to the church. “The Judicial Council ruled that the activities of the members were wrong and ordered them to cease and desist of the kind of activity they had engaged in that started on November 4, physically assaulting me, blocking me from entering the sanctuary, the publication of a resolution which had erroneous material in it that they handed to me and distributed to numerous sources including media, and then, of course, their persist-

BIRTHING HOTELS Continued from page 3 and cases have been referred to the state tax board, the report said. Inspections can be difficult because people answering the door sometimes claim they are unable to speak English and won’t allow inspectors to enter. The Planning Department will try to include Chinese-language translators on its inspection teams, the report said. In addition, child welfare investi-

business card bulletin board

Moving to assert his legal rights, the Rev. Dr. John J. Hunter filed a civil lawsuit on January 24 against individual members and the congregation-atlarge of Bethel A.M.E. Church in San Francisco. His charges against them allege assault, battery and libel he endured on November 4 when he arrived at the historic edifice to preach his first sermon as the new pastor following eight years as spiritual leader of First A.M.E. Church in Los Angeles. “I have taken the affirmative steps to address the wrongs that have been committed against me in the city of San Francisco by the officers and members of Bethel A.M.E. Church,” said Dr. Hunter. “We do not give up our legal rights as citizens when we’re ministers. We still have rights not to be assaulted, not to be battered, not to be defamed. God has called us to serve, not to be doormats.” Describing Bethel’s actions as “unprecedented,” Hunter said he was shocked by “the rudeness, the crudeness, the hostility and disrespect that they have shown consistently. “To see God’s people behaving as they did, I was devastated and hurt that people would act as they act and reject me as their pastor based on anything they might have heard and/or read.” Dr. Hunter and his wife, Denise,

ent walking in and out of the service, particularly out of the service when the word of God has been proclaimed,” Dr. Hunter said. Despite the tenuous relationship with the members, Dr. Hunter said he has preached five Sunday services since his appointment. Advised by his doctor not to travel in December, he returned to the pulpit this month and intends to perform his pastoral duties. “I remain prayerful and will continue to serve the church I have been appointed and assigned to serve as best I can and continue to pursue my legal remedies as I have laid them out as causes of action in the lawsuit,” he said. In addition, he vowed to wait patiently for the Judicial Council’s decision on the validity of his reassignment from FAME to Bethel. “The whole issue of the ecclesiastic legality of my move has yet to be determined, so given that, I will reserve comment until that has been dealt with internally. “I respect the AME Church and its processes and we do have a number of processes and procedures to deal with issues as they arise in the church. I will submit to that process until it’s completed,” said Dr. Hunter. As for allegations contained in FAME’s lawsuit, Dr. Hunter declared, “First AME’s corporations have been audited every year. We continued to use the CPA firm that was being used prior to us. It’s necessary to do that to run the various entities. “We could not continue to serve in the various capacities which we have served in if we were not doing it with accountability and credibility.” Although facing several challenges on multiple levels, Dr. Hunter utilizes any spare time to contemplate his future. “I’ve not thought about giving up on God or not participating in ministry. It’s been a time to certainly reflect. “One of my favorite scriptures, See HUNTER, page 10

gators will look for signs of child abuse and neglect, such as newborns crowded into makeshift nurseries, said Neil Zanville, a spokesman for the county Department of Children and Family Services. “We’d not only ask about sleeping arrangements, we’d ask, has this baby been seen by a doctor? Has it had its shots?” Zanville said.

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Indonesia readies for $1 trillion trade talks BY JOHN HEILPRIN ASSOCIATED PRESS

reach a tentative agreement on some of the key elements of a global trade deal this summer, in preparation for Indonesia may hold the key to a the ministerial talks in December at $1 trillion injection into the global Bali. economy. Schneider-Ammann said he sensed some “optimism” that efforts to streamline customs procedures and other rules to reduce the costs of trade “will be successful.” The ministers agreed to resist protectionism, focus on elements such as trade facilitation and agriculture, and to “take stock” around Easter of the progress being m a d e , SchneiderAmmann said. “Serious attempts to deliver results in Bali have already started,” he added. The Doha AP Photo/Michel Euler United States Trade Representative, Ron Kirk, gestures n e g o t i a t i o n s as he speaks during an interview with The Associated have been billed Press at the World Economic Forum, WEF, in Davos, as a way of boosting ecoSwitzerland, Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013. nomic developThat’s how much the World ment among the poorest countries, by Trade Organization believes is riding reducing barriers on their exports to on talks later this year in Bali, when wealthier markets. trade ministers hope to cut through The WTO’s director general, some of the red tape that slows glob- Pascal Lamy, has been telling the al commerce. Davos gathering of political, business Indonesia’s Foreign Minister and academic elites that an internaMarty Natalegawa told The tional trade deal would provide a $1 Associated Press that failure is not an trillion boost to the global economy. option and that a strong effort is He estimates world trade is worth being put in to ensure that the WTO about $22 trillion. meeting in Bali is “crowned with sucFlanked by Schneider-Ammann, cess.” Lamy told reporters that he believes The current trade talks, known as it is technically “do-able” to craft the Doha Round, began in 2001, and draft agreements on some of the key after a decade of little progress for a elements of a deal by next summer. range of reasons, many had proU.S. Trade Representative Ron nounced the negotiations to reduce Kirk said he had to “temper” his global trade barriers as dead. enthusiasm for a deal since it has There are hopes that the current eluded the world for a decade. fragile state of the world economy, Areas of dispute include tariffs including the debt crisis afflicting the on manufactured good, agricultural 17 European Union countries that use subsidies, market access and intellecthe euro and unspectacular U.S. tual property rules. Brazil, China and growth, may add impetus to the dis- India have resisted U.S. demands to cussions. lower taxes on imports of manufac“It’s very critical now, especially tured goods. with the difficulties in the global “But, at least of the 24 countries economy, especially in the euro- represented today, it felt like we had zone,” he said of efforts to reach a made more substantive progress,” new global free trade pact. “Trade Kirk said in an AP interview. “The facilitation becomes a key driver for good news is we’ve spent a lot of economic recovery, so this is now work on a smaller, more realistic even ever more important to what it package centered around trade faciliwas before.” tation, which can be a huge benefit to Trade ministers from 24 nations developing economies. And it feels met January 26 on the sidelines of the like that is starting to bear fruit.” World Economic Forum in Davos in Kirk, who leaves his job next an unofficial gathering hosted by the month, said the ministers renewed Swiss government. their commitment “to double down, Afterward, Swiss Economic do what we need to do” to reach a Minister Johann Schneider-Ammann deal in Bali. “I’m as hopeful as I’ve said the group agreed they could been in a long time.”

Thursday, January 31, 2013

Congresswoman Waters Recognizes Fourth Anniversary of Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act Congressman Maxine Waters released the following statement marking the fourth anniversary of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act: “As a longtime activist for women’s rights, I am pleased to recognize the anniversary of the enactment of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. Four years ago I was privileged to vote for this critical legislation reaffirming a core American principle: equal pay for equal work — regardless of gender, race, or background. Equal pay for equal work has been one of my top priorities dating back to the women’s movement when I served on the Board of the Ms. Foundation for Women. I have worked with Gloria Steinem, Eleanor Smeal, Patsy Mink and many other women pioneers in the women’s movement to highlight issues affecting working women, and to create and support public policy for equal treatment for all women. Throughout my years in the California State Assembly and Congress, I have been a tireless advocate on issues of concern to women in the workplace and women small business owners. The signing of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act by President Obama in

Congresswoman Maxine Waters 2009 was a long time coming. Lilly Ledbetter sued the company she

worked at for nearly 20 years after learning that she was paid less than her male counterparts at the facility, despite having more experience than several of them. Although the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act restored a woman’s right to fight pay discrimination, significant disparities persist between the pay of men and women in the U.S. workforce. Simply put, there is still more work to be done to level the playing field for all female workers. According to the latest U.S. Census data, women make just 77 cents for every dollar earned by a man. This could cost a woman up to $2 million in lost wages over their lifetime. I will continue to fight for fairness and equality for women in California and across America. The time is now to enact the Paycheck Fairness Act in the 113th Congress, in order to ensure equal pay for women in the workplace. This law would modernize the landmark Equal Pay Act of 1963 by providing effective remedies to women who are not being paid equal wages for doing equal work.”

Zimmerman wants to delay trial for Martin shooting

BY MIKE SCHNEIDER ASSOCIATED PRESS Attorneys for the former neighborhood watch volunteer charged with shooting Trayvon Martin to death asked for more time to prepare his case this week, saying prosecutors had been slow to turn over evidence. At the same time, Zimmerman's lead attorney, Mark O'Mara, renewed his request for donations to Zimmerman’s legal defense, which he said could cost up to $1 million. “The state has virtually unlimited

resources to prosecute George,” O'Mara said on Zimmerman’s defense fund website. “To finance his defense, however, George relies on the generosity of individuals who believe he is innocent.” Spokesman Shawn Vincent said Zimmerman’s attorneys want his second-degree murder trial to be moved from June to November. Zimmerman has pleaded not guilty. A hearing in which Zimmerman will argue he was acting in selfdefense is scheduled for April. The judge has said that hearing will be at

least 45 days before the trial. Prosecutors did not immediately respond to emails and phone calls about the defense request. O’Mara said prosecutors had been slow to turn over evidence. As an example, he said someone from State Attorney’s Office had removed Martin’s cell phone from an evidence locker to have it sent to California for analysis, but the state has refused to give him any information about the agency and the type of tests being run on the phone. He also said prosecutors had made it difficult for O’Mara to get answers to administrative questions from a chief investigative agent and had refused to forward them other information on Martin and a witness. O'Mara also asked the public to donate more money for his defense, saying on the web site that Zimmerman’s defense fund has raised more than $314,000 since he was charged. Of that amount, $95,000 was spent on bail, almost $62,000 was spent on Zimmerman’s living expenses during the past eight months and $56,100 was spent on security. The pricey living expenses were the result of Zimmerman having to stay at extended-stay hotels until he could find a place to rent after his bail conditions were changed to restrict him to Seminole County, Fla., according to the statement on the website said.

Supervisors approve additional $10,000 reward in unique Russell shooting On Tuesday at its meeting, the Board of Supervisors authorized a second $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the outstanding suspect responsible for the July 4, 2012 shooting that took the life of 14-year-old Unique Russell and injured 12-year-old Rekell Reeves and 25-year-old Freddy Pickett. The shooting occurred in front of a home on the 1300 block of West 97th Street located in the unincorporated area of West Athens. Unique, Rekell, and Pickett were watching fireworks with friends and neighbors when witnesses saw two suspects open fire into the crowd. Unique was transported to Harbor–UCLA Medical Center where she died from her injuries. Rekell and Pickett suffered non- life threatening gunshot wounds to their legs and were subsequently released. On the heels of the shooting, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chairman Mark Ridley-Thomas authorized a $10,000 reward motion that was unanimously approved by the Board in October. Last month, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s arrested Michael Staton, a 19-year- old Compton resident and alleged gang member, in connection with the shooting of Unique. According to Los Angeles County homicide detectives, Ridley-Thomas’

Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas $10,000 reward motion was instrumental in obtaining information from the public. In an effort to arrest the second suspect, Ridley-Thomas authored a motion to increase the current reward by an additional $10,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the outstanding suspect. As a result of the Board’s approval, the See REWARD, page 11

Former union boss Freeman faces 180 years convicted on 14 counts, sentencing is in April BY KENNETH MILLER CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Tyrone Freeman

After being ousted as president of one of the nation’s most powerful and influential labor unions three years ago, a disgraced Tyrone Freeman was dealt a federal conviction this week that could land him in prison for the rest of his life. Freeman, 43, who became the youngest leader in the storied history of the Services Employees International Union (SEIU) was convicted on 14 of 15 federal charges which included stealing tens of thousands of dollars and faces an April sentencing that could land him in prison for a maximum term of 180 years. When reached by telephone on Tuesday (Jan. 29), a subdued Freeman said that he was going to pick up his children ages five and ten and would begin a phase of soliciting character letters for his final court date. He began working for the union at the tender age of 21 as executive director of SEIU Local 1985 in 1994 in Atlanta, See FREEMAN, page 8

Thursday, January 31, 2013

F E AT U R E

L.A. Watts Times WEEKENDER

Until the Gun Smoke Clears are Debates WORTH their Weight? By Thandisizwe Chimurenga LAWT Contributing Writer President Obama is joined by African Americans this week who are voice their concern over the escalating rate of gun violence which is sweeping across the nation leaving school children, teachers and African Americans either dead or wounded. More than 40 people died in the city of Chicago during the month of January – including 15-year old Hadiya Pendleton, a student at King College Preparatory High School who had recently performed with her school’s marching band at President Barack Obama’s 2nd inauguration. Pendleton was shot in the back on Jan. 29, while seeking shelter from rain with some friends in a park not far from her school. Chicago and Sandy Hook, Conn. – where a gunman opened fire and killed 26 people at an elementary school in December – have been on the nation’s radar non-stop as gun violence across the country continues to claim the lives of children, women and men. They were also on Obama’s mind as he announced his plans to reduce gun violence during a White House briefing on Jan. 16. The president announced 23 Executive Orders that would go into effect right away including: launching a national safe and responsible gun ownership campaign; providing law enforcement, first responders, and school officials with proper training for active shooter situations; providing incentives for schools to hire school resource officers; and developing model emergency response plans for schools, houses of worship and institutions of higher education. Executive Orders are limited, discretionary powers allowed to the president. Although they carry the full force of law, they are not laws in themselves, since Congress is the body charged with creating federal law in the United States. Currently, federally-licensed firearms dealers are required to run criminal background checks on gun buyers, but it is believed that close to 40 percent of all gun sales are made by private individuals who are exempted from that requirement. Many of those private sellers take advantage of gun shows – large, periodic and temporary exhibitions of various firearms, military paraphernalia, and collectibles – to sell their guns since they do not engage in the activity full time. The president has called on Congress to close this loophole.

President Obama has also called on Congress to reinstate a ban on military-type assault weapons that expired in 2004, and to ban the possession of armorpiercing bullets and automatic handgun magazine clips that can hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition. The Public Safety and Recreational Firearms Use Protection Act, also known as the Federal Assault Weapons Ban, was part of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994. That act, which stood for 10 years, banned the possession of certain semi-automatic firearms, termed assault weapons, by name such as the Colt AR-15, the AK-47, and Uzis. The act also defined an assault weapon has having a minimum set of features such as a folding or telescopic stock; a pistol grip; a flash suppressor, or a grenade launcher. Semiautomatic handguns with an ammunition magazine that attached outside of the pistol grip, such as the Tec-9 were also considered to be assault-type weapons (regular or non assault-type, semiautomatic handguns have magazines that attach in the pistol grip, such as a Glock). The president made several other recommendations that would free up resources for local police to better track weapons involved in criminal activities and provide for increased access to mental health services. Adam Lanza, the man police say went on the Sandy Hook shooting spree, was rumored to have suffered from a mental illness although a psychiatric profile of the young man has not been made available yet. Critics of Obama such as the National Rifle Association and others have used the recent Executive Orders and recommendations as a rallying cry that the federal government is slowly chipping away at Americans’ right to own firearms. A sampling of African-American opinion shows both support for common sense gun policy and a cautionary nod to what has been called the racist roots of gun control. “We have to find a way to reduce the availability of military-style assault weapons. These aren’t legitimate hunting weapons. They pose a unique threat to our community and to law enforcement,” said Los Angeles City Councilman Herb Wesson who represents the 10th District. “The City Council went on record last week supporting Senator Dianne Feinstein’s legislation which would reinstate the federal assault weapons ban that expired in 2004. I support that legislation, and I hope the Congress will too,” said the councilman. Before she was elected to Congress Karen Bass (DCA-37) worked and taught as a physician assistant for 10 years at the University of Southern California’s Keck

School of Medicine program. During this time period she co-founded the Community Coalition for Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment after witnessing firsthand what the violence of crack cocaine and gangs were doing to South Los Angeles. She commended Obama for his leadership “in compiling thoughtful recommendations” on ways to reduce the plague of gun violence and stated, “We live in a society where children, particularly those growing up in urban areas are exposed to mass gun violence on a daily basis and the time has long passed for us to take action. Commonsense reforms such as universal background checks and ensuring health insurance plans cover mental health benefits are proposals that all Americans – including NRA members can get behind.” In her weekly column posted on Jan. 25, Marian Wright Edelman, founder of the Children’s Defense Fund, wrote, “The reason gun deaths are a huge epidemic in the United States is simple: It’s the guns and the permissive gun laws that protect them … Although the U.S. accounts for less than 5 percent of the global population, Americans own an estimated 35 to 50 percent of all civilian-owned guns in the world.” “Our nation is saturated with guns and the National Rifle Association wants more and more,” she said. That is certainly one view. Harry Belafonte, well known entertainer and social justice activist, recently remarked to the Associated Press that the Black community was not as involved in the gun control debate as it should be. “The AfricanAmerican community ... where is that community? Where is that voice? … What really concerns me is the ingredients of the discourse,” he said. As part of that discourse, Prof. Akinyele Umoja says a look to the past is in order. “The recent debate concerning gun control is complex, particularly as it relates to African descendants in the United States. As with almost every other issue in the US, the race dimensions of gun control cannot be dismissed.” As a youth and a community activist, Umoja spent many days and nights pounding the streets of Compton and South Los Angeles. Now as an associate professor and chair of the Department of African-American Studies at Georgia State University in Atlanta, he believes that the issue of gun control for the Black community has to be seen as an issue of self-determination, self-reliance and self-defense. Much of the debate around gun control in the mainstream press has centered around the 2nd Amendment to the United States Constitution which states, “A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a

www.lawattstimes.com

Thursday, January 31, 2013

Twenty-three executive orders by President Obama and a frightened nation free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.” “Slave-holding society fought to prevent enslaved Africans access to weapons to resist and increase potential for insurrection,” said Umoja. “After emancipation, Blacks sought arms not only to hunt, but to protect themselves from white supremacist terror. Gun ownership was associated with citizenship and liberty and as a means to protect those principles,” he said. Umoja is also the author of the book, “We Will Shoot Back: Armed Resistance in the Mississippi Freedom Movement,” due to be released this April. “Black people will never disarm in a political and social environment where Black life is still challenged and not valued,” he said. “The Black community must advocate for policies that take weapons out of the hands of unstable elements (e.g. checks for mental illness), but we must also be vigilant to make sure these policies are not utilized in a manner to weaken the capacity of our community to defend itself from white supremacists.” The concern over white supremacist violence is a real one. Earlier in January, The Atlantic Magazine wrote about a West Point report on the “dramatic rise in the number of attacks and violent plots originating from individuals and groups who self-identify with the far-right of American politics.” The article went on to describe the far right as “Christian fundamentalists, Militia movement groups, Skinheads, neo-Nazis, and violent anti-abortionists” that had been cited in the military academy’s report entitled Challengers from the Sidelines: Understanding America’s Violent Far-Right. Back in 2009, Mark Potok, editor of the Southern Poverty Law Center’s quarterly investigative journal Intelligence Report, wrote that “[President] Barack Obama’s election has inflamed racist extremists who see it as another sign that their country is under siege by nonwhites … the idea of a black man in the White House, combined with the deepening economic crisis and continuing high levels of Latino immigration, has given white supremacists a real platform on which to recruit.” Jeffrey Everett, a member of the Southern California Chapter of the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense, was quoted in the award-winning film “41st and Central: The Untold Story of the L.A. Black Panthers,” as saying that the group had a rule: “Don’t give up your piece’ (gun). Umoja said that one of the late Gil Scott-Heron’s famous lyrics was, “when other folks give up theirs, I’ll give up mine.” In some quarters of the Black community in 2013, it appears that still seems to be the case.

Thursday, January 31, 2013

Obama races away from the Issue of Race

The Emancipation of the Wilmington Ten

BY GEORGE E. CURRY NNPA COLUMNIST

BY BENJAMIN F. CHAVIS, JR. NNPA COLUMNIST

When Barack Obama accepted his party’s presidential nomination in Denver on August 28, 2008 – the 45th anniversary of the March on Washington where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his “I Have a Dream Speech” – excitement filled the air. Amid that jubilance, however, it struck me as odd that Obama failed to mention Dr. King by name. “.. And it is that promise that, 45 years ago today, brought Americans from every corner of this land to stand together on a Mall in Washington, before Lincoln’s Memorial, and hear a young preacher from Georgia speak of his dream,” Obama said at the time. Seconds later, he would add: “’We cannot walk alone,’” the preacher cried. And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead. We cannot turn back.” When Obama was inaugurated for the second time on January 21, 2013, the day we officially celebrated as the King federal holiday, I knew – or thought I knew – that President Obama would not make that same omission again. I listened carefully as he said: “We the people declare today that the most evident of truth that all of us are created equal – is the star that guides us still; just as it guided our forebears through Seneca Falls and Selma and Stonewall; just as it guided all those men and women, sung and unsung, who left footprints along this great mall, to hear a preacher say that we cannot walk alone; to hear a King proclaim that our individual freedom is inextricably bound to the freedom of every soul on Earth.” Why couldn’t President Obama utter Dr. King’s name on the day he used the slain civil rights leader’s Bible to be sworn in? On King’s birthday, why couldn’t he be called more than just a preacher? Even though Beyoncé lip-synced the National Anthem on Inauguration Day, she hasn’t been accused of faking it when she sings another song – “Say My Name.” If you ain’t running a game Say my name, say my name

FREEMAN Continued from page 5 GA, and by 1996 was elected to the International Executive Board making him the youngest leader in the then 90year history of the SEIU. Freeman then was moved to Los Angeles where he became vice president of SEIU International and subsequently president for one of the largest locals in the country SEIU 434B. During his tenure he led drives in the south and here locally where the political culture for a young African American demanded creative organizing. He earned his final post at the new SEIU 6434-United Long Term Health care Workers Union as dual presidency which yielded him power and influence over 190,000 homecare workers ultimately became his last. Three years after gaining such power,

The problem is larger than the failure to say Dr. King’s name. The problem, according to Michael Eric Dyson, is that, “This president runs from race like a Black man runs from a cop.” When candidate Obama was forced to address the issue of race in the wake of controversial remarks by Rev. Jeremiah Wright, his former pastor, he said in Philadelphia: “But race is an issue that I believe this nation cannot afford to ignore right now.” However, that’s exactly what he has been doing. Frederick C. Harris, director of the Institute for Research in AfricanAmerican Studies at Columbia University, noted, “… as president, Mr. Obama has had little to say on concerns specific to blacks. His State of the Union address in 2011 was the first by any president since 1948 to not mention poverty or the poor. The political scientist Daniel Q. Gillion found that Mr. Obama, in his first two years in office, talked about race less than any Democratic president had since 1961. From racial profiling to mass incarceration to affirmative action, his comments have been sparse and halting.” Sure, he had a beer summit at the White House with Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr. and the White police officer who arrested him in his

own home. Obama said the officer had “acted stupidly,” but later softened his criticism. The president also said, “If I had a son, he’d look like Trayvon [Martin].” Of course, the issue is not whether Obama has a son who looks like Trayvon Martin. What is he going to do about people who are treated like Trayvon? To discuss race less than Lyndon Johnson, Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton, all White southerners who grew up under segregation, should be embarrassing to President Obama. It should be even more of an embarrassment that Obama hasn’t taken leadership on the issue as Bill Clinton did when he launched his “One America Initiative” on race. Putting aside the merits of the initiative, it demonstrated Clinton was willing to confront the issue of race. As my friend Courtland Milloy wrote in the Washington Post, it’s time to stop making excuses for Obama. He said, “Obama should not be allowed to get away with thinking that when it comes to making his mark on the issue of race, all he had to do was become the first black president.” Unfortunately, some of the most vocal Black leaders have either been co-opted by the White House or fear a backlash from adoring Black voters. The usually outspoken Rep. Maxine Waters [D-Calif.] told a crowd in Detroit, “If we go after the president too hard, you’re going after us.” And former Congressional Black Caucus Chairman Emanuel Cleaver, II of Missouri admitted, “With 14 percent [black] unemployment if we had a white president we’d be marching around the White House.” If we don’t get some true leadership on this issue, perhaps it will be time to march around the White House, Congress and the headquarters of some of our civil rights organizations. George E. Curry, former editor-inchief of Emerge magazine, is editor-inchief of the National Newspaper Publishers Association News Service (NNPA.) He is a keynote speaker, moderator, and media coach. Curry can be reached through his Web site, www.georgecurry.com. You can also follow him at www.twitter.com/currygeorge.

a local newspaper revealed in explosive articles that he had abused it in 2008, igniting a four year federal investigation that culminated in a 10-day trial and a two and a half day jury deliberation, which resulted in his current fate. According to published reports, Freeman was among the highest paid union leaders in the nation commanding an annual salary of $200,000, but was convicted on tax counts that he failed to report $63,000 in income in 2006 and 2007. Last August he was indicted on charges that he embezzled from the statewide local, using some of the stolen money to pay for a lavish Hawaiian wedding. Other charges included violation of tax laws and giving false information to a mortgage lender. Freeman hired his wife Pilar Planells as a consultant paying her more than $540,000. She pleaded

guilty to a tax charge. The three investigation agencies, the U.S. Department of Labor, FBI and Internal Revenue Service painted a picture of Freeman as a man who funneled hundreds of thousands of dollars from his members dues and money from a related charity to his relatives, and also Four Seasons Resort golf tournaments and on a membership at an exclusive Beverly Hills cigar club. In 1996 Time magazine honored Freeman as a leader who was revitalizing the American Labor Movement. In 2003 he received The John F. Kennedy “Profiles in Courage” Award and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference “Drum Major Award.” Freeman told the newspaper that he does not know of his ultimate fate and that he would like for people to remember him for the many good deeds that he has done.

George E. Curry

On the eve of the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation, the outgoing governor of North Carolina, Beverly Perdue, issued an historic “Pardon of Innocence” to each member of the Wilmington Ten after a 40-year struggle for justice. This was a long sought-after victory for the Civil Rights Movement, the United Church of Christ, National Council of Churches, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, the National Wilmington Ten Defense Committee, the Congressional Black Caucus, and millions of people throughout the world who for many years demanded “Free the Wilmington Ten.” Famed civil rights Attorney James Ferguson and North Carolina Central University Law Professor Irv Joyner led the successful legal effort for the pardons. In particular the Wilmington Ten declaration by Gov. Perdue was a winning tribute to the effectiveness and commitment of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) that spearheaded the national campaign, led by Mary Alice Jervay Thatch and Cash Michaels, to encourage Gov. Perdue to issue the Pardon of Innocence. Yet, this was also a another important milestone of success for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and especially the North Carolina Conference of NAACP branches led by Rev. William Barber II who helped immeasurably to build enough public momentum during the last year to achieve such an unprecedented positive outcome. Victories for Black Americans, and for all others who stand freedom, justice and equality, do not come easy and do not occur without a prolonged, sustained struggle or “movement of people” that creates a “moment in history.” On behalf of the four deceased members of the Wilmington Ten – William “Joe” Wright Jr, Jerry Jacobs, Ann Shepard, and Connie Tindall – and on behalf of six living members of the Wilmington Ten – Wayne Moore, Willie Earl Vereen, Reginald Epps, James McKoy, and Marvin Patrick – I express our heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to all who helped to make this moment possible. Forty years is an awful long time for justice to be done, but we are thankful that this day has finally come. With 10 courageous strokes of her ink pen, Gov. Perdue acted to rectify what she described as a case of “naked racism.” We note that Gov. Perdue was under a lot of pressure from many different vantage points, but in the end she made the right decision based on her review of all the facts that had been presented to her. Limited space in this column will not permit the re-telling of the entire Wilmington story. Suffice it to say that this case was and continues to be about equal quality education for Black American students and for all students in public school systems in acrossAmerica. In 1971 in Wilmington, N.C. the city was racially polarized as a result of recent school desegregation and in 1972 the Wilmington Ten were unjustly framed, arrested, tried and sentenced collectively to 282 years in prison on false conspiracy, arson and assault

Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr. charges. Although we were all completely innocent of those false charges, it took 40 years to prove our innocence. It is important for the record to clarify that the victory of the Wilmington Ten would not have ever been possible if it were not for the 40-year support of the United Church of Christ (UCC). In the 1970s and 1980s, Rev. Charles Earl Cobb Sr., executive director of the Commission for Racial Justice of the United Church of Christ and Rev. Edwin R. Edmonds, chairman of the Commission for Racial Justice, along with Rev. Leon White, Rev. Bill Land, Irv Joyner, Rev. . Jeremiah A. Wright Jr,, T. Willard Fair, Rev. Robert V. Moss, Rev. Joseph H. Evans, Rev. Avery D. Post, Rev. Eugene Templeton and thousands of other pastors and members of the UCC provided the strong church leadership and support that gave the young people of Wilmington strategic solidarity and resolve to stand up to the insidious forms of racial injustice so prevalent at that time. Angela Y. Davis, Charlene Mitchell, Ann Mitchell, Michael Myerson, Maria Ramos and the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (NAARPR) did an outstanding job in building effective national and crucial international support of the Wilmington Ten and for the release of all political prisoners in the USA. Imani Kazana and the National Wilmington Ten Defense Committee remained steadfast in their support during critical stages of the case. I am recognizing and highlighting these persons and organizations to emphasize that building a successful movement for change involves keeping the faith, perseverance, diversity and coalition-building, and risk-taking actions guided by progressive principles of struggle and human integrity. Yes, 150 years after President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation as “an act of justice,” racism is still alive in the United States of America. Yet, there has been much progress accomplished toward racial justice for all people doing the last two centuries. President Barack Obama in his 2013 inaugural address stated, “That is our generation’s task – to make these words, these rights, these values of life and liberty and the pursuit of happiness real for every American.” The emancipation of the Wilmington Ten is a another step forward for the liberty and freedom for all.

Thursday, January 31, 2013

Allen Hughes flies solo PAFF Founder Ayuko Babu – All heart and soul promoting African with ‘Broken City’

Allen Hughes BY KIMBERLY C. ROBERTS SPECIAL TO THE NNPA FROM THE PHILADELPHIA TRIBUNE His early films “Menace II Society” and “Dead Presidents,” directed in tandem with his twin brother Albert, helped to establish the careers of Larenz Tate, Terrence Howard, Jada Pinkett Smith and Chris Tucker. Now Allen Hughes is at the helm of the crime drama “Broken City,” featuring a cast that includes heavyweights Mark Wahlberg and Jeffrey Wright as well as Academy Award winners Russell Crowe and Catherine Zeta-Jones. While the scene has since changed from the gritty street business of the ‘hood to the cerebral shakedowns of upper level politics, Hughes is equally adept at exposing the criminal psyche, whether the perpetrator is wearing saggy jeans or an Armani suit.

While in Philadelphia with Wahlberg to promote “Broken City,” his first feature film since “The Book of Eli” in 2010, Hughes talked about how the smart and timely screenplay by Hollywood novice Brian Tucker came to his attention. “It was on the Black List, which is the best unproduced scripts in Hollywood — the caviar of scripts,” the exotic and animated Hughes said during a lively roundtable discussion at the Rittenhouse Hotel. “My agent sent me three scripts, and your agent — you can always tell when they really like something. They go, ‘Hey, read these things (whispering, ‘Check this one out’).’ My agent did that a few times, but with the computers now I have a hard time reading when they send them, so actually I threw ‘Broken City’ in the trash two times. “There’s something about human beings — artists or whatever — you never know what they’re going through when they get something, and whatever I was going through, I read the first page and I was like, ‘I don’t understand this sh*t!’ Then something happened where I remembered the narrative and I was in a good place and I said, ‘Oh. It’s got a great heavy, it’s got a great lead, a great heroic redemption story there.’ Thank God, now you can drag it out of the trash. So I drug it out of the trash and I read the first 20 [pages] and I was like, ‘Oh sh*t! How did I miss this?’ Once a talented teen trying to make it in the film industry with Albert, who is nine minutes older, Hughes felt empathy for the struggling young screenwriter that is rare in Tinseltown. “I had Brian Tucker meet me at the Palm Restaurant in West Hollywood, and when I read the script initially, it was such a grown man’s script — lions’ dens and power brokers and politics and a lot of See HUGHES, page 11

culture and arts BY KENNETH MILLER CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Last September Ayuko Babu was at the annual Congressional Black Caucus Legislative Conference sitting in the audience of a panel discussion about African films. He unquestionably has such an astute resume that would have qualified him to lead the panel, but on this day Babu was just listening and taking notes and in the room of just roughly a dozen was one of the crowd. As renowned and revered as Babu is, perhaps his greatest human quality is that of humility which is why the 20th annual Pan African Film Festival has earned a reputation of being among the best in the world. When the festival unfolds from Feb. 9th through Feb. 20th in Baldwin Hills at the Rave Theatres and the Baldwin Hills Mall it will not just be reflective of harnessing a vision that Babu shared with his good friend and accomplished actor Danny Glover and Emmy Award winning actress Ja’Net DuBois, but also one the Crenshaw

Ayuko Babu community can embrace. “This is a place where people come from across the planet with all of their stories. For Black folks in Los Angeles it is a God sent experience of going around the world in 10 days without having to purchase an airline ticket,” Babu told the Sentinel in an exclusive interview. He founded the PAFF in 1992 with a goal of elevating the importance of independent filmmaking and establishing a platform for people of color to tell their stories on the big screen.

This year the festival comes on the heels of the highly controversial Oscar nominated film ‘Django Unchained’ that sparked an outpouring debate about slavery and the dreaded N-word. “Each year is different and an opportunity for voices to come out and tell our stories,” added Babu. While not specifically referring to ‘Django’, Babu explained that stories of film are always something new, ours are intimate, but the world of creativity is unlimited. See PAFF FOUNDER, page 11

Rihanna on dating Brown: A mistake? My mistake NEW YORK (AP) — Rihanna says if dating Chris Brown is mistake, she’s OK with that. The singer tells Rolling Stone in an interview that dating Brown makes her happy and “if it's a mistake, it’s my mistake.” She adds that she’s ready to go public with her singer-boyfriend. Four years ago, Brown attacked Rihanna and was charged with a felony. But rumors about their relationship emerged after the singers collaborated on songs and appeared in photos together. Rihanna says she knows that her history with 23-year-old Brown is “not the cutest puzzle in the world.” The 24-year-old also vows that Brown is “disgusted” by what he did in the past. She says the two have matured and they “know exactly what we have now, and we don’t want to lose that.” The magazine’s new issue hits newsstands Friday.

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Thursday, January 31, 2013

The Worm Turns: Rodman Rudy Gay headed writes book for children to Toronto

AP Photo/Arnulfo Franco, File

In this July, 31, 2012, file photo, former NBA basketball player Dennis Rodman appears during a news conference to announce his tour and charity work in Panama City. Rodman, one of basketball’s most outrageous personalities, has written a book for children. The Hall of Famer’s book, “Dennis The Wild Bull,” came out Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013. BY BRIAN MAHONEY ASSOCIATED PRESS Even Dennis Rodman laughs at the idea. “Kind of funny, huh?” he said. It’s true, though. One of basketball's most outrageous personalities has written a book for kids. The Hall of Famer’s book, “Dennis The Wild Bull,” came out Wednesday and fans will immediately recognize Rodman’s influence. The large red bull on the cover has flowing red hair, two nose rings, a tattoo and red stubble under his chin. “They’ll see me, literally see me. They’ll say, ‘Wow, this is just like him,’” Rodman said in a phone interview. And he deals with the same issues.

Rodman, known as much for his wacky looks and lifestyle off the court as his considerable success on it, said the purpose of the book is simple. “More than anything, I just want little kids today just to understand, ain’t no matter what you do in life, be different, rich or poor man, guess what, it’s OK to be who you are pretty much and you’ll be accepted,” Rodman said. Rodman already wrote books about his personal life — the wild nights as a player, relationships with Madonna and Carmen Electra, and everything that allowed him to be famous long after he finished winning five championships with Detroit and Chicago. The author whose previous works include titles such as “Bad as I Wanna Be” and “I Should Be Dead by Now” chose a different audience this time. He

said even now he is still recognized by children who never saw him play, and those are the ones he wanted to reach. “For a guy like me to be very eccentric, to even go to extremes to write a children’s book with all the wild things I do and make it believable was pretty much incredible,” Rodman said. Co-written with Dustin Warburton, the book tells the story of Dennis, a bull who is captured away from his family and forced to live with other bulls in a rodeo. Though he looks nothing like them, they come to accept him and he becomes friends with them. “Once I got to know the other bulls, I liked them,” Rodman said. “I enjoyed their company and stuff like that, and they accepted me for who I am no matter how I look.” Dennis becomes so close with them that when he plots his escape to return to his family, he makes sure his new friends can come with him. Dennis originally was to escape alone until Rodman decided to change the ending. “That’s not really Dennis. Dennis thought it was so cool that these other bulls accepted him and he stayed loyal to them. He wanted to see his family but he wanted these other bulls to come along,” said Darren Prince, Rodman’s marketing agent. “Anybody that knows the real Dennis Rodman knows how loyal he is to anybody that he’s close with and Dennis didn’t like that part, so they tweaked it at the end.” Rodman, ordered to pay $500,000 in back child support to his ex-wife last month, acknowledges a couple of his children on the cover, where two little bulls are pictured in front of Dennis. The book is available on Rodman’s website, www.dennisrodman.com, and Amazon for $16. His web site also has information regarding upcoming book signings in the New York area and Chicago.

Negro Baseball League playing cards launched SPECIAL TO THE NNPA FROM THE WASHINGTON INFORMER The United States Playing Card Company (USPC), makers of Bicycle® Playing Cards, is proud to announce the launch of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Playing Card Deck. Bicycle® Playing Cards has partnered with the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum by donating $0.15 per deck sold. “The mission of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum is to help preserve the rich history of African American baseball and we are excited that Bicycle® has developed this deck to support our cause,” said Bob Kendrick, president of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. “With partnerships like this, we will be able to share this history with generations to come.” Roy Gifford, USPC vice president of marketing added that the partnership with the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, “not only gave us access to the iconic logos and photos from the Negro Leagues archives to create a beautiful deck of cards, but more importantly it allowed us to support an organization who is protecting the amazing story of the Negro Baseball Leagues.” To find out more online about Bicycle® and the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum visit us atwww.bicyclecards.com, www.nlbm.com, www.facebook.com/bicyclecards, andwww.facebook.com/NegroLeaguesBaseballMuseum.

Rudy Gay BY JON KRAWCZYNSKI ASSOCIATED PRESS Rudy Gay is on his way to Toronto in the latest and most dramatic move in the Memphis Grizzlies makeover, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press. The Grizzlies agreed to trade their star swingman to the Raptors on Wednesday, parting with the leading scorer on a team that has aspirations of making a run in the powerful Western Conference. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the deal had not yet been announced. The Raptors gave up point guard Jose Calderon and forward Ed Davis in the deal, with multiple reports saying that Calderon was headed to Detroit in the three-team trade. The Pistons will send Austin Daye and Tayshaun Prince to Memphis, according to reports. Gay, averaging 17.2 points and 5.9 rebounds, signed a five-year, $82 million maximum contract in July 2010 with Memphis. The 6-foot-8 small forward is due $16.5 million this season with $37 million more over the next two years. That’s a big number for new

(AP Photo)

owner Robert Pera, who took over the franchise last November and has quickly started addressing the team's salary situation. Just over a week ago, the Grizzlies sent valuable reserve Marreese Speights and two other players to Cleveland in a move that cleared $6.4 million in salary and avoided a $4 million luxury tax hit this season. Team officials said that move put the Grizzlies in position not to have to make a move this season. Memphis coach Lionel Hollins had been lobbying to keep his five starters together the rest of this season, but he apparently lost that fight. “Wow,” Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley tweeted. Trading away Gay also eases a luxury tax hit due next season, while concentrating the team around center Marc Gasol and All-Star forward Zach Randolph. The Grizzlies had their best playoff run in 2011 when they knocked off then-No. 1 seed San Antonio before losing to Oklahoma City in seven games in the Western semifinals — all with Gay on the bench after needing season-ending shoulder surgery.

HUNTER Continued from page 4 and one I found to be true, is Romans 8:28, ‘And we know that all things work together for good to those who love the Lord and are called according to His purpose.’ “So I know in my own life, even the disappointments of life, have

worked for good. God knows what God is doing and He knows what we face. “I believe that ultimately, even this horrific chapter in my life and the life of my wife and family, will ultimately work for good and we will see the hand of the Lord in this and through this before it is all said and done.”

Thursday, January 31, 2013

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Babu attempts to explore and reveal through the festival “Our” story from more than 150 films, shorts ad documentaries, reflective of Africans from throughout the continent of Africa and America. They come from Jamaica, Canada, Soweto, Nigerian, South Africa and more, but that language as depicted in their stories on film is directly from the chorus of the heart, with a trumpeting spirit that captures the soul. When asked which films were creating the buzz for this year’s festival, Babu said,” It’s hard to say, but there is a documentary about Iceberg Slim produced by Ice T that clarifies the mystery of what he was all about.” He also pointed to a couple of others such as ‘Home Again’, as a film good for Blacks to see and ‘Otelo Bernie’, a film about South Africa and the liberation of South Africa centered abound an integrated surfing team. “Until we begin to understand and tell our ancient stories it will be difficult for us to see where we are going,”

Babu offered. The PAFF is a non-profit organization, which has been sponsoring more than 1000 students from local middle schools and high schools to attend the festival. Each weekend during the festival there will be a children’s festival from 10am-12pm for kids’ ages 4-12 where story telling will take place. It’s free to the public. A jazz concert will be held at the Baldwin Hills Mall that will also be free, and for those in the film business or who aspire to be in films there will be workshops and opportunities to meet filmmakers, producers and distributors. There are also the massive arts that will be available for purchase throughout, paintings, beads, jewelry and the like. As Babu would say it best, there is just no excuse to miss it…

HATE CRIME Continued from page 3 to prevent similar incidents from occurring. “I was shocked and saddened to learn about this senseless attack on an African American family in my hometown. No family should live in fear of gangs, especially not on their own street and in their own home.” “It’s a shame and we’re saddened by what’s happened but it’s not just happening in Compton. It’s happening all over,” said Basil Kimbrew, chair of the California Friends of the African American Caucus. The family who was victimized by these crimes is worried and has been relocated for their safety and is reportedly doing fine. Coalition members at the press conference included Councilmember Janna Zurita, Satra Zurita (clerk of the Compton Unified School District Governing Board of Trustees), Rev. Eric Lee (Black Community Clergy, Labor Alliance), Rev. K.W. Tulloss (L.A. president of the National Action Network), Basil Kembrew (chair of the California Friends of the African American Caucus), Paulette SimpsonGipson (president of the Compton NAACP) Albert Robles (vice-chair of the California Friends of the Latino Caucus), Larry Aubry (community activist and LA Sentinel Columnist) and Dr. Earl Ofari Hutchinson (president of the Los Angeles Urban Policy Roundtable). They challenged the district attor-

ney and justice department to impose the harshest penalties allowed for attacks based on race. Zurita insisted the incident does not define Compton. “We are no different. African Americans and Latinos have similar cultural values. We both have an incredible resilience in the face of difficult circumstances,” she said. Zurita offered early childhood education on racial harmony, cultural differences, tolerance, and respect as some solutions to the problem. “Let’s face it. There are many people, even in this day with an African American president, who still teach their children the ignorance of racism,” Zurita added. According to media reports, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will decide if the suspects should face federal prosecution. Jasmyne Cannick, a political consultant and Compton native said Blacks must take direct action to avoid feeling outnumbered and overwhelmed in their city. “We have to stop, every time we get some money or we decide we want to buy a house, buying a house in Rialto or Palmdale or outside of Compton because we want to get away from us. You can’t have it both ways. If you’ve got pride in being Black and pride in your city, you stay,” she stated.

PERRY Continued from page 2 Ridley-Thomas; Dr. J. Roy Morrison, president of the California State United Baptist Convention; Rev. K. B. Williams, pastor of Evening Star Missionary Baptist Church; and her daughter and granddaughters to officially unveil the signs which are now on display. Dr. Brent served the Evening Star Missionary Baptist Church from 1963 until his retirement in 2006. He passed away in October of 2012. During his tenure, Dr. Brent acted as assistant pastor, interim pastor and, on April 7, 1965, he was installed as the pastor of

Evening Star Baptist Church. Under his leadership, the congregation’s commitment to community grew. He was responsible for starting a daycare center, counseling services, Golden Age Club for seniors, a radio broadcast, community food bank program, and a gang prevention and intervention program. Perry represents the Ninth Council District, which encompasses a large portion of South Los Angeles, the Figueroa Corridor, and the Los Angeles Convention Center and Sports and Entertainment District.

GOVERNMENT REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES CHILD SUPPORT SERVICES DEPARTMENT The County of Los Angeles, Child Support Services Department, is soliciting proposals from qualified businesses, consortiums, partnerships or corporations to provide Legal Service of Process Services. Proposers who have demonstrated verifiable experience in Legal Service of Process are invited to submit a written proposal in accordance with the Request for Proposal package. Copies of the Request for Proposal package can be obtained beginning January 30, 2013 at 8:00 am., at the Child Support Services Department, 5770 South Eastern Avenue, Commerce, California 900402924, by calling Aimee Torres, Administrative Services Manager, at (323) 889-3365 or by e-mail to aimee_torres@cssd.lacounty.gov. There will be a mandatory Proposer’s conference held on March 13, 2013 at 9:30 am., at the Child Support Services Department, 5500 South Eastern Avenue, Commerce, California 90040-2924, Philip L. Browning Conference Room. 1/24, 1/31/13 CNS-2404941# WATTS TIMES

JACKSON Continued from page 3 working full-time in the Civil Rights Movement with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Reverend Jackson married his college sweetheart Jacqueline Lavinia Brown in 1963. They have five children: Santita Jackson, former Congressman Jesse L. Jackson, Jr., Jonathan Luther Jackson, Yusef DuBois Jackson, Esq., and Jacqueline Lavinia Jackson, Jr. LAWT: What plans do you have for this year’s economic summit? JJ: First, to gather people to discuss the new economic agenda. We just got through the political agenda with the inauguration of President Obama. Now, we have to deal with the economic agenda. No access to capital, needing more access to technology, etcetera. We want to call the banks to invest in America. In 2009 we had 600 black dealerships, today we have 200. We have lost TV and radio stations. We must re-strategize. LAWT: Given that we now have an African-American president and black billionaires, is this a post-racial

society? JJ: We don’t have a lot of black billionaires, actually. We are not in a post racial society. We are a multiracial society and substantially racist. We still need to access jobs and contracts — all those level playing fields are very much needed. LAWT: What would you say is the No. 1 economic issue AfricanAmericans are facing today? JJ: Access to a jobs. Next, the recovery of houses lost when the banks targeted our homes and businesses that move our future forward.

LAWT: Do you see Wall Street as being at odds with Main Street, or can the 1 percent be a part of the solution for the woes of the 99 percent? JJ: The 1 percent have received their needs through greed and lack of regulations — too few have too much and more have none. It’s too unequal and unbalanced. The middle class is sinking. A dormant few are at the bottom. LAWT: Thanks again for the time, Reverend Jackson, and best of luck with the Economic Summit. JJ: Thanks.

for three weeks and he cooked me a great pork — I love pork — and he cooked this great meal, and he’s over there like ‘Rain Man’ on his computer. He says, ‘You know what Allen? I can do anything with the push of a button! With the push of a button! Hey! Let me show you somethin’. Come over here.’ And he’s showing me pictures from when we went to Amsterdam 12 years ago. I’m going, ‘Sh*t! You got a picture of me doing that?’ “He cuts a lot. He does these interesting little films and no one gets to see them. That’s all he does. He makes films in a different realm, though.” Even so, the Hughes Brothers have

definite plans to collaborate in the future. “For sure! We’re gonna collaborate on everything, I think. It’s just gonna be one captain of each ship,” he said. Hughes was so impressed with the City of Brotherly Love that filming in Philly could be part of his future. “I would love to!” he said. “I don’t know the project, but this Philly thing is emblematic. It all started here really. It’s emblematic of every city, really. There’s incentives here too. There’s a flavor — there’s an energy here. It reminds me of Detroit in lots of ways — very white and very Black — a very interesting mash-up.”

HUGHES Continued from page 9 scotch and this type of Scotch and that type of Scotch — and I’m like, ‘I can’t wait to meet this 58-year-old white man who’s going to teach me about Scotch and politics!’ ‘cause it’s such a great script,” Hughes said. So I’m sitting there and then this young kid — looked like he was 19 — Black kid — walks up to me, and I’m like, ‘What is this kid walking up to me for? He must like ‘Menace’ or something.’ He goes, ‘Brian Tucker,’ and I went, ‘Oh. I guess I won’t be learning about Scotch and politics.’ “He was brilliant. He sat down and he was 26 at the time. He wrote [“Broken City”] when he was 24, and he was deflated because he had been through a lot with this script. By the time we got to it, it was a spec script. It was out of the system and he had been kind of abused with the script. So at the end of the meeting I said, ‘I’m going to make your movie, and I’m going to make it next. I promise you.” While “Broken City,” now in theaters, was a solo project, Hughes remains in close contact with his brother. “He’s halfway across the world doing what he does,” he explained. “He’s in Prague. I just shot a commercial out there. I was out there

REWARD Continued from page 5 reward now stands at $10,000 for the conviction of each suspect for a total reward amount of $20,000. “Thanks to members of the community who spoke up, one suspect is behind bars and off the streets,” said Ridley-Thomas. “We are calling on the community to once again come forward to help bring justice to the

friends and family members who have lost their loved one in this senseless crime.” Anyone with information is urged to contact Sergeant Perry or Detective Sloan of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau (323) 890-5500 or Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.

Thursday, January 31, 2013

2/2013

e v e n t LISTINGS

L.A. Watts Times Calendar, Compiled by Brandon I. Brooks, Co-Managing Editor 2/1 DISCOVER YOUR FAMILY TREE DURING BLACK HISTORY MONTH: Ron Higgins of the California African American Genealogy Society will share his knowledge of genealogical research and family history. WHEN: 6:00 p.m. WHERE: Department of Water and Power Community Room, 4030 Crenshaw Blvd in Los Angeles, California, 90008. The event is free to the public and hosted by the Allensworth Community Volunteer Assn., a non-profit organization who assists in preserving and interpreting the archaeologies and history of Allensworth, California, the first town in California founded by African Americans. For more info, call (323) 777-7833.

2/2 14TH ANNUAL BLACK COLLEGE EXPO: The Black College Expo (BCE) will return once again to Los Angeles celebrating 14 years of helping over 375,000 students get into

‘THE VOICE’ AUDITIONS L.A.: Do you have what it takes to be the next “VOICE”? NBC’s hit show “The Voice,” will be holding auditions looking for the best vocal talent for a chance to appear on the show. The producers are looking for all musical styles and if selected, the artists will be mentored by music industry professionals and compete weekly, with America deciding who is worthy of the grand prize. Singers should be prepared to share personal stories and explain why they are a star in the making. WHERE: Los Angeles Convention Center 1201 South Figueroa Street Los Angeles, CA 90015. WHEN: Saturday, February 2 and Sunday, February 3 – Doors open at 7:00 a.m. Applicants must be at least 15 years or older and a legal U.S. resident, and meet other eligibility requirements, to apply. All artists must register at http://www.nbc.com/thevoice/about/casting/. Once registered, they will be given an “Artist Audition Pass” with a day and time to show up to the open call.

FREE N ONE TRAINING INSTITUTE IS OFFERING A CERTIFIED CDAAC PROGRAM: Advance your career by becoming college and giving away over $500,000 in scholarships. WHEN: 9:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m. The event is open to the public. Event Type: Consumer Show. WHERE: Halls: West Hall A - Park in West Hall. For more information please contact Theresa Price at (909) 3960151. www.thecollegeexpo.org Admission: $10.00 - @ door $8.00 – Online Groups of 15+, please inquire about $7.00 each pricing Children 11 yrs. and under – Free Ticket booth located in West Hall lobby For more information call (877) 427-4100 or please visit www.thecollegeexpo.org.

BOOK PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION BY MICHAEL “MIKAL” SAAHIR: In celebration of Black History Month please join author and columnist, Michael “Mikal” Saahir, as he discusses his book “The Man Behind the Men”. “Man Behind the Men” A vivid portrait of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad’s contributions and influence on African American spirituality and culture. WHEN: 2:00 p.m. WHERE: AC Bilbrew Library150 E. El Segundo Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90061. For more information call (310) 538-3350 or visit colapublib.org.

a Certified Substance Abuse Counselor. The program is designed to meet the 155-hour state classroom requirement and equip the student for a career as a professional drug, alcohol and addictions counselor. Mandatory orientation, track planning and portfolio assessment will support you in becoming certified by the State of California. Orientation track planning. WHEN: 10 a.m. (Orientation track planning is required for registration). WHERE: 5838 Overhill Drive – Ste. #3, Los Angeles, CA 90043. For more information call (323) 2950009. First day of Class starts Monday, February 4, 2013 at 6p.m. *Please note: All classes are held evenings and weekends. A nonrefundable deposit of $200 is required and easy payment plans are available for full tuition. Track planning does not include cost of books, enrollment fees nor total cost of actual sessions or fees assessed by certifying body for membership. Orientation is mandatory. The curriculum will be discussed at orientation. AFFORDABLE! Deposit of $200 is required to start classes. EASY PAYMENT PLANS AVAILABLE.

ON GOING NOW – 2/28 WESSON ANNOUNCES AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH: Council President Herb Wesson has announced that in commemoration of African American Heritage Month, the City Council is sponsoring an exhibit “From Where We Come – The Art and Politics of Slavery” featuring contributions from the Bernard and Shirley Kinsey Collection and highlighting the 150th Anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation. WHEN: Thursday, January 29, 2013 through Thursday, February 28, 2013. WHERE: City Hall Over-Bridge Gallery 200 North Spring Street Los Angeles, CA 90012.

rienced teachers will help students explore specialized areas of science, reading, and math in fun and engaging ways as well as prepare students for the upcoming California standardized test. Additionally, throughout the program, students will have an opportunity to earn “scholar bucks” for prize redemption, receive free books, and participate in fieldtrips and community service initiatives. Program registration is $40.00, which includes the 1st session, t-shirt, and a Scholastic Weekly Reader magazine subscription. Weekly classes are $20/week, in which sibling discounts are available. For additional information about the program, contact Alexis Coleman, Program Director, at (310) 528-3845/ info@urbanscholarathletes.com or visit the website at www.urbanscholarathletes.org.

NOW – 4/7 CAAM PRESENTS GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN: The California African American

Photos by Malcolm Ali

NOW – 3/ 7 THE LOS ANGELES URBAN LEAGUE PRESENTS: “The 90 That Built L.A.,” an exhibit at the Museum of African American Art. This multi-layered exhibit chronicles and celebrates the League’s 90 plus year milestone of serving the city of Los Angeles, in addition to honoring 90 champions for change and equality, past and present. The exhibit will include personal artifacts from honorees; a retrospect of the social, economic, political and civic challenges and triumphs for Los Angeles residents of color and the League’s leadership and unwavering commitment to the community. WHEN: Museum hours are Thursday -Sunday: 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Monday –Wednesday the exhibit will be closed. Admission is FREE! Where: Museum of African American Art 3650 W. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90008 (Located on the 3rd floor of Macy’s at the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Mall). For more information call (323) 2947071 or visit www.theleague90.com. For more information on the Museum of African American Art, visit www.maaala.org.

NOW – 3/16 URBAN SCHOLAR SATURDAY ENRICHMENT ACADEMY: Urban Scholar Athletes, Inc. will conduct its Urban Scholar Saturday Enrichment Academy [Winter Term]. WHEN: Every Saturday, from January 19, 2013- March 16, 2013, from 11:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. WHERE: Darby Park Recreational Center, 3400 Arbor Vitae, Inglewood, CA 90305. The Academy is targeted for students currently in 1st-6th grade. Certificated and expe-

Museum (CAAM) presents the exhibition “Go Tell It On The Mountain.” The exhibit showcases 24 artists who examine Christianity’s role in fostering political action and social engagement. The exhibition’s curators, Nery Gabriel Lemus and Mar Hollingsworth, utilized James Baldwin’s 1953 novel of the same title, “Go Tell It On The Mountain,” as a point of departure to select a variety of pieces. The selections celebrate faith and, at times contrast, the oppositional forces within Christianity and the underlying tensions of religious control as well as human hypocrisy. WHERE: CAAM is located at 600 State Drive, Exposition Park, Los Angeles. For more information visit www.caamuseum.org or call (213) 7442024. Parking is $10 per vehicle and available on 39th and Figueroa streets.

NOW – 4/30 CRENSHAW/LAX CORRIDOR TRANSIT CORRIDOR – CONSTRUCTION NOTICE: Attention commuters and residents on 59th PL between 8th Ave and Crenshaw Blvd. As part of advance utility relocation activities for the Crenshaw/LAX Transit Corridor Project, Metro’s contractor, Metro Builders, will be relocating sewer lines on 59th Pl in the City of Los Angeles to make room for the underground section of the Crenshaw Light Rail Line. WHAT: Sewer Relocation. WHEN: Beginning approximately Monday, January 21 through approximately April 30; Monday through Friday. The anticipated work hours are from 7:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. weather permitting. WHERE: 59th Pl between 8th Av and Crenshaw Blvd. WHAT TO EXPECT: 59th Pl will be closed to through traffic in the vicinity of the construction activities. Parking restriction will be implemented in the immediate area of the construction. No parking will be allowed on 59 Pl on either side of the street between 8th Av and Crenshaw Bl during working hours. Interruptions to driveway access for homes on 59Pl will be coordinated by the Contractor. Access for pedestrians will be maintained outside of the construction zone. Access for the Fire Department and emergency responders will be maintained. For more information, call the Construction Relations Team at (212) 922-2736 or email us at crenshawcorridor@metro.net or visit metro.net/Crenshaw.

TO MAKE A CALENDAR SUBMISSION: Include event name, date(s), time, location, contact/RSVP information and admission price, if any. Use BRIEF paragraph format (no lists, line breaks, or all caps). All calendar submissions are space-permitting and may be edited for brevity. Send submissions, along with any images, to brandon@lasentinel.net with the subject heading “LAWT Community Events.” Please include text in the body of your email, not in an attachment.