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SUNDAY • JULY 17 • 2016
LJWorld.com
RACIAL UNREST FELT IN LAWRENCE
Sisters With A Purpose group vows to make a positive impact
Vigil prompts race discussion among school board members
By Conrad Swanson
When Jazmyne McNair was in middle school, she was called into a room and told she was in trouble. She and another student had been seen on the school’s surveillance video posting negative comments on someone’s locker, school staff told her. The problem was, McNair didn’t know anything about the incident. “All I knew was that I was about to McNair get suspended for something that I didn’t do,” said McNair, who is now a student at Lawrence High School. “For about an hour I was persistently telling them I had no idea what was going on.” McNair said that it wasn’t until a white student, who had been correctly implicated in the incident, said it wasn’t McNair in the video that she was free to go. McNair, who is black, said such incidents aren’t isolated. For her and other students of color, school is often where they first encounter negative racial stereotypes, including the belief that they get into trouble or are untrustworthy. Those collective experiences are part of what prompted McNair to speak up Sunday at the Black Lives Matter candlelight
By Rochelle Valverde Twitter: @RochelleVerde
Twitter: @Conrad_Swanson
Tired of crying, Natasha Neal vowed to make a change. The morning of July 7, Neal said she awoke to a phone call telling her about a recent shooting. In the days prior, two black men had been shot to death by poAfter that lice officers moment I — Philando Castile was decided I’m killed in Falnot going to con Heights, sit and cry Minn., on July no more. I’m 6, and Alton was not just going Sterling killed in Baton to sit and Rouge, La., on post (on the July 5. Little did internet.) I’m she know that going to take in just a few action.” hours, the bad news would grow. On the — Natasha Neal, evening of founder of Sisters July 7, during With A Purpose a demonstration regarding the shootings in Louisiana and Minnesota, 12 police officers in Dallas were shot, and five died from their injuries. “Immediately the tears started, even before I knew a name,”
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Please see SISTERS, page 8A
Nick Krug/Journal-World Photo
IN RESPONSE TO TWO BLACK MEN being recently shot and killed by police in Baton Rouge, La., and Minneapolis, Natasha Neal, front, and Monique Richardson are taking action. Neal, along with help from Richardson and others, formed the group Sisters With A Purpose to improve race relations in Lawrence.
Please see SCHOOLS, page 8A
‘Religious freedom’ bill likely to be campaign issue in Kansas By Peter Hancock Twitter: @LJWpqhancock
Topeka — Three of the four members of the U.S. House from Kansas have signed on as co-sponsors of a proposed “First Amendment Defense Act,” which critics say would legalize discrimination against gays, lesbians and transgender
individuals. But a spokesman for U.S. Rep. Lynn Jenkins of Topeka, whose 2nd Congressional District includes Lawrence and who serves on one of the committees considering the bill, said she is Jenkins still undecided about the bill, although he indicated that their
Jenkins’ press secretary Michael Byerly. Jenkins serves on the House Ways and Means Committee, one of two committees assigned to consider the bill. That committee has not yet scheduled hearings on the bill. But the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, the other panel assigned to
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Jenkins sympathizes with the concerns of its supporters. “The Congresswoman has always believed inalienable rights are inherent to all people, and as Americans we cannot tolerate the persecution of any group because of religious beliefs,” said
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Today’s forecast, page 6C
by Patrick Hamilton
Sanity may not be the prize it appears.
July 15, 16, 17*, 27, 29, 31*, 2016
the bill, held hearings Tuesday, where the committee chairman, Rep. Jason Chaffetz, RUtah, said he believes the bill is necessary to protect the rights of religious institutions in light of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision last year legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide. Please see RELIGIOUS, page 7A
Vol.158/No.199 38 pages
Pooches of all kinds took over the Douglas County Fairgrounds Saturday as the County Fair kicked off its 4-H events with its annual pet and dog show. Page 3A
Victorian villainy with equal doses of mystery, psychology and sin.
July 22, 23, 24*, 26, 28, 30, 2016
7:30 p.m., *2:30 p.m. Stage Too!
7:30 p.m., *2:30 p.m.
by Mary Chase
William Inge Memorial Theatre
Murphy Hall, 1530 Naismith Dr. | 785-864-3982 | www.KUTheatre.com