FREE VOLUME 24 NUMBER 26
AUGUST 18, 2018
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GLBC 2018 Legislative Conference
Bishop Reginald T. Jackson urges black Georgians to ‘prepare for war’ DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond: The power of “And” By Valerie J. Morgan
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he Georgia Black Legislative Caucus kicked off its 2018 conference, “Let Freedom Ring,” with a fiery AME preacher who served as the event’s first keynote speaker. The two-day conference, Aug. 10-11, was held at the Allen Entrepreneurial Institute, located in the new city of Stonecrest. Bishop Reginald T. Jackson, Presiding Prelate Sixth Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, told attendees that black voters have the power to be the game changer when they go to the polls in November. Bishop Jackson laid out the groundwork
needed not only to elect Georgia’s first Democratic governor in decades, but for every candidate the GLBC wants all the way down the ballot in the upcoming general election. Said Bishop Jackson: “Everywhere I go people ask me: Well, do you think she can win in Georgia?” said Jackson, referring to Stacey Abrams, who is making a bid to become the nation’s first African American governor. “They act like it’s impossible and the first thing I do is remind them that we’ve got more than one black woman running statewide in Georgia. We got a black running for superintendent of schools. We got a black running for state insurance commissioner. And yes, all of them can win!” Bishop Jackson made his
remarks during the Eugene Tillman Prayer Breakfast, named for the first African American elected to the Georgia General Assembly after Reconstruction. The late Tillman served 16 years representing the Savannah area. Tillman, who was also a pastor, passed away in July 2009. Bishop Jackson set the tone for the conference, encouraging empowerment and unity throughout the community, including among church leaders. “Historically, the black church has been the conscience of the nation. But over the last 25 years, the conscience of the nation has been quiet,” he said. A sold-out crowd attended
SEE GLBC page 5
Bishop Reginald T. Jackson
State Rep. Billy Mitchell
Photos by Glenn L. Morgan
Attendees bow their heads at the Eugene Tillman Prayer Breakfast.
Emory Healthcare, DeKalb Medical to merge Sept. 1
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eKalb Medical and Emory Healthcare system are expected to become one healthcare system on Sept. 1. The Georgia Attorney General’s Office announced the final regulatory approval of the integration on Aug. 10, paving the way for the merger. Jonathan S. Lewin, MD, president and CEO of Emory Healthcare, expressed excitement over the partnership. “By combining a community health system and an academic health system, the communities and patients cared for by Emory Healthcare and DeKalb Medical will experience an even stronger quality of care with more accessibility to providers and specialty care,” Lewin said. The two health systems initiated their requests for a partnership in November 2017 through a formal Letter of Intent. The Federal Trade Commission approved the partnership in March 2018. The partnership application was then filed with the Georgia Attorney General’s Office, which has announced its decision. “We have been working for several months with Emory Healthcare to forge
Anthony Hill
Robert Olsen
Judge J.P. Boulee
DeKalb judge denies motion to dismiss charges against officer who fatally shot Anthony Hill By Valerie J. Morgan
a partnership that will position us to grow and meet our community’s needs for years to come,” says Bob Wilson, president and CEO of DeKalb Medical. “We are confident that being part of Emory Healthcare is the right choice for our community, our employees and our physicians, and are anxious to begin fully integrating into the Emory system.” The merge will include name changes for the former DeKalb Medical campuses: DeKalb Medical’s hospital on North Decatur Road will be named Emory Decatur Hospital; DeKalb Medical Hillandale will be named Emory Hillandale Hospital; and DeKalb Medical Long Term Acute Care at Downtown Decatur will be named Emory Long Term Acute Care. Both Emory Healthcare
SEE EMORY page 7
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eKalb County Superior Court Judge J.P. Boulee has rejected former DeKalb Police Officer Robert Olsen’s motion to drop all charges against him in the shooting death of Anthony Hill. The unarmed and naked Air Force veteran was roaming outside the Chamblee apartment complex where he lived when Olsen was dispatched to a possible signal 22(demented person) on March 9, 2015. Hill’s family said he was dealing with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Judge Boulee’s Aug. 14 ruling paves the way for the case to move forward to trial, although no date has been set yet. Olsen is facing two counts of felony murder, one count of aggravated assault, one count of making a false statement and two counts of violation of oath by a public officer. Olsen said he shot Hill in self-defense. However, the judge said in his ruling that Olsen failed to show that it was reasonable to believe that Hill was about to kill him, inflict great bodily injuring upon him or a third person, or commit a forcible felony. “As an initial matter, no evidence exists that Defendant ever believed that Hill was going to kilI him, and no witness testified that they thought Hill was capable of killing Defendant. Any belief by Defendant that Hill was about to kill him and that deadly force was necessary to prevent the killing was not reasonable,” Boulee
said in the ruling. “Because Defendant did not prove by a preponderance of the evidence that he was justified in using deadly force, Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss Based on SelfDefense Immunity is HEREBY DENIED.” Retired Lt. Army Col. Amos King, who heads Justice for Veterans in DeKalb County, said he is pleased the case is finally moving to trial. “We’re very excited. It’s been three long years. The family has suffered tremendously. Now it’s in the hands of DeKalb County citizens to decide,” said King, who has been on the front lines fighting for justice for Hill and his family. “As we move forward, we want to make sure that the public knows what is going on. We’re not finished yet. There are more cases that we’re dealing with. Hopefully, this one will be over before the end of the year. We believe the truth is going to prevail.” King thanked former DeKalb District Attorney Robert James for indicting Olsen, saying James showed “a lot of courage” in indicting a police officer. King also commended Eric D. Echols, a private investigator who tracked down several witnesses in the case. Echols was working for Attorney Chris Chestnut, who was representing Hill’s family at the time. Echols said he turned over all of his findings to the District Attorney’s Office. “I talked to several witnesses that the GBI never interviewed. One of them said he saw Olsen get out of the car and fire two shots, killing Anthony Hill. The witness said Hill never lunged at the officer,” said Echols.