City Safari: The restoration of St. Fergie’s whilst much of the Church remains gated

By Earl “Butch” Graves Jr. officers charged to protect and violence results in the loss of serve, did little - none of them black lives without regard or O ver the past few displaying a shred of decency consequence. days, civil unrest has or humanity. It represents I am a proud African gripped our entire the latest, and perhaps the American man who loves nation. This was due to the most disturbing, incident this country. I have close unwarranted and senseless of police brutality against friends and family of all murder of George Floyd in an African American man. races, and I pride myself on Minneapolis last week by a As such, I feel compelled to being measured and fair. I police officer who placed his share my personal thoughts have always tried to view the knee on the neck of Mr. Floyd because I cannot in all good circumstances of life as “the for nine minutes as he begged conscience remain silent while glass 3/4 full instead of 1/4 for his life, while three other the continuation of unchecked empty,” but my patience has

Center City Philadelphia's Community Newspaper

By Thom Nickels Contributing Editor

‘U p in the air’ is an apt description of the situation when it comes to the opening of Philadelphia’s restaurants and bars after the worst of the covid-19 pandemic. For Fergie Carey, owner of four restaurant/bars in the city, including the famous Fergie’s Pub at 1214 Sansom Street, the lockdown has been a time to spend time with his family. “I have dinner with my family every night. We watch movies, we play games.” He describes his time away from the restaurant scene, especially Fergie’s Pub, as not bad at all. Still, having four restaurants floating in the sea of NonBeing, is worrisome. Fergie says he’s used much of the virus sabbatical to refurbish and redo all of the woodwork inside the pub. “We’ve had all the floors refinished and the stairs refinished and the bar top refinished. The place has never been as clean in 26 years. The wood looks amazing. People will come back, walk in and say, “Wow, look at this!”

Fergie recalls what it was continued on page 4

truly run thin...and now I am tired! I am tired of watching innocent black men being targeted with violence at the hands of law enforcement. Tired of ignorant bigots taking the law into their own hands and feeling justified to confront black citizens. Tired of the media-driven, negative stereotypes that shape the dangerous narrative

June 10, 2020

Fergie Carey, owner of four restaurant/bars in the city

The Art of Systemic Racism

By Herman Bigham

Sporadic and individual acts of violence against Blacks are shocking and graphic, but the effects of the daily Systematic Racism must demand more attention & redress. The effects of the daily Systematic Racism suffered from the denial of education, healthcare, employment, investment, and mortgage financing causes a perinate state disability and poverty for Blacks through the nation. The dire conditions of Blacks in America will not change until the systems of disfranchisement (banks, mortgage; insurance; disinvestment and Redlining etc.) are dismantled and access to those pillars of community development are freely available and reparation for the centuries of “damages Paid”.

One of the most hidden and most despicable wellentrenched systems of exclusion is the multi – million dollar a year Global Auction Industry. The Sale of Cultural Treasures of African “Art” that were looted have been established as a whites only global industry. Both African Nations of individuals have been rendered impudent in having any cultural or scholarly authority, ownership or wright to participate in the art auction system.

Museum“quality” African masks.

African Art was stolen just like the art of the Jews during their holocaust and must be considered as such and a global system of reparation and restitution must be established. It has been knowledge that approximately. 90 % of the traditional Cultural material of Africa is in Western Hands.

After the mass plunder

Earl “Butch” Graves Jr.

surrounding young black men. Tired of white people calling the police on black people, and weaponizing the police because they are entitled, scared, or distrusting. Tired of overlooking the purposeful or passive suppression of talented black professionals in Corporate America. Tired of watching blackowned businesses struggle without access to capital. Tired of Corporate America loving the fruits of black culture, but not nurturing the tree that bears it.

Tired of the word “Diversity” which has been nothing more than a diversion away from black. Tired of systemic and institutionalized corporate racism which is masked by flowery mission statements and codes of conduct that are rarely enforced. Tired of the rise of the digital X and social media economy without commensurate ... reinvestment in the very market that has often led to its success. Tired of being disrespected in restaurants as if I were invisible. Tired of being followed in retail establishments as if I Page x were a threat to rob them. CHRISTENDOM Tired of not being afforded the same assumption of Sebastian competence and associated Barry may opportunities as my white not be exactly high school, college, and a household business school classmates. name here in Tired of explaining why I America... like to spend time with black people...while white

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BLACK HOUSE DEMS Black House Democrats took over the chamber’s rostrum Monday and demanded action on police reforms... Page 5

POLITICS ....................................3 NOTES ON MUSIC.........................7 FUNDRAISER...............................8 CLASSIFIEDS.............................11

exposure and exhibits of AA shall be upgraded and supported. This is only a portion of the “Reparation” repair for damages due to Africans from our 300 years of Holocaust experience which is mandatory to bring value to the return of our ACM.

The Debate Over Europe’s Stolen African Art The Daily Show https:// www.youtube.com/ watch?v=fOlmXQihow8

Canon: A MiniSymposium | Rethinking the Canon: African Collectors and the Canon of African

Art https://1drv.ms/v/ s!AtVGqcmBiF3lqw1W4XMha-7LA1l?e=9a6Dlo Sylvester Okwunodu

DOMB

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impact.” The initiative launched with a focus in West Philadelphia through the coordination of the West Philadelphia Corridor Collaborative and collaboratively working with Barristers. The Office of Councilmember Jamie Gauthier and the Enterprise Center provided additional support to launch the program. Small businesses can contact a staff member at Councilmember Domb’s Office at 610-304-8529 to schedule a virtual meeting with an attorney volunteer. WPCC and other community leaders have been distributing hundreds of flyers throughout the community to connect with small businesses in need. “As Black lawyers of conscience, we are proud to pitch in and support

KRASNER

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(M1), and related offenses.

In Hall’s third case, she is alleged to have falsely reported as stolen the rental car she had been driving and which was used in the incident resulting in injury to police officers. Video evidence shows Hall abandoning the vehicle Ogbechie, PhD, Associate Professor of Art History, UC Santa Barbara, By Herman Muli Bigham producer and presenter over twenty five (25) exhibitions of AA that have been featured in approx. (45) National publications and on numerous television shows viewed by Over Three million,

viewers in (20) cities

nationally. My You tube Channel; “African Art legacy” https:// www.youtube.com/ channel/UCWaTd1Ek3whhFFruawLAJA - Herman Bigham hblj2@aol.com 254-733- 368-880

YouTube Channel “African Art Legacy “ https://www. youtube.com/ channel/UCWaTd1Ek3whhFFruawLAJA

Black businesses and community leaders as they bravely pick up the figurative and literal pieces of their lives and livelihoods,” said Barristers President David C. Williams.

For businesses that do not have access to technology, the Enterprise Center in West Philadelphia is providing support to connect with attorney volunteers to conduct the virtual meetings. The virtual meetings can be coordinated to accommodate schedules as necessary. The PHL Emergency Business Insurance Support is available to all small businesses across the city needing assistance to review and file claims. The initiative is working with all district councilmembers to identify additional community partners to help expand the outreach to other impacted business corridors.

on the 6300 block of Eastwick Street later the same night as the first two incidents. The following morning, she reported the vehicle stolen by calling 911. The DAO has charged Hall with Obstruction of Justice (M2) and False Reports to Law Enforcement Authorities (M2).

“This individual’s criminal actions are egregious and resulted officers her requirements around current use of force protocols and laid out a critical change— requiring all uses of force to be reported via Police Radio. She will go further with detailed guidance regarding the circumstances under which firearms may and should be unholstered or pointed, and mandates for the reporting of such actions. She will expand the current use of force protocol, which explicitly prohibits chokeholds, to also explicitly prohibit sitting or kneeling on a person’s neck, face or head.

Eliminate proposed increase to Philadelphia Police

Department Budget: The Administration will work with City Council to reduce the Police Department Budget to FY20 funding levels.

Create a permanent, civilian Police

Oversight Commission: The City will support City Council Legislation on the creation of an Independent Police Oversight Commission placed in the Home Rule Charter, which will be empowered to conduct contemporaneous, independent review of civilian complaints and use-of-force incidents. We will discuss specifics of the Commission with City Council.

Increased transparency of each complaint against police officers for its entirety through Internal Affairs and the Police Advisory Commission (PAC):

The Philadelphia Police Department (PPD) will expand reporting of civilian complaints and

in serious, possibly permanent injuries to a police officer who was responding to a situation that was already dangerous. My thoughts are with this officer and his loved ones at this time: I hope your recovery will be speedy and complete,” District Attorney Krasner said. “This office intends to hold Angela Hall accountable for the severe harm she has caused Officer Nieves.” A preliminary hearing for Hall has been scheduled for 9:00 a.m. internal investigations to include the posting of quarterly complaints against police, including unique anonymized officer identification numbers, districts, type of complaint, full text of complaint, complaint disposition, and demographic information of the complainant. The PPD will establish specific criteria for the designation of an investigation as internal or external. The PPD will also establish systemic tracking and public reporting of incidents in which officers witness inappropriate or excessive force by another officer.

New staff positions focused on misconduct, brutality, equity and other relevant issues:

The City will create a Deputy Inspector General focused on deterring, detecting, preventing, and eradicating waste, fraud, and abuse within law enforcement agencies. The Deputy Inspector General will also further review policies and practices of those agencies. Additionally, Commissioner Outlaw is working to build out her leadership team within the Department and has committed to hiring an Equity Manager, who will be charged to review all policies and practices of the Department through an equity lens. The Equity Manager will also assist with increasing diversity of new hires. This person will report directly to the Commissioner.

Transparency regarding Internal Affairs investigations and status of police

misconduct: The Police Department will issue a quarterly report on Internal Affairs activity that includes the number of complaints filed, the types of complaints, and the current status of those complaints. The City will continue working with advocates and government leaders to examine other ways to increase transparency around Internal Affairs. The Police Commissioner is reviewing all protocols related to the disciplinary process and the Police Board of Inquiry.

Establishing an early warning system for detecting problematic officer behavior:

Commissioner Outlaw is reviewing technology solutions to implement a system to track indicators for serious misconduct and to enable non-disciplinary remedial action.

on Wednesday, June 24th. In light of court closings and the injuries to Officer Nieves, that hearing date may be continued. The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office is the largest prosecutor’s office in Pennsylvania, and one of the largest in the nation. It serves the more than 1.5 million citizens of the City and County of Philadelphia, employing 600 lawyers, detectives, and support staff. The District Attorney’s Office is responsible for prosecution of approximately 40,000 criminal cases annually.

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Changes related to

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