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1 :: WWW.CNYVISION.COM - WEEK OF JUNE 21 - 27, 2012 Syracuse, NY 1 :: WWWWWW .CCNYVISIOIONIONON.COO. MM - - WEEWEEWEEEEEK OOK OOK OF JF JUNEUUNENEEEEE 212121212 2277 202012 122SSySyyrararaaacccccucucuc ssssesse,, , NNYK OOK OOK OF JF JUNUUNNEEENENE 2221 212 - 2727,27, 20201212K K OOK OF JF UNUNNEEE 21 21 2 ,, 2012VOL 3. NO. 27 june 21 - 27, 2012

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Syracuse, NY

A SYMBOL OF CIVIL RIGHTS

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REPORTERSRodney Brown Sharlene McKenzie

CONTRIBUTORSKofi QuayeJames Haywood RollingEarl Ofari HutchinsonBoyce Watkins

CNY Vision is a publication of Minor-ity Reporter, Inc. We are a family of publications and other media formats committed to fostering self awareness, building community and empowering people of color to reach their greatest potential. Further, CNY Vision seeks to present a balanced view of relevant issues, utilizing its resources to build bridges among diverse populations; taking them from information to under-standing.

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In This Issue

COVER: Pgs 6-7-Remembering Rodney King: A Symbol of Civil Rights

CALENDAR Pg 2 LOCAL Pgs 3-4-Bankers Healthcare Group Presents Inaugural Excellence in Health Care Awards- SU Students Take Second Place in Robotic Lawnmower Competition- Citizen Review Board Sustains Charges- Dr. Belfon-Kornyoh Joins SCHC

STATE Pgs 4-5

- Cuomo, Lawmakers Agree on Online Child Porn Bill- NY Woman Jailed on Decade-Old Traffi c Summons- Woman, Son Injured by Hit-and-Run Driver in NY

NATIONAL Pg 8

- Exclusive: FAMU Marches On

COLUMNS: Pg 10

- Who Are The Real Victims of Youth Violence?

By Kofi Quaye

- Can The Tea Party Clean Up It’s Racist Act?

By Earl Hutchinson

-Time for $10-an-Hour Minimum Wage

By Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr.

-Are Black Men Afraid of Successful Women?

By Boyce Watkins

Syracuse, NYSyracuse, NYracuse, NYacuacussraVOL 3. NO. 27 june 21 - 27, 2012 Syracuse, NY

CALENDARJUNE

JUNE

FOR ADULTS: One on One Computer TrainingSet up a one-on-one appointment at Beauchamp Library to learn the basics of using a computer, including the Internet & Microso Word. Please contact Paschal Ugoji at 435-3395.

GED Classes: Monday thru FridayTime:9:00 am – 11:30 amLoca on: Beauchamp Branch Library - 2111 South Salina St.Free study sessions designed to help those who are interested in obtaining their GED. Must Sign-Up. Contact Pat Booker 435-6376.

13, 14, 19, 20 and 21 GED ClassesTime: 9:00 m Loca on: White Branch Library - 763 Bu ernut StreetCatch these free study sessions designed to help those who are interested in obtaining their General Equivalency Diploma, the equivalent to a high school diploma. No registra on required, just come in and get started on your new future.

13, 19 and 20English for Speakers of Other Languages - ESOL ClassesTime: 12:30 pm Loca on: White Branch Library - 763 Bu ernut Street These free English language classes will teach grammar, vocabulary, reading and wri ng so that non-na ve speakers will learn to more clearly and eff ec vely communicate in everyday situa ons.

14, 21 and 28Free One-on-One Computer Instruc onThursdays – By Appointment OnlyTime: 1:00-2:00 pmLoca on: Central Library - 447 South Salina St.Learn how to do basic computer tasks in a Windows environment, set up email, or navigate the Internet! Call 315.435.1900 to register or for more details.

19 and 26Teen Book ClubTime: 4:00-5:00 pmLoca on: Central Library - 447 South Salina St.The Teen Book Club is for teens in grades 7-12. We’ll discuss great reads, socialize and have fun.

22 and 29Adult English Language Conversa on GroupTime: 10:30 amLoca on: White Branch Library - 763 Bu ernut StreetEnglish language learners can prac ce speaking English at this free drop-in conversa on group that is designed to provide an opportunity to speak in an informal, relaxed atmosphere. Individuals are welcome to a end whenever they can. No registra on is necessary for this free program.

23 Cooking-Up LiteracyTime:2:00 pmLoca on: Beauchamp Branch Library- 2111 South Salina St.A wonderful combina on of reading, math, cooking, and ea ng for children to enjoy. Ages 5-13yrs. *Please Sign-up at Beauchamp Library 435-3395*A wonderful combina on of reading, math, cooking, and ea ng for children to enjoy. Ages 5-13yrs. *Please Sign-up at Beauchamp Library 435-3395*

25FOR CHILDREN:Loca on: Paine Branch Library - 113 Nichols Ave.DREAM BIG READ is the theme of this year’s Summer Reading Program for children. The program starts June 25 and ends on August 8. Children preschool-6th grade are invited to read books, enjoy shows and win prizes! To register please visit the branch or call 435-5442.

25 August 4“OWN THE NIGHT” Teen Summer Reading ClubLoca on: Pe t Branch Library - 105 Victoria PlaceStudents entering grades 6 through 12 may par cipate in the Teen Summer Reading Program. Registra on begins June 4 and will con nue throughout the program. Readers will receive a “Book Buck” for every 100 pages read, to be used at a silent auc on for grand prizes. Library card fi nes for overdue books only may be waived a er reading and repor ng on fi ve books during the program. In July, join us for our fi rst ever a er-hours “Lock-In.” Par cipa ng Teens will have the library to themselves (plus a random librarian or two) from library closing me at 8 pm un l midnight. Pizza! Black light dance session with Pulse Fitness Studio! Music! Fun!


Syracuse, NY--Syracuse newly-revised Ci zen Review Board met on June 1, 2012 to review the tes mony and facts related to allega ons of police misconduct and excessive force brought by Adam C’DeBaca and Risa Cantu C’DeBaca on Jan. 19.

According to a le er sent by CRB Administrator Joseph Lipari, on the charge of misconduct against the police offi cer and Sergeant, “the CRB found a lack of truthfulness in their statements,” thus the CRB sustained the charge. The CRB panel could not resolve the primary allega on of excessive force “because of insuffi cient evidence.”

The complainants say they were assaulted by the Syracuse police

during a raid on the Occupy Syracuse Encampment.

According to documents from the Ci zen Review Board, Risa and Adam were going to the Occupy Syracuse site to bear witness to the raid and destruc on of the camp. They arrived shortly a er 3:40 am and parked in the lot behind the encampment, entering on Clinton St., parking about seven spaces into the lot. As they began to walk towards the scene a cop yelled at them to “stop!” They then backtracked around a sedan next to their car in an eff ort to clear the area. The cop screamed “I told you to stop!”

At this point, the cop a acked Risa and Adam, running toward them, grabbing them and throwing them up against

the sedan. The cop violently held both of their arms. Adam said “We are not resis ng.” Risa screamed “You are hur ng me! Stop! You are hur ng my arm!”

A er several seconds, Adam asked “Are you detaining us, or are we free to go?” Upon hearing these words, the cop let both Adam and Risa go. Risa and Adam immediately documented the injuries that Risa sustained. The police offi cer twisted Risa’s arm so forcefully that his nails dug into her skin, which le a mark on Risa even though she was wearing several layers of winter clothes.

The le er concludes by sta ng that the CRB “has transmi ed these fi ndings to the Chief of Police along with a

recommenda on for an appropriate level of discipline.” It con nues to state, however, that “the CRB is barred from informing you of the specifi c discipline recommended.” According to Adam C’DeBaca, this “so-called ‘protec on’ seems to invalidate the intended public process of the CRB.”

Adam con nued to state that “We are glad that the CRB validated that the police were indeed lying. Risa and I have repeatedly stressed that our incident was rela vely minor in comparison to other incidents of police brutality in Syracuse. We hope that the people of Syracuse con nue to fi ght back against police brutality and misconduct, and also con nue to fi ght for a more eff ec ve CRB.”

Ci zen Review Board Sustains Charges of “Untruthfulness in a Police Statement”

Bankers Healthcare Group Presents Inaugural Excellence in Health Care AwardsSYRACUSE, N.Y./PRNewswire/ -- Bankers Healthcare Group, a leading provider of fi nancial solu ons to health-care professionals, announced that it will be hos ng the inaugural Excellence in Health Care Awards at a recep on at The Oncenter on October 30, 2012. The event will recognize the region’s top health-care industry leaders, innovators, and companies.

“Our goal is to draw a en on to these individuals and/or organiza ons in

Central New York, Mohawk Valley, the Finger Lakes, Greater Binghamton, and the North Country,” explaind the organiza on in a press release to media. “The awards recep on will recognize individuals in the following categories: Physician of the Year; Nurse of the Year; Offi ce Manager of the Year, Health Care Volunteer of the Year; Innova on in Health Care; Educa on in Health Care, and Den st of the Year.”

“As an organiza on that works solely with health-care professionals, we understand the hard work and sacrifi ce required to deliver high-quality care,” said Albert Crawford, owner and CEO of Bankers Healthcare Group. “BHG is honored to take part in recognizing the achievements and innova ons of the upstate health-care community.”

Finalists will also be profi led in a special supplement to be published in the Central New York, Mohawk Valley

and Greater Binghamton Business Journals.

For more details on the event or informa on on how to nominate, please contact Events Manager, Joyl Clance of BizEventz, Inc., producers of the event, at 315-579-3917 or email [email protected].

SOURCE: Bankers Healthcare Group

SU Students Take Second Place in Robo c Lawnmower Compe onBy Ariel DuChene

A team of four Syracuse University students took second place in the sta c compe on at the ninth annual ION Robo c Lawnmower Compe on in Beavercreek, Ohio. The SU team spent $37,000 less on its design than the winning team.

Descrip on: sumoAndrew Cash, Chris Budwey, David Perra and Minghao Ruan created the Autonomous Lawnmower as a part of their senior design project in the L.C. Smith College of Engineering and Computer Science. The aim of the compe on, which took place May 31-June 2, was to determine which team could successfully cut the most lawn while avoiding obstacles

and staying within boundaries. The team’s prize is $1,500, which will be split between the four members.

The Syracuse University mower (SUMo) is a self-contained, unmanned, autonomous lawnmower that uses various onboard sensors and cameras to navigate a predefi ned mowing region. The SUMo was signifi cantly less expensive than the Laser Imaging Detec on and Ranging (LIDAR) systems and direc onal GPS used by the 10 other teams. Parts on the SUMo were less than $3,000, while the next cheapest contest entry was over $10,000 and the most expensive over $50,000.

“We are very proud of the fact that

we were able to compete with these much more expensive mowers, and with groups that have had past experience,” says Cash.

In addi on to second place in the sta c compe on, the team received two “gag” awards. One was for the zero-turn radius, a product of the four-wheel drive system on its mower. The second was for the appearance of its mower, which Cash described as “a heavily modifi ed PC.”

California State University, Fullerton won fi rst place in the sta c compe on.

“We lost to a team that used direc onal GPS and LIDAR systems, which had a cost of over $40,000 and three years

of experience,” says Cash. “So, there was no shame in losing to them.”

The goal of the SUMo is to provide an aff ordable autonomous lawn mowing system to the consumer realm, specifi cally targe ng people with disabili es, the elderly and those who have a need. The SUMo is currently designed for sta c obstacle avoidance, but maintains the complexity for more challenging tasks. The team of electrical engineers hopes that a new team will take on the project next year and refi ne what they have accomplished.


Dr. Latrice Belfon-Kornyoh, MD Joins Syracuse Community Health Center

Syracuse, NY – Dr. Latrice Belfon-Kornyoh, MD has joined the SCHC Family of health care providers this month as a pediatrician and Lead Provider of Pediatrics and School Based Health Centers at our main health care delivery site located at 819 S. Salina Street Syracuse, New York. Syracuse Community Health Center, Inc. is comprised of 15 healthcare delivery sites, serving more than 45,000 pa ents annually in the Central New York Community.

Dr. Belfon-Kornyoh graduated from the State University of New York, University at Buff alo School of Medicine with a Doctor of Medicine degree in 2004.

A er obtaining her doctorate degree, she completed her residency at the State University of New York at Buff alo, Department of Pediatrics. Dr. Belfon-Kornyoh obtained her undergraduate degree in biology and chemistry from Clafi n University, South Carolina and is cer fi ed by the American Board of Pediatrics. She is a member of the American Associa on of Pediatrics.

Dr. Belfon-Kornyoh is an outstanding pediatrician who has demonstrated her dedica on and commitment to the high quality and standards of pediatric services.

Syracuse Community Health Center,

Inc. is commi ed to retaining and recrui ng highly qualifi ed providers who are commi ed to excellence and the highest quality of care for our pa ents.

For more than 30 years, SCHC has provided high quality health care services in Syracuse and its surrounding neighborhoods for families who might not otherwise have access to medical services.

Cuomo, Lawmakers Agree on Online Child Porn BillBy MICHAEL GORMLEYAssociated Press

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - New York leaders have agreed to a bill that will again make viewing all child porn online illegal under state law, a measure needed because of a high court ruling that shocked the bill’s sponsor.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo and leaders of the Senate and Assembly on Sunday said they reached agreement on legisla on making all viewing of child pornography online illegal. It is in response to a Court of Appeals ruling in May that said New York’s law was

outdated, technologically, because it required a viewer to download or otherwise directly access child porn for it to be considered possession.

Today’s video streaming and other internet advances no longer require that ac on to, as the law defi nes it, ``possess’’ child pornography.

``Today, just a month from the me that ci zens of New York and our na on were shocked and off ended by a loophole that prevented the appropriate prosecu on of individuals who view child pornography, we have eff ec vely changed the law,’’ said Sen.

Mar n Golden, a Brooklyn Republican.

``When it comes to protec ng children, we can’t allow loopholes in the law,’’ said Assemblyman Joseph Lentol, a Brooklyn Democrat.

The state law now more closely resembles the federal law. The federal law can be used when a federal agent is involved in the inves ga on.

The bill will now be ready for its expected passage in Assembly and Senate votes by the end of the legisla ve session on Thursday.

Cuomo said Sunday he will sign the law.

``Together with my colleagues in the Senate and Assembly, we are taking every precau on to ensure that our children are protected and that jus ce is served,’’ Cuomo said.

The court in making its ruling urged the Legislature to act. As recently as Friday, Golden was concerned the Assembly might not agree on a measure in me to be printed for the end of the session.

NJ Woman Jailed on Decade-Old NYC Traffi c SummonsNEW YORK (AP) — A New Jersey woman says she spent a night in a New York City jail a er police discovered she had a decade-old traffi c summons.

Krystle Garcia tells NBC New York that she was arrested Thursday at a Manha an checkpoint.

Garcia was 17 when she received the forgo en summons. It was issued because she did not have an insurance card with her.

Garcia said she received, and paid,

other ckets in New York a er that. She was able to renew her New Jersey driver’s license and registra on without any issues.

Garcia, who works in New York City, agreed to a $155 fi ne. But she said her 14-hour ordeal in a holding cell was “horrifying.”

She said she shared her story because she doesn’t want it to happen to anyone else.

Woman, Son Injured by Hit-and-Run Driver in NYNIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (AP) — Authori es in western New York are searching for the driver a vehicle that struck a woman and her 6-year-old son as they crossed a street.

Police in Niagara Falls tell local media outlets that the woman and the boy were crossing a street shortly a er 10 p.m. Monday when they were struck

by a vehicle whose driver didn’t stop.

The woman is listed in cri cal condi on at a Buff alo hospital, while the boy is listed in good condi on.

Police say they’re looking for an older-model maroon vehicle with front-end damage and possibly a broken window.


NY Agrees to Sweeping Reform of Disabled CareBy MICHAEL GORMLEYAssociated Press

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - Some of New York’s most vulnerable ci zens will be protected by a hotline, special inves gators and other measures aimed at improving a system marked by years of abuse and death among the disabled in state facili es.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo and legisla ve leaders said Sunday they agreed on a sweeping reform which, for the governor, fulfi lls a major legisla ve goal. The deal was announced in me for the bill to be passed by end

of the Legislature’s regular session on Thursday. Saying this issue is ``personal,’’ Cuomo had threatened to keep lawmakers in Albany beyond Thursday if the measure didn’t become law.

Recent governors have been dogged for years by outcry from whistle blowers within the system and a chilling New York Times series that was published this year about abuse in the massive bureaucracy caring for 1 million people. The system cares for mentally and physically disabled New Yorkers of all ages along with those with what are defi ned as special needs, such as those resul ng from au sm.

The bill will include a hotline for workers and others to report abuse, a special prosecutor and an inspector

general for the protec on of people with special needs.

In response to a push by the Assembly’s Democra c majority for greater independent oversight of the new ``jus ce center’’ system, an advisory board will be established.

``This new law will help us protect the civil rights of the more than 1 million New Yorkers with disabili es and special needs who for too long have not had the protec ons and jus ce they deserve,’’ Cuomo said Sunday.

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said his need for independence in the system was addressed.

``The Empire State’s system for the care and treatment of people with disabili es will be transformed,’’ Silver said. ``With the crea on of an independent Jus ce Center for the Protec on of People with Special Needs, parents will be able to get informa on on allega ons of abuse and know that these cases are taken seriously.’’

For at least one advocate who lost a son in the system the poli cal deal struck Sunday night isn’t enough.

``Over 20 safety and abuse preven on measures, many that are in place in prisons, were never bothered to be introduced,’’ said Michael Carey, who

turned into a full- me advocate for reforming system in which his son, Jonathan, died in 2007. ``This is not about protec ng the disabled. ... It is more of the exact same of the fox guarding the hen house.’’

He wanted greater involvement by police and prosecutors outside of the state’s execu ve branch to monitor the state workers and nonprofi t agencies opera ng under state contracts.

Federal offi cials last year faulted the state Commission on Quality of Care & Advocacy for Persons with Disabili es for a lack of independence from the state agencies it oversees. The agencies themselves primarily do their own internal inves ga ons of staff abuse and neglect complaints, while the commission’s probes and fi ndings of wrongdoing are referred back to the agencies.

The commission was created in 1977 a er the Willowbrook scandal. Overcrowding, fi lth and abuse at Willowbrook, a state ins tu on on Staten Island housing more than 6,000 mentally disabled children, led to a class-ac on federal court se lement and its eventual closure.

In May, Cuomo said there were more than 10,000 allega ons of abuse against disabled New Yorkers in state-funded facili es last year.

Major elements of the bill include a special prosecutor and inspector general to inves gate and prosecute cases of neglect and abuse. There will also be a 24-hour hotline run by trained staff , along with a comprehensive database to make sure abusive workers aren’t again employed in other facili es, a frequent complaint in recent years. There will also be a study of abuse pa erns and trends to guide training to avoid future abuse.

Two lawmakers with rela ves with special needs made their fi ght personal.

Republican Sen. Roy McDonald said the bill will give ``peace of mind to their loved ones ... I’m proud to see this legisla on move forward and there’s more to be done in the future to safeguard the well-being of these individuals with disabili es who are entrusted to our care.’’

Democra c Assembly Member Harvey Weisenberg is the father of a child with special needs.

``This legisla on is my top priority,’’ he said Sunday. ``It is cri cal that we protect our most vulnerable ci zens from abuse and mistreatment.’’

Cuomo: NY bill Won’t Make Cyber Bullying a Crime ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Although New York offi cials agree cyber bullying among youth is one of today’s biggest concerns, a poli cal deal already struck by Gov. Andrew Cuomo and legisla ve leaders won’t make it a crime.

State Sen. Jeff rey Klein said in an interview Thursday that the dangerous rise in taun ng and threats online requires a dual approach that includes a criminal charge, in addi on to raising awareness.

But Gov. Andrew Cuomo said that charging teenagers isn’t going to be part of a bill. Instead, he con nues to focus on public awareness star ng with a legal defi ni on of cyber bullying and requiring schools to report these incidents, both measures contained in the bill he and legisla ve leaders agreed to as a fi rst step.

Cyber bullying and the some mes subsequent suicide are rising even as crimes in schools are declining na onwide. The Na onal School Safety Center reports that while the propor on of students, ages 12 to 18, who reported being bullied at school has declined from 32 to 28 percent, the propor on of those who say they are bullied online increased from 4 to 6 percent.

The center’s Ron Stephens said in February that the “cyber bullying issue has really moved to center stage.”

Some of the recent cases include the suicide of a bullied gay teenager in Western New York a er off ensive comments he endured online and a 15-year-old girl on Staten Island who jumped in front of a city bus two days a er Christmas a er she was tormented on Facebook. “Some mes what is obvious to our children should be just as obvious to us as lawmakers,” said Klein, who represents the Bronx and part of Westchester County. “(The) message is that if you relentlessly harass your peers and intend to cause them serious harm, you may face serious consequences.”

The governor said in an interview with WGDJ-AM radio, that the state would need to look more closely at the issue before making cyber bullying a crime. However, the Legislature doesn’t o en revisit such diffi cult issues a er a bill is passed into law.

“That is an important conversa on, but it is a very diffi cultconversa on,” Cuomo said. “What are you going to do with a 14-year-old? What are you going to do with a 15-year-old?

“But let’s defi ne cyber bullying. Let’s have a protocol for it. Let’s have a response mechanism for it so we know the schools are doing what they need to do,” he said. “And I think that will be an escala on in and of itself. Because more than anything we have to get these kids to understand the damage they can do and the harm that they can cause.”

Klein said he will con nue his campaign.

“New York can lead the way in criminalizing cyber bullying,” he said. “It’s not such a heavy li .”


Rodney King, Dead at 47: ‘A Symbol of Civil Rights’

By Hazel Trice Edney

The death of 47-year-old Rodney King, the man whose name has become synonymous with police brutality and excessive force, has shocked the nation.

Twenty years after the vicious beating of King by Los Angeles police offi cers, his sudden death by apparent drowning on Sunday shines a new spotlight on injustices that continue against

African-Americans and recalls his resounding question, “Can we all get along?”

“Rodney King had become such a fi xture in our lives, both the tragedy and the triumphs of his life,” said the Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. in a telephone interview shortly after the announcement of King’s death.

Jackson drew a parallel between the March 2, 1991 beating of King and the February 26, 2012 shooting death of unarmed teenager Trayvon Martin. He reminded that what triggered national outrage in both cases was the fact that in both

instances the killers were initially allowed to walk free – let off the hook by the criminal justice system.

“Rodney King would not have been believed without the fi lm. And even with the fi eld, those who beat him walked free. And that’s what created the corruption. And that’s what created the connection between Rodney King and Trayvon Martin because all these years later, Trayvon Martin was killed, but the killer walked away free. So, the blatant racial injustice continues.”

Rialto Police reported that King’s fi ancée, Cynthia Kelly, called 911

after hearing a splash in the pool around 5:25 a.m. and fi nding King at the bottom of his swimming pool. She said they had been talking throughout the morning. Police said they tried to revive him after removing him from the pool, but were unsuccessful. He was pronounced dead around 6:11 a.m. according to reports. The Rialto Police Department had begun an investigation and said there would be an autopsy, but said there was no initial evidence of foul play and no trauma to King’s body.

This was one of the houses that King bought with his share of a $3.8 million settlement from a federal civil rights lawsuit fi led against the four offi cers who beat him viciously with batons after a high speed chase that ensued when police observed him speeding and intoxicated. He bought a second house for his mother.

In the state criminal case, a jury acquitted three of the offi cers and was hung on the forth. The acquittals on April 29, 1992, sparked violent rioting resulting in the deaths of 55 people, the injuries of 2,000 and more than a billion dollars in damages to homes and businesses, mostly by fi re. It was King’s televised plea, “Can we all get along?” that was largely credited for ending the riots.

In the civil case, brought by the U. S. Department of Justice, two of the offi cers were convicted of violating King’s civil rights. Offi cers Laurence Powell and Stacey Koon were found guilty, and sentenced to 32 months in prison. Offi cers Timothy Wind and Theodore Briseño were acquitted of all charges. Cynthia

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A SYMBOL OF CIVIL RIGHTSA SYMBOL OF CIVIL RIGHTS


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Kelly, the lone Black juror in the civil case, befriended King after the trial and had become his fi ancé after 16 years.

Just over a month since the 20th anniversary of the beating, Civil rights leaders, this week, fi nd themselves revisiting the signifi cance of the case and the legacy of King.

“His life was a reminder of how voiceless, powerless and often nameless people can rise above their weakest moments,” said Harvard Law School Professor Charles Ogletree, director of the Charles Hamilton Houston Center for Race and Justice. “When King was beaten by Los Angeles police, it was a wakeup call to many. He made us focus on the role of police in powerless communities and push for reforms. He made us think about the ills of racial profi ling and to seek an end to racial profi ling. Rodney King will be sorely missed but his plea for peace will forever be remembered.”

Rev. Al Sharpton says King had become “a symbol of civil rights.”

Sharpton stated in a release, “He represented the anti-police brutality and anti-racial profi ling movement of our time. It was his beating that made America focus on the presence of profi ling and police misconduct. I recently spent time with him on the release of his new book just a couple of months ago and he did my radio and TV show. Through all that he had gone through with his beating and his personal demons he was never one to not call for reconciliation and for people to overcome and forgive. History will record that it was Rodney King’s beating and

his actions that made America deal with the excessive misconduct of law enforcement.”

Rev. Jackson says he believes King’s death will heighten attention to all areas of racial profi ling in America – including that exposed in the case of Trayvon Martin, the unarmed teenager who was shot dead by a neighborhood watch captain February 26. The shooter, George Zimmerman, walked free with no police charges until protests erupted across the nation. After an investigation by a special prosecutor, he was arrested April 11 and charged with second degree murder.

“It can only compound the Trayvon Martin season. We have to deal with the growth of racial profi ling and violence upon Black people,” Jackson said. “Racial profi ling by banks, home foreclosures, racial profi ling in the judicial system – more time for the crime, the racial profi ling and attacks on the President. There’s a strong undercurrent of racism that simply cannot be denied…So, the lesson to be learned and not ignored is that Blacks remain the weak link in the justice chain.”

National Urban League President/CEO Marc Morial agrees: “The beating captured on videotape and the subsequent acquittal of the four Los Angeles police offi cers exemplifi ed criminal justice system inequities that continue to plague this nation. His words following the Los Angeles riots captured the sentiments of a nation and continue call to question: ‘Why Can’t we all just get along.’”


Exclusive: FAMU Marches OnBy Kanya Stewart

(TriceEdneyWire.com) - As Florida A&M University (FAMU) President James H. Ammons works to lead the ins tu on in overcoming the obstacles of recent hazing incidents, the FAMU community remains inquisi ve about how those incidents will impact the future of the university and what steps the university will take to recover. In an exclusive interview with the Capital Outlook, Ammons opened up about calls for his resigna on, his rehabilita on plans for the band and how the university plans to deal with the nega ve a en on it has received over the last year. His answers reveal a leader who is hopeful, determined, passionate about his students and ready to build a stronger university.

Q: When asked by reporters why you did not resign, you replied that there are other issues beyond hazing at FAMU. Why do you feel it is important that you con nue to lead the ins tu on at this point?

A: My work is s ll unfi nished. One of the most important endeavors is to put in place new an -hazing ini a ves and reform the opera on of the band. There are other ini a ves that I would like to implement such as increasing the number of graduates in the STEM areas (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathema cs), and reducing student indebtedness. I want to increase the number of students earning Ph.D.s in various fi elds at FAMU and increase the research dollars and research capabili es of the university. We want to expand distance learning programs and improved reten on and gradua on rates. We are working on some cri cal ini a ves including the construc on of an 800-bed suite style residen al facility, the launch of a new satellite campus in Crestview, Fla. and the launch of a $50 million comprehensive campaign. FAMU needs strong consistent leadership, I believe I can con nue to provide that leadership. I will be here as long as the FAMU Board of Trustees allows me to serve.

Q: Do you feel that the Board of Trustees is standing behind your decision not to resign?

A: I am unable to speak for the Board of Trustees, but I will serve as president as long as they allow me to serve.

Q: Due to recent (hazing) incidents, students have been harmed, families disappointed, and FAMU’s reputa on has been ques oned. You once said that FAMU should focus on the triumphs and not just the trials. What is your vision for helping the morale to be boosted, confi dence to be restored and informa on to be distributed to get people to focus on the triumph?

A: It is important to understand that all ongoing inves ga ons must be completed before we can fully focus on FAMU’s triumphs. Once those are done, we can more eff ec vely

move forward on fi xing some of the issues that arose and focusing on a variety of posi ve programs and accomplishments that are underway. To assist us on that front, we are in the process of developing a public rela ons campaign that will remind everyone what a wonderful university FAMU is.

Q: You have decided to keep the band suspended. When do you feel you would be sa sfi ed that the band and other student organiza ons are back on track and have learned to move beyond the tradi ons of hazing?

A: In reviewing the band program since Mr. (Robert) Champion’s (hazing-related) death, we believe that we need to put addi onal controls in place to ensure that something like this never happens again. We need adequate me to implement recommenda ons regarding the organiza onal and management structure of the band, membership requirements, travel procedures, assessment of revenue to support the band and the fi scal environment. Our plan is to strengthen oversight, while implemen ng addi onal controls, including a separa on of du es between the chair of the music department and the director of bands. We also plan to implement NCAA-like rules on academic progression, grade point average and the length of service.

Q: Do you think downsizing the band will assist in the ability to have more watchful oversight over its ac vi es?

A: Reducing the size of the Marching 100 has been recommended as a means for having greater oversight. We will present to the Board of Trustees a succinct plan for addressing some of the short-term issues related to the marching band and the Music Department.

Q: Why do you think the value of FAMU seems to have been overlooked by the general public or media in recent years?

A: I think FAMU had been developing such a solid reputa on and had been making such great strides, that some people took it for granted. Also, the mainstream media focuses more on controversy than good news. We are now focusing on crea ng a communica on strategy that gives us the opportunity to tell our own story to the people that ma er the most to us.

Q: What is the university’s goal to “clean up” FAMU’s image among future students, current students, alumni and the general public?

A: First, we must see what the outcomes are of the pending inves ga ons. Un l each is completed, the issues related to the Robert Champion incident will con nue to surface.

We plan to clean up the university image by making sure an incident like this never happens again. We have taken various measures already and have: Indefi nitely suspended the Marching “100” to include the 2012-2013 academic year; appointed an internal crisis management team headed by Dr. Larry Robinson, then-special assistant to the president; addressed members of the FAMU Na onal Alumni Associa on, the Business Industry Cluster and other stakeholders via teleconference regarding an -hazing ac vi es; directed that all allega ons and criminal ac vity are immediately brought to my a en on; FAMU Campus Housing holds a mandatory mee ng for campus residents to discuss campus safety and an -hazing eff orts; temporarily suspended summer band camp and new membership intake for student organiza ons; announced a $50,000 research ini a ve for FAMU faculty to study the nature and extent of hazing behaviors among campus organiza ons and groups; and amended hazing regula on to include a 24-hour repor ng rule for faculty, staff and students as well as a provision against retalia on.

We are working on the

recommenda ons that we will bring before the FAMU Board of Trustees on the organiza onal and management structure of the band, membership requirements, new travel procedures, new guidelines, and the assessment of revenue to support the band and the monitoring of the fi scal environment. All of these things are intended to strengthen the oversight of the band. What are also needed are addi onal controls and a separa on of the du es between the chair of the music department and the director of bands. We plan to recommend NCAA-like rules on academic progression, GPA, and length of service.

We are working with groups on alterna ve entertainment for the classics and other games. At the June mee ng, we will present our plan on how we will bring the “Marching 100” back and the strategy for the music department. In addi on, we will also provide details about the guidelines for new membership intake for student organiza ons.

Q: Is there a plan in place for increased recruitment and marke ng campaigns?

A: Yes, we are discussing a campaign as we address some of the issues surfacing as a result of the Robert Champion incident.

There is, however, tremendous momentum at FAMU as we con nue to raise the bar for academic excellence, while also striving to a ract the best mix of students. Looking at the bigger picture, enrollment at FAMU has increased nearly 11 percent since 2006, while the average GPA of our students has risen more than 5 percent within that me frame.

FAMU was also recently honored as one of “America’s Most Popular Colleges” by U.S. News & World Report, a dis nc on that refl ects the percentage of applicants accepted by a college who end up enrolling at that ins tu on.


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The views expressed on our opinion pages are those of the author and do not

necessarily represent the position or viewpoint of MRMG or CNY Vision

Who Are the Real Vic ms of Youth Violence? Last week I wrote about the e f f e c t i v e n e s s of the Impact Project. It exposes youth and young adults to the reali es of prison life by sending them to interact with prisoners in real life situa ons in jail for a day.

I have been surprised and encouraged by the response. I’ve received a number of calls and was stopped on the streets by readers who wanted to comment on it.

I know now that it was tried in New York State, according to one city resident who talked to me about it.

He was sent to the Albany area to par cipate in a similar program and he said it scared the hell out of him, and contributed signifi cantly to his decision to stop behaving in ways that would have sent him to jail, and become the responsible adult he is today.The response encourages me to ask another youth and young adult related ques on: Who are the real vic ms of youth violence? The vic miza on of youth takes many forms. It ranges from child abuse, child sexual abuse, bullying, gang violence and youth-on-youth a acks, to rape and murder. In alarming rates, young people are turning to violence to resolve their problems and to criminal ac vity as a

lifestyle choice. There are many theories about this type of violence. Some theorists suggest that children learn from their environment, be it the infl uence of a crime fi lled neighborhood, an abusive home, or an isolated rural area where support services are minimal.

Regardless of where it happens, youth violence has become a major problem. It has become so huge a problem that it has taken center stage in most communi es as one of the most pressing problems to be dealt with.

The immensity of the problem of youth violence in the United States is beyond ques on.

According to fi gures released by the Center for Disease Control, in a report tled: Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 29.8

percent of students na onwide had their property (e.g., car, clothing, or books) stolen or deliberately damaged on school property one or more mes during the twelve months preceding the survey.

The report revealed that four percent of students ages 12 to 18 reported being vic mized at school during the past six months.

Approximately three percent reported the , one percent reported violent vic miza on, and less than half of a percent reported serious violent vic miza on.

The report also detailed a student’s likelihood of being threatened or injured

with a weapon on school property by race or ethnicity.

According to the U.S. Department’s of Educa on and Jus ce study Indicators of School Crime and Safety: 2005, American Indian students (22 percent) were more likely than black (11 percent), Hispanic (9 percent), and white (8 percent) students to report being threatened or injured with a weapon on school property.

Communi es across America are responding to the problem of youth violence by off ering a mul tude of programs to help decrease youth crime and vic miza on.

Paren ng skill development programs have been established in many communi es to educate parents about coping skills, including prac cing posi ve anger management, in hopes of reducing child abuse and domes c violence in the home environment.

In addi on, school systems are beginning to develop interven on programs aimed at detec ng child abuse. Such programs are integrated within school systems and off er children and youth a safe haven to turn to when a crisis occurs. Educators have stressed the importance of developing educa onal curriculum to teach self-esteem, confl ict resolu on skills, respect for cultural diversity and pride in one’s culture.

Eff ec ve curricula in this area are introduced in early childhood educa on and are consistently reinforced throughout the dura on of a child’s

educa on.

Such eff orts require the support of parents, teachers, social workers and community leaders working together.

Most ci es in America, and indeed the world, have in place programs and ac vi es geared towards advoca ng for and on behalf of the youth. They aim at making the world safe for the youth and young adults. It remains to be seen how eff ec ve these eff orts have proven to be.

Reference is made above to the role that certain factors can play in making that happen. These include, but are not limited to; programs focusing on helping parents develop eff ec ve paren ng skills, and the incorpora on of interven on programs into school curricula.

You probably have read about these and similar community-based ini a ves in this city geared towards helping our youth and young adults to stay away from violence.

The ques on remains: How eff ec ve are our city’s eff orts to deal with the problem of youth related violence?

KOFI QUAYE

--------------------------Kofi Quaye has been a Syracuse resident for more than 30 years. He is a writer, author and publisher. Over the years, he has been involved with the publication of several African American focused newspapers in Syracuse.

Can the Tea Party Clean Up Its Racist Act? Arkansas Tea Party leader Richard Caster gave all the appearances at least publicly of being a man genuinely outraged at what one of his Ozark Tea Party steering c o m m i t t e e members said and did. Inge Marler told a mee ng of the Ozark Tea

Party in Mountain Home, Ark., on the Baxter County Fairgrounds a blatantly racist joke about blacks. And she did it in alleged mock black dialect. When the story hit the na onal wires, Caster claimed that he was aghast at Marler’s joke, raked her over the coals for it, and implied that her resigna on from the commi ee was at least in part the result of his wrath at her. Caster went on to add the obligatory retort that racism has no place in the Tea Party and cked off the things that the Tea Party stands for and that the media refuses to talk about in its rush to paint the Tea Party as racist. There are problems with that.

Caster’s seeming outrage came only a er word leaked out about the racist joke. But even more telling was the reac on of the white audience. They erupted in uproarious laughter. The Baxter Bulle n

which covered the event noted that not one of the par cipants called Marler out from the fl oor about the joke and no one u ered a word of disapproval. The confab quickly went on about its business. Marler has not commented on the joke or her resigna on.

Caster’s eff ort to defl ect the ever-present charge of racism against Tea Party leaders and followers fell fl at not because he personally may have been off ended, or because so many chapter members judging from their laughter weren’t. It crashes hard against the brutal reali es of the Tea Party’s past and present ac ons.

Two years ago the prolifera on of Obama Joker posters, crude racist scrawls on signs and banners, Confederate fl ags, Texas Lone Star fl ags and then-Tea Party-backed Kentucky GOP senatorial candidate Rand Paul’s kind-of-sort-of put down of the 1964 Civil Rights Act implanted the no on that the Tea Party is a cap ve of, if not a wholesale crea on, of racists. In the months since then the racist posters, Confederate fl ags and racist digs at the president and First Lady Michelle Obama have largely disappeared. Rand Paul is now into his third year as a Kentucky senator. But that doesn’t mean that the racism that seemed to defi ne and be a driving force in the Tea Party has disappeared. It has morphed into poli cal respectability. Recently, a white Texas federal inmate got almost as many

Democra c votes in the West Virginia primary as Obama. Obama was beat out by a no-name Tennessee lawyer in dozens of coun es in Tennessee in the state’s Democra c primary elec ons. Surveys in Ohio showed that many whites s ll will not back Obama not because of policy issue diff erences but because of race. These are Democra c voters, bear in mind.

But that’s no surprise. In April 2010, a Winston survey found that four out of ten Tea Party adherents are not Republicans, but independents and Democrats. A follow-up New York Times survey revealed that Tea Party backers were not ill-educated, low income, blue-collar whites, mostly in the South and Heartland. But the majority was middle class, and many are wealthy and highly educated. The single overriding factor that drove them no ma er their poli cs or party was the feeling that the country was going in the wrong direc on. This is not merely a case of respondents saying the poli cally correct thing to survey takers so as not to not appear to be racist.

Nearly two decades ago, the GOP found that the vola le mix of big government and economics could whip frustrated, rebellious, angry whites into frenzy far be er than crude race bai ng. Many middle class and working-class white males genuinely viewed government as big, insensi ve, and a hopeless cap ve

of special interests. Many more actually believed that they were losing ground to minori es and women in the workplace, schools, and in society.

The target of their anger was big government they believed lted unfairly in spending priori es toward social programs that benefi ted minori es at the expense of hard-working whites. That translated to even more fear, rage and distrust of big government and shouts to fi ght back against the erosion of personal freedoms.

Tea Party leaders, such as Caster, push back hard against the charge that the party is racist by endlessly ci ng popular anger at the perceived big government creep, taxes, runaway spending, and “socialist-leaning” Obama administra on programs as the sole cause for their rage at Washington and mainstream poli cians. But Marler’s joke and the Ozark Tea Party chapter’s favorable audience’s reac on to it were not an aberra on. It stands as a telling indictment that as long as race lurks underneath the carefully cra ed veneer of Tea Party modera on the party can’t and won’t clean up its racist act.

EARL HUTCHINSON

-----------------Earl Ofari Hutchinson is an author and political analyst. His new book is How Obama Governed: The Year of Crisis and Challenge (Middle Passage Press).

THE HUTCHINSON REPORT…


The views expressed on our opinion pages are those of the author and do not

necessarily represent the position or viewpoint of MRMG or CNY Vision

Are Black Men Afraid of Successful Women? The always interes ng and en rely lovable Demetria Lucas wrote a very nice ar cle on T h e R o o t . c o m asking whether or not men avoid successful women. I had to chime in on this one. For the busy and successful women who are reading

this, I will try to save your valuable me and cut to the chase. Your success may be standing in the way of you fi nding a meaningful rela onship, but not for the reasons you might think. The success itself is not your primary impediment to reaching your goals, but rather, it is the way success may aff ect your personality that could be the problem.

Here are the reasons why some men might choose to avoid some (not all) successful women:

If you are emo onally selfi sh: Busy people can some mes have a habit of always believing that they are the most important person in the room. The issues on their mind are always more meaningful than your own, and how they feel tends to ma er a lot more than what you’re going through. Have you ever tried to have a conversa on with a person who will talk all day about her problems and then suddenly have to hang up when you start talking about yours? Well, that’s what it’s like to date the self-important professional who has never learned to refl ect or take responsibility for their da ng challenges. In some cases, she was

always the special girl in her family, the one who could bathe in the awesome power of perpetual narcissism. Daddies brag about spoiling their daughters, but the sad truth is that there is nothing good about something being spoiled, whether it be a piece of fruit or a human being.

If you think that your job, shape and beauty automa cally make you a great catch: Looking good goes a long way toward ge ng a man’s a en on. But that’s like saying that newspaper starts a big bonfi re. The paper might get the fi re going, but it doesn’t keep the fi re going (a sustainable fi re can only be built with wood). I don’t care if you look like Beyonce, the fact of the ma er is that it is your inner beauty that keeps a man coming back. Men who have lots of op ons see pre y girls every day. What is rare is a woman who works to be a consistently beau ful, giving and a en ve human-being. Unfortunately, inner beauty is not promoted among black women, the same way that men are taught to live empty lives in search of material possessions as false valida ons of their self-worth.

If you fail to see the value of eleva ng your man: I once had a friend who didn’t feel that it was her job to validate her man to make him feel good about himself. “I ain’t got me to be stroking his ego,” she would say. I then asked her if it ma ered if her man took the me to tell her that she was beau ful, to make her feel sexy or to remind her that she is a remarkable woman. The point is that all of us look to our partners to make us feel be er, whether it is physically or emo onally. Oddly enough, many people unwilling to stroke a man’s ego are all too willing to stroke his sex organs. Making a man

feel be er about who he is can go a long way toward capturing his heart, so yes, it’s OK to give your man daily reminders that he’s a king, that you respect him and that you love him more than anything. Aff ec on and affi rma on are not a crime or sign of weakness; they actually open the door for you to receive the same thing in return. If you give love, you will receive it. The same thing is true for war. So be careful about coping a tudes when you don’t get what you want.

If you work too damn much and never make your mate a priority: Many of the successful doctors, lawyers and Indian chiefs of the world don’t seem to realize that your rela onship will never run on auto-pilot. There is a big diff erence between someone agreeing to be with you vs. your actually earning that person’s loyalty by being a solid, loving and reliable mate. A man does not want to feel that he is some kind of accessory that you have to have in order to complete your collec on, like a Coach Purse or a pair of Gucci shoes. But when men see women high-fi ving each other a er sealing a wedding date, you some mes wonder if the ceremony is more important than the person.

Trea ng your man as a pet that you claim, constrain and neglect is a great recipe for disaster. So, a er you fi nish your 80 hour work weeks, canceling one date a er another and turning down his requests for aff ec on, don’t be surprised if you come home from work one day and see that he’s packed up his sh*t.

If you make him feel bad for not being a baller like you: One thing that scares the heck out of men is a high-maintenance woman. In a world where black men are

more likely to be unemployed than any other group in the United States, the last thing you want is a woman who thinks that a diamond necklace on her birthday is simply par for the course. Presen ng yourself as a good teammate and opening the door for him to be somewhat vulnerable can make it easier for you to get the loyalty that you deserve. No man wants to get his bu kicked by both the white man and his wife.

I am not an expert on what all men want, but if Steve Harvey can give rela onship advice, then I can too. I’ve also been a man for quite a while, and I’ve talked to a lot of brothers when women aren’t around. My precise conclusion is that when it comes to the opposite sex, most of us just don’t get it.

But one thing that’s true is that whether you are making a fi nancial investment or an investment of the heart, you usually get what you give. What’s also true is that inves ng the wrong assets into the wrong places is a great way to end up broke (or broken). So, as you try to reach your rela onship goals, you may want to read books about the opposite sex, fi nd out what they are seeking and learn how to deliver the things that will help you to reach your goals. This is a lot more eff ec ve than was ng your life on simple trial and error.

Time for $10-an-Hour Minimum Wage(TriceEdneyWire.com) - Last week, legislators led by my son Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (I write with some pride) called on the Congress to raise the minimum wage to $10 an hour, back to the levels it reached in 1968, and index it to infl a on so it

doesn’t lose value over me. Republicans in Congress will block a vote on this measure. Democra c leaders can’t fi gure out where they are on it. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce will unleash a horde of lobbyists to oppose it. But the reality is that this would be a no-brainer. And it is me for the president and sensible leaders in both par es to push for its passage.

The current federal minimum wage is set at $7.25 an hour. Eighteen states have higher mandates. The federal minimum wage was last raised in 2007 in a two-

stage process to get to current levels. Because it is not indexed to infl a on, the minimum wage has lost ground over me. In 1968, the fl oor was set at the

equivalent of more than $10 an hour in today’s terms.

Raising the minimum wage to $10 an hour would li the wages of 30 million Americans, more than 20 percent of the work force. It would not only aff ect the wages of those who work for less than $10 an hour but also of those who make a li le more, as employers would raise their pay to retain good workers. A staggering 40 percent of the work force falls within that range.

These are poor people, but they aren’t lazy. They work hard every day that they can. They take the early bus. They do the dirty jobs. They wait in job lines. They shower when they come back from work, not before they go to work.

Raising the minimum wage would help the economy, pu ng money into the pockets of low-wage workers who would spend it. At a me when businesses are

looking for customers, raising the fl oor under families just makes sense. And it would represent a measure of jus ce. As Rep. Jackson said: “We’ve bailed out banks, we’ve bailed out corpora ons, we’ve bailed out Wall Street, we’ve tried to create sound fundamentals in the economy. Now it’s me to bail out working people who work hard every day and they s ll only make $7.25. The only way to do that is to raise the minimum wage.” As consumer advocate Ralph Nader noted at the news conference, “A single Wall Street execu ve’s compensa on of $15 million would pay the annual wages of over 700 workers working at a minimum wage of $10 per hour.”

Opponents of the minimum wage increase argue that it would cost jobs, forcing small businesses to lay off workers. However, repeated academic studies have shown that, even in a recession, raising the minimum wage has li le eff ect on jobs. In fact, by pu ng money into the pockets of working families who will spend it, it helps generate demand, not reduce it. That’s part of the reason more than 1,000 business owners from

across the country, led by the CEOs of Costco and the U.S. Women’s Chamber of Commerce, supported the last minimum wage increase.

President Barack Obama should lead this drive, fulfi lling the promise he made in 2008 to push for a higher minimum wage by 2011. Usually, minimum wage bills are coupled with tax breaks for small business. But in a refl ec on of how skewed our poli cs have been, small business has already go en 17 tax breaks under Obama, while low-wage workers have yet to get a raise.

With wages declining, one-third of homes with mortgages underwater, and businesses si ng on record profi ts looking for customers, America needs a raise. Let’s start by raising the fl oor.

REV. JESSE JACKSON, SR.

------------------The Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson, Sr., founder and president of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, is one of America’s foremost civil rights, religious and political fi gures.

FROM THE BOYCE BLOG…

DR. BOYCE WATKINS

--------------------------Dr. Boyce Watkins is a professor at Syracuse University and founder of Your Black World Coalition

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