Tri-County Sentry
Friday
AUGUST 22, 2014
Page 7A
National News Military Revises 'Racially Biased' NYC Police Commissioner William Bratton: 'We Are Not a Racist Organization' Hairstyle Rules
WASHINGTON -- Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel announced that the military will allow female service members to have a wider range of hairstyles after the services came under fire for using derogatory language and banning many styles that are popular with African-American women. The controversy started in March, when the Army released new rules regarding tattoos, hairstyles, grooming and uniforms for soldiers. One of the new regulations banned women from having twists, dreadlocks and multiple braids/ cornrows that are bigger than a quarter of an inch. Black service members quickly spoke out about the rules, arguing that they were racially insensitive and objected to language that called such styles “matted” and “unkempt.” Sgt. Jasmine Jacobs of the Georgia National Guard started a petition about the matter on the White House website, writing, “These new changes are racially biased and the lack of regard for ethnic hair is apparent.” Hagel’s review of the hairstyle rules came after the female members of the
Congressional Black Caucus wrote to the defense secretary, saying the guidelines seemed to be “discriminatory” and targeted “soldiers who are women of color with little regard to what is needed to maintain their natural hair.” “At my direction, over the last three months, each Military Service reviewed its definitions of authorized and prohibited hairstyles, and eliminated offensive language, including the terms ‘matted and unkempt’ from both the Army and the Air Force grooming regulations,” Hagel said in his letter to CBC Chairwoman Marcia Fudge (D-Ohio). “Additionally, each Service reviewed its hairstyle poli-
cies to ensure standards are fair and respectful while also meeting our military requirements.” According to the Army Times, the hairstyle rules were getting in the way of a promotion for at least one black service member. Navy Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Jessica Sims, 32, told the paper that she wears her long hair in tightly twisted locks pulled into a bun when she’s in uniform. Last year, when assigned as a teacher at the Navy’s boot camp, she was “told to cut her hair or wear a wig, and when she refused, her commanders processed her for separation for ‘serious misconduct.’”
By Tom Hays NEW YORK — The city's top law enforcement official went on a media blitz to deny that the chokehold death of a black suspect shows that police are singling out minorities in a crackdown on minor offenses and to insist that Mayor Bill de Blasio is "very pro-cop." In an interview with The Associated Press, Police Commissioner Bill Bratton said he wanted to counter "some of the misimpressions and some of the momentum that's been gained by self-serving interests" since the videotaped death last month of Eric Garner. Bratton also spoke to CNN, CBS and local television affiliates. The mayor said tensions that arose after Garner's July 17 death must be part of the city's past as it moves toward unity. "This has to be a turning point moment," de Blasio said. "We can't let any moment that leaves us so sad and pained be an end point. It has to be an opening of a door to something better." That, de Blasio said, includes a plan already un-
New York City Police Commissioner William J. Bratton, left, speaks as New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, right, watches during a news conference. derway to retrain the New courages more dangerous York Police Department behavior. on how best to work more Bratton responded that closely with the commu- there are more misdenity. meanor arrests in minorThe amateur video ity neighborhoods because showing officers strug- more officers are assigned gling to arrest Garner on there in response to higher suspicion of selling loose, crime rates. untaxed cigarettes on Stat"Are there more minoren Island and a subsequent ities impacted by enforcemedical examiner finding ment? Yes. I'm not denying that a chokehold, barred that," he said. "But it's not under police policy, con- an intentional focus on mitributed to his death have norities. It's a focus on beraised questions about havior." the NYPD's "broken winHe added: "We are not dows" strategy — the idea a racist organization — not that fighting smaller crimes at all." like drinking in public dis-
Missouri Highway Patrol Will Take Over Mia Love Has Healthy Lead Over Supervision of Security in Ferguson Democratic Challenger By Alex Lazar Republican Mia Love has a 12-point lead over her Democratic challenger for Utah's 4th Congressional District, according to a poll released recently. The poll, conducted by Dan Jones/Cicero Group for Zions Bank and UtahPolicy.com, has Love at 44 percent to the 32 percent held by lawyer Doug Owens (D), while 19 percent of those polled were undecided. The poll surveyed 443 voters by phone between Aug. 7 and Aug. 9.
Mia Love Owens' own internal polling, released in late
July, found him trailing Love by 9 points. Love, the former mayor of Saratoga Springs, Utah, lost her 2012 congressional bid to Rep. Jim Matheson (D-Utah). In May 2013, she announced that she would run again during the 2014 election cycle. Matheson announced his retirement at the end of last year. If she defeats Owens in November, Love would become the first black Republican woman elected to Congress.
Barneys Pays $525,000 to Settle Allegations of Racial Profiling
By Kim Bhasin Barneys New York has agreed to pay $525,000 in fees and penalties following a nine-month investigation by the New York state attorney general into racial profiling at the luxury department store. Investigators reviewed a series of complaints from Barneys customers and former employees, who claimed that door guards would exclusively single out minority customers and that in-store detectives would follow these customers as they walked around. Some salespeople tried not to work with minority shoppers to avoid the hassle of being roped into investigations about them, the complaints alleged. Attorney General Eric Schneiderman's office found that a "disproportionate number" of black and Latino customers had been detained at Barneys on suspicion of shoplifting or credit card fraud. It con-
cluded that Barneys lacked the proper "comprehensive written policies" to curb racial profiling. "Profiling and racial discrimination remain a problem in our state, but not one we are willing to accept," Schneiderman said in a statement. "This agreement will correct a number of wrongs, both by fixing past policies and monitoring the actions of Barneys and its employee to make sure that past mistakes are not repeated." Schneiderman began probing Barneys after two black customers filed lawsuits against the company in 2013, alleging racial discrimination. College student Trayon Christian sued Barneys after he was falsely accused of stealing a $359 Ferragamo belt. Then Kayla Phillips, a nursing student, came forward with another lawsuit accusing Barneys of racially profiling her after she bought a $2,500 Cé-
line bag. Both incidents occurred at Barneys' Madison Avenue flagship store in New York City. Barneys chief executive Mark Lee said in a statement that his company is "pleased" to have reached this agreement with the attorney general's office. "We are a truly progressive company that has absolutely no tolerance for discrimination of any kind, and believe this agreement will help build on that commitment and further strengthen our organization in the years and decades to come," said Lee. As a result of the agreement, Barneys will retain an independent anti-profiling consultant, put in place new anti-profiling policies and add anti-profiling training for security and sales workers. It will also have new recordkeeping requirements for its security team regarding "investigations, detentions and false stops."
ly passionate differences about what has happened,” Obama said. “But let’s remember that we’re all part of one American family. We are united in common values, and that includes the belief in equality under the law, respect for pub-
Gov. Jay Nixon FLORISSANT, Mo. — The Missouri State Highway Patrol will take over the supervision of security in the St. Louis suburb that’s been the scene of violent protests since a police officer fatally shot an unarmed black teenager, the governor announced. Gov. Jay Nixon said security will be overseen by Capt. Ron Johnson of the Highway Patrol. Johnson, who is black, said he grew up in the community and “it means a lot to me personally that we break this cycle of violence.” “Ferguson will not be defined as a community that was torn apart by violence but will be known as a community that pulled together to overcome it,” Nixon said at a news conference. Crowds have gathered in Ferguson since the shooting of Michael Brown to protest the 18-year-old’s death. Police defended the use of tear gas and smoke bombs to repel demonstrators after another night of chaos. But the police response has drawn heavy criticism. Earlier, President Barack Obama appealed for “peace and calm” on the streets. “I know emotions are raw right now in Ferguson, and there are certain-
lic order and the right to peaceful public protests.” Obama said there was no excuse for excessive force by police in the aftermath of the shooting. He said he had asked the Justice Department and FBI to investigate the incident.
Obama Gives France $10 Mil to Fight Terror in Africa
By Saeed Shabazz Special to the NNPA from the New York Amsterdam News Incensed by the news that President Barack Obama gave $10 million to France to fight terrorism in three of its former African colonies, Minister Menelik Harris, of the Atlanta-based World African Diaspora Union, sent out an email message demanding that Obama keep his “terror money.” Menelik suggested that the president of the U.S. should instead “give us our trillions of dollars in reparations to rebuild Africa as one union government to protect our enslaved, devastated and scattered people.” Aug. 11, website The Hill announced that Obama directed the $10 million in foreign aid to France to assist in “counter[ter]rorism operations on the African continent to target terror groups.” The article stated that money went to support a French counterterrorism operation code-named “Barkhan,” which would prevent the establishment of a “jihadist” foothold between Libya and the Atlantic Ocean. The Hill quoted a deputy national security adviser, Ben Rhodes, as saying the U.S. was “very focused on the threat of terrorism in Africa.” Obama issued a short statement concerning the money from his vacation spot on Martha’s Vineyard, located off the Massachusetts coast. “I hereby determine that an unforeseen emergency exists that requires immediate military assistance to France in its efforts to save Mali, Niger and Chad from terrorists and violent extremists,” said Obama. “This shows that U.S. and French imperialism is alive in Africa, and that they are the real terrorists,” Sara Flounders, co-founder of the International Action Network, told the AmNews. OBAMA, See page 12A