Tri-County Sentry
Friday
MARCH 14, 2014
Page 7A
National News African-American Congregations Pregnant Woman in Labor Look to 'Go Green' Robbed at Gunpoint in Annapolis
At Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, members and neighbors buy fruits and vegetables from a black farmers market and work in an organic garden named after botanist George Washington Carver. They recycle their church bulletins, plan to renovate their building with a “green” roof and have purchased 27 acres for a community project that will include an urban farm. “By any greens necessary,” the Rev. Otis Moss III, the church’s pastor, likes to say. When it comes to African-American churches and a focus on the environment, Moss and his congregation are the exception rather than the rule. Moss said many of his black clergy colleagues are less interested in conservation and tell him: “That’s your thing.” Black congregations
A large choir sings as the Rev. Otis Moss III, senior pastor at Trinity United Church of Christ, leads the service, in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo Credit: Nancy Stone) have tended to focus on luctant to get on board, their members’ basic needs African-American church— getting jobs, rearing es are being encouraged to children, pursuing higher be advocates for consereducation. vation and environmental Environmental matters policy. And some have alhave been a lower prior- ready answered the call. At ity, said the Rev. Dianne a White House event this Glave, author of “Rooted week (Feb. 25), three black in the Earth: Reclaiming clergy spoke at panel disthe African American En- cussions on environmental vironmental Heritage.” justice and climate action. But although often reGREEN, See page 12A
Man Arrested for DWI Tests Negative for Alcohol, Drugs
Larry Davis (l.) By Ryan Grenoble roadside sobriety test, and The tests prove there official reports obtained wasn't any alcohol in Larry by KVUE indicate he alDavis' system that night in legedly "swayed" and used early January 2013. De- his arms for balance while spite blowing a 0.00 on a standing on one leg, which breathalyzer, Davis was apparently was enough for arrested and charged with officers to take him off the driving while intoxicated; road and put him in a cell. he spent a day in jail and But when he took a faced down criminal charg- breathalyzer test at the jail, es. Questions linger as to he registered a 0.00, indicatwhy Davis was arrested in ing that there was no alcothe first place, and he plans hol or a very small amount to file a grievance against of alcohol in his system. He the arresting officers. also took a blood test that According to the Austin screens for seven different American-Statesman, po- drugs, none of which aplice in Austin, Texas, origi- peared in the test results. nally pulled Davis over for According to the Statesrunning a stop sign. He man, police say it's possible was said to have failed a Davis was impaired by a
Homeless Man 'Wins' Lottery and the First Thing He Wants to Do is Share the Money
By Eleanor Goldberg YouTube prankster Magic of Rahat usually regales us with antics that freak his victims out. (Like the time he made skeletons pull up to drive-thru windows as Halloween approached.) But the funny guy shared a pretty heartwarming stunt that will bring you to happy tears. Rahat decided to give a lottery ticket to a homeless man. But, before handing it over, he gave a store clerk $1,000, and arranged for the clerk to pretend that it was a winning ticket and to give the cash to the homeless man. There are plenty of in-
spiring moments in the video, but the one of these two hugging after the man offered to share his "prize" will hit you right in the heart.
drug the test didn't screen for. In June of 2013, a similar case in Arizona led retired firefighter Jessie Thornton to sue the police department for emotional distress and violating his civil rights. Thornton had been charged with a DUI, despite blowing 0.00 on a breathalyzer. He claims to have been guilty of "driving while black," and says racial profiling fueled the arrest. The city denies these allegations.
A pregnant woman in labor was robbed at gunpoint in Annapolis, Md., according to local media. A witness saw the woman and her partner being held up by two suspected robbers at 4:30 am on Sunday and called police, WBAL-TV reports. The two were able to point police in the direction of the suspects. Police say 24-year-old Devery Kelley of Annapolis and 44-year-old Cornell Robinson of Washington fled in a stolen car, threw a gun out the window during the chase and eventually ditched the car and ran. Both were captured and charges are pending, CBS Baltimore notes.
Two men accused of robbing a pregnant woman at gunpoint in Baltimore. At left is Devery Kelley 24, and at right is 44-year-old Cornell Robinson. (Photo Credit: Annapolis Police Department) The pregnant woman, Arundel Medical Center. who has not been identi- There are no updates on fied, was taken to Anne her condition.
Jacksonville, Fla. — A Florida woman could end up in prison for 60 years when she's retried for firing a shot in the direction of her estranged husband and two of his children. Marissa Alexander, 33, was convicted in 2012 on three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and sentenced to 20 years — three counts served concurrently. An appeals court tossed the conviction, saying Circuit Judge James Daniel made a mistake in shifting the burden to Alexander to prove she acted in self-defense. During jury instructions, the judge said Alexander must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that her husband was abusive to-
are angry that the state is seeking triple the original sentence. "It's unimaginable that a woman acting in self-defense, who injured no one, can be given what amounts to a life sentence," Free Marissa Now spokeswoman Helen Gilbert said. "This must send chills down the spine of every woman and everyone who cares about women and every woman in an abusive relationship." Assistant State Attorney Richard Mantei told the Florida Times-Union the state is simply following sentencing laws in seeking 60 years. The same court that ordered Alexander's retrial ALEXANDER, See page 12A
Marissa Alexander's Sentence Could be Tripled
Marissa Alexander ward her. The case drew national attention after Alexander was denied immunity under Florida's "stand your ground" law. Alexander's supporters