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Volume 120 No. 22
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JANUARY 7, 2012 - JANUARY 13, 2012
The Spirit of Kwanzaa
Flash
Robert L. Carter, Judge and Desegregation Strategist, Dies at 94. See more on Afro.com.
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HBCU ‘Equality’ Lawsuit Trial-Day 1
Joy to the Queen
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Black Women Seek Independent Presence at Freedom Plaza By Valencia Mohammed Special to the Afro
The lawsuit seeks an estimated $2.1 billion to make Maryland’s four historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) “comparable and competitive” to the state’s traditionally White institutions (TWI’s). By Todd Beamon Special to the AFRO David Wilson took a lighthearted turn, Tuesday, in explaining how Morgan State University would finance $15 million in equipment for its Benjamin Banneker Communications Center. “This is almost comical, but we would have to rob a bank,” Wilson said to laughter in testimony before U.S. District Court Judge Catherine C. Blake in Baltimore. “But we wouldn’t do that, Your Honor.”
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Wilson was among the first witnesses for the Coalition for Equity and Excellence in Maryland Higher Education in its lawsuit against the Maryland Higher Education Commission. The trial began Jan. 3 and is expected to last six weeks. But Morgan president’s testimony became more serious. “We would have a dickens of a time in doing that,” Wilson said. “We would have to close programs, lay off faculty and staff – and downsize the mission of the institution to address the needs of one program.” As many as 60 people, including many coalition members, packed into Judge Blake’s courtroom to hear the first day of testimony. A number of individuals, including spectators and lawyers, had to be seated in the jury box to keep from standing. The coalition contends that the state of Maryland through MHEC has maintained a system of “de jure segregation” – racial segregation imposed by law – in violation of the 1954 Brown vs. Board of Education ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court and of Title VI of the U.S. Civil Rights Act of 1964. The lawsuit, filed in 2006, seeks an estimated $2.1 billion to make Maryland’s four historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) – Bowie State University, Coppin State University, Morgan State University and the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore – “comparable and competitive” to the state’s traditionally White institutions (TWI’s). These include Salisbury State University, Towson University – as well as the University of MarylandCollege Park and the University of MarylandUniversity College. Continued on A4
While most people focus on the political and social grievances against government and corporate greed from protestors at Freedom Plaza in what has become known at Occupy DC, several homeless Black women who have taken up residence there say the movement’s agenda doesn’t include demonstrating for the homeless or the needs of Black people. The homeless women say they have been denied blankets and supplies given to other protestors and have been confronted by Occupy DC leaders who have tried to force them out of the encampment, saying that Occupy DC has rights to all space on Freedom Plaza. “Before Occupy DC came on the scene, many of us were here being treated
Homeless activist, Arafa Speaks, sets up her tent with the assistance of Blair Rush and Bill (refused to give last name) from the Occupy DC at Freedom Plaza. unfairly by park police,” said Arafa Speaks, 56, a homeless activist. “As soon as we saw tents go up we started reaching out for cover in the same manner. We noticed that the outsiders were
being treated like royalty by the park police and D.C.’s homeless were being viewed as intruders. It was amazing!” Aida Peery, 56, said she came to Freedom Plaza after she was kicked out of
a homeless shelter when she returned from a job placement program. “I first moved to Occupy DC at McPherson Square but there was always arguing and fighting. After I Continued on A3
Three Judge Panel Rules in Favor of O’Malley’s Redistricting Plan By George Barnette AFRO Staff Writer
Photo by Valencia Mohammed
The Northeast Performing Arts conducted a candlelight vigil for the 109 people slain in the District of Columbia for 2011.
Candlelight Vigil Salutes the Fallen of 2011 By Valencia Mohammed Special to the Afro The Northeast Performing Arts Group in partnership with Survivors of Homicide and the African Heritage Dancers & Drummers hosted a candlelight vigil on New Year’s Eve in memory of the homicide victims of 2011. The event, started on Freedom Plaza 21 years ago when the murder rate averaged 400 annually, brought sad memories and joyful praise to the crowd. “We moved the vigil from downtown to Ward 7 because we noticed that most of the victims lived in northeast or southeast. We wanted to bring it home so that people would understand these are not just names, these were human beings that were killed who can no longer be with us,” said Rita Jackson, executive director of the Northeast Performing Arts. “Every New Year’s Eve as we end one year and start the next, we keep hoping that this vigil will be our last.” For two decades the vigil focused on the memories of youth victims under the age of 25 who died violently in the District. This year’s event recognized the 109 homicide victims and loved ones who held their memories dear. “We are driven to send a message of hope and peace for the future and the lives of our youth living in Washington, D.C. coming together in peace and praying for the lives lost Continued on A4
The battle over Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley’s redistricting plan may be over as a three-judge panel ruled against those trying to overturn the plan. Patricia Fletcher, on behalf of the Fannie Lou Hamer Political Action Committee (FLH-PAC) sued the state in federal court over what the committee alleged were overly gerrymandered districts that didn’t protect the interests of the state’s minority population, especially in Prince George’s and Montgomery Counties. The PAC’s plight drew national attention and the support of conservative Iowa group, the Legacy Foundation, which funded the suit. Things looked positive for the plaintiffs in November when U.S. District Court Judge Roger W. Titus moved the suit before a three-judge panel. However, that panel said the plaintiffs failed at pleading their case. While recognizing there are some real issues with the state’s plan, the judges said it met constitutional scrutiny while the plaintiffs failed to meet the burden of proof to support their claims. “Moreover, the plaintiffs offer little evidence suggesting that African-Americans are especially disadvantaged by the State Plan. The State Plan makes two out of the eight congressional districts majority African-American districts. This ratio of minority/majority seats – 25 percent – is thus in proportion to African-Americans’ share of the total voting-age population – 28 percent,” wrote U.S. Circuit Court Judge Paul Niemeyer in his opinion. “The State Plan also creates two districts, the Second and the Fifth, with significant and growing minority populations.” U.S. District Court Judge Alexander Williams Jr. said that even past the burden of proof, the plaintiffs failed to garner the support of the majority of political leaders in the state – many of whom endorsed O’Malley’s plan. “From the outset, Plaintiffs struggled in making any sort of intentional discrimination claim since a significant portion of the legislative and community leaders advocating in favor of the State Plan were African-Americans,” Williams said. “The Black Legislative Caucus proposed two redistricting plans, neither of which called for the three majority AfricanAmerican districts proposed by Plaintiffs,” he continued. “Eight out of nine African-American senators and 31 of 34 African-American delegates voted for the State Plan.” Titus agreed with Niemeyer, but took to task the state law
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Continued on A3