November 9, 2013 - November 9, 2013, www.afro.com
Volume 122 No. 14
The Afro-American A1 $1.00
NOVEMBER 9, 2013 - NOVEMBER 15, 2013
City Wants to Quell Police Supervisor Transferred Amid Questions Panhandling About Separate Fatalities By Blair Adams AFRO Staff Writer
The Baltimore City Council, confronted by the people who confront their constituents— panhandlers--voted Nov. 4 to take no action on a proposed revision of legislation to control panhandling. The law would be revised to require beggars to stand no closer than 10 feet from restaurants and Morguefile shops, while remaining 5 feet from parking meters. “It’s a public safety issue,” Councilman William “Pete” Welch told the AFRO. “For those soliciting on the street and for those who are driving.” But the city council’s efforts to finalize the proposed changes were not warmly embraced. During the Nov. 4 Council meeting, community activist Tony Simmons interrupted the reading of the proposed legislation with a rant against the bill. Continued on A3
INSIDE A2
Black Brazilian Soccer Player Beheaded
A4
Mayor Finds Help for Food Stamp Recipients
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officers from Elliott’s command were pursuing on July 18 and Sept. 24. Police officials acknowledged Nov. 4. that Elliott The Baltimore City Police lieutenant who has been reassigned. Police Sgt. Sarah Connolly, supervised officers who were involved in two recent a department spokesman, declined to link the fatal actions, one involving an innocent civilian, has transfer to the incidents telling the AFRO that been reassigned under Baltimore Police while his role in Department policy the actions of his officials publicly “can’t officers is being get into personal issues as scrutinized. to what happened.” Lt. Parker “These incidents are Elliott was still an open investigation reassigned from the and we can’t provide northeastern district the 9-1-1 tapes,” the to a different patrol – Police Sgt. Sarah Connolly spokesperson for the division until department told the AFRO the department referring to the calls for completes an police assistance during investigation of the events surrounding the deaths of the episodes. four people—an innocent civilian on her way home She said Elliott was the supervisor for both units, from work and three men, all with arrest records, that Continued on A3 By Blair Adams AFRO Staff Writer
“We are taking a greater look to see whether or not there is any systemic problem in relation to these incidents.”
Kinsey Collection of Art and Artifacts Stops in Baltimore By Blair Adams AFRO Staff Writer
African American art and history intersected Nov. 2 as Bernard and Shirley Kinsey’s priceless collection of rare artifacts, historic pieces and original works, the Kinsey Collection: Shared Treasures of Bernard and Shirley Kinsey-Where Art & History Intersect, went on display at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum in Baltimore. Nearly 200 avid art lovers crowded into the auditorium at the museum to see a sampling of the Kinseys’ world-class collection of objects and artifacts recounting African American history and culture dating back to the 1600’s. “This collection—journey—has been a reflection of
our people, about the accomplishments of our people, how they were able to overcome against all odds,” Shirley Kinsey told the AFRO. She said she and her husband Bernard have spent their lifetimes collecting art of native culture, as well as African American culture. “We would travel to Mexico, South America and we would just bring stuff back home, but always something to identify with the indigenous culture there,” she said. Since 2007, the Kinsey Collection has been on tour and has been seen by over three million visitors. Their collection includes prestigious pieces by Frederick Douglass and an early copy of the Emancipation Proclamation and has been seen by visitors at the California African American Museum, the National Continued on A3 Courtesy of the Kinsey Collection
Legendary AFRO Reporter Moses Newson Selected for NABJ Hall of Fame
The National Association of Defender in Memphis. Newson Black Journalists (NABJ) recently left the Tri-State Defender for the announced the 2014 Hall of Fame Baltimore Afro-American, where inductees. The eight will be honored at he would be a reporter, city editor the 2014 Hall of Fame Induction and and ultimately executive editor Reception Jan. 16, at The Newseum for the final 10 of his 21 years at in Washington, D.C. Moses Newson, the newspaper. Newsom later left a former AFRO journalism to reporter who become a public covered landmark affairs specialist events during for what was to the civil rights become the U.S. era, is among the Department of honorees. Health and Human Newson Services. After risked his life working for the covering some of government for the most notable 17 years, Newson in American retired at age 68. history. These Each year events included NABJ honors the Emmett Till renowned murder trial, school African-American desegregation in journalists who Little Rock and have made the 1961 Freedom outstanding Courtesy Photo contributions to Rides. Journalist Moses Newson He attended the industry. Since Storer College 1990, NABJ has in Harpers Ferry, W.Va., and then inducted 55 distinguished journalists transferred to Lincoln University into the Association’s Hall of Fame. in Jefferson City, Mo., where he “The Board received a stellar graduated with a bachelor’s degree in group of recommendations. We are journalism. privileged to bestow honors on such In 1952, Newson’s first job as an elite group of journalists,” said a reporter came at the Tri-State Continued on A4
Morgan State Frat Causes Stir over Alleged Barring of Gay Pledge By Blair Adams AFRO Staff Writers The Alpha Iota chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi at Morgan State University is under fire for allegedly denying a pledge admission to the predominately Black Greek fraternity because of his sexual orientation. Brian Stewart, 20, said he pledged Kappa Alpha Psi because his pastor, a mentor to him as a young adult, was a part of the organization. But the former White House intern’s dream was shattered when he was denied admission. “One of the members of the chapter called me, and he had known that I wanted to be in the chapter, and he was saying the chapter had had a meeting...the current members had decided not to admit any more gay members,” Stewart said in an interview with HLN TV. “His words were exactly, ‘It’s going to be impossible for you to join this chapter,’” he said. According to Stewart, someone sent him anti-gay slurs over social media, and told him the messages were communications between members of Kappa Alpha Psi. Stewart received a denial letter in the beginning of October, but
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Morgan student Brian Stewart said his name was misspelled and the letter wasn’t signed. “I was shocked, and I was hurt,” he said. “Because in the back of my mind, I knew the reason, but I didn’t really think it to be true.” Members of the fraternity could not be reached for comment. Morgan State University issued a brief statement: “Morgan State University prides itself on sustaining an environment that is inclusive and respectful of all members of our community at large.”