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The Afro-American, September 1, 2012 - September 7, 1, 2012
November 1, 2008 - November 7, 2008, The Washington Afro-American
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NAACP to beRelatives Felt at Both Major JenniferPresence Hudson and Identify Body ofMLK HerMemorial Slain Nephew Turns One Party Conventions By Alan King AFRO Staff Writer
By Jennifer ZenithaHudson Prince and other relativestopositively Special the AFRO identified NAACP officials said Aug. 27 they will be a presence at both the Republican and Democratic presidential nominating conventions to encourage candidates to address issues important to the Black and civil rights communities. “The real debate and critique of each of these conventions is not [over] the balloons and lights and
sport-utility vehicle sought in connection with the murder of Hudson’s mother and brother. Thebriefing white, 1994 Chevrolet press on Monday, Suburban with Illinois license as concerns such as voter suppression, criminal justice reform, immigration reform and ending predatory lending practices have been given short shrift by the thousands of candidates running for offices across the country. “Many Americans complain that presidential campaign coverage has become sound bytes over substance. For Black America it has become silence over substance, as we face some
“We are concerned that we are rapidly Jennifer Hudson and her mom, Darnell Donerson who approaching time when Jason. the Republican was killed, as wellaas her brother, Party has no space for civil rights.”
Courtesy Photos
plate X584859 was found on the body of her 7-year-old – Benjamin Jealous Chicago’s West Side after nephew Monday, just hours police received a 7 a.m. call after his body was found in a canned speeches, but [about] of the largest challenges in which platform presents a modern times, but with very vision of our country… that little public discourse,” said allows us to live out the NAACP President and CEO promises of our democracy,” Benjamin Jealous. said Rev. William Barber That silence has been and Dallas Cowboys players Bypresident Alan King II, of the North most deafening within the Tony Romo and Terrell Owens, AFRO Staff Writer Carolina NAACP State Republican Party, Jealous among the names submitted to Conference and a national and others said. The number election officials. Presidential candidate John board member. of NAACP Hurd saidallies those within workers,the who McCain’s attack on ACORN – So far, the 2012 GOP has shrunk dramatically were doing those things without Associated Community presidential in the last knowledge couple of years. ACORN’s or permisOrganizationcampaign for Reformhas Now – seen a “crisis of silence,” And said they expect sion, Jealous were fired. confirms the success of the evidence that haswill surorganization, headthe of the officials said the during that“The far fewer persons faced so far shows they faked group says. “This is testimony to the work forms to get paid for work they didn’t do, not to stuff ballot we’ve done and success we’ve boxes.” ACORN, she said, is the had,” Maude Hurd, president of victim of fraud, not the perpetraACORN, said in an Continued from A1interview tor of it. with the AFRO. Hurdany saidsignificant the only things “When this attack started, we indicate that Romney has failed to make bogus are the charges them-to had just announced that we had connection with Black voters. That might prove troubling selves. And factcheck. org registered 1.3 million new vothim if Black voters come out en masse on Election Day as they agrees. ers,” she said. “That’s just to say did 2008. running scared It concluded, “Neither thatinsomeone’s “Thatofdoes not surprise me notACORN one bit nor when have ahave its you employees because ACORN’s success.” manMcCain, who is who representing party, the that is beenRepublican found guiltyParty, of, or even is runningafor trying to destroy the singletickmost important right a citizen has charged with, casting fraudulent president on the Republican and that isout theatright to vote,” Rep. Elijah Cummings (Det, lashed ACORN in the said votes.” problem the came about prifinal debate against Barack Md.). He added that Romney’s plan The to overturn Affordable marily because of the way Obama, contending the group “is Healthcare Act and his Medicare plan also turn off African on the verge of maybe perpetrat- ACORN operates. Rather than American voters. rely on volunteers, it pays peoing “He one of the greatest frauds in has not shown the African American community that ple, many of them poor or unemvoter history in this country, he will be about lifting them up,” he said. “It appears that his ployed, to sign up new voters. maybe destroying the fabric of policies will be regressive.” The idea was to help both those democracy.” Love, who hasa aspirations the firstand Black being registered those doing Factcheck.org, non-partisan to become Republican woman Congress, rallied the crowd early the registration. Web site, found thosein claims to on night.with “Mr.“no President, I’m hereexplained, to tell you thehave a Maud “We be opening “exaggerated,” evizero tolerance policy for deliberAmerican people are awake and we’re not buying what you are dence of any such democracyate falsification of registration.” destroying fraud.” she said as the audience selling in 2012,” applauded. news account neglect Hurd believes the McCain A Brooklyn-born first generation Most Haitian American who, to point out that ACORN is charges were politically motivatlike Romney, is a Mormon, she referred to her cultural heritage, required by law$10 to turn in all they reged. her parents came to America saying with only because istration forms. And they also fail She said, “Because it’s lowbelieved in the American Dream. “The American Dream isn’t to note that it was the organizaand moderate-income people, just story. It isn’t just your our story,” Love tion,It’s in many instances, thatsaid. first and my people of color, I believe the story. Davis, the former Alabama Democratic congressmanbrought the phony registrations McCain campaign thinks those turnedRepublican and a key African to the-American attention of speaker authorities. voters are going to vote during primewhich time isofnot thenecesRepublicanThe National Convention Aug. McCain camp apparently Democratic, isn’t interested in those fine 28, was condemned by some members of the Congressional sarily true.” points, to core air misleadACORN is no to Black Caucus forstranger “his complete flip floppreferring on certain ing ads that seek to link controversy. principles.” His new support of voter ID laws that tendObama to hurt to ACORN, thereby undercutting For 38voters years, the non-partisan minority at the polls was called “unconscionable.” his political support. organization has fought for social former It was Davis, the president’s Alabama campaign McCain: I’m John McCain and economic justice for lowchairman and the person who seconded Obama’s nomination at and I approve this message. and moderate-income the 2008 Democratic National whoWho drewisthe most Announcer: Barack Americans. With 400,000 mem- Convention, criticism fororganized his unexpected role on the GOP’s stage. Obama? A mannational with “a political ber families into more baptism performed at warp than 1,200 neighborhood chapspeed.” Vast ambition. After colters in 110 cities nationwide, lege, he moved to Chicago. ACORN has over the years seen its share of criticism while advo- Became a community organizer. Continued from A1 housing, There, Obama met Madeleine cating for affordable Talbot, part of the Chicago living wages, healthcare for the will include First can speak to so branch who of ACORN. He was underserved— andLady whileMichelle organ- Obama, thatincluding he was asked the administration’s on behalfimpressive of women, theirto izing voter registrationwork drives. train the ACORN staff. But none has as withering protection of been reproductive rights and wage parity; former What did and baseless this one.whose endorsement President BillasClinton, wasACORN criticalininChicago 2008 in? Bullying banks. thecritical presidential and With will be this election year given engage his continuing popularity Intimidation tactics. Disruption less than two weeks away, among a swathe of Americans; former Republican governor of of business. ACORN forced ACORN’s detractors allege the Florida Charlie Crist; and San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro, who organization has engaged in mas- banks to issue risky home loans. will theregistration DNC’s first Latino speaker. The same types of loans that sivebe voter fraud afterkeynote Not unexpectedly, speakers will also Republican causedbash the financial crisis we’re the reported discovery of bogus presidential and vice presidential candidates Mitt Romney and in today. names, such as Mickey Mouse
ACORN Fights Back
from a neighbor about a suspipostedoffliers bearing photoIt is emerges from the “Stone Hope” and his stands cious vehicle. The man noticed graph around the city. On strong and tall against the backdrop of the National the vehicle while walking his Sunday, Jennifer Hudson asked Mall, a memorial to a man who gave his life in the dog. According to the Chicago for the public’s help in finding be willing to meet with them “We are in the face of the quest for equality. Tribune, the convention boy had beeninshot her nephew. In her MySpace at the GOP most aggressive onslaught A year after the granite memorial honoring theand Rev. multiple times in the back seat blog, she thanked fans supTampa, Fla., this week than against voting rights,” Barber Martin Luther King Jr. was unveiled, an estimated 2 of the vehicle. The SUV, regisporters for their prayers and ever before. said, adding “We’ve seen million people have viewedoffered it. Travelers visit regularly tered to Hudson’s murdered a $100,000 reward to “We are concerned that we backlash like this before—we from all areas of the world.anyone There have been reunions, brother, was towed with the who returned the boy are rapidly approaching a time saw it after the Civil War, we boy’s body inside and is being proposals, prayer vigils andalive. gospel concerts at the site. when the by Republican Party saw it after the passage of processed evidence technithe of investigation, Most visitors marvel at theSince majesty the $120 has no space for civil rights,” the Voting Rights Act and we cians and workers. The body – who gained stardom million memorial, but thereHudson have been complaints Jealous saw it after the election of this was latersaid. removed and taken to appearing “American about the severity of King’safter expression andonthe And, the GOP-led assault nation’s first Black president. the Cook County Medical Idol,” and then won an inaccuracy of the wording carved into the statue. Examiner’s office. Academy Award for her role in against voting rights seems Whenever the Black electorate The wording is derived from King’s “Drum the movie Dreamgirls – has to Hudson support and that other fear, family the civil has expanded…we have seen Major Instinct” sermon, which was in eye. members arrived at the Medical this backlash follow.” stayed outdelivered of the public rights leaders said. Since February 1968, less than two months before he wasreportExaminer’s office mid-afterThe Chicago Tribune the 2010 elections ushered Jealous said there were assassinated. “I was a drum major for justice, peace Julian King, Jennnifer Hudson’s nephew. noon to identify the body. ed that a parade of cars moved in a rash of conservative two “bright spots” on the and righteousness,” the statue says.past her family’s home Given the choice between lookslowly governors and lawmakers Republican landscape with A spokesman for the office the murders but isactual being words held in were: King’s “If you want to saythethat ing directly at the body or Monday morning, past in state legislatures and in regards to voting rights. told the newspaper that Hudson jail forI parole violation aftersay thatnews viewing it on a wall-mounted vans, reporters was a drum major, I was a drum majorand forcuriCongress, 33 states have Governors Bob McConnell of ous onlookers. justice. Say that I was a drum major for peace. I was passed voter ID laws—and an Virginia and Rick Snyder of Neighbors a drum major for righteousness. And all of the otherstood amendment to the Republican Michigan, after meeting with quietly and shallow things will not matter.” Party’s platform supports the NAACP to hear the civil reflected Authorities said they expect the wording to be on the “remained strongconcerns, for her famivideo violence. those screen, laws. the family chose rights group’s each being convicted of attempted later this year to accurately represent King’s ly” and on wasstate clearly its leader.to murderchanged and vehicular hijackthe latter. According to the In front of the Hudson’s Some state measures called lawmakers statement. “She held hands with her famiing. Cook County records show home, men in heavy jackets Tribune, “Yes, have cutHudson back onsaid, sameproduce non-restrictive voter ly,” the spokesman said. “It that he pleaded guilty to both that’s him.” and hooded sweatshirts came to day registration and early ID laws. was obviously a very emotional charges in 1999. He was also kiss the twin crossesatbarand weekend voting. Other Additionally, Jealous looks more like the “We arewhite convinced moment.” convicted in 1998 for party posses-of ing the names of Donerson and measures have made it added, the –organization [Abraham] Lincoln not the NAACP that we have an The boy the son of Julia sion of a stolen motor and vehicle. Jason. difficult to conduct voter has found common ground like a modern of agenda that transcends petty Hudson, Jennifer’s sister – had He was released day fromcreation prison in “Everybody is sick of going registration drives and, in the been withmissing the more conservative the ‘tea said.years party politics,” said Hilary since Friday, 2006 afterparty,’” serving he seven through stuff like this,” Artisha a relative for the murder case of Florida, stripped from when elements of thefound GOPJulian’s on the In attempted the meantime, theand Shelton, senior vice president West, a former resident of the Darnelljustice car hijacking convicted felons the recently grandmother, matter of criminal NAACP willcharges. do their best of Policy Advocacy/ area told theand Tribune. “We all No wonderright Obama’s campaign is Donerson, 57,president and his uncle, boyvisibility remainedtomissing restored to vote. reform. The said he toThe bring their Washington BureauAll director have to stick together. these trying to distance him from the Jason Hudson, 29, shot to death through a long young are“[And] dying, and All of those policies hopes that augers well for the agenda, whichweekend includesin of thechildren NAACP. we group, saying, “Barack Obama infuture. his grandmother’s home in which policeeconomic and volunteers forwill what?” disproportionately impact extending and ask candidates, ‘Can Never Organized with ACORN.” the 7000 block of South Yale the Obama’s poor, Blacks otherrun “Four years from now, we environmental justice, we see your solutions?’ so But ties toand ACORN Avenue. minority voters in ways that hope when the Republican expanding civil and labor that our members and others long and deep. He taught classes An Amber Alert – a desigundermine their even rightendorsed to vote, nation platform is unveiled there rights, and decreasing around the country can make for ACORN. They for high-risk missing the for NAACP representatives is a greater space forFriday civil inequalities in education and an informed decision on him President. children – was issued But now ACORN is in trouble. said. rights and was that discovered the [GOP] the criminal justice system. Election Day.” after Julian Reporter: There are at least missing after the murders. understand why: he is a good man who shattered a signal 11 investigations across the Police arrested William racial barrier, and the entire community should share that country involving thousands of Balfour, the missing boy’s steppotentially fraudulent ACORN pride,” Davis wrote. “But pride in President Obama should father and estranged husband forms. never turn into intolerance for opposing viewpoints or into the of Julia, at his girlfriend’s Announcer: Massive voter Southside apartment several demonization of Black Americans like Condi Rice and myself fraud. Obama campaign in Alabama hours afterinthe murders. DavisAnd lostthe a bid for governor 2010 and switched who will be supporting Mitt Romney. Intolerance is ugly in paid more than $800,000 an Balfour’s to the Republican Partytoearlier this year. mother, Michele, has any form, and the 26 CBC members who didn’t sign perhaps ACORN front for get out the vote told reporters that her son had On the day of Davis’ speech, some members of the recognized that.” efforts. nothing to do withworded the slayings. Congressional Black Caucus released a strongly letter Hurricane Isaac raged along the Gulf Coast as debate Pressuring banks to issue risky Balfour remains a suspect in Jason Hudson accusing the former congressman of switching over Davis’ new position grew increasingly heated. Reports loans. Nationwide voterfour-term fraud. partiesObama. only toBad further his personal political ambitions. Davis on the weather, which delayed the convention for a day and Barack judgment. reportedly is considering left Tampa drenched, often preempted speakers who took to Blind ambition. Too risky for a bid for a congressional seat in Virginia, where he now resides. America. the podium. As controversy stirred around him, Davis used “Given the magnitude of your recent transformation, we his time on the national and international stage to address canSince onlyMcCain’s concludecomments, that, rather than a true conversion, your “Democrats whose mindsHIGH are not made up.” The NBC/ Wall SQUARE ACORN’s 87the offices have actions are result of been a nakedly personal and political Street Journal poll showed that Obama and Romney were bombarded threats and anguish after failing to secure the calculationwith or simmering even when it came to swing groups of voters, including racist mail. Democratic nomination for governor of the State of Alabama in independents. The day after the presidential 2010,”vandals the letter signed by 14 members of the CBC said. “America is the land of second chances,” Davis told the debate, broke into the The CBCBoston members audience. “And I gather in this close race you have room organization’s and took Seattleparticular issue with Davis’ stance that voter ID laws do not violate civil rights or suppress for the estimated 6 million of us who got it wrong in 2008 offices and stole computers. NOT THE LIST BREAD minority voter turnout. As an example, the letter cited that and who want to fix it. Maybe weONshould have known that After a Cleveland representative appeared TV, an e-mail wasthen-Senator Obama in calling for in 2007,on Davis had joined night in Denver that things that began with styrofoam, Greek sent to the local office saying she Department’s voting rights chief the resignation of the Justice columns and artificial smoke typically don’t end well. Maybe “is going to have her life ended.” after he claimed that voter ID laws did not hurt minorities. the Hollywood stars and the glamour blinded us a little. Maybe A in Providence, Atworker the time Davis said,R.I., “You can’t argue voter ID laws don’t you were blinded by what some of us thought was a halo.” received a threatening call sayLEFT RIGHT disfranchise African-Americans.” Davis’ speech was tough rhetoric for a politician who had ing, “We know you get off work The CBC members also said that Davis had supported the previously described President Obama as a friend. at 9” and uttered racial epithets. president’s agenda 95 percent of the time, including the Wall “What a difference four years makes,” he said, adding that A caller to one office left a Street reform bill, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Obama’s used “flowery words” to lead Americans to believe message on the answering Act and saying: the Lilly Ledbetter that the country could be “more inclusive than we had ever machine, “Hi, I was justFair Pay Act. While he did not vote intofavor the total been and no candidate had ever spoken so beautifully.” calling let youofknow that health care reform package, Davis did Barack needs to get supportObama expanding Medicaid and giving tax breaks to small He concluded: “2008 through 2011, lesson learned. 2012: hung. He’s a that (expletive deleted) businesses provide health care. The letter said Davis had mistake corrected. Let’s take this country back.” nigger, he’s a piece of Obama as a ‘beacon of leadership.’” “hailedand President Barack Following Davis’ speech, CNN political analyst Roland (expletive deleted). You guys publicly are Davis did not respond to the CBC’s letter, but Martin accused Davis of “political fraud,’ saying that the fraudulent, and you that needhe to go to in an email that he and other Politico reported said former Alabama congressman had never campaigned as a hell. All the niggers on oak trees. Black Republicans should not be demonized. conservative. They’re gonna get all hung hon1 BANANA “I appreciate that there is sensitivity in the African In response to that criticism, after his speech, Davis said, “I eys, they’re going to get assassiAmerican community to criticisms of the president and wish I had been more outspoken. I should have been.” nated, they’re gonna get killed.” Another message said, “You organizers stated. The $36.65 million needed was raised through liberal idiots. Dumb (expletive Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), and the GOP at large. Cummings said he a variety of “grassroot strategies” including solicitations via deleted). Welfare bums. You guys just (expletive deleted) expects speakers will highlight, social media and the online sale of convention merchandise. come to our country, consume particularly, Republican-led In addition to increasing accessibility to the public, the every natural resource there is, efforts to “block voting” via voter convention has also increased the number of delegates from and make arestrictions lot of babies. ID laws, in That’s voting times and other election changes about 4,000 to 6,000, who were chosen with an eye toward all you guys do. And then that opponents say havesuck been especially deleterious to poor, diversity, including racial and ethnic background, gender and up the welfare and expect everyAfrican-American and other minority voters. sexual orientation. one else to pay for your hospital “It’s going to make people want to vote even more,” “Whenever you see an audience at a DNC convention it looks bills for your kids. I jus’ say let Cummings said, and further predicted, “I think the turnout (at the like the United Nations because you have people from various Before age five, every room is a classroom. your kids die. That’s the best polls) will be bigger than 2008, and a lot of that (impetus) will ethnic groups, age groups and genders,” Cummings said. He later move. Just let your children die. Fun learning opportunities are everywhere. Simple things like come out of the convention.” added, “We’ve bent over backwards to make sure minorities are Forget about paying for hospital counting and identifying shapes activate a child’s learning ability, billsTo forensure them. I’m notmessages gonna do are conveyed, organizers said those the appropriately and proportionally represented.” and help them enter school more prepared. That’s why PNC it. You guys are I open and accessible in history,” convention willlowlifes. be “theAnd most Among those minority delegates are married founded Grow Up Great and its Spanish-language equivalent Crezcacouple Donald hope die.” changes in format and venue to allow thousands $ andyou willallmake L. Williams, the first African-American judge in his hometown con Éxito, a 10-year, 100 million program to help prepare young Hurd Americans thinks the hate calls will The four-day event begins with more to participate. El Paso, Texas, and Ruth Ybarra Williams, a retired children for school and life. Pick up a free bilingual Sesame Street™ Mexicancease soon. CarolinaFest, a family-friendly festival in Uptown Charlotte American schoolteacher. pair,branch. who served as convention “Happy, Healthy, Ready for School” kit atThe a PNC It’s filled “In two weeks, I think these that celebrates the Carolinas and Virginia and will be open to delegates and campaign volunteers since 2008, said they are with all kinds of simple, everyday things you can do to help a child attacks will be over. But I think it learn. Together, we can work with our communities so an entire the public. proud to represent their community and to support President will be harder for us to get our generation won’t just grow up... but grow up great. On Sept. 6 the convention will move from the Time Obama. name back on good graces Warner Cable to us theinBank of America Stadium, where “[We’re] representing our people here. Our community. because they reallyArena trashed The middle class,” Mrs. Williams said in their profile on the thethousands—armed last few weeks.” with their “community credentials”—can To find out more, go to pncgrowupgreat.com But ACORN will not be witness Obama’s nomination acceptance speech. Throughout convention website. “We want to push forward; even with or call 1-877-PNC-GROW. deterred. the convention, the public can also keep up the proceedings via everything President Obama has done, there’s more to do a a“We’ve robust been socialfighting mediafor component. still.” long time, over 30 years, for was supported by a change in The for fluidity of the format Mr. Williams, a veteran of the civil rights movement in Texas, the rights of low- and moderatefunding, organizers stated. agreed. income people all across the “ForHurd the said. first time ever, the Democratic National “We’re all in. Whatever happens, I want us to be there. I country,” “We’re Convention is not accepting cash from corporations, lobbyists want to make sure if there’s a vote, we’re there. In many ways, going to continue to fight for or PACS. That means that U.S residents– rather than special this election is more important than the last one. The last economic justice in our commuinterests – have a stronger voice in the convention process,” election was about history. This one is about the future.” nities.” TM /©2008 Sesame Workshop. All rights reserved. ©2008 The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
“She held hands with her family. It was obviously a very emotional moment.”
Leader Calls Voter Registration Fraud Charges ‘Bogus’
Republican Convention: Diversity Facade
Democratic National Convention
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