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April 23, 2016 - April 29, 2016, The Afro-American
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PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY-AREA D.C. Emancipation
Primary Elections are April 26.
District Residents Honor History, Freedom
Prince George’s County
Baker Highlights County Prospects in State of Economy Address
Prince Georgians Set for April 26 Primary
Courtesy Photo
Rushern Baker III, Prince George’s County Executive, touted the economic future of Suitland, Largo and New Carrollton. By James Wright Special to the AFRO Jwright@afro.com
Courtesy Photo
Hillary Clinton has a strong operation in Prince George’s County. By James Wright Special to the AFRO Jwright@afro.com On April 26, hundreds of thousands of Prince Georgians are expected to go to the polls to select their preference for a number of political races that could ultimately determine who has power in Washington. Early voting ended on April 21 and county residents will vote in the Democratic and Republican primaries on April 26 for president of the United States, U.S.
“… I want to make history again this year by electing the first woman president.” –Maurice Simpson
The Capital Guardian Youth Challenge Academy led the 2016 Emancipation Day parade on April 16 down Pennsylvania Avenue in Northwest D.C.
statehood.” A small group of Georgetown University students held a banner during the processional in favor of D.C. statehood, The 2016 D.C. Emancipation Day parade April 16 was echoing sentiment from a Freedom Plaza rally to the west lawn greeted by a diverse crowd as it proceeded down Pennsylvania of the U.S. Capitol the day before. Ave. NW. The holiday is a central part of the capital’s annual A panel of civil and voting rights experts assembled April commemoration of President 15 at The Willard Hotel in Northwest Abraham Lincoln signing the D.C. to discuss how voting rights Compensated Emancipation Act in restrictions impedes civil rights. 1862 – which freed 3,185 slaves in The panel was moderated by Elaine the District. Jones, the first female president of the The parade showcased local NAACP Legal Defense and Education – Mayor Muriel Bowser Fund. Panelists included U.S. Reps. politicians, civil and voting rights leaders, and several District of James E. Clyburn (D-S.C.), Terry Columbia Public School marching A. Sewell (D-Ala.), Hakeem Jeffries bands, as the journey from slavery to (D-N.Y.), and Wade Henderson, freedom was celebrated. executive director and CEO of the D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) said in a statement, “As we Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. celebrate Emancipation Day, we honor the many champions Shadowing previous years, a free concert and fireworks who have fought for equality and civil rights throughout our display at Freedom Plaza concluded the Emancipation Day history. Each year, we use this historic moment to renew our celebration. Acts included April Sampe’, Black Alley, Be’la push for full democracy and statehood for the residents of the Continued on D2 District of Columbia. We will not stop until we achieve full By Melanie R. Duncan Special to the AFRO
“We will not stop until we achieve full statehood.”
Prince George’s County Greenbelt Md. Police ID Black Man Fatally Shot after Firing from Balcony Jack Johnson Requests
Conviction Set Aside
By The Associated Press Senator and the House seat in the Fourth Congressional District. Prince George’s County has the largest number of registered Democrats in Maryland-436, 837, according to statistics from the Maryland Board of Elections. Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is the front-runner for the Democratic Party nomination for president and has a headquarters in Bowie, Maryland. Maurice Simpson, the president of the Prince George’s County Young Democrats, is leading the effort for the former first lady in the county and sees her as an extension of his political idol, President Obama. “I helped the Obama campaign in 2007 and 2008 to elect the first Black president of this country and I want to make history again this year by electing the first woman president,” Simpson told the AFRO.
Photo by Melanie R. Duncan
In his April 13 State of the Economy Address, Prince George’s County Executive Rushern Baker III expressed optimism about the direction his jurisdiction is headed and touted three areas of the county that are promising economically. Baker delivered his fifth address of that type before scores of business, civic and political leaders at the Colony South Hotel and Convention Center in Clinton, Maryland. The event was hosted by the Prince George’s County Economic Development Corporation and the Greater Prince George’s Business Roundtable. While he talked about the economic progress that the county is making as a whole, there were two unincorporated areas, Suitland and Largo, and one city, New Carrollton, he Continued on D2
The Prince George’s County Police department said an officer fatally shot a man who allegedly fired at officers from the balcony of a third-floor apartment in Greenbelt, Maryland. Police said, in a news release, that officers were called to the area of 6200 block of Springhill Court at about 10:30 p.m. on April 19 about a Black man was firing a gun in the area. According to the department, officers found a man firing from a third-floor balcony and he fired at them. Police said the man was shot by an officer. Police said the Prince George’s County tactical unit gained access into the home and took the 28-year-old man into custody. The man was taken to a hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries. According to reports, no one else was injured. Police identified the man in a news release April 19 as 28-year-old Rico Don Rae Johnson of Greenbelt. The officer who shot the suspect has been placed on paid administrative leave. Simpson led a rally in Suitland on April 17 that featured U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) as the lead speaker that was attended by dozens of people. While Simpson has respect for Clinton’s opponent, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), he said there is overwhelming support in the county for Clinton. “We have had many requests for yard signs and literature for Secretary Clinton,” he said. “Our
supporters are voting in overwhelming numbers according to what we see in early voting. I don’t think there is much of a presence of Bernie Sanders in Prince George’s County.” The Sanders campaign has an office in College Park and has supporters in the county. “Bernie has the program to redistribute wealth from the one-tenth of one percent who is doing very, very well to give back to our community,” Maryland Del. Jimmy Tarlau
(D-District 47A) told the AFRO. “Bernie is talking about real change. While I respect Secretary Clinton, she doesn’t have that type of program.” Prince George’s Republicans will vote in their primary between billionaire developer Donald Trump, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Ohio Gov. John Kasich. While GOP voters are outnumbered by Democrats 10 to 1 in the county, the Continued on D2
By The Associated Press A former Prince George’s County executive who pleaded guilty in a corruption scheme is asking a Maryland judge to set aside his conviction and sentence. The Washington Post reports that 67-year-old Jack B. Johnson filed a motion in the U.S. District Court of Maryland, claiming that he has new evidence that uncovers law enforcement misconduct in connection with the case. Johnson says DNA evidence suggests that law enforcement involved in prosecuting the case mailed Maryland.gov him threatening messages. Jack B. Johnson, a former Johnson pleaded guilty Prince George’s County to extortion and witness and executive pled guilty and evidence tampering in 2011 in was convicted of extortion a corruption case. He says he in 2011. He now asks a would not have pleaded guilty judge to set his conviction if he had the evidence he has and sentence aside. now. Maryland U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein, whose office prosecuted Johnson, says Johnson’s motion is without merit.