Prince Georges AFRO-American Newspaper - May 4 2013

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PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY EDITION

Volume 121 No. 39

MAY 4, 2013 - MAY 10, 2013

Turmoil Continues for Prince George’s School Management By Teria Rogers AFRO Staff Writer

17 Jailed During NAACP ‘Pray In’ Supporters lay their hands on Rev. Dr. William Barber before the April 29 civil disobedience action By Ben Wrobel Special to the AFRO from the NAACP (Raleigh, N.C.) – Seventeen people, including eight ministers, civil rights leaders, and students, were

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Washington View Baltimore’s Bastille Needs Expert Teardown

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White House Correspondents’ Dinner

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arrested for a prayerful protest at the state legislature in Raleigh, N.C., on April 29. The activists were handcuffed and taken to jail while they sang and prayed in front of the locked doors of the North Carolina

Senate. The nonviolent civil disobedience was the opening round in a series of protests to focus national attention on what the Rev. Dr. William Barber, North Carolina NAACP state president, called “the ideologically

Photo: NAACP

driven, extremist, meanspirited agenda” that has captured both legislative houses and the governor’s office. “The decision to engage in civil disobedience is not Continued on A5

Six weeks before the end of the school year, controversy continues to roil in the Prince George’s County school system’s leadership. In recent weeks, the interim schools superintendent announced his resignation, a Board of Education member was penalized for making unauthorized charges with her county-issued credit card, the selection process for school board appointees began and a group of county residents are organizing against the law which granted power to Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker III to make sweeping changes to school management. Interim Superintendent Alvin Crawley announced on April 25 that he would leave the school system effective June 3, almost a month before his contract’s June 30 expiration date. Crawley is throwing in the towel as Baker searches for a new schools chief. Baker said publicly that he had hoped that Crowley would continue until the end of his contract to allow for a smoother transition once the new superintendent is found. But in a statement, Crawley, whom sources said was disappointed that he was not a contender for the permanent job, said he is resigning early with “mixed emotions.” He added that he is “very proud of the accomplishments” he made during his tenure. The school board responded to Crawley’s resignation with a Continued on A4

Prince George’s Teenager Hopeful for Sickle Cell Cure By Zachary Lester AFRO Staff Writer

From the time she was a few days old, Jocelyn Rodriguez has been undergoing treatment for the sickle cell anemia she was diagnosed with at birth. She’s had 25 blood transfusions, two surgeries and been hospitalized more than 30 times. She’s missed at least half of each school year and has never had the kind of life where she could participate in the regular childhood endeavors for more than a few weeks at a time. In July, she faces the biggest challenge of her challenged young life when she undergoes a bone marrow

transplant, an operation that she and her family hope will let her live a normal life. At 15, she is very optimistic that her surgery will cure her of the symptoms that have made her childhood difficult. Before the surgery, she will undergo extensive chemotherapy treatments to kill her immune system. Then she will receive bone marrow from her brother, Jay, 13, who is a perfect match for her. “I guess what I want to do most is try and improve the quality of my life, and that’s pretty much it,” Jocelyn said. Jocelyn, a freshman at Oxon Hill High School, is one of many African Americans who suffer from sickle cell anemia, a debilitating disease

that affects the way the blood circulates in and nourishes the body. The hereditary disease, which can lead to heart attack, stroke, kidney and liver disease, often leads to death in young sufferers. If her surgery in July is successful, Jay’s marrow will take over and help Jocelyn to produce healthy blood cells. She would still have sickle cell disease, but she would be relieved of the symptoms that have made her sick so often, said her mother, Sharon Rodriguez. “We’re hoping for a cure,” Sharon Rodriguez said. “We’re hoping this will change her life. It would be life changing for all of us.” Continued on A4

Jocelyn Rodriguez and her brother Jay, her bone marrow donor and best friend

Photo by Rob Roberts

Black Jockey Eyes Top Prize at Kentucky Derby By Zachary Lester AFRO Staff Writer

Slain D.C. police Detective Joseph Newell

Funeral Held for Newell at Md. Home The Associated Press Washington Mayor Vincent Gray says officials are considering naming part of a new Sixth District Police Headquarters building after slain police officer Joseph Newell. Gray made the comments at funeral services for Newell on April 27 in Landover. Newell’s stepson, Continued on A4

Kevin Krigger and Goldencents Photo courtesy BlackNews.com

Kevin Krigger always wanted to be a jockey. As a child in the Virgin Islands, he rode the arm of the sofa at his home when he was tiny, later graduating to a horse he was gifted by his grandmother. By the time he was a teenager, he had won his first race at the Randall James Racetrack in his hometown of St. Croix. His heart was set and his ambition clear: he wanted to join the ranks of the great Black jockeys who once dominated the sport of horse racing. Krigger has realized his dream, racing in California and even taking the top spot April 6 at the Santa Anita Derby, the first Black jockey to win there since horse racing began there 78 years ago. On May 4, Krigger, 29, will be in the saddle steering Goldencents, a thoroughbred with a good shot at taking the title at the 139th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. Also in the race is Victor Lebron, another Virgin Islands native, who is riding Frac Daddy. If either is successful, he will join the ranks of the great Black jockeys who once dominated horse racing. The last time a Black jockey won the Kentucky Derby was 1902, when Jimmy Winkfield crossed the finish line first atop Alan-a-Dale; he also rode the winner in 1901. A Black jockey rode unsuccessfully in 1921. Marlon St. Julien, who jockeyed Curule, came in seventh in 2000. According to the Associated Press, Krigger keeps a picture of Winkfield in his locker. The scarcity of Black jockeys in horse racing today Continued on A5

Copyright © 2013 by the Afro-American Company


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