Washington AFRO-American Newspaper - May 4 2013

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Volume 121 No. 39

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MAY 4, 2013 - MAY 10, 2013

D.C. Man Found Guilty of Latisha Frazier Murder By AFRO Staff

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

INSIDE A5

Washington View Baltimore’s Bastille Needs Expert Teardown

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(Raleigh, NC) – Seventeen people, including eight ministers, civil rights leaders, and students, were 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 driven, extremist, meanspirited agenda” that has captured both legislative Continued on A5

By Zachary Lester AFRO Staff Writer

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, Continued on A4

Prince George’s Teenager Hopeful for Sickle Cell Cure From the time she was a few days old, Jocelyn

White House Correspondents’ Dinner

Slain D.C. police Detective Joseph Newell

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Funeral Jocelyn Rodriguez and her brother Jay, her bone marrow Held for donor and best friend D.C. Officer Killed at Md. Black Jockey Eyes Top Prize at Kentucky Derby Home By Zachary Lester

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Photo by Rob Roberts

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The Associated Press

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Photo: NAACP

Johnnie Sweet, 19, of the District, may spend the rest of his life in prison after a jury found him guilty on April 30 in the first-degree felony murder of Latisha Frazier. The D.C. girl was 18 when she was kidnapped and murdered in August 2010. Sweet was charged with first-degree premeditated murder with aggravating circumstances, kidnapping and tampering with physical evidence. He faces a mandatory minimum of 30 years and a maximum of 60 years in prison, according to a news release from the office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Ronald Machen. Frazier vanished on Aug. 2, 2010. Over the course of five months, her family diligently sought to find her, passing out fliers and reaching out to local news outlets to publicize her disappearance. In late January 2011, a witness came forward and revealed Frazier’s whereabouts to authorities. Evidence revealed that Sweet was one of the leaders in a group of six young men and women who took part in Frazier’s murder. The group, who Frazier believed to be her friends, ranged in age from 16 to 23. On the day of the teen’s disappearance, the group had suspected that Frazier had stolen about $900 from Sweet. Shortly thereafter, Sweet hatched a plan of revenge by calling her over to an apartment where they claimed to be having a social gathering. When Frazier arrived at the apartment, in the 1700 block of Trenton Place S.E., the group took her to a small room where they brutally punched, kicked and stomped her. After ignoring Continued on A4

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, 27-year-old Antwan James is accused of killing the 46-year-old D.C. police detective April 27 following a dispute over yard work at their home in Upper Marlboro. Authorities say the entire incident was captured by surveillance cameras at the home. Police say James had been living with his stepfather since he was fired from the D.C. Fire Department.

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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