Washington Afro American Newspaper September 20 2014

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Volume 123 No. 7

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July 5, 2014 - July 5, 2014, The Afro-American

SEPTEMBER 20, 2014 - SEPTEMBER 26, 2014

Education and Engagement Senate Seeks Answers Black Caucus Foundation Conf. By James Wright Special to the AFRO The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s 44th Annual Legislative Conference (ALC), one of Black America’s most

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on Police Militarization By Linda Poulson Special to the AFRO

Courtesy Photo

A. Shuanise Washington is the president and chief executive officer of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation. Bernice Johnson’s (D-Texas) annual forum on science and technology will be a highlight. Washington said Radio

“Over the years, the conference has evolved…to a full swath of legislative and social events covering four full days in Washington.” – Sanford Bishop launching the Permanence Project,” she said. “It is a digital platform on public policy issues that are important to African Americans. The Permanence Project will engage African Americans at the conference and eventually people across the country and around the world.” Technology will be an important aspect of the conference, Washington said. She said that issue forums and braintrusts will focus on the country’s racial digital divide and Rep. Eddie

One, TV One and Interactive One have joined in a partnership with the CBCF to broadcast certain events live, such as the prayer breakfast on Sept. 27 at the convention center. Radio One will be involved in the conference at another level as its founder, Cathy Hughes, will be honored at the Phoenix Awards Dinner on Sept. 27 at the convention center along with Wade Henderson, the president and CEO of the Continued on A5

Two panels debated whether it was constitutionally appropriate for local police departments, across the country, to use military style weapons as a measure of controlling community protests during a Senate subcommittee hearing Sept. 9. Senators of the Financial and Contracting Oversight Subcommittee, one of the federal agencies responsible for providing funding and equipment to police departments, questioned why many local police departments now use military equipment to control domestic situations, such as when SWAT equipment was used to control the protests that occurred in response to the killing of Michael Brown, an unarmed 18-year-old black man in Ferguson, Mo. The subcommittee is under the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), chair of the

subcommittee, understood why protective gear for police was used in the Ferguson rioting and looting during the protests, but overall did not think SWAT gear was necessary on a daily basis, since most of the protests were peaceful. McCaskill wanted to know the difference between “militarized and federalized” enforcement and the comparison between Ferguson and the Boston Marathon bombing. “What is the solution if it is used primarily in wars,” she said. “Was there any oversight or correlation on the 1033 fund?” The 1033 fund is an appropriations bill for the National Defense Authorization Act of 1997 that authorizes the Department of Defense to transfer excess military property to state and local law enforcement agencies. The state with the highest amount of funding in the program from 2011 to the present is Florida, receiving $266 million, while Alaska receives $849, 231, the lowest amount. Continued on A4

Black Letter Carriers Awarded for Extraordinary Feats By Christina Sturdivant Special to the AFRO On Sept. 10 the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) celebrated everyday workers who performed extraordinary acts over the past year at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. Honorees were recognized for heroic deeds such as rescuing a 10-year-old boy from a predator, saving a heart attack victim, and pulling a man from a crashed truck before it exploded. Two of the most prestigious awards, the 2014 Hero of the Year Award and the Legacy Award, were given to African Americans. Just two weeks into his job as a letter carrier assistant, Continued on A4

Photo by Christina Sturdivant

Jermaine Shirley receives National Letter Carrier of the Year Award for rescuing family from burning building.

For D.C. Statehood Hearing– Change Unlikely

Fugitive Arrested in 3-Year-Old’s Fatal Shooting

By Ben Nuckols The Associated Press

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signature events, will offer thousands of attendees a wide range of subjects and social and networking events designed to stimulate minds and encourage action. It takes place from Sept. 24-27 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in the District and its theme is “It Starts with You.” “The ALC is the place where we challenge people and ourselves to engage in the difficult conversations about social justice and economic empowerment, among many issues, and begin the hard work of creating sustainable solutions to the issues Black people face every day,” A. Shuanise Washington, the president and CEO of the CBCF, said. Washington said a new communications program will be announced at the conference. “We will be

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WASHINGTON (AP) — Wikimedia Commons Congress is dusting off the notion of statehood for the Residents of the nation’s capital may not be any closer to gaining representation on District of Columbia for the Capitol Hill. first time in 21 years, but that doesn’t mean residents of the from Democrats on his own committee to bring the bill to the nation’s capital are any closer Senate floor for a vote. to gaining representation on Capitol Hill. “My goal for this hearing is to educate a new generation of District leaders testified passionately about transforming people about this injustice and restart the conversation about most of the nation’s capital into the “state of New Columbia” finding a more thoughtful solution,” Carper said. at a hearing Monday afternoon, saying only statehood would Some Democrats who haven’t signed on as co-sponsors are correct what even some opponents call an injustice: the running for re-election in swing states. In a political climate inability of Washington’s residents to fully participate in when coziness with Washington can lead to political defeat, American democracy. vulnerable Democrats may not want to speak out on the Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid supports statehood for statehood issue. the District, and President Barack Obama said recently, “I’m In the Republican-led House, the issue is a non-starter. GOP for it.” But no further action on the bill is planned beyond the statehood opponents often point out that the nation’s founders hearing. Sen. Tom Carper of Delaware, the Homeland Security Committee chairman, doesn’t appear to have enough support Continued on A5

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UPPER MARLBORO, Md. (AP) Police in Prince George’s County say they’ve arrested a man in connection with the fatal shooting of a toddler in Landover in

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Prince George’s Co. Police Dept.

Davon Wallace was arrested on Sept. 16.


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