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Volume 122 No. 5
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SEPTEMBER 7, 2013 - SEPTEMBER 13, 2013
Obama Syrian Gambit Draws Congressional Support, Skepticism By Zenitha Prince Special to the AFRO Even as key congressional leaders voiced their support for the White House’s plan for limited strikes against Syrian President Bashar Assad’s forces, many remain skeptical. Lawmakers—and Americans—on both sides of the ideological aisle say there are many questions President Obama would need to answer before they give him the nod for military action. Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), who attended a security briefing on Sept. 1, said she remained troubled by scant U.S.
Syrian President Bashar Assad
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intelligence on the Assad regime, including its potential motivations for the alleged chemical attack. And she also questioned the White House’s predictions about the scope and length of the nation’s intervention. “Still troubling to me is the U.S. view that a brief strike will have a deterrent effect, presumably on the use of chemical weapons and that Assad, who has tons of chemical weapons, is unlikely to retaliate,” said Norton in a statement. “I am also concerned that the U.S. has only a slim coalition – Turkey, France and the U.S. – particularly considering that almost all nations have signed the chemical
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DeMarco Myles, rape suspect
For Rape Victim, Second Attack at Howard University Brings Nightmare Back By Bria Freeman Special to the AFRO The 18-year-old rape victim has been trying to get on with her life, though things are not as she had planned before she
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Military Leaders Credit Civil Rights Heroes for Their Success It may have been labeled a march for civil rights but the historic demonstration in Washington, D.C. in August 1963 had an impact on the nation’s military, too. Before the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom there were no African-American four-star generals or admirals in the U.S. military. As America observes the 50th anniversary of the March, there are three generals in the Army, two in the Air Force and one Navy admiral. The first African-American four-star general was Air
Force Gen. Daniel “Chappie” James. He first became a brigadier general in 1969. “If the 1963 March had not taken place, there is no way we would have gotten the 1964 Civil Rights Act and Dad never would have become a general [four-star] in the Air Force. It was people like my father and others in the Civil Rights Movement in 1963 who laid the …to allow the African American pursuit of excellence,” said retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Daniel James III, son of “Chappie” James. “The 1963 March on Washington strengthened and reinforced policy actions to ensure fair treatment were executed by senior military
General Dennis Via, US Army, Commander Army Material Command
General Larry O. Spencer, US Air Force, Vice Chief of Staff US Air Force
By John R. Hawkins III AFRO Staff Writer
leaders during the 60’s era to recognize the significance of civil rights as a military imperative,” said Jimmy Love of the Diversity Management and Equal Opportunity office of the Defense Department. “The overriding philosophy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech eventually led to grounds for the establishment of the Department of Defense Race Relations Institute in 1971, now known as the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute,” said Love. “It is difficult for me to judge the effect of the specific event of the 1963 March on the upward mobility
of African Americans in uniform,” said retired Brig. Gen. Clara Adams-Ender, the first nurse to command a military base. “I do believe that the numbers of people who participated did influence and impress the politicians to pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Those laws had a direct effect upon the upward mobility of African Americans in uniform,” she said. According to Andre Sayles, a West Point graduate and director of the Army’s diversity office, said, “It was not until the Academy graduating class of 1968 that you had double digits of cadets graduating to Continued on A5
Admiral Cecil D. Haney, US Navy, Commander US Pacific Fleet
General Lloyd J. Austin III, US Army, Commander US Central Command
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Brigadier General Clara Adams-Ender, US Army (ret.)
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General Vincent K. Brooks, US Army, Commander US Army Pacific
General Edward A. Rice Jr., US Air Force, Commander Air Education and Training
District Resident Lucy Stewart Speller Turns 109 By Marian Tyrance Special to the AFRO Family and friends gathered at the home of Lucy B. Stewart Speller on Aug. 4 to honor her and celebrate her 109th birthday. She is known as “Aunt,” and “Sister,” to many because she and her husband, Wesley Speller, despite having no biological children of their own, were parents to many young people who grew up to achieve success. Speller’s loved ones-friends and relatives--have
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Photo by Herb Quarles
Among those celebrating the 109th birthday of Lucy B. Stewart Speller were her nephew, William Stewart, and Marian Tyrance, a long time friend.