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Volume 122 No. 42
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MAY 24, 2014 - MAY 30, 2014
D.C. Quest for Self Government Suffers A Judicial Setback
NAACP Presidential Selection Process Again Mired in Controversy By George E. Curry NNPA Editor-in-Chief WASHINGTON (NNPA) – A search firm hired by the NAACP ranked the Rev. Frederick D. Haynes III, senior pastor of FriendshipWest Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas, as the top candidate five years ago
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to the full board for an upor-down vote. To no one’s surprise, Jealous was elected (34-21). Though Benjamin L, Hooks, one of the association’s most popular leaders, pastored two churches – one in Memphis and one in Detroit – while serving as executive director of the NAACP from 1977 to Continued on A4
“Gray has refused to implement the law, saying he supports budget autonomy but believes Congress must pass a bill to grant it.”
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Retired Maj. Gen. Warren L. Freeman, a former commanding general of the District of Columbia National Guard, died May 17 at his Maryland home. He was 66. Freeman was born Aug. 20, 1947, in Jackson, Ga., but was raised in the Washington, D.C. area. The general’s military career spanned three decades -- with a majority of it in the service of the D.C. Guard. That career began as an enlisted soldier in 1966. After two years he moved on to a commission as a second
lieutenant from Officers Candidate School in July 1969, at which time he was awarded the Erickson Trophy for Distinguished Graduate of his class. Following commissioning, he attended basic courses in both infantry and military police schools. From then on, he served in a number of different roles such as platoon leader, tactical officer and a variety of staff and operations officer positions. He was appointed Commanding General of the District of Columbia National Guard in December 1995 by President Bill Clinton, where he served until he retired
on Dec. 31, 2002. Notably during that tenure, Freeman was in command during the Sept. 11, 2001, attack on the Pentagon, which sent U.S. Army photo by Scott Davis D.C. Air National U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Warren L. Freeman Guard F-16 fighters from jet liner. D.C Army Guard the 113th Wing scrambling helicopters also took flight to moments after the Pentagon was hit by a commercial Continued on A4
Ebenezer Women to Retreat, Rest, Regroup Doris Porter, former first lady of Hemingway AME Church in District Heights, Md., and the Rev. Dr. Cecelia Williams Bryant, senior episcopal It has been 30 years supervisor, Fourth since God prodded Episcopal District, AME the Rev. Dr. Jo Ann Church. Browning’s spirit to Then, with prayer and develop something meditation, she proceeded beyond the typical to plan the first Women’s Women’s Day to Spiritual Retreat and acknowledge and Restoration Conference, administer to the needs of herself. women. “The inspiration came “I could never from the Lord, of course,” imagine what God would she said. do when he dropped The first retreat saw this in my spirit,” said an attendance that was The Rev. JoAnn Browning ministers Rev. Browning, who shy of the 75 women she during a worship service. co-pastors Ebenezer planned for. However, Courtesy Photo African Methodist news about the retreat Episcopal Church in Fort began to spread by wordWashington, Md., along with her husband the Rev. Dr. Grainger of-mouth as Ebenezer women told their sorority sisters, coBrowning Jr. workers, relatives and others. Three decades later, hundreds of Rev. Browning sought the advice of her spiritual mothers, women flock to the event from all 50 U.S. states, the Caribbean, By Zenitha Prince Senior AFRO Correspondent
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Cornell William Brooks, newly elected NAACP president
WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge on May 19 barred the District of Columbia from implementing a law that purported to allow the city to spend its local tax dollars without authorization from Congress. The city currently adopts its own budget but needs Congress’ approval. In 2013, voters approved the so-called budget autonomy measure to grant the District the right to spend its local tax and fee revenue without Congress’ authorization. It was added to the city charter after Congress didn’t intervene. But D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray has refused to implement the law, saying he supports budget autonomy but believes Congress must pass a bill to grant it. The 13-member D.C. Council sued as a result.
Major Gen. Warren Freeman, Dead at 66 By Zenitha Prince Senior AFRO Correspondent
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to become president and CEO of the NAACP. But Haynes wasn’t the favorite of Julian Bond, then chairman of the board of directors, who preferred Benjamin Todd Jealous, president of a small, private foundation in California, for the spot. So when the selection process shifted from the search committee to the NAACP’s executive committee, the NAACP’s legendary political maneuvering came into play. At Bond’s urging, the executive committee opted to present only Jealous’ name
Judge Bars D.C. Budget Autonomy— District’s Loss is Mayor Gray’s Ironic Victory
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Confusion Prevails with Legalized Marijuana
Ward 4 resident, Michael Meachum, 22, signs petition to legalize marijuana in the District, while DCMJ 2014 petitioner, Amir Malik Dogan El, 21, observes. By Valencia Mohammed Special to the AFRO Long before the D.C. Council decided to decriminalize marijuana (cannabis) possession, there was a lone voice that would not be deterred. It was Adam Eidinger, 40, who’s been working for more than 15 years to legalize the herb. When many residents thought it was absurd to attempt to legalize an herb listed on the Drug Enforcement Agency’s (DEA) Schedule 1controlled substances, Eidinger kept trying. The nation’s capital, a place where people could grow, eat, drink, smell, and smoke marijuana, Continued on A3