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Volume 123 No. 23
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JANUARY 10, 2015 - JANUARY 16, 2015
Bowser Takes Control of the District By James Wright Special to the AFRO
See A8 for more Inauguration photos
District residents and political leaders from across the country gathered Jan. 2 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center to witness the inauguration of Muriel Bowser as mayor of the nation’s capital. Inauguration activities spanned the first weekend of the year with several events for residents of all ages. Bowser, 42, took the oath of office from District of Columbia Court of Appeals Chief Judge Eric Washington. Her family was with her. Bowser said she is humbled to take the helm of the city. “It is the greatest honor of my life to be sworn in as the mayor of my hometown,” she said. “Today as we begin a new year, we come together
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Photo by Rob Roberts
Muriel Bowser takes the oath of office while family members watch.
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CBC Holds 44th Swearing-In Ceremony By James Wright Special to the AFRO
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Members of the Congressional Black Caucus pledged Dec. 6 to fight for African Americans to be first-class citizens during a ceremonial swearing-in for current and newly-elected members of the 114th Congress. Forty-six members were eligible to take the ceremonial oath of office for the CBC, which was an all-time high for the organization. President Obama, when he served in the Senate, was a member of the CBC and the organization’s only senator, but now Cory Booker, a Democrat from New Jersey, in the only senator in the CBC. Rep. Mia Love (R-Utah) is the only Black Republican, out of the three in Congress, who opted to join the organization. “It is one of the highest honors of my life to lead the Congressional Black Caucus,” Rep. G.K. Butterfield (D-N.C.), newly elected chairman, said in his address. “Congressional Black Caucus members represent 22 states, the District of Columbia,
U.S. Rep. G. K. Butterfield is chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus.
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D.C.’s Major Crime Events in 2014
By Linda Poulson Special to the AFRO
Seven major events on or related to criminal activities, including homicides, kidnapping and money embezzlement, topped news headlines in the District in 2014.
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Brooke Praised for Life of Public Service
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to renew our commitment to this city. It’s a new day in Washington – a fresh start for all of the families that call D.C. home.” Karl Racine was sworn in as the city’s first elected attorney general, and D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson (D) and council members Kenyan McDuffie (D-Ward 5), Anita Bonds (D-At Large) and Mary Cheh (D-Ward 3) took their oaths of office to start another term. Charles Allen of Ward 6 (D), Brianne Nadeau of Ward 1 (D) and Elissa Silverman (I-At Large) took their oaths to start their careers as D.C. cuncil members, too. Former D.C. Mayors Anthony Williams and Adrian Fenty were in the audience Continued on A3
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Police Misconduct: In January of 2014 D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier attended hearings, where she answered questions on police misconduct in the District. The occurrences of misconduct involved child pornography, a prostitution operation, and attempted murder. Since those investigations the Metropolitan Police Department is now involved in a body camera pilot program that began on Oct. 1, 2014. “While the population expands – with 1,100 residents moving into our city each month – we still saw a 9 percent reduction in violent crime in 2014. We are making progress,” Lanier told the AFRO Jan. 6. She said the department has made a significant impact in reducing gang violence and street crime. “We have worked to build strong relationships with the community,” she said. “More people are providing us information and tips that lead to preventing and solving crime.”
“We have worked to build strong relationships with the community.” –Police Chief Cathy Lanier
According to Lanier, goals for 2015 will focus on working more cooperatively with our partner agencies to prevent violence in the home, particularly homicides involving women and children. She said the department is currently redesigning its youth division to more efficiently address violence prevention.
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The late Edward Brooke was the first Black elected U.S. senator and state attorney general. By James Wright Special to the AFRO
MPD Police Department Photo
Relisha Police Chief Cathy Lanier said the Rudd’s Metropolitan Police Department has Disappearance: made a significant impact in reducing The eight-yeargang violence and street crime. old girl, residing at D.C. General Family Homeless Shelter in Southeast opened a litany of problems of child neglect, homelessness and school absences.
Copyright © 2015 by the Afro-American Company
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Political leaders from both major parties and District residents recently reflected on the life of Edward W. Brooke III, the first popularly elected African-American senator representing Massachusetts. He was a native Washingtonian. He died on Jan. 3 of natural causes in Coral Gables, Fla. He was 95. As a moderate Republican, Brooke was elected in 1966 as a senator at a time when only a handful of Blacks were in the House Continued on A4