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Volume 123 No. 18
$1.00 Nation’s #1 African American Newspaper 2014 Nielsen-Essence Consumer Report
DECEMBER 6, 2014 - DECEMBER 12, 2014
DC Mayor for Life Loved Black Press, AFRO By James Wright Special to the AFRO Even though the late Marion Barry was often critical of the news media for its coverage of his political career and his personal life, he had a special relationship with Black-owned media outlets, particularly the Washington AFRO-American Newspaper. Linda Wharton Boyd, who served as a press secretary and director of communications for Barry from 1997-1999, said that her former boss was supportive of Black media.
“He loved the AFROAmerican Newspaper and he loved the Murphy family.” –Linda Wharton Boyd INSERTS • Walmart
“Barry was very fond of the Black press,” Boyd, who has also worked as the director of communications for D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray (D), said. “[Barry] was very positive about it and he made sure that the Black press was a priority in his communications operations. He consulted the Black press on issues and always highly regarded their opinions.”
She said that Barry was enthusiastic about the AFRO. “He loved the AFROAmerican
Newspapers and the Murphy family,” Boyd said. Publishers of the Washington AFRO, such as Art Carter and Frances Murphy II, developed a strong working relationship with Barry while he was in the public spotlight as mayor and as a member of the D.C. Council. Murphy worked as the publisher of the Washington AFRO from 1987-1999, and kept in close contact with Barry throughout that time. She would assign reporters to keep her readers abreast of the positive things that Barry was doing and wrote editorials defending his policies on racial inclusion and delivery of city services to African-American residents. Murphy made sure that AFRO readers had an African-American perspective on Barry’s controversial arrest AFRO Archives Photo on Jan. 18, 1990 at AFRO Publisher, Frances Murphy interviews Marion Barry while the Vista Hotel in he was in prison. Jan. 11, 1992
AFRO Archives Photo
D.C. Mayor Marion Barry walks a city neighborhood with D.C. Council Chairman David Clarke. Northwest D.C. The AFRO closely followed the trial closely in which the mayor was sentenced to six months in prison in August 1990, a term
he began serving in October 1991. Murphy visited Barry while he was incarcerated and kept
Continued on A8
NYC Grand Jury Nears Decision on Police Chokehold Death of Eric Garner Join the 375,992 Facebook fans who follow the AFRO, the Black newspaper with the largest digital reach in the country.
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By Tom Hays Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — Amid the fallout from a grand jury’s decision in the fatal police shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown in Missouri, a panel in New York City is quietly nearing its own conclusion about another combustible case involving the death of an unarmed man at the hands of police. The grand jury that began investigating the chokehold death of Eric Garner in September heard last week from what was believed to be its final witness — the New York Police Department officer seen on a widely watched amateur video showing him wrapping his arm around Garner’s neck. Before the end of the year, authorities are expected to announce whether the officer will face criminal charges in a case that sparked outrage and grabbed headlines before it was overshadowed by the killing of Brown in the St. Louis suburb of Ferguson. The Garner video — along with a medical examiner’s finding that the chokehold contributed to his death on the streets of Staten Island — should give a grand jury ample reason to indict, said Garner’s mother, Gwen Carr. “You’d have to be blind to not see what happened,” Carr said in a telephone interview. “I can’t see why it should take so long to reach a decision. ... The wait is making me very anxious, of course. But there’s nothing I can do about it.”
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Continued on A4
Howard Holds HIV Stigma Conference By Victoria Jones Special to the AFRO
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Photo by Victoria Jones
Paulina Muchina gives speech for HIV Stigma Conference.
Howard University’s fifth Annual HIV Stigma Conference on Nov. 21 brought together hundreds of health care providers, public health officials, activists, students, faith leaders, people affected by HIV and experts from across the globe to discuss strategies to eliminate the stigma and mental health complications associated with the disease. “We must deal with stigma. I see how much money goes into treatment, I believe in treatment you know. I believe in these wonderful programs that
are being funded all over the world, but I see very little efforts being put at the community level and dealing with forces that are exacerbating stigma, such as religious and cultural traditions,” said Paulina Muchina, founder of Future African Leaders Project, during her speech. The conference also showcased the work of human rights activists and artists who are leading the fight against stigma across the globe. Community leaders that were at the event included Maria Mejia, Latino HIV positive
writer and activist; Gee Session Smalls, co-founder of The Gentlemen’s Foundation ; Mary Bowman, Washington HIV/AIDS activist, musician and poet who has been HIV positive since birth; and Justin Terry Smith, HIV positive activist and blogger. “I strongly believe that we have the power to change,” stated Muchina. “We continue to challenge the governments of the world to continue implementing, not just making the laws and the rules.” A Human Rights and Continued on A5
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The president asked Congress for body camera funding. (Taser’s AXON body camera pictured)
Obama Calls for More Police to Wear Body Cameras By Armeesha Piedra Special to the AFRO With cases of police brutality, including young black men being shot down in the street by police officers, President Barack Obama is requesting a three-year, $263 million federal spending package for authority figures. The president made the request to Congress Dec. 1, asking that $75 million be used for to put body cameras on 50,000 more police officers. The body cameras will not only provide an extra layer of protection for both parties by recording police interactions with citizens in the communities they protect, but
“I want to commend Chief Lanier and the department for implementing this program, which has been in the works for more than a year.” –D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray also build trust within minority communities, Obama said. According to news reports, Obama made the announcement during meetings with his cabinet, civil rights leaders, law enforcement officials and others. During the announcement, he also said that the body camera initiative has a good likelihood of succeeding because he is invested in it. Obama also ordered a review of federal programs that fund military gear for local police after faultfinders questioned why police in full body armor with armored trucks responded to dismiss protestors. “There is a big difference between our military and our local law enforcement and we don’t want those lines blurred,” Obama Continued on A4
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