FC
EE FR
PRESORTED STANDARD MAIL U.S. POSTAGE PAID DAYTONA BEACH, FL PERMIT #189
www.flcourier.com
READ US ONLINE
Like us on Facebookwww.facebook.com/ flcourier
Presidential hopefuls turn to Obama for guidance, support See Page A6
Follow us on Twitter@flcourier
www.flcourier.com
FEBRUARY 22 – FEBRUARY 28, 2019
VOLUME 27 NO. 8 S
AN ECONOMIC EARTHQUAKE Violent protests against government corruption, inflation, and currency problems send Haiti’s tourism industry tumbling. BY JACQUELINE CHARLES MIAMI HERALD / TNS
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti ‒ The alleged corruption surrounding nearly $2 billion that was supposed to be invested in programs for the poor, and the government’s mismanagement of the economy, have been at the heart of violent demonstrations that have shut down schools, businesses, public transport and other activities across Haiti since Feb. 7. Haiti’s prime minister, Jean Henry
On Feb. 19, the lobby of the Karibe Hotel in Petionville, Haiti, is void of travelers and tourists after experiencing a heavy drop in occupancy rates due to travel advisories issued by the U.S. government.
Ceant, reiterated an appeal for dialogue with the country’s political opposition and promised an investigation into the alleged misspending of $2 billion from a Venezuelan PetroCaribe discount oil program that was supposed to be invested in social programs. The latest protests have been triggered by frustrations over the country’s doubledigit inflation, skyrocketing prices, and a domestic currency in a freefall against the U.S. dollar. Haitians are also upset by years of government ineptness and mismanagement that has triggered an audit of the PetroCaribe program. The violence has led many foreign diplomats, visitors and even Haitians with means to flee the country. Haiti’s tourism sector is up in arms over recent trav-
CARL JUSTE/ MIAMI HERALD/ TNS
See HAITI, Page A2
MOREHOUSE COLLEGE / 152ND ANNIVERSARY
Speaking though the music
Dr. Oswald Bronson dies Led three HBCUS, including Bethune-Cookman BY ANDREAS BUTLER FLORIDA COURIER
PORT ORANGE ‒ Dr. Oswald P. Bronson, Sr., former president of BethuneCookman College (now University), died at age 91 at home on Feb 17. Bronson led the institution for 29 years from 1975 until 2004 when he was named president emeritus. He was Bethune-Cookman’s fourth president. A memorial service Dr. Oswald P. will be held on March 1 Bronson, Sr. at 6:30 p.m. in the Heyn Memorial Chapel on the campus of Bethune-Cookman University. Homegoing services will be in B-CU’s Mary McLeod Bethune Performing Arts Center on March 2 at 11 a.m.
B-CC grad
As part of Morehouse College’s annual Founders’ Week activities, the world-renowned Morehouse College Glee Club and members of the Atlanta Symphoria performed ‘Seven Last Words of the Unarmed,’ featuring the last words of seven unarmed Black men (Kenneth Chamberlain, Trayvon Martin, Amadou Diallo, Michael Brown, Oscar Grant, John Crawford, and Eric Garner) who were violently killed.
Bronson graduated from BethuneCookman in 1950 and earned a Bachelor of Divinity degree from Gammon Theological Seminary. He received a Ph.D. degree from Northwestern University in 1965. He became B-CC’s president in 1975 after serving as president of Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta. After his tenure at BCU ended, he served as the president of Jacksonville’s Edward Waters College from 2004-2007 while EWC searched for a permanent leader. An ordained United Methodist minister, Dr. Bronson pastored a number of churches over 16 years.
Impressive legacy According to B-CU’s website, under Bronson’s leadership, major fields of study increased from 12 to 37. In addiSee BRONSON, Page A2
Supreme Court says ‘excessive fines’ are illegal BY DAVID G. SAVAGE LOS ANGELES TIMES / TNS
WASHINGTON ‒ In a unanimous ruling, the Supreme Court said Wednesday that the 8th Amendment’s ban of “excessive fines” applies to states and local agencies, not just the federal government. The decision will limit the power of the police and state law enforcement agents to seize cars, boats and other property. The ruling is a victory for Tyson Timbs, an Indiana man whose
ALSO INSIDE
$42,000 Land Rover was seized by police after he was convicted of two drug sales that amounted to about $300.
Applies to all states Indiana authorities and the state Supreme Court argued that the 8th Amendment’s ban on excessive fines did not apply to states because the Supreme Court had not explicitly ruled on that question. Prior to the mid-20th century, most parts of the Bill of Rights were seen as limiting only the federal government. But in a series of
rulings, the high court extended those rights to apply broadly to all parts of the government, including states and localities. None of those decisions dealt specifically with “excessive fines.” In Timbs vs. Indiana, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg said the shield against “excessive fines” is a fundamental right and not limited in its scope. “The protection against excessive fines guards against abuses of government’s punitive or criminal law-enforcement authority. This
SNAPSHOTS FLORIDA | A3
BLACK HISTORY | A8, A9
New Broward sheriff still cleaning house
Books for kids, teens
ENTERTAINMENT | A7
Hamilton’s national anthem goes viral
See FINES, Page A2
Kingsley story still draws visitors to estate
COMMENTARY: MARGARET KIMBERLEY: WITH KAMALA HARRIS, THE FIX IS IN | A4 COMMENTARY: CLARENCE V. MCKEE: CIVIL LIBERTARIANS AND DEMOCRATS SILENT ABOUT STONE RAID | A5