March 7, 2024

Top crime Houston neighborhoods Black zip codes dominate

NEWS

OBITS

ELECTION WRAP

See the final tally from the March 5 primary, who’s in and who’s out.

Volume 93, issue 19 March 7, 2024

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MORRIS OVERSTREET The pioneering Houston judge has died at age 73.

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2 | March 7, 2024 |

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DN To the POINT

Former co-owner of Turkey Leg Hut opens an oyster pop-up across the street from Third Ward eatery.

Reporter’s Message

Kugali co-founders because during an interThis might be one of the shadiest moves I’ve view with BBC in 2019, they were asked about seen in a hot minute. Lynndell “Lynn” Price, the designs on becoming the next Disney, and the former co-owner of Turkey Leg Hut, opened up response was, “We’ll kick Disney’s a** in Africa.” a new grilled oyster pop-up. Sounds like good They felt Disney’s storytelling at the time was news at first until I learned that it was located repetitive and wondered why they didn’t explore directly across the street from Turkey Leg Hut, African stories, considering the diversity in the the popular restaurant he built and was later motherland. Eventually, as the series grew in fired from by his estranged wife and co-founder Laura Onyeneho popularity, Disney knew what was up. Not only Nakia Holmes, due to alleged “potential finandoes the limited series focus on Nigeria thriving cial mismanagement” at the restaurant. Turkey Leg Hut in a high-tech future, but it also shows elements of the daily has been in hot water since the public and heated divorce hustle of Nigerians. The series is now airing on Disney+. between the couple due to allegations of abuse by Holmes and the filing of a temporary restraining order against Price LGBTQ+ advocacy group takes on last year.

Texas AG in fight for transgender rights I’ve been to the location a few times, (that’s if you’re lucky The battle for transgender rights took a new turn as the to get a seat with its extremely long wait lines), and the LGBTQ+ advocacy group PFLAG National decided to sue food is filling, and vibes are great. However, the restaurant is Texas Attorney General (AG) Ken Paxton. Why? Well, known for its drama rather than its signature stuffed Turkey the AG’s office wants PFLAG to hand over documents on Legs, which is quite unfortunate. I’m not knocking Price’s its support for transgender kids getting medical care that new business venture because it’s clearly making waves. I affirms their gender identity, and the group was having none hope the acrimony between these two can end so that the of it. The lawsuit accuses Paxton’s crew of playing detective, beef doesn’t overshadow what these two have created in the trying to figure out which Texas families are looking out Black culinary space. for their transgender teens. Invasion of privacy much? The group’s CEO, Brian Bond, called the whole thing “petty and Disney introduces new invasive.” This isn’t the first time Texas has tried to mess Pan-African animated series with PFLAG. In 2022, the state started investigating families Walt Disney Animation Studios, in collaboration with with transgender kids, treating it like potential child abuse, the pan-African entertainment company Kugali Media, but the judge shut that down. Now, the state is looking for introduced a “first-of-its-kind” animated series set in futur- round two. istic Lagos, Nigeria, called Iwájú. The animation team at Kugali Media took nearly five years to bring this comic book On The Web series to life. The exciting coming-of-age story follows Tola, • New HISD mandate brings cuts to wraparound and a young girl from the wealthy island, and her best friend, homeless services offices.

Kole, a self-taught tech expert who lives on the mainland, • Find out a few ways to observe Women’s History Month. as they discover the secrets and dangers hidden in their • Higher Dimension Church pastors share advice for different worlds. This comes as a full circle moment for the finding the right partner.

Turkey Leg Hut drama continues

March 7, 2024 |

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| 3

DN News ELECTION WRAP

Winners and Runoffs Sheila Jackson Lee, Colin Allred win; Shawn Thierry, Jarvis Johnson face opponents on May 28

By ReShonda Tate

Houston area residents turned out to vote on Super Tuesday, casting their ballots in the Democratic and Republican primaries to help the political parties select their nominees for the general election in November. On the ballots are races for U.S. president and Congressional seats, the Texas House and Texas Senate, Harris County competitions for district attorney, sheriff and several judgeships.

Sheila Jackson Lee v.

Amanda Edwards Sheila Jackson Lee, coming off a runoff defeat against John Whitmire in the race for Houston mayor, held off challenger, former Houston City Councilwoman Amanda Edwards in the Democratic primary for Texas’ 18th Congressional District race.

Edwards had dropped out of the mayor’s race and decided to seek Jackson’ Lee’s seat when the longtime congresswoman announced her mayoral candidacy. Jackson Lee has faced challengers only a handful of times in her nearly three-decade House career and defeated each definitively. She received 59.94% of the vote to Edwards’s 37.38%. Jackson Lee has never been seriously challenged in a general election since she first took office in 1995.

U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee hugs a friend at her watch party on March 5, 2024, in Houston. Credit: Mark Felix for The Texas Tribune

Allred was the clear favorite defeated Mike Engelhart 60.91% among Harris County early votto 30.09%. And Takasha Francis Kim Ogg loses to ers in the Democratic primary beat Robert K. Schaffer 55.50% Sean Teare for the senate seat currently to 44.50%.

Har r i s C ou nt y held by Ted Cruz, receiving District Attorney 69.3% in a nine-candidate Other races Kim Ogg, a two- race. Allred will now take a shot Incumbent County Attorney Amber term incumbent, at dethroning Cruz from what Christian Menefee received 69.9% Boyd-Cora w a s u n s e a t e d some believe could be a vulnerable of the vote in his race against Umeka i n t h e D e m o - Republican seat.

Lewis, while Sheriff Ed Gonzalez Kim Ogg cratic primary election garnered 70.3% despite having by challenger Sean Black judges three challengers. Gonzalez Teare. Teare, who The Defender broke the will face Mike Knox, a fellow spent six years story of three Black women in former member of the Housworking under an all-out fight for district juditon City Council, in November.

Ogg as a prose- cial seats, each who claimed their The six-candidate race to sucErica cutor, received competitiors were using “under- Hughes ceed Whitmire in Texas Senate DisSean Teare 75% of the vote, handed tactics” to have them trict 15 appeared headed to a runoff compared to 25% removed from the balbased on early voting results. for Ogg. Teare will face Dan lot. The three women State Rep. Jarvis Johnson of Simons, in November’s general all emerged Texas House District 139 election. victorious. received 36.13% of the vote, Amber B oyd while community organizer Colin Allred to take on C o r a d e f e at e d and emergency room nurse Ted Cruz Peter Kelly, 59.71% Molly Cook — who lost to WhitTakasha Former NFL player Colin Colin Allred to 40.29%. Erica Hughes Francis mire in the Democratic primary in

2022 — got 20.65%.

The race to replace Johnson in the Texas House also seemed destined for a runoff after early voting, with Angie Thibodeaux garnering 31.4% of the vote in a five-candidate race. Johnson’s ex-wife, Charlene Ward Johnson, was second with 26.3% of the early vote.

State Rep. Shawn Thierry of House District 146, will go into the runoff with Lauren Ashley Simmons, after failing to secure 50% of the vote. Thierry’s 44.41% was just below Simmons’ 49.50%. Thierry drew criticism from fellow Democrats for breaking party lines and voting in support of three anti-LGBTQ bills last year.

State Rep. Harold Dutton faced three challengers in the Democratic primary for Texas House District 142 but won with 60.51% of the vote.

In the Tax Assessor race, Annette Ramirez (40.6%) and Desiree Broadnax (17.5%) will go to a runoff, after either failed to secure 50% in the crowded field that saw the defeat of Danielle Bess, Jerry Davis and Claude Cummings III.

4 | March 7, 2024 |

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DN News 2024 State of Black America Spotlights 1964 Civil Rights Act

By Aswad Walker

The National Urban League’s annual “State of Black America” (SOBA) is always one of the most highly-anticipated benchmarks and sources for thought leadership around racial equality in America. From 1976 to this present moment, the SOBA regularly explores inequities across economics, employment, education, health, housing, criminal justice, and civic participation systems through insightful research and penetrating commentary.

This year is more of the same… but different.

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 has been transformative in changing American life in a material way. Doors have been opened, and new access has been achieved. But the promise of full equality remains elusive.

For Black America, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was the first time that the United States government addressed the racial caste system that had been protected for centuries by unjust laws and systemic brutality of nonwhite people in this country.

Sixty years later, the fight for equality is far from over.

The SOBA 2024, “The Civil Rights Act of 1964: 60 Years Later,” paints a picture of American life before and after the passage

of “America’s Magna Carta.” This year’s contributing authors use their experiences as elected officials, civil rights advocates, and esteemed academics to analyze the ways in which each title of the act created the nation we know today. They also unpack the threats to the freedoms protected by the law and share their perspective on strengthening civil rights protections for the 21st century.

“The Civil Rights Act of 1964 promised ‘a more abiding commitment to freedom, a more constant pursuit of justice, and a deeper respect for human dignity,” National

Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial said. “Sixty years later, our ‘abiding commitment to freedom’ is undermined by discriminatory voter ID laws, gerrymandering, the shuttering of polling places in predominantly minority neighborhoods, limits on early voting, and reckless purging of voter rolls.

“Our ‘pursuit of justice’ is derailed by persistent racism in policing and sentencing, the dismantling of diversity and inclusion policies in employment and education, and lack of access to financial services, housing and healthcare. And our ‘respect for human

dignity’ is called into question by an unraveling social safety net, a poverty-level federal minimum wage, and other economic policies that uplift the wealthy at the expense of working families,” Morial added.

The 2024 Equality Index, the National Urban League’s semi-annual calculation of the social and economic status of African Americans relative to whites, is 75.7, an increase of 1.8% from the 2022 Index of 2022. Rooted in the Three-Fifths Compromise of 1787, which counted enslaved African Americans as “three-fifths” of a person, the Index would be 100% under full equality.

“In 20 years, the overall Equality Index has moved 2.7%,” Morial said. “At this rate, it will take another 180 years to achieve parity.”

This year’s report includes a special progress report on the Biden Administration’s commitment to racial justice. In 2020, Joe Biden became the first general election candidate to put forward a policy agenda for Black America, Lift Every Voice. Three years into his presidency, the National Urban League has evaluated his commitments and tracked his accomplishments and the business that remains unfinished.

See more at StateOfBlackAmerica.org.

Reforms hope to help rising childcare costs NNPA

In a move toward easing the financial burden on working families, Vice President Kamala Harris unveiled a comprehensive set of measures to lower childcare costs and provide crucial support for early educators. The White House noted in a Fact Sheet that the initiative aligns closely with President Biden’s historic Executive Order on Care. The White House said the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) finalized a rule that bolsters the Childcare & Development Block Grant (CCDBG) program, a cornerstone for childcare assistance benefiting over a million families monthly.

Under the new rule, families participating in CCDBG will now face a cap on co-payments, limiting them to no more than 7% of their income. Administration officials asserted that the move is expected to alleviate the significant financial strain that high co-payments have placed on working families, particularly those with low incomes. The HHS projects that more than 100,000 families will see their co-payments reduced or eliminated due to these reforms.

Moreover, the rule urges states to eliminate co-payments entirely for families facing specific challenges, such as those with disabilities, experiencing homelessness, in foster care, in Head Start, and families at or below 150% of the federal poverty level.

Financial relief is not limited to families alone. Officials said the rule also addresses the challenges faced by childcare providers. States must now pay CCDBG providers more fairly and on time, which is designed to improve financial

stability for approximately 140,000 childcare providers. This change is anticipated to incentivize more providers to participate in the CCDBG program, leading to a broader range of childcare options for families.

Additionally, the rule seeks to streamline access to CCDBG subsidies by encouraging states to adopt online applications for enrollment, which reduces the paperwork burdens currently faced by families, with nearly one-third

of states still relying on paper applications for childcare assistance.

Further, the new rule promotes adopting presumptive eligibility policies, allowing families to receive temporary and immediate financial assistance for childcare while their eligibility for the program is determined and verified. Currently, only six states offer presumptive eligibility to families.

VOLUME 93, NUMBER 19 - MARCH 7, 2024 Publisher | CEO Sonceria Messiah-Jiles

Education Reporter Laura Onyeneho

Strategic Alllance Clyde Jiles

Sports Terrance Harris Jimmie Aggison

Digital Content Manager Terrance Harris Managing Editor ReShonda Tate Associate Editor Aswad Walker

The White House says comprehensive reforms underscore the Biden-Harris team’s commitment to addressing working families’ pressing challenges, making quality childcare more accessible and affordable for all. Getty Images

Social Media Jordan Hockett Ad Executive Jodie B. Jiles

The Defender newspaper is published by the Houston Defender Newspaper Inc. and audited by Alliance for Audited Media (AAM). Only digital subscriptions are available at: www.defendernetwork.com/subscribe No paper subscriptions available. All materials covered by 2024 copyright.

No materials herein may be reproduced without the written permission of the Publisher. 713-663-6996 | P.O. Box 8005, Houston, TX 77288

March 7, 2024 |

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| 5

DN Feature PEOPLE ON THE MOVE JUNE DEADRICK NAMED VP, COMMUNITY RELATIONS June Deadrick, who made history recently as the Houston Harris County Sports Authority Host committee Chair for the 2024 College Football Championship Game, has been named VP, Community Relations for Centerpoint Energy. Deadrick was previously the Director of State & Federal Relations (Government Affairs) for CenterPoint Energy. Before assuming her current post, she served as Senior Specialist with Reliant Energy’s Government Affairs Division and Manager of Government Affairs for CenterPoint Energy. Prior to joining Reliant Energy, June served as the constituent services director for two members of the Houston City Council, Chris Bell and Judson Robinson, III. THOMAS JONES SELECTED AS PORT COMMISSIONER Houston City Council has named Thomas Jones, president of the Houston Fund for Social Justice and Economic Equity, to one of two seats it controls on the Port Commission, which runs Port Houston, the busiest ship channel in the country: the port generates about $439 billion in statewide economic value per year. Jones will take a seat that

June Deadrick

Thomas Jones

Vanessa Gilmore

came open when Cheryl Creuzot, appointed by the council under former Mayor Sylvester Turner, decided to leave the board after her second two-year term. Commissioners can serve up to six terms on the unpaid board and usually stay on it for many years.

PRESTIGIOUS LAW FIRM After over 20 years on the federal bench Vanessa Gilmore retired on Jan. 2, 2022. She left a stellar career in her wake as a veritable who’s who of state change agents gathered to wish her well. For Gilmore’s part, she let everyone in attendance know she was looking forward to what the future had in store for her. Now we know that future includes

Roberts Markland LLP, a leading law firm renowned for its commitment to legal excellence and community engagement. In 1994, when Gilmore was sworn in as a judge, she became the youngest sitting federal judge in the nation. She was nominated by President Bill Clinton and became the first University of Houston graduate to be appointed to the federal bench.

VANESSA GILMORE COMES OUT OF RETIREMENT TO JOIN

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DN InFocus Houston’s Mayor John Whitmire and HPD Chief Troy Finner during a recent press conference discussing crime in the city.

Courtesy ABC13 screenshot

Most Dangerous Houston Neighborhoods Even the framing of the conversation leads people to feel more on edge about crime. For example, online apartment finder, PropertyClub used 2021 and 2022 crime statistics to list the “10 most dangerous neighborhoods in Houston.”

Here is how PropertyClub presented their findings:

HPD Chief Troy Finner and then Mayor Sylvester Turner in 2022, flanked by US Congressman Al Green and Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo during a press conference.

Top crime Houston neighborhoods

Safest places in Houston according to crimegrade.org.

The safest areas are in dark green.

The least safe areas are in red.

1

Sunnyside: Most common for

murder, robbery, assaults

2

MacGregor: One of the most dan-

gerous areas in the United States.

3

Sharpstown: Firearm-re-

lated violent crime was 67% higher than the Houston rate.

4

Black zip codes dominate

Greenspoint: HPD has put a lot of

effort into establishing law and order in the area, but it hasn’t worked.

5

Far North: Violent crime is hap-

pening at 2,455 per 100,000 people.

I

By Aswad Walker

t’s hard to get a true read on crime in Houston because even though most numbers show crime decreasing, many Houstonians don’t “feel” safe, as is seen by crime consistently topping the list of resident/voter concerns.

Case in point, after a local and national spike in violent crimes during the COVID19 pandemic (2020-21), crime numbers have gone down. Last fall, Houston Police Chief Troy Finner held a press conference announcing that the city’s overall violent crime rate was down by 12% and overall crime was down by 6%.

At the time, even though property crimes and auto thefts increased by 14% and burglaries increased by 2%, Houston’s crime had decreased in several categories: Homicides (27%)

Human trafficking (23%)

Kidnappings (19%)

Aggravated assaults (12%)

Robberies (10%)

Rapes (6%)

Thefts (10%)

Non-violent crimes (5%)

And even as then-Mayor Sylvester Turner’s

One Safe Houston initiative was largely credited with the crime reduction numbers, when it came time for Houstonians to elect a new mayor in November 2023, crime was the leading issue and the main talking point of the eventual winner, Houston’s current mayor, John Whitmire.

The large focus politicians and broadcast media place upon crime becomes magnified with reports like the one released by PropertyClub said “The most dangerous neighborhood in Houston is Sunnyside due to its extremely high crime rate, which has only risen in recent years. The crime rate in Sunnyside is 92 per 1,000 people, meaning residents have a one in 11 chance of being the victim of a crime.

Some of the most common violent crimes in the neighborhood are robbery, assaults, and to a lesser degree, murder.”

Stats vs. Feelings Disconnect Where, then, is the disconnect?

Nationally, reporters in America’s largest urban cities all share the same testimony: residents’ perceptions of crime levels depend less upon actual crime stats than on their news source of choice, with more conservative local and national news programs painting a picture of crime that’s bleaker than reality.

These reporters contend Republican politicians score points with their base by demonizing “urban” areas with large Black populations as bastions of crime. The result: even though crime numbers are down, many people feel less safe and are voting accordingly.

There’s also the reality that any crime committed makes the victim and all who learn of that crime, feel less safe, regardless of what the numbers say.

most dangerous zip codes in Houston” based on an FBI analysis of HPD data including 911 calls, crime severity, and felonies associated with those crimes:

Most Dangerous Houston Zip Codes Additionally, the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) chimed in with their “Top 10

Still, as of January 2024, according to the ABC13 Neighborhood Safety Tracker, homicides in Houston are down by about 20%.

Other crimes are down, including burglaries,

1. 77036 2. 77021 3. 77081 4. 77033 5. 77074 6. 77054 7. 77004 8. 77051 9. 77035 10. 77048

robberies, thefts, and assaults are down, but not by much, while auto thefts and sexual assaults are both up.

Also of note, white-collar crimes that historically do more damage to cities, economic and otherwise, than all other crimes combined, including redlining, discriminatory hiring, environmental polluting, and subprime mortgage loans, rarely, if ever, enter the conversation when voters, politicians, and police discuss crime.

Neither do crimes of abuse inflicted upon Blacks and Hispanics by the legal system.

Proposed Solutions One of Whitmire’s solutions for reducing crime rates is getting repeat offenders off the streets and before judges.

“There are 900 people on

the streets of Houston charged with murder or capital murder waiting to go to court to be held accountable, a very dangerous group,” Whitmire said in January.

Whitmire’s other priority is to increase HPD recruitment numbers as the department, like most nationally, is struggling to fill vacancies.

Last November, Finner announced “Project Safe View,” his plan to get more residents and businesses to purchase and install surveillance cameras and license plate readers that hold data for 30 days.

“If you know that every time that you’re doing something, you’re going to be on somebody’s camera, you’re READ THE going to think twice about it,” ENTIRE Finner explained. “If you are ARTICLE WITH brave enough to do it, we have PROPOSED SOLUTIONS. that footage.”

6

Northeast: The violent crime rate is

197% higher than the national average.

7

Northwest: The area is more

dangerous than 86% of other neighborhoods in Texas.

8

East End: The violent crime rate

in this area is also 101% higher than the US national average.

9

Sugarland: It’s not a great

place to raise your kids.

10

Pasadena: Crimes such as armed

robbery, aggravated assault, rape, or murder are high in this neighborhood.

8 | March 7, 2024 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

DN Obits Houston mourns passing of pioneering judge

Morris Overstreet

By ReShonda Tate

The legal community, family, friends and others are mourning the loss of Judge Morris Overstreet, a trailblazer who made history as the first African American elected to a judicial office in Texas. Overstreet, who passed away at age 73, left an indelible mark on the judiciary and legal education landscape.

Born in Amarillo, Texas, on July 10, 1950, to Nora Odessa Johnson and West Overstreet Jr., Morris Overstreet’s journey to prominence began with after he graduated from Amarillo High School in 1968 before pursuing higher studies at Angelo State University, where he majored in

sociology, biology, and chemistry, graduating in 1972. He then pursued his passion for law at Texas Southern University in Houston, earning his law degree and passing the bar in 1975.

Returning to his roots in Amarillo, Overstreet began his legal career at the District Attorney’s office. Over five years, he ascended to the role of First Assistant District Attorney, becoming the first African American in Potter County to hold such a position. His dedication and legal acumen were evident as he transitioned to private practice from 1981 to 1986, before serving as Presiding Judge for the Potter County Court from 1987 to 1991, a position to which he was elected in 1986.

Wake: Friday, March 8, 2024, 5pm-7pm McCoy and Harrison Funeral Home 4918 Martin Luther King Blvd.

Houston, Texas 77021 Funeral Service: Saturday, March 9, 2024, 11am Brentwood Baptist Church 3033 Landmark St. Houston, Texas 77045 Interment: Llano Cemetery, Amarillo, Texas

Judge Overstreet’s crowning achievement came on November 6, 1990, when he was elected to the Texas Criminal Court of Appeals, marking a historic moment as the first African American to hold a statewide office in Texas. His tenure on the bench lasted until 1998, during which he played a pivotal role in shaping more than 500 decisions, some of which significantly impacted national jurisprudence, including decisions influencing the United States Supreme Court.

Following his tenure on the Texas Criminal Court of Appeals, Overstreet returned to Texas Southern University, where he had attended law school, this time as the Distinguished Visiting Professor of Law at Thurgood Marshall School of Law. He continued his commitment to legal education by serving as Director and Professor of Evidence

and Criminal Procedure for the Marshall Law School’s Legal Clinic from September 2002 to May 2006.

Beyond his legal career, Judge Overstreet was deeply engaged in community and professional organizations. He was a member of various legal and political groups, including the State Bar of Texas Judicial Section and the Texas Coalition of Black Democrats.

Additionally, he served on several boards of directors, advocating for causes such as youth mentorship and mental health awareness.

Judge Morris Overstreet’s legacy extends beyond his professional achievements. He was a loving husband, father, and member of his community. His contributions to the legal profession and society at large will be remembered and cherished for generations to come.

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The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD will be accepting proposals for the following: Security and Privacy Risk Management Services and Platform with Vendor Security Management Services Specifications may be secured from The Harris Center website www.theharriscenter.org beginning Tuesday, March 12, 2024. The Harris Center utilizes Bonfire for their solicitations https://theharriscenter. bonfirehub.com/portal/?tab=openOpportunities . Deadline for prospective vendors to submit questions to this RFP is Wednesday, March 20, 2024. Proposals must be submitted by 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, April 2, 2024. Historically Underutilized Businesses, including Minority-Owned Businesses and Women-Owned Businesses are encouraged to participate. The Harris Center reserves all rights to reject any and/or all proposals, to waive formalities and reasonable irregularities in submitted documents as it deems to be in its best interests and is not obligated to accept the lowest proposal.

March 7, 2024 |

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| 9

DN Feature

Jeanelle Austin, director of the George Floyd Global Memorial, pauses during the installation of “Twin Flames: The George Floyd Uprising from Minneapolis to Phoenix,” at Arizona State University.

George Floyd

Finding meaning in death through art Defender News Service

For months after George Floyd was killed by police in May 2020, people from around the world traveled to the site of his murder in Minneapolis and left signs, paintings and poems to memorialize the man whose death reignited a movement against systemic racism.

Now hundreds of those artifacts are on display for the first time outside of Minnesota, giving viewers elsewhere the chance to engage with the emotionally raw protest art and mourn Floyd, as well as other Black Americans killed by police.

“It’s different than seeing it on TV,” said Leah Hall of Phoenix, who brought her two young children to the exhibit that opened this month at the Arizona State University Art Museum. “It’s an important part of

history that they are not learning in school,” said Hall, adding that she wasn’t able to fly to Minneapolis to honor Floyd’s life.

“Twin Flames: The George Floyd Uprising from Minneapolis to Phoenix” features about 500 artifacts that protesters and mourners left at the intersection of 38th Street and Chicago Avenue, where Floyd was killed. It is the largest collection of work from the intersection that has been on public display.

Paintings of Floyd and poems about him written on poster boards stand on easels throughout the exhibit. Signs made with paper plates and reused cardboard that say “Justice 4 Floyd” and “Enough is Enough” cover the walls.

The heavy themes of the words and images on display are contrasted by

arrangements of fake flowers and flickering, battery-powered, white candles evoking the vigil held in Minneapolis after his death.

What’s on display in Phoenix is just a fraction of the thousands of artifacts under the care of the George Floyd Global Memorial, an organization that also tends to the living memorial at the intersection where he died and which remains closed off to traffic.

Many of the artifacts appear to have been written or drawn in a hurry. This conveys the urgency with which people felt the need to express their anger and grief after watching eyewitness video that captured the moment before he died, said Jeanelle Austin, director of the George Floyd Global Memorial.

Some recent visitors to the exhibit were

moved to tears.

The organizers of the exhibit say their goal was to create a space for understanding and civil discourse, and potentially stimulate collective action against police violence and other systemic inequities in the U.S. “We have always engaged with social and political work at the museum. Throughout time, art and protest have been side by side, and this (exhibit) really aligns with our mission to center creativity in art in the service of social good,” said Brittany Corrales, a curator at the museum who helped facilitate those organizing the exhibit.

The organizers also see the exhibit as an opportunity to examine the history of museums in America overlooking the inequities faced by Black Americans and other marginalized communities.

10 | March 7, 2024 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

DN Sports University of Texas wide receiver Xavier Worthy set the NFL Combine record with a blazing 4.21 seconds time in the 40-yard dash, breaking the old record of 4.22 seconds.

Texas Southern pitcher CJ Castillo struck out seven batters to earn the win during the Tigers’ 12-2 win over Wiley College.

Sports Briefs

Led by senior guard Jamal Shead (1), the No.1-ranked University of Houston Cougars have remained dominant despite losing two star players and moving into the Big 12 this season.

(AP Photo/Garett Fisbeck)

ROCKETS’ TARI EASON HAS SEASON-ENDING SURGERY Rockets second-year forward Tari Eason’s season is officially done. Eason, who has been sidelined since Jan. 1 with a benign Tari growth on his left shin Eason bone, had seasonending surgery this week, head coach Ime Udoka confirmed. He had a bone graft on the shin that will keep him sidelined for four months. Eason was averaging a career-high 9.8 points and seven rebounds this season before being sidelined.

JAMAL SHEAD NAMED FINALIST FOR COUSY AWARD TSU senior guard Jamal Shead has been elevated to being a finalist for the Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award.

Shead is one of five Jamal Shead finalists for the award.

The Bob Cousy Award recognizes the top point guard in Division I men’s basketball each year. The Manvel product is averaging 15.5 points per game and is the only player in the nation’s Top 20 to rank in the Top 20 in assists per game (6.1, third), steals (2.3, third) and assiststurnover ratio (3.11, second).

RICE’S TRAVIS EVEE MAKES AAC HONOR ROLL Rice University’s fifthyear senior Travis Evee was named to the American Athletic Conference Honor Roll for the third time this season. The latest Travis recognition comes Evee after Evee averaged 22.5 points, four rebounds, 2.5 assists, and one steal during victories over UAB and East Carolina. Evee had the best game of the season in the 70-52 win over East Carolina when he scored a season-high 34 points while grabbing six rebounds.

UH COUGARS IN BIG 12 ‘Winning DNA’ remains

By Terrance Harris

Sure, the University of Houston men’s basketball team ascended to being one of the nation’s elite basketball programs as a member of the American Athletic Conference. However, it figured to be a different story this season as the Cougars moved into the far less forgiving Big 12.

But with one game remaining in the regular season, UH is the nation’s consensus No.1 team, leading the Big 12 and making a strong argument to be the No.1 overall seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament.

Kelvin Sampson’s squad accomplished this after losing senior guard Marcus Sasser and star freshman Jarace Walker to last summer’s NBA Draft.

How is that for stepping up your game?

“I never thought much about that (how moving to a tougher conference could affect the postseason). I really didn’t because I had already coached in the Big 12,” said Sampson, who coached at Oklahoma from 1994-2006. “I was more worried about Marcus Sasser. I had Marcus Sasser for four years. I had to replace him.

I had to replace the No.8 pick in the NBA Draft in Jarace Walker. I had to replace him.”

But as Sampson likes to say, his program has a “winning DNA.”

Different cast, same results

That has certainly been the case as the Cougars have simply reloaded to remain among the elite in a more challenging conference environment.

UH added Baylor transfer L.J. Cryer, while senior guard Jamal Shead, senior forward J’Wan Roberts and sophomore guard Emanuel Sharp have elevated their games to the point where the team hasn’t missed a beat with the departures of Tramon Mark to the transfer portal and Sasser and Walker to the NBA. In a conference where Kansas has ruled, UH has quickly become a challenger for the throne.

But the question is what will it all mean as the all-important tournament season begins next week? As long as the Cougars can keep Iowa State at bay, they will enter the Big 12 Tournament as the No.1 seed and then the NCAA Tournament is up next.

It will be in the national spotlight of the tournament season that we will find out the true effect of the Cougars’, who are 26-3 overall and 13-3 in conference, more arduous trek through the Big 12. Will it help them or will the more grinding schedule that has already resulted in three season-ending injury losses of Terrance Acreneaux, Ramon Walker and freshman forward Joesph Tugler be a setback during the tournament season?

“The thing that I noticed is how it beats you down a lot,” said Sampson, who has taken the Cougar to four straight Sweet 16 appearances and a Final Four showing in that span. “On one hand, you may say that we are playing better teams every night so that will better help you get ready for the Tournament.

I always thought we were prepared for the Tournament before. We were a 40-foot shot away from going to five consecutive Sweet 16s so I’m assuming that’s pretty good.”

In good health

Sampson, who guided the Cougars to a No.1 seed last season, insists that the key is being healthy as possible.

“You almost want to put guys in a bubble, but you can’t. I wish this team had Terrence Acreneaux because he would have really been able to help us, especially the way he was playing. But we lost him. I think about that every day,” said Sampson said prior to Tugler going down for the season this week with a broken right foot. “Now we’ve lost Ramon. I wake up in the morning thinking about it, I go to bed thinking about it and I come into the office and I’m trying to figure some stuff out.

“So for me, it’s just being able to stay healthy which we have not. So now we are just going to figure out how to keep this thing in the water until the Tournament.”

March 7, 2024 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

| 11

DN Sports

ERIC WOODS Leads Nimitz on historic run

By Jimmie Aggison

For the first time since the 2002-2003 season, the Nimitz Cougars have made it to the fourth round of the playoffs.

Leading the charge is senior point guard Eric Woods.

“Eric is a special player. He has worked extremely hard, and without his leadership we wouldn’t be anywhere near this. He can shoot the ball as well as put it on the floor. His teammates love him, he’s just an all-around great kid,” said Cougars head coach Tigee Rideaux.

In the off-season, Woods worked extremely hard for an opportunity to take his talent to the next level. Written on his Twitter is the quote, “Everything I’m not made me everything I am.”

“In previous years I’ve been criticized for not being a dominant defensive player, so I worked every day to better my footwork and learned how to sit down and play aggressive defense without fouling,” said Woods.

Woods later began to work out with Coach Marco who worked with him on form shooting, getting to his spots, knowing reads, and getting downhill when defenders are playing aggressively.

“I feel I developed my game later than other players,” said Woods. “I knew basketball, but I feel I learned how to play my game during the end of my junior year.”

Watching players like Kentucky’s Rob Dillingham or Dallas Mavericks’ Kyree Irving, Woods found inspiration to continue refining his game.

“Coming into college I liked how Rob Dillingham’s confidence became stronger. He was able to break down defenses, make the right reads, and get his shot off. Both he and Kyrie Irving do a good job at playing in the system, but also getting their teammates involved as well,” said Woods.

Woods began playing basketball for I9 sports when he was six years old.

For middle school, he attended Legacy for 7th grade but transferred to Teague Middle School for 8th grade. Woods attends Nimitz High School where he is

a four-year varsity letterman. His freshman year was impacted by COVID-19.

“Tenth grade we got a new head coach, Coach Rideaux. I began to play more minutes as we were playing in a different system. Previously we were playing an inside-out style because we had bigger players down low, but sophomore season we began to play more outside in,” said Woods.

Woods knew he had something special when he saw the excitement in his father.

“My pops has always been the one that made me feel like I had something special with basketball. With him pushing me to get better and always being in my corner, that let me know I had something special,” said Woods.

During his junior season, Woods became a more aggressive player as he played alongside Javarious Thompson.

Nimitz finished the season with a 9-5 district record before losing in the playoffs 67-66 to College Park. At the end of the season, Javarious Thompson transferred to Legacy, leaving more leadership responsibilities on the shoulders of Woods.

Woods took to the off-season to work even harder on his game. His senior season he was back, and unlike other years where he struggled with

ABOUT ERIC L. WOODS Class: 2024 IG: @ericwoods2024 Twitter: @E_Woods3 Position: Point guard Height & weight: 6-feet-0, 185 pounds Players he studies: Rob Dillingham (the University of Kentucky), Kyrie Irving (Dallas Mavericks) Status: Committed to Southwestern Christian College Favorite artist: G Herbo Favorite subject: English Shout-outs: Coach Rideaux, Coach Kemp, mom, dad, teammates, sister

confidence, Woods was ready to lead his team to a historic first. During his senior season, Woods embarked on a scoring title as he scored his 1,000th point.

“I knew it was something I could do,” said Woods. “It was one of my goals before I left the school.

S c or i ng 1 , 0 0 0 points is not that easy. I feel like you have to dedicate yourself to scoring the ball to get 1,000 points, but was a good feeling getting the ball and the trophy.”

Woods understands that for him to be as effective on the next level, he will need to work on playing defense and finishing through contact.

Next season he will be playing at Southwestern Christian College where he plans to major in computer science.

“I chose Southwestern Christian College because it was one of the colleges that reached out to me and stayed in contact. They made me feel wanted. It’s also far enough but not too far so my family can still come and see me play,” said Woods.

Woods reflects on the advice given to him by his mother when he looks back to encourage the next generation of players.

“Keep your head down, block out the noise, and just work. Your time is coming,” said Woods. “Stay humble, stay focused, keep working, and have fun.”

12 | March 7, 2024 |

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