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Cooper. can-Americ in han a d an death roquadruple The allegeddcuffs and ha New w inmate in ci Cooper’s 1som’s decision could d en F t wa lori making o da Today reports Hills fam 985 conviction in lead to the over rning of Enough Ouft. Authorities say tt has the poily and their 11-yea the killing of a rutu Your Love” Californiantential, some politir-old house guest. ral Chino and a s. The case cal watcher s Both the C sa y, to divide aliforn and more an a dozenia and United States past appeath lo su w p er re ls. courts have m rejected Ceocourts “I take no p oper’s osition regar nocence at about the h this time,” Newsodming Mr. Cooper’s g uilt igh-profile said in his terest. New casefor executive oor in2. When you see a photo or ad with the Observer 1. Get the app free by downloading that Y h o as rk d rder ra T Sen. Kamal imes’ colum wn internat Interactive logo scan over the whole photo with your it from Google Play or The Apple App a io n is H n al t ar Nic in ri have all ca lled for res -tand reality TV starholas Kristof, U.S.tablet or smartphone. Store forensic te es K ting using im SUL chnology. current, m Kardashian The ACLU gorilla suitPHUR, La. (AP) – P o re se n si an ti v groups hav d other hu e mattress befbroke into a Louisiaol man rights e also urged o n a deeper in an C d alifornia st News ouretl officers arrested ha ves gation ate officialsos cial justice Serving Kern County ets quote into Cooper Gov. Newtiso sp o k es to m launch ’s con m’s Mel Est in Sulphu tion issu for Over 46 Years officers saan Thursday by formerorder Friday expandviction. w Jeremie es test four ed s G p co o Moran wal re v. st v ume. They ious direcrry Brown lowed analpyieces of crime scenJe h ad in so re D ember n looking in ceived callksin to an orange sts to perform DNe evidence. Brownec a to h omes. Estes says prosecutorstowel; and the hanA re-testing on a t’sanorder al- bo M o p ra ro n ac ra h d dies in the n into a say Cooper ed but was le and shea T-shirt; Ry In th new u th charges incl discovered investigatseiod in the murders. of a hatchet Joshua Ryen, theen’s home with a total u d of hair frois in in g re tr si y, victims’ 8-y sting an hoid wound on meth posses of 143 stab ffic button Com the victims’ hannd, analysts will look ea h w si is in ro o g u o n th ld n in an ro d s. so ta at th d In at o s, ck . n w e p s , H b L ea . S er tr ds su lo d sample an e was the o ’s atto ey ring a m uisiana, a p tigators pla in publicoca nly survivffoered a slash the allegations Bernardino County s and a gan Norman oH nted at thrn After Coop reen n be senteerson convicte Cooper’s at r of the at- D.A.’s Angeles C ar il e e e m n sc o m ai t er en n o su s’ ta st e le s n rp o ce. Man . Ex torneys are ced to thre rised about vestigationounty Superior Couof the crime. A reins inves- al gally stayed in a h jail break, investig racial biaffi making ab holidays licekptions are allowed fo . at so y they tire o rt judge wil ses and disy of them frequen out their e H al found eviduse next door to thoers found, he il- complaints tl lo l oversee thd Los familsa cr Cooper, 61 y w een and M r relig It’s unclear ence in the y’s station w are handledimination in the w complain about e invictims. Th , has main years. His la if g an M m R g ay . oran has a ardi G ag en y ta ey Ju p en o th ro t. in st n ’s w ei se ed last month that tied C home and in r cases or cutor Mich For some, G lawye by Gov. N yers hope the resu his innocence u n , o d a o ae er o p th S v. l er an in p e S N ressure for ew m, wh elyem, who gObserver over the Bernardino Wednesday, March 25, 2020 in the case Group ew s of the re-t the murderCalifornia som’s order oftoSouthern help29 Volume 46 Number Newspapers m o ich couldltta n prove thso ak is is s. so es in W b to ti ci ei g cr ng ord ed of the murd hite, al m ng met it b aden D eir client’s him. h dismay. ro A test- chelle Obamedia. His insults taurgde and racist and co resigned innocenceke several months, er porters of ers Joshua Ryenwan The lone N mments et a, w ed an U il l ,S d th fo su B . d e rm fi R la In 1 rvivor nally exon ep ck shooting er erate they are disappoRinyens and Hughesfaalmily, friends and su victim. . Maxine Waters andFirst Lady Mion four co9u85, a San Diego Co Th l p te ac d o an mas ross the stat with e go unnamed “Unfortunat 26 and an nts of murder. At unty jury convicte vernor’s dec e say Los Angeles oR. Parker, a former ely, over tith the time of d Cooper for justice in is ffi d m io ep ce cord - incluescaped prison inm n e , u . it b ty h th el is se is h ie em ar ead of the This guy is ves case matters rest, he was no Distric s the victi FBI’s in Pennsylv ding several burglaate. His lengthy cr innocent,” Cooper. s’ desire “The eviden iminal re- “Prior DNtAAttorney Jason Anless and less,” San m ries and the ania – did h e ce to ld w as B th d er o n te er e p n ot help his n Cooper, form rape of a m st la so N ar th in n ew n d te e g icl sa d st th ai Y , id an ork at r. Coo med ould he was fram d.” case. inor erly named in 1958 p sought,in a statement. exonerate M ed, the copTimes. What has k per’s guilw him have er agreed to an s lied t.” months onldear Pittsburgh, PenRichard Goodman, ep t a th fe al e d eral appella l confirmed case going d nsylvania. was born Yet persuas During his , he was adopted an te M an W ec co r. d u h u C ive argumen tion and re en he was C rt ooLAKE FOR six monies and iew the ca’ssedecision in 2004 toooper alive - is and he spenchildhood, his par d renamed Kevin ts ased on Gov. Newvso EST ents physica is recoverin w stay his TAREEN Cooper. reasonable qualeslegations of evidenbce t a good p co it By SOPHIA h n fl m ic juvenile det o ti m ex re n D ’s g sc g after bei,nCalif. (AP) – Offici ar N ll d te ti ie t ta y ec A o n st o m n ab ti is if g te s p fi io at ad u ab st er c en y se n o o in o ev in o rs d ti n le u to Associated Press g g id o u t sc h ro , n se co th en im k al en ad centers. In a mental d to ail Co ee e ethods low another m ce. ce living in in Southern g struck by a poli and storiesp raising California Governoes early in the term oper. Threm several attack, and in nsw round of (AP) –LagAirickca c California. a CHICAGO Gordon-Taylor, Californiah. ealth facility in Pen1982, Cooper esca u n e h in r a Beach av w w o v ea frelative estie high expec hose suppo orn testimo the proof pons were u ped from three attacker nsylvania b th Polife e li Emmett Till who spent her educating O g ce re rt ra ta ss O er n n se iv ti ffi g y, s d o e e o s ce ef Josh Duri County Reg in th n th wh ore moving r Thom e poliabout NA testing ns. somteenage tical Lef others the lynching victim’s eone’s pet ister hlegacy to could have been Hoiswere White. He lautea Ryen said he sawe solve “D gued that nCg his murder trial, t black e initially as should imm w th h en p r e o p F an te o R ro eb th F p st ic y se u . e er through her foundation, died at age 50, according en ifi . ed rt 1 cu ca ed k 9 h ia R il t ca . er were te dartedtoin fr th that thcategorized se andoffinentries successfStates mpblack. By Stacy M. Brownyen, their 10-yea led husband and tors United year, NCIC ke place ey Chiang95.23 licating the an n205,802 said dupercent ally ensuasrely tafamily ully arlast ont amed Diaco members. M to rw ri cG n o if n p ei re ld e g ro u th g D ir h n th d se at b e a ju au o cu e o RopAfrican ugThose saChicago, NNPA Newswire Senior Correspondent statistics 164,769 0.84 percentDas by a canon-custodial stice is r Christoph ghter Jessic tions’runaways; ys when hdied belinclude NAabducted and Peg mpaign. “N er came Americans theofansuburban onging to ev cl se id Gordon-Taylor, early ai rv en g im m a y e ed fo er s, ce an al g rw ,” b o a h o H ca d w u t w er t ard with bparent; tasteabducted ughes. Poli out to ch an 11-y n h p laand om only is it p hours after aAhospitalas stay. former boy Shurrell Caldwell is 12-years old and missing. under the age percent a stranger; biggerShe sting in by inal. She tu earw en3.82 than loody cl0.11 had oldof 21. ro en nimal Con friendofwhthe is case woel forcemenSaturday, found the“The a hkidney rned than ouse cat. ec the ev90 ing adults. The 5-feet-8-inch African American female cewas more percent asoth missing Even thoth o waspercent destrisoythat t solve crimvfor u tr ld bloogood o to l id co o an a ffi en m died news problems decades, including two transplants, ed v ce u an io ce e g it rs at le imal hospit h New es, tr over to the . year,” Spamer stated. nt crofimthe rushed the is bthings no cost to th old, hewe reported missing from her home in the 2300 block of NCIC entries are resolved is for somthe family to - first al, wwho auma. Ollie police“One Africeach b is look e stattoe.”her mother, Gordon, treadfor herewas an ,police but threport,” ing carefu’sll decision in theaccording Am609,275 issu it wTill’s ericans, Hmissing e as diagnolesee Good Hope Court in Southeast, Washington, D.C., on NCIC noted that of the person file a said Spamer. th ey at C C o y o al p o if cousin. is D er n o p r. rn a an ca K p ia se ic w ri o s v te at st and other m “The sooner they i She ch get ters file Tuesday, February 18. records entered in 2019, a total of 607,104 were purged report oon with law ntially p“She rausewas across g. Hae is she exadvocate. , a vaeter fighter the p inorities liv the soonerinthe pects the K ng a bgreat eepin inarianfor olitical spec olariziwas g htheir Shurrell, whom authorities said she weighs 180 during that same period. enforcement, get loved one 1was 1-povery - Continu familykcan , tells the is ac fo tr k cu u equal justice,’’ Gordon said. “She in s m (5-kiloabout to o ar ed ois n fairness an the wild afteundserious e np graTill pounds and has brown hair and brown eyes, was last seen The reasons for the purge included: a law enforcement in the NCIC database, which used law enforcement m ageby A2 dcommitment r M it her to keep the legacy of Emmett ju cGuire visit re ns stre ) cat to stice wearing a black shirt, green coat with fur on the hood, tan agency located the individual; the person returned home, across the country. If they come into contact with law n th. that if he se ed the bogai going.’’ bcat on Fgri es it agaiFields, pants, and black and white sneakers. or the record had to be removed by a reporting authority enforcement, as soon as the authorities run their name n, he’ll isalso Gordon-Taylor, of Olympia called su e a ticket foday. Anyone with information is asked to call DC police at after they determined that the record is invalid. and their date of birth, they’re going to locate that missing r ja herself Till’s cousin, but considered herself a surrogate 202-576-6768 or 202-727-9099. person,” she said. daughter to his mother, whom she lived with for a As the National Newspaper Publishers Also, once the report is filed, NAMUS can time. In 2009, Gordon-Taylor named her foundation Association (NNPA) continues to highlight the publish the case in its system and offer forensic and after Till’s mother, calling it the Mamie Till Mobley plight of missing individuals of color. One expert analytical resources. Memorial Foundation. Its mission is to honor her and said the number of those who’ve disappeared “We can help the family get their DNA her only son. overall is alarming. profiles, get fingerprints, dental records, and all of Emmett Till was killed in 1955 while visiting “Over 600,000 people are reported missing the vital metrics that are available. Then we can relatives in Mississippi, his body found weighted down to the National Crime Information Center get into a system where the results are actively in the Tallahatchie River. His mother insisted on an (NCIC) every single year. So, on any given day, we compared and identified just in case the worst-case open-casket funeral in Chicago, where they lived, so the have more in the neighborhood of 85,000 active scenario has happened.” public could see the mutilated corpse. An all-white jury missing person cases on file with law enforcement,” Spamer added that it’s mostly a myth that you acquitted two white men in the killing. stated B.J. Spamer, the executive director of the can’t report a missing person for 24 hours. Till’s death helped energize the civil rights National Missing and Unidentified Persons “You hear that especially on television movement. System (NAMUS), a nationwide information programs, but that’s not an across the board Gordon-Taylor’s work included youth clearinghouse that offers free, secure, and easy-topolicy,” she stated. When it’s a case involving a empowerment, such as teaching young people oratory use technology to help expedite case associations child, it’s mandated that every missing child case be skills, and civil rights issues. Most recently, she advocated and resolutions. entered into NCIC within two hours of receiving in Washington, D.C., for an anti-lynching bill named NAMUS also provides free forensic services, that report from law enforcement. So, I would after Till. investigative support, victim services, and training encourage families to immediately report a missing “Airickca dedicated her life’s work to lifting up and outreach. person, especially if they fear that something has the legacy of her cousin, Emmett Till, and she stood in According to the NCIC, of the 609,275 The 5-feet-8-inch African American female was reported missing happened to their loved one,” she stated. solidarity with other families who had lost loved ones individuals who were reported missing in the from her home in the 2300 block of Good Hope Court in Southeast, Finally, Spamer said that awareness is a to racial violence in our country,” said Kristen Clarke, Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, February 18. Continued on page A2 head of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, which works with the foundation. “She fought for truth and justice, and worked tirelessly to promote racial healing.’’ Family members said they hope to plan a public memorial event in the future.
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Missing Black Children One Organization Provides Hope
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NAACP holds teleconference to reach out to community
Residents Urged to Look Out for One Another
Photo Caption: “We have to approach this from a community preparedness standpoint to work together and engage our community,” said Nicolette Louissant, PhD., is the executive director of Healthcare Ready, an organization established after Hurricane Katrina.
By Lisa Fitch, Editor in Chief Our Weekly News The NAACP hosted an Emergency Tele Town Hall about coronavirus, COVID-19 and its potential impact on communities of color. “The truth is, there are so many within this nation who are disenfranchised from receiving adequate and
affordable care due to socio-economic circumstances,” said Derrick Johnson, NAACP president and CEO. “This virus will have dire consequences on so many, but specifically African-Americans, who suffer from higher rates of chronic illness.” Johnson prefaced his comments by sharing his experiences as someone who lived through Hurricane
Katrina. “When the administration is not working for communities, those communities can suffer,” he said. “We want to make sure to get the information out to our communities as much as possible.” Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) agreed. “We want to make sure we’re not looking at another Katrina-like response from the government,” she said, adding her support for the Coronavirus Response Act passed by the U.S. House of Representatives over the weekend. The House worked late last Friday and into early Saturday to pass—with bipartisan support—a relief bill designed to dull the societal impact of the coronavirus pandemic. President Donald Trump endorsed the bill, first on Twitter Friday night, and again in his press conference on Saturday. H.R. 6201, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, includes the priority of paid sick leave, as well as enhanced unemployment insurance, increased funds for Medicaid, and provisions to ensure food security for those affected by the global public health crisis. The act is designed to assist U.S. low-income workers who do not have paid sick leave, should their business owners close shop. Harris said that 40 percent of those persons are either Black or Latino. “We will be pushing this in the Senate and working with our friends in the House to make sure as many people get paid sick leave as possible,” Harris said. “We need to make sure that the Senate does its job and brings this to a vote without delay.” The senator also emphasized that residents need to look out for one another. “We also have to check on our elders. Try giving them a call to brighten their day,” Harris suggested. “Offer to get them groceries.” Harris alluded to the violence that has arisen from Continued on page A2
Census Bureau Delays Decennial Count By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior Correspondent The U.S. Census Bureau announced that it would delay its decennial count by at least two weeks because of the coronavirus pandemic. In a conference call on Friday, March 20, Tim Olsen, the associated director for field operations at the Census Bureau, noted that the original end date for the 2020 census was in July. However, because of the pandemic and resulting delays, the deadline now extends to the middle of August. Al Fontenot, the Census Bureau’s associated director for decennial programs, added that 18.6 million households have already answered questionnaires, many of them doing so online. Fontenot stated that the bureau’s website went live a week ago, and residents began receiving notices to participate either online or by mail. Fontenot did lament the unforeseeable outbreak of the coronavirus. “Of all of our worst nightmares of things that could have gone wrong with the census, we did not anticipate this set of actions,” Fontenot said. “But our staff has been extremely resilient about looking for solutions.” During the call, bureau officials noted that field operations had been suspended because of measures taken to protect workers and the public during the pandemic. The bureau has received over 2.8 million job applicants for temporary positions to help with the count. More than 600,000 applicants had accepted job offers, and officials said they’re seeking to hire at least another 500,000 people. The census count determines how much money a community gets from the estimated $675 billion in federal funds distributed locally for the programs that protect the
health and overall well-being of citizens. The results of the census directly determine the amount of funding communities will receive for the next ten years for essential services to senior citizens, public education, heating assistance, road improvements, public
transportation, police and fire departments, community block grants, and other services. For every person who is not counted, the municipality must cover the cost of these essential programs without the benefit of federal dollars.
To respond to the census, visit www.2020Census.gov. (Photo: iStockphoto / NNPA)
Selma Online Offers Free Civil Rights Lessons Amid Virus By RUSSELL CONTRERAS Associated Press RIO RANCHO, N.M. (AP) _ The first attempt of the historic march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, in 1965, led to police violence against peaceful African American demonstrators. The beatings, known as “Bloody Sunday,’’ generated anger across the nation 55 years ago this month and prompted President Lyndon Johnson to push the Voting Rights Act through Congress. It was one of the most significant moments in U.S. history but remains almost absent from public schools’ social studies lessons. A new online project by the Hutchins Center for African and African American Research at Harvard University and a coalition of foundations hopes to change that. The center this month unveiled Selma Online ? _ a free, online teaching platform that seeks to transform how the civil rights movement is taught in middle and high schools across the country. The project uses footage from Ava DuVernay’s 2014 movie “Selma’’ and attempts to show students how events in 1965 shaped voting rights. Harvard scholar and documentary filmmaker Henry Louis Gates Jr. helped create an interactive website with the Southern Poverty Law Center’s Teaching Tolerance program and Left Field Labs. Its release comes as schools across the U.S. have closed because of the coronavirus and many students are in need of educational material to learn at home. “It’s perfect timing, unfortunately, because of the crisis we are in,’’ Gates told The Associated Press on Wednesday. “Not only is the timing optimal for teachers who are developing online lesson plans but also for families.’’ Gates said the website can be broken up into quick lessons or over a semester. The idea for it followed the release of DuVernay’s film. William Lewis Jr., co-chairman of investment banking at New York City-based Lazard, and other black business leaders raised money so 500,000 children in 33 cities could see the historical drama for free. The film follows the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., played by David Oyelowo, as he and other civil rights leaders push for voting rights in Selma, Alabama. Marches are soon met with violence by police, which eventually leads to the passage of the Voting Rights Act. After the success of the fundraiser for kids to see the movie, former Time Warner CEO Richard “Dick’’ Parsons reached out to Gates about developing the website using “Selma’’ to teach the history of voting rights and the civil rights movement. “It was such a novel idea, I said “OK,’’’ Gates said. The Rockefeller Foundation soon awarded the project a grant. In 2019, organizers tested the website after years of development with teachers and students in schools in Chicago, Kansas, Kentucky, Alabama and California. Developers incorporated suggestions in time for the 55th anniversary of the violence this month. The website comes as educators in various states push for more lessons in ethnic studies amid demographic changes in public schools. In New Mexico, for example, scholars and teachers are working on getting Chicano studies and Mexican American history into public high schools around Albuquerque. Gates said he sees Selma Online? as a test run for similar projects around African American history, including slavery. “You change the curriculum, you change civic behavior,’’ Gates said.