had a th row inm ew e alleged in ate cident was Cooper’s som’s decision cou Flori making ouda Today reports thcap Hills famil1985 conviction inld lead to the overtu Enough Oft. Authorities say th e v has the po y and their 11-yea the killing of a rurarning of eo rte Your Love” l o n C ld ti h al h in , ou guest. Californian o some politi and agree s. cal watchse ers say, toThe case Both the C 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 terest. N igh-profile case that said in his execu uilt or intiv York Times has drawn Sen. Kamew 2. When you see a photo or ad with the Observer internatioen order ’ cofor 1. Get the app lumfree nist by al inNicdownloading have all caala Harris and real h o la Interactive logo scan over the whole photo with your s K ri it ll st y it from Google Play or The Apple App ed o f, T V star Kim U.S. forensic tech for re-testing u K tablet or smartphone. SUL ar si n d n ology. as g current, The ACStore gorilla suitPHUR, La. (AP) – P more sensihian LU and oth ti v groups hav e er h mattress befbroke into a Louisiaolice s o n ho a deeper in e also urged Califuoman rights and soci News ouretl officers arrested haim ves gation rnia state o al et into Cooper . fficials to lajustice s Gov. Newtiso spokesman q ote Sulp Serving Kern County unch ’s convictio m’s order F Mel Estesuin hur P tion issued o ffi n ce . for Over 40 Years ri rs d Th saw Jeremie ursday rep test four by former Gov. ay expands previo costume. Th Moran wal us direcrry Brown ey lowed analpyieces of crime scenJe h ad in so re D n ceived callksing th looking into ember to an orange sts to perform DNe evidence. Brownec abou h o mes. Estes says prosecutorstowel; and the hanA re-testing on a t’sanorder al- bo M o p ra ro n ac ra h dle and sh d n say Cooper ed but was T-shirt; ies in the R into a hom eath In th new u y charges incl discovered investigatseiod in the murders. of a hatchet Joshua Ryen, theen’s home with a total u d of hair frois in ing. H g re tr si y, victims’ 8-y sting an hoid wound on meth posses of 143 stab fficer, u 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 su lo o an e ’s atto ey ring a mask ands uisiana, a p ff ed a slas was the on d samples an Bernardino tigators pla the al in public ca Norman oH ly survivoer County are nted at thrn n be senteerson convicted of r of the ath- D.A.’slegations Cooper’s at Angeles C ile maintaind a green leg After Coopers’s e n sc o m t en o su st e n rp o o . to ced to thre Ex rise rneys are m ce. Man vestigation unty Superior Couof the crime. A re s inves- al ally stayed in a h jail break, investig racial biaffi e ye holidays licekptions are allowed fo aking aboud about . at so y they tire o rt judge wil ses and disy of them frequen t e r religious th H al ei found eviduse next door to thoers found, he il- complaints tl lo r l oversee thd Los familsa cr Cooper, 61 y w im ee co in n m It at an p ’s la io d u en y’ in ar n n M e invictims. s statio , has main ce in th clear if Mo e hand in the abou years. His g ment. tained his ran has a arladi Gras. For some,nGwagon that tied Coe Ryen’s home and inThey unang prosecutor Miclehd. Just last month,way their cases ort by Gov. Nlawyers hope the re innocence wyer w d a o ae er o p th S v. l er an in p e S su N re ew to el g Bernardino ssure for m yem, who help prove som, which cou lts of the re-testin over the of in the case is bein ewsom’s order to b the murders. o n ak is so in W ci g hite, resign al edia. H g cru ld ke sev g metNewspapers Volume 45 Number Group Southern Wednesday, April 10, 2019 their client’ the Observer ordered aden murder with ismay roof him. 31 D A test-California ed er chelle Obm s innocenta insults targde and racist and com . The lone N ama, U,Sis ce and final months, will porters of the sRJoshua Ryen anddfa et m ed en fo su ts B . rm R la In 1985, a rv ep. Maxine ck shooting ally exoner er ivor mily, s and Hug San Diego ate they are disappoinyen Waters andFirst Lady Mion four co h all acrofriends and supThomas R.victim. an unnamed “Unfortunat ted with the goes ss th 26 and an unts of murder. ACt ounty jury convicte e P arker, a form state say Los Angel vernor’s dec ely, over tim fo es th d r ca C ju e es ti o p er st o o ed m is ic ffi p d io e e er cord - in prison in n. This guy is ce, believes Coopereputy head of the F ate. His onf his arrest, he was no DistrictinAthis case matters eleit seems the victim . in Pennsycllvuding several burgm BI’s inno s’ desire “The eviden ss and less,” gthy crimin ttorney Jaso “P laries and le ania – did ri o r ce was placennt,” he told the N San Bernar the rape of al re- clai DNA testing th n Anderson sa o not help his n Cooper, form th ew d te e id st Y , id an o a at med ould he was fram rk d.” minor in a atem case. r. Coop so erly named in 1958 exonerate M ed, the copTimes. ent. What has k per’s guilw ught, agrested him have er s lied t.” months onldear Pittsburgh, PenRichard Goodman, ep t a to th fe al e d an er l ca d confirmed al appellate se going nsylvania. was born COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) – Columbia officials have Yet persuas During his , he was adopted an M an W ec co r. d u h u C iv ti en C rt’s ooon and re ie e argumen ooper alivethe route of La Awalking trail to honor the city’s he was six monies and and he spenchildhood, his par d renamed Kevin ts ased on KE FORES w the casedecision in 2004 tapproved - is Gov. Newvso o stayhistory. ents physica is recoverin w Cooper. reasonable qualeslegations of evidenbce T, Calif. (A t a good p co it black h n fl his exm ic juvenile det o ti m re n D ’s g sc g after bon ar P) – Official 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 y ei o n City Council idenColumbia ro ss struck bunaniad a mental h ention centers. In olescence living sed him at ors used to nail Coabout the methods ering, keep raising Californ sting comes early n to allow anoth c evThe ce. in Southern ngMonday y a police ca in ea er ta 1 an in ia o 9 ck lt p d G se 8 ro th er mously approved a plan to complete the African-Amerh C 2 , st o v . u , e L fa al er an v o Th n Cooper esca er ag if ri cility in Pen te al th d California. d in sworn n o es re u rm rn o o n e h in r f a ia av w w o v B . ea f es e h ea o high exp pons ere u ti ch Pkilometer) eican ped re nsylvania b the The te proHeritage olice Officetrail will Oran2-mile gressive Trail. tations. se supporters on thth sed in thege Cou(3.2 efore movinfrom coulde attackers who werestimony, Joshua Rywen Duri sit r Thomas M “DNA teec e pcommemorate nty Rasegimportant g his som30 olitical Lef Black women atmthe of race over sites identified W h eo g av st h sa to n c urdernexus in gued that nC e it e’ id e. b g s so ee pet when th ister he inittoiathe t Feb He later test he saw should imm n Hispanic lve the Ry trial, prose lly thoug o o F p black community, the Columbia Missourian reported. u . e er en ifi . ed rt 1 cu ca ed k 9 h ia R il t ca . to er le te d th and gender yand buffeted by the twin se rs en, theiare ar C co d ly at h te h su an m ia ta th u d cc p d sb n k ey li in g an e es and and if fin ca r 10-year-o sa laceThe ont of h project markers, somefrof McGu21 to re eighbor “isms”, ld daustruggle e Dou sfully ar- belonamed Diana Roperting the prosecutions’ that DNA id during the campally ensure justicepis - thincludes irehistorical says when h ghte ssicwupChristopher spectres ofnthese and nging to her evidence ca came forwar aign. “Not einanplace. claims, a w which are already se rv im a and an 1g1and Peggy in e ed al g ,” b o Hughes. rPJe w u t t as bigger th Sharp oEnd, n help law omon ut tothe testing in th d wit form check olice fo trail’s first marker Animal memorializes an a house roven forcemently is it pThe stream against a current of prejudice and und the b-yloear-old desaltr. She turned the ever boyfriend who whasbloody clothing Cothat Even thou is case would comen ntrowas cat.the , h sohistoric to lv l idence over oyed it. o an e odied a violent cr black business district demolished in ffi cr ce an e im g rs at im h es, tr rushed the al spital, to the poli bias which is compounded by gender and - is bold, he is tread Newsom’s decisio no cost to1960s aucity’s African Am bleedin wprocess. during ma. urbanhorenewal here it wThe ce, but thim e.” the n in the C the stat ing carefull issue that C ericans, His asofdroute ey ia gnosed w o y o al p o will pass other famous spots, such as the home Afriif D er n o race. This intersectional discrimination expanics and r. rn a ca K p ia se w ri o v te at st o ntially can-American i Krause,J.W. ching. He te other mino sh polarizing e expectsand a “Blind’’ composer is keeping rs across the politica erinarianBoone. rities liv- C the pianist acerbates those gender and race gaps, sty11-poundvet l spectrum his focus o , teforb lls the n ac ontinued k Other sites that have been in (5include to ar n -kilograthe the wilddedicated e fairness an on page A mblack afJames ) cat to bee ter it re d juStewart mies Black women’s ability to access edumer bridge, T. Scott, a 2 cGuirewhere stice RoadM g ai n s st v isit the accused reofngsexthat if in man, was lynched he 1923 bob t on th. sees afteredbeing cational opportunities, and has a pervasive Friday. H , he’ll issuca ual assaulting the daughteritofagaainUniversity Missouri eofa ti et for jaywea and corrosive impact on their careers and professor. In 2016, the university’s Association ofckBlack Graduate and Professional Students raised money for a career advancement, experts say. plaque in Scott’s memory. The route will also pass by Third Street Market, one By Barrington M. Salmon of the few places in the early 1900s where black residents Contributing Writer, Black Press USA could buy groceries. Despite the United States touting itself as the bastion Park Services Manager Gabe Huffington said the of freedom and equality, women in this country – despite Sharp End Heritage Committee identified the sites and comprising 50.8 percent of the population – have always raised money to cover the cost of the markers. Huffingfound themselves in the position of having to fight for salton expects there to be more markers added to the trail. ary and wages comparable to men. “One of the things we thought we needed to do was A range of studies show some progress, but stubborn take a look backwards and see what we’ve done in the racial and gender wage gaps persist in the United States. past,’’ said James Whitt, chairman of the Sharp End HerOften, researchers point to disparities in education, the fact itage Committee. “We thought, ‘We need to recognize that many African-American women and other women of some of the mistakes we made in the past and some of the color are clustered at the lower end of the pay scale and accomplishments and some of the contributions that the that the minimum wage hasn’t been increased since 2007 Sharp End made historically.’’’ as factors contributing to the wage gap. But what’s often Whitt called the trail “a real community project, downplayed or ignored is the racism and sexism that’s also where black, white and all elements of our community at play. have participated.’’ Black women sit at the nexus of race and gender and are buffeted by the twin spectres of these “isms”, and struggle upstream against a current of prejudice and bias which Black women sit at the nexus of race and gender and are buffeted by the twin spectres of these “isms”, and is compounded by gender and race. This intersectional struggle upstream against a current of prejudice and bias which is compounded by gender and race. (Photo: discrimination exacerbates those gender and race gaps, iStockphoto / NNPA) stymies Black women’s ability to access educational opportunities, and has a pervasive and corrosive impact on their careers and career advancement, experts say. The wage gap has real-world consequences. Dr. Avis Jones-DeWeever said that over their lifetimes, Black women stand to lose between $800,000 and $1 milBy ELANA SCHOR lion because of these disparities. Associated Press “While the gender pay gap is an issue for all women, it NEW YORK (AP) – Democratic presidential canis an especially wicked problem for black women,” said Dr. didates on Friday touted their plans on criminal justice Jones-DeWeever, a women’s empowerment expert, internareform, the study of reparations and other racial equality tional speaker and diversity consultant. “Black women are issues, highlighting the critical role black voters will play already economically disadvantaged and face double disin choosing the party’s 2020 nominee. crimination within the workforce. The additional burden Speaking at the National Action Network’s conferof a 38 percent pay gap exacerbates the black wealth gap in ence in New York, California Sen. Kamala Harris pledged America. It’s such an engrained problem. The typical Black to double the size of the Justice Department’s civil rights woman will lose more than $800,000 over her lifetime, division and to sign legislation creating a commission to and in DC, the inequality means that Black women could study reparations to African Americans hurt by slavery. lose more than $1 million.” Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders also said he would sign that “A black woman has to earn a B.A. to earn what a reparations bill, even as he emphasized the importance of restrictive zoning, and disparate impact. By Charlene Crowell white man with a GED would earn. It’s huge and really a broader anti-poverty policy. A panel of housing experts provided hardwired into the system,” continued Dr. Jones-DeWeev- NNPA Newswire Contributor “We know that they are using the Department of Fifty-one years ago, this substantive testimony that responded er, who, among her many portfolios, mentors and instructs Justice in a way that is about politics and not about purmonth, the Fair Housing Act to many of these issues, while also black women on how to navigate the shoals of business and suit of equality,’’ Harris, one of two black candidates for acknowledging how many fair achieve career and financial success. “It’s devastating be- (the Act) was enacted to enthe party’s nomination, told the receptive audience. Earhousing goals have not yet been cause with Black college-educated women making as much sure that housing discrimilier on Friday, she told a radio interviewer she would be achieved. as 30 percent less than their white male counterparts, that’s nation was illegal. Yet, just open to choosing a woman as her running mate if she a huge disadvantage. That means not being able to put days before the annual obCashauna Hill, the Execwins the nomination to take on President Donald Trump. food on the table, buy clothes for your children, not being servance of Fair Housing utive Director of the Greater Sanders, who fell short in his 2016 presidential able to have a better quality of life or diverting money to Month began, headline bid but is a front-runner in 2020, elated the crowd by New Orleans Fair Housing wealth-building.” news articles reminded jabbing at President Donald Trump as “a racist, sexist, Action Center provided adAccording to the National Partnership for Women the nation that housa homophobe, a xenophobe and a religious bigot.’’ He ditional information on and Families (NPWF), median wages for black women in ing discrimination still had previously questioned the lack of specifics in the repdelays encountered with the United States are $36,227 per year, compared to me- exists. arations debate, calling for a detailed focus on economic HUD’s Fair Housing indian wages of $57,925 annually for white, non-Hispanic recovery for low-income African American communities, For example, on vestigations. Although men. This amounts to a difference of $21,698 each year. In March 19, the Office but said Friday that he would “of course’’ sign a study bill HUD set a standard that same report, NPWF also highlighted that if the wage of the Comptroller of on the issue. for these complaints gap were eliminated, on average, a black woman working the Currency (OCC) Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren used her to be investigated full time, year-round would have enough money for: speech to escalate her call for Democrats to end the 60fined Citibank $25 million within 100 days, • Two and a half years of child care vote requirement for many major bills to clear the Senate many complaints • Nearly 2.5 additional years of tuition and fees for a for violations related to mortgage lending. At issue if her party wins the White House and Republicans try was Citibank’s “relationship pricing” program that afgo well beyond four-year public university, or the full cost of tuition to block their agenda. Warren outlined the history of the forded mortgage applicants either a credit on closing the agency’s own and fees for a two-year community college Senate filibuster’s use “as a tool to block progress on racosts or a reduced interest rate. These cost breaks guidelines. Cases • 159 more weeks of food for her family (three years’ cial justice,’’ adding that Democrats should “be bold and were intended to be offered to customers on older than 100 days worth) clear’’ if they take back the presidency. are categorized as “aged” in • More than 14 additional months of mortgage and util- the basis of their deposits and investment Invoking Republican obstruction of former Presibalances. According to OCC examination ities payments HUD parlance. dent Barack Obama’s agenda, Warren said that if Repubat Citibank, these ‘relationships” did not • 22 more months of rent. “In 2017, HUD had 895 cases licans place “small-minded partisanship ahead of solving The National Women’s Law Center reports that wom- include all eligible customers – particuthe massive problems facing this country, then we should that became aged during that same en of every race are paid less than men, at all education larly people of color. The regulator’s conget rid of the filibuster.’’ year, and it had 941 cases that were levels – and it only gets worse as women’s careers progress. clusion was that the bank’s practices led to More than a half-dozen White House hopefuls have already considered aged at the begin“Despite the fact that women have made enormous racial disparities. spoken at the conference to spotlight their records on ning of the fiscal year,” noted Hill. “During gains in educational attainment and labor force involveremedying economic and social inequities that have imThe settlement calls for all 24,000 consumers affected that same time period, Fair Housing Assistance Program ment in the last several decades, unequal pay remains per- to receive $24 million in restitution. peded African American communities. Among the othagencies had 3,994 cases that became aged and 1,393 cases vasive in 97 percent of occupations, showing that no mater Democratic presidential contenders slated to address Days later on March 28, the federal department of that were already considered aged at the beginning of the ter what their job, women are paid less than men doing the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) charged Face- fiscal year.” the group later Friday at its annual convention are Sens. same job in nearly every sector of work,” an NWLC fact book with violating the Act by enabling its advertisers to Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, Amy Klobuchar of Min“Practically, what this means for groups like the Fair sheet noted. nesota and Cory Booker of New Jersey. discriminate on its social media platform. According to Women who work full time, year-round in the United the lawsuit, Facebook enabled advertisers to exclude peo- Housing Action Center,” continued Hall, “is a delay in Former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper used his making victims of discrimination whole, and a delay in States are paid just 80 cents for every dollar paid to their speech to the group to outline his record on policing, sugple based on their neighborhood – a high tech version of correction of housing providers’ discriminatory behavior.” gesting that the nation “shutter some prisons altogether.’’ male counterparts. This gap, which amounts to a typiSpeaking on behalf of the Zillow Group, Dr. Skylar cal loss of $10,086 per year for a working woman – or the historical redlining of neighborhoods where people of The Rev. Al Sharpton, who is leading the convenOlsen, its Director of Economic Research cited additional $403,440 over a 40-year career – means that women have color lived. tion, told attendees that the day was about “mainstreamWith 210 million Facebook users in the United States data that underscored racial disparities and problems that to work 15 months … to make what men did in the previing the racial divide in America’’ as well as “changing the and Canada alone, the social media mogul took in $8.246 continue with access to credit. ous 12-month calendar year.” conversation, so we’re all included.’’ Studies by gender specialists, academics and women’s billion in advertising in just the last financial quarter of “Homeownership is a key tool for building wealth, activists have statistics showing that the occupations Af- 2018. and more than half the overall wealth held by American As April’s annual observance of Fair Housing Month households is represented by their primary residence,” said rican-American women have does not explain away the Black women’s wage gap, the NWLC said. began, the Chair of the House Financial Services Commit- Olsen. “But access to homeownership is not shared equally. • For example, Black women working as physicians and tee used that leadership post to bring attention to the nag- In 1900, the gap between black and white homeownership surgeons—a traditionally male, high wage occupa- ging challenges that deny fair housing for all. In her open- rate was 27.6 percentage points. Today it is 30.3 percentage tion—make 54 cents for every dollar paid to white, ing statement at the hearing held April 2, Chairwoman points.” non-Hispanic men working as physicians and surgeons. Maxine Waters set the tone and focus of the public forum. Further according to Olsen, the Home Mortgage Dis• Black women working as customer service representa“According to the National Fair Housing Alliance, in- closure Act (HMDA) shows that “black borrowers a denied tives—a mid-wage, female dominated occupation— dividuals filed 28,843 housing discrimination complaints for conventional home loans 2.5 times more often than JACKSON, Miss. (AP) – Somebody slowed the pomake 75 cents for every dollar paid to white, non-His- in 2017,” said Waters. “Under the Trump Administration, lice’s roll: Thieves keep stealing the wheels off of the papanic men working as customer service representatives. fair housing protections are under attack…. According to white borrowers.” trol cars in Mississippi’s capital city. Even among renters, Skylar noted racial disparities in • Black women working as construction laborers—a tra- news reports Secretary Carson proposed taking the words Jackson police spokesman Sgt. Roderick Holmes major metro areas like Atlanta, Detroit, Houston and Oakditionally male, mid-wage occupation—make 81 cents tells local news outlets that three police cars were towed ‘free from discrimination’ out of HUD’s mission stateland, California adding, “local establishments and amenifor every dollar paid to white, non-Hispanic men workSaturday after police discovered their wheels had been ment.” ties including banks, health institutions and recreational ing as construction laborers. stolen. The cars had been parked behind a police muse“He also reportedly halted fair housing investiga- facilities are less prevalent in communities of color than • Black women working as personal care aides—a heavily um in downtown Jackson. Holmes says police aren’t sure tions”, continued Waters, “and sidelined top advisors in white communities.” female, low wage occupation—make 87 cents for every when the wheels were taken. HUD’s Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. Debby Goldberg, Vice President of Housing Policy dollar paid to white, non-Hispanic men working as perIt’s the second time thieves have taken wheels from These are unprecedented attacks on fair housing that must and Special Project with the National Fair Housing Allisonal care aides. a Jackson patrol car in recent weeks. A car was left on In addition, Black women experience a wage gap even not go unanswered.” ance (NFHA) was also a panelist. blocks outside the police training academy in March in Several committee members posed similar concerns in occupations where they are over-represented. More than “Not all neighborhoods were created the same,” teswest Jackson after thieves stole tires and rims. two in five African-American women (44.8 percent) are and offered comments that echoed those of Waters. Addi- tified Goldberg. “The long history of housing discriminaHolmes says police continue to investigate the thefts. employed in one of 10 occupations. In every one of those tional issues raised during the hearing spoke to a lack of en- tion and segregation in the U.S. has created neighborhoods The thieves and the stolen wheels remain at large. forcement, data collection, gentrification, racial redlining, Continued on page A2 Continued on page A2
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