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repr The a s t two C Afriche follow P), the ociation envi esents anrrest of an A ing s natio fo r t o o w n t m t o hono men her o erica ateme n’s prer the Blac t m r n f n k o men t foll mier r Afr inou er C the li men o in a publ ommiss fe and w ican Ams signal at a P Philawing deltowa ic unres ion foun ork of D ericans of the inhiladelp years BAKER .L h rds b t in o d ra c S cism r. King a ess than reasingl ia Starb ecom ur c b efo on Cal FIEL uck y d nd an ing a omm tw be fr re his co ifornia’ natio unitie d police 50 year o weeks angerou s eed w nvic s sa n wh s, we a b tion ith ere a still rutality fter the fter we even Vicente in days, perso have a at th Kern e ng w rooyou 1993 though Benavi a tent n is jud2.loWhen t of see this logo scan 1. Get the app by scanning or download it was convic the stat de not t of theirged by t ay to go he whole picture with this QR code with your the from Google Play he co over c injur false. M tion on e S lo o haracter contablet or smart phone. or smartphone. or The App Store f the tablet ation “The Sryour a anno ies reca any doc gro nd i r t a s k r p insig buck in. rov first- unced Tnted. K tors er d u ure ht rega ides dan s situw ould egree m esday th n C u impl of our rding t gerous b at p r d e o e nd-d “ refus icit bia nation he failegree difficult r and th c h s , t a e a i rge, m Serving Kern County to b seriou o take unc he w urder. f not im E p o for Over 40 Years ism onscious elieve thsly. We B v unti enavid uld be en if B we a bias— at o l i Bus e o m e a f s r u — m c e w r ton, ourt edia ill r Ker iness way can and often u the racand spokesw order to emain o te into fieldn CounPionee does nawa p o R o r re licies our m New ty S r Aw NA orde ehabil man fo elease n d ACP . actio ake its s Ob uper ard W h r is p itatio r S t a n i rbu Pres serv or C s an rovid n. 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Sh couple la in Dela i seri arding the “Every r nd st nder- tback, by Clark w times a eed Vas t at by a s n n e t ous t hat h poli as sh nd sh sell, a h dead and rea such o ate that o l o expl stereotyp day peo ut of se said thhe girl h died ab er broug o y . e wa ce offi ot at ot d ly fo ction verze men meown ain w a p o a h e t e t d u a s l h e l e s g r 2 e t t a e a r a a e of co c of Southern l-California r Volume1.45 Number 14 Newspapers Wednesday, a hous irl ma 5,h2018 hyObserver i for a ast glad the culpcers in S 0 times d by poally-ill mer just o A fo December 14-y nd emb Group lor fi tect. paid to e by thoy use of GET e and y ha t her hea wee i n a u r a i r e l e n e g j a n c i i t d u a t n c n u v s s s n ra d r-old ded d the c r erve i e e e s n r SCA AP d ase o esponsibmento, hit 8 tim officers in Brookde the g ies from ic patho Benavid been st on and who w Bren fears themse “All . N Q P. es br ru . Or base irl’s i logis f o b l l p a YOU e t n v e S f o y e s r e a , o i t s f o s o n n a o m d R njur rbuc g sod t con iefly ck r bre Walk thers. at th ainly why on t whil by me often B i lost k e c a e u o h PHO R TA CODE s l s er w k H t u e t d m i m e w that i n d ciety Black ia. Rac hese iss ho m ow els mercy o no o ng into c assump the sa edical re nearly al ere caus ized, an ed that s NE. BLET WIT u e s i f o s i c e t s l m n c th d o e u c s i a s o d l t d e mi o ed h an w m l r OR H stoo s. We ar n and t when t rds that ater reca by sexu several d is bu e u raining o mitting angerou and bia are discu SEA S k n h e s e s a s o i n s e t n e l a wa MA s to fa m t w on llet and so her inju girl was dicated ed, sayin assault. ce th implicit ore res ill not s that m ed in pa RT GOORCH O rie th g ourc just ssing fi m ake e con bias s i b N g e s G l e,” a e said th s may h rst hospi ere was they h o aw impl sequ and r s to episo OR M. Brown LE P By Stacy a c t y e a a e d v a c d SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) – Eight Democratn c y e l o i brea i ces o ism. s rdin purpo been ized. no evide LAY NNPA Correspondent @StacyBrownMedia DONewswire thin c will take their g to of roffice f our If wecussion, withicoulawmakers caus Th oaths t e g t W d t o h e r ed b toey also failu cauMonday NAACP e stapreviously NLO Legal Defense and Educational Fund, FRThe catio ur soCalifornia se of held yby legislative districts re to efuse to, durepresent t her e O Supr n d AD the U.S. Supreme Court to take up Inc. (LDF) M has asked do so weRepublicans. Aquestion ’ll co and It’s part of a wave that will give eDemocrats me Ceath “an me 2. L .” HEwhether P STTof the P police officers are constitutionally n tin-40 Senate seats and 60 of the 80 Assembly oseats. 29 of the urt’s atom LOGOOK F obligated toO help REa person injured during arrest. The eight Democrats are among 17 freshmen legisla-ruling O O
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Officials said the question arises from the case of Jason White, a decorated veteran who was killed by two Columbus, Ohio, police officers in 2013 during a mental health crisis triggered by his service in Iraq. Both officers were trained as first responders, but after shooting White multiple times, neither tried to help him. Instead they stood over him and waited 15 minutes for an ambulance as White bled to death, LDF officials said. “This petition is about fundamental civil rights and basic human decency,” said LDF Assistant Counsel Daniel Harawa. “As the case of Jason White tragically illustrates, whether or not police officers administer care to those in their custody can be a matter of life and death. We believe that at a minimum, officers have a constitutional responsibility to provide aid to those injured during arrest when they are trained as first responders and it is safe to do so,” Harawa said. The Supreme Court has previously held that the Fourteenth Amendment requires police to provide medical care to persons in their custody. But it has not defined what that care should consist of. On that issue, courts of appeals have disagreed: The Eighth and Tenth Circuits have held that there are occasions where the Fourteenth Amendment requires officers to personally provide care to an arrestee. But the Sixth and Ninth Circuits have held that officers satisfy their constitutional obligations simply by calling for an ambulance. Each year, over 10 million people are arrested, 55,000 people are injured or killed during arrest, and one-third to half of all police use-of-force incidents involve disabled persons, according to the LDF. “[We] therefore urge the Court to clarify this vital question and define police officers’ constitutional obligations to provide medical assistance to people in their custody,” Harawa said.
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tors, though several incoming senators previously served in the Assembly. Here are the incoming lawmakers: 3. S DEMOCRATS SMACAN L Sen. Bob Archuleta, Pico Rivera, SD32 RTP OGO Sen. Anna Caballero, Salinas, SD12 (*)(#) HON WIT Sen. Maria LElena Durazo, Los Angeles, SD24 H YO E. S AN Sanger, SD14 (#) cer i O Sen. Melissa Hurtado, U s R G G uing Baldwin Bloo race J TAB Sen. bSusan SD22 aby wsRubio, dlig one the s ELES Park, LET Film ht and s: (APSD34 h tate Ana, Sen. Tom Umberg, Santa (*)(#) w i Rev Bam l e ) as pr OR Assemblywoman iew i r Baker p e spon Bauer-Kahan, rison _ A COrinda, AD16 (#) Tues egnan Rebecca Bak alifo sfield d s i ersfi ystemEncinitas, ng to Horvath, t. Sa Boerner day Fres rniaAD76 (#) e Assemblywoman no ld Nat in B Tasha r a a a corre (#) fi ftBeach, h g e Bas State M ive Na C C a h r Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris, Laguna k t ketb o o s en’s med e he sAD74 c b o o rsfiel aske etwAD40 gle James gHighland, all C H l e a oac ead ys sh tion offi d e Assemblyman Ramos, (#) fi d s e a l . f h n e y o d s r t i e n i a a dis she onal Assemblyman or We told Hollister, AD30 crim mates whlost her Insti lessRobertRivas, strChristy wAssemblywoman FREE! e a the C will Reap n Smith, Santa Clarita, AD38 (#) i sn’t p tutio n e uous offici onseq als s AD15 ation la n she ossib n Buffy anAssemblywoman p uence Wicks, Oakland, i o n o s t h w her p le an Teha ition s e suit REPUBLICANS chap d sh at th was pr ositi Env WhAndreas e i o e ir e ’d . g n C Sen. Borgeas, Fresno, SD8. S Just onme n w e h with he sa a a n s hile av Facinice Issu ntal ys sh lifornia Cnt and a Bakersfield, ruShannon lowe e to eithSD16(*) “lostSen. nnin he wGrove, Res g Kern es a e iden s or C e r w o s r g . her Brian ts even SD38(*) salar to st Santee, Dep Sen. baby Jones, e lea as told t recy. takAD72 m o a Assemblyman Tyler Diep, Westminster, p o r v h t n due e or men a fig t tion Previously Opinion acce at toina the t of served ht b hs preg Assembly(*) Star d i d pt : p n P b e C not i a Republican(#) oli l t to 2 ucks Replaced Cha ce Reco mme orrectio acental r ween in ant, Coo Blac CEO rgin mm in g e kM Fata ICE A nd diate ns an uptu mate gle f l Cra g en AApolog s re e d ly co sh ents rres izes mme Comm .” The C and late ll ted nt on unity alifo r rn R the l awsu ehabilit ia She ai r t if . Say f You sH ng
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These eled officiar daily liv kfa ll Fr oo ing. There arey respons is absolu those whes—you ur vote as Blright to and es, l d vo sentenWhether mat- tal Joinst and Ch d Road iendship be held e that tely will no o’ve te oncted offi or someo in som ga Either Lead ildcar , Bake Hous on Sa have ack pe vote, votin ce your voting bills, cials dr ne wh e to ged citize you doacceptab will ch no level been ele have to Convjustice iss ers . rsfi e tu e ople le of an cte ue hip Co check in eld CA Comm rday, Ap that be en aft ns supp g for th loved for the unsel even polic o that tter un must it or yo excuses ge that. complain d to intereste ing is to s in Kern 9:30a 9330 unity ril judg ort pa e judg one Blac The fre y, 7 9:3 tuall trans d in polit derst seek to u reap when bring me, wh Ce 28, to Co for k ed in e ym wh g y po om a an ics Ameri ents expe it co beun adva rtatio learning togeth unty. Tha discussi10am) 0am-1:0nter th d and o has th lengthy o has th cans 0pm martyI can on produce. the impa derstan e conseq mes to lunchnce our n, water more er reside e objec on on cam rience priso e po visita e po d ly vo ue e rs, ct to envir po ab ,an , loc we we nt lea tive n ttio wo nc day ho of th ou lit al d ch nific with n rig r to de senten r to that we who sac nder, ildcar prioriti using, ant topics ders anof this Reonmene law ics if th es. En- ag For mo hts th term ce or their shou rifice howe attac ant pricea sigd loc es. W d ho like e. s and ey wi lover@ re in ro gr d ld ve al giona inf th he e ugh e wi w r, if child ing po aves as all ap their decis sh leade tag Je d or and ll pr to civ e Generalpartners l the fam to rshipc mation, ions ffr prec very liv many tentia they ovide ically it, thingey Bone Plan, has that fre iat ou ple of ily loo es l en e ns a M ase ou an k up for el.or light gage to som that y sa d r howe aybe been definitelyedom of g or contact break to e wa im ys th this overwh on mucday, are the right politica ver. (559 : Ad fast, l at ne electi elmin fli h have free. 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Th V hit elina Whi e new e South ar, man rcia in th large as and ts inv ainst Ga wa Reco in e Ci were led 91 mmiss that las ows po olved two eral te abolitio claim Delano sn’t th e couple a utilit rcia die nstru order y Whites vil Wthe but told th 1 to say ioner Ri ted sev lice hand in a but vided they police e man th was in y pole an d last mo ar the SoBlack m nists ra ction to help migrate e me era ch they were denie eo sh weren on W e agen the coun d overt nth in n ha the men ard Ro l minu cuffing d fro gain uth ev en were n for pogovernm Black th ts ’t d ss ed th tes we ow en ref d be m e me re tre said Sta . the The Ba s oth using nesday were lootry ille urned as rural cau come of th s and th en electe also electe litical ents. M people th the n king gally bu they polic Johnson used to se they in and spassing rbucks formaagents be kersfield erwise. their lig said lea for. ask th e t San’s ht man e Reconse progresd some d to th office an any of th rive . ha em tio ch Ca He e s or ed the arr call, bu statem ve. dn’t arg n liforn Bl y So siren two IC boug to use said offiployAn ICto a pe ed with uthe truction s made ack sen e U.S. Cod won. ose custo ests oc t a Sta ent did durin E ag ht an the res cers ace offi a ian say E n’t rb cu me sp s mi g uc yth al N Confederarn Whi govern by Blac ators. Th ngress Sevrre ad okesm ce. front rs the chents sdem police ks ing. troom men k eanor are of eit only. In d has a po spokeswdress exact an wo He sai ase mindsathan Be te Armtes. ts in people, ese polit and her of the of pr recom uldn’t oman ly wh licy d Joh df y ica th vid th as that “bad ovidi mend nson inan the l e So at if ord Fo supp at imme eo sai ng fal ing uth, a result diatel into outcome said th men. , no Sta restroom d the stoled to th said PHILAD have ce over Blthey wa rrest, anorters lik se inange rbuc the sh y comm ,’’ an e comp red were he want ELPH ks ite s were forre wheree sary. to stop ack pe nted to d othe e Lieuten op d an ent. ms are op repa rs, Blac arrest “Our sto was inc the reasony’s pract in Ph arrested s to persoIA (AP) k men le in th establis made ant Gen visibl ying for th ices an statemed and re manaorrect. ism iladelph while sit nally _ The e in help Nathan from is coun h cont up in eron soc ia, e cal d traini watch ent. Johthis shou ger ne an incting ins apologiz CEO of l that votin try, th rol an their ial ng the ed form Bedford ,’’ an nson ld ne ver int d do brou led to g by en profi Starbuc media . ident ide one e to two Starbuc ve d en sai ght po a that of ks any they wo mpretefirst Granthe Ku Forrest wh “We als the comp d vid r have ded for He sailing,’’ Chks “stan prom the ch black me Corp mea lice ief exe ds firml d he orde nded to d WizaKlux Klanand sev pted ain’s co n wh . ally,en polic o will any waeos of thescalated these ns ne uld ap ology. me want accus e as s ffe ceso ou we wi e assist furth tered r to strik be the ghrd. The (KKK eral of hi ’’ s to cutive Key against er tra investiga arrest we it did,’’ n to be ation e shop meet s sco r learn ll host ance is vin Joh discri s of re “ve said so th . Membee fear in osts of Klan wo), where s colleag ing warra in our ting. a co with racre ry ha the the menson saiminatio with our lons, discuss mpany-w nted,’’ partners man ey wore rs of th to the he dead Co re whitehe serve ues rd to has relBAKERS respe sai g-stan n to d in a n or rac som to ide and y of the hoods toe Klan di arts of annfedera robes d as ct offer ding e imme meeti d Johns better ial sta Youn eased a FIELD, local m te so on d no a “fa temen ng arr Polic and gbloo Ca 12 ldier and auth embers cover ce-to- t. tw ested. e haven’tdignity.’’ commitm diate ne next we. “Add know t wa yone, d say -year- lif. (A iti A sp face xt ent o peop At nigh ority fig of the their fac nt to bethey enco s in rel he wa Youngb ing it’s old video P) _ A Ca to tre steps ek to sh onbeen were releasokesman eased sn’t ur lood say cheap of Ke liforn ating and un are who le not tot, the Kl ures. 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This in fro er in their ten Blac kill an rning Bl union cont . iation d appe s th a th en In cri ext an nt e t, cit costu k votery Black ack traine the vid is curre in 20 ared e clip of a the ed to vo served d ing a me had befor rel m If uty mi d than eo, Youn ntly ba 06. polic e the eased M lynchKlan and te in th as a warnBlack m es and s, the man ning en only be ev ck e gb scond er be coun ing his on and ed from refused e next ele ing to an’s hom place a Klan author, trepren ing called cau lood ty De day uc cripp Then he t lawsu se it co says detenelection tenture have sec a tree so to adhe ction. any Blac e and large focus, drVelma Treur, CEO,a “nobod sts its le riv asks . If set millio tion or lea ay electi ond al. ive thou everyo re to th a Black k man wh it rea ving he , determiham. 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As timl advanc ing politsmiss “P e Strateo have em fromto tackle lping th the comp g to fur Co th erc ha th wi op em at he th em ome es in ns in th eo leade small e of W ve be ica ma igh ther lps nsulting a co e pa t of Bl le and we began progres ents th l Velm ples’ Mgist” or astnessed or ssive sue potentia to clear etition. Sh expe hen Go en provenrs, to bu rporati key busin high gro business ack pe re no to slo sed, ey al- a’s fus otiva that If you fas st. parti ccess. l or cu the clu e to sky ild hig ons, sm ess ch wth futu wl tor the life ion tak rience d Says cipate She ople tte t LO rre chise Black vo t-forwa d in is referr nt prob r th e, walki the lessonGo – A rocke h growt all to miallenges.spec- spired S AN in th as vocal y forget re conversstories anof re- ”. GELE e rea ng th real-li t succe h ma “R he e Sout or as the tec Sh ed dd ati s to Klan ment co ter intimrd in th r am sh e siz de rke onal to cons take charg S (A hn ss. 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l Inm nyon t e to FILE – In this Sept. 17, 2017 file photo, police arrest a man as people protest a not guilty in the trial ate verdict eet C Stockley was acquitted sin the 2011 killing of former St. Louis police officer Jason Stockley, in St.“M Louis. EO & of a black man following a high-speed chase. The NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund is asking the Foun der o new U.S. attorney in St. Louis to investigate allegations of police misconduct at protests. In a letter sent f Friday, Oct. 27, 2017 to U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Jensen. The NAACP alleges police “ Raassaults, aggressive use of m a Num pRoberson g chemicals such as pepper-spray and tear gas, and other concerns. (AP Photo/Jeff File) be e Tak
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Common Inspires Kern Students to Keep Advocating for a Better Community
South Kern Sol Academy Award-winning actor and three-time Grammy recipient Common visited Bakersfield in October for a youth town hall. His goal was to inspire Kern County youth to be socially active by using their voices to advocate for healthy and inclusive communities. The students attending the youth town hall were from all of Kern County, including Delano, Arvin and Bakersfield and ranged in age, from seven years old to students in college. During the town hall, Common took questions from the audience. Here’s what they asked the advocate, rapper and actor: Q: What are you passionate about? What inspires you to do the work you do as an advocate? A: Well I’m passionate about people, and I’m passionate about equality for people. I’m passionate about black and brown people receiving opportunities that other people in this country have received for so many years. I’m passionate about spirituality and God. I’m passionate about education. Overall, I’m passionate about people, and people being in the most inspired and loving place they can be in. I like seeing people happy. That is one of my favorite things. Q: How to we solve racism? A: If I can answer this question, we can solve one of
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Q&A: During the town hall, rapper and actor Common took questions from the audience.
the world’s craziest problems. But how do we solve it? We solve it with love. And love is the greatest thing that we all can give and have. Love means that even if somebody is different from you, you embrace it. Love means even if somebody is not doing what you expect and want them to do, you still embrace them. Love means that even if somebody is getting on your nerves, you can still be patient with them. You can still say I care about you. Love
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also is something that allows you to stand up for who you are and stand up for others. Love is the thing that when you see other people going through something, you make an effort to help them be okay. If we acted from a place of love, the world would get better, and we would start looking past racism. Q: Why is it so important to you to reach out to youth? A: I have learned so much from talking to younger people. I think, “how did ya’ll get this smart?” The younger generation is a generation leading in the right way on how to deal with other nationalities or other people who are different form us. The younger generation is more open, more open-minded and more progressive. The young people are the leaders. I feel like there will be a better future for our young people. We’re here to connect with each other, and I think young people are our biggest source of connecting with each other. Q: When we are trying to change the system from inside out, we are faced with barriers and are hit with “nos” or “You’re too young.” What words of inspiration do you have for folks who are advocating for a better community? A: Eyes on the prize — you got a goal in mind, you are going to get tired. You’re going to get discouraged. You’re going to get knocked down, but that higher cause and purpose and goal should be the presiding thought that is going to make you move and keep going. They can tell you, “You’re all too young,” but you show up with enough people to communicate to the communities the injustices going on, and make people really aware of it.
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Black Adoption is a Great Option By Nsenga K. Burton, Ph.D. NNPA Newswire Entertainment and Culture Editor November was National Adoption Awareness Month, which came about as an effort to encourage families to consider adopting children in the foster care system. First introduced in 1976 by then Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis as National Adoption Week, who wanted to help find forever homes for the massive number of children in foster care. Former President Gerald Ford made the initiative a proclamation due to the large number of states participating in the week. Thus, the month of November which is usually associated with Thanksgiving – a time for families to come together over food, fellowship and football — was proclaimed as National Adoption Month in 1990 by then President George H.W. Bush. Adoption is a great option for all families, especially African-American families who typically “take in” children as a regular practice. The informal practice of “adopting” children began in the United States when black families were often destroyed by the system and practice of slavery. Slaves were sold and traded, so families were broken up, leaving children behind in need of care. Following slavery, Jim Crow and other national segregation policies discriminated against blacks, denying them adoption services afforded whites by adoption agencies and institutions, resulting in many black children in need of guardianship. According to The Adoption History Project at the University of Oregon, “In some states with large African-American populations, such as Florida and Louisiana, not a single African-American child was placed for adoption by an agency for many years running as recently as the 1940s.” The practice of caring for children that may not have been biologically related, was prevalent and continues today. Nearly 23% of African-American children are being raised by a grandparent due to a number of socio-political and -economic issues (mass incarceration, health issues, divorce, unemployment). Black folks step up when our children need us and many children we may not know need us now. There are 428,000 children in foster care in the United States and more than half of them are children of color. Half of the children are African-American, most of them
are boys and a quarter of the children are over age six. These are the children who are in foster care long-term. In 2015, 670,000 children spent time in foster care and that number is growing. If we consider the number of black children available for adoption through private agencies, then It is clear that the agencies are teeming with black children that need good homes. Black and brown children are the least likely to be adopted and disproportionately age out of the foster care system. Thus, it is imperative that black people, who have a history of informal adoption practices, consider adopting children as an option. As an adoptive parent from a family with a history of adoption on both sides, I often say if you have a lot of love, are financially and emotionally stable and have good sense, then adoption is for you. When I was in the process of adopting, I heard terrible things from so-called friends, “You don’t know what you’re getting,” and “Adopted kids are messed up,” or “Adopted kids have a hard time bonding with their families.” My response was always, “The prisons are full of people who know their parents,” and “As an educator, many are messed up and it isn’t because they’re adopted,” or “Adopted children aren’t the only children who have a hard time bonding with their parents.” This false idea that if you have biological children, then you won’t have any problems is not only ridiculous but disingenuous. Adopted children are children in need of unconditional love, guidance, commitment and stability and if you have it to give, then why not? I can honestly say adopting my daughter was the best decision I have ever made. I consider it a privilege to be her mother and she has added so much value to my life, that I cannot imagine my life without her in it. I look forward to helping to guide her, encouraging her to follow her dreams and helping her reach her goals while becoming a thoughtful, decent and productive human being. Who better than black folk with our history of informal adoption practices and remarkable resiliency in the face of continuous adversity, to give a black child a greater chance at a decent life? Which leads me back to my original point. Adoption is a great option for black folk. It can be difficult and is unnecessarily complicated, but it is absolutely worth it.
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Teacher Seen on Video Punching Student Charged
LOS ANGELES (AP) – A Los Angeles-area teacher captured on video punching a student who had repeatedly called him a racial slur has been charged with a misdemeanor count of corporal injury to a child. Video posted to social media this month shows Marston Riley, who is black, repeatedly hitting the student, who returns some of the blows. Before the scuffle, the video shows the student throwing a basketball at the 64-yearold Riley and repeatedly calling him names. City News Service reports Riley, a music teacher at Maywood Academy High School, was charged Friday. It wasn’t known if he has an attorney. Arraignment is set for Jan. 4. The confrontation began after the teacher asked the boy to leave because he wasn’t wearing a proper uniform. A Gofundme page has raised more than $187,000 on Riley’s behalf.
Neil deGrasse Tyson Denies Sexual Misconduct NEW YORK (AP) – Renowned astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson says he will cooperate fully with an “impartial investigation’’ into allegations of sexual misconduct that have been leveled against him. Patheos.com recently published accounts from two women who say that Tyson behaved in a sexually inappropriate manner toward them. Tyson was host of “Cosmos: Possible Worlds’’ on Fox in 2014 and a new edition of the series was to air on National Geographic next year. In a Facebook post Saturday, Tyson denied an accusation that he groped a woman and he denied that he made sexual advances toward a production assistant when he invited her to share wine and cheese at his home. He apologized for making the production assistant feel uncomfortable. Fox and National Geographic Networks have said they will conduct a thorough investigation.
Police Refuse to Release Video
Nsenga and Kai Burton (Photo: Nsenga Burton)
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) – A forensic examination shows a black man was shot three times in the back side of his body when an Alabama police officer mistook him for the shooter after gunfire erupted at a crowded shopping mall, the man’s family said Monday. The results are “devastating’’ to the family of Emantic “EJ’’ Bradford Jr., their lawyer, Ben Crump, said at an emotional news conference. Emantic Bradford Sr. angrily jabbed his finger at the TV cameras as he addressed the unnamed officer, saying “you’re a coward!’’ The officer in the Birmingham suburb of Hoover should be charged with homicide, Bradford said, “because this is murder.’’ The Rev. Jesse Jackson also attended the news conference at The Rock, a small church EJ Bradford attended in north Birmingham. Jackson said the authorities’ refusal to release video evidence smacks of a cover-up. Police in Hoover reiterated Monday that they won’t release officer video or other evidence about the Thanksgiving night killing until the state investigation is complete. They released a letter from state investigators expressing concern that the investigation could be jeopardized or hindered if information is released. Crump said the forensic pathologist hired by the family determined Bradford was struck by one gunshot that entered the rear of his skull, another that hit the back of his neck and a third that penetrated his lower back. Crump said any of the three shots could have killed the 21-year-old. Police initially described Bradford as the mall gunman, and called the officer a hero for his swift response. Then they said Bradford wasn’t the initial shooter. Bradford pulled out his handgun in response to the initial gunfire, and the city and police said that action increased the threat level for responding officers.