e
n han ooper. an-American q ruple death rowuad The allegeddcuffs and ha New inmate incident wa Cooper’s 1som’s decision could F lo ri making ouda Today reports t Hills famil 985 conviction in lead to the overtu t. y th rning of and their 1 e killing of Enough Of Authorities say t has the 1-y a ru Your Love” Californiapnotential, some polieatir-old house guest. ral Chino and a s. Th cal watcher s say, to de case Both the C ivide aliforn and more an a dozenia and United States past appeath lower court su p re ls. s have reject me courts “I take no p ed Cooper’s osition regar nocence at about the h this time,” Newsodming Mr. Cooper’s g uilt igh-profile said in his terest. N ca executive oor inse free 2. When you see a photo or ad with the Observer 1. Get for downloading that hby Yothe as rk Tapp d rder ra Sen. Kamew im w n inte es’Play colum rn al at Interactive logo scan over the whole photo with your it from Google or The Apple App a io n is H n al t ar N in ri ic have all ca lled for res -tand reality TV starholas Kristof, U.S.tablet or smartphone. forensic Store es K ting using im technology. SUL current, m Kardashian The ACLU gorilla suitPHUR, La. (AP) – P o re sensitive and other h groups hav mattress befbroke into a Louisiaol o n a deeper in e also urged Califuoman rights and soci Serving Los Angeles County News ouretl officers arrested ha ves gation rnia state o al et into Cooper fficials to lajustice s Gov. Newtiso sp quote Sulp okesm M for Over 34 Years unch ’s con m’s hu tion issu el Estes in officers saan Thursday by formerorder Friday expandviction. w Je test four ed re m s G ie p co o M re v. st v o p u io Je ra me. ey h n walkin lowed an ieces of crime scen rry Brown in D us direcad received son lookinTh ember to calls a g into hom an orangealysts to perform DNe evidence. Brownec es. Estes says prosecutorstowel; and the hanA re-testing on a t’sanorder al- bo M ora proached b dle and sh dies in the say Cooper T-shirt; ut was disncoran into a eath Ry In th new u charges incl vered investigatseiod in the murders. of a hatchet Joshua Ryen, theen’s home with a total u d of hair frois try, meth p ing resisting an hidin v n w o ic m , f o ti an 1 u th m 4 n al 3 e s’ d y v st o st o 8 offic ictims’ han ss sion an ab n his throat -y r-old so button Co ds, blood ssawill look at strands tack. d In Louisiaes oper’s atto . He was ea n, sufferedwounds. ing in the San Bern tigators pla na, a persowearing a m the only su mples and rney Norm th ar a e d in sl in al as p le o h u g C b n at n li o te a io s Cooper rvivor of th unty are n c an Hile m After Coop d at the sc green nvicte Angeles most. Excecan be sentencedco ain ins in e at- D.A.’s officen t surprised en to thre . Many of’s attorneys are moak ptions are al ves- legally stayed in eras’s jail break, inves about vestigatioCnounty Superior Coeuof the crime. A ta ra ci h al o in li ti th b lo re al days like H gators foun house next g out th iases and d em . so y they wed for li tire rt judge wil ei d, e il- complaints iscriminatio frequently compab d fo g l oversee thd Los familsa Coo er, 61 It’s unclearalloween and Marre lain aboutr y’s station uwnd evidence in thoeor to the victims. hTh are handle n e in, has main in years. Hispla di G th if g e an w M m d R g ay . o ag en y ta ey Ju p ra en o th ro t. in n st n ’s w ei se ed h la th h r y cu For some, G as a lawy o e and in st ers hope th at tied Coo ca by Gov. N e results ohfis innocence over th ov. Newsom per to themm the under pressuretor Michael Selyem,month, a San Bernarses or ewsom, w the case Newspapers the re-testin for making w d help52 ’s e oinf g in Group u Volume 34 Number Observer of Southern California Thursday, November 14, 2019 in h o h rd o o o rd ic n er pro is h is er s. so W b co to ci ei v u h e al m ng met wit b aden D g ordered cr ld ke sev ite, their client’ the murder him. h ismay. ro er A test- chelle Obamedia. His insults taurgde and racist and co resigned s innocenta The lone N ce and final months, will porters of the sRJoshua Ryen anddfa mments et a, ed U ,S fo su B . rm R la In 1985, a rv ep. Maxine ck shooting ally exoner er First Lad ivor yens and H mily, friend they are dis San Diego at W v on four cou s u e ic at g ap an ti h er m es pointed wit d s and an un y Mi“Unfortun h the goverall across the statesup- Los AThomas R. Parker., named 26 and an nts of murder. ACt ounty jury convicte at el sa n a n o y, fo y fo g r’ eles office, rmer deputy cord - incluescaped prison inmthe time of his arre d Cooper n r justice in this caseover time it seems s decision. b el h ie ea Th v es ooper. d of the FB is guy is in o District st, he was e victims’ d in Pennsylv ding several burglaate. His lengthy crim I’s Attorney Jamatters less and leth nocent,” C esire “The evidence “Prior DN ries and the ania – did ss,” San Ber he told the in so al n re A w n as A d o n te er p n o n Cooper, form rape of a m st la so N t help his ca ar th in n ew n d te e g icl sa d st th ai Y , id an o at m h rk d.” e was fram in ed ould ex Mr. Cooper inor se. erly named in 1958 ed, the copTimes. What has k onerate him sought, agarestatement. per’s guilw s lied t.” months onldear Pittsburgh, PenRichard Goodman, ep h ed av t a to th e fe al e d an er l ca d confirmed al appellate se going nsylvania. was born Yet persuas During his , he was adopted an M an W ec co r. d u h u C iv ti en C rt ooon and re ie e argumen ’s o he was six monies and LAKE FOR and he spenchildhood, his par d renamed Kevin ts ased on w the casedecision in 2004 tooper alive - is Gov. Newvso EST alif. ents physica is recoverin w stay his exCooper. reasonable qualeslegations of evidenbce t a good p co it h n fl m ic juvenile det o ti m re (AP) – Offi n D ’s g sc g after bei,nC10th, ar N ll d te ti ie t ta SACRAMENTO (Sunday, 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 evidence. yon road inNovember ci g struck2019) a mental h ention centers. In olescence living sed him at ors used to nail Co out the methods ing, keep raising Californ ing comes early n to allow an S by a polic o – Governor Gavin Newsom released the following u o th th ern Californstateer round o Lag California. ealth facility in Pen1982, Cooper esca in several thtack, and in sworn oper. Three weapo and stories investi- have hig ia Governor whose in the term oment u n f a ia B . f today after learning of the passing of Bernard J. ea the progress ch Police O ns ere use ped h exp tati re supporters nsylvania b the Orange te ive andso d in the ons. on Tyson, cer Thomas efore movinfrom coulde attackers who werestimony, Joshua Rywen Duri CounFoundation CEO of Kaiser the polichairman “DNA teec ty Register ffiHealth m ti White. He have been H ca eo g to st sa l n in gued that nCg his murder trial, L e’ id ef g s h so p t h e sh et lv e o e Plan, Inc. and Kaiser Hospitals. sa w la u ld th w h is te en p r e o p im F an testified that Ry eb 19. th t darteinitially th Further com ic m Ryen, their oper killed husban rosecutors succes they Chiang said den case and finally ediately take p“Jennifer and I are .deeply saddened toe ca learn of dthe plicating .th in front an sf 1 d n 0 la u am -y an ll ce y ea d M ed en u to ar rw ri e cGand neighbor C - bel Diana Rop sure jupassing old daughte ife Doug an ng the cam prosecution By Stacy M. Brown re- carethpioneer uireour that DNA of health dear friend Bernard sa st y ic s e er h w o r p d ri s’ is h n ev Je ca ai e st P cl en g se g an ss eg id m in o ai n. ot oTyson. pher Hugh ic rved,” vision and en he impact iminfluence ms, a om- but test NNPA Newswire Correspondent al was bigmade got out at rward with an nly is itBernard’s es Police afoand an 11-year-ogldy inal. She gtuto her former boyefrfo to ch ing in thisce can help law enfo“N ger than bloody clow proabroad, Anim ven iend who w aon Vietnam War veteran Ari Merretazon is .spending rned the ev rcemen case would unlives hobehalf al discharge were Merretazon said. th d the bafter C use cat. ec o in home and and he led with excellence E n d t g v tr es so en o to tr as lv l idence over co oyed it. o th an e odcrime, a vioHe ffi m cr o ied addiction, ce u an e im g rs at le im h es another Veteran’s Day fighting for fellow soldiers in plaguedloby ntbelieves is bohas no coof Newsom’srole in his played a significant ,Kaiser al hothousands shed the ble crim- race to the poli millions employld, h st to spital, wherof ru traupatients e isledtrto the statof African Am decisio ma. and ce, with eadthe e it wascare e.always n in thees. Philadelphia. but th ingcurrent issue ththat’s ” and a host of psychological battle Philadelphia case. ericans, His carefullcourt We will remember how he made health ey e diagnose at C C o y o al p o if D er n ornia ote panics and r. risti Krathe way for countless a potentiaccessible caseso many while A court is expected to hear soon more arguments in a challenges. wneeds that racism atchintog.acknowledge rs ac ally polarifor other min“Philadelphia use, a veter she expecKtspaving ross thine pthe He is keepvsaid. zi oritiisesaliPTSD n case Merretazon has brought against the city. in g o “As Black veterans, we military injury,” Merretazon th li ing his focu ti professionals eleadership ia , tells th roles inarhealth 1 v- C tinu l spectrum of color backtoinpursue s on fairncaes to the wild1-pound (5-kilogranm are ed onDepartment Philadelphia officials have failed to follow a 1955 not only face post-traumatic Researchers atonthe U.S. of Veterans care corporate America. page A2 s anand af ) cat te d r M it ju cG re st ice th are with gainsfamily, provision in the city charter that created a budget for stress syndrome (PTSD), u Denise, Affairs have conducted various studies of PTSD in ethnic e visited the strength. to “Our thoughts at if he seir theTyson b o an Office of Veterans Affairs with a salaried director, but we have racially induced b eswho minority Vietnam Veterans. The results of the research and all at Kaiser Permanente ca t it agwere oBern Fri ain, hinspired e’ll issueby Merretazon’s suit claims. PTSD as well because are not entirely consistent. Still, VA officials noted that nard’s leadership and example.” a ticket fodray. ja While there’s a Veterans Commission, an Office of there’s so much the overall finding seems to be that most ethnic minority Veterans Affairs could have reached more local returning racism in the veteran groups have a higher rate of PTSD than soldiers and helped them receive more substantial benefits. military,” White veterans. Merretazon, who founded the Pointman Soldiers According to the VA, some of this may Heart Ministry, wants Philadelphia officials to formally be due to psychological conflicts related establish a Veterans Office. to identification with the Vietnamese. “They are not in compliance with the law,” stated Another factor may be higher exposure Merretazon, whose story of the Viet Nam War was to war zone stressors, VA officials highlighted in the 1984 book, “Bloods: Black Veterans of stated. the Vietnam War, An Oral History,” by Wallace Terry. “It’s been years, if not ever, The book was later the inspiration for the 1995 motion that Philly hasn’t met any of picture, “Dead Presidents,” which reviewers called the its obligations to veterans,” most powerful depiction of Black veterans in the history Merretazon stated. “My of American cinema. anger is based on the ATLANTA (AP) – A daughter of the Rev. Martin The film starred Terrence Howard, Larenz Tate, and fact that we have had to Luther King Jr. has sent a letter to Comcast executives in Chris Tucker as returning Vietnam War veterans whose fight two wars. One was which she accuses the company of trying to “dismantle” a in the field of battle law barring racial discrimination. The letter released Saturday from the Rev. Bernice in Vietnam. And, the Minister Ari Merretazon at Veterans’ Protest for other at our base where King addresses a $20 billion lawsuit from comedian and a Director of Veterans Affairs and Veterans Grave rebel flags flew and media mogul Byron Allen that is headed to the U.S. SuRegistration Record, Philadelphia City Hall, 2015. Black soldiers had the preme Court . Justices are scheduled to hear arguments in (Courtesy Photo) worst jobs. They threatened the case Wednesday. A lower court ruled in favor of Allen, who says Comus with going back to the field cast declined to distribute his channels because he’s black. with those who were less qualified.” “They are not in compliance with the law,” stated Merretazon, whose story of Justices are whether Allen needs to show Merretazon said his court battle had that race was justweighing a factor in Comcast’s decision or wheththe Viet Nam War was highlighted in the 1984 book, “Bloods: Black Veterans progressed well. An appeals panel earlier er it was the sole factor. indicated that the only thing keeping him from If Comcast wins, the bar will be high to bring and of the Vietnam War, An Oral History,” by Wallace Terry. The book was later the prevailing was that he lived outside of the city. succeed with similar suits. inspiration for the 1995 motion picture, “Dead Presidents,” which reviewers called “I live in a neighboring county, but I do my work King says if Comcast wins, “pivotal” anti-discriminain the city of Philadelphia,” Merretazon stated. “But, it’s tion legislation could be compromised. the most powerful depiction of Black veterans in the history of American cinema. “Are you prepared to say business decisions based on Continued on page A3 racism are acceptable if combined with other non-racist reasons?” King wrote to Comcast CEO Brian Roberts. Comcast has said its decision not to carry Allen’s channels has nothing to do with race. It has called Allen’s content “not particularly high quality.” “We have been forced to appeal this decision to defend against a meritless $20 billion claim, but have kept our argument narrowly focused,” a Comcast spokesperson said in response to King’s letter. “This case cannot detract from Comcast’s strong civil rights and diversity record or our outstanding record of supporting and fostering diverse programming from African-American owned channels. There has been no finding of discriminatory conduct by Comcast against this plaintiff by any court, and there By Tanu Henry States Congress passed the Civil Rights Act of 1866. “A bad decision in this case could have impact on everyday has been none.” California Black Media Section 1981 of the law banned racial discrimination businesses owned by Black people across our country.” Today, the United States Supreme Court is hearing in making and enforcing contracts, including employment, oral arguments about the merits of a $20 billion lawsuit Los and granted Blacks the same rights as “White citizens,” the Harris spoke about the case last night to more than Angeles-based media executive Byron Allen filed against law states, for the first time in the country’s history – at 6,000 participants on a “Call to Action Tele-Town Hall” Comcast on behalf of Entertainment least on paper. the national body of NAACP organized to let Americans Studios, the broadcast and television For more than 150 years now, since first providing know what they can do to protect the historic legislation. production company he owns. crucial labor and economic protection for newly freed On the nationwide conference call, she joined her U.S. If the justices decide the case in slaves, that section of the legislation has stood as the Senate colleague and fellow U.S. presidential hopeful Sen. favor of Comcast, the Philadelphia- basis for court cases filed by Blacks and other minorities Cory Booker (D-New Jersey); Derrick Johnson, NAACP based telecommunications giant, facing discrimination in employment, contracting or other President and CEO; and Bradford Berry, the NAACP that ruling could roll back the most business activities. General Counsel. SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – An advocacy group important provision of one of the “This section of the code was designed to stop racial “We are faced with the reality that a corporation that tracking misinformation says it has found an increase in United States’ strongest civil rights discrimination in business contracts regardless of whether many of us patronize – many of of use for our cable service, fake political news shared on Facebook ahead of the 2020 law: the right to sue even if race is just or not discrimination was the sole reason a business Comcast, has now filed a petition to the Supreme Court to presidential elections. The group, Avaaz, said Wednesday that misinformapart of the reason for discrimination contract wasn’t signed,” said California U.S. Senator and undermine our ability to use the act effectively, said Berry. against an entity or individual. presidential candidate Kamala Harris. “So essentially, it “What Comcast is seeking to do is make it more difficult to tion is still being spread on Facebook despite measures the Less than three years after would be against the law if racial discrimination was just a prove a claim of discrimination by petitioning the Supreme company has put in place since the 2016 elections. The researchers tracked the 100 most widely shared Pres. Abraham Lincoln signed the part of the reason a contract wasn’t signed. Court to reinterpret Section 1981.” Emancipation Proclamation freeing “If the Supreme narrows this law, it would give In February 2015, Allen sued Comcast. He alleged false news stories between Jan. 1 and Oct. 31 this year. enslaved African American men, corporations cover – allowing them to cover up racial that the cable provider refused to carry his television The stories they tracked had all been fact-checked and debunked by Facebook’s third-party fact-checking partners, women and children, the United discrimination and avoid accountability,” Harris continued. Continued on page A3 which include The Associated Press. Byron Allen The group found that, collectively, the fake stories were posted more than 2.3 million times and had an estimated 158.9 million views, along with 8.9 million likes, comments and shares. The false stories targeted both political parties, though Avaaz says the majority were against Democrats and liberals. Most of the false news sources were individual users’ or non-official political pages. By Tanu Henry a left-leaning online advocacy group, said stoOakland Convention Center. California Black Media Later on Sunday, Americans across the country - and ries itAvaaz, found even after they were debunked. The next morning, just about 24 hours later on Sun On Saturday, Nov. 9, Bernard J. Californians across the state - joined Tyson’s shocked fam- That includedspreading one falsely that President Donald day, Nov. 10, Kaiser Permanente, the health insurance ily members, colleagues and loved ones to remember the Trump’s grandfather was aclaiming Tyson, the first Black chairman and pimp and a tax evader and that and hospital system Tyson led as CEO since 2013 – and Bay Area native’s many contributions to his home state and his father was a member of the Ku Klux Klan. That story CEO of California-Based Kaiser Chairman since 2014 – announced the 60-year-old ex- country. Permanente, spoke at AfroTech, had an estimated 29 million views. Another story falsely ecutive’s sudden death. a convention organized by the “Our nation has lost a powerful, brilliant, and inspir- claiming that Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar attended an “It is with profound sadness that we announce that ing leader and voice for health equity and health justice,” Al-Qaeda training camp had an estimated 77,000 views. Los Angeles-based digital meBernard J. Tyson unexpectedly passed away early today in Robert K. Ross, president and CEO of the California Endia company Blavity. In response to the report, Facebook said it has taken his sleep,” Kaiser Permanente wrote in a statement pub- dowment (TCE), told California Black Media in an email. steps to reduce the amount of false news items posted and “I’ll be discussing techlished on the organization’s website. nology and equity in health“Peace, blessings, and the Lord’s loving embrace to my shared on its service, including more prominent warning Tyson’s family has not yet announced the cause of his friend Bernard, and to his family.” TCE is the largest pri- labels on the content. care,” Tyson tweeted not long “Multiple independent studies have found that we’ve death. before sitting on a panel at the vate health foundation in the state. “On behalf of our Board of Directors, employees and annual gathering of Black teU.S. Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA-13) said cut the amount of fake news on Facebook by more than physicians,” Kaiser’s statement continued, “we extend our Tyson helped to expand health care coverage among Afri- half since the 2016 election,’’ the company said. chies that he and more than Avaaz said in the report that the findings are the “tip deepest sympathies to Bernard’s family during can Americans in California. 5,000 other guests atthis very difficult time. An outstanding tended at “I am heartbroken upon learning of the passing of of the iceberg of disinformation’’ ahead of the 2020 elecleader, visionary and champion for Bernard Tyson,” Lee said. “Bernard dedicated his life to tions. the high-quality, affordable health care making health care more accessible for our communities. for all Americans.” My prayers and condolences are with his family and loved Tyson is survived by his ones during this time.” wife, Denise Bradley-Tyson, Gov. Gavin Newsom also issued a statement shortly and three sons: Bernard after finding out about Tyson’s death Sunday. J. Tyson, Jr., Alexander “Jennifer and I are deeply saddened to learn of the and Charles. passing of health care pioneer and our dear friend Bernard LOS ANGELES (AP) – The Producers Guild of Tyson,” the governor wrote. “Bernard’s vision and influ- America will honor Octavia Spencer for her work beence made an impact at home and abroad, and he led with hind-the-camera at its 2020 awards show. excellence on behalf of millions of Kaiser patients and Spencer, who was among the producers of last year’s thousands of employees.” best picture Oscar winner “Green Book,’’ will receive the Tyson, known across the country as one of the leading Visionary Award at the Producers Guild Awards on Jan. experts on U.S. health policy, was the only Black CEO of 18. a billion-dollar corporation of a similar size in California. The honor is meant to celebrate producers who create If Kaiser were publicly traded and were not a non-profit “inspiring, uplifting stories that add unique value to socicorporation, it would have been the 42nd largest Fortune ety and culture.’’ Spencer also served as an executive producer on 500 company in the United States. Tyson was also one of only five Black CEOS in the “Ma,’’ a horror film released earlier this year that gave the United States leading a major corporation. Kaiser Perma- Oscar-winning actress her first starring role . Previous recipients of the award include Brad Pitt, nente administered 12.2 million health plans in 2018 Ava DuVernay and “black-ish’’ creator Kenya Barris.
Welcome to Observer Interactive
Deeper Content. Pictures Move. Ads Talk. Live Shopping.
Man in Go Breaks in r Hides UndH e
Free!
News Observer Los Angeles
Vietnam Vet Fighting for the Rights of Black Soldiers
obcat Rec GovenorBNewsom After Bein ove on Passing g Hi Polof ice Car Bernard Tyson
MLK’s Daughter Slams Comcast Over Racial Discrimination Suit
Byron Allen v. Comcast Case Could Tear Down America’s Oldest & Strongest Anti-Discrimination Law
Misinformation On the Rise on Facebook
The Sad, Sudden Death of Bernard J. Tyson
Octavia Spencer to Receive Honor
Bernard Tyson (Photo: Courtesy Kaiser Permanente)
Continued on page A2