Uptown Jazz Festival Milestone Celebration
Josephine Baker 1st Black Woman to Get Paris Burial Honor
News Observer Page A7
Page A3
The Valley’s
Volume 36 Number 41
Serving the San Fernando Valley for Over 36 Years
Observer Group Newspapers of Southern California
3rd Annual Back 2 School Giveaway, Kobe Day! By Ricky Richardson Contributing Writer This event held on 8/24 KOBE DAY! featured free backpacks filled with tons of school supplies for kids in 1st-8th grade. Students had to be present in the car with their parents or guardians to receive a backpack. Los Angelitos Bakery in Huntington Park sweetened the deal, donating conchas decorated with Los Angeles Lakers colors.3rd Annual Back 2 School Giveaway-Kobe Day! By Ricky Richardson Hawthorne- Summer is winding down. That can mean one thing, back to school for students. Some students returned to campus for in-person learning, while others opted to keep learning remotely. Hundreds of kids in Hawthorne are off to a good start on their educational journey. Thanks to Impact LA as they teamed up with Calvary Baptist Church, Hawthorne, under the Pastoral leadership of Dr. Hosea Collins, Big Sunday, and East Side Bike Club to present the 3rd Annual Back 2 School Giveaway event, from 4:30pm-6:45pm in the parking lot. Chicas Verdes donated two laptops that were raffled and gifted to two lucky kids who received a backpack during the event. Emerita Flores and Courtney Lockridge, Co-founders of Impact LA stated “our backpack giveaways is one of the highlights of our summer. It’s our chance to see our hard working volunteers and neighbors, engaging with the community, and help as many families as possible.” I had the honor of witnessing the priceless smiles of joy, appreciation and excitement as various kids and teens were handed a backpack according to their age. You might be wondering, why Kobe Day? According a statement on Impact LA’s website. Kobe’s success was ultimately driven by his unmatched work ethic and commitment not only to himself, but to those around him. The Black Mamba moniker he gave himself, fit like a custom suit. His impact to both on and off
Emerita Flores and Courtney Lockridge, co-founders Continued on page A2 of Impact LA. (Photo by Ricky Richardson)
Courtney Lockridge (4th from left and Emerita Flores (4th from right) co-founders of Impact LA and Calvary Baptist Church, Hawthorne Volunteers. (Photo by Ricky Richardson)
Calvary Baptist Church, Hawthorne volunteers handed out backpacks. (Photo by Ricky Richardson)
Recall Election Heats Up Gov. Newsom Trades Fire With Larry Elder Aldon Thomas Stiles California Black Media Until recently, Gov. Newsom’s strategy for responding to the litany of attacks he’s received from Larry Elder, the Republican frontrunner in the upcoming Sept. 14 recall election has been to not respond directly to them. Newsom’s responses have focused on his accomplishments, indirectly alluding to Elder’s attacks, and especially warning voters that if Republicans succeed in the recall Trumpism would be in charge of the state. But a little over a week ago, as Newsom spoke before phone bankers at Hecho En Mexico restaurant in San Jose he brought up a number of Elder’s positions that clash with the views of a majority of Californians. Elder, a former lawyer and Los Angeles-based conservative talk radio host, is opposed to a minimum wage. He is skeptical about climate change. He supports school choice and offshore drilling. He is against school mask mandates and would eliminate vaccination validation and mandatory testing for those who are not vaccinated. “He actually wrote an op-ed saying women are not as smart as men on issues of civic affairs, on issues of economics, on issues of politics,” Newson said. Last week, Newsom’s campaign released an ad that features a picture of Elder with Trump. Elder has pushed back on the association with Trump. “The idea that they’re trying to characterize my campaign as some sort of extension of you-know-who is unfair to me,” Elder told ABC’s Eyewitness News. “I am an
Republican frontrunner Larry Elder (shutter stock Gov. Gavin Newsom (shutter stock photo) photo)
insurgent candidacy – 1.7 million Californians signed the recall petition. A quarter of them were Independents and Democrats who voted for the man just two years earlier.” Regarding Trump and the legitimacy of 2020
presidential election, Larry Elder flipflopped after he told the Sacramento Bee’s editorial board on Aug. 2 that he did not believe that Joe Biden stole the election. Later, on his talk radio show “The Morning Answer,” after receiving
Continued on page A2
Leimert Park Jazz Festival is Back By Ricky Richardson Contributing Writer (Los Angeles, Ca.)- One of the most highly anticipated community festivals returns for a live in-person show on Saturday, August 28, 2021. Excitement is in the air for the Leimert Park Jazz Festival (LPJF) at the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza, 3650 W. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, outdoors on the upper parking deck near Staples, Wells Fargo, IHOP and Baskin Robbins. Doors open at 2pm with performances from 3-8:45pm. This is a free family-friendly festival. This is the perfect way to unwind from a busy week with some incredible music. Leimert Park Jazz Festival grew out of the Sutro Avenue
Leimert Park Jazz Festival banner. (Courtesy Photo)
Summer Soiree, an annual community block party that began in 2015 on a residential street in Leimert Park that drew a culturally diverse, family-friendly audience. A jazz stage was added to the Soiree in 2018 and 2019 and was enthusiastically received by guests. The event was rebranded as the Leimert Park Jazz Festival in 2020 and, due to COVID-19, it was presented as a virtual festival that premiered on Facebook Live and YouTube. LPJF is a celebration of jazz, community, and the cultural heritage of Leimert Park. Its mission is to build and strengthen community while celebrating and showcasing the artistic spirit of the historic Leimert Park neighborhood in South Los Angeles. LPJF will play an important role in ensuring the vibrant South LA community of Leimert Park remains culturally
significant for years to come! The line-up several renown artists who will entertain the audience with amazing performances. You don’t want to miss this festival. The line-up consist of Sy Smith, Katalyst Collective, Adaawe, Jose Rizo’s Mongorama, Dwight Trible, Azar Lawrence and Albert “Tootie” Health featuring Jacques Lesure. LeRoy Downs returns again as Host/Master of Ceremony. The Leimert Park Jazz Festival will be held in accordance with each of the public health guidelines established by Federal, State, County and City officials along with Health authorities. These guidelines are in place to ensure the safety of guests, staff, crew, talent and volunteers.
Free!
Thursday, August 26, 2021
California to Review 2009 Fatal Shooting of Black Man
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) – California’s attorney general said Tuesday that his office will conduct its own review of a transit officer’s involvement in the shooting death of a 22-year-old Black man at a San Francisco Bay Area train station in 2009. The decision by Rob Bonta comes after Nancy O’Malley, Alameda County’s district attorney, announced in January that her office would not file a murder charge against former Bay Area Rapid Transit officer Anthony Pirone in the death of Oscar Grant on News Year’s Day. She said that while his conduct that night was unacceptable, he did not fire the gun that killed Grant. Instead, Pirone hauled Grant out of a train car and pinned a knee to his neck and back in a manner similar to that used in the death of George Floyd last year in Minneapolis. The BART officer who shot Grant in the back while he was on the ground, Johannes Mehserle, was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and served 11 months. Grant’s family has sought criminal charges against Pirone for years and petitioned Bonta’s office after O’Malley declined to go forward. The office pledged a “thorough and independent review”of the role played by Pirone. “Transparency is critical to building and maintaining trust between law enforcement and the communities we serve,”Bonta said. The shooting death, which sparked national calls for police reform, was depicted in the 2013 film “Fruitvale Station”directed by Ryan Coogler and starring Michael B. Jordan.
Police Caller Must Pay BLM Protesters $4.5K for False Report SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (AP) – A former ice cream shop owner accused of calling police on peaceful Black Lives Matters protesters was ordered Wednesday to pay them $500 each by a judge hearing a state lawsuit citing a new law targeting false, race-based police reports. Attorney General Letitia James’ complaint against the former owner of Bumpy’s Polar Freeze in Schenectady alleges that David Elmendorf wielded a baton and air rifle and shouted racial epithets at protesters who came to his business to protest after racist text messages he allegedly wrote circulated on social media. Elmendorf also was accused of calling 911 to falsely report that armed protesters were threatening to shoot him, referring to Black protesters as “savages.” Elmendorf ’s attorney, James Mermigis, said that the allegations were “categorically false”and that his client’s name was being smeared. The lawsuit was the first bought by James’ office to rely in part on a civil statute passed last year following the high-profile case against a white woman who called 911 on a Black birdwatcher in New York’s Central Park and falsely claimed he was threatening her. Under the ruling, Elmendorf must pay $500 each to nine protesters, for a total of $4,500. He is permanently barred from making future threats against people because of their race and from brandishing a deadly weapon within 1,000 feet of any peaceful protest. “There is zero tolerance for harassment, intimidation, or violence of any kind against anyone in New York,”James said in a prepared release. Elmendorf, who is now working in another state, was never properly served so no defense was made in court, Mermigas said.
Soccer’s All Whites Face Name Change WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) – New Zealand Football is reported to be considering dropping the “All Whites”nickname of its national men’s soccer team because of its racial connotation. While NZF has not confirmed it may discard the name, it says it is carrying out a variety of measures designed to improve its cultural inclusivity. The national body is reported to have sought feedback from stakeholders on a potential change. The “All Whites”name has a relatively short-lived history. It was first applied to the national team during its qualifying campaign for the 1982 World Cup when it appeared for the first time in an all-white uniform. Previously the New Zealand team had played mostly in black shorts, white shirts and white socks. It subsequently adopted the white strip and with it the nickname which riffed on All Blacks, the name of the New Zealand rugby team which plays in all-black colors. In a statement Monday, chief executive Andrew Pragnell said “New Zealand Football is on a journey around cultural inclusivity and respecting the principles of (the treaty of Waitangi, New Zealand’s founding treaty between indigenous Maori and the British crown). “As part of our Delivery and Sustainability Project, announced last year, we are in the process of working with stakeholders across the game as well as people from outside football, looking at all areas of the organization to make sure they are fit for purpose in 2021 and beyond. “It is too early in the process to speak about any outcomes but this is an important piece of work as we strive to be the most inclusive sport in Aotearoa (New Zealand).” Christchurch-based Super Rugby team the Crusaders last year was forced to discard a logo which showed a knight wielding a sword, because of its reference to the religious crusaders of the middle ages. It chose to retain the Crusaders name because of fan opposition to a change.