75 CENTS
OMAHA STAR
THE
Celebrating 80 Years
1938 2018
Dedicated to the Service of the People that NO Good Cause Shall Lack a Champion and that Evil Shall Not Go Unopposed
Nebraska’s Only Black Owned Newspaper Vol. 80 - No. 25 Omaha, Nebraska
Friday, December 14, 2018
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL! Chase & Coreyana Lytle enjoyed Christmas in the Village
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Rep. Bass Elected New Chairperson of Congressional Black Caucus By Brandon I. Brooks Managing Editor Los Angeles Sentinel (Kimberlee Buck contributed to this article.) In 2008, Congresswoman Karen Bass made history after being elected as the first ever African American woman to become Speaker of any state legislature. Since then, Bass has continued to represent the 37th congressional district of California by being an active voice for criminal justice reform, fighting for America’s foster care system, and strengthening the United States ties with Africa. Now Bass will have the opportunity to continue making change in her new role as the chair of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC). Bass’ colleagues from the DNC, CBC as well as local and religious leaders extended their warmest congratulations on her latest feat. “[I am] truly excited to see the energy and determination Karen Bass will bring to her role as chair of the Congressional Black Caucus,” said minority leader of the United States House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi. DNC chair Tom Perez says
he “couldn’t be happier to call Congresswoman Karen Bass the next chair” of the CBC. “From fighting for criminal justice reform and child welfare to affordable health care and a stronger economy for all, Karen has devoted her life to serving California families and African American communities across the country,” he said. Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, II referred to Congresswoman Bass a “trailblazer.” “I am delighted that Congresswoman Karen Bass has been elected to lead the Congressional Black Caucus for the 116th Congress. Rep. Bass has been a trailblazer and a true advocate for issues concerning people of color. I am certain that her leadership will continue to move the CBC ahead and I look forward to working with her,” he said. Councilman Marqueece HarrisDawson told the LA Sentinel: “We are proud to share our leader, Karen Bass, with the rest of the country. I am eager to see the largest Congressional Black Caucus make great strides under her leadership.” LA City Council President Herb Wesson, who is also a longtime friend of Bass, congratulated her in
a Twitter post: “Congratulations @ RepKarenBass on being elected chair of the @OfficialCBC! It’s been an honor to have you as a friend, colleague and representative. The Congressional Black Caucus is in good hands.” Pastor J. Edgar Boyd who is the senior minister at First AME Church of Los Angeles calls Bass “a true champion.” “Karen Bass has become a true champion for causes which impact the lives of people living within her district, across California and even beyond the borders of the US. True courage is seen in her fight to ensure the rights and opportunities of children, working parents, seniors, veterans, and the LGBT community; while yet promoting measures to ensure civil justice, human safety, and civility at our borders. Her leadership at the helm of the CBC will provide dividends well into the future,” he said. Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas mentioned that he can think of no one better than Karen Bass to lead the CBC. “With 55 members, the Caucus is larger than it has ever been, and wellpositioned to advance a progressive agenda. I look forward to hearing more about that agenda when Rep. Bass
Congresswoman Karen Bass speaks at the Africa Policy Forum on famine. (courtesy photo)
delivers the keynote speech at this year’s Empowerment Congress, to be held January 19th at Charles Drew University of Medicine and Science,” he said. Senator Holly Mitchell who has worked with Bass in the past described how Bass’ leadership will influence the CBC. “Someone with her experience in terms of managing budgets the size of California and managing budget crises the size of California and to have been a leader of one of the most powerful state legislatures in the country…all
of that experience with her national contacts that she will bring to her role as chair will be hugely beneficial to the caucus as a whole. I am excited for her and I am excited for the future of the caucus,” she said. Bass, who is the eighth woman to hold this position, will replace outgoing chair Cedric Richmond. Other members of Congress who were also elected include: Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (D-OH-03), first vice chair; Congresswoman Brenda See Rep. Bass continued on page 5
Heart Ministry Center Breaks Ground on New Building Meet Tammy Kemp, Heart Ministry Center’s board of directors, staff, volunteers, The Black Judge Assigned to clients and members of the community broke ground on a new building for the organization last week. Scheduled to open in fall of 2019, the new building will Amber Guyger Murder Trial provide more space to expand the organization’s services, By Nigel Roberts Texas District Judge Tammy Kemp has been assigned to preside over the murder trial of former Dallas police officer Amber Guyger, who shot and killed Botham Jean in his own apartment in September. Kemp, 57, was a prosecutor for the Dallas County District Attorney’s office who also has experience as a criminal defense attorney. She’s a Democrat who was recently re-elected to a Kemp second term on the 204th Judicial District Court bench, where she began serving in 2015. “As a prosecutor, I served under three unique District Attorneys, and each instilled values that have impacted me and made me into a better judge. As a defense attorney, I became aware of the challenges defendants and their attorneys face in preparing a defense. While serving as a judge, I have become keenly aware of the difficulties that victims, defendants, witnesses and jurors encounter when involved in the criminal justice system,” she told the Dallas Morning News during her 2018 re-election campaign. A grand jury in Dallas indicted Guyger, 30, on Dec. 1. The panel found enough evidence for a murder charge instead of the initial manslaughter charge. On the night of Sept. 6, she illegally entered Jean’s apartment, which was located one floor above her own, and shot Jean, 26, to death – that much has been established as true. But everything else that transpired during that fatal encounter was not exactly clear, with only Guyger’s word to go on. She claimed that following a long day on the job as a Dallas police officer, she implausibly mistook his apartment for her own and, after ordering Jean not to move, shot him twice. Her story was greeted by doubt because of several factors, especially her assertion that Jean’s door was ajar. Videos posted on social media by neighbors appeared to show that apartment doors in the building shut automatically, which seemed to indicate that Guyger was lying. Kemp was a top prosecutor in the office of Craig Watkins, who was Texas’ first elected African-American District Attorney. In 2013, she was the lead prosecutor in a case involving a man who drowned two sons in a creek to get back at their mother. After Guyger was booked into jail but released on a $200,000 bond, Kemp ordered her to surrender her passport and not to travel outside Texas without court approval.
including medical and dental care (in partnership with Creighton University), case management, job placement, and the Heart Ministry Center food pantry, which is already the largest in the state. The new building will also house a state-of-the-art laundry facility, providing Heart Ministry Center clients with employment opportunities and the community an affordable place to do laundry, which can be a barrier to finding and keeping steady employment. Heart Ministry Center’s new building (24th & Binney) will enable its team to expand the reach of its guiding mission: “Dignity for All.” “The most important thing we do, more important than any of our services, is treating people with dignity,” said Executive Director Eric Crawford. “I see it every day – a little kindness goes a long way.” The groundbreaking signified the next step in Heart Ministry
Architect’s rendering of new Heart Ministry Center building, scheduled to open in late 2019
Center’s growth. Everyone who attended received a small shovel to participate. Heart Ministry Center’s capital campaign has raised more than $4.5 million, enough to build the new facility, and now focuses on fundraising for an operating endowment. Donations can be See Heart Ministry continued on page 5
Black Nominees for the Golden Globes By Defender News Services The Golden Globe nominees have been announced, and there is a lot of diversity in the nominees. Announced live by Terry Crews and Danai Gurira, films like Spike Lee’s “BlacKkKlansman,” “Green Book,” “If Beale Street Could Talk” and “Black Panther” – the first comic book movie nominated for Best Picture – racked up nominations. Even Kendrick Lamar and SZA got some love. Other nominees include Mahershala Ali, John David Washington (Denzel’s son!), Regina King, Billy Porter, Donald Glover, Thandie Newton, Spike Lee and more. The 76th Golden Globe Awards will be hosted by Andy Samberg and Sandra Oh. The show airs on Jan. 6. Check out the Black nominees below. 1. Best Motion Picture – Drama: ‘Black Panther’, ‘BlacKkKlansman’, ‘If Beale Street Could Talk’, and ‘Green Book’ 2. Mahershala Ali for Best Supporting Actor for ‘Green Book’ 3. Regina King for Best Supporting Actress ‘Seven Seconds’ and ‘If Beale Street Could Talk’ 4. Thandie Newton for ‘Westworld’ for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television 5. Donald Glover in ‘Atlanta’ For Best Actor in a TV Series, Comedy 6. Spike Lee for Best Director for ‘BlacKkKlansman’ 7. Kendrick Lamar and SZA for “All the Stars,” Black Panther for Best Original Song – Motion Picture 8. John David Washington for Best Actor in a Motion Picture for ‘BlacKkKlansman’ 9. Billy Porter for ‘Pose’ for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama ‘Pose’ was also nominated for Best Television Series, Drama. 10. Stephan James for Best Performance by an Actor in Marvel’s Black Panther a Television Series, Drama in ‘Homecoming’
See hometown Neither rain, sleet nor snow Who are Tim shero Symone stopped thousands of Christmas Clark’s friends? Sanders – Dec. 20. in the Village visitors. Find out Dec. 21. See In the Village for details.
See photos in the Dec. 28 issue.
See In the Village for details.