Vol. 50 No. 5
May 23, 2019 - May 29, 2019
Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will. Find out just what people will submit to and you have found out the exact amount of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them and these will continue till they have resisted either with words or blows or words or with both. The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they suppress. —Fredrick Douglass (1849)
U.S. Black-Owned Law Firm Expands Its Practice to Africa Representing Persons Before the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights in Tanzania National News
Nationwide — The Law Office of Zulu Ali (ZuluAliLaw.com), a Black-owned law firm based in Riverside, California, has announced that it has expanded its practice to Africa representing Persons before the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights in Tanzania. The African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights is a continental court established by African countries to ensure protection of human and peoples’ rights in Africa. The firm’s expansion follows the admission of its Principal, Attorney Zulu Ali, to the registry of counsel to the African Court. Attorney Ali also plans to establish a Pan African Legal Institute in Africa to focus on the unification of all African states under continental law and reparations for African Americans and other victims in the African diaspora under international law. The law firm was founded by its owner and principal attorney, Zulu Ali, a Tennessee native, former police officer, and U.S. marine veteran, who was inspired by the work and legacy of civil rights attorneys Thurgood Marshall, Avon Williams, Jr., Charles Hamilton Houston; and other advocates and leaders of the civil rights movement. The mission and philosophy of the firm is to advocate for changes in the law when the law is unjust with a focus on representing persons accused of crimes and seeking criminal justice, immigrants, victims of discrimination, persons seeking civil justice in state and federal courts. Attorney Ali earned a Juris Doctorate (law degree) from Trinity International University Law School and a liberal arts degree with an emphasis in African Studies from Regents College through a consortium with Tennessee State University. Attorney Ali has been admitted to the California State Bar; United
Email: sbamericannews@gmail.com Clifton Harris Editor in Chief Publisher of The San Bernardino AMERICAN News
Slavery and the Law in Virginia Historical News The Growth of the Black Population: 1625 23 1648 300 1671 2,000 1680 3,000 1700 16,390 1720 26,559 1730 30,000 1740 60,000 1775 210,000
SLAVE LAWS PASSED IN VIRGINIA: 1640 — 1660: The Critical Period: Custom to Law when Status Changed to "Servant for Life"
Attorney Zulu Ali States District Courts for the districts of Central California, Southern California, Northern California, and Colorado; United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth, Ninth, Tenth, and Eleventh Circuits; United States Supreme Court; and the International Criminal Court in the Hague, Netherlands. In addition to its’ trial practice before state and federal courts in the United States, the Law Office of Zulu Ali maintains a practice in the Netherlands representing suspects and victims before the International Criminal Court at The Hague. Although the mission and diverse makeup of the law firm subjects it to immense scrutiny, the firm continues to be inspired by its mission to preserve and fulfill the legacy of those leaders and advocates of the past who sacrificed in order to make a more just society. “I believe the mission of a lawyer should be to strive for change and challenge the courts when there is injustice. In our firm, we put it on the line despite the im-
mense scrutiny and consequences we may face. But for brave attorneys and advocates who are willing to step out the box, we would still be in segregation or servitude if the laws and courts were not challenged. Many attorneys and advocates are chilled and neutralized because they are usually targeted, ridiculed, and subjected to reprimand or worst when they test the status quo, but it is necessary despite the risks,” Principal Attorney Zulu Ali adds. In 2017, Attorney Ali was recognized as one of the most influential African American Leaders in Los Angeles by the National Action Network founded by Reverend Al Sharpton. The firm’s founder and principal attorney, Zulu Ali, been named Top 100 Lawyers by the National Black Lawyers – Top 100; Top 100 Trial Lawyers by the National Trial Lawyers – Top 100 Trial Lawyers; Premier 100 Trial Attorneys by the American Academy of Trial Attorneys, also known as the National Academy of Jurisprudence; Top 10 Best
Lawyers by the American Institute of Legal Counsel in the areas of Criminal Defense, Immigrations, and Personal Injury; Top 10 Lawyers by the American Jurist Institute in the areas of Criminal Defense, Immigrations, and Personal Injury; Rue Ratings Best Lawyer in America; and Top 10 Attorney in Criminal Defense, Immigration, and Personal Injury by Attorney and Practice Magazine. Attorney Ali is the subject of the documentary Purpose and Freedom and hosts a weekly syndicated radio show, Justice Watch with Attorney Zulu Ali, on NBC Radio News affiliate KCAA in Redlands, California, WCGO in Chicago, KSHP Las Vegas, and via satellite on GAB Radio Network. Attorney Ali has been married to his spouse, Charito, for over 32 years; and resides in Southern California with their four daughters and three grandchildren. For more details about Zulu Ali Law Firm, visit www.ZuluAliLaw.com
Letting The “Cat” Out Of The Bag Shirley Ann Shirrells, daughter of the late Anne E. Shirrells, civic leader in San On Sacramento PD Special to California Black Media Partners
Bernardino, has died
“Lettin' the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier n’ puttin’ it back in.”—-Will Rogers
Shirley Ann Shirrells
Sacramento PD officer restrains young man from a still shot from the video captured by a bystander that has been seen on the Sacramento Black Lives Matter’s Facebook page. Shocking. Shameful. Unconscionable. Intolerable. These are just a few of the terms used by those in reaction to word that a 12 year-old child was restrained by Sacramento police officers who then placed a white plastic
Publisher’s Corner
bag over his head and shoulders. Let’s review recent events in the City of Sacramento, who many are now referring to as “SacraSelma” in reference to the civil rights struggles that emanated from (continued on page 8)
Shirley Ann Shirrells, daughter of the late Anne E. Shirrells, civic leader in San Bernardino, died peacefully after a long illness at her home in Pasadena, CA, April 8th, 2019, at the age of 83. With her were her son and daughter. Shirley moved to San Bernardino as a child with her mother and sister, the late Marguerette Howard. After marriage, Shirley moved from the city to live overseas for several years, eventually settling in central California for many years. Shirley was retired from Allan Hancock College, in Santa Maria, California, where she was the director of the Job Placement and Career Center for 30 years. She had a successful career there, and
Obituary News
had been recognized by the community for her innovative leadership in service to over 20,000 community college students during her tenure. She also delighted people singing jazz in many local venues in and around Santa Maria and performing in musical productions at the college. After retirement, Shirley lived for a while in Palm Desert, and then moved to Pasadena, CA, to live near her family. Shirley is survived by her daughter, Cecile Anderson, her son, Maurece Chesse, her sonin-law, George Anderson, and her cherished granddaughter, Perry Anderson. Shirley was a free spirit, a jazzy humanist, and charming nurturer to those who she was drawn to support and cultivate. Her remains will rest near her mother and sister at Green Acres Memorial Cemetery in Bloomington, Ca. A reception is planned outdoors at the Anne Shirrells park in San Bernardino, CA, at 1:30pm on Tuesday, May 28th.
1639/40 - The General Assembly of Virginia specifically excludes blacks from the requirement of possessing arms 1642 - Black women are deemed tithables (taxable), creating a distinction between African and English women. 1662 - Blacks face the possibility of life servitude. The General Assembly of Virginia decides that any child born to an enslaved woman will also be a slave. 1660 — 1680: Slave Laws Further Restrict Freedom of Blacks and Legalize Different Treatment for Blacks and Whites 1667 - Virginia lawmakers say baptism does not bring freedom to blacks. The statute is passed because some slaves used their status as a Christian in the 1640s and 1650s to argue for their freedom or for freedom for a child. Legislators also encourage slave owners to Christianize their enslaved men, women and children. 1668 - Free black women, like enslaved females over the age of 16, are deemed tithable. The Virginia General Assembly says freedom does not exempt black women from taxation. 1669 - An act about the "casual killing of slaves" says that if a slave dies while resisting his master, the act will not be presumed to have occurred with “prepensed malice.” 1670 - Free blacks and Native Americans who had been baptized are forbidden to buy Christian servants. 1672 - It becomes legal to wound or kill an enslaved person who resists arrest. Legislators also deem that the owner of any slave killed as he resisted arrest will receive financial compensation for the loss of an enslaved laborer. Legislators also offer a reward to Indians who capture escaped slaves and return them to a justice of the peace. 1680 — 1705: Slave Laws Reflect Racism and the Deliberate Separation of Blacks and Whites. Color becomes the Determining Factor. Conscious Efforts to Rigidly Police Slave Conduct. 1680 - Virginia’s General Assembly restricts the ability of slaves to meet at gatherings, including funerals. It becomes legal for a white person or person to kill an
escaped slave who resists capture. Slaves also are forbidden to: arm themselves for either offensive or defensive purposes. Punishment: 20 lashes on one’s bare back. leave the plantation without the written permission of one’s master, mistress or overseer. Punishment: 20 lashes on one’s bare back. “…lift up his hand against any Christian." Punishment: 30 lashes on one’s bare back. 1691 - Any white person married to a black or mulatto is banished and a systematic plan is established to capture "outlying slaves." If an outlying slave is killed while resisting capture, the owner receives financial compensation for the laborer. Partners in an interracial marriage cannot stay in the colony for more than three months after they married. A fine of 15 pounds sterling is levied on an English woman who gives birth to a mulatto child. The fine is to be paid within a month of the child’s birth. If a woman cannot pay the fine, she is to serve five years as an indentured servant. If the mother is an indentured servant, she faces an additional five years of servitude after the completion of her indenture. A mulatto child born to a white indentured servant will serve a 30-year indenture. A master must transport an emancipated slave out of Virginia within six months of receiving his or her freedom. 1692 - Slaves are denied the right to a jury trial for capital offenses. A minimum of four justices of the peace hear evidence and determine the fate of the accused. Legislators also decide that enslaved individuals are not permitted to own horses, cattle and hogs after December 31 of that year. 1705 - Free men of color lose the right to hold public office. 1705 - Blacks — free and enslaved — are denied the right to testify as witnesses in court cases. 1705 - All black, mulatto, and Indian slaves are considered real property. 1705 - Enslaved men are not allowed to serve in the militia. 1705 - In An act concerning Servants and Slaves, Virginia’s lawmakers: Increase the indenture of a mulatto child born to a white woman to 31 years. Determine that if a white man or white woman marries a black partner, the white individual will be sent to jail for six months and fined 10 pounds current money of Virginia. Determine that any minister who marries an interracial couple will be assessed a fine of 10,000 pounds of tobacco. Determine that any escaped slave who is unwilling or unable to name his or her owner will be sent to the public jail.
Our Values, Mission, & Vision Statement Our Values: Treat all people with care, respect, honor, and dignity. Tell it as it is with love, truth and integrity. Promote the interests of advertisers and sponsors along their strategic interest for the betterment of the community and beyond. Speak truth to power. Our Mission: To continuously improve communication between all people of the world. Our Vision: To be the best community newspaper in our region and the nation. Provider of: A voice for the poor, the underserved, those that are marginalized, Positive and edifying news about people, places and businesses. Keep San Bernardino, Riverside, and Los Angeles Counties informed about global trends while retaining the consciousness of local events and processes. Memberships and Associations: The San Bernardino American Newspaper is a member of the California Newspaper Publishers Association, National Newspaper Association and addociated with California Black Media.