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“People Without a Voice Vol. 59 No. 49 | Thursday, December 5, 2019
Cannot be Heard”
Serving San Diego County’s African & African American Communities 59 Years
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Justice for Kamala Harris Withdraws Rodney Reed Her Candidacy for President Family, supporters press Texas governor for new trial for man on death row
Senator Harris’ Letter Suspending Her Campaign: ‘I am suspending my campaign today’ By Staff Writer Voice & Viewpoint Newswire After announcing her withdrawal from the 2020 Presidential race on Tuesday, U.S. Senator Kamala Harris penned a farewell letter on Medium, the social media platform founded by two Twitter co-founders. Here is Senator Harris’ letter in its entirety:
Photo: The Final Call
By Barrington M. Salmon The Final Call
In the past several months, there has been a groundswell of support demanding that Gov. Greg Abbott act to halt the execution of Rodney Reed, 51, who has been on death row for 20 years. In 1996, he was charged with and convicted of the rape and murder of 19-year-old Stacey Stites by an all-White jury. See REED page 2
Eleven months ago at the launch of our campaign in Oakland I told you all: “I am not perfect. But I will always speak with decency and moral clarity and treat all people with dignity and respect. I will lead with integrity. I will speak the truth.” And that’s what I have tried to do every day of this campaign. So here’s the truth today. I’ve taken stock and looked at this from every angle, and over the last few days have come to one of the hardest decisions of my life. My campaign for president simply doesn’t have the financial resources we need to continue. I’m not a billionaire. I can’t fund my own
campaign. And as the campaign has gone on, it’s become harder and harder to raise the money we need to compete. In good faith, I can’t tell you, my supporters and volunteers, that I have a path forward if I don’t believe I do. See HARRIS page 2
AKA AKADEMY LEADERSHIP FELLOWS ANNOUNCED
CHRIST THE KING CHURCH HONORS MRS. CORDOZA RUTH HATCHER-GROCE
CITY COLLEGE VETERANS CENTER GRAND OPENING
OCEANSIDE PIRATES UPSET LINCOLN HORNETS
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Serena Williams Builds SDUSD Misrepresents Schools in Jamaica, Africa D.A. Task Force By Staff Writer Voice & Viewpoint Newswire
This week a group of San Diego agencies announced plans to improve protection of children from abuse and assault. The announcement was the result of what was called an “Action Summit” convened by the San Diego Unified School District.
Photo: sperry/Wikimedia Commons
By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior Correspondent
W hile many deep-pocketed philanthropists and celebrities w ill write checks to suppor t
worthy causes, Tennis megastar Serena Williams routinely goes the extra mile. See WILLIAMS page 2
Historic African American
Civil War Museum Set to Open in 2020
The San Diego Unified School District Task Force was created after the San Diego District Attorney’s Task Force which came about as a result of parent complaints about mistreatment by school personnel when pursuing complaints that involved the safety and welfare of their children. The District Attorney on at least two occasions now has highlighted the many steps taken to make reporting of child abuse and assaults by school personnel easily reportable by internet, on paper and with the special personnel assigned in the District Attorney’s office. Many in the San Diego community see this action by the SDUSD Superintendent as a means of giving the appearance that the impetus of this collaboration among regional agencies is coming from the school district. The reality is the San Diego
County District Attorney’s Office covers all of San Diego County and all of its school Districts and agencies. The District Attorney’s Office does not need permission for the City Attorney or Child Welfare Services to investigate and bring charges against any people or persons found to be violating the laws under the enforcement powers of the District Attorney. The significant difference is that the District Attorney’s Office has the ability to bring legal actions against school personnel if their actions in dealing with parents and students is found to be in violation of state law. For what appears to be the first time, school officials will more readily be held accountable for how they handle both parents and students. This element of the District Attorney’s Task Force mandate appears to be omitted time and time again when discussing the reporting of abuse and assaults. Yet it was parent actions and persistence that make such actions necessary by the District Attorney as a result of complaints coming from parents and community organizations like Black Men & Women United. See SDUSD page 2
Photo: Roy Lewis/Trice Edney News Wire Principals and visionaries of the expanded African American Civil War Memorial symbolically dig in the shovels. Pictured are Sarosh Olpadwada, economic developer; James Turner ANC, Dr. Frank Smith, museum director and founder; Washington, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser; DC Councilperson Brianne Nadeau; Grant Epstein, project developer; Torti Gallas, developer tenant; Patrick Smith, economic developer; and neighbors Maya Hendricks 11 and Mason Hendricks 6. See MUSEUM page 2